In the basement of the Prime Minister's residence, Li Ming demonstrated his familiarity with the place—not only did he know the exact locations of all the surveillance cameras in the corridors, but he was also well aware of the habits of the security guards who spent their days eating and sleeping underground.
This gave Coulson, who was following behind Li Ming, the strange illusion that they weren't there to rescue Halliburton but rather being given a guided tour of the basement by the owner.
In no time at all, Li Ming had petrified every guard along the way. He kicked open the door of a laboratory at the end of a corridor and stuck his head in, shouting, "Anyone here? I've got a 'Coulson Express' delivery. Please show valid ID to prove you're Franklin Hall."
Inside the lab, Dr. Halliburton, busy working at the console, glanced at Li Ming at the door. If possible, he would have loved to retort, "Sorry, wrong address. And please close the door on your way out."
Unfortunately…
Halliburton silently averted his gaze and instinctively sped up his work.
By now, Coulson was too exhausted to comment on Li Ming's antics. Pushing past the door-blocking Li Ming, he approached Halliburton and said, "Doctor, I'm Agent Coulson. We're here to rescue you."
"A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?" Halliburton didn't even look at Coulson, merely accelerating his work as he replied, "Sorry, Agent Coulson, but this is exactly where I'm supposed to be."
Coulson froze. Suddenly, it dawned on him that Halliburton's abduction might not have been the result of an outsider hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mainframe, as previously speculated—but rather because Halliburton himself had leaked his whereabouts to Ian Quinn?
What kind of logic was this? Eating S.H.I.E.L.D.'s food while worrying about 'Quinn International'? Fury would flip the table if he found out.
"Why?" Coulson, unable to comprehend Halliburton's reason for betrayal, asked in shock, "My rescue plan didn't account for you responding like this."
If Halliburton thought S.H.I.E.L.D.'s salary was too low, Coulson could always file a report to "improve the treatment of S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists."
For example, offering free room and board during employment, and dedicated care in retirement until the end.
Most importantly, they could even help solve personal issues—like assigning a girlfriend or wife.
To this, Halliburton scoffed. Was he the kind of person to be swayed by worldly pleasures?
He was a good man—no, a great man willing to sacrifice his life for the future of humanity.
Of course, none of that mattered right now.
Halliburton's gaze remained resolutely fixed on the glass in front of him. Following his line of sight, Coulson saw another lab behind the transparent glass. In the center of that lab, a mercury-like substance was being loaded into some kind of device.
Recognizing it as the Gravity Orb and the device used to activate it, Coulson urgently pleaded, "Doctor, you can't let Quinn control it. It's too dangerous."
The great Halliburton cast a disdainful glance at Coulson and said, "I won't let anyone control it. That's why I'm here—to bury both the Gravity Orb and Ian Quinn in the depths of the ocean."
Not let anyone control it? Coulson paused, realizing Halliburton's words implied not only preventing Ian Quinn from seizing the Gravity Orb but also warning S.H.I.E.L.D. against laying hands on it.
In fact, Coulson even sensed Halliburton's intention to bury himself along with the Gravity Orb in the deep sea.
Coulson was puzzled. S.H.I.E.L.D., after all, had advanced equipment and a wealth of talent—far beyond the likes of a profit-driven capitalist like Ian Quinn.
Besides, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't harness the Gravity Orb now, Halliburton could still lead the research team. Humanity would remember Franklin Hall's contributions.
This was a chance for worldwide fame and eternal glory. Yet Halliburton was ready to throw it all away—even willing to bury himself along with it?
Before Coulson could ask, Dr. Halliburton guessed what he wanted to inquire and explained, "I know Quinn is addicted to greed, only caring about immediate profits with no regard for the living environment of future generations. Overexploiting Earth's limited resources—if the Gravity Orb falls into Quinn's hands, it would be a disaster for humanity."
Dr. Halliburton adopted the demeanor of someone who had "seen through the ways of the world," saying, "S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't much better, burying themselves in experiments without considering the consequences. Just like your exploration of infinite energy, which ultimately attracted aliens—what does it matter if you miraculously restored the buildings on the battlefield? Can the families who lost their breadwinners ever live the same way again?"
Dr. Halliburton shook his head slightly, pity in his voice. "No, without a source of income, they will eventually lose their homes, even starve to death in some alley. The sorrow of these poor souls is all caused by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reckless actions."
When Dr. Halliburton mentioned the restoration of New York's buildings, Coulson instinctively glanced at Li Ming.
The reason New York could return to normal so quickly after the war was all thanks to this seemingly unreliable guy standing before him.
However, Li Ming was currently preoccupied, peering through the glass and curiously observing the Gravity Orb in the opposite lab, stroking his chin. He had no mind to respond to Coulson's pleading gaze.
Coulson sighed, abandoning the idea of asking Li Ming to help persuade or petrify Dr. Halliburton, and said, "You're right, but—"
Before Coulson could finish, Dr. Halliburton shook his head. "I know you want to say S.H.I.E.L.D.'s experiments are ultimately for humanity, but how many lives have been lost due to the consequences? What more is there to argue? The Gravity Orb is too powerful for S.H.I.E.L.D. to control—neither you nor I can handle it, and neither can S.H.I.E.L.D."
Nearby, Li Ming, who had been observing the changes in the Gravity Orb, couldn't help but interrupt when Dr. Halliburton claimed no one could control it. "I told Coulson this ages ago—S.H.I.E.L.D. would need at least a decade of experiments to even begin mastering the Gravity Orb. But there's one thing you're wrong about." As he spoke, Li Ming pulled out a bottle-shaped container from his satchel, waved his hand to open a Teleportation door connected to the Gravity Orb, and began filling the container. "I know someone who can control the Gravity Orb, and I know exactly how to use it."
Watching Li Ming prepare to pack up and take all the Gravity Orb with him, Dr. Halliburton suppressed his curiosity about the scientific principles behind the Teleportation door. Without waiting for the Gravity Orb-destroying equipment to be properly calibrated, he activated the device, intending to send Ian Quinn's heavily invested home into the ocean—along with himself, as a declaration of his eternal commitment to the Gravity Orb.
As for Coulson and Li Ming in the room, Dr. Halliburton could only silently apologize in his heart. For the future of humanity, your deaths were not in vain.
But when Dr. Halliburton pressed the activation button, he realized something was wrong—the equipment to activate the Gravity Orb showed no reaction at all.
What's going on? Did Quinn run out of money to pay the electricity bill?
Seeing Dr. Halliburton's utterly bewildered expression, Li Ming shook the liquor bottle he had just acquired, leisurely packed the Gravity Orb into his shoulder bag, and said with a grin, "Sorry, I saw you and Coulson chatting so enthusiastically that I didn't have the heart to tell you I unplugged the equipment earlier. Hope you're magnanimous enough not to mind me taking the liberty of ruining your original plan."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Halliburton subtly reached for a wrench nearby, plotting how to snatch the Gravity Orb back from Li Ming while feigning curiosity. He walked toward Li Ming, trying to distract him with conversation.
"Who are you?"
At that moment, Coulson, who was only a few steps away from Dr. Halliburton, noticed the latter's attention was entirely on Li Ming. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward and knocked Dr. Halliburton unconscious. Hoisting the man over his shoulder, Coulson said, "Austin, can you destroy the equipment here? We can't let Ian Quinn get his hands on any of the data."
Nicely said—as if only S.H.I.E.L.D. has the right to possess the Gravity Orb.
While silently mocking, Li Ming scratched his head and glanced around. "A fire would do the trick. But fair warning—my flames aren't something fire trucks can put out. If things go south, people will die, and even their souls—"
"Then send me and Dr. Halliburton back to the airborne command center first," Coulson interrupted swiftly. "After that, you can return and play firefighter."
Now that's ruthless. Li Ming scratched his head again. If even the ever-kind Coulson didn't mind letting the petrified security guards in the basement burn to ashes—souls included—why should Li Ming care?
After all, it was Coulson who asked for his help. If there was blame to bear, Coulson could shoulder it.
With that thought, Li Ming summoned a dark cloud, tossed Dr. Halliburton and Coulson onto it, and unleashed cursed flames to incinerate the lab while waving his hand to open a Teleportation Door.
Stepping through the portal, Coulson, now floating mid-air, ordered Melinda to open the aircraft hatch and instructed Ward to keep a close watch on Dr. Halliburton.
He had figured it out—Dr. Halliburton's obsession with the Gravity Orb ran too deep. The man would rather die than let anyone else lay hands on it.
At the same time, Coulson felt an overwhelming headache: How am I supposed to convince Dr. Halliburton to study the Gravity Orb later?
Ah, forget it. Let Fury tear his hair out over this. Sighing inwardly, Coulson turned to Li Ming and said, "Hand the Gravity Orb over to Fitz, then go back and put out the fire at Ian Quinn's place."
Li Ming pursed his lips, peered through the aircraft window at the scene below, and remarked, "No rush on the fire. I'd say anyone who deserved to die is already ashes, and the rest have probably fled by now…"
Coulson walked over to Li Ming's side, gazing at the inferno below with a troubled expression. "What a shame. We couldn't bring Ian Quinn back—otherwise, we might have learned where he found so many Gravity Orbs."
"There's more to your words, isn't there?" Li Ming narrowed his eyes as he studied Coulson, lowering his voice to ask, "Don't tell me you want S.H.I.E.L.D. to step in and excavate the Gravity Orb."
Coulson didn't deny it, nodding as he replied, "The Gravity Orb is too dangerous. We can't let the public know of its existence. If possible, I'd like all Gravity Orb sealed within S.H.I.E.L.D. If that's not feasible, we'll at least station personnel near it."
Heh, I bet Fury thinks the same way. Li Ming rolled his eyes at Coulson before turning toward a tempered glass container made of special materials.
This was a container Fitz had specifically prepared for the Gravity Orb.
However, when Li Ming handed over the Gravity Orb, he held back—only surrendering two-fifths of it.
As for the rest? Naturally, it ended up in Li Ming's pocket.