Chapter 255: "Foundation" Compensation Plan
Things in the Hydra fortress have been mostly resolved.
The technologies and extraterrestrial materials that should not be in the hands of ordinary people have been destroyed, but the Hydra personnel here, including Baron Strucker, theoretically will be handed over to the local government.
However, Sokovia has been in turmoil, so Steve must ensure that they are capable of receiving Hydra prisoners.
Indeed, without S.H.I.E.L.D., things have become complicated.
In theory, the Howling Commandos, just like the Avengers, are private organizations and have no authority to deal with these individuals.
But this happened in Sokovia and they cannot directly bring the Hydra members back to the United States.
Just like in the original Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America knocked out Baron Strucker but did not bring him back to the United States, which led to him being killed by Ultron later.
Steve and Zemo confronted each other for a while until they received a signal from Carter, which allowed the Sokovian army to enter.
"Avengers... all you left us is a pile of rubble."
Soon, Zemo received a report from the vanguard.
He frowned and looked at Steve, who remained vigilant.
"At the end of the day, we are just here to help you clean up.
Our army has suffered losses in the battle against Hydra. Don't you think it's too much, Americans?"
"With the current situation in your country, you should understand that these things are too dangerous for you."
Steve still had a good impression of Zemo. As fellow soldiers, this colonel had made great efforts to integrate the country's military strength and deal with Hydra until now, which was truly remarkable.
"And we have a compensation plan. I believe you will be more interested in that."
"Compensation plan?"
Zemo raised an eyebrow.
"Although our country has some idiots, they have actually united because of the Hydra issue...
Are you planning to give us an inspirational speech? Unfortunately, we're not buying it."
"You are well aware of the situation Sokovia is facing, and we are too."
Another voice came, causing Zemo's gaze to shift to behind Steve.
"Oaks, you're here. You talk to him, I'll go check the surroundings."
Steve breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm not good at handling this situation."
"Leave it to me."
Oaks stepped forward to Zemo and smiled slightly.
"I just wonder, Colonel Zemo, can you make the decision?"
"Tell me first."
A hint of curiosity flashed across Zemo's face. The old-fashioned Captain America and this Druid were not the same.
He valued people with good minds.
"Well... let's talk privately."
Oaks gestured vaguely to the side, and while Zemo arranged the reception of the prisoners through the communicator, he followed Oaks to a corner.
"I have some knowledge about your efforts to protect the natural environment, even in our remote country."
Zemo sized up the Druid, who was dressed in peculiar armor.
"If you are planning to support us with a batch of air purification devices, I'd rather decline. However, if you can help us treat the wounded, I believe the government and the military would appreciate it."
"If you have a need, I can arrange a collective treatment."
Oaks raised an eyebrow. He had overlooked this aspect.
This country had recently been in turmoil, and their healthcare system was weak. They indeed needed this kind of help.
"But I'm thinking of more than just that."
"Colonel Zemo, you are a smart person and a nobleman of Sokovia.
Our intelligence system is still good, so I am willing to talk to you directly. I hope that you can play a positive role in the upcoming events.
If you have truly paid attention to my situation, you would know that I have always pursued a mutually beneficial win-win principle. I hope the same for the future."
Zemo remained silent for a moment and chuckled softly.
"Indeed, it's more pleasant to talk to smart people...
It is true that the alliance between the government and the resistance forces was led by me, but those crucial Hydra information..."
He glanced at Skull, who was lurking in the distance, following Steve, and raised an eyebrow.
"Those pieces of information appeared in front of me without a trace. I always found it suspicious."
"Well... that's a small gesture of goodwill, but it's you who made them truly effective."
Oaks neither confirmed nor denied it. Zemo had always wanted to protect Sokovia and put an end to its barrenness and turmoil, and he had indeed made good use of that information.
"Actually, the natural environment in Sokovia is quite good, with abundant forest coverage and water resources."
"..."
Zemo squinted his eyes slightly.
"Indeed, our forest coverage is over 50%...
But most of my country consists of mountains unsuitable for cultivation. We have scarce plains for building cities and developing industries, and mineral resources such as coal and oil are mostly located in the neighboring Czech Republic and Slovakia...
Agriculture, livestock, and industry cannot develop, and mineral resources are scarce. We can barely sustain our livelihoods by exporting timber.
But high-quality timber resources are limited, and most of our forests are on the mountains, making it impossible to cultivate the land even if we cut them down."
"This country only has a few cities, and I heard that your population has been consistently declining...
If we allow Hydra to instigate more turmoil, who knows what Sokovia will be like in a few years..."
Oaks's words made Zemo silent again, but he had to admit that what Oaks said was true.
"My Oak Environmental Technology Company has recently developed a series of special crops and accompanying cultivation plans."
Oaks took out a small tablet and handed it to Zemo, who silently accepted it.
"The reason it's a series is because we want to solve the problem of crop cultivation in unsuitable areas, effectively expanding the arable land area.
There are many types of unsuitable areas for cultivation, such as saline-alkali land, desertification, areas where freshwater resources are eroded by seawater... and mountainous and hilly areas."
As Zemo held the tablet, his hands trembled slightly, and his eyes grew brighter. Oaks's mouth curled up slightly.
"Mountainous and hilly areas are characterized by thin soil layers, coarse soil texture, and a high content of rock debris, which restricts the rooting of plants and reduces the capacity of soil to store water and nutrients.
Additionally, the differences in moisture and heat caused by the different slopes and the vertical distribution of moisture and temperature due to differences in elevation will affect the growth of common crops."
"But... what if there is an extremely adaptive plant that can serve as a 'foundation' to solve these problems and allow crops to be 'planted' on top of them?"
A green light emanated from Oaks's hand, and in the excited gaze of Zemo, a thick layer of moss appeared in his hand.
"Moss, the lowest form of higher plants, has played the role of pioneers in the history of biological evolution.
Foundation No. 4, mountainous strong-root moss.
Unlike ordinary moss, it can 'root' on rocks in patches and receive seeds from other plants to serve as a substrate for their root growth and germination."
"I want to cooperate with Sokovia for a large-scale pilot project."
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