However, before Finney could even go to Hydra, a phone call from Tony the next day interrupted his plans.
In the New York villa, watching Banner pack his luggage, Finney frowned and asked, "You're planning to leave New York? Why?"
"Here, I'll only threaten their safety."
Banner looked unusually haggard, and his eyes were dull and lifeless.
Finney looked at Banner and said in a deep voice, "That's not your fault. You were controlled by Loki. Few people can resist the control of the Mind Scepter."
"Even if I wasn't controlled, I'm still not safe."
Banner shook his head, his hands still moving, and then said, "Actually, I've thought it through. I guess it'll be hard for Hulk and me to separate. It's better if I take him away from you."
"Good my ass!"
Finney looked at Banner without any politeness and said, "I don't care what others think, or whether they think Hulk is dangerous. I'm telling you, you can't leave unless Hulk agrees to leave with you."
"This is my body!"
Hearing Finney's words, Banner also erupted, standing up and roaring. A bluish tinge appeared on his face, and Hulk seemed to be about to emerge.
On Earth, Finney was probably the least worried about Hulk, so he didn't care about the angry Banner at all and said, "Maybe before, but now it's not just your body."
Banner was panting heavily, clenching his fists, staring intently at Finney, his eyes filled with anger, but in the end, he still didn't let Hulk appear.
"You can't stop me!"
Banner didn't say much more, just that, before bending down to continue packing his luggage.
Finney frowned, looking at Banner, thinking about how to resolve the situation.
Soon, Tony, who had called to inform him of the matter, arrived at the villa. Upon entering, he immediately and urgently asked Banner, "Why are you suddenly leaving?"
"I've been in New York long enough. It's time to leave and go somewhere else."
Banner looked at Tony, secretly grateful for the villa Tony had provided and the lab he'd worked in during this time.
"Where are you going?"
Tony continued. If Banner had just wanted to travel and relax, he wouldn't have cared so much, but Banner clearly didn't intend to come back.
"I don't know!"
Banner shook his head without answering.
Finney figured he just didn't want Tony and him to know where he was going. Tony tried to persuade him to stay, but Banner was determined. No matter how much Tony tried to convince him, he remained silent.
Finally, Banner packed all his belongings, stood up, looked at Tony, then at the silent Finney, and said, "Thank you for taking care of me all this time. See you again sometime!"
"It's been over half a year. At least let me say goodbye to Hulk!"
Finney finally spoke up as Banner was about to leave the room.
He had just thought it over carefully. He had to deal with Skye's situation and research the 'breathing technique' for a while; he was too busy to fight the Hulk. He figured he should let Banner go out and calm down first.
With Nick Fury around, he didn't believe the other would abandon Banner. However, he hadn't seen the Hulk in a long time, and the last time they met, he was under control. So he wanted to see the Hulk first.
Banner stopped, glanced at Finney, and finally sighed as he put down his suitcase. He then began to take off his clothes, leaving his pants on.
A few seconds later, the Hulk roared into existence.
"Long time no see, Hulk!"
Finney greeted him as he stepped forward.
When Hulk saw Finney, a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes, then, as if remembering something, he turned his face away, letting out a childish snort and ignoring Finney's greeting.
Finney almost laughed at Hulk's behavior, but luckily he had his negotiation tool, the 'Violet Chicken Wrap,' and handed him a few. Hulk ultimately couldn't resist the tempting aroma and took the chicken wraps, looking at Finney and saying,
"Mage, let's play, but without Hulk."
"Next time, next time!"
Finney didn't explain that he wasn't going to play, but was trapped on an alien planet; with Hulk's intelligence, it would be difficult for him to understand the difference.
As Hulk ate his chicken wrap, Finney said to him, "Banner wants to leave. You stay with him for now, and I'll come find you in a while."
"Hulk, I don't want to leave!"
Hulk said reluctantly, then added, "Hulk, I want to come out!"
Hearing this, Finney sighed inwardly. He still hadn't found a way to separate Hulk and Banner.
"I will. Next time, I'll take you to another planet!"
Finney patted Hulk's large hand comfortingly, thinking that after obtaining the Reality Stone, he would definitely find an opportunity to take Hulk away from Earth to try and solve the separation problem using the 'Golden Grand Evolution Technique'. Meanwhile,
Tony looked at Hulk, who was acting like a good boy in front of Finney, and couldn't connect him with the ferocious beast he had seen before.
Thinking of the horrific state of the 'Hulkbuster Armor' a few days ago, he felt a surge of frustration. Not only had he failed to avenge himself, but he had also been brutally beaten again.
Finney didn't let Hulk stay out; after saying goodbye, he turned Hulk back into Banner.
Afterwards, Banner didn't say much, got dressed, grabbed his luggage, and left, leaving Finney and Tony alone in the room, both sighing silently.
Tony felt he had lost Banner as a friend, while Finney was clearly more concerned about the Hulk.
The following week, the world, having experienced the alien war, returned to calm, as if an invisible hand was controlling everything.
And indeed, because of Finney's involvement, the losses in the Battle of New York weren't too great; aside from Manhattan, the damage to New York was minimal.
This greatly facilitated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efforts to erase the impact, since humans are easily forgetful.
However, this had little impact on Finney; his reputation on Earth had already reached its peak, and no amount of concealment could erase it.
At this moment on Earth, some might not know who the president was, or who the head of the United Nations was, but anyone who mentioned the Divine Punishment Knight, the Silver Knight, or the Silver Dragon would know it referred to Finney.
And at this moment, Finney was waiting dejectedly outside a strangely shaped building.
"Could I have been sent out on a mission?"
In his 'possessed by evil spirits' stealth mode, Finney sat on the stone steps not far away, gazing at the building's entrance, waiting for the figure he was looking for.
This was the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Tri-Wing Building. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. was a special operations department, it wasn't realistic to completely hide in such a large building, so Finney had asked Skye for help and quickly found the location online.
Just as Finney was wondering whether to come back another time, a bald, bespectacled man in a suit and tie appeared in his field of vision, making him perk up.
The target he was waiting for had finally appeared!
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