I Really Miss My Little Brother

At 4:20 in the afternoon, at the New York Police Department, Director George Stacy was overwhelmed as he received reports relayed by his subordinates.

"Director, that man's people have already pushed into the Brooklyn District. The Cannon Gang's stronghold has obviously been wiped out!"

"The gunfire in Hell's Kitchen stopped in less than an hour. Has Hell's Kitchen truly been unified?"

"Informants reported countless body bags and trash bins being hauled out of that building. The so-called New York gang gathering seems to have turned into a massacre!"

"They've already headed toward the last two gangs in Queens. They're highly professional—nothing like street punks. They look more like the CIA!"

"Damn it...!!!"

Just then, Director George Stacy, who had been staring at the main surveillance feeds for New York City, couldn't help letting out a startled shout.

He immediately paused one of the feeds, then pointed at a figure on the screen.

"Th-that's one of my former men. Didn't he get transferred to S.H.I.E.L.D.? Why is he working as a thug for that man!"

At that, Director George furrowed his brow and gloomily shut off the surveillance feed.

Then he couldn't help rising to his feet and pacing back and forth through the police station.

After a while, Director George helplessly said to his subordinates, "City Hall keeps insisting that our city seems to have turned into Metropolis from the comics!

But I say that's bullshit!

Rather than saying that man is some Superman from the comics come down to Earth, it's better to say he's an unhinged version of Marlon Brando!

No, he's a crazed version of Vito Corleone. He's the Godfather—the Godfather has clearly come to unify the American mob!!!"

After saying that, he slapped the desk twice in frustration, then complained to the officers around him, "I have to tell that ambitious mayor of ours, along with his damned campaign team, that this is simply not an opponent we can handle!

What does he expect me to do, go head-to-head with that man? Has he considered that I have a wife and an adorable daughter at home? My daughter is only eight this year!

Maybe I should resign. If you ask me, sooner or later that man will have his people swaggering through New York's streets—or rather, they're already doing it!

We New York cops lost our credibility and authority in New York long ago. It started two months ago!

This is a damn nightmare. Even Kingpin never put this much pressure on me!

Completely unlike Kingpin, who at least kept things hidden, that man never even conceals his crimes. Or rather, just like now, he simply doesn't need to hide them!

I know he's committing crimes, but how am I supposed to arrest him? Damn it, the Provisional Cabinet of the White House's advice to us is actually to let it be. Why don't they just tell us blue uniforms to join that man's ranks?

But the most crucial thing is that his methods are actually effective. New York City's crime rate over the past two months has dropped to twenty percent of what it used to be.

A full eighty percent of criminal activity has been forcibly stamped out by that man's subordinates through brutal means!

My own precinct has even achieved seventy percent of its anti-drug work without me knowing a thing about it!

Is he some ruthless overlord? I think he's practically a great man. I'm going to resign. If I keep doing this job, sooner or later I'll run into that man!

Rather than remain a police director in name only under his authority, I'd rather drive my daughter to elementary school. At least then he won't shine a Superman-grade Bat-Signal at me in the middle of the night!"

Bang!

By the end, Director George, filled with frustration and resentment, simply slammed his hand onto the desk.

After that, he no longer looked at the infuriating yet utterly unmanageable surveillance screens before him. He left the police station directly and headed for New York City Hall!

Meanwhile, at Heisenberg's Nightclub, Barbara was drinking against Jessica with great bravado.

But she was clearly no match for the Security Minister. In less than two minutes, she had been drunk into the restroom.

After throwing up a little in the restroom, Barbara took out her communicator and contacted her current direct superior.

That was Miss Hill, the current Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

A moment later, the connection went through, and Hill's helpless voice came from the device.

"Do you always like contacting me on his turf?"

Hearing Hill's words, Barbara helplessly shrugged as well before replying, "Believe me, this is at least a sign of respect for him. Besides, the key issue is that I suspect even if I went to Washington to contact you, he might still be able to hear us.

So we might as well chat right under his nose. At least I'm not doing anything that harms him. I'm only reporting some trivial news."

As she spoke, Barbara couldn't help glancing at the ceiling, as though Heisenberg were on the floor above, looking down at her through the walls.

And Heisenberg at that moment...

He turned over in his recliner.

Did that woman think he would peep into the women's restroom? What a joke. He wasn't that kind of scum!

Meanwhile, in the restroom, Hill, having tacitly accepted Barbara's decision, listened to Barbara's report.

"That man's mood didn't seem very good today. Or rather, perhaps what he just did improved his mood.

Nineteen Leaders and their deputies from a total of seventeen New York gangs have all died in this building. Not a single one survived.

That man's subordinates included not only Kingpin's former mob enforcers, but also many of our former colleagues. Obviously, he was slowly taking over the assets we left behind, as well as Hydra's legacy. And the one directing it all was Rumlow, the man I once reported to.

Don't ask me how I knew. That man didn't bother concealing such things, and his unstoppable power proved that he truly had no need to sneak around.

Rumlow was his subordinate, and Sitwell was his subordinate. So I could safely guess that the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., our old boss, Hydra's greatest infiltrator—Alexander Pierce—had probably already died at that man's hands.

Other than that, I had nothing more to say. Even I was a little tempted to join them. At least then, my safety would truly be guaranteed.

Anyway, Director Hill, good luck. The mess Nick left behind has really caused you far too much trouble!"

At that, Barbara helplessly ended the communication.

On the rooftop, Heisenberg smiled in satisfaction.

Just as he had expected, neither the US Government nor S.H.I.E.L.D. dared to take countermeasures against the actions he and his subordinates were currently carrying out.

Or rather, as long as Heisenberg did not pursue more territory and merely kept his power confined to New York—

They would continue to tacitly accept his rule over New York.

What was more, Heisenberg was even paying his taxes normally while conducting business!

So...

Heisenberg raised a hand and rubbed his forehead.

Starting today, New York has completely become my territory. I'm sure the New York City Government will back down before me.

They can't deal with me, so they can only accept me for now. That will continue until they develop a weapon they feel confident enough to use against me.

Thinking that, Heisenberg chuckled. If the poor US Government thought it could develop a weapon capable of dealing with him...

Then he would certainly teach them what a Kryptonian was.

As for how to expand his influence beyond New York into other cities...

Heisenberg did have a way, but he had to admit that he did not have enough subordinates yet.

What way?

Nothing more than strengthening himself while undermining the US Government's credibility among those American citizens who longed so desperately for freedom!

And undermining the US Government's credibility...?

Did they even have much credibility left to begin with?

Ever since the Hydra incident, had the US Government ever been able to hold its head up again?

In the America Heisenberg had entered in this Marvel Universe, its current international standing...

To put it bluntly, poor little America was already being pressed step by step by China, which had S.H.I.E.L.D. China!

How could it possibly have the time or energy to make trouble for him?

Thinking that, Heisenberg rolled over and let the sun shine on his back as well.

Life was best like this. As a Kryptonian, what was wrong with being a lazy bum who rolled around and basked in the sun?!!

Leaving aside Heisenberg's fully prepared plans.

At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Pegasus Base, Dr. Banner and Professor Selvig had gathered together to discuss the fluctuating energy continuously leaking from the Cosmic Cube.

Besides the more than fifty principal scientists participating in Project Pegasus, several special assistants had also joined the project.

For example, the two young women recording notes beside Professor Selvig.

The two of them had also recently become famous in Project Pegasus as beneficiaries of personal connections, parachuted into the project around the same time as Dr. Banner.

One was named Jane Foster, and the other was Daisy Louise.

Both had once been Professor Selvig's students and assistants.

Speaking of the two of them, one had to mention Thor, who was far away in Asgard.

Asgard, the royal palace...

After the light of the Bifrost flashed once again...

Well, after the Bifrost flashed, its complete restoration drew one step closer.

As for the culprit behind the Bifrost's destruction—our Prince Thor...

"Damn it, Heimdall, have you found any news of Loki yet? He's Loki! There's no way he could have died just like that!"

As usual, Thor carried a barrel of liquor as he pestered Heimdall for news about Loki.

Listening to Thor's incessant questioning, Heimdall irritably shoved him back two steps.

That bastard had pressed the greasy hand that had just grabbed a pork leg right onto his spotless armor!

Looking at the reeking drunkard before him, whose mouth was still smeared with grease...

Heimdall let out a helpless sigh.

By Odin, was this fool really Asgard's future ruler?

Well, at least he now possessed tolerance and kindness—qualities especially vital to an Asgard that needed time to recover and rebuild!

As he pondered this, Thor had not finished questioning him.

Ignoring Heimdall's shove, Thor instead leaned in and threw an arm around Heimdall's shoulders, saying mysteriously, "Old friend, put Loki aside for now. I have something serious to ask you!"

But before he could ask, Heimdall let out a weary sigh.

"This is the twenty-second time you've asked me this serious question, Thor.

The Bifrost has not yet been fully repaired. If you wish to go to Midgard, His Majesty must personally operate the Bifrost with his divine power. You must speak to Odin!"

"This is truly terrible!"

Thor immediately let out a helpless wail.

"You know I only go to Midgard to look for my brother. Believe me—but let's put that aside for now. I'm going to drink with Fandral!"

The moment Odin was mentioned, Thor sobered up.

He turned and headed straight for the palace.

But Heimdall knew it was not over yet. Thor still had at least one more thing to say.

Sure enough, Thor turned back around.

"Um, Heimdall, don't tell my dad that I want to go to Earth. If I didn't miss my brother so terribly, I wouldn't want to go to that awful place called Midgard, where they won't even let you smash your cup after drinking!"

Watching Thor's retreating back, Heimdall truly wanted to give him a hard whack with his sword sheath.

Are you sure you want to go to Midgard to find your brother?

Are you sure you really miss your brother?

Then why have you never once asked why I cannot find Loki?

I suspect the reason he has prevented me from observing him is that he was transported near one of the Infinity Stones.

Only something like that could, to a certain extent, block my divine observation of the universe.

And you bastard who supposedly loves his brother—you do not even care about something this important...

Heimdall let out a long sigh.

Fortunately, Loki was an even bigger bastard. Otherwise, Heimdall would truly have had to worry about Thor's poor little brother.