Fury: There's No Shame in Being S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Dog

"Forget it. I can't worry about all that right now. Let's get the man first..."

At the moment, Carl could no longer think of anyone more suitable than Dr. Samuel Sterns to crack the Super Soldier Serum.

So even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to give it a try.

Thus, after briefly comforting Pietro, the god of pure love, with a few words,

Carl manipulated Black Widow and sent a signal to Nick Fury.

Soon, an encrypted number filled with asterisks called in.

"Natasha, how did it go? Did you figure out what that mysterious item was?"

The instant the call connected, Nick Fury's urgent voice came through.

Carl sneered. "Nick Fury, isn't S.H.I.E.L.D. reaching a little too far?!"

"Hmm?"

Nick Fury was clearly taken aback. After several seconds of silence, he cautiously asked, "You are... Carl Mala?"

A cold snort came from the other end of the line, serving as an answer to his question.

What the hell?

Who the hell does this kid think he's talking to?

I'm the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.!

I asked you a question, and you dare answer with nothing but a 'hmph'?

Nick Fury's face immediately darkened.

Normally, whether military and political officials or superheroes, who wouldn't give him some respect... no, at least a great deal of respect?

Yet this little punk, barely out of the gate, dared to be so arrogant?

This brat really doesn't take me seriously at all!

Fine, very fine. There would come a day when this brat regretted it.

He would put this debt on the tab for now.

Suppressing the urge to lose his temper, Nick Fury said in a low voice:

"Since you know who I am, you should understand that S.H.I.E.L.D. represents the United Nations Security Council!"

"So if you dare lay a finger on Agent Romanoff, then don't blame me—"

Before he could finish his threat, Carl cut him off impatiently. "So what if it's the Security Council?"

"If you want to use the United Nations to pressure me, you'd better have them repay the 600 billion they owe Sokovia first!!"

Wasn't it just a measly S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Why the hell did he have so much drama?

Even Ancient One, that bald Greater Daemon King, didn't dare act this arrogantly in front of him! (Dog-head emoji for safety.)

Nick Fury was instantly dumbfounded on the other end of the line.

He had never imagined that the other party would bring up money.

It was only 600 billion!

Sure, the Security Council definitely couldn't pay it back, but... what did that have to do with S.H.I.E.L.D.?

My salary still gets paid, and I still take dirty money!

Seeing that threats wouldn't work, Nick Fury could only force down his steadily rising blood pressure and say calmly:

"Carl Mala, I think you may have misunderstood. S.H.I.E.L.D. bears you no ill will.

"The reason we sent Agent Romanoff was simply to invite you to join the Avengers."

"Besides, logically speaking, the Hydra base left behind in Sokovia, along with all the facilities and equipment inside it, should be handed over to S.H.I.E.L.D. for disposal..."

Nick Fury's words were half true and half false.

Although Carl's abilities already met the requirements for joining the Avengers,

his cold-blooded, murderous style made Fury wary.

Or rather, he saw Carl as a threat!

Because people like that were often unwilling to obey anyone else's orders.

Unless someone had some crucial leverage over them.

And their conversation just now had once again confirmed his suspicion.

Therefore, Nick Fury had already abandoned the idea of inviting Carl to join the Avengers and classified him as a super-criminal with unstable factors!!

There was no helping it.

In Nick Fury's eyes, aside from companions and allies who obeyed his orders, everyone else was a criminal or a potential criminal.

Carl's lips curled into a mocking smile as he provocatively said, "If you've got the guts, send someone over to take it!!"

"Also, I've got no interest in being someone else's watchdog..."

Nick Fury immediately became unhappy.

Listen to that. Just listen to how unpleasant this young man is.

What does he mean, being someone else's dog?

Is S.H.I.E.L.D. just anybody?

We're a sacred organization that sheds sweat and blood to protect all humanity.

So... being our dog isn't shameful at all, okay?!!

Ordinary people wouldn't even qualify to be our dogs if they wanted to.

But before Nick Fury could speak, Carl continued, "All right, enough small talk. Let's discuss the deal!"

"A deal?"

Nick Fury's face was full of question marks.

"Black Widow is in my hands. If you want her back alive, trade Samuel Stern for her. I know he's in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody."

"Also, in order to obtain information, Black Widow deliberately toyed with my brother's feelings. S.H.I.E.L.D. will have to pay another ten million dollars in compensation for emotional distress."

"If you don't pay, or try to pull any tricks... then I'll have her expose every filthy thing you've secretly done behind the Security Council's back over the years."

Nick Fury's emotions rose and fell like a roller coaster.

When he first heard that Carl wanted to trade for Samuel Stern, suspicion immediately flared within him.

He was just about to press Carl on what he wanted to do,

when he heard the man demand ten million dollars in breakup compensation?

Well, that was truly something he'd never seen before!

Has this kid gotten so used to running honey traps that he's trying to extort S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Why don't you go out and ask around? S.H.I.E.L.D. is like a pixiu—we only take in money, never pay it out. When have we ever spat out a single cent?

However,

his toughness lasted less than three seconds.

When Nick Fury heard that final sentence, cold sweat immediately broke out all over him.

Because he had secretly done far too many bad things over the years.

There were so many that even he himself couldn't remember them all.

Not to mention anything else—just taking dirty money, claiming pay for nonexistent employees, and misusing public funds were enough to get him shot eight hundred times.

And as the executor of most secret missions, Black Widow knew far too much.

Nick Fury had never imagined that one day, he would be brought down by her!

So what the hell was there left to negotiate?

This time, I'll be very tough and directly... compromise!!!

"Give me an account number. I'll have someone transfer the money over later."

Nick Fury forcibly swallowed the harsh words at the tip of his tongue and said through gritted teeth:

"I'll notify you later of the time and place for the hostage exchange."

With that, he hung up first.

As though doing so could recover even the slightest bit of psychological comfort.

"Things went unexpectedly smoothly?"

Carl had originally thought that old schemer Nick Fury wouldn't compromise so easily, and that they would have to play tug-of-war for ages.

Who would have thought... that was it?!

It seemed that the movies had made him overestimate that old bastard's abilities a little too much!!!