Young Turks Have No Shame

Young Turks Have No Shame

Escaping in advance, setting traps, and shouting the organization's name in front of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents before dying. Was that not exposed thoroughly enough for them? Why not just jump in front of Nick Fury and yell, "I'm Hydra! Hi, Hydra!" Hearing Sitwell's detailed report, Pierce was utterly enraged. If those idiots had been standing before him, he would have strangled them alive.

Pierce's expression changed several times before he barely managed to suppress his fury. "Can you confirm whether it was someone from our branch who notified them?"

Feeling Pierce's rage, Sitwell swallowed before speaking. "Sir, Nick Fury's operation was very sudden. Judging by the timing, there was no time for any other channels, so... so... uh..."

Pierce's lips trembled a few times before he finally exploded. "Those shameless Young Turks! They're a pile of dog shit! Since they knew the news, they should have died there and used their lives to protect the organization's secrets! Instead, they ran like cowards and exposed the organization's existence to S.H.I.E.L.D.! Those cowards, those despicable, shameless scum! Listen, Sitwell, they're dog shit! Dog shit! Do you understand?"

Watching Pierce growl under his breath, Sitwell kept wiping the cold sweat from his bald head as he echoed, "Yes, sir. They're dog shit. I completely agree with you."

After venting, Pierce felt somewhat better. But perhaps because he was getting on in years, the outburst had made him a little dizzy. He could only close his eyes and continuously rub his temples. "Who was it? Which bastard contacted those little punks behind my back?"

The Young Turks were not under Pierce's command, nor did he want to manage them. But someone within the S.H.I.E.L.D. branch under his jurisdiction had dared to pass along such sensitive information without his consent. That was absolutely intolerable. Not only had it disregarded his authority, it had also caused consequences so severe that the entire branch might be dragged into the open. An idiot whose brain was probably the size of a walnut could not be allowed to remain, no matter how one looked at it.

Sitwell felt as though the cold sweat on his head had already run down to the tops of his feet. "Sir, we can only confirm that it was someone in the Operations Division. As for who specifically, that... we still... still don't know." In truth, Sitwell had not confirmed that it was the Operations Division either. But only the Operations Division had their people involved in this operation, so even if it was not, it might as well have been.

Pierce abruptly opened his eyes and stared coldly at Sitwell, as if saying, That's all you know? What use are you as my confidant?

Sensing his boss's dissatisfaction, Sitwell hurriedly explained, "S-Sir, you know that, for secrecy reasons, we know very little about the other branches. We did not even know those exposed personnel existed beforehand, much less whose people they were. Daniel, Howitzer, Chieftain, Countess, Banker—any of them could be involved. Those people might have some connection to the Operations Division. Sir, you also know that the situation in the Operations Division is somewhat... complicated."

Pierce seemed to accept the explanation and closed his eyes again, because he knew that the situation on the Operations Division's side was far more than merely complicated.

In fact, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Operations Division could be called a disaster zone for Hydra. More than half its members were Hydra disciples. After all, hard power was best kept in one's own hands—those holding the big guns. But this was also the part Pierce worried about most, because its makeup was simply too complicated. Operations personnel were not agents; they were replaced far too quickly.

Their missions involved the most direct firefights, and as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Operations Division, their opponents were usually terrorists ready to die with them at any moment and brimming with aggression, professional mercenaries armed to the teeth with heavy weapons and excellent tactical training, or even the special forces of some country. And naturally, there were also the bizarre Mutants.

As a result, deaths in action, disabling injuries, psychological trauma, and other factors caused these people to be replaced far more frequently than agents. One bad piece of intelligence or a small mistake in some area, and—hmph—more than a dozen combat personnel could be wiped out.

For those reasons, Pierce would not wait until new recruits reported to the Operations Division before developing them into Hydra members. He might recruit one today, only for the man to drop dead tomorrow. That simply was not worth it. Therefore, everyone who came to the Operations Division was already a finished product.

For reasons of secrecy, those finished products came through a wide variety of channels: the military, SWAT teams, the National Guard, even Blackwater. In short, they had clean backgrounds, professional military training, extensive combat experience and skills, and could quickly be put into the field.

But Pierce was only a Hydra branch director. He was responsible solely for S.H.I.E.L.D.; other branches were naturally handled by other directors and were not under his control. Therefore, some of Hydra's personnel in the Operations Division were not his direct subordinates, but reinforcements sent by other branches. While their loyalty was beyond doubt, there was no guarantee they would not contact people from other branches. So the current situation was not entirely inexplicable.

"Sir, if we investigate, we can find out." Seeing Pierce remain silent, Sitwell spoke uncertainly.

"Don't investigate yet." Pierce opened his eyes. "After something like this, Nick Fury must already suspect there are problems within S.H.I.E.L.D. Investigating now is too dangerous. What we need most right now is silence and a low profile."

Pierce straightened in his seat. "From this moment on, our branch is entering a state of suspended animation. Stop recruiting members and cut off all contact with other branches. Especially the Operations Division—tell Rumlow to keep a close eye on it. If something like this happens again, I'll throw you off the top floor."

"Yes, sir." Sitwell answered briskly. He knew his boss always did exactly what he said.

"But, sir..." Sitwell recalled another matter that worried him. "Coulson has already been isolated for investigation. I think Nick Fury is very likely to expand the investigation to all of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Not likely. Definitely." Pierce said with certainty. "I promoted him to Director. I know him. He never stops until he achieves his goal."

Sitwell was nowhere near as calm. He immediately said anxiously, "Sir, we have to stop him. If there is a large-scale investigation, we could very well be exposed because of it." Sitwell understood the consequences of an investigation all too well. Bring out the polygraph, administer the truth serum, and they could make someone reveal even their mother's birth date.

"Of course I know." Pierce pondered for a while. "Wasn't there also a police chief dug up in this case?"

"Yes, but he's already dead," Sitwell reminded him.

"Even better." Pierce sounded unconcerned. "Do we have someone in the evidence room?"

"Yes, sir," Sitwell replied.

"Very good." Pierce smiled. "Forge a document. Say that, in order to boost his record, that chief had planned to make a token crackdown on... what was it? Oh, right. The Deadlock Gang. He was planning to make a token crackdown on the Deadlock Gang."

Seeing Sitwell's puzzled expression, he continued, "Set the date of his operation for the same day as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation. That way, he was merely informing his colleagues to lie low for a while, and it had nothing to do with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation. No one leaked anything. It was all a coincidence. Understand?"

Sitwell nodded, then asked worriedly, "Will that fool Nick Fury?"

"Heh heh." Pierce chuckled. "Of course not. He isn't an idiot."