A Hammer Descends From the Heavens

"Nick Fury, you better be grateful and don't forget my help. Remember to pay me back too. Understood?"

Xia Ling's voice boomed from the phone, loud enough to ensure the dark-skinned man understood his intentions.

"Yes, Director, I will never forget your kindness!"

Nick Fury spoke, tears streaming uncontrollably from his one good eye, as if Xia Ling had truly given him the gift of life.

Even though Xia Ling wasn't there, Nick Fury put on a good show.

He had to admit, it was no wonder the man had been the director of Hydra S.H.I.E.L.D. before. With acting like that, how could Alexander Pierce not be fooled?

"Take care of the cotton on the farm. If it yields a great harvest, then I might consider bringing you back to the agency. As a man of chocolate skin, I believe you have a talent for this. Understood?"

"Understood, understood, Director, I will take excellent care of your cotton. This year will definitely be a bountiful harvest!"

Nick Fury bowed and scraped, as obedient as could be.

After ending the call with Xia Ling, Nick Fury's expression immediately soured, and he clenched his fists.

If he could, he really wanted to beat Xia Ling up.

He remembered how powerful he used to be, commanding tens of thousands of agents, a true force to be reckoned with.

He had houses all over the world, a special car whenever he went out, and had even mortgaged three aircraft carriers.

Although they were still under construction, once completed, one of them would surely have the honor of becoming his personal vehicle.

But what about now?

It was all gone, snatched away by that man named Xia!

He woke up earlier than the chickens, slept later than the dogs, ate worse than the pigs, and worked harder than the oxen!

He had arranged this marriage, approved the plan, and skimmed the money. Just as he was about to enter the bridal chamber, the groom was changed at the last minute. Tell me, isn't that infuriating?

But there was nothing he could do. Things had come to this, and resistance was impossible. Frank was already involved.

He heard Frank was doing better lately, but still couldn't walk. He had really dragged his brother down.

That Xia Ling even sent his former confidant to steal his pager. He could only pretend not to notice and let Coulson take it.

What else could he do? Everyone already knew, and they were so blatant about it. Could he really afford not to bow his head?

Now, all he could do was build up the farm, hoping that Director Xia would occasionally have a shred of conscience and keep his word.

That way, he, the king of agents, would still have something to rely on and wouldn't end his days in misery.

Otherwise, without even a pension, he'd be reduced to scavenging for garbage.

The thought of the thriving cotton plants brought an involuntary smile to Nick Fury's dark face.

Those weren't just cotton plants; they were his greatest assurance of returning to S.H.I.E.L.D.!

As long as the cotton grew, as long as it was harvested, everything would be alright, everything.

"BOOM!!!"

Just as Nick Fury was lost in thoughts of the future, an explosive bang jolted him back to reality. He spun around and rushed out of the room.

Flames soared into the sky, and dust billowed everywhere. The once lush cotton field was now an inferno, a sight that seared his eyes like a nightmare.

It's over. How was he going to compensate Xia Ling now? Even if he sold his entire body, he probably couldn't afford it. Was he really going to work for him for the rest of his life?

Damn it, he had taken care of this cotton for so long, and now it was all burned down?

Nick Fury's face instantly turned ashen. He looked at the cotton field being consumed by raging flames, an indescribable anger and despair surging within him.

The hammer standing abruptly in the field seemed to mock all his hopes and dreams.

Wait, why was there a hammer?

Never mind, that's not the point. The point is how to put out this fire?

Nick Fury's voice trembled with rage. He quickly pulled out his phone, intending to call for help and investigate the matter.

But in this remote farm, the signal was unusually weak. He had no choice but to drive towards the nearest phone booth, mentally calculating possible culprits.

"Xia Ling... could it be him?"

A thought flashed through Nick Fury's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

Although Xia Ling's methods were harsh, he wouldn't go so far as to blatantly destroy his efforts. While he probably didn't care about a piece of land, he wouldn't be so bored as to play such a trick on him, would he?

Then, who could it be? Could it be his enemies who coveted his position? Or disgruntled insiders?

Nick Fury had no time to ponder. He had to act quickly.

Upon reaching the phone booth, he swiftly dialed the fire department and requested emergency assistance.

As for Xia Ling, he didn't dare contact him immediately. If this monstrous director found out, he'd skin him alive.

Returning to the farm, Nick Fury's heart sank.

The good news was that the fire had extinguished itself.

The bad news was that all the cotton was burned.

Great. So calling was pointless. The cotton was all gone, nothing left.

No, what is that big guy doing there? What is he doing?

"Father, why did you abandon me?"

The big guy's roar made Nick Fury's face darken further. He had already seen clearly what the big guy was doing; he was trying to pull up the hammer on the ground.

And this hammer, Nick Fury had never had any impression of it.

Perhaps this hammer was the cause of the farm fire, and the big guy pulling this hammer...

For a moment, Nick Fury's eyes turned red.

He strode forward and threw a fierce punch at the big guy.

"Mortal, are you provoking the great Son of Odin, Thor, Prince of Asgard?"

Thor, still immersed in the sorrow of his impotence, did not expect the sudden attack and stumbled back a few steps from the unexpected punch.

"I'll show you, mortal!"

Nick Fury didn't answer, and went straight for a right hook, hitting his handsome face fiercely.

"I'll show you Asgard!"

Before Thor could react, Nick Fury threw another left hook, making Thor see stars.

"I'll show you for burning my cotton!"

Ignoring his gushing nosebleed and dizzy vision, Thor struggled to fight back, but Nick Fury directly kicked him to the ground.

"Speak, who are you, and who ordered you to come burn my cotton?"

Before Thor could struggle to get up, Nick Fury stepped on his throat.

Every time Thor tried to struggle up, Nick Fury would increase the pressure of his foot, rendering him unable to move.

"Mortal, I, I am the Son of Odin, Thor!"

He managed to blurt out this sentence, then felt a wave of suffocation as Nick Fury increased the force of his foot.

"Fine, you won't talk, huh? I have plenty of ways to make you talk!"

A cold glint flashed in Nick Fury's eyes. It was time to let this big guy know what the King of Agents was!