Chapter 342 - 342: You’ve Got Some Nerve

"Don't tell me you're planning to use me as the one sticking his neck out again…"

Eric O'Grady felt as though he had nowhere to complain.

Still, seeing all those superheroes imprisoned inside the starship made him feel terrible.

"Fine. It's not like this is the first or second time I've done something like this."

"If you need to use me as bait again, then go ahead."

Eric adopted an attitude of complete resignation, as though they could do whatever they wanted with him.

Karl couldn't help laughing at the sight.

"All right, stop talking like you're about to die."

"It's not like I'm actually going to do anything terrible to you."

"I just want you prepared."

"You're holding something they desperately want."

"That ultimate belt in your possession is something they've been dreaming of obtaining."

Hearing this, Iron Man gave a cold laugh.

"Instead of worrying about Eric O'Grady, maybe you should worry about yourself!"

"They've been hunting you all this time, and you still haven't escaped their attention."

"At this point, they're probably desperate to settle the score with you."

"You haven't exactly made the wisest choices."

He looked conflicted.

Karl could only spread his hands helplessly.

He wasn't worried about any of that.

There was even less reason to fear those people.

"If they want revenge, that's even better."

"This time, you and Eric O'Grady should go together and retrieve the shield."

"Remember, you absolutely have to learn from what happened before."

"Get the unique command phrase or password they use."

"If that doesn't work, kidnap a Skrull and bring them back."

"Either option is fine."

"Otherwise, even if we bring the entire safe back here, it won't accomplish anything if we don't know their access code…"

The suggestion sounded ridiculous.

But Karl was telling the truth.

"I smashed their base apart last time and escaped right under their noses!"

"They're probably putting everything they have into hunting me down right now."

"If I went there personally, wouldn't that attract even more attention?"

"So sending the two of you is definitely the better choice."

"Besides, Eric O'Grady is no longer their main priority."

"Their base was destroyed so thoroughly that rebuilding it will take an enormous amount of effort!"

"Right now, they probably want to tear me apart with their bare hands."

The situation sounded absurdly troublesome.

But Karl had already made his decision, so the others could only follow the plan.

"This is going to put you in an even worse position with them…"

Karl casually waved a hand.

There was no need to pretend they were honorable gentlemen when dealing with enemies like these.

"The grudge already exists."

"I don't mind adding another grievance to the tally."

"When the time comes, we can settle the old and new scores together."

"That would actually be satisfying."

"If we just sit around thinking about everything without solving anything, that would be the real tragedy."

Eric's opinion of Karl changed slightly after hearing that.

"I didn't expect you to be this fearless."

"I can't just sit around either."

"Besides stealing their command phrase, is there anything else you need me to do?"

"I can help with that too!"

Seeing everyone united around the same goal made things much easier for Karl.

It was far better than the lifeless atmosphere from before, when everyone had seemed completely drained of spirit.

"Good."

"As long as we work together, retrieving the shield should be possible."

"And if we can obtain the command phrase for the safe as well, that would make things even better."

Karl had now made the final objective of this operation clear.

As long as they obtained the necessary information, everything would begin moving in the right direction.

"You'll have to endure being trapped inside for a few more days."

"Don't worry."

"The moment we get what we need, we'll come back and rescue all of you."

Iron Man felt helpless seeing everyone still sealed inside the starship.

Karl also established a secondary objective for this operation:

Obtain the antidote.

"Remember, if you can't get it, don't stay and keep fighting!"

"If they capture you, our situation will become much worse than it is now."

"As long as you obtain even one of our objectives, withdraw immediately."

His expression became serious.

A faint sense of unease rose in his heart.

"Don't worry. We know what we're doing."

"We're sending enough people this time."

"Getting those things back shouldn't be a problem."

"But the Skrulls must be in complete chaos right now, right?"

"I heard you thoroughly wrecked the inside of their base!"

"They must hate you more than ever after something like that."

Karl shrugged.

They were already enemies.

There was little point worrying about making the relationship even worse.

"I'm not particularly worried about them."

"But this operation has to remain tightly controlled."

"You absolutely cannot let yourselves get captured."

"If you can complete the objective and withdraw safely, that's the best possible outcome."

"Whatever happens, don't get dragged into a prolonged fight."

"They'll definitely say disgusting things to provoke you."

"Just pretend you didn't hear any of it."

"And most importantly, protect the ultimate weapon in your possession."

"Under no circumstances can you let them take it!"

"If all ten ultimate weapons are gathered together, the disaster they could bring to this entire planet is easy to imagine!"

Karl wanted to make sure they understood the danger in advance.

Once the two sides actually started fighting, withdrawing could become extremely difficult.

By then, any warning would be too late.

Karl understood the Skrulls' methods far too well to take that risk lightly.

"Once you receive the signal, open the safe immediately."

"We'll send Captain America a code phrase at the same time."

"Once he receives it, he'll call his shield back to himself."

"No matter how carefully they guard it, they won't expect us to have already secured the shield."

The Skrulls' internal forces were currently in complete disorder.

That made this the perfect time to strike!

"We can't delay."

"We have to act tonight."

"The longer we wait, the more problems could emerge."

"If we wait too long before making our move, the situation may no longer be favorable."

A trace of vigilance appeared in their eyes.

Their current location was extremely well hidden.

They had also made detailed preparations.

As long as they followed the plan, there shouldn't be any major problems.

"Good!"

"We've already thought everything through."

"As long as we act according to the plan, things shouldn't become any more difficult than we expect."

They carefully went over every part of the operation.

"Everyone has their own assignment."

"We'll remain in contact at all times."

Karl gave each of them a private code phrase so the three of them could communicate securely.

Meanwhile, the Skrull headquarters had already fallen into complete disarray.

Tothwanwell stared at the ruins covering the ground and, for once, seemed to have run out of ideas.

Ultron had already withdrawn somewhere quiet to cool off.

He showed absolutely no concern about the destruction of the Skrull base.

He didn't even seem remotely regretful.

Only High Priestess Dotilt remained at Tothwanwell's side.

Watching her god look so dejected made her increasingly uneasy.

He was their god.

If even Tothwanwell lost the will to continue pursuing the conquest of Earth, then their situation would truly become disastrous.

(End of Chapter)

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