Chapter 82: I, Nick, Stand Irreconcilably Opposed to You All

“Coulson, how’s your progress on the mission? Has the motorcycle rider accepted our recruitment?”

Holding the communicator, Nick Fury reached out to Coulson in Mexico.

“More or less…”

Coulson exchanged a glance with Jessica; both looked a bit embarrassed.

“What? Coulson, you’re an agent. I expect precision in your words.”

“We’re about to succeed.”

“How likely is success?”

“Director, perhaps not very.”

“How not very?”

“Our motorcycle rider refused, Director.”

Coulson hesitated, then added, “Director, he’s moving too fast. We’re powerless to stop him.”

“Then use the satellites. I refuse to believe we can’t track him with satellites,” Nick Fury muttered, puzzled as to why so many refused his calls.

Just moments ago, the Punisher had turned down his invitation, leaving him with a biting remark: “I don’t need you to get by.”

Now, the Ghost Rider had done the same.

These people truly lacked vision.

Wasn’t protecting the world an honorable pursuit?

“But Director, this is Mexico.”

“I’m well aware. What does that have to do with your inability to track him?”

Nick Fury was baffled.

“Our ground base was just destroyed, and the new carrier’s satellites haven’t covered the entire region yet. To track targets here, we need to use military satellites, but you know how it is.”

Since the Hulk incident, tensions between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. military had only deepened. Fury had sent Natasha to recruit the Hulk, but failed, and instead found himself facing Ross as a political adversary.

With Roald stirring the pot, the military was now researching the super-soldier program, dissatisfied with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s superior attitude.

Nick Fury recalled Hulk, remembered Natasha, and stood there stunned.

Suddenly, realization dawned.

Perhaps from the start, Natasha, a product of the Red Room, had been triggered by the spider incident’s awakening protocol, much like the Winter Soldier.

That event was merely the catalyst; the awakened Natasha had returned to Hydra’s fold, explaining her repeated mission failures since.

And when Stark was attacked, Ross happened to be talking with Hill and Pierce. Along with Hulk, and Ross’s continued oppression of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Secretary of State, Fury began connecting all the dots.

Including how Stark, under military protection, was attacked, then disaster struck, and Ross’s side conveniently had another war. Perhaps all along, the military was behind the scenes, developing new technology and conducting biological experiments.

Perhaps the leader of this operation was a Hydra operative.

If not Hydra, then closely tied to them.

It explained Hill’s identity.

Fury’s expression darkened further.

“Damn the U.S. military!”

“Fuck!”

Though S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters was in Washington and most of its forces were in the U.S., S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn’t solely American—it answered to the Council, and relations with the military were fraught.

It was the classic rivalry between market operations and product management.

Tensions ran high.

With Roald’s maneuvering and Osborne’s financial backing, Ross became Secretary of State, aggravating the conflict.

With Grommash as a stellar super-soldier template, the military supported Ross’s experiments, hoping he’d achieve results that would let their technology surpass S.H.I.E.L.D.’s, sick of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s arrogance.

When Ross failed to capture the Hulk and Fury sent Natasha to intervene, he hadn’t realized Natasha was Hydra. Now not only had Hulk not joined him, but S.H.I.E.L.D.’s situation had grown ever more precarious.

As long as S.H.I.E.L.D. remained in the U.S., this was an open conspiracy, and Fury was powerless to change it.

“Damn the U.S. military!!!”

Fury cursed again.

“Coulson, I don’t care what you do. I want that rider on our team. That’s an order.”

Disconnecting from Coulson, Fury stood outside the Punisher’s door, glanced at it, and knocked again.

“Frank, I think we can talk again. I was just joking earlier, really…”

“What did that chocolate bean Director say?”

Jessica looked at Coulson.

Coulson shrugged. “He wants us to keep at it.”

“Oh, that chocolate bean must be black inside too.” Jessica stomped on the gas. “I’m so sick of Mexican tacos here.”

Meanwhile, in Stark Tower, Tony was tinkering with his equipment in his room.

“Hey, boy, I’ve got something to tell you.”

Wiccan walked in from outside.

Now, the Death Knight was to Tony what Mal’Ganis was to Arthas.

Tony was continually influenced.

“What do you want to say? If you’re going to tell me to give up avenging my parents, I’m not interested,” Tony said, setting aside his smart computer and looking at Wiccan. “It’s already decided.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t try to dissuade you. I’m saying you might need a little help.”

Wiccan handed Tony a bottle of [Undead Corruption Serum].

“A two-thousand-year vintage from Apocalypse. Drink it and you’ll feel like a new man—able to thrash that plaid-butt muscleman without relying on your armor.”

Tony caught the small green bottle tossed by Wiccan.

“Seriously, man, you talk about Stark Industries shutting down the weapons division, but now you’re making even scarier weapons yourself. Honestly, you’re itching for civil war, right? Want me to be your partner in justice?”

“These are weapons I, Tony Stark, developed—not Stark Industries. Is that a problem? By the way, what’s this green stuff?”

“It’s our daily growth supplement as Apocalypse Knights.”

Wiccan gulped down a bottle of [Undead Corruption Serum], then burped.

“Strawberry flavor—perfect for you and that pajama baby.”

“Oh, I don’t want to drag Peter into this.”

“But the kid will join on his own. You have to consider that.”

“Fine. But why does your stuff smell weird?”

“It’s been aged for over two thousand years. The older, the more fragrant—and potent. You know Eastern liquors? The more aged, the better. You can have it analyzed; we’re friends, after all.”

Wiccan looked at Tony. What he’d just handed over was a new enhancement serum developed by Kel’Thuzad using chi energy.

The “chi” would strengthen Tony’s physical attributes—though with Kel’Thuzad’s serum, everyone knew about the side effects.

“You just emphasized your tone. I feel like you’re lying to me.”

“Tony, that’s not important. What matters is that today, War sent me a message. Your plan got Ross’s approval. He said, ‘Wishing us a happy collaboration.’ The military’s on our side.”

“So you’re not denying you lied to me just now?”

Tony, breathing lightly, put down his smart computer, moved to the lab bench, and began testing the [Undead Corruption Serum] in a tube.

“I know I’ll succeed. I’m Stark. I’m a genius. You can’t fool me. But I think this time I might need your help, because the opponent has a guy with a little hammer—the blond muscleman. You might need to handle him.”

“Of course. We’re friends.”

“Jarvis, analyze this compound.” Though Tony trusted Wiccan enough, he began testing the [Undead Corruption Serum].

“Yes, sir, analyzing now…”

“%￥#&……￥”

“Jarvis, what’s wrong?”

“Sir, the serum’s aroma is very pungent. It’s full of activity—almost like some alien life form. I was just exchanging goodnight greetings with it.”

“Huh?”

Tony and Wiccan both had question marks floating above their heads.