Chapter 72

"Dr. Stern, any updates on Dr. Banner?"

In the lab, Leo found Dr. Stern, who was busy studying the Super Soldier Serum, and asked.

Dr. Stern looked up from his microscope, tapping his head:

"Oh, boss, I was just about to tell you. I got so caught up in the research that I almost forgot.

There's been a bit of an issue with Mr. Green. The military has tracked him down, so he might be a few days late arriving in New York."

"The military tracked him? Where is he now?"

Leo frowned.

He had contacted Dr. Banner early, so there shouldn't have been a situation where his blood ended up in a factory's drink bottle, leading S.H.I.E.L.D. to discover a clue and alert General Ross to capture him. Besides, S.H.I.E.L.D. was in trouble themselves and couldn't collaborate with General Ross to go after the Hulk.

"He's in Virginia. He said he wanted to visit a friend before coming to New York and pick up some research materials. But that's where he got spotted."

Dr. Stern explained.

"Virginia... a friend."

Leo thought for a moment and roughly guessed what had happened.

It seemed that before Dr. Banner had a romantic relationship with Black Widow, he had a girlfriend named Betty Ross, who was also the daughter of General Ross, the former military leader in charge of the Super Soldier Serum research.

She was an expert in cell biology and a professor at Culver University in Virginia.

Leo figured something must have gone wrong when Banner went to see Betty.

"Try to contact him. If you can reach him, tell him that a friend will come to help him leave Virginia. Tell him to avoid transforming unless absolutely necessary."

After instructing Dr. Stern, Leo quickly left the lab.

"Xiao Liu, make arrangements. We're heading to Virginia."

"Yes, boss!"

Xiao Liu, who was following behind Leo, responded immediately, taking out a communicator and skillfully handling all the necessary arrangements.

Over an hour later, Leo's private jet landed at the Virginia airport.

"Looks like they've locked down the place pretty tightly."

On the way into Virginia's city center, Leo looked out the car window, noticing several armed American soldiers stopping cars leaving the city for thorough inspections.

Officially, he was visiting the Virginia branch for a work inspection, but in reality, he was here to pick up Dr. Banner.

"According to intelligence from the branch here, the entire Virginia city was locked down this morning. It's easy to get in, but leaving requires passing through multiple strict checkpoints. The official statement is that they're hunting down a dangerous fugitive."

Xiao Liu, who was driving, reported the intelligence gathered by the local branch to Leo.

Leo nodded:

"Where is the military focusing their search?"

"Culver University."

Xiao Liu replied.

"Then let's head to Culver University."

The military was likely focusing their search on the area where Dr. Banner was hiding. By closely following the military's movements, Leo would naturally find Dr. Banner.

If Dr. Banner could evade the military's capture and make it to New York on his own, that would be ideal. If not, Leo needed to get him out before he transformed into the Hulk.

If the Hulk appeared in public, it would attract a lot of attention, making many things difficult to handle.

...

"Blonsky, still no sign of them?"

In the armored command vehicle, General Ross's tone clearly conveyed his dissatisfaction.

Yesterday, he had originally planned to visit his daughter, whom he hadn't spoken to in years, to try and mend their strained relationship.

But before he even knocked on the door, he spotted Bruce Banner, whom he had been searching for years, through the window.

Overjoyed, he quietly left and immediately mobilized all his elite forces, planning to capture Bruce Banner in one swift move to study the mutated genes in his body, which were far stronger than the Super Soldier Serum.

Unfortunately, Banner had sensed something wrong before the early morning operation and escaped with his daughter before they could be captured.

To prevent Bruce Banner from escaping again, Ross had to lock down the entire city and personally lead the most powerful soldier in his armed forces, Emil Blonsky, to capture Banner.

But even as a three-star general, he couldn't keep a city locked down indefinitely. He had to capture Bruce Banner by tonight.

"We've narrowed down the area. They won't be able to hide for long."

Blonsky's voice came through the communicator, firm and confident.

"Remember, don't harm my daughter. Once you find them, use a tranquilizer gun on Bruce Banner, and try not to injure him."

After putting down the communicator, General Ross couldn't help but curse:

"Damn S.H.I.E.L.D., failing at the critical moment!"

If S.H.I.E.L.D. had provided intelligence support and advanced surveillance equipment, he would have pinpointed Bruce Banner's location by now and successfully captured him.

But when he contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. yesterday, they said they couldn't offer any help due to special circumstances.

"Target spotted, location is at 7th Street. They're fleeing towards 8th Street..."

"Attention all units, close in on 7th and 8th Streets..."

Standing on the rooftop of a building near Culver University, Leo watched the American soldiers suddenly swarm towards 7th and 8th Streets. He took a golden mask from his task space and put it on.

"Looks like it's there!"

With chakra infused in his feet, Leo leaped from building to building, rapidly moving towards the center of the area being surrounded by the American soldiers.

Meanwhile, in a narrow alley in the 8th Street area, Banner and Betty were hiding between two trash cans, breathing heavily as they tried to calm their racing hearts from the running.

Banner didn't want to transform into the Hulk unless it was absolutely necessary because he couldn't control the Hulk, and he feared that if he did, innocent people might get hurt.

"Bruce, we can't escape. My dad's soldiers are everywhere. Maybe you should take me hostage. It might make him hesitate."

Betty, also panting, suggested.

They had just made it to 8th Street when they realized the area was swarming with soldiers. Surrounded on all sides, with helicopters overhead, they had no choice but to find a gap to hide in.

"It won't work. Your father wouldn't believe it, and no matter what, he won't give up on the genes in my body."

Bruce shook his head, thinking for a moment before turning to Betty:

"Betty, you should leave. If this continues, I might lose control soon, and once he comes out, you'll be in danger."

He didn't want to become the Hulk, but it wasn't up to him. If his life was threatened, the Hulk would inevitably emerge.

In his eyes, the Hulk was a mindless monster, and Betty would be in danger if she stayed close to him.