The plan to eliminate Hydra was set by Osborn

The soothing jazz had long since come to an abrupt stop, leaving only the dim blue glow of the communicator screen reflecting off Fury's storm-clouded face.

Fury's wife, beside him, sensed the sudden shift in the atmosphere and looked at him worriedly.

But Fury's entire mind had already been completely consumed by the file sent by Harry Osborn.

Any lingering tenderness had vanished, replaced by volcanic fury and bone-deep chill.

"Coulson!"

Yet his instincts as an agent still forced him to calm down. Fury issued an order into his earpiece. "Activate the highest emergency protocol! Prepare a Quinjet for me. Destination: Avengers Tower!"

Before he had even finished speaking, he was already on his feet, snatching up his coat and striding out with decisive force.

New York, Avengers Tower's landing pad. The night wind howled.

Before the Quinjet's engines had fully powered down, the hatch slid open violently.

Fury appeared in the doorway, his expression darker than the New York night.

"Fury, that information... is it all true?"

The moment he saw Nick Fury arrive, Steve Rogers walked straight up to him and demanded an answer.

He had devoted his entire life to wiping out Hydra, only to be told that it had long since infested the heart of the country he had sworn to protect.

"Most likely, yes."

Fury's voice was hoarse as he descended the ramp, every step unbearably heavy. "Operation Paperclip during World War II. To obtain their technology, S.H.I.E.L.D. pardoned and recruited a group of Hydra scientists—"

"Looking at it now, that wasn't recruitment. It was letting wolves into the house."

"Fury!"

Tony Stark's voice cut in. He strode forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Captain America, barely contained rage blazing in his eyes, his facial muscles twitching slightly with anger. "I need an explanation!"