American comics: Becoming the god of technology from Osborn

Chapter 99: Can a black person become a director these days?

“Air and Space Museum…Museum of Natural History…National Gallery of Art…Lincoln Memorial…Walmart Skyline Plaza…Apple iPhone Store…”

As Sharon drove on the open road, she counted all the places she had just taken Steve to visit.

"Captain, although it's not as fast-changing as New York today, Washington has also changed dramatically over the years. I think today's tour is enough for you to understand the current situation."

Sitting next to him, Steve was enthusiastically playing with a brand new smartphone that he had just bought less than half an hour ago, tapping on the screen carefully and a little clumsily.

After hearing Sharon's words, he put down his phone and looked out the window at the street that was completely different from what he remembered.

"The moment I walked out of your facility, I confirmed that you were not lying. This world is no longer the world I know. I don't belong to this era."

Steve said with complicated eyes.

"You said Peggy was your aunt. How has she been doing these years? Is she...is she still alive?"

"I was wondering when you would ask this, Captain. Are you sure you are ready to hear the answer? Even in this day and age, there are still very few people in the world who can live to be ninety years old."

Sharon's tone suddenly became much heavier.

"Of course I want to know, even if it means hearing that she's dead," Steve said firmly.

"The good news is that my aunt is still alive."

Steve's eyes lit up, and then Sharon poured a bucket of cold water on him.

"The bad news is that her health is very poor and she is suffering from illness. She is hovering between life and death every day. She was admitted to the intensive care unit two days ago and has not been released until today. No one knows whether she can make it."

"Captain, you should not prepare to hear the news of my aunt's death, but prepare to witness her death in person, which may happen soon."

Sharon's words were like a bolt of thunder that struck Steve's heart, leaving him unable to calm down for a long time.

Seventy years ago, Peggy witnessed Captain America's sacrifice firsthand. Seventy years later, it is Captain America's turn to witness Peggy's death.

Given Peggy's current physical condition, the strong emotional impact of learning that Steve has returned may even directly lead to her taking her last breath!

In a way, this was easier to accept than hearing that Peggy had passed away.

If we stand in the shoes of the SHIELD agents, Sharon thinks that Captain America should not know that Peggy is still alive, and similarly, Peggy should not be told about Captain America's affairs. The best scenario is for the two of them to believe that the other is dead.

But Sharon is still Peggy's close niece. She doesn't want Peggy to die without seeing Steve again and leave the world with the greatest regret. She also doesn't want Captain America to commemorate Peggy in front of a fake tombstone.

Therefore, she was actually very surprised by Nick Fury's order to tell Steve the truth about Peggy, but she was also happy to complete this instruction.

Steve stared blankly ahead with a dull expression, as if he was digesting the information he had just heard.

Sharon didn't disturb him and drove quietly.

"…What do you want me to do?"

After a long time, Steve came back to his senses and asked in a deep voice.

"What does SHIELD want from me?"

"We want you to join us."

Sharon said bluntly.

"I need to see your chief."

"Of course, we are on our way to meet him."

After a while, Sharon parked the car in front of a cemetery.

Steve followed Sharon in and saw a black man wearing a black windbreaker and sunglasses standing in the middle of the cemetery.

He looked around and there was hardly anyone else in the cemetery at this time.

"The director of SHIELD is just ahead."

Sharon reminded.

Steve was stunned when he heard this, and subconsciously looked around again, but still didn't see anyone else. Then he understood who the Director of SHIELD Sharon was referring to.

"S.H.I.E.L.D., a huge international spy organization, is controlled by a black man? It seems that racial equality has really been achieved in this era, and our bloodshed and sacrifices in the past were not in vain."

Steve said with great relief.

This...I'm afraid it's a little different from the equality you imagined...

Hearing this, Sharon's eyes moved slightly, and she thought to herself.

"Nice to meet you, Captain America. I'm Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Sharon's boss."

Fury offered Steve his hand and introduced himself.

"Steve Rogers."

Steve shook Fury's hand.

"I guess Sharon has told you a lot, Captain. I now formally invite you on behalf of SHIELD. We need you, and the world needs you too."

Fury didn't exchange too many pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"I'm afraid I can't agree to that, Chief Fury."

Steve shook his head calmly.

"The world has become peaceful now. My war has ended long ago. I don't belong to this era, and this era doesn't need me."

"I just hope to spend the last moments with Peggy, and then spend the rest of my life looking for Bucky. Since I was preserved by the glacier until now, Bucky must be able to be preserved as well."

Fury calmly reminded, "Your survival is closely related to the Super Soldier Serum, Captain. Bucky Barnes has never been injected with the serum."

"But at least his body won't rot, right? Even if he dies, I will bring his body back intact for burial."

Looking at Steve's eyes, Fury knew that he was not joking, and the latter was really prepared to devote his entire life to finding Bucky.

Even though Captain America has made up his mind, Fury still has a way to convince him.

"You are wrong about one thing, Captain. Your war is not over yet, and the peace of this world may be overturned at any time."

"what?"

Steve looked at Fury in confusion.

"Your old enemy, Hydra, they are still alive."

"what!"

The same words came out of Steve's mouth, but the tone was completely different.

Fury told Steve that Hydra had become stronger again by parasitizing S.H.I.E.L.D. and had slowly infiltrated all levels of society around the world over the past few decades.

"In addition to Hydra, the Asgardian gods and minotaurs that appeared in New Mexico and New York not long ago, and the gamma mutant Hulk that roams the world... the earth is secretly facing countless threats."

"SHIELD was originally created to resolve threats, but it accidentally became the cradle that nurtured Hydra. Therefore, we urgently need to reorganize SHIELD. We need a spiritual totem that we can absolutely trust."

"It sounds like you should disband SHIELD," Steve suggested solemnly.

"Of course I can disband SHIELD, but who will take over SHIELD's responsibilities? Even if a new department is set up to replace SHIELD, who can guarantee that it will not become a hotbed for Hydra or other conspiracy organizations?"

Fury asked back.

"The focus is always on you, Captain. Your joining is our greatest guarantee—"

"and many more!"

At this moment, Steve's face suddenly changed and he interrupted Fury on the spot.

"Hydra has infiltrated SHIELD for decades. What about the Cosmic Cube? Have you found the Cosmic Cube?"

(End of this chapter)