No More Pretending

"Director."

Steve rushed into Fury's office and handed him the tablet in his hand. "The Security Council is constantly pressuring us. It looks like they want to make a move."

Fury looked at Steve before him and sighed. "Stay calm, Captain. What are they using to pressure us? Public opinion? Or morality?"

Steve said nothing. Shendu's order to him had merely been to rush into the office and steer Fury in that direction.

Fury spread his hands. "None of that matters. The most important thing behind pressure is force. Pressure without strength is just self-indulgence."

No sooner had Fury finished speaking than he received a notice from the military.

Another Security Council meeting would be held in an hour. Director Fury was required to attend.

Fury looked at the notice and curled his lip. "Looks like they still haven't recognized reality."

"Call Valmont over. Next, I need to deliver a fatal blow to those old fossils in the military." Fury instructed Steve.

In a small room, Fury sat in a chair. Before him were the generals led by Ross.

"So this is what you call a meeting?" There was no emotion in Fury's voice.

Ross did not answer. Once everyone had arrived, he pulled a pistol from behind his back and pressed it directly to Fury's forehead. "From now on, I ask, you answer."

Fury waved a hand. "Don't be so tense, General. Why make things so hostile right from the start?"

Ross ignored Fury's joke. "How did you infiltrate the military system? S.H.I.E.L.D.'s master switch shouldn't have been capable of that."

Fury did not answer, still looking at him with a teasing expression.

"You don't have much time." Ross's voice turned cold.

The projector in the room switched on, displaying a group of Security Council members condemning Fury.

"Public opinion is on our side." Ross continued, "I don't have much patience."

Fury waved a hand. At Shendu's signal behind him, Ross's face turned livid a few seconds later. He had received word from the military that two missile bases were currently bombarding each other.

"You have no force. Why do you think public opinion alone can suppress me?"

While Ross was distracted, Fury snatched the gun from his hand.

"You have only two choices now: submit to me, or die."

Fury's voice was calm, yet to the generals' ears, it was like a bomb exploding.

The room fell deathly silent.

An abrupt communication tone rang out, followed by Shendu's shocked voice. "What did you say? How is that possible?!"

Fury looked at Shendu's grave expression, and his own face darkened. How could something go wrong at a time like this?

Shendu whispered a few words into Fury's ear, and Fury's face immediately darkened so much it looked as though water could drip from it.

At the same time, Ross received a call from Fury. "Fury, you know what the situation is now, don't you? You didn't really think we would only use public opinion to suppress you, did you?"

Fury called Natasha. "What happened? Didn't we replace all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s security systems? How could Tony have pulled this off?"

Natasha's voice came through the phone. "It was Tony's device from yesterday. He tampered with it. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s energy systems are completely paralyzed now and can't be restored anytime soon."

Fury hung up and composed himself again. "It's just the energy inside the agency. In the end, those agents are only ordinary people. Whether they're here or not makes no difference to what I want to do next."

Fury turned to Shendu. "Blow up the military's energy systems."

Shendu gestured in the air a few times. Fury watched the generals still clamoring before him with complete confidence.

Nothing happened.

"What's going on?!" Fury's tone became anxious.

Shendu answered quietly, "I don't know what method they used. I can only control half the military weapons now, and none of the military's key locations are within missile range."

"Useless!" Fury completely lost control of his expression. "Tony! It must be his doing!"

After roaring, Fury ordered, "Launch every missile you can control at every military base currently within range! And don't forget Stark Industries!"

Stark Industries, top floor.

"Sir, a large number of missiles have been detected heading this way. Immediate measures are recommended." JARVIS's voice echoed through the hall.

"Intercept every missile headed here. Ignore the military's side."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Violent explosions erupted one kilometer away from Stark Industries.

A soldier rushed into the room, carrying a device linked to the intelligence department.

Ross and the others in the room also learned of Tony's actions, and their faces darkened. "Damn it, I knew Tony was no good either. Tony is only protecting his own property!"

Standing behind Fury, Shendu raised his head, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

Before anyone present could react, Shendu walked to Fury's side.

"Useless! Is that your place? Go stand in the back!"

Fury's anger had not yet subsided. He cursed at Shendu, "This is none of your business."

A sinister curve spread across Shendu's lips as he slapped Fury across the forehead. "Useless, are you talking about me?"

Fury covered his forehead in disbelief. "You... You've rebelled! I order you to kneel and admit your mistake immediately."

Yet the scene Fury had imagined did not appear. Valmont, whom he expected to be controlled by the Mind Stone, did not appear either.

"What's going on?!" Fury roared.

Fury stared into Shendu's eyes, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. In those eyes, he saw the disdain of a king, without the slightest trace of pity.

"In another world, humans knelt at my feet and prayed for favorable weather. My name made them tremble in fear."

Shendu's deep voice echoed through the room. "Give you a little respect, and you really start thinking you're somebody."

Shendu raised a hand. Violent explosions sounded in the distance, while screams continuously came from the communicator in Ross's hand.

"What's going on? Didn't you say you could only control half of them?!" Fury shouted at the sounds.

"Half? Are you an idiot? You believed everything I said?" Shendu made no effort to hide the amusement in his voice.

Fury recalled the report from his informants about Shendu fighting Tony.

"Tony is one of your people too! You and Tony planned everything together!" Fury could hardly believe his own guess.

"Tony?" Shendu smiled. "How did you know?"

"Damn it." Fury remembered the contract he had watched Shendu sign earlier. "Even the Mind Stone can't control you. Who exactly are you?"

"Before asking about my identity, you need to show some sincerity."

Shendu raised a hand. A chair nearby flew into Fury's knees. Fury cried out in pain and dropped to his knees before Shendu.

"You may call me Shendu."