The Harley-Davidson’s engine roared with a deep, powerful thrum.
Lin Xuan sat on the back seat, his hands instinctively gripping Natasha’s lean waist.
Her tight-fitting black tactical suit transmitted a surprising sense of resilience and strength, mingled with a faint, uniquely feminine scent.
The intense pull of their speed nearly threw him off.
The surrounding scenery blurred into streaks of light as they tore past.
The suffocatingly dangerous aura from behind gradually faded as they put distance between them.
The wind roared in his ears, but Lin Xuan’s mind refused to calm down, even as the motorcycle sped away.
He had just survived a life-or-death chase, escaping the clutches of Hydra’s ace assassin.
Now, he was being whisked away by a mysterious red-haired agent of unfathomable skill, his future uncertain.
Yet, more than all of this, what truly set his heart ablaze was the cold system prompt in his mind and the 35 technology points he had just acquired.
*Xiongxin, how do I use these 35 technology points?
They can’t just be a number to look at, can they?*
The prompt echoed in his mind:
[Current Technology Points: 35]
[Can only be used for deep analysis and information extraction of special targets in close proximity.]
[The depth of analysis is directly proportional to the amount of Tech Points consumed.]
Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned.
*So, in the future, I’ll have to touch Iron Man’s armor or pluck a hair from the Hulk to acquire technology?*
But the System’s next words made his eyes light up.
[To unlock more advanced technological functions—such as Tech Blueprint Deduction, Matter-Energy Conversion, Targeted Item Manufacturing, Ability Simulation Loading, and so on…]
[…you will need to consume Tech Points and specific rare resources, or upgrade the System Core—the “Xiongxin.”]
*I see!*
Lin Xuan instantly understood.
He quickly took stock of what he had gained since his transmigration.
First, he had escaped with his life—the most basic requirement.
He had obtained the superhuman power he’d always dreamed of.
Although it was only the “initially successful” optimized version of the Super Soldier Serum defined by the lab, its effects already far exceeded his expectations.
He had acquired a black-tech System called “Xiongxin,” which came with 35 Tech Points as starting “capital.”
And since he’d obtained a technological cheat, instead of meeting Tony Stark first…
*I need to find Tony myself.
I can’t stay with S.H.I.E.L.D. for long.*
However, he had been targeted by that grim reaper, the Winter Soldier, who had even left him with a death threat: “I remember you.”
Though the road ahead remained uncertain and fraught with danger, and Hydra’s threat loomed like a shadow.
But this start…
Wasn’t too bad?
At least, he’d survived for now.
As Lin Xuan’s thoughts raced, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle gradually slowed.
They passed through an unremarkable underground tunnel entrance, where the lighting shifted from dim to bright.
The tunnel walls were smooth, reflecting a cold, white light.
At least two red laser beams, concealed within the walls, swept rapidly over the motorcycle and the two riders.
Invisible scanning ripples rippled outward, performing identity verification and security checks.
The motorcycle entered a vast, brightly lit underground space.
Less a base, this place was more of a hidden high-tech fortress.
Numerous staff members in uniform dark blue attire hurried about, weaving through the wide corridors and various instruments and equipment.
The air was filled with a cold scent unique to high-tech facilities, a mixture of ozone and metal.
Lin Xuan vaguely recognized the style.
It was very similar to the temporary S.H.I.E.L.D. base where Tony Stark and Nick Fury had met in his memory.
Natasha had brought him directly back to a major S.H.I.E.L.D. stronghold.
She brought the motorcycle to a smooth stop, her long legs swinging off the bike in a fluid, graceful motion.
Without a word, she simply gestured with her eyes for Lin Xuan to follow.
One behind the other, they passed through several alloy blast doors as thick as bank vaults.
Each door sealed shut with a heavy, pressurized thud, a testament to its impenetrable defense.
They descended further in a high-speed internal elevator.
Its mirrored walls reflected Lin Xuan’s disheveled appearance—his combat undershirt still coated in dust and torn from the fight.
Beside him, Natasha’s cold, elegant face remained alert and scrutinizing.
Finally, the elevator chimed softly and came to a halt.
*Ding—*
The doors slid open soundlessly, revealing a wide, brightly lit metallic corridor.
Natasha led Lin Xuan with a steady stride to the end of the hallway.
There stood a door labeled *Command Center-03*.
She stopped and turned to a built-in communication panel beside the door.
The screen flickered to life, displaying a complex authentication interface.
She extended her slender fingers, her pale fingertips tapping rapidly on the virtual keyboard with practiced ease, as if inputting a long, complex authorization code.
The green light for successful verification lit up.
She addressed the communicator, reporting in a concise, professional tone devoid of all personal emotion.
Her voice, clear and steady, echoed through the silent corridor.
“Agent Romanoff requesting access.”
After a brief pause, an equally cold, synthetic voice responded, completely devoid of inflection.
“Authorization confirmed, Agent Romanoff. Proceed.”
“Anomalous situation encountered in the mission target area,” Natasha’s voice remained clear and steady, her pace measured.
“Encountered a Hydra agent squad, and… the target, the Winter Soldier.”
At the mention of Bucky’s name, Lin Xuan could feel the air seem to freeze for a moment, even through the communicator.
That name clearly held extraordinary significance and posed an immense threat within S.H.I.E.L.D.
“During the operation, an unidentified individual was discovered, suspected to have escaped from a Hydra facility.”
Natasha glanced at Lin Xuan, her eyes still filled with scrutiny, and continued.
“The subject possesses superhuman physical capabilities, with strength and speed far exceeding normal human standards.”
“He briefly engaged the Winter Soldier and successfully evaded pursuit.”
“He has been brought back to the base. Awaiting further instructions.”
Natasha’s report was concise, devoid of any subjective conjecture, stating only the facts.
The other end of the communicator fell silent for a few seconds.
For Lin Xuan, those few seconds seemed to drag on forever.
“Bring him in.”
The low, raspy voice spoke with an unquestionable command.
*Click—*
The sleek, high-tech black doors of Command Center-03 slid open silently.
The soft lighting inside failed to dispel the invisible pressure emanating from the man standing in the center of the room.
A tall, bald Black man in a perfectly tailored black trench coat stood there silently.
The most striking feature on his face was the black eye patch covering his left eye.
His remaining right eye was now locked on Lin Xuan, unblinking.