Loki and Hawkeye, having retreated in disarray, were now holed up in a safe house. The attempt to establish dominance had been a complete failure, revealing that Earth’s combat capabilities were far greater than Loki had anticipated.
It was clear that his original plan needed to be altered…
“Selvig, can the power of the Tesseract open multiple portals?” Loki suddenly asked.
Selvig pondered the question. At S.H.I.E.L.D., opening a single portal had been the ultimate goal of their research team. However, with Loki’s help, opening multiple portals didn’t seem much more difficult than opening one.
“My Lord, theoretically, it should be possible, but it would take a considerable amount of time for me alone to achieve, and I would need a lot more equipment,” Selvig replied after careful consideration.
“As long as it can be done, make a list of what you need. I’ll take care of the rest,” Loki instructed, nodding.
“Barton, from now on, keep a close watch on the surroundings. If you notice any signs of exposure, report to me immediately.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
While Loki was revising his plan, Nick Fury was undergoing an inquiry from the World Security Council. The recent battle hadn’t just damaged public property—it had far-reaching implications.
“Nick Fury, how is your Avengers Initiative progressing?” the Chinese representative asked. The inquiry was nearing its end.
“The initiative has been suspended. Given the recent increase in New York City’s defensive capabilities, I believe we will soon elevate our status from a position of weakness to one where we have some bargaining power,” Nick said, standing before the five holographic images. “I will compile a detailed report and submit it by the end of tomorrow.”
“Very well,” the Chinese representative nodded. “Our support team will arrive at S.H.I.E.L.D. today. I expect you to accommodate them appropriately.”
“I will. Plans for accommodating Master Lin and his team are already underway,” Nick assured.
Nick had reviewed the basic information on the three individuals from China. In terms of capabilities, each was on par with Tony Stark, and their diverse skill sets would significantly impact future battles.
While the Chinese representative discussed support, the other Council members remained silent. They weren’t unwilling to provide support; rather, they were unable to.
Due to varying national circumstances, these countries—including the United States—had not yet fully identified the number of candidates integrated into the Main God Space. The few they had identified were initially eager to help but reconsidered after seeing footage of the Hulk, Thor, and the recent battle.
After discussing a few more details, the inquiry concluded. Nick could sense the Council’s disappointment in S.H.I.E.L.D. Losing the Tesseract, regardless of the reason, was a significant oversight.
Leaving the room, Nick was approached by Agent Hill.
“Director, Agent 9527 is in the office,” Hill reported.
“I know. Have you checked his records? I don’t recall any Chinese agents joining from New York,” Nick asked.
“Yes, everything checks out. The detailed information has been sent to your computer,” Hill replied.
In the office, Niel sat anxiously. Meeting the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. made him nervous, and he was unsure if anything would be detected.
Despite his nerves, Niel felt satisfied with his first mission. Although he hadn’t been involved in the later battle due to his limited abilities, he had played a significant role in initially identifying and tracking the target.
As Niel contemplated what to say, the office door opened, and Nick walked in, taking his seat.
Nick placed a small black box on the desk and activated it. The device created a jamming signal, making it impossible for Pierce, who was monitoring from behind, to see anything. Pierce was left frustrated, staring at a blank screen.
“Agent Niel!” Nick’s sudden voice startled Niel, who stood up quickly.
“Yes, sir.”
Noticing Niel’s unease, Nick softened his expression. “Relax. I just have a small question for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“You’re not from this world, are you?” Nick asked slowly, locking eyes with Niel.
“What? Director, you must be joking,” Niel replied smoothly, maintaining a normal expression.
The fluency of his response, however, gave away more than intended. Niel’s nervousness was apparent in front of an old fox like Nick.
“Just kidding. Sit down,” Nick said gently, reclining in his chair. He had already gleaned most of what he needed to know in those few seconds.
“You did well in this mission. Is there anything you need?” Nick asked.
Simultaneously, Niel received a prompt from the Main God Space.
[You have unlocked the faction store. Current faction favorability: 900/1000 (Indifferent)]
Niel was unsure of what to ask for since he desired many things, from weapons to food, and even, if possible, a nuclear power plant.
“No rush. Take your time to decide,” Nick suggested.
Had there been other agents present, they would have noticed something unusual. Nick’s attitude towards Niel was far more lenient than towards any regular agent.
“Uh… Could I get some cash as a reward?” Niel asked after much deliberation. He hadn’t decided what he wanted, but most things could be bought with money, especially in a non-apocalyptic world.
“That’s not an extra reward. Your bonus will be deposited into your account soon,” Nick said, standing up. “If you haven’t decided yet, take some time to look around. Let me know when you’ve made up your mind.”
“Okay, thank you, Director,” Niel replied, a broad smile spreading across his face.
[Due to the faction leader’s promise, you can request one item of level 5 or lower (S.H.I.E.L.D. security level) from S.H.I.E.L.D., or reduce the cost of all level 3 or lower items by 30%.]
The Main God Space’s prompt explained Niel’s sudden smile. Though he didn’t know what had caused the change, Nick’s attitude and the Main God Space’s message assured him that he had safely navigated the situation.
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