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S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
Nick Fury glared darkly at Carol Danvers, who had returned empty-handed, and said in an unfriendly tone:
"So, Ronan is really dead, and the Power Stone has fallen into Karl Merks's hands… but you didn't bring the Power Stone back to me, did you?"
Facing such an aggressive tone, Carol Danvers instinctively frowned but still nodded apologetically:
"Fury, I think it's much safer to leave the Power Stone with Mr. Karl right now than to have it at S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Bullshit!"
Nick Fury, whose mind was clouded by anger and jealousy, blurted out a curse without thinking, but then immediately realized that the woman in front of him was not one of those 'Avengers' he could easily manipulate, nor was she one of the diligent Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. under his command. So, he changed his words somewhat unnaturally:
"Ahem, I mean, that's utter nonsense… Carol, you've definitely been deceived by that hypocrite who's good at disguises."
"I've told you before, Karl Merks is the biggest destabilizing factor on Earth. Many of S.H.I.I.E.L.D.'s operations have failed because of him."
"If the Power Stone is in his hands, he might cause even bigger problems next!"
"And, you don't actually believe that ridiculous story he told about some mad Titan, do you?"
"How can I not believe that there's a lunatic in the Universe who would slaughter half of all life just for the sake of a mere resource balance?"
"If such a lunatic truly existed, wouldn't the Universe have been destroyed long ago?"
"These absurd tales clearly defy common sense; they're only fit for deceiving naive children… Sigh, Carol, you should have listened to me and just eliminated that guy directly."
"Enough!"
Before Nick Fury could finish his complaints, Carol Danvers coldly cut him off. She stared at him intently, enunciating each word:
"Fury, first, you need to understand one thing… I am not part of S.H.I.E.L.D., nor am I your subordinate, so I don't have to follow your orders. I only act when I believe it's necessary."
Clearly, Carol was very disappointed by Nick Fury's behavior just now. If it weren't for their past relationship, she would have probably just walked away.
Even more ridiculously, Nick Fury, relying on the deep friendship they had accumulated over the years, presumptuously adopted a superior's demeanor, pointing fingers at her.
Seriously, have I given him too much face?
Indeed, people without boundaries are the most annoying.
"Carol, you misunderstood, I didn't mean that…"
Nick Fury finally realized the seriousness of the situation, so he quickly dropped his domineering attitude, lowered his stance, and said with an awkward smile to Carol Danvers:
"I'm truly sorry, I was indeed a bit too eager just now, but that was entirely because I was afraid you'd be misled by Karl Merks and make certain blind decisions, putting Earth in a very dangerous situation."
Carol Danvers waved her hand, interrupting him again, and said somewhat coldly: "Whether I'm being misled or not, I have my own judgment. I don't need you to tell me what to do."
"Also, Mr. Karl's speculation about Thanos, I personally believe it has a very high degree of credibility."
"Because according to the rumors I've heard about Thanos in the Universe over the years, his style of action has always been extremely extreme…"
"So, if conditions allow, I think he could absolutely commit such inhumane acts."
"However, regarding this, I naturally won't easily believe Mr. Karl's one-sided account, so after I leave Earth, I will first conduct a detailed investigation into this matter before making a next decision."
While Carol Danvers was speaking, Nick Fury, anxious and scratching his ears, tried to interrupt several times, but in the end, he forcibly held himself back.
Because he could see that Carol Danvers was genuinely angry this time.
If he kept talking nonsense, it would only make the situation worse, with no positive help whatsoever.
And Nick Fury, who was always accustomed to adopting a superior posture, was so wary of Carol Danvers partly because he feared her immense power, and partly because his current achievements, to put it bluntly, were entirely due to Carol Danvers.
Carol Danvers was not only his biggest backer but also the key to him being able to stabilize another 'Skrulls Legion' that he regarded as his trump card.
Because the premise for this group of Skrulls refugees, led by Talos, to obey Nick Fury's orders and act as a black-gloved force operating outside the S.H.I.E.L.D. system, specifically to do some dirty work that was not presentable or above board for Nick Fury, was a promise Carol Danvers made back then.
More than a decade ago, after Carol Danvers defeated Commander Yon-Rogg of the Kree Empire, she proactively promised to help the Skrulls find a 'new home' far from war and persecution.
It was under this major premise that Nick Fury was able to get this group of Skrulls, led by Talos, to willingly work for him all these years without spending a single penny.
Even if there were heavy casualties during missions, this group of Skrulls had no complaints whatsoever.
So, no matter how arrogant Nick Fury usually was, he would never dare to truly offend Carol Danvers.
"Furthermore, Fury, I advise you not to continue provoking Mr. Karl…"
Carol Danvers glanced at Nick Fury, saying in a tone that was both a reminder and a warning: "I can feel that his strength is very great, possibly even greater than mine."
"If he truly wanted to kill you, even I wouldn't be able to save you!"
"What did you say?"
This time, Nick Fury was completely stunned. He widened his single eye and said with an incredulous expression: "Impossible, absolutely impossible… How could Karl Merks be more powerful than you?"
"Believe it or not."
Carol Danvers had no intention of explaining to him. As she rose to leave, she coldly dropped her last words.
"Oh, right, Mr. Karl asked me to tell you that S.H.I.E.L.D. actually once possessed two infinity stones."
"Hmm?"
Nick Fury was stunned at first, then retorted angrily, "He's full of crap. If I really had two infinity stones in my hand, would I have let him step all over S.H.I.E.L.D. and act so recklessly for the past two years?"
Carol Danvers rolled her eyes and said bluntly, "It's just that you didn't know at the time... One of them was hidden in the Tesseract, and the other was hidden in loki's scepter."
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. I'm leaving... Fury, I'll see you next time!"
With that, Carol Danvers walked out of the office without looking back, leaving Nick Fury standing there in a daze.
Actually, Carol Danvers hadn't originally intended to tell Nick Fury that last sentence.
Because she knew that with his petty personality, upon learning this news, he would inevitably be furious about missing out on two infinity stones.
But if anyone was to blame, it was Nick Fury for being too self-righteous before, so much so that Carol, an 'old friend' who cherished old friendships, wanted to give him a 'taste' of his own medicine.
"Damn it, how could this happen..."
Nick Fury looked at Carol Danvers's retreating figure as if he had lost his parents, unable to calm the anger and unwillingness in his heart for a long time.
He never expected that he had once been so close to two infinity stones, but in the end, he had just given them away.
Unwillingness!
Anger!
Regret...
Nick Fury now wished he could slap himself hard twice, but it was too late now!
"Carol, please wait a moment..."
"What now?"
Carol Danvers, who had already reached the doorway, stopped again, turned her head slightly to look behind her, and asked with a hint of displeasure:
"Do you need anything else?"
"Uh..."
A flicker of struggle crossed Nick Fury's eye, but he finally bit the bullet and said, "Can you help me one more time?"
Carol Danvers's expression immediately darkened upon hearing this.
After not seeing him for more than a decade, this guy had become quite annoying.
But looking at the helpless and pleading expression on Nick Fury's face, and recalling their past friendship, Carol ultimately softened.
"Tell me first... If it doesn't go against my principles, I will help you."
"Thank you."
Nick Fury couldn't help but feel a secret joy; his actor-level micro-expression change just now had indeed not been in vain, so he quickly struck while the iron was hot:
"Can you go to Asgard, find Thor, and help me... ah, no, help S.H.I.E.L.D. get the Tesseract back?"
"Don't misunderstand, I can promise you that I will never proactively provoke Karl Merks again, but the Tesseract has belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D. for over seventy years. I originally agreed to let him take the Tesseract back to Asgard purely for safety... ah, no, it was out of consideration for trying to win Thor over."
"But now the situation is different. Earth needs its protection more than ever, so..."
After a slight pause, Nick Fury's eye reddened slightly, and a hint of tears welled up, as he said earnestly:
"Carol, for Earth not to be destroyed, for all humans to no longer be threatened by alien invasions, I hope you can help me get the Tesseract back... Please!"
Now that he knew there was an infinity stone inside the Tesseract, Nick Fury was determined to get it back from Asgard, no matter what underhanded means he had to use.
Now it was Carol Danvers's turn to find things difficult.
If Nick Fury had continued to speak to her with the same condescending attitude as before, she would have refused him without hesitation.
But now, he had changed to this humble posture, making a sincere request to her, and it was even a 'plea' for the safety of all humanity and Earth. How could she bring herself to refuse?
However, based on her understanding of Nick Fury, despite his sweet words, he would most likely secretly use the Space Stone within the Tesseract to contend with Karl after he got the Tesseract.
Sigh, never mind!
I'll help him one more time!
After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. is the officially recognized protection organization of Earth, and logically speaking, they should indeed have some trump cards to deter villains.
Otherwise, they couldn't always call her back to save the day, could they?
With this consideration, Carol Danvers nodded slightly and said, "Okay, I will first go to Asgard to ask for the Tesseract... However, I can't guarantee whether I'll successfully get the Tesseract back in the end!"
With that, she walked out without looking back. Before long, Nick Fury saw Carol Danvers, radiating dazzling light, soar into the sky from the floor-to-ceiling window behind him.
"Fu*k!"
"Fu*k!"
"Fu*k!"
No longer concealing his true feelings, Nick Fury's eye was bloodshot, and he pounded his fists heavily on the office desk, venting the anger and humiliation in his heart.
Although Carol Danvers had finally agreed to his request, it was a result he had obtained by sacrificing his noble self-esteem and the face he cared about most.
This severely wounded Nick Fury's extreme and sensitive self-esteem, making him feel even worse than being killed... ah, no, worse than his mother being killed!
Originally, in his mind, Carol Danvers was not only his friend but also his trump card and one of the superheroes under his management.
In other words, he, Nick Fury, was the one in the dominant position.
But this time, his self-righteous 'inherent perception' was mercilessly shattered by her.
This also made Nick Fury clearly realize that Carol Danvers was neither his subordinate nor would she completely obey his orders, let alone kill people arbitrarily according to his wishes!
This immense sense of frustration made Nick Fury very sad, very angry, very helpless, and very powerless...
"Hill, Hill... Damn it, where the hell did you go!"
Nick Fury roared out of the office like a madman, and soon Maria Hill jogged into the office, asking cautiously:
"Officer, what are your orders?"