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

Chapters 585, 1086, and 1087: Interrogation and Lies
"Enough, Natasha, stop talking."

Captain America interrupted Black Widow, who was about to say something, with a deep voice. His brows furrowed involuntarily, clearly indicating that he disapproved of both her actions and her malicious words.

So he stepped forward, looked calmly at the emotionally charged Scott Lang opposite him, and said in a low, sincere voice:

“Mr. Lang, I apologize again for the way we did it…”

“It was an emergency. The threats we faced were far beyond your imagination. We had no choice but to resort to this tactic, taking advantage of your love for your daughter… I know that this is a very dishonorable thing to do.”

“But I can assure you with my character and reputation that even if you had refused to cooperate at the time, we would never have actually harmed your daughter, Cathy.”

"That was just a terrible negotiating tactic to force us to sit down and have a proper talk."

Finally, he added apologetically, "But no matter what, this approach is wrong and violates my principles... Please forgive me."

Seeing the righteousness on Captain America's face and hearing his sincere apology, Scott Lang's anger eased slightly, and the tense muscles in his body relaxed a little.

But he still didn't give Captain America and Black Widow a friendly look, only letting out a heavy snort.

"I hope you remember what I said today. If there is a next time... I don't care if you are Captain America or anyone else, I will make you pay a heavy price."

After coldly uttering a harsh remark, Scott Lang said no more. He shrunk his body, mounted the flying ant that had been waiting for him, and disappeared among the towering buildings in the blink of an eye.

So on the rooftop, only Captain America, Black Widow, and Sitwell, who had just slowly woken up from his coma and was groaning as he propped himself up, remained.

“So, Agent Hitwell…” Black Widow’s smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold, razor-sharp scrutiny.

She walked lightly towards Hitville, who had just sat up and was still looking bewildered. She crouched down to his eye level, her red lips slightly parted, and asked directly:

"Have you rested enough? Now, isn't it time for us to have a proper talk?"

"Tell us everything you know about the Star of Lemuria, and why Director Fury suddenly decided to secretly investigate its logbook?"

"Also, why was Chief Fury ambushed by the 'fake captain' immediately after the investigation was launched, and why is he still missing? Tell me everything you know..."

Upon hearing this, a hint of barely concealed panic flashed in Hitterville's eyes.

He scrambled to his feet, brushing the dust off his suit, trying to regain some composure and dignity.

Then, he pointed at Captain Smith, who was standing a little distance away, deliberately raising his voice as if to bolster his courage, his tone carrying a hint of bluster and a hint of cowardice in his accusation:

"What 'Star of Lemuria'? I have no idea what you're talking about! And... shouldn't you be asking Captain Rogers why Director Fury was attacked and went missing?"

"So many surveillance cameras and passersby on the street captured it all. He's the one who attacked Chief Fury's car right there in the street. He's the only suspect right now, which is why the department has issued a warrant for his arrest!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Black Widow interrupted him sharply, then kicked Sitwell squarely in the stomach with a 'bang'.

"Ugh..." Caught off guard, Hitchwell cried out in pain as his obese body was kicked backward, staggering until he reached the edge of the parapet wall, which was less than half a meter high and had no other protection.

His upper body was half suspended in mid-air due to inertia. Looking down at the street below from the high-rise building, the endless stream of vehicles and pedestrians looked extremely small.

A gentle breeze blew by, causing Hitwell's obese body to sway. He was so frightened that his hands flailed wildly in the air, and it took him a few struggles to regain his balance.

"Stop changing the subject. We all know that the one who attacked Chief Fury was a 'fake captain'..."

Black Widow said with an unfriendly expression, "Also, don't try to get away with this. You were clearly on the Lemurian Star before. If we didn't have definite information, do you think we would have taken such a risk to come directly to our door?"

"Speak! What exactly did you do on that ship? I advise you not to waste my time with any more nonsense... otherwise, I guarantee you'll be in big trouble."

Seeing the Black Widow's certainty, she must know some inside information; besides, it would be impossible to fool her if she didn't know. So, Hitwell adopted a nonchalant attitude and said:
“I didn’t do anything. Even if I was on that ship before, I was probably just on routine duty. If you don’t believe me, just ask Director Fury.”

Damn it, if I could find Nick Fury, would I be wasting my breath talking to you here?

Black Widow was immediately enraged.

Seeing this, Captain America stepped forward, his brow furrowed, and said in a serious tone, "Hitwell, do you think we would take such a huge risk to come to you in this way if we didn't have concrete evidence?"

"Cooperate a little, we don't have much time. If you don't want to suffer any more, you'd better tell us what you know honestly as soon as possible."

To everyone's surprise, Hitwell glanced at the cold, low wall at the edge of the rooftop and instead adopted a confident and fearless demeanor.

He pointed to the dizzyingly large drop below the building behind him, looked at Captain America with an upright expression, and actually laughed, saying in a slightly mocking tone:
"Captain Rogers, come on, I don't believe you'd really throw me off this building over such a 'trivial' matter?"

"This is not like you at all. You are the spiritual leader of the American people, the moral standard, aren't you?"

He paused, then even tried to take the initiative, straightening his crooked tie: "Besides, compared to my 'insignificant' little matter, you, who are currently wanted globally by S.H.I.E.L.D., are the one truly in dire straits, aren't you?"

"How about this? You surrender to me now, then come back to S.H.I.E.L.D. with me to accept the investigation. I can guarantee you, with my integrity, that you will receive the fairest treatment... Uh ah? Aaaaaaaah!!!"

However, before he could finish his self-righteous attempt to persuade her to surrender, the Black Widow, who had already run out of patience, flashed a cold light in her eyes and, without any warning, delivered a clean and swift side kick, accurately striking Sitwell in the chest.

This time, she held nothing back.

"Ah..." Hitwell let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered. His whole body was kicked over the low wall at the edge of the rooftop like a broken sack, and he fell straight down to the ground nearly a hundred meters below.

The overwhelming feeling of weightlessness and the fear of death gripped him instantly.

But just as he had fallen three or four meters and thought he was about to die...

call out!
With a soft hiss, a silver-gray, seemingly incredibly strong special alloy lasso shot out from the Widow's Sting on Black Widow's wrist.

The grappling hook at the tip of the lasso, as if alive, drew a graceful arc in the air and precisely wrapped around Hitwell's ankle. Snap!
The lasso snapped taut instantly, and Hitwell's downward momentum abruptly stopped with the help of a powerful force coming from above the lasso. Then, he swung and spun violently against the exterior wall of the high-rise building like a human pendulum.

His head-down, feet-up position caused all the blood in his body to rush to his head, and his big, fat face quickly turned purple.

He could clearly see cars below that looked like toys and pedestrians that looked like ants, while all he could hear was the whistling wind and the frantic pounding of his own heart.

The extreme fear prevented him from even screaming; he could only let out gasping gasps.

On the rooftop, Captain America forcefully pulled the terrified Sitwell back from the brink of death.

Hitwell collapsed onto the cold concrete floor like a lump of mud, his body trembling uncontrollably as he gasped for breath.

His expensive suit was completely soaked with cold sweat, and there was even a faint stench coming from his crotch.

He really thought he was going to die!

Now, his face no longer held the previous sense of luck and mockery, but only the extreme fear and pallor of someone who had survived a disaster.

“You’re right, I won’t lay a hand on you because my principles won’t allow me to… but she will, and she’s not bound by any principles.”

Captain America crouched down, looking at the limp Sitwell, a faint smile appearing on his face. He pointed to Black Widow, who was expressionlessly putting away her lasso beside him, and said softly with a hint of mockery:
"So, if you don't want to actually fall down next time, you'd better answer our questions honestly now... This is your last chance."

Upon hearing this, Sitwell broke out in a cold sweat, his eyes darting away, unable to meet Captain America's blue eyes that seemed to see right through him, but he stubbornly continued:

"Captain Rogers, Agent Romanoff... what are you doing? Taking matters into your own hands against S.H.I.E.L.D. officials is a serious violation of discipline. Do you know how serious the consequences are?"

Captain America's gaze narrowed slightly as he slowly stood up. Sunlight streamed from behind him, casting a long shadow that almost completely enveloped Sitwell.

Captain America didn't rush into action, but calmly stated, "Someone impersonated me and attacked Nick Fury, leaving his fate unknown... We need to know the truth!"

An invisible pressure squeezed Sitwell's sensitive nerves as if it were a physical force. He glanced at the Black Widow opposite him and saw her start to play with the Widow's Sting on her wrist again, as if she might throw him downstairs again at any moment. His heart skipped a beat.

"Okay, I'll tell you everything... Please don't throw me down again, I beg you!"

Sitwell seemed genuinely terrified, waving frantically at Captain America to signal him not to do anything rash, then said, his face pale:
"I am on the Lemurian Star carrying out a top-secret mission... a secret order from Director Fury to launch and test the satellite data required for Project Insight."

"Project Insight?" Captain America and Black Widow repeated the word almost simultaneously, their faces both showing a solemn expression.

They were familiar with the name.

Because Project Insight is arguably one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most important classified projects recently, and it was personally spearheaded by Director Nick Fury.

It is said to aim to build a global, preemptive security defense network.

The question is, if what Sitwell said is true, why would Nick Fury secretly investigate the Lemurian Star's logbook?

What unspeakable secrets are hidden between this ship and Project Insight?

In a flash, a terrible thought crossed Captain America's mind.

He suddenly recalled his conversation with Nick Fury in the "Insight Hangar" not long ago, where Fury's radical remarks about 'threat prevention' had ended in a bad mood.

And the strange things said by the ghost scientist Anim Zola, who exists in the form of data and is trapped in the underground database of the Caspian Camp.

A chill ran up Captain America’s spine.

He stared intently at Hitwell, his voice suddenly turning stern, and blurted out, "What role does Arnim Zola play in Project Insight?!"

"What?!" Hitwell trembled violently, his eyes widening in disbelief, his pupils contracting sharply in panic. "This is impossible! How...how could you know it existed?!"

In his view, Arnim Zola's existence was one of the most core secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D.... no, to be precise, it should be the most core secrets of Hydra, which was lurking inside S.H.I.E.L.D.

Not only should Captain America's current level of authority not allow him to know, but even Black Widow, Nick Fury's confidante, is equally unworthy of knowing.

"Stop trying to be clever, answer my question right now!" Captain America said with a grim expression.

Seeing the unwavering determination in Captain America's eyes and feeling the chilling killing intent emanating from Black Widow beside him, Sitwell knew that he had no way out this time.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he were swallowing a piece of burning coal, and finally, he had no choice but to say it with a forced smile:

“Okay… alright, actually Arnim Zola is the core of the Insight System that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been using all along…”

"After the Insight Project was successfully launched, at the request of Director Fury, Arnim Zola wrote an algorithm, or rather a program, specifically to filter out those targets around the world that needed to be 'infiltrated'."

"Choose a target?" Captain America frowned deeply, unable to resist asking, "What kind of target?"

A cunning glint flashed in Hitwell's eyes, like the hiss of a venomous snake in the dark, but his face remained etched with an expression of utter terror, almost to the point of collapse.

He raised a trembling finger, first pointing at Captain America himself, then said in a morbidly excited tone:

"You, and a TV host in Cairo, Secretary of State Ross, two ordinary college students in Queens, Bruce Banner, Karl Mara, a neurosurgeon named Stephen Strange... and everyone who threatens S.H.I.E.L.D.... now and in the future!!"

No one knew better than Hitwell how ruthless and meticulous his real superior, Alexander Pierce, was.

Once he leaks Hydra's core secrets, he will face an end worse than death, and even his family will not be spared.

So, at the last moment, Sitwell secretly played a little trick, deliberately pinning all the blame on S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury, trying to confuse the issue and muddy the waters even more, thus giving himself a slim chance of survival.

(End of this chapter)