Hawkeye Barton's words made everyone present nod frequently.
It was an undeniable and ironclad fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been thoroughly infiltrated by Hydra, leaving it in a state of disarray.
Even top-level officials like Alexander Pierce were very likely Hydra moles.
And when they knew that Captain America had already uncovered the identities of some of their Hydra moles, how could they remain indifferent and not take any measures?
"Expelling" Captain America from S.H.I.E.L.D. was just a basic move.
Under such circumstances, it made more sense for three people to act "abnormally" and independently.
"Everyone, since that's the case, option D can also be ruled out!" Thor clapped his hands with a smile. "Only option B is the most likely. Everyone, the answer is clear."
"Captain was wanted once when Nick Fury was 'killed,' and now he's wanted again," Black Widow muttered softly.
"All of us have taken turns before, and now it's a new round of questions. Who wants to start?" Dr. Banner asked, looking at everyone.
"This question is about me, so why don't I start the new round of questions?" Black Widow said, speaking under everyone's gaze.
No one had any objections to this; in fact, even if Black Widow hadn't said anything, everyone would have suggested she answer.
"I choose B: self-sacrifice to obtain the Soul Stone!" Black Widow immediately declared her answer to the big screen.
[Correct Answer!]
Phew!
Black Widow's slightly anxious heart finally relaxed, and a spark of excitement flickered in her eyes.
[Congratulations to contestant Natasha Romanoff for winning the reward: an Invisible Camouflage garment!]
Immediately after, Black Widow felt a weight in her hand, and a very soft piece of "fabric" appeared—undoubtedly, it was the invisible camouflage.
One side of the invisible camouflage looked completely normal, but when it was flipped over, everyone saw that Black Widow's hand, legs, and other areas covered by the camouflage "disappeared."
"This is the invisible camouflage! The invisibility effect is really good!" Barton's eyes lit up, and he said with great satisfaction.
This kind of invisible camouflage was very useful for frontline field agents like them in many situations.
He then took the invisible camouflage from Black Widow's hand and covered himself entirely with it.
Everyone saw that Hawkeye Barton, who had been standing perfectly fine in front of them, completely vanished.
And where Barton disappeared, the light looked normal, with no distortion; unless one looked very, very carefully, it would be impossible to notice.
This was even with everyone knowing that Hawkeye was using the invisible camouflage to become invisible.
For those who didn't know the situation beforehand, the effect of this invisible camouflage would be even better.
The two of them played around with it and experimented a bit, both thoroughly satisfied with the invisible camouflage.
"Natasha, using this invisible camouflage to make a suit or a robe would suit you very well," Barton suggested.
"I was thinking the same thing," Black Widow nodded and smiled.
The invisible camouflage was just a piece of fabric at the moment, which wasn't very convenient to use, so it naturally needed further processing.
"Interesting, can I take a look?" Tony Stark, however, said to Black Widow.
Black Widow naturally didn't decline and directly handed the invisible camouflage to Tony Stark. Tony Stark glanced at it a few times and understood.
"This seems to only use optical principles, which means it only works against normal vision. If thermal imaging is activated, this invisible camouflage probably won't be effective."
Tony Stark commented casually, a hint of boredom on his face.
"Stark, if that's the case, can you make some improvements to it so that it can also block thermal imaging perception?"
"In exchange, you can take this invisible camouflage to study."
Black Widow suggested to Tony Stark.
"It's not really 'studying'; the technology on it isn't advanced enough for me to research. It's more like a little gadget that interests me," Tony Stark said dismissively. "But since you asked, I'll agree."
The transaction between the two was quickly concluded.
[Question ended. Now playing answer analysis!]
As always, not long after the question was answered, the answering system began to play the corresponding video.
First to appear before everyone's eyes was a dimly lit, boundless, desert-like place.
But in front of that desert, there was also a desolate mountain.
On that desolate mountain, snowflakes were fluttering, a combination of geographical features and weather that, while not absolutely abnormal, was quite rare.
After all, desert areas are generally hot and dry, with extremely low humidity, making the probability of snow very small.
Two figures, fully armed Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff, were climbing the mountain, stumbling with each step.
"What is this place? Has anyone recognized it?" Captain America swept his gaze over the people around him and asked in a deep voice.
The question stated that Black Widow sacrificed herself to obtain the Soul Stone, so the most basic inference was that the Soul Stone was hidden on this mountain.
Everyone naturally needed to figure that out.
Unfortunately, with just this small glimpse of the landscape, no one could recognize anything.
"I bet that raccoon doesn't have to climb a mountain!" Black Widow complained as she climbed.
"I bet he's not actually a raccoon!" Hawkeye said to Black Widow.
"Whatever, he still eats trash!" Black Widow shrugged.
"Welcome!"
Just as the two were talking, a voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow were startled simultaneously, turning around immediately and getting ready to fight.
Barton quickly drew a katana from his back, and Black Widow likewise held a gun tightly in both hands, pointing it at the person who had spoken.
Under their gaze, a hooded figure, completely shrouded in a robe, slowly appeared.
Although everyone couldn't clearly see the person's face yet, it had to be said that this person exuded an aura of importance.
It was clear at a glance that this was no ordinary character.
Especially the voice, it was like it had a filter applied in a movie, with an echo, simply exaggerated.
"Natasha, daughter of Ivan!"
"Clint, son of Edith!"
As the person spoke these words, they slowly "floated" towards Black Widow and the other.
Indeed, this person's feet were also hidden within the robe, and the entire robe continuously fluttered in the wind, making the person seem like a ghost.
"Ivan? Is that my father?"
Black Widow's expression shifted slightly, as she still didn't know who her parents were.
And that mysterious shadowy figure didn't seem to be speaking nonsense.
Black Widow grew even more curious about the mysterious person's identity.
"Who are you?!"
On the screen.
Black Widow stared intently at the shadowy figure, asking a question that everyone present also desperately wanted to know.
"Consider me a guide," the figure replied leisurely, "guiding you, and all who come seeking the Soul Stone."
Everyone present's expressions tightened slightly. This figure actually guided others on how to obtain the Soul Stone?
That's just too awesome, isn't it?
However, if this figure knew how to obtain the Soul Stone, why would he eagerly guide others instead of taking it himself?
Connecting this with the answer to the question, Black Widow's self-sacrifice, everyone vaguely had a guess: obtaining the Soul Stone would likely not be that simple.
"Alright, then tell me where the gem is, and I'll go find it myself!" Black Widow still pointed her gun at the shadowy figure and said in a deep voice.
"My dear, if only it were that simple," the figure said to Black Widow as he took a step forward.
Due to the lighting, his face, hidden beneath the hood, finally became visible to everyone.
"Oh my god!"
"Holy crap!"
Everyone was startled, because beneath the hood was not a human face at all, but a red skull.
"It's Red Skull!"
Captain America's expression changed.
Seventy years ago, he fought his last battle with Red Skull. At that time, Red Skull disappeared after being hit by an energy shockwave from the Tesseract.
Captain America had always thought Red Skull was dead.
But who would have thought that Red Skull wasn't dead at all?
And from the looks of it, he seemed even more powerful than before.
This was not good news.
"He's Red Skull?" Tony Stark exclaimed in surprise. "So he really looks like this!"
The other people present were also very surprised. Red Skull was Captain America's lifelong arch-enemy, and thanks to Captain America, his name also spread to later generations.
Except for Thor, everyone present had heard Red Skull's name.
However, no one had expected that Red Skull was not dead, and from the looks of it, Red Skull was very knowledgeable about how to obtain the Soul Stone.
Could Hydra become that powerful in the future?
Under everyone's gaze, Red Skull led Black Widow and Hawkeye Barton to a cliff where many huge stone pillars stood.
"What you seek is before you, and what you fear is also there," Red Skull's voice echoed as he introduced them to Barton and Black Widow.
"The gem is down there!" Black Widow said, looking at the bottomless abyss.
"It can only be given to one of you," Red Skull added, "and the other will obtain the Soul Stone!"
"To obtain the Soul Stone, you must lose that which you love; it is an eternal exchange!"
"A soul for a soul!"
Everyone present's expressions changed slightly.
Because Red Skull's words were clear: to obtain the Soul Stone, one person must die!
So, Black Widow sacrificed herself in this way, allowing Hawkeye Barton to get the Soul Stone?
But were Red Skull's words really true?
This didn't quite fit Hydra's usual style.
"Natasha, it seems you've made a foolish decision!" Hawkeye Barton couldn't help but turn to Black Widow beside him and said seriously, "Remember, it's not your turn to be a hero, okay?"
"Barton, as you said, you can't judge me for something that hasn't happened," Black Widow shrugged.
On the screen, Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow were deep in discussion.
"Hey, hello there!" Hawkeye Barton was speechless when he saw Black Widow actually deep in thought. "God, this could all be made up."
"No, I don't think so!" Black Widow said with a serious expression.
"Just because he mentioned your father's name?" Barton was still full of doubt.
"Even I don't know my father's name," Black Widow said thoughtfully.
Then she looked up, "And Thanos left here with the Soul Stone, but he didn't take his daughter. That's not a coincidence."
These words left everyone present bewildered.
Had Thanos already taken the Soul Stone?
Then why would Black Widow and the others come here again to look for the Soul Stone?
Are there more than one Soul Stone?
But according to Thor, there are only six Infinity Stones in the universe, and each of them should be unique at that level of existence.
How could there be two identical gems?
This didn't quite make sense.
With this question in mind, everyone continued to follow the development of events.
"Indeed!" Hawkeye Barton nodded.
In fact, he had already believed Red Skull's words, but he deliberately pretended not to believe them and tried to convince Black Widow that it was a lie.
To make it easier for him to sacrifice himself!
"Whatever the cost!" Black Widow uttered these words with a profound gaze and a strong voice.
"Whatever the cost!" Hawkeye Barton also echoed with emphasis.
Both of them were prepared to die.
"If we don't get the gem, billions of people can't be resurrected!" Black Widow stood up and walked over to Hawkeye.
That one sentence almost made everyone present fall to the ground in shock. From Black Widow's meaning, billions of people on Earth had already died?
What the hell, are they kidding?!
"Yes!" Hawkeye Barton nodded heavily. "I think we already know who should be sacrificed, don't we?"
"I think so!" Black Widow nodded.
At this critical moment of life and death, the two couldn't help but grasp each other's hands. Hawkeye Barton looked at Black Widow and said, "I suddenly feel that we're not thinking of the same person, Natasha."
What were these two thinking?
Were they both thinking of letting themselves live and choosing for the other to die, or choosing to sacrifice themselves and letting the other live?
Or was only one of them thinking that way?
It was certain that Black Widow sacrificed herself; she indeed intended to sacrifice herself. So, what about Hawkeye Barton?
....
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