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

Chapters 524, 964, and 965: Fury's Request, the Fate of the Titan Hunter Mech
"You old fogey, you just wait, this isn't over yet..."

Nick Fury, panting heavily, stared at the rising elevator indicator light with a burning jealousy in his single eye, as if he were about to transform into the ruthless Homelander and burn the elevator and Captain America inside with his Cyclops.

Unfortunately, he is neither a Homelander nor does he have Cyclops!
Having finally calmed his turbulent emotions, Nick Fury, with a gloomy face, prepared to take another elevator to leave this awful place that had made him feel even worse.

However, just as his gaze unconsciously swept across the huge hangar below, at the group of technicians and engineers who were working diligently back and forth like worker ants.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a certain area below.

There, a figure dressed in ordinary work clothes, assisting in debugging some kind of large cable interface, immediately caught his attention.

What is particularly striking are the man's mechanical hands, which still function flexibly even under high-intensity work and gleam with a metallic sheen.

It was none other than Eddie Brock, who had long since faded from his sight...

"Um?!"

Nick Fury stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing instantly. A sharp, hawk-like wariness and deep disgust flashed in his single eye as he muttered to himself:

"How did this piece of trash end up here?"

Although the two were dozens of meters apart, the unique mechanical hands were so distinctive that Nick Fury recognized the other person at a glance.

Although Eddie Brock successfully brought back 12 Symbiotes for S.H.I.E.L.D. during past alien missions, Nick Fury still doesn't believe in the 'loyalty' he has shown.

There was even a suspicion that Eddie Brock was the mastermind behind the previous 'symbiote riot'.

However, he has yet to find any key clues related to it.

Right now, however, all he wanted to know was how the other party had gained access to the core, highest-security "Insight Hangar" of the "Insight Project"!
Eddie Brock's agent clearance level was clearly insufficient.

Who gave the order?
Immediately, a sense of unease, of being offended and infiltrated, replaced the previous anger.

Nick Fury whirled around and strode toward another private elevator, his face grim as he dialed the number of his deputy, Maria Hill.

The call was answered almost instantly after it rang.

“Hill!” Nick Fury’s voice was so cold it seemed to freeze the air, and he launched into a scathing interrogation:

“Tell me, who…which bastard approved Eddie Brock’s entry into the Insight Hangar?!”

"I remember his security clearance level was far too low to even step into this place. This is a serious breach of confidentiality!!"

"Uh……"

Maria Hill clearly sensed the anger in her boss's tone on the other end of the phone. She paused for a few seconds, then quickly recovered and explained:
"Sir, I remember now. It was Eddie Brock who was automatically matched during the personnel screening process."

Nick Fury was clearly not satisfied with the answer and roared as he interrupted, "I don't care about any of this bullshit matching stuff!"

"Immediately revoke Eddie Brock's access to the [Insight Hangar]... permanently ban him from approaching the [Insight Hangar] and related areas, understand?!"

He stepped into the elevator, pressed the button, and the elevator doors slowly closed, reflecting his terrifyingly gloomy face. "How could you let a piece of trash with seriously questionable loyalty get involved in something as top-secret as this, which directly concerns global strategic security? This is a serious dereliction of duty, Hill!!"

“Yes, sir, I’ll handle it immediately.” Maria Hill responded without hesitation.

……

【New York】.

【United Nations Headquarters Building】.

Office of the President of the Security Council.

The heavy mahogany door was pushed open silently, and then quietly closed again, shutting out the noise and bustle coming from the corridor outside.

After hanging up the phone, Nick Fury went alone to this office, which symbolized the highest level of global security affairs.

The air was filled with the lingering scent of expensive cigars and the rich aroma of fine wines.

Meanwhile, Alexander Pierce, the chairman of the board, was standing with his back to the door in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the East River and the city skyline, which resembled a miniature model, while discussing the aftermath of Steker Pantecost's unexpected 'suicide' with a senior executive on the other end of the phone.

The golden glow of the setting sun cast a soft halo over Alexander Pierce's still rather tall figure.

He held a cigar in one hand and a glass of amber-colored whiskey in the other. Ice cubes swirled in the slightly swirling glass, clinking softly.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Alexander Pierce turned around and saw Nick Fury walk in quietly. He didn't say anything, but simply pointed to the chair in front of the desk with the hand holding the cigar, indicating that the other person should sit there and wait for him to finish the call.

A moment later, when Alexander Pierce finally ended the call, Nick Fury spoke first: "Sorry, sir, for coming to you at a time like this..."

Nick Fury forced a slightly stiff, even awkward smile, trying to say something to ease the atmosphere.

There was nothing he could do; he had just overheard that high-ranking member of the Security Council on the phone questioning Alexander Pierce 'to his face' whether S.H.I.E.L.D. was involved in the death of Strickland Pentecost.
"Fury, how many years have we known each other? Fifteen? Twenty? Or even longer…"

Alexander Pierce, with a gentle and approachable smile on his face, walked unhurriedly behind the large solid wood desk that could be used as a conference table, sat down elegantly, and half-jokingly teased him:

"I always thought our friendship wouldn't be so bad that you'd only remember which way the door to your old friend opens when you encounter a 'big problem' you can't solve?"

Alexander Pierce's voice was steady and deep, with a hint of familiar banter between old friends, but there was no hint of a smile in the depths of his dark blue eyes. "I had no choice."

Nick Fury shrugged, but the gesture seemed somewhat forced, as if he were trying to shake off a burden that had inexplicably weighed on his shoulders, and explained helplessly:

"Believe me, more than anyone else in the world, I'd love to have time to sit down and talk to you about all the stupid things we did in the past, instead of always having a bunch of damn 'problems' that will never be solved."

He tried his best to make his expression look sincere, and said in a nonchalant manner, "But you should know better than anyone what it means to be in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D.... My job is like trying to scoop out the entire Pacific Ocean with a sieve, it's endless and always full of holes."

Alexander Pierce smiled noncommittally, then took a sip of whiskey and gestured for Nick Fury across from him to continue.

Nick Fury took a deep breath, leaned forward slightly, placed his hands on the smooth tabletop, and his tone became serious: "Getting back to the point, I really do need your help this time..."

"Stop it!!"

Before Nick Fury could finish speaking, Alexander Pierce quickly waved his hand to stop him. He raised his hand and made a precise and restrained gesture to stop, his smile fading slightly and replaced with a businesslike and slightly regretful expression.

“Fury, if you’re doing this for the PPDC organization… I advise you to give up on that idea.”

He placed his glass on the table, pointed to the phone beside him, and said, "As you saw before, like that call just now, I've received at least five such calls today..."

"At present, the 'real' cause of General Strickland Pentecost's death has not yet been determined, and everything is a mess... But regardless of whether it is ultimately proven to be murder or suicide, the contents of his 'suicide note,' which has not yet been exposed by the media and is full of unfavorable implications for you and S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the descriptions of accusations of internal strife and external pressure..."

Do you think, at this extremely sensitive moment, any high-ranking member of the Security Council would dare to risk enormous political consequences by approving any form of 'takeover' or 'intervention' by S.H.I.E.L.D. over the remaining assets of the PPDC, especially the troublesome Titan Hunter mechs?

Alexander Pierce pursed his lips and spread his hands, saying, "So, Fury, don't even think about getting your hands on the 'legacy' of the PPDC anytime soon... because it's absolutely impossible."

Nick Fury seemed to have anticipated this response, and the awkward smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a deep weariness mixed with helplessness and resentment.

"Hey……"

He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumped slightly, and he feigned an expression of enduring immense injustice, sighing helplessly:

“Sir, I can guarantee with my integrity and with everything I’ve done for this country and this world over the years… Strick Pentecost’s death has absolutely nothing to do with me or S.H.I.E.L.D.!”

"This is a despicable frame-up, a conspiracy against me, or rather, against S.H.I.E.L.D."

At this point, he straightened his posture, and his tone became firmer, "But don't worry, I've already dispatched my most capable agent to personally lead the investigation... I believe that with her abilities, it won't be long before the truth comes to light, and SHIELD will be exonerated!"

Alexander Pierce listened quietly, his little finger and ring finger unconsciously tapping the table lightly with the hand holding the cigar, making a soft 'tap, tap, tap' sound.

He stared at Fury for a good ten seconds, his eyes deep, as if assessing the credibility of his words, or perhaps admiring the other's anxious performance.

Finally, he sighed softly, his voice low and tinged with a mocking pity:
“Frey, my old friend… Do you think that at this point, among those high-ranking members of the Security Council who are overwhelmed by pressure from the media and other parties, who would truly care about your ‘personal guarantee’?”

"Or rather, who else would believe what you call the 'truth'?"

Before Nick Fury could speak, he gently shook his head, his tone filled with a cruel sense of reality, "People only believe what they want to believe... And right now, what everyone wants to believe is that someone needs to be held responsible for Stephen Pantecost's death... And that suicide note just happens to point to you, that's enough!!"

"All I can do for you right now is to do my best to prevent any trouble from getting involved with you and S.H.I.E.L.D., that's all."

A barely perceptible glint of anger flashed in Nick Fury's single eye, but it was quickly masked by helplessness.

He was silent for a few seconds, and finally asked with some reluctance, "Is there really... absolutely no room for reconciliation in this matter? Even just temporary trusteeship?"

"Sir, those Titan Hunter mechs are of paramount importance to S.H.I.E.L.D., and even more so to the fate of all humanity. If they fall into the hands of those useless people..."

This time, Alexander Pierce did not answer the question; he simply shook his head with utmost firmness.

Although the movement was small, it was as irrefutable as a final verdict for Nick Fury.

Sometimes, a silent refusal is more powerful than a roar.

A brief silence fell over the office.

The only sounds were the two of them breathing and the faint cracking of ice cubes melting in their glasses.

After a long silence, Nick Fury took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

When he looked up again, all the anxiety and anger in his eyes had been suppressed. He slowly stood up, looked at Alexander Pierce behind the desk with one eye, and said sincerely:
"Alright, since that's the case... I can put the matter of [PPDC] aside for now."

"However, in exchange, I hope you will consider our many years of friendship and, please, during this damned investigation, use all your influence as chairman to do everything in your power to help me protect those [Titan Hunter Mechs]!"

"Make sure they are sealed up intact, not dismantled, and not seized or occupied by those vultures that sniff out their scent, such as certain factions within the military, private military companies, or even other special organizations and departments!!"

It was clear that Nick Fury cared a great deal about these Titan Hunter mechs, to the point that his emotions became agitated again, his fists clenched, and his voice involuntarily rose a few decibels.

"As you know, SHIELD has invested just as much resources and effort in those Titan Hunter mechs as the PPDC..."

"From the auction of those Titan carcasses, to the subsequent reverse engineering of biological characteristics, adaptation of neural connection systems, and modification of weapons... the creation of every Titan Hunter mech is a testament to the budget of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the wisdom of top scientists!"

"So for me, they are definitely not just weapons, but also the future direction of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the safety of humanity."

"I absolutely will not allow, absolutely will not allow any outsider to lay a finger on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s property before we are cleared of suspicion!!"

(End of this chapter)