A person under a roof has no choice but to bow their head

The sky was clear and cloudless for miles.

By all rights, it was fine weather, but Xia Ling did not like this kind of weather.

For some reason, he preferred overcast days—especially when it was windy. That would be even better, so long as it did not rain.

Xia Ling could make the weather become whatever he wanted, but at this stage, there was no need to waste divine power on something so boring.

Still, once he had accumulated enough divine power, he could put on a grand show of demons and monsters running rampant through the world.

For now, it was better to stay obediently in the S.H.I.E.L.D. director's office, eating popcorn and watching the spectacle.

Banner had ultimately been too softhearted and spared his father-in-law at the very end.

He had not crushed his father-in-law's head like he had crushed that minor soldier's head before.

That disappointed Xia Ling somewhat. Without a good show to watch, even the popcorn lost its flavor.

He had originally planned to assume another identity after Banner crushed his father-in-law's head and grant Betty power, letting the two of them fall in love and kill each other.

But now, he could only reluctantly abandon that idea.

Considering that Banner had caused such extensive destruction and taken away a group of soldiers who did not want to die to form the Chaos Gang, Xia Ling would pretend this incident had never happened.

Fortunately, as a devoted player of a certain company, he had carried this sort of behavior forward after entering the cycle of reincarnation.

Otherwise, it really would not have suited the position that originally belonged to Old Khorne.

Once their compatibility matched, pulling him out had not taken much effort at all.

Now, Xia Ling could consider who to choose next. Perhaps going all-out on the path of being inhuman would be more beneficial?

It was a pity the Punisher did not know what was good for him. Otherwise, once the time was right, Xia Ling truly wanted to send him to serve Slaanesh.

"Director, I have something I need to report to you."

After receiving Xia Ling's signal, Coulson entered the director's office.

This Old Village Chief's hairline had receded a little further recently. There was no other reason—Xia Ling had handed many matters that should have been handled by the director over to him.

After all, Xia Ling had come to enjoy the authority of being director, not to work himself to the bone.

The facts proved that someone who could have become director in the original timeline did have some real ability.

He was exceptionally good at handling affairs—a qualified tool.

Xia Ling was even tempted to establish a Directorate of Ceremonial and have Coulson take charge of its seal.

"Coulson, what is it? You're a mature agent. You should think of ways to solve your own problems instead of pushing them onto the director.

You're only dealing with a few documents. As the director, I have far more things to consider."

Coulson's lips kept twitching. He truly could not imagine what Director Xia had to consider that was more important than a director's actual duties.

He really wanted to say so, but when he remembered that Xia Ling controlled his salary, he gave up.

"Director, Director Fury, he—"

"Hold it right there. He is no longer the director. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is sitting right in front of you. Since when could a Black Egg call himself director?"

Xia Ling narrowed his eyes and spoke each word slowly.

"My apologies, Director. Nick Fury said he has something important to report to you."

"Mm, that's more like it. Still, it's best to have less contact with information from people in civilian organizations. But today, for your sake, I'll meet this One-Eyed Dragon."

Xia Ling waved his hand, signaling that Coulson could arrange the meeting with Nick Fury.

Coulson secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Director, how about today? Nick Fury has booked a café."

Xia Ling smiled faintly, his expression carrying a hint of amusement and irreverence. "A café? Not a bad choice. Compared to this dreary office, perhaps it will offer some fresh inspiration.

Fine, Coulson. Make the arrangements. We'll meet him at the café. But remember to remind Nick Fury that my time is very valuable. He'd better give me information worth my while."

Coulson quickly nodded in acknowledgment. He promptly left the office and began arranging the meeting with Nick Fury.

As the afternoon sunlight streamed through the café's floor-to-ceiling windows and spilled across the wooden floor, Nick Fury sat in a corner of the café.

The waiters occasionally looked at him with strange expressions, and he knew exactly why.

It was simply that the culprit was too powerful, leaving him helpless.

Unless he pressed that button, there was not the slightest hope.

But if he dared to use that thing for his own selfish desires, that "Messenger of Justice" would probably be the first to deal with him.

"Whoa, Mr. Fury, did you go out to experience life? Did you manage to beg for today's meal?"

Hearing that malicious laughter, Nick Fury clenched his fists and forcibly suppressed the volcanic rage threatening to erupt within him.

Xia Ling sat down directly across from him, while Coulson took a seat as well. With their arrival, the coffee and desserts that had already been ordered were brought over.

Looking at the culprit who had reduced him to this state, Nick Fury gritted his teeth in hatred.

But at this stage, he needed something from Xia Ling and had no choice but to bow his head.

Frank was still lying in the hospital, and the exorbitant medical bills made him anxious.

In the past, Nick Fury naturally would not have cared about such a small sum of money.

He was down on his luck now, though.

There was no way he could return to his old trade. As the king of agents, he could sense that his every move was being watched.

Obviously, it was the smiling bastard in front of him.

The moment he did anything out of line, this man would probably seize him immediately. As for what would happen to him afterward, that went without saying.

Therefore, Nick Fury had no choice but to consider his proposal and become his Deputy Director.

However, before that, he had to prove his worth. Otherwise, he couldn't swallow this insult.

As it happened, a major recent incident could help him do just that.

"Begging for food? I have a legitimate job. Why would I go beg for food? Director Xia, you can't just say things like that!"

"Oh, sorry, I misspoke. You're right—working at McDonald's is indeed a legitimate job. No argument there."

If it hadn't been for that sarcastic tone, there would have been nothing wrong with what he said.

But Nick Fury truly couldn't hold himself back anymore. He wanted to draw his gun and blow this man's head off.

What was wrong with this guy? How could there be someone this irritating in the world?

"Director Xia, may I ask if you know about the recent Green—oh, Red Hulk incident?"

"You know about it, so how could I not? Coulson told you about it, didn't he?"

The moment those words came out, Nick Fury's old face reddened.

He had really fallen far. He had to rely on an old subordinate to tell him this kind of intelligence out of personal loyalty; otherwise, he truly would have known nothing.

But when he could barely afford to eat, what dignity did he have left?

Thinking that, Nick Fury took a deep breath and began to speak.