"Grow other heads..."
In the hallway, Fury kept replaying Luca's warning in his mind.
"Director..."
Coulson hesitated for a long time before cautiously speaking.
"Did Luca's last statement imply that... there are problems within S.H.I.E.L.D..? Like... Hydra?"
Fury did not answer immediately.
Instead, his face was somewhat stiff, and his chest rose and fell slightly.
He was testing me, and also warning me.
"But Chief, we've suppressed Hydra for so many years, how could they...?"
"They've been suppressing us for so long?"
Fury sneered and gave Coulson a cold glance.
" Coulson, you've been a secret agent for so many years, do you really believe Hydra will behave itself?"
"If someone of Mr. Howard's stature could be assassinated right under our noses, and we've spent so many years only uncovering the tip of the iceberg..."
Fury paused, his tone becoming serious.
"This shows that HYDRA has not only not been suppressed, but also possesses far more resources and power than we imagined."
"Even..."
Fury didn't finish his sentence.
They might even have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.. long ago, operating brazenly right under his nose for so many years.
The thought of that possibility sent chills down Fury's spine.
If the Stark brothers had known all this all along...
Then their previous arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable behavior becomes completely understandable.
The two brothers weren't crazy; they were using their madness to force the enemy hiding in the shadows to reveal themselves!
And himself, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.., the king of spies.
They actually went to someone's place with an outdated intelligence report, acting all high and mighty.
Isn't this just a clown?!
Just then...
Fury's gaze inadvertently fell upon the situation in the corridor.
A woman with long, wavy, burgundy hair carried a thick stack of documents and placed it on a shelf.
Yes, it's Natasha Romanoff.
Black Widow, a top agent of S.H.I.E.L.D..
Fury paused slightly.
Natasha seemed to sense something as well; she turned her head, and her gaze met Fury's in mid-air.
Neither of them spoke or made any unnecessary movements.
But in that brief exchange of glances, a thousand words were conveyed.
Fury's message was clear.
Continue to lie low, and absolutely do not expose yourself.
Natasha felt deeply helpless and exhausted.
She understood Fury's meaning and knew that she wouldn't be able to return to S.H.I.E.L.D.. anytime soon.
After all, Jessica had completely crushed him yesterday.
Now the bureau chief has slunk away again.
If she stays here, she's just like a piece of meat on a cutting board, ready to be sliced and studied at any moment.
After letting out a barely perceptible sigh, Natasha looked away and continued sorting through the yellowed coffee expense reports.
She now only hopes that Luca Stark won't come up with any more outrageous employee benefits to torment her.
Fury looked away and left the building without turning back.
As soon as he got into the car, Fury immediately gave orders to the driver in the front seat.
"Back to headquarters."
"Also, Coulson."
Fury looked at Coulson, his tone icy.
"Once you get back, begin the review process immediately."
"I want to personally review all of S.H.I.E.L.D..'s financial records over the past twenty years, as well as the activity patterns and family backgrounds of all Level 7 and above agents!"
Coulson froze for a moment, then broke out in a cold sweat.
"Director, this is a top-level internal audit, and it needs to be reported to the World Security Council. As for Secretary Pierce..."
"Don't tell anyone!"
Fury slammed his fist into the car window, making the glass vibrate and rattle.
"Including Pierce! Including the council members! This is a top-secret operation, known only to you and me!"
"I'm going to uproot S.H.I.E.L.D.. and see just how many vipers are lurking beneath its roots!"
A few hours later.
On a bustling street near Times Square in New York.
The nightlife was just beginning; the streets were bustling with people and flashing lights.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion suddenly rang out in the night sky.
Immediately afterwards, a fireball exploded from the second floor of a jewelry store, sending countless shards of glass and bricks hurtling down into the street.
"Ah!!!"
"Help!"
The pedestrians on the street were gripped by panic, and screams filled the air.
Everyone frantically scattered and pushed each other.
"Hahaha! Run, you bugs! Scream all you want!"
A chilling laugh followed.
Wearing green armor and riding a skateboard, the Green Goblin burst out of the thick smoke of the explosion.
Norman Osborn is once again controlled by his evil personality and wreaks havoc on the streets of New York.
He maneuvered his skateboard, hovering low in the air, holding several Pumpkin Bomb in his hand, reveling in the fear of the crowd.
"This world is too boring; it needs a little excitement to brighten things up!"
The Green Goblin laughed loudly, preparing to throw the bomb at the dense crowd.
At this critical moment...
"Whoosh!"
A crisp sound of something cutting through the air rang out.
A white Silk shot out from a distance like lightning and stuck precisely to the Green Goblin's wrist.
Hey! Green-haired turtle!
A youthful and energetic voice came from mid-air.
"Littering dangerous items late at night will result in a fine!"
Green Goblin paused for a moment, then quickly looked over.
A red and blue figure, pulled by the Silk web, glided between two buildings and landed steadily on a street lamp.
It's Spider-Man.
However, Peter today is completely different from before.
He no longer wore his old battle suit.
At this moment, he was wearing a brand-new, high-tech Spider-Man suit meticulously crafted by Stark Industries!
The material of his suit not only perfectly hugged his strong muscle lines, but also exuded a powerful sense of intimidation under the light.
The black spider logo on his chest exudes a powerful and imposing aura.
"It's you? Spider-Man?"
When Green Goblin saw the completely transformed Spider-Man, his eyes narrowed, and he let out a disdainful sneer.
"What, you think you can save the world just because you've changed your skin?"
Green Goblin suddenly flicked his wrist, attempting to use the momentum of his skateboard to pull Peter off.
But to his surprise, he discovered that the seemingly thin Silk was incredibly strong, and even the force of the skateboard could not break it.
"Dude, this isn't just some new skin; it's the power of technology."
Peter squatted on the lamppost, tilted his head, and looked somewhat smug.
"Also, let me correct you again, I am a spider, not an insect. Who taught you biology?"
Peter barely finished speaking when he suddenly exerted force on his wrist.
The newly upgraded Silk activates instantly.
"Whoosh whoosh!"
This time, instead of a single spider Silk, a high-voltage electric shock net flashing with blue sparks was shot out!
The electric net unfolded in mid-air, like a net that caught both Green Goblin and his skateboard.
"Zzzzz!!!"
A strong electric current was conducted throughout the Green Goblin's body, as well as to the skateboard's control system.
"Ah!!!"
The Green Goblin let out a painful scream and began to convulse violently.
The skateboard's engine short-circuited instantly under the powerful electric shock, emitting black smoke and losing power.
With a thud.
The Green Goblin crashed heavily onto the road, creating a shallow crater.
Wow! Anything made by Mr. Stark is guaranteed to be top-notch!
Peter saw this and excitedly pumped his fist.
In the past, when he encountered the Green Goblin, he could only rely on his agility to dodge with difficulty, and then use Silk to interfere with the opponent.
But now, with the addition of the battle suit, the battle has become a one-sided crushing victory!
The joy of using technology to alleviate poverty is truly amazing!
Peter leaped down from the lamppost and landed nimbly in front of the Green Goblin.
"Now, it's my turn to perform."
Peter walked over to the Green Goblin, who was still convulsing.
He grabbed the armor on the other person's chest and lifted him up.
"Taste Spider-Man's wrath, you green monster!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Peter unleashed a series of powerful punches, slamming them hard into the Green Goblin's mask.
The kinetic enhancement modules on the suit greatly amplified Peter's strength.
Each punch produced a dull thud.
The Green Goblin was completely overwhelmed and cracks appeared on his mask.
He tried to fight back, but the electric shock left his body paralyzed.
"Damn brat... let me go!"
The Green Goblin roared, pulled a dart from his waist, and tried to stab Peter in the abdomen.
However, Peter was too lazy to dodge.
"Bite!"
The dart struck the combat suit and bounced off!
The suit easily blocked the attack without even leaving a scratch.
"This... this is impossible!"
Green Goblin was shocked.
He knew very well how sharp his weapon was; how could it not even pierce a layer of cloth?!
"Times have changed, old man."
Peter chuckled smugly.
"Outdated equipment should be thrown into a museum."
After saying that, Peter shot out several strands of Silk to bind the Green Goblin and hang him upside down from a traffic light pole by the roadside.
Like a green silkworm pupa, it swayed back and forth in mid-air.
The battle ended cleanly and decisively.
The citizens hiding in the shadows witnessed this amazing scene and burst into enthusiastic cheers.
" Spider-Man! Spider-Man!"
"Well done! Excellent!"
Peter stood under the streetlight, basking in the cheers of the citizens, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Just then, his gaze swept across the crowd and suddenly stopped in a corner.
It's Mary Jane.
She was wearing a long red dress, covering her mouth with her hands, looking at him with shock and adoration.
She happened to be passing by when the explosion occurred and got trapped in the crowd.
Peter's heart started racing.
He recalled the pickup techniques Luca had taught him earlier that day at Stark Tower.
"Girls don't need to be reasoned with; they need emotional support! You need to be assertive, affectionate, and make her feel safe!"
Luca's voice echoed in Peter's mind.
He decided that he would do this when he got back!