Speaking of how S.H.I.E.L.D. had changed under Howard's control over the past few years, aside from gradually taking on an air of lavish wealth in every respect, a whole bunch of scientists had "died."
Howard's old friend, Doctor Nathaniel Richards, had actually been abducted by aliens. The alien queen he had married years ago came looking for him and insisted that he return home, because something seemed to have happened to their child.
Nathaniel had little attachment to Earth. His Earth wife had long since passed away, and his son Reed was a child prodigy with whom he had a poor relationship.
He worried about his other child, so he left with the alien queen. No one knew whether he was dead or alive.
As his friend, Howard could only let him go. But since the matter involved aliens, it was a Level Nine S.H.I.E.L.D. secret, so Howard simply went all the way.
Over the years, he had handled dozens of funerals. He was more familiar with the procedures and steps than a chaplain, so he arranged Nathaniel's fake death and silenced everyone involved.
Incidentally, child prodigy Reed did not appear at the funeral. The military had taken him somewhere unknown, claiming they wanted to cultivate him from a young age.
Nathaniel thought that should be a good thing, but Howard did not see it that way. The military had grown increasingly corrupt and sinister over the years, though he had no evidence to prove his view.
That made Howard watch his five- or six-year-old son Tony even more closely, because Reed, who was the same age, had likely been deceived and taken away for brainwashing.
Doctor Zola, the inventor of the new electronic computer, had also died in front of a computer.
When people found his body, his head