Nick Fury's first thought was to send every available agent to search for Steve.
After all, Captain America was a crucial part of Nick Fury's plans.
But after weighing the pros and cons, there was no guarantee Captain America was even still alive.
And it was hard to say whether the Avengers Initiative would ever reach the point where it needed him.
Besides, recent secret meetings had raised the prospect of establishing an official superhero team with limited law enforcement powers.
Everyone at those meetings had been arguing bitterly.
Dealing with all sorts of politicians, managing all sorts of research facilities, and siphoning off all sorts of funds.
It had left Nick Fury rather exhausted, so he had no intention of sending a large force of agents to search for Captain America.
He could only send a handful.
"Natasha, your vacation is over."
"Barton, you've had enough rest by now, haven't you?"
Nick Fury contacted his two top agents.
He told them it was time to get back to work!
The search was not going well.
According to what King Arthur and the mage Merlin had envisioned.
They should have easily found the four vessels used to seal Maga Orochi.
Then they would seal Maga Orochi away again.
And finally, leave once the job was done.
A graceful exit.
But when they found the place where the first vessel had been stored, they discovered clear signs of human activity.
And there was no trace of the vessel.
Now, at the entrance to this strange, eerie cave, King Arthur Artoria, the mage Merlin, and Captain America Steve stood staring blankly.
Artoria looked rather dazed, because she had absolutely no idea what to do next.
She was a capable monarch, but not a capable treasure hunter.
No monarch would go out