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

Chapters 586, 1088, and 1089: Truth or Falsehood Hard to Distinguish, Is Fury the Butcher?

"What?! You mean...the future?!"

As if provoked, Black Widow stepped forward, grabbed Sitwell by the collar, and demanded angrily in a stern voice:

"Are you kidding me? How could you possibly know the future through an algorithm? Algorithms aren't magic; this is pure fantasy... Do you really think you can fool me with such a clumsy lie?"

"Hehehe..." Seemingly finding the Black Widow's question too foolish, Sitwell chuckled to himself, his laughter filled with an indescribable sense of superiority and a hint of hysterical madness.

He boldly slapped away Black Widow's hand that was gripping his collar, and asked with no small amount of smugness, "How could you not know? Or do you think it's difficult to do this?"

"Times are progressing, but your ideas have remained stagnant... Don't you know that the 21st century is like an incredibly precise digital book, and Arnim Zola's algorithms have taught S.H.I.E.L.D. how to read it..."

Seeing that Captain America and Black Widow still looked confused and doubtful, seemingly not understanding the 'deeper meaning' in his words, Sitwell, as if he had successfully turned the tables, struggled to his feet from the cold ground, first dusting off the dust on his pants, and then triumphantly continued to explain:

"It's actually quite simple to do this... Your bank card spending records, every email, every phone call, all the traces left by surfing the internet, medical records, election voting patterns, even your exam scores during college... All of this data together construct another 'digital personality' of yours on the internet."

"Arnim Zola's algorithm can use this 'digital personality' to assess a person's past, analyze their behavioral patterns, ideological tendencies, potential abilities... and thus accurately predict their future, predicting whether they will become a 'threat' to... [S.H.I.E.L.D.]!"

Upon hearing this explanation, Captain America felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, as if he had sunk into an ice cellar.

He guessed right!
The eerie conversation Arnim Zola had with them in that abandoned underground server room, and the 'unspeakable' matter he entrusted to investigate with Black Widow, now seem to refer to this cruel and dark Insight Project!

No wonder Arnim Zola 'kindly' sent them the S.H.I.E.L.D. internal attendance sheet after they left the underground server room, thus indirectly helping them discover Sitwell's unusual movements.

The question remains: is the subsequent attack on Nick Fury by the "fake Captain America" ​​and his eventual disappearance also related to Project Insight?
Thinking of this, Captain America felt a surge of urgency, but right now he needed to know more details and how this crazy plan would be carried out.

So he quickly followed up with, "And then what? After you use this algorithm to filter out the target audience, what else do you do?"

It seemed as if Hitwell across from him was waiting for him to ask that question.

He seemed possessed by a theatrical genius; his face turned deathly pale, devoid of any color, and his voice trembled so badly it was almost incoherent, as he muttered to himself in a tone of utter terror:

"My God, if Chief Fury knew I leaked this information to you, he would kill me with his own hands..."

Hitwell attempts to use his superb acting skills to shift all the blame onto Nick Fury, whose fate is currently unknown.

But Captain America completely ignored his rambling, stepped forward, and an immense pressure enveloped Sitwell as he demanded, enunciating each word clearly: "Tell me, what will happen next?!"

Hitwell seemed terrified, shrinking back with extreme fear on his face. He spoke in a voice almost a whisper, yet crystal clear:

"Then, once those three 'Sky-Insight Helicopters' take off as scheduled, their precision strike systems will eliminate everyone on the algorithm's list... at least several million people at a time!!"

"You fart!"

Black Widow, finally losing her temper, grabbed Sitwell by the collar again and yanked him up, pulling him close to her. Her eyes wide with fury, she said:
"Do you really think we're as gullible as three-year-olds? Chief Fury would never do something so inhumane!"

"Furthermore, if Director Fury arranged and knew about all of this, why would he secretly investigate the logbook of the Star of Lemuria? Your statement is completely self-contradictory and doesn't make sense!"

Hitwell was being choked and was having trouble breathing. His face gradually turned red, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, but he tried his best to look extremely aggrieved and innocent, defending himself:

"How...how would I know? I'm just a nobody who follows orders..."

"Besides, over the years, what has Director Fury been unaware of within S.H.I.E.L.D.? And what important mission has been carried out without his personal approval?"

"You..." Black Widow's movements froze, and she was rendered speechless by the retort.

Sitwell's words were like a poisonous thorn, precisely striking the most criticized key point in the S.H.I.E.L.D. operating system.

It is well known that Nick Fury's controlling nature and paranoia have reached a level bordering on obsessive.

So ever since he took over S.H.I.E.L.D., almost any matter, big or small, must be personally reviewed and approved by him before it can be carried out, otherwise you will face his wrath!

Therefore, it is somewhat difficult to explain that Nick Fury was completely unaware of the secret operations involving the launch of satellites and the debugging of core data for Project Insight aboard the Star Lemuria.

But for some reason, Black Widow felt that something was off about what the other person was saying.

Her intuition told her that there was a trap in Sitwell's words, that something was very wrong, but the logic in his words seemed impeccable within the framework of the S.H.I.E.L.D. system, leaving her unable to find a strong argument to refute him for the time being.

She could only subconsciously loosen her grip on Sitwell's collar, looking at Captain America, who had inexplicably fallen silent, with a hint of confusion and pleading in her eyes.

"Captain, say something! This bastard is obviously talking nonsense!"

When Black Widow cast her gaze, a deep sense of entanglement and struggle flashed in Captain America's eyes.

He couldn't help but recall the words Nick Fury had spoken to him not long ago when he visited the Insight Hangar, pointing to the three nearly completed Helicarriers, and his words were just as fanatical and radical as those of Hydra.

There is no doubt that Nick Fury's philosophy and the ruthless logic of the "Project Insight" selection process described by Sitwell at this moment are strikingly similar.

This realization made Captain America feel unsettled, and his resolve began to waver somewhat.

Captain America took a deep breath and finally chose to tell the truth, his voice low and slow: "Natasha, maybe he didn't lie completely..." "What?!" Black Widow looked at him in disbelief.

Captain America nodded noncommittally: "Fury once said something similar to me... about preventing threats, about taking action before a threat even arises."

He didn't go into too much detail, but Black Widow immediately understood what he meant.

Even she couldn't help but recall Nick Fury's sometimes overly forceful and secretive style of doing things.

However, she still couldn't believe it. "So, you really think Fury would approve a crazy plan... to indiscriminately slaughter millions of potential 'threats'?"

"I don't know either." Captain America shook his head honestly. "There are still too many things that don't make sense... like who attacked Fury? And who is impersonating me?"

"But if the core of Project Insight truly comes from Arnim Zola's algorithm, then it is definitely not a protective plan, but a tool for slaughter."

In fact, Captain America's rationality was also reminding him that Nick Fury's usual style of doing things might be radical, but he was definitely not the kind of butcher who indiscriminately killed innocent people.

But Hitwell's words, along with Arnim Zola's previous 'commission,' combined with Nick Fury's outrageous remarks and cruel methods... all sorts of clues intertwined, like a tangled mess of yarn, tightly binding Captain America's mind.

After a brief silence, Captain America's eyes hardened again.

Regardless of whether Nick Fury is a bloodthirsty killer poised to murder millions, he must take action now and cannot stand idly by.

He turned to Black Widow and proposed a plan that left her speechless: "Natasha, record this on your phone... and have Sitwell repeat his statement verbatim as evidence."

"Then, I took him to Alexander Pierce in person and had him order the cessation of Project Insight, while also proving my innocence!"

"What?!" Black Widow's eyes widened in shock, as if she had heard the most absurd plan in the world. She exclaimed in disbelief.

"Captain, are you crazy? Alexander Pierce himself signed the arrest warrant for you! If you go to him now, aren't you just walking into a trap?!"

"They won't listen to any of your explanations; they'll just arrest you, and even..."

"I know." Captain America seemed to have already made up his mind, his tone unusually firm, with a kind of self-sacrificing resolve, as if he had already put his personal safety aside.

“I am well aware of the risks of doing this… but Natasha, as you heard, there are less than two weeks left until the official launch of Project Insight. We must find a way to prevent this tragedy from happening… The lives of millions of people cannot become victims of this insane algorithm!”

He paused, a deeper worry flashing in his eyes: "And have you considered that if... if Ultron also becomes aware of Project Insight, it might also infiltrate or control those three Helicopters equipped with weapons of mass destruction... What would that look like? That would be a truly irreversible apocalypse!"

The threat of Ultron hangs over everyone's heads like a sword of Damocles that could fall at any moment.

Captain America couldn't imagine what kind of hell the world would descend into if Project Insight's weapon systems fell into the hands of a super artificial intelligence like Ultron.

"So, in order to prevent things from getting out of control, I have to step up and do something now... confronting Alexander Pierce directly may be the only way to stop this quickly."

He looked at the deep worry in Black Widow's eyes, softened his tone, and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"They are S.H.I.E.L.D., not executioners... They won't dare to do anything to me until things are fully clear. My identity and influence are a form of protection."

Then he pointed to the phone in Black Widow's hand, providing a final safety measure: "Furthermore, if I lose contact after entering S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, or am illegally tried, you immediately send this video to the Daily Bugle, to all the media you can contact... let the whole world know the truth about Project Insight, and know what is about to happen."

"I think the immense pressure from the fishing community will surely force them to hesitate before taking action, right?!"

Upon hearing this, Black Widow fell into a long silence.

She bit her lower lip tightly, her heart filled with contradictions and struggles.

Reason told her that Captain America's plan was extremely risky, almost suicidal.

Alexander Pierce is far more complex than he appears, and the arrest warrant itself speaks volumes.

But emotionally, she couldn't refute Captain America's reasons... the lives of millions, the potential global catastrophe, and the shadow of Ultron... these threats weighed on her heart like heavy boulders.

She didn't want Captain America to put himself in danger, but she couldn't find a better reason to stop him from going to S.H.I.E.L.D. to 'surrender'.

"Natasha?"

Captain America urged again, his voice gentle but leaving no room for refusal, "Time waits for no one, we must hurry... Let's begin now!"

Looking into Captain America's clear and determined blue eyes, Black Widow knew she was destined to be unable to change his decision.

So she took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all her worries and anxieties, nodded, took out her phone, switched to video recording mode, and pointed the camera at Hitwell, whose expression was constantly changing.

“Hitwell, I’m warning you, I’m in a bad mood right now, so you’d better not test my temper.”

Black Widow said coldly, "Tell me everything you know about Project Insight again... in detail."

(End of this chapter)