"This is the first time in your life you've made a girl in her twenties cry, Nick Fury. That doesn't happen every day."
"You little brat, don't underestimate me! Back then—" The former S.H.I.E.L.D. director had just begun to retort before letting out a long sigh. "I guarantee that the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. who appeared in Sokovia at the time were there to protect those mineral deposits," he said helplessly. "But you know as well as I do that I can no longer tell whether the agents sent there were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents or Hydra agents. After the information leaked, the US Government accelerated the coup. Do you think S.H.I.E.L.D. could stand against the US Government?"
"Oh, then the nuclear radiation experiments on human subjects that came afterward..."
"That was a Harvard project. It had nothing to do with S.H.I.E.L.D. I can only guarantee that no loyal Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. took part. I don't know whether Alexander Pierce was involved. If I had known, would I have ended up in this state?" Nick Fury glanced at the one-way mirror. He had already guessed that Victoria Hand was probably behind it.
"Fair point." Salomon nodded solemnly. "But I believe you know more, and I also believe Frank Cassell can get something else out of you."
"Does a prisoner have the right to ask questions?"
"Go ahead."
"Those Skrulls..."
"I copied the interrogation system used in the CIA's black sites, Nick Fury. I'm sure you're very familiar with it, aren't you?" the Arcanist replied with a smile. "But don't worry. I certainly won't use a vial of laundry detergent as an excuse to invade another country based solely on Skrull testimony." The relentless sarcasm gave the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director a headache. Even Frank Cassell's interrogation had not been this unbearable. He had originally