In the spacious, brightly lit Director's Office at S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce angrily tossed a stack of newspapers onto the desk. Hearing a knock, he turned and saw Nick Fury standing outside the door.
"Come in." Pierce let out a long sigh.
"What is it, Director?" Nick asked.
"Did you see this morning's news?" Pierce walked behind his desk and sat down, lightly tapping the desktop with his index finger. "Iron Man's appearance caused quite a stir. Everyone is guessing his true identity, but is there really anything to guess?"
Nick immediately understood what Pierce meant. "I think Tony Stark is putting pressure on us. We aren't ready to release the news that Hydra has risen again. If Iron Man announces it first, controlling public opinion will be difficult."
"That would be a major stain on my career." Pierce's expression darkened as he stared straight ahead. "The United Nations has postponed my appointment. They want to know exactly who the mysterious enemy S.H.I.E.L.D. fought in Eastern Europe was, and Stark has now caused such a commotion at home. Trouble on all sides."
Pierce looked up at Nick and asked, "Any new developments in the interrogation of Rodriguez?"
Nick nodded. "That's exactly what I came to discuss. While he was being transferred, the examination department scanned his physical condition and found nothing abnormal. But during the interrogation, we discovered that he may not be an ordinary person."
"Of course he isn't an ordinary person!" Pierce raised his voice, displeased by what he considered Nick's nonsense. Staring into Nick's eyes, he said, "He was important enough for the military and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to erase every trace of his existence. He absolutely has some earth-shattering secret, and Hydra got to him first."
"Sorry, Director." Nick lowered his head. "What I meant was