There are several plans to find brains for the symbiote to eat, but finally none are successful. Schiller finds this symbiote not only actively complains about being hungry, but also has extremely picky taste.
"How about this one? I dare say he must take more than a dozen lives, this gangster..."
"No, his brain doesn't smell good, I won't eat it."
"Well, what about him? He defends a serial killer in court, he must be smart, right?"
"He isn't delicious either, not to my liking."
"What about this one then? I hear he once robs the largest bank in Manhattan..."
"It must be bitter."
In the end, Schiller returns to his clinic empty-handed and argues with the symbiote in his mind, "Why are you so picky? Can't you just settle for a few common criminals' brains?"
"Why don't you drink Americano?"
Schiller opens his mouth, feeling a bit unsure how to talk back. This symbiote is getting smarter and smarter.
"Fine, but you have to tell me where to get your desired Espresso."
Just as Schiller finishes asking this question in his mind, the clinic door opens, and Steve, who just finishes his morning run, walks in. The symbiote excitedly cries, "Espresso is coming."
Following Captain America is Natasha. Before Schiller can say anything, a yellow figure flies over. Natasha throws Pikachu into Schiller's arms and says, "First, S.H.I.E.L.D. does not offer pet sitting services!"
"But the contract..."
"We just correct the contract, no mice allowed!"
"It is discrimination. Dogs and cats are allowed, why not mice?"
"Yeah!" Pikachu chimes in while hugging its arms. "Why not mice?"
"Shut up!" the others say in unison.
"Now dogs and cats aren't allowed either. We cancel this employee benefit, and everyone agrees with it."
"I am just going to let it stay there for a few days..."
"A few days??? How many more days do you want to leave it? Coulson changes six phones in seven days, Nick Fury uses all his vacation days and runs away. The offices from the United Nations leave hastily after not even staying for two days. Even the Lieutenant Colonel, who usually loves to make trouble for S.H.I.E.L.D., buys an economy class ticket and leaves overnight using his own money..."
Natasha is standing at the doorway with her hands on her hips. It is clear that this female agent is also quite angry. She sighs, "The only good news is that the damages caused and the employees' mental distress can increase Nick's reimbursement amount on next month's report by another 50%..."
Schiller looks down at Pikachu and says, "I remember before I leave, you promise me..."
He grabs Pikachu's two short hands and stares into its big, innocent eyes. Pikachu stares back with its round, innocent black pupils. Then it wrinkles its nose and jumps onto the couch.
"Pika—pika!"
"You've been gone for quite a long time this time," Steve says as he sits on the couch.
"So, does anything major happen recently?"
"No really, but a pile of minor troubles."
"Oh?" Schiller asks while washing a cup by the sink in the kitchen. "What kind of troubles?"
"Stark and the military completely fall out," Natasha explains. "It is said that he finds conclusive evidence of the military's involvement in the Afghanistan kidnapping case, although I believe it's all part of Obadiah's plan."
"So, you mean Obadiah plans the kidnap and then blames the military for it? Does he really not want Stark Industries to cooperate with the military?"
"Obadiah is like a mother hen guarding his eggs. He doesn't allow anyone to get Stark Industries. Whoever threatens his life's work, he will find a way to kill them."
"Even before Stark is kidnapped, Obadiah already faces considerable pressure from the military. The military's desires are insatiable. They want too much, even touching the core interests of Stark Industries. Obadiah has never liked them."
"They initially only want to buy some ordinary weapons. But Stark Industries' weapons are too good. The military wants to get technology and produce it themselves. Of course, Obadiah would never allow that to happen."
Natasha also leans back on the couch, and Steve pours her a glass of water. Natasha smiles, "Thank you."
Then Steve frowns, "But I still find it absurd. Just to destroy the relationship between Stark and the military, he hired terrorists to kidnap Stark?"
"Obadiah is very clever. He knows, Stark will eventually create world-shaking technology. He must give Stark a reason to never compromise with the military, so that his life's work isn't stolen by them."
"As long as Stark, who holds the core technology, doesn't give in, at least the core technology of Stark Industries will be preserved."
"But the cost is his nephew's life."
"Obadiah doesn't care." Natasha lights a cigarette and asks, "Do you mind if I smoke?"
"Do as you please," Schiller shrugs.
Natasha looks at Steve, and Steve says, "I don't smoke. But there are many smokers on the battlefield. I don't mind."
The female agent exhales smoke slowly; it seems like she's under quite a lot of pressure. Stark's complete fallout with the military isn't entirely a good thing for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Currently, the situation is that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military always clash due to the allocation of military funds and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s excessive law enforcement powers.
The main conflict between Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D. lies in his father, as well as Stark's unwillingness to be kidnapped by an official organization.
The main battle between Stark and the military lies in the military's greed, and Stark can't bear his invention put into war.
Neither side wants to see the other two sides unite, as there will inevitably be an enemy within their group. If two powers grow stronger, third party will surely be worse off.
But they also don't want the two sides to completely fall out. Once two of them break apart and engage in war, a third party has to clean up the mess.
Schiller hints, "Behind Stark's fallout with the military, it's probably not just Obadiah's doing, right?"
Natasha replies, "It is confidential, I don't have the authority... well, it's not really classified. Stark wanted to cooperate with the military for medical technology and exoskeletons. But you know, what the military wanted aren't these things at all. They wanted weapons,bigger and more powerful weapons."
"So, S.H.I.E.L.D. used this to provoke their relationship?"
Natasha flicks the cigarette ash and says, "We just gave them a little push. More importantly, it was a trap set by Obadiah a long time ago."
Steve asks with some confusion, "Didn't Stark realize that it could be Obadiah's conspiracy?"
"He might have, but he's Tony Stark." Schiller utters.
Natasha shakes her head, "Obadiah knows his nephew so well. If he can blame everything on the military, while also preserving their relationship, then Stark will definitely choose to cheat himself and vent his anger on the military."
"And more importantly..." Schiller pours himself a glass of water and smiles, "Obadiah is now lying in a coma in the hospital. He is the victim."
"And the victim says who did it, then it is who did it."
Steve sighs, "When Howard Stark established Stark Industries, maybe he didn't expect this day."
"Maybe he did. At least he must have thought that his genius brain and the technology in his hands would be targeted by someone with malice." Schiller continues.
"The situation is about to explode. Stark is very firm, and he even slams his fist on the table with a group of generals. General Johnson's scheme was exposed. The military is also starting to distrust Hammer Industries. They're very eager to force Stark to surrender."
"How do you think how is this going to work out? Through force?" Schiller asks Natasha.
The female agent shakes her head, "They've already tried that, and General Johnson lost. The robot army couldn't beat Stark down. And Stark somehow got hold of NT armor. If he starts distributing a cigarette to everyone, that'll be disastrous."
"The military is hurry, but they dare not act hastily. I think it'll finally return to the negotiating table for an exchange of interests."
"There'll probably be another battle on one day," Schiller inters. "The military won't be willing to back to table so soon. They know that if they don't give a heavy blow to Stark, they won't have any chips to get the technology of Stark Industries."
"At least for now, we're temporary allies," Natasha says. "Stark needs S.H.I.E.L.D. to bear some of the pressure for him."
"What do you want? His NT suit?"
"I don't know, it depends on Director Fury's decision. But S.H.I.E.L.D. follows a different path from the military. Even if we have access to a large amount of those, there is no one to equip it. Agents are not suitable for wearing those things, maybe Nick has other plans."
"He never considered having Stark tailor-made armor for the agents?"
Natasha extinguishes her cigarette, "You don't quite understand how agents work. Simply put, for tasks that require wearing armor, having an extra set of armor won't significantly increase the success rate. And for tasks that don't require armor, wearing it won't bring any significant improvement."
"Agents are not superheroes; most of us rely on our brains to fill our stomachs."
"Brains! Stomach!" The symbiote shouts in Schiller's mind.
"So the medical collaboration between Stark and the military has also stagnated?" Schiller questions.
"It actually didn't make much progress at first. Stark wasn't directly providing technology; both sides were collaborating on research and development. The military brought in some experts, and Stark provided some technical data and financial support. Of course, the cooperation should have ended by now."
"Any results here?"
Natasha shakes her head, "Research is not child's play. How could there be any significant results in such a short time?"
Steve puts in, "If they could really unite, perhaps many soldiers would benefit from it."
"Impossible. Neither side is willing to give in until a clear winner is determined. They both believe they can gain more benefits. It's just an exchange of interests, not a genuine effort to help anyone."
Steve appears slightly upset, "I understand.Before fully engaging in cooperation, both sides need to go through countless tests and probes until they get each other's limits, and only then can a cooperative relationship be established."
"But sometimes I can't help but think, if we could truly put the technology and resources into where they are needed, we could save many people. If everyone considers this kind of wasteful behavior necessary, and I don't stop it, who will sympathize with those who are not saved due to the wastage of these resources?"
"Captain, I understand your compassion, but you don't need to shoulder the blame for these mistakes yourself," Schiller comforts.
"I just feel that we can do better. And, I have this bad feeling all the time," Steve claims, pursing his lips.
"Those who were thought to have been mute will eventually have someone stand up for them. When that time comes, their way of speaking out won't be polite inquiries anymore."