Marvel Salted Fish Kryptonian

"That beauty's name was Ginger Rogers, another actress from Hollywood's Golden Age. However, the mansion was never built, and unsurprisingly, the golden couple broke up."

"That's really..." Barbara, who had passed away two years ago, consciously kept her composure. She thought for a moment and asked, "So we're heading to the radio station now?"

"That's right. Going down the mountain is the shortest distance. If you want to go up from the bottom of the mountain, it's not a big deal, but the distance is also farther than going up the mountain."

"You said it's closed and is there anyone managing it?" Barbara asked.

Henry replied, "It was originally a real estate advertisement, 'HOLLYWOODLAND.' Later it gradually became an important cultural symbol of Hollywood, and its status rose accordingly.

In 1978, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner encouraged donations, and nine donors each donated 27,700 taels to build a new and more durable steel sign, which is still in use today.

"It is now managed and maintained by the non-profit organization 'Hollywood Sign Trust'. Because someone committed suicide here, the sign is not open to the public."

Barbara asked in surprise, "Has anyone committed suicide here? Did they die?"

Henry replied, "On September 16, 1932, 24-year-old actress Peg Entwistle climbed to the top of the letter H and jumped to her death."

"Someone really died!"

"Of course. Perhaps if we go there, we can look for any traces left over from sixty years ago."

"But don't you think it's a bit of a spoiler to talk about this kind of thing when you're traveling like this?" Barbara complained.

"How boring it would be to travel without ghost stories. But you do look like a science person, and you won't scream in panic like a little girl when you hear ghost stories."

"Oh, are you looking forward to what will happen? Maybe I can cooperate." Barbara turned sideways, her big blue eyes blinking, showing her innocence.

Henry didn't respond, but instead changed the subject, parked the car in a parking lot at the top of the mountain, and said, "We're here, we can get out and take a look."

"Is this... the radio station on the mountain?" Barbara asked while looking around as she unbuckled her seat belt.

"Right. I just checked, the path to the sign is blocked by barbed wire, and the gate isn't open. So we'll have to walk and find a way to sneak in. Or maybe just take a look from above."

Henry turned off the engine and got out of the car. Before he could get to the passenger door, Barbara got out on her own. Her attitude was quite casual, and she didn't treat herself as an outsider at all.

The two of them walked to the edge of the parking lot and looked down the hillside on the south side, just in sight of the top of the Hollywood sign.

"A feature that few people notice," Henry said, pointing to the Hollywood sign below, "is that the nine letters are actually built at the same height, but they are not in a straight line.

"If someone were to fly a helicopter and look at the Hollywood sign from the same height, it would appear flat. But when we look at it from the bottom of the mountain, we get the illusion of height difference because of the shape of the hillside."

Chapter 258: Observe from a distance but not up close

Seeing the top of the Hollywood sign from above didn't seem very satisfying. Unsatisfied with that, Barbara asked, "Is there a place to slide down?"

Henry looked around and said, "I've been here before and did find a way down. If I remember correctly, someone cut open the wire fence over there so you could get in. Otherwise, you have to climb over."

"Let's go, let's go." Barbara said excitedly.

After a while, the two found the hole in Henry's mouth. One in front and one behind, they went in.

Luckily, Barbara didn't abuse herself when she went out, and she wore high heels. But even with sneakers for jogging, walking on this sandy mountain path often made her waving her hands wildly to keep her balance.

Or she would slide down a short distance while standing. The fact that she didn't fall flat on her face was a testament to Barbara's excellent balance.

Of course, Henry's constant support was one of the reasons why Barbara didn't fall too badly.

But sometimes she would push the man's hand away in disgust, and sometimes she would throw herself into Henry's arms while yelling, and then make a playful tongue-out expression.

If Henry hadn't listened to the steady, unperturbed heartbeat, he would have wondered if he could create any sparks with such a beauty.

As a result, everything was just a show.

With such acting skills, it would be a shame not to develop in Hollywood.

Henry didn't expose her and just played with her, stumbling to the bottom of the Hollywood sign.

The reason for choosing this height for the landmark was, of course, because the terrain was just right, with a small platform with a moderate height difference. Perhaps a portion of it had been renovated to provide storage for construction workers, but it's barely visible now.

But Barbara's excitement didn't last long after she reached her destination. She was immediately overwhelmed by disappointment. She touched the rusty supporting iron frame and the curled part of the iron sheet and said:

"I didn't expect to see the signs up close. They were so rusty and battered. There really wasn't much to see. And since it was so close, I couldn't see them all."

Henry laughed and said, "A lot of things are like this. From a distance, they seem beautiful. But as soon as you get closer, all the flaws become apparent. It's a typical example of the American Dream."

"Besides, this place was rebuilt in 1978, so it's been nearly 16 years. It's been out in the open every day, exposed to the wind, sun and rain, so it's not surprising that it's in such a state. This is just the steel structure; the previous wooden one was in even worse shape."

"So do you think it's better to keep some distance? Or should we get closer and accept these shortcomings?"

Facing the pointed question, Henry evaded the question by answering, "In Hollywood, it's better to keep a certain distance. The ideal situation is to be able to see the big words clearly.

"If you get too close, not only will you see the rusty parts, but you might also get cut by the turned-up iron sheets. It would also be quite troublesome to encounter a venomous snake in such a wasteland."

In fact, Henry's answer also contained a double meaning, referring to both the Hollywood sign and Hollywood itself.

However, the two of them tacitly kept the topic superficial. Henry looked up at the sky and said, "Bobby, let's go back to the parking lot. It's a long way up the mountain, and I don't have a flashlight. If we wait until dark and can't see the road, it will be troublesome."

There was still some time before dark, but this wasn't a time-sensitive operation; it was impossible to wait until the very last moment before dark to get back to the parking lot.

Having seen the Hollywood sign up close, regardless of the satisfaction or disappointment behind it, Barbara nodded and said, "Let's go," as if it were a resolved obsession.

People who are used to hiking will say that going down the mountain is more dangerous and going up the mountain is easier. But for most people, going up the mountain is more tiring and going down the mountain is easier.

Although it wasn't to the point where she had to use both hands and feet, or had to take a breath after climbing a short distance, when the two returned to the parking lot, not only was the woolen hat off, but the woolen coat was in Henry's hands, and the girl, who was once a high school gymnastics champion, didn't want to talk much.

After helping Barbara into the car, Henry took out two bottles of water from the thermal box in the trunk and handed one to the passenger.

Both of them drank the water in one breath, and then they felt like they were alive again, full of energy.

Barbara tried to explain: "Actually, that mountain road is not that long."

"Of course, I understand. After all, we've been walking all day and are a little tired. Under normal circumstances, no one would notice this little slope."

Seeing that the stubborn girl's expression had softened a little, Henry smiled and asked, "How about we go down the mountain and find a place to have dinner?"

Barbara stared at the man with wide eyes for a moment, then smiled and nodded, saying, "Yeah, okay."

Henry followed his nose and found a cheap and delicious restaurant nearby. While eating, he and Barbara chatted about their experiences today.

When Henry sent the person back to the door of the hotel, the girl who got out of the car asked through the window: "Henry, do you want to come up for a cup of coffee?"

With her face slightly tilted to the side and the corners of her eyes sending out electric waves, such a delicate face is undoubtedly very seductive.

But Henry smiled and said, "I thought it would take at least three dates before I could get such an invitation."

"That's just an excuse girls use to politely reject unsuitable boys. If they meet a suitable boy, they'd be foolish enough to ask him out three times. They won't be able to snatch him away from all the girls throwing themselves at them."

"Aren't you afraid that the boy's attitude will change after you get him?"

"Doesn't this just prove that my judgment was inaccurate and I misjudged people? What we should do is remember this lesson, not be afraid of making mistakes. I'm a biology student, and if I'm afraid of making mistakes and don't dare to do experiments, then I'm doomed to achieve nothing. I should change my career as soon as possible."

"Ha! That's a shame, though. I'm not a staunch triple-date person, but I wasn't expecting to be invited tonight when I left. I still have to get back to feed the cat."

"Do you have a cat?" Barbara asked, raising her eyebrows.

Henry smiled and said, "Yes, a very cute tabby cat. But he has a big appetite and a bad temper. Although I prepared lunch for him before I left, I still haven't found dinner yet."

"If he missed a meal, it would be a disaster for my family. I don't keep him in a cage. You don't want me to be the kind of guy who forgets about a hungry cat at home just to get a cup of coffee."

"That's a shame." Barbara frowned, then relaxed. "Then let's meet at the cafe at the same time tomorrow? Or even earlier, and pick me up at the hotel?"

"Want to continue?"

"Of course, I still have vacation time, and I haven't seen enough of Hollywood yet," Barbara laughed.

"Okay, see you tomorrow then."

Barbara leaned through the car window, grabbed Henry's shirt, and brought him closer. She quickly kissed him on the lips and said teasingly, "I hope you remember to prepare dinner for the kitten tomorrow."

Chapter 259 Trainee Agent

Barbara used her key to open the door of the hotel room. In the brightly lit room, as expected, a black man was sitting there, cutting a steak.

The black man noticed Barbara closing the door. He looked over and asked, "Bobby, didn't the target follow you up here?"

"No, Fury. He said he had to go back to feed the cat and left." Barbara threw her coat on the bed and ungracefully took off her shoes. She walked barefoot on the carpet of the hotel room.

Nick Fury said while eating his steak, "I hope you don't mind if I wait for you guys, but I got hungry."

"Of course I don't mind. It's public money anyway. You're not going to say you won't reimburse me and want me to find a way to get it reimbursed myself, are you?"

"of course not."

Barbara muttered, "Luckily he didn't come up here. Otherwise, seeing this scene, people would definitely think that I, a bad woman, tricked him into coming here, but in fact, it was an old glass who coveted his white ass."

"Ahem! Um, trainee agent Bobby, please report your mission now." Nick Fury said seriously. If he put down his knife and fork and didn't eat, it would be more convincing.

Barbara poured herself a glass of red wine and drank it in one gulp before saying, "If I say this man is very good and smart. At least he has enough knowledge to be able to recite the names and deeds of the stars on the Avenue of Stars.

"Of course, it's possible that he was just being serious, but what he said was actually nonsense. But I didn't hear any flaws. In fact, if he's not a colleague, I think he'd be a nice boyfriend too."

"Are you serious? Is this what you want to report?" Fury was troubled by the speech that was not in line with her age from this smart girl who came into the sight of SHIELD in high school because she assisted biology professor Wilma Calvin in developing super soldier serum.

"Of course it's not just that. It's just that I jumped straight to the conclusion at the beginning and didn't let you hear what you wanted to hear. Wouldn't that be disappointing?"

"What do you mean?" Fury put down his knife and fork and said seriously, "Are you saying that this man has problems and is not suitable for us?"

"Whether he's suitable or not is hard to say. While we haven't yet ascertained his political leanings, I can sense his distrust of the government from his words. However, they're limited to a few sarcastic remarks, nothing more radical. What I'm trying to say is that recruiting him might not be that easy."

"What do you mean?" Picking up the knife and fork, Fury continued to struggle with the steak.

"A sense of distance. Although his words are frivolous, he is very good at applying the brakes and always keeps people at a distance, sometimes vaguely. It's difficult to gain his trust. Without trust, we can't do our work at all."

Without commenting on Barbara's thoughts, Fury simply asked, "Are you confident in recruiting him? He doesn't necessarily need to be a full-time agent; a peripheral assistant would be fine."

Black Nick Fury hasn't forgotten his father, White Fury's advice to form his own team. It's best if it's one that SHIELD doesn't know about, so that it can become a real force in his hands.

Barbara said, "To a man like him, a white lie is still a lie. If I had told him later that I was only here to recruit him, he would probably have refused outright.

"Even if you come forward, it's the same. My impure motives for contacting him are the biggest reason for his rejection. So, let me really be his girlfriend. As long as he is my boyfriend, then it's only natural for him to help me."

Now it was Fury's turn to mutter, "You're not a swallow raised by a polar bear. Our female agent decoy program has always only been about the initial stages, not long-term sexual services."

"They sacrificed themselves for the mission, but I volunteered. There's a difference between the two," Barbara said proudly.

"That's really it? Look at your expression right now, you're just like a crazy fangirl." Fury criticized the girl who was old enough to be his daughter. If he and his first love were not rational...

Barbara said with dazed eyes, "You don't know, Fury, but I think the secret of him is not that he is very strong and bullet-proof. Although his body proportions are a bit wide for a man, he is not fat.——"

A Kryptonian: It’s definitely not because of greed, it’s caused by eating!

"——As a gymnast, I can feel the explosive power of the muscles beneath his skin. These are muscles that you can't lift even when you're lifting dumbbells in the gym."

"That's enough!" Black Nick Fury interrupted the trainee female agent who was about to drool and said dissatisfiedly: "If you want to carry out Swallow's mission, when his actions are contrary to the goals of the Bureau, are you willing to carry out the cleanup work?"

"If something like that happens," Barbara, who had been so serious, suddenly laughed playfully. "Then there must be something wrong with the agency's target. How could the man I chose make a mistake?"

Fury covered his face with his hands and shook his head helplessly.

It's over, this trainee female agent is ruined...

"By the way, sir, I have another date tomorrow. I need to apply for funding." Barbara stretched out her hand and waved it towards Nick Fury.

"Fuck! If you want a date, spend your own money. There's no funding!" Nick Fury couldn't help but curse. He had called in Barbara Morse, a trainee agent, to do a private job. The so-called funding was all paid out of his own pocket.

"I'm trying to help you find a solution. If I pretend to be a rich woman and support a jobless gigolo, do you think I could win him over? He told me today that he had no education and worked odd jobs, which was really pitiful."

"Fuck you! The information I gave you clearly states that he's a tinker! He's the one who ripped Andrew Saxon off a million dollars, so he should still have six hundred thousand. How much money are you going to give to support a man who's full of lies?"

Barbara didn't care whether Henry was lying or not, but was curiously aware of her boss's grammatical errors. "You want Fakemi? I can file a complaint with the bureau. Is this workplace sexual harassment?"

"Fuck Yourshef! I don't care anymore. The mission is canceled. You have to find a way to go back." After saying that, Fury got up and left without caring that he hadn't finished his steak yet.

Barbara grabbed the man and said, "Wait a minute, sir. At least leave me the ticket back to Georgia."

"Fuck buy Shef! You still want a plane ticket? I'll pack you up and send you via FedEx. It'll be cheaper that way."

"I'm sorry, sir. I will carry out my mission obediently. Please forgive me for my earlier careless words." Barbara said with tears in her eyes and an aggrieved expression.

"Madfak!" Fury stopped and looked at Barbara Morse, who was pretending to cry, and said, "I'll give you one last chance. On the last day of your vacation, I will find a way to lure him to that illegal clinic.

"Then you'll find a way to use your fake relationship with his landlord to get into his house and install a bug. Understand? You should have learned how to install a bug in the training provided by the bureau, right?"

"Okay, sir. But..." Barbara said hesitantly, "Would you please not wait for someone in my room tomorrow?"

"Forget it, let's cancel the mission..." This blonde chick is useless. Nick Fury wailed in his heart.

Chapter 260 Shifting Focus

Over the next few days, Barbara, like Henry, toured Los Angeles and Hollywood, especially the studios of the major film companies, where they even managed to sneak in and take a look.

In places like this, people come and go so often that the guards can't tell who's who. As long as you don't act suspiciously like a reporter or a celebrity fan, no one will bother you.