The Savior of American Comics? I'm the Subspace Evil God!

Chapters 523-963 Fury: You'd better be sensible and not contradict me.
"Don't be so nervous, Captain..."

Nick Fury's voice rang out from the side. He really liked the 'thrilling' expression that had just appeared on Captain America's face, so with a hint of barely perceptible, almost boastful pride, he said in a affected manner:

"Welcome to the heart of Project Insight."

He stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the observation platform at the edge of the hangar, like a lord from an old era showing off his beloved weapon.

"This is the physical part of Project Insight!!" Nick Fury spread his arms, pointing to the three Helicarriers under construction in the distance, and introduced them to Captain America:

"Combined with three new-generation 'Sky Carriers' and several state-of-the-art target positioning satellites, forming a global synchronous network..."

He paused deliberately, seemingly giving Captain America, this "old-fashioned" man, time to process the meaning, to ensure that the other party could accurately understand the implications.

There's nothing we can do; the other person still doesn't understand how to use a smartphone.
"Once these three [Sky Carriers] are successfully launched into the sky, they will never need to land again and can fly indefinitely."

"This is all thanks to our newly developed anti-gravity engine, which is powerful enough to allow them to continue suborbital flight."

Following Nick Fury's pointing finger, Captain America looked at the four massive power engines on either side of the Helicarrier, thought for a moment, and asked somewhat uncertainly:
"This must be Stark's masterpiece!"

The reason he asked that question wasn't because he didn't believe S.H.I.E.L.D. could create such advanced gadgets.

Instead, it's something like that kind of sustained anti-gravity flight technology, which sounds like something Tony Stark would come up with.

Knowing Nick Fury as he did, how could the other party not take advantage of such a bargain?

Sure enough, Nick Fury's face flashed with a fleeting, almost imperceptible, unnatural expression upon hearing this.

He seemed reluctant to attribute this "achievement" entirely to the playboy who was not very obedient to him.

Perhaps to save face, Nick Fury didn't give a direct answer, but instead said ambiguously:

"Two years ago, he 'happened' to visit our old turbine engine assembly up close, and then, after the Battle of New York, he 'enthusiastically' offered some suggestions for improvement to our engineers."

He deliberately emphasized the word "suggestion," as if to emphasize to Captain America that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own engineers were also quite capable.

But Captain America's thoughts were immediately pulled back to the Battle of New York, where he and Tony Stark worked together to take down the Hydra soldiers and the stuck giant propeller fragments.

In the blink of an eye, more than two years have passed...

"Captain, take a look at the undersides of these [Sky Carriers]."

Then, Nick Fury raised his hand with a smug expression and pointed downwards at the Helicarrier, while Captain America looked down, snapping out of his reverie.

Beneath the massive bellies of the three Sky Carriers, instead of smooth armor, were countless dark cannon muzzles.

It was an unimaginably massive array of weapons, so numerous that it was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

"These are upgraded long-range precision electromagnetic gun arrays. After calculation by the [Insight System], each of these weapons on the mothership can easily lock onto and eliminate more than a thousand specific targets in just one minute."

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Nick Fury emphasized the word "specifically".

"Specific target?" Captain America keenly grasped the word, his brows immediately furrowing.

"Yes."

Nick Fury turned around, his one eye fixed intently on Captain America, as if trying to see right through him, and said in a deep voice:

"As long as our [Insight Satellite Network] can detect any potential terrorist, extremist, superpowered threat, or even those who 'may' become a threat in the future..."

Even before they emerge from their shelters or take any concrete action, merely when they are identified as 'high-risk targets' based on big data and behavioral analysis, the [Insight Satellite] can remotely and precisely read their unique 'biological characteristics,' as if it had analyzed their DNA.

His voice was calm, but what he said next was enough to send a chill down the spine of anyone who cherished freedom.

"Then, the coordinates and commands will be instantly transmitted to the three [Sky Carriers] cruising in suborbital, and then... bang bang bang!"

Nick Fury raised his hand in a shooting gesture and said casually:

"In this way, the threat will be nipped in the bud... Helping S.H.I.E.L.D. to prevent crime before it happens; to win the war before it begins!!"

Upon hearing this, Captain America's facial muscles tensed, and his azure eyes were filled with shock and a sense of unacceptable resistance.

He looked directly at Nick Fury, frowning with some confusion and bewilderment, and asked:
"Chief Fury, shouldn't there be a crime first, followed by punishment? This plan sounds like it's putting the cart before the horse."

"It's like trying a criminal who has 'guilty thoughts but hasn't acted on them'!"

“Sorry, Captain, this world is unpredictable…we can’t afford to wait.” Nick Fury’s face remained expressionless, as if he had expected Captain America to say this.

He put his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket, striking a pose that said, "Reality is cruel; you either adapt or you're eliminated."

In a condescending tone, he 'patiently' explained to Captain America:

"Especially after that damned 'Chitauri sightseeing tour' in New York, I had to use all my persuasive skills to convince the Security Council to comprehensively improve our threat analysis technology and preemptive capabilities!"

"The Insight Project was born at that time... In my opinion, it was a necessary 'evolution'!"

Then, a sudden, barely suppressed emotion appeared in his voice—a complex mix of humiliation, resentment, and intense ambition.

"Captain, do you understand? At least this time, we at S.H.I.E.L.D. are able to take the lead..."

"I've had enough of how every time a crisis arises that we can't handle, countries around the world have to grovel and rack their brains to scrape together exorbitant commissions to beg that damned Karl Mara and his [Subspace Group] to 'ride on their behalf'!!"

Nick Fury's single eye blazed with resentment. "We, S.H.I.E.L.D., are the sole protectors of Earth! Why should all the limelight, prestige, and even decision-making power be stolen by a profit-driven private company?!" "Now, Project Insight will completely change all that..."

Captain America ignored Nick Fury's resentful remarks, simply staring at him coldly, his face showing no sign of being swayed, but rather a mocking sneer.

"Don't put all the blame on Mr. Carl and the Subspace Corporation, Fury. At least they took the money and did their job, keeping their promises and resolving real threats."

His words lashed out at Nick Fury like a whip, “And now, look at what you’re building… look at these gun barrels, who are they pointed at? Potential enemies?”

"No! They are pointing to every living person on Earth!"

"The one holding a loaded 'gun' and pointing it at the whole world seems to be you!!"

He stepped forward, his presence no less imposing than Nick Fury's, "If this ubiquitous surveillance and untrialed killings can be called 'protection'..."

Then I genuinely think that [Subspace Group]'s "Didi Chuxing" (ride-hailing service) is much more appealing; at least they won't use their weapons against innocent people.

It's clear that Captain America has a very positive view of Carl and the Subspace Corporation.

In his view, although the [Subspace Group] was a "money-for-service" company, at least they kept their promises every time and actually did the job after taking the money!

Whether the enemy is a Kaiju, a Titan, or an alien army... as long as the money's right, wipe them all out!!
Who wouldn't like a partner who is honest and trustworthy?

In contrast, the dirty tricks Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. did are simply incomparable.

Captain America really doesn't know how they have the nerve to say that S.H.I.E.L.D. is the only protector of Earth.
Have they really no shame at all?

Nick Fury was taken aback by Captain America's lack of 'cognition,' and his expression immediately turned cold. In particular, Captain America's undisguised positive evaluation of Karl Mara and the [Subspace Corporation] was like a needle piercing his most sensitive and jealous nerve.

He immediately retorted with a slightly sarcastic tone: "I have seen all the declassified files of the Strategic Scientific Corps (SSR), Captain."

"Your generation is called 'the greatest generation' in history books?"

"Hmph, but even you, such a great generation, haven't you done many... disgraceful things that are not worth telling outsiders?"

"Have you made enough compromises for victory?"

Nick Fury originally intended to take this opportunity to satirize Captain America's 'hypocrisy' and try to use the weight of history to make him submit and understand the cruelty of "realpolitik".

However, Captain America's reaction once again surprised him.

Captain America was neither angry nor did he deny what he said.

A deep pain and reflection flashed across his face, which then transformed into an even more resolute radiance.

He nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, you are right. We did make a lot of compromises and sacrifices back then... Some decisions, even today, still make me feel uneasy and keep me awake at night."

He acknowledged the complexity of history, but his tone immediately turned incredibly sharp: "But... Fury, we chose to compromise back then to crush the real Nazis, to allow the oppressed people to regain their freedom!!"

His voice suddenly rose, and he abruptly raised his hand, pointing to the three enormous structures under construction below, and said with disdainful sarcasm:
"But I can say with 100% certainty that what you're doing right now is not freedom... it's fear!"

"What you are building is a violent machine that will make the whole world live in fear!"

A flicker of anger finally rose in Nick Fury's single eye. He naturally couldn't agree with the other man's 'shortsighted' remarks, but he also didn't think he could persuade this stubborn 'old popsicle' in a short time. So he immediately warned with a cold smile:
"Captain, I must remind you of something: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s view of the world is realistic, not idealistic. This world is full of darkness and threats, not the simple good and evil you used to think of."

"So... I advise you to be more pragmatic and stop going against... no, against S.H.I.E.L.D., against the general trend of this era!!"

"The Insight Project is imperative, and no one can stop it."

"Heh." Captain America straightened his back, meeting Nick Fury's imposing single eye without flinching. His gaze was clear and resolute, his voice calm yet containing an unwavering will, as he resolutely stated:
"So, Director Fury... the 'pragmatic' version of me you're hoping to see, you'll probably never get to see in your lifetime!!"

After saying that, he didn't look at Nick Fury or the three huge killing machines again. He resolutely turned around and strode back to the elevator he had come from.

However, after taking only a few steps, Captain America seemed to suddenly remember something, and his steps abruptly stopped.

He turned around, a mocking and teasing smile appearing on his face—a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere just moments before—as if deliberately adding fuel to the fire of Nick Fury's anger, and asked:

"Oh, right, look at my memory... I almost forgot to tell you, Stark is hosting a huge party at Stark Tower this afternoon. I heard they've invited a lot of people, and it's going to be a big event."

Seeing Nick Fury's face instantly turn as ugly as it could possibly be, Captain America deliberately added in a lighthearted tone:
"Don't be late, okay? I heard there are lots of beautiful young models and good wine!!"

Before he could finish speaking, and before Nick Fury could react, Captain America burst into laughter and turned to step into the elevator that had just opened.

The elevator doors closed quickly, shutting out his mocking laughter, and then ascended rapidly away.

"Fuck Fuck!!"

Nick Fury slammed his fist against the metal railing beside him, making a dull thud.

His dark cheeks twitched slightly with extreme anger.

He was 1,000 percent certain that Captain America, that 'old relic,' had done it on purpose just now.

Because he hadn't received any party invitations from Tony Stark at all.

So that bastard was just blatantly trying to provoke him!

(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

(End of this chapter)