Chapter 8: Wrong Answer

[Get ready for the third question.]

[Before the arrival of the Chitauri on Earth, Nick Fury gathers manpower to respond. Who did Natasha Romanoff go to recruit?]

A. Thor, the God of Thunder.

B. Bruce Banner, the Hulk.

C. Tony Stark, Iron Man.

D. Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange.

[If you answer this question correctly, you will be rewarded with a dose of Super Soldier Serum. If you answer incorrectly, one year will be deducted from your lifespan.]

The third question is now posted.

"Who is this Doctor Strange?" Nick Fury immediately noticed a new name among the options.

"He sounds like a street performer," Tony Stark's attention was also drawn to this new name. "But since he appears as an option, he must not be an ordinary person."

"A doctor named Stephen Strange," Natasha Romanoff searched her mind. "I've never heard of this name before."

"Thor, the Hulk, and me—all three options mentioned in the question participated in the Battle of New York. So it's possible that Doctor Strange was involved too," speculated Tony Stark.

"I really want to know where his 'strange' abilities lie. It's a pity that the previous question didn't provide any clues about him," Nick Fury felt somewhat regretful.

"No, no, no, I think the question stem itself is more important than the options," Tony Stark pointed to the hovering text in the air. "See, it says 'before the arrival of the Chitauri.' That means Nick Fury started gathering manpower in advance, before the aliens arrived."

"Are you saying that the arrival of the aliens has signs or omens?" Nick Fury glanced at Tony Stark, who surprisingly didn't call him "lousy egghead" this time, which made him feel a bit unfamiliar.

"The military has always had a department studying UFOs, and their research reports are more extensive than the files on New York serial killers. I used to think they were a bunch of parasites swindling funds," Natasha Romanoff said to Nick Fury. "Should we make contact with them?"

"Well, not just UFOs, I'll keep an eye on crop circles too," Nick Fury said. "Romanoff, this question is about you, so you can answer it."

Tony Stark didn't say anything in response, indicating his agreement.

"Thor, the Hulk, and Doctor Strange—I don't know any of these three individuals. The only one I know is Tony Stark, so..." Natasha Romanoff shrugged.

In reality, she was holding back. She knew that Nick Fury intended to send her to infiltrate Tony Stark's side, and she was very confident in her "operational" abilities. Once she went undercover, she was certain she could build a good relationship with Tony Stark.

Perhaps in the future, she will get to know two other individuals besides the God—one being Iron Man, but if she hadn't been pulled into this quiz space, she would have met Iron Man tomorrow.

So when gathering manpower, she must have gone to recruit Iron Man.

"I choose C. Tony Stark, Iron Man!" Natasha Romanoff declared her choice.

[Wrong answer! One year deducted from lifespan!]

In the next moment, a mechanical voice rang out.

Natasha Romanoff's body swayed, and her face turned pale.

"Romanoff, are you okay?" Nick Fury asked.

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted," Natasha Romanoff tried to describe her feelings. "It's a strange sensation, as if someone has taken something from inside my body."

"Did you really lose one year of your lifespan?" Tony Stark asked.

"I don't know," Natasha Romanoff shook her head. "But if the rewards from the quiz creator are real, then the punishment should be real as well."

"You didn't go to recruit Tony Stark after all. So who could it be?" Nick Fury was also quite surprised. Originally, both he and Natasha Romanoff believed it would be Tony Stark.

"I don't know who it could be, but I don't think it's Thor," Natasha Romanoff stared at the three options for a while before saying, "I can't imagine a mythical god having any connection with me."

"Maybe this unseen Thor is enchanted by your beauty," Tony Stark shrugged. "There are too many gods in mythology who are smitten by attractive women."

"If gods can't resist my beauty, then how can two mere humans, Bruce Banner and Stephen Strange, resist it? Your deduction is absurd," Natasha Romanoff's expression softened a bit. "Please, Stark, not everyone is like you!"

"Like me? A genius, you mean?" Tony Stark shrugged. "That's what I think too."

"As for the remaining two individuals, I've never heard of Doctor Strange, but the Hulk, or rather Bruce Banner..." Nick Fury paced back and forth, his rhythmic footsteps echoing. "When this person isn't the Hulk, he's a genius like Stephen Hawking, with multiple doctorate degrees. If it's him, beauty won't affect him, and there wouldn't be much difference between Romanoff's involvement and Barton's."

"So, you're saying the answer is this Doctor Strange?" Tony Stark said.

"To be honest, I don't know either," Nick Fury was clueless. "This person goes by the name Doctor Strange, so he might actually be a doctor. He might not have the seven doctorate degrees like Banner, but he is indeed a doctor, likely a rational person."

"Can you two shut up? Why do I always have to resort to seduction?" Natasha Romanoff retorted irritably. "I haven't done that kind of thing in a long time."

"Well, that's a shame. I was hoping you'd use your charms on me," Tony Stark said with a regretful expression.

"I don't know who Doctor Strange is, but I know what the Hulk looks like. Honestly, I'd rather not come into contact with that big guy, in case he punches me to death without even realizing it," Natasha Romanoff made another conjecture. "So if it's not Tony Stark, then it should be Stephen Strange."

At that moment, light appeared in the space, and a new scene unfolded.

The first thing that caught everyone's eyes was a helicopter. Nick Fury, wearing his stylish black coat, walked out of the helicopter with Maria Hill. Phil Coulson, wearing sunglasses, greeted them.

"What's the situation?" Nick Fury asked.

"The worst part is, sir, we don't know," Phil Coulson replied, taking off his sunglasses.

.....

check out my other projects too:

-Sailing with Whitebeard: Starting with a Question

-The day of studying in Hogwarts

Join my P@treon young_sunlight

...........

(End of this chapter)