The next morning, in Nick Fury's office.
"In addition to our base being breached yesterday, the National Museum was also infiltrated," Natasha reported, standing in front of Fury's desk with an unreadable expression. "Two vibranium artifacts were stolen, and the modus operandi was identical to the one used against us. All surveillance systems were hacked, followed by a targeted strike on the power grid. Shortly after that, the items were taken."
"So no photos or video footage at all?" Fury frowned, clearly displeased.
"No. Every surveillance system within a ten-mile radius of the museum was compromised—nothing was recorded. There were a few eyewitnesses on-site, but the power outage meant they couldn't make out the thief's face. All they could describe was… a woman with a striking figure—curvy, long straight black hair."
Fury slammed his fist on the desk. "Damn it. Are you sure they couldn't see her—or were they just too busy ogling her body? Bunch of hormone-driven idiots. What a mess."
He already suspected Lauren was behind this, but there was zero hard evidence. He'd been grasping for even the smallest inconsistency—some crack in the other side's armor—but found nothing. Not that it would matter much if he did. As Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., however, he couldn't afford to look powerless. The enemy had walked into their base like it was their own living room. If he didn't respond, what would that say about his leadership?
Whether catching them was feasible was one question. Whether it would actually help was another.
"Sir," Natasha continued, "even though we don't have visual confirmation, the witness descriptions—combined with the shattered reinforced gate at our base—strongly suggest it was Loren."
Fury's eyes narrowed. "Of course. In this world, how many operatives match that description? Only the two female assassins working under Loren fit the profile."
"That damn bastard," Fury growled. "He already stole twenty kilograms of vibranium from us last time. Now he's after Stephen's shield? Without it, what's Stephen supposed to fight with?"
He paced, voice rising. "And it's made of raw adamantium—once forged, its shape can't be altered. Even if Loren takes it, it's useless to him. What the hell does that kid think he's doing?"
Natasha offered a theory: "Sir, what if his goal isn't to use the shield—but to deny it to Stephen? It's his primary weapon. Without it, Stephen's combat effectiveness drops significantly. That weakens S.H.I.E.L.D. as a whole."
Fury's expression darkened. "So he's targeting us deliberately." He slammed the desk again, jaw clenched. "That son of a bitch… One day, I'll make him pay for this."
Ever since Loren showed up, he'd been treating S.H.I.E.L.D. like a doormat—and the worst part? Fury couldn't do a damn thing about it. For a man used to control, that loss of face stung more than any physical blow.
After venting his anger, Nick Fury noticed that Natasha hadn't left immediately and instantly realized she still had something to report.
He waved his hands helplessly. "Forget it—let's not talk about that damn bastard. Judging by your expression, you've got other things to report. Just tell me!"
"Yes, sir. In addition to the thefts at the National Museum and here, two other major incidents occurred last night.
"One was a fire at the Oscorp building—their first-floor laboratory was completely destroyed.
"According to eyewitnesses nearby, just before the fire broke out, a green figure flew out of the building on a strange flying vehicle."
"Green Monster? The Hulk?" Nick Fury frowned, looking confused.
"No—it's someone else. According to witnesses, this individual was wearing a mask, could fly at high speed, and was throwing explosive devices. People have started calling him the 'Green Goblin.'"
"Green Goblin? Another powered individual showing up out of nowhere? The world's getting more chaotic by the minute. Besides the nickname, have you uncovered any concrete details?"
Nick Fury tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.
"Because the incident happened so suddenly, we haven't found any additional useful information yet. However, Commander Coulson has already assigned Barton to investigate. I'm confident we'll have new intel soon."
"Good. Let them stay on it. The world's becoming more and more unstable—monsters, villains, and gods popping up left and right. We need to figure out quickly which ones we can bring to our side and which ones we'll have to eliminate. The Avengers need to grow—fast."
"Understood, sir."
"By the way, didn't you say there were two major incidents? What was the other one?"
"The second one involves the Hulk."
"The Hulk? Have we caught him?" Fury's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of the Hulk.
"Not exactly. Dr. Banner has returned from Brazil and is still searching for a man codenamed 'Mr. Blue.' General Ross has set a trap and is actively trying to capture him. We should have news within the next few days."
"That madman Ross is far too aggressive with the Hulk. All he's going to do is provoke him further—it's unlikely he'll succeed. S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to step in before this spirals out of control."
Fury's expression turned grave. "Natasha, try to contact Dr. Banner privately. Have a calm conversation with him and express our goodwill. If there's any way to avoid using force with that giant, we should take it."
"Sir, that might be difficult. After General Ross's sudden intervention last time, Dr. Banner no longer trusts me. I've been trying to reach him over the past few days, but he's been deliberately avoiding us."
"Ross is a brainless fool. If it weren't for him, we'd have brought the Hulk in years ago."
Fury sighed, his frustration with General Ross growing by the second.
"Sir," Natasha cautioned, "General Ross has been in charge of the Hulk operation for years. Our sudden interference has already caused him extreme resentment—he's even lodged formal complaints with Congress. If we intervene again without coordination, he might retaliate directly."
"He wouldn't dare. And if he does, I won't hold back." Fury's face darkened, his voice icy.
At that moment, Coulson burst into the room.
"Sir—the Hulk has appeared!"
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