Washington, D.C.., on the Potomac River.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters building.
Silence reigned in the director's office at Triskelion Base.
At four in the morning, Washington was fast asleep, but Nick Fury was wide awake.
At that moment, he sat alone behind his desk.
The office was dark.
The only light came from the cold, bluish glow emanating from the computer screens in front of him.
"If even the director can be killed, what makes you think that no other brains have grown in S.H.I.E.L.D.."
It grew other heads...
Luca's words are like a persistent nightmare.
As the head of the intelligence agency, Fury was more paranoid than anyone else.
Upon returning from New York, he immediately locked himself in his office and cut off external surveillance.
He bypassed the World Security Council's review and began reviewing documents using the highest authority of the director.
For example, S.H.I.E.L.D..'s financial statements and material mobilization records for the past two decades, as well as the personnel files of all agents at Level 7 and above.
As the data on the screen scrolled rapidly, Fury's remaining eyes widened, and cold sweat poured down his back.
You wouldn't believe it until you looked into it; what you found was absolutely shocking!
The screen showed that S.H.I.E.L.D..'s rapid response special forces, the elite team led by Brock Rumlow, also had problems.
Over the past five years, there have been more than fifty clandestine operations that completely contradicted Fury's orders!
Where did they go? What mission did they carry out?
The operation report stated it was a routine patrol.
But Fury retrieved the satellite location data and discovered that the places they had visited were all abandoned military bases and secret facilities of the former Soviet Union!
What's even more frightening is the flow of funds.
S.H.I.E.L.D.. has an annual budget of hundreds of billions of dollars, with accounts as complex as the stars in the sky.
But through Fury's almost obsessive line-by-line comparison, he discovered that there were more than a dozen transactions involving hundreds of millions of dollars that were problematic.
These funds, through a shell network of Swiss banks, ultimately flowed to several phantom accounts that never existed.
These funds are nominally intended for the research and development of new aircraft carriers and weaponry.
But in reality, the money never went into S.H.I.E.L.D..'s equipment department.
Fury reached out with trembling hands and typed a series of complex decoding commands on the keyboard.
He wanted to find out who had such authority to create such a flawless cover-up within S.H.I.E.L.D..'s financial system.
Whoever it is, they will be brought to justice!
The progress bar slowly advances on the screen.
Ninety percent... ninety-eight percent... one hundred percent.
Decryption complete.
A name appeared on the screen, along with a string of authorization codes representing the highest level of authority within S.H.I.E.L.D..
Alexander Pierce.
Former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.., current Minister of the World Security Council, and Nick Fury's most trusted former boss and comrade-in-arms in the world!
boom!
This name was something Fury could never have imagined.
He felt his breathing become rapid, and the screen in front of him seemed to be spinning.
It's over.
It's all over.
S.H.I.E.L.D.., a great organization founded by Howard Stark with the aim of protecting humanity from supernatural threats.
In fact, it had already been parasitized by an organization that claimed to have been destroyed after World War II.
Hydra.
They did not die.
One head was cut off, but countless new heads grew inside S.H.I.E.L.D..'s body.
They used S.H.I.E.L.D..'s funds, equipment, and agents to recruit and expand their ranks right under the noses of the entire world.
Even the highest levels of the World Security Council are under their control!
Fury slumped back in his chair, feeling his hands and feet were ice cold.
His intelligence network and his confidence in controlling everything seemed to have become a joke.
Luca Stark is right; he is a pathetic blind man.
If it weren't for the other person's reminder, I might have been working for Hydra until I died!
"Chief."
There was a soft knock on the office door.
Fury quickly sat up straight.
Then, without making a sound, a button was pressed, clearing the data on the screen and restoring it to the standby screen.
"Come in."
After taking a deep breath, Fury's tone remained low and authoritative, showing no sign of anything unusual.
The door was pushed open, and Coulson walked in carrying two cups of hot coffee.
He frowned slightly upon seeing the dark office.
"Director, you haven't rested all night. It's almost dawn, have a cup of coffee."
Fury took the coffee but didn't drink it; instead, he placed it on the table.
What is he doing?
That's right, spying on Coulson...
Ahem, to be precise, he was staring intently at Coulson.
His gaze was like lightning, as if he could see right through the soul of his old subordinate.
Is Coulson Hydra?
Rumlow is, but what about Natasha?
What about Barton?
Of the thousands of agents coming and going at this base, how many are genuine Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and how many are Hydra assassins ready to shoot from behind at any moment?
Fury suddenly realized that he couldn't trust anyone anymore.
After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Coulson and said in a serious tone.
"Inspect everything in the office immediately!"
"In addition, send all paper files related to the 1991 Howard Mr. Stark case to the underground vault and initiate the locking procedure."
Coulson was stunned for a moment, not realizing what had happened.
"Chief, if Secretary Pierce asks about..."
"From this moment forward, do not report my orders to anyone! Including Pierce!"
Fury suddenly stood up, exuding an imposing aura.
"Listen, Coulson. We're in a very dangerous situation right now."
"The enemy is right beside us, possibly even in this building. We need to start building a force that is entirely our own and that we can absolutely trust."
"The rules of S.H.I.E.L.D.. need to be changed."
Coulson stood there, stunned.
He knew what the bureau chief was talking about.
It's definitely about Hydra!!
He also understood that from this day forward, S.H.I.E.L.D.. had officially entered an era of heightened vigilance.
The next morning, in New York, Manhattan.
Stark Tower.
The atmosphere inside the office was relaxed.
Luca leaned back on the sofa, his legs crossed.
A sumptuous breakfast was laid out on the coffee table in front of him.
Freshly baked croissants and fried eggs spread with butter.
Two stunningly beautiful women stood respectfully on either side of him.
Natasha was wearing a burgundy deep-V business suit and holding a freshly brewed espresso.
Jessica was wearing a black lace bodycon dress and holding a hot, white towel in her hand.
The two women were like maids, always ready to be at their boss's beck and call.
Luca took the coffee Natasha offered, took a sip, and nodded in satisfaction.
"It seems your training course also included coffee brewing. Assistant Natalie, I give you a 90."
Natasha wore a professional fake smile, but in her heart she had already cursed Luca's ancestors for eighteen generations.
For Black Widow like herself to be reduced to making coffee for others is an utter disgrace to her espionage career.
But Director Fury gave her a strict order to stay in hiding no matter what, so she could only grit her teeth and endure it.
Luca ignored Natasha's fake smile.
Instead, they looked at the projection screen in front of them.
On the screen, major news channels across the United States were broadcasting news at breakneck speed.
Good morning, viewers! We are now bringing you a bombshell news that has shocked the global financial world!
The news anchor on the screen was so excited that his voice was trembling and spittle was flying everywhere.
"Just in the last two days, Stark Industries, with lightning speed, launched its acquisition of the Osborn Group, using hundreds of billions of dollars in capital!!"
According to insiders, Norman Mr. Osborn, Chairman of the Osborn Group, has signed a share transfer agreement!
"This is a commercial takeover with no suspense! From today onwards, there will be no more Osborn Group in New York, and Stark Industries will completely monopolize the global biopharmaceutical and military technology sectors!"
As the news broadcast progressed, images of the Wall Street stock exchange appeared on the screen.
Stark Industries ' stock price soared like Rocket at the opening bell, hitting the daily limit and closing at the limit up, with all stocks showing gains.
The once-glorious Osborn Group's signboard was also dismantled overnight.
This signifies the end of an era.
After reading the news, Luca smiled slightly.
Without shedding a drop of blood, they eliminated their biggest competitor.
This is true dimensional reduction attack.
What's the point of fighting to the death with the villain?
Buy his company outright and have him work for you; that's the way to maximize your profits.