Facing the runaway Dopant, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were in constant retreat; their ordinary weapons posed no threat to the Dopant. Furthermore, due to the large number of colleagues controlled by the Dopant's puppet strings, they couldn't deploy powerful heavy weaponry.
By the time Frank arrived on his motorcycle, the runaway Dopant had already successfully broken out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, controlling over a hundred S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as puppets.
"Nick, you owe me another one," Frank communicated with Nick Fury via the communicator, looking at the Dopant controlling the numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
"ACCEL"
He pressed the Memory, inserted it into the Driver, transformed into Kamen Rider Accel, and charged towards the Dopant.
"Frank, can you free these controlled agents from the control?" Nick asked.
Frank slashed the puppet strings wrapped around two agents in front of him. He looked at the multitude of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents manipulated by the Dopant and frowned slightly.
Fighting the runaway Dopant while having to be careful not to injure these hundred controlled puppets was a bit troublesome.
The Dopant noticed its puppet strings being destroyed, roared, and manipulated the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to shoot at Frank.
"Nick, your subordinates are sweeping me with submachine guns," Frank's tone hinted at a slight danger.
Nick's brow twitched, and he replied, "These people are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The only reason I haven't used heavy weapons and asked for your help is because I want to save their lives."
Frank let out a soft "humph." These people were indeed acting against their will, making it difficult to disregardlessly injure or kill them.
"Have the agents still under your command at the base open fire remotely to distract this monster. Only then can I cut the puppet strings controlling them and free them from the monster's control. I need to get past the blockade of these puppets to get near the Dopant."
Nick nodded and ordered the forces on site to cooperate with Frank's actions.
In his office, Pierce watched the live footage of Frank appearing, transforming into Kamen Rider Accel, and engaging the Dopant.
"He finally appeared, the Gaia Memory user. But this person looks a little familiar," Pierce said to Sitwell next to him, pulling up a photo of Frank.
Sitwell immediately responded, "Frank Castle, also known as the famous Punisher. He's a very dangerous man."
"I remember now," Pierce nodded and said, "Nick has spoken to me about this comrade. Nick rates this Frank as having Level 10 Agent capability. Not many people earn that kind of evaluation from Nick Fury."
"I wonder if Rumlow can handle him. It's a shame the Winter Soldier was sent to the Shocker organization not long ago for Dr. Zola to modify and enhance. Otherwise, letting the Winter Soldier handle it would be much safer."
Sitwell smiled slightly and said, "Level 10 Agent is already equivalent to the limit of human combat power. Crossbones won't be much stronger. However, we don't just have Crossbones. Even if he really reached the limit of human combat power, it would be impossible for him to fight our entire action team of Hydra elites single-handedly. After all, two fists can't beat four hands."
Pierce's lips also curved into a slight smile upon hearing this: "We still need to be cautious. After all, Rumlow and his squad are still officially S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. If we operate behind S.H.I.E.L.D.'s back and something goes wrong, it could easily arouse Nick's suspicion. Moreover, after using the Gaia Memory, this Frank's power far exceeds the limits of ordinary humans. Normal firepower poses no threat to him anymore."
He pointed to the image on the screen, where Frank was directly enduring the hail of bullets from the controlled agents, cutting the puppet strings released by the Dopant one by one.
"Don't worry, we'll set up a trap in advance. We won't give him a chance to use the Memory," Sitwell said, his eyes narrowing.
"That's good. Notify Rumlow and his squad to stand by immediately, ready to move out and seize the Gaia Memory from Frank," Pierce said impatiently, looking at the formidable power Frank displayed after transforming.
"It seems you are quite eager for the power of the Gaia Memory."
Pierce frowned. How dare this Sitwell... Wait!
Pierce immediately shifted his gaze from the battle on the screen and saw Dan, who had transformed into Eternal, casually leaning on the table and looking at him.
"Who are you, sir?" Pierce maintained his composure on the surface, but his mind was racing. How did this person get in? When did he enter? Did he hear the conversation between Sitwell and me just now?
"As one of the leaders of Hydra, who managed to become the director within S.H.I.E.L.D. and virtually infiltrated the entire organization... it would be somewhat disappointing if you couldn't even guess my identity," Dan said with a tone of regret.
"How do you know..." Sitwell broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this and instinctively reached for his pistol.
But Pierce stopped him with a hand gesture.
"If I'm not mistaken," Pierce had been slightly flustered when his identity was exposed, but he quickly calmed down. Seeing the Eternal Memory on Dan's waist, he said, "Your Excellency must be a member of Foundation X. Frank's Gaia Memory was given to him by you."
"Correct. You can call me by my code name, Eternal. It is also the name of the Memory I use," Dan nodded.
"However, Mr. Eternal, I'm very curious about one thing. How did the Foundation confirm my identity, and how did you enter my office so silently?" Pierce's eyes narrowed as he looked at Dan.
Dan chuckled playfully: "As long as the Foundation wants to know something, nothing can be hidden from it. The Foundation also has the ability to reach any place in the world."
"Alright," a mysterious look flashed in Pierce's eyes. "Why have you come to me, sir?"
"You want to obtain the power of the Gaia Memory?" Dan counter-questioned.
"What do you mean?" Pierce's heart stirred, and he asked.
"It means I can give you this opportunity to acquire the power of the Gaia Memory." With that, Dan produced a silver Gaia Memory with the letter 'W' on it.
"I don't want to lose control and turn into an irrational monster like that unfortunate soul," Pierce said, pointing at the runaway Dopant on the screen, testing the waters.
Dan scoffed dismissively: "You don't need to beat around the bush and test me like this. I can tell you directly. The Gaia Memories contain the Earth's memory information. If used directly, normal humans naturally cannot withstand the massive amount of information and will run away and lose control. The completely uncontrollable individual in the S.H.I.E.L.D. base right now is a failed product, and the Foundation will execute and retrieve it."
He glanced at the attentive Pierce and continued: "Presumably, you can guess the prerequisite for using the Gaia Memory. It requires the Connector Surgery." With that, he took out a gun-shaped device, which was a Driver, and loaded the Memory into it.
"So, do you want the power of Weather?"
Pierce stared at the Memory and the Driver in Dan's hand: "Weather?"
"Indeed. It is a superior Memory that allows the user to control and enhance various weather phenomena such as cold, wind, lightning, heat, rain, fog, and mirages, enabling various attacks through the mastery of the weather," Dan introduced.
"It sounds incredibly powerful. Being able to manipulate all kinds of weather is like a legendary god," Pierce's eyes showed a slight feverishness.
"But what do I have to pay? Or rather, what is the purpose of you doing this?"
Dan shrugged: "It's all for the advancement of the Museum Project."
"The Museum Project?" A sharp glint flashed in Pierce's eyes: "If possible, I'd like to understand more about it."
"The Foundation has invested and assisted your Hydra, so it's no harm to tell you. It's actually very simple. The Museum Project is about circulating the manufactured Gaia Memories to find suitable users. Through suitable users, we can uncover the deeper potential of the Gaia Memories, making them more perfect. All the circulated Memories are for the Museum Project. This includes the Memory in the Punisher's hands, and the Weather Memory offered to you," Dan said, raising the device holding the Memory.
"So, in a sense, everyone who obtains a Gaia Memory is an experimental sample for the Foundation?" Pierce mused aloud.
"Correct. This is merely an insignificant price to pay for gaining power far beyond that of ordinary people."
Dan's tone was playful: "So, are you ready to join the Museum Project, or will you give up the powerful strength within your grasp?"
Pierce also smiled: "Compared to the power gained, it is indeed an insignificant price. I can't think of a reason to refuse."
"Excellent." Dan walked up to Pierce, held the connector part of the Driver to his ear, and imprinted the Connector Hole.
(End of this chapter)