"Number 7."
"Number 38."
Yang Bo stood on the second floor of the lobby at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, smiling as he spoke to Natasha beside him.
Director Fury stood beside him as well. With every number that left Yang Bo's mouth, his expression grew darker.
A few minutes later, a world in which only Fury suffered had been achieved.
"Nice work! Out of the two hundred or so people at headquarters, only sixteen belong to Hydra."
Yang Bo meant it sincerely. Compared to the old Serpent S.H.I.E.L.D., it was a world of difference, but Fury still felt as though he were being slapped repeatedly in the face.
His only consolation was that these people had all been transferred in from elsewhere, and none held senior positions.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Yang Bo waved a hand with a smile. "It was nothing. So, can I have these people?"
Fury stood by the second-floor railing, watching the busy crowd below. "I'm afraid not. I need to send them back where they came from..."
"If you need people, I can help you find some."
He paused.
"There are still a few criminals in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Yang Bo understood Fury's intentions. He wanted to verify their identities and send them back to their original postings so that others would recognize the danger Hydra posed.
"That works too. Director Fury, whenever another opportunity like this comes up, just keep me in mind."
With that, Yang Bo turned and left. Natasha glanced at Fury, then hurried after him.
Fury watched Yang Bo walk away, a smile crossing his face, before turning and heading back to his office.
When Yang Bo returned to the company, Tony had already left. He had things to arrange back home too; after all, he was still the CEO of Stark Industries.