"Nick Fury, you'd better be grateful. Don't forget how I helped you, and remember to pay me back. Understand?"
Xia Ling's voice came through the phone, loud and clear, making sure that Black Egg understood what he meant.
"Yes, Director. I'll never forget your kindness!"
As Nick Fury spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably from his one eye, as if Xia Ling had truly saved his life.
Even though Xia Ling wasn't there, Nick Fury still put on quite a performance.
No wonder he'd once managed to become director of the Hydra S.H.I.E.L.D. With acting like that, it was no surprise Alexander Pierce had been fooled.
"Take care of the cotton on the Farm. If we get a good harvest, I might consider transferring you back to headquarters. As someone with chocolate-colored skin, I'm sure you have a talent for this. Understand?"
"Understood, understood, Director. I'll take excellent care of your cotton. We'll definitely have a bumper harvest this year!"
Nick Fury nodded and bowed, as obedient as could be.
As soon as his call with Xia Ling ended, Nick Fury's face fell, and he clenched his fists.
If he could, he really wanted to beat Xia Ling up.
Back in the day, he'd been a mighty man, commanding tens of thousands of agents.
He'd had houses all over the world, a luxury car waiting whenever he stepped out, and three helicarriers bought on credit.
They were still under construction, but as soon as they were finished, one of them was sure to become his personal ride.
But now?
It was all gone. That bastard Xia had taken everything from him!
He got up earlier than a chicken, went to bed later than a dog, ate worse than a pig, and worked harder than an ox!
He'd handled every detail of this wedding from start to finish. He'd approved the plans, pocketed the money, and just when the couple were about to head to the bridal chamber, the groom had been switched at the last minute. Tell him that wasn't infuriating!
But there was nothing he could do. What was done was done, and there was no way to fight back. Frank had already been dragged into it, too.
He'd heard Frank was doing a lot better lately, but he still couldn't get out of bed. He'd really dragged his friend into this.
That Xia Ling had even sent one of Nick's former trusted subordinates to steal his pager. All Nick could do was pretend not to notice and let Coulson steal it.
What choice did he have? They already knew, and they were being so brazen about it. Could he really refuse to bow his head?
For now, all he could do was get the Farm in order and hope that Director Xia would occasionally show a little conscience and keep his word.
That way, the former King of Agents would at least have something to fall back on, and wouldn't end up destitute in his old age.
Otherwise, with no pension to his name, he'd have no choice but to scavenge for garbage.
Thinking of the cotton flourishing in the fields, a smile spread across Nick Fury's dark face.
That wasn't just cotton. It was his best chance of getting back into S.H.I.E.L.D.!
As long as the cotton grew, as long as the harvest came in, everything would be fine. Everything.
"BOOM!!!"
Nick Fury was daydreaming about the future when an explosive crash jolted him back to reality. He spun around and ran out of the room.
Flames shot into the sky and smoke billowed everywhere. The once-lush cotton field was now a sea of fire, the sight stabbing at his eyes like a nightmare.
It was over. How was he going to pay Xia Ling back now? Even if he sold every last pound of himself, he probably still wouldn't have enough. Did this mean he'd really have to work for him for the rest of his life?
Damn it, he'd spent so long tending that cotton, and now it had all gone up in flames!
Nick Fury's face turned ashen. He stared at the cotton field being swallowed by the raging fire, anger and despair surging inside him.
The hammer standing upright in the middle of the field seemed to mock all his hopes and dreams.
Wait, why was there a hammer there?
Never mind, that wasn't the point. The point was, how was he supposed to put out the fire?
Nick Fury's voice trembled with anger. He quickly pulled out his phone to call for help and report what had happened.
But the signal was unusually weak out here on the remote Farm. He had no choice but to drive toward the nearest phone booth, trying to figure out who might be behind it as he went.
"Xia Ling... Could it have been him?"
The thought flashed through Nick Fury's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Xia Ling might be ruthless, but he wouldn't sabotage Nick's hard work so openly. He probably didn't care about a plot of land, but surely he wasn't bored enough to mess with Nick like this.
Then who could it be? Enemies coveting his position? Or disgruntled insiders?
Nick Fury had no time to think about it. He had to act fast.
When he reached the phone booth, he quickly called the fire department and requested an emergency response.
As for Xia Ling, he didn't dare contact him right away. If that twisted Director found out, he'd skin Nick alive.
When Nick Fury returned to the Farm, his heart sank.
The good news was that the fire had gone out on its own.
The bad news was that all the cotton had burned up.
Great. That phone call had been pointless. The cotton was gone. There was nothing left.
Wait, why was there a burly man over there? What was he doing?
"Father, why have you forsaken me?"
The burly man's shout made Nick Fury's face darken even further. Now he could see what the man was doing: trying to pull the hammer out of the ground.
Nick Fury had never seen that hammer before.
Maybe the hammer was what had started the fire, and the burly man trying to pull it out...
Nick Fury's eyes turned red.
He hurried over and punched the burly man hard.
"Mortal, are you challenging Thor, Son of Odin, Asgardian Prince?"
Thor was lost in the sorrow of his impotence and never saw the attack coming. The sudden punch sent him staggering back.
"I'll show you, mortal!"
Nick Fury didn't answer. He charged in with a right hook, landing a hard punch on Thor's handsome face.
"I'll show you, Asgard!"
Before Thor could react, Nick Fury followed up with a left hook, making stars burst before his eyes.
"I'll show you, burning my cotton!"
Ignoring his bleeding nose and swimming vision, Thor tried desperately to fight back, but Nick Fury kicked him to the ground.
"Tell me. Who are you, and who sent you here to burn my cotton?"
Before Thor could struggle to his feet, Nick Fury planted a foot on his throat.
Whenever Thor tried to get up, Nick Fury pressed down harder, leaving him unable to move.
"Mortal, I... I am Thor, Son of Odin!"
He managed to force out those words, then began to choke as Nick Fury pressed down even harder.
"Fine. You won't talk? I've got plenty of ways to make you!"
A cold glint flashed through Nick Fury's eye. It was time to show this burly man what the King of Agents could do!
Before you continue