Director Fury

Maria Hill was an eighth-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She had extensive experience in espionage and intelligence, superb hand-to-hand combat skills, and was adept at using all kinds of weapons.

Hill's work ethic and her sharp, decisive personality had earned Nick Fury's admiration. Like Coulson, she was an ordinary person, but she played an important role in S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Threat level S?" Coulson was a little surprised. When S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited members, they put them through a series of tests and evaluations.

The first was a threat-level assessment. Ordinary people like Coulson and Hill were rated A, while top agents like Hawkeye and Black Widow were rated S.

"Whether he's a friend or an enemy, we need to know what he can do." Hill glanced at Coulson. "Otherwise, he's a dangerous ticking time bomb to us!"

The White Room was littered with fragments of destroyed weapons. William, back in his ordinary form, called out to the security camera, "Is the test over? Can I come out now?"

Just then, the door behind William, which had been closed, opened. Coulson walked in, wearing a strange expression. He eyed William for a couple of seconds before saying, "You passed the test. I'll take you to see the boss."

William felt a chill run down his back under Coulson's gaze. Wait, that can't be right. Coulson's straight, isn't he? So why...

"Before we go in, let me warn you about something." At last, Coulson brought William to the door of the director's office. "You'd better not say anything about being from the future."

William smiled faintly without replying. He pushed the door open and saw a bald Black man with one eye sitting behind the desk.

Nick Fury, the current director of S.H.I.E.L.D., held the highest clearance level: ten. He could issue orders to the entire organization at any time, sending its most elite agents to every corner of the world on classified missions.

He was the king of agents, the king of spies, with extensive experience and skill in hand-to-hand combat. He was also adept at using all kinds of melee weapons and firearms.

Fury had injured his left eye during World War II, so he usually wore a black eyepatch. It had become his trademark.

He was cunning and devious, making everyone around him wary. No one knew his secrets, because he was a secret himself. He was always watching everything, just like that classic line—

"My eyes are on you."

He played a key role in bringing the Avengers together. Even in the not-too-distant future, after he stepped down as director, he would remain the soul of S.H.I.E.L.D.—a true leader.

"Sir, he's the unusual individual I told you about," Coulson said as he stepped forward. "William Lister."

At Coulson's words, Nick Fury turned his one eye toward William. "Unusual individual" meant someone with special abilities, but this guy looked perfectly ordinary. There didn't seem to be anything special about him.

As Fury sized William up, William studied him just as carefully. Director Fury was even darker than he'd imagined. From a distance, that bald head looked just like an egg.

"Mr. Lister, I hear you deliver pizza," Nick Fury said first.

"That's right. Our pizza's delicious." William smiled and handed him a business card. "Just give them my name when you order, and you'll get twenty percent off!"

Nick Fury glanced at the card. It had Jonathan's Pizza Fast Food Restaurant printed on it. Whether the pizza was any good or not, it would be cold by the time it got all the way from New York to Washington.

"Besides delivering food, do you do anything else?" Nick Fury continued.

"I'm a homebody. Every day, when I'm not working, I just stay in and watch TV or play video games." William shrugged.

"Oh, really? But from what I've heard, you have other interests besides delivering pizza." Nick Fury pulled out a tablet. In the video, William, in his Soldier: 76 form, was chasing down bank robbers. "Like fighting crime?"

William smiled. So their earlier conversation had just been a test. The real show was only just beginning.

"What do you want to ask me?" William said, looking helpless. "I admit that's me."

"Is that your ability? Or, to put it another way, what exactly is your ability?" Nick Fury's expression turned serious.

William looked at Coulson and saw him trying to signal him, apparently warning him not to say anything he shouldn't. William smiled and nodded to show that he understood.

"It's simple. I'm a transmigrator."

But William had no intention of listening to Coulson. The moment Coulson heard those words, he froze.

What the hell is this guy doing? Didn't I tell him not to say anything reckless?

"What are you talking about?" Nick Fury furrowed his brow, as if he hadn't heard correctly.

"I. Am. A. Transmigrator." William spoke each word distinctly, a slight smile curling his lips. Agent Coulson, see? I never said I was from the future.

Coulson covered his face with one hand. He knew the situation had become impossible to salvage.

Nick Fury gave Coulson a strange look. Coulson quickly put on an innocent expression, hoping to make Director Fury think he knew nothing about it.

"Wait, Director Fury didn't know?" William said with a sly grin. "I already told Agent Coulson everything."

Nick Fury glared at Coulson. Coulson looked stunned. He hadn't expected William to throw him under the bus like this. He was done for. He was definitely going to be demoted.

"You've got to be kidding..." Nick Fury kept his face expressionless, but inwardly, a storm was raging.

Time travel was pure nonsense. Anyone who claimed to have come from the future was either out of their mind or had escaped from an asylum.

But why would Coulson hide this from him? He couldn't make sense of it. Coulson was one of his most loyal subordinates. He would never betray him.

Could it be... that there really was something wrong with William?

The room grew awkwardly quiet. Coulson looked miserable, already worrying about whether he'd be demoted the next day.

William, meanwhile, looked unconcerned, as if being from the future or from outer space were both perfectly ordinary.

Nick Fury rubbed the bridge of his nose. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, "Mr. Lister, if you're unwilling to tell the truth, then there's no point in working together."

William knew Fury was threatening him. S.H.I.E.L.D. had already set its sights on him. If he refused to cooperate, they would try every possible way to make him tell the truth.

And then it wouldn't just be his transmigration that came to light. The secret of the Overwatch System would be exposed, too.

"Director Fury," William said with a smile, "if you don't believe me, I can tell you a story. Of course, I've already told Coulson this story."

At that, Nick Fury glared at Coulson again.

Coulson wore an expression that said he was just as helpless and miserable as anyone. This guy was insufferable. He'd thrown him under the bus again and again!

William knew he'd achieved his goal. He had to keep the system's secret safe. He'd come to S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared, and everything depended on this!

"I'm a refugee from the future," William said, pretending to look heartbroken. "Because my world... was destroyed!"

Making things up with a straight face—here we go again~