"Tao, your Eastern etiquette is really strange."
Tony shook hands with Tao Wen, a little unaccustomed to the up-and-down motion. It felt a bit odd, but also intriguing.
"Every place is a little different, but the meaning is the same: a warm welcome."
Tao Wen said with a smile to Tony, though he was inwardly speechless. He thought hugging and cheek-kissing was even stranger.
With a beautiful woman, it was fine, but with two big men... it would give him goosebumps.
"Try some. I ground the coffee myself."
Tao Wen ushered Tony to a seat.
"Very fragrant."
Tony took a polite sip of his coffee and offered his assessment.
"Thank you, have you thought it over?"
Tao Wen took a sip of his coffee and looked at Tony.
"Tao, I'm willing to join S.H.I.E.L.D., but I also have my conditions."
Tony put down his coffee cup and said.
"What conditions?" Tao Wen asked.
"After joining S.H.I.E.L.D., I don't want them to interfere too much in my life. I want absolute freedom."
Tony said.
"That's no problem. You can become an Outsider for S.H.I.E.L.D.," Tao Wen said without hesitation. In the original plot, Tony was an Outsider, so this was within the original scope.
"I'm willing," Tony said, having heard of Outsiders before, and was very satisfied.
"On behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., welcome aboard."
Tao Wen took out a contract and a pen, handing them to Tony.
"It's my honor to work with you," Tony said, quickly signing his name.
"I'll go apply for an office for you with Director Fury right away."
Tao Wen said with a smile, "Sit here for a moment. I'll be right back. I have quite a few good magazines here."
He pointed to a magazine rack nearby, which held the best-selling Playboy. This magazine was Tony's favorite, featuring beautiful, world-famous stars, hot and alluring.
"Alright, I'll wait for you here," Tony replied with a smile.
Tao Wen strode out of the office with the contract in hand, heading towards Director Fury's office. The office door was ajar. Through the opening, a beautiful figure came into view – it was Natasha.
"Knock, knock."
He knocked politely on the office door. Just as he was about to knock, he heard Director Fury's voice, "Have Tao Wen come to my office."
"Yes."
Natasha quickly turned around and hurried out, pushing the office door open. Because she used too much force, she stumbled and fell directly into Tao Wen's arms.
"What are you doing? Trying to take advantage of me!"
Feeling Natasha in his arms, Tao Wen pushed her away and shouted at her in terror, looking incredibly wronged.
"I…"
The sudden turn of events left Natasha a bit bewildered, stunned. However, after Tao Wen entered the office, she instantly realized what had happened.
This bastard was deliberately teasing her!
A torrent of fury surged in her beautiful eyes, fixated on Tao Wen's back. The killing intent she felt could shake the heavens and split the earth.
"It's a shame, only one fragment from the intimate contact."
Tao Wen, slightly disappointed that the fragment count hadn't increased, walked into the office. He strode towards Director Fury, who had an egg-shaped head, and said, "Director, you wanted to see me?"
"You're here. Have a seat."
Director Fury was still relatively affable, and he was quite surprised by Tao Wen's exploits as the Steel Plate Man. He hadn't expected Tao Wen to grow so much. However, he felt a slight pity, as Tao Wen only had less than a month left to live. Otherwise, he would have become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top asset, second only to Natasha.
Tao Wen sat unceremoniously on the soft sofa and began to eat the dried fruit.
"Tao Wen, the deadline is in three days. What are your plans?" Director Fury looked at Tao Wen. Although Tao Wen had performed very well, the time was approaching, and as the director, he had to do something.
"What plans could he have? He's just a salted fish, a complete and utter piece of trash, just wanting to freeload and wait for death in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Natasha walked up to Tao Wen and snatched all the dried fruit from the table, glaring at him fiercely. She looked as though she couldn't do anything to him, but she could kill him with her eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey, Natasha, I'm not as bad as you think. I'm also a superhero, and I'm better at completing missions than you are."
Tao Wen could tolerate anything, but he couldn't tolerate having his dried fruit stolen.
"Better than me? You haven't even figured out your only mission, even though the deadline is approaching. You're better than me by more than just a little bit."
Natasha sneered, taking a large bite of the dried fruit.
"Really? Look at this."
Tao Wen stood up, not wanting to be outdone. He walked to Director Fury's desk, picked up some of the sweet dried fruit, and popped it into his mouth. He chewed it even more forcefully, then shook the contract in his hand, handing it to Fury. "Tony has agreed to join S.H.I.E.L.D. as an Outsider."
"Really?!"
Director Fury, who had been a bit annoyed at Tao Wen for competing for his dried fruit, immediately slammed his hand on the table upon hearing the news. Surprise filled his eyes, and he gained a new appreciation for Tao Wen's efficiency.
At the same time, a new thought occurred to him: even if Tao Wen only had less than a month to live, he could still become a top agent in S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Of course it's fake, Director. Would you believe this two-faced bastard? I think he deliberately forged the contract just to get himself out of trouble. I told you a long time ago, he's a hypocrite who talks a big game!"
Natasha said loudly.
"Really? What do you think, Director?"
Tao Wen wasn't angry. He looked at Natasha with amusement. They said the Black Widow was a master of social graces, but it seemed that when a woman got fixated on something, no one could maintain complete rationality.
However, the angry Black Widow was indeed very beautiful.
That cold expression, combined with her aloof image, formed a unique landscape.
Natasha also looked at Director Fury.
Facing their gazes, Fury had a bit of a headache: "I'm going by the facts."
He couldn't confirm whether Tao Wen had brought Tony into S.H.I.E.L.D. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been trying to recruit Tony, but hadn't had much success. Tao Wen accomplishing this in three days was indeed a bit unbelievable.
After all, he trusted Natasha more. Natasha was usually pretty good at judging people.
As a superior, of course, one couldn't say things like that.
"The fact is, he's a scumbag who forged a contract. I suggest revoking his agent status and letting him return home to enjoy his remaining time."
Natasha said loudly, staring coldly at Tao Wen. She wanted to take this opportunity to completely remove Tao Wen from S.H.I.E.L.D. At that point, she would have a hundred ways to kill Tao Wen.
Knock, knock, knock.
At this moment, a knock on the door broke the tense atmosphere in the office.
"Come in."
Director Fury sat in his seat and spoke in a deep voice.
Creak.
The wooden door was pushed open.
Tony, a smile plastered on his face, strode into the office, drawing surprised glances from Director Fury and the other person.