Hawkeye Barton's words caused everyone present to nod in agreement.
That S.H.I.E.L.D. had been thoroughly infiltrated by HYDRA was an undeniable and established fact.
Even top-level figures like Alexander Pierce were likely HYDRA moles.
Knowing that Captain America had already identified some of their HYDRA operatives, how could they possibly remain idle without taking any action?
"Expelling" Captain America from S.H.I.E.L.D. was just standard operating procedure.
Given this context, it was more likely that three people acting "suspiciously" was the correct course of action.
"Everyone, if that's the case, then option D can be eliminated!" Thor said, clapping his hands with a smile. "Only option B is the most probable. The answer is clear, everyone."
"Captain was wanted once when Nick Fury was 'killed', and now he's wanted again," Black Widow quipped.
"We all went through it before, now it's a new round of questions. Who wants to start?" Dr. Banner asked, looking around at everyone.
"This question is about me. I'll start this round of questions," Black Widow said, under everyone's gaze.
No one objected. In fact, even if Black Widow hadn't spoken, they would have suggested she answer.
"I choose B, sacrificing myself to get the Soul Stone!" Black Widow immediately said her answer to the big screen.
[Correct Answer!]
Whew! Black Widow's slightly tense heart finally relaxed, and her eyes couldn't help but reveal a look of excitement.
[Congratulations to the questioner, Natasha Romanoff, for receiving a Stealth Camouflage!]
Immediately afterward, Black Widow felt something heavy in her hand, and she had an extremely soft "cloth" in her hand. Without a doubt, that cloth was the Stealth Camouflage.
One side of the Stealth Camouflage looked perfectly normal, but when flipped over, everyone saw that Black Widow's hands, legs, and other areas covered by the Stealth Camouflage had "disappeared."
"This is Stealth Camouflage! The invisibility effect is really good!" Hawkeye Barton's eyes lit up, and he said with satisfaction.
This kind of Stealth Camouflage was very useful for frontline field agents like them in many situations.
Next, he took the Stealth Camouflage from Black Widow's hands and enveloped himself in it.
Everyone saw that Hawkeye Barton, who had been standing in front of them just moments ago, had completely vanished.
And where Barton had disappeared, the light also looked normal, with no distortion. Unless one looked very, very carefully, they wouldn't notice anything.
This was even with everyone knowing that Hawkeye was using the Stealth Camouflage to become invisible.
If it were for those who didn't know the situation beforehand, the effect of this Stealth Camouflage would be even better.
The two of them played around with the experiment again, both extremely satisfied with the Stealth Camouflage.
"Natasha, if you made a piece of clothing or a robe out of this Stealth Camouflage, it would be perfect for you," Hawkeye Barton suggested.
"I was thinking the same thing," Black Widow nodded with a smile.
The current Stealth Camouflage was just a piece of cloth and not very convenient to use, so it naturally needed further processing.
"Interesting, can I take a look?" Tony Stark said to Black Widow.
Black Widow naturally didn't refuse and handed the Stealth Camouflage to Tony Stark. Tony Stark glanced at it and quickly understood.
"It seems to only use optical principles, which means it only works on normal vision. If thermal imaging is activated, this Stealth Camouflage probably won't work."
Tony Stark casually commented, a hint of disappointment on his face.
"Stark, since that's the case, could you make some improvements to it so it can also block thermal imaging?"
"In exchange, you can have this Stealth Camouflage to study."
Black Widow suggested to Tony Stark.
"Study? Don't be ridiculous. The technology on this isn't advanced enough for me to study. It's just a little gadget that interests me," Tony Stark said, dismissively. "But since you asked, I'll agree."
The deal between the two was reached quickly.
[Answering complete, now playing the answer analysis!]
As always, not long after the answer was given, the answering system began to play the corresponding video.
First, what everyone saw was a dark, vast, and endless place, similar to a desert.
But ahead of that desert, there was also a barren mountain.
Astonishingly, snowflakes were fluttering down on that barren mountain. This combination of geographical features and weather wasn't absolutely abnormal, but it was very rare.
After all, deserts are generally hot and arid, with extremely low humidity, making snowfall a very unlikely occurrence.
Two figures were climbing the mountain, taking one step at a time. They were none other than the fully armed Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.
"Does anyone recognize this place?" Captain America glanced around at the others and asked in a serious tone.
The title mentioned that Black Widow had sacrificed herself to obtain the Soul Stone, so the most basic assumption was that the Soul Stone was hidden on this mountain.
Naturally, everyone needed to figure this out.
Unfortunately, based solely on this small glimpse of the terrain, no one could possibly recognize anything.
"I bet that raccoon doesn't have to climb a mountain!" Black Widow quipped as she scaled the mountain.
"I bet he's not actually a raccoon!" Hawkeye said to Black Widow.
"Whatever, he eats garbage anyway!" Black Widow shrugged.
"Welcome!"
Just as the two were talking, a voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow were both startled, immediately turning around and becoming alert.
Barton swiftly drew a katana from his back, and Black Widow also gripped a gun tightly, pointing it at the person who had spoken.
Under their gaze, a figure wearing a hood and shrouded in a robe slowly emerged.
Although everyone couldn't see the person's face clearly yet, they had to admit, this person looked incredibly imposing.
It was obvious he wasn't just some ordinary character.
Especially this guy's voice. It was like they'd added a filter effect when watching a movie, and it even had an echo, so dramatic.
"Natasha, daughter of Ivan!"
"Clint, son of Edith!"
The person said these words while slowly "drifting" towards Black Widow and Hawkeye Barton.
That's right, this guy's feet were also hidden within the robe, and the entire robe was constantly billowing in the wind, making the person look like a ghost.
"Ivan? Is that my father?"
Black Widow's expression shifted slightly. She still didn't know who her parents were. The mysterious figure didn't seem to be making things up either.
Black Widow was increasingly curious about the mysterious person's identity.
"Who are you!"
On the screen.
Black Widow stared intently at the figure, asking a question everyone in the room wanted to know.
"Consider me a guide," the figure replied leisurely, "guiding you, and everyone else who seeks the Soul Stone."
The expressions of those present stiffened slightly. This figure was actually guiding others to the Soul Stone?
That was unbelievably amazing, wasn't it?
But if the figure knew how to obtain the Soul Stone, why was he bothering to guide others instead of taking it himself?
Considering the answer to the question, Black Widow's self-sacrifice, everyone had a vague guess that obtaining the Soul Stone wouldn't be so simple.
"Alright, then tell me where the stone is, and I'll go find it myself!" Black Widow said in a low voice, still pointing her gun at the figure.
"My dear, if only it were that simple." The figure said this to Black Widow while taking a step forward.
Because of the lighting, the face hidden under his hood finally appeared before everyone.
"Whoa!"
"Holy crap!"
Everyone was startled, because the face under the hood wasn't a human face at all, but a red skull.
"It's Red Skull!"
Captain America's expression couldn't help but change.
Seventy years ago, he had his final battle with the Red Skull. The Red Skull disappeared after being hit by an energy shockwave emitted by the Tesseract.
Captain America had always believed that the Red Skull was dead.
But who would have thought that the Red Skull wasn't dead at all?
And judging by the looks of it, he seemed even more powerful than before.
This wasn't good news.
"He's the Red Skull?" Tony Stark exclaimed in surprise. "So that's what he really looks like!"
The others at the scene were also very surprised. The Red Skull was Captain America's lifelong enemy. Thanks to Captain America, his name had also been passed down to later generations.
Everyone present, except Thor, had heard of the Red Skull.
The fact that the Red Skull wasn't dead was something they hadn't expected at all. And judging by the look of things, the Red Skull knew a great deal about obtaining the Soul Stone.
Could HYDRA become that powerful in the future?
Under everyone's gaze, the Red Skull, accompanied by Black Widow and Hawkeye Barton, arrived at a cliff face dotted with numerous massive stone pillars.
"What you seek is before you, and what you fear is there as well," the Red Skull said, his voice echoing as he addressed Barton and Black Widow.
"The stone is below!" Black Widow said, looking at the chasm that plunged into the depths.
"It can only be given to one of you," the Red Skull added. "And the other will get the Soul Stone!"
"To obtain the Soul Stone, you must sacrifice what you cherish. It's an eternal exchange!"
"A soul for a soul!"
The expressions of everyone present subtly shifted.
Because Red Skull's words were undeniably clear: to obtain the Soul Stone, someone had to die!
So, Black Widow had sacrificed herself, allowing Hawkeye Barton to get the Soul Stone?
But was what Red Skull said actually true?
That seemed a bit out of character for HYDRA.
"Natasha, it seems you made a foolish decision!" Hawkeye Barton couldn't help but turn to Black Widow beside him, speaking seriously. "Remember, it's not your place to be a hero, ok?"
"Barton, as you said, you can't judge me based on something that hasn't happened," Black Widow shrugged.
On the screen, Hawkeye Barton and Black Widow were engaged in a discussion.
"Hey, hello there!" Hawkeye Barton was speechless to see Black Widow actually lost in thought. "Good heavens, it's possible he just made all this up."
"No, I don't think so!" Black Widow said with a serious expression.
"Just because he said your father's name?" Barton was still skeptical.
"I don't even 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 no coincidence."
Her words left everyone present bewildered.
Had Thanos already taken the Soul Stone? Then why were Black Widow and the others here again, searching for the Soul Stone?
Could there be more than one Soul Stone? But according to Thor, there were only six Infinity Stones in the universe. Such powerful objects, each one should be unique.
How could there be two identical stones?
It didn't make sense.
With this question in mind, everyone continued to watch how things would unfold.
"Indeed!" Hawkeye Barton nodded.
In fact, he had long believed Red Skull's words, but he pretended not to, the act of convincing Black Widow was a lie.
It was to make it easier for him to sacrifice himself!
"No matter the cost!" Black Widow spoke in a deep voice, her words powerful.
"No matter the cost!" Hawkeye Barton also echoed heavily.
Both of them were prepared to die.
"If we can't get the stone, billions won't be resurrected!" Black Widow stood up and walked to Hawkeye's side.
Her words almost made everyone in the room fall to the ground. Did Black Widow mean that billions of people had already died on Earth?
What the hell, are you kidding me?!
"Yes!" Hawkeye Barton nodded heavily. "I think we already know who should be sacrificed, right?"
"I think so!" Black Widow nodded.
At this moment of life and death, the two couldn't help but clasp hands. Hawkeye Barton looked at Black Widow and said, "I suddenly feel that we're probably thinking of the same thing, Natasha."
What exactly were these two thinking?
Were they both thinking of letting themselves live and choosing for the other to die, or were they choosing to sacrifice themselves and let the other live? Or was only one of them thinking this way? It could be confirmed that Black Widow sacrificed herself; she indeed intended to sacrifice herself. What about Hawkeye Barton?
-------------
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