Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 215 Hush Money Agreement (First Update!)

Alexander Pierce sat helplessly in his office, being questioned by five members of the World Security Council. Originally, this was just a discussion about distributing the technology left behind by the Zeta Swiss soldiers. Although the council members had some disagreements during the discussion of the allocation of alien technology, it was nothing to Alexander Pierce. He had dealt with this kind of situation many times before and believed he could steer it to the final result he wanted.

However, British Council member Hawley seemed extremely dissatisfied with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s actions. The World Security Council possessed information on all Avengers members, but one was conspicuously missing—the legendary knight of King Arthur. Neither the World Security Council nor S.H.I.E.L.D. had any information on the knight. Given his actions in New York, all council members considered him a terrifying weapon comparable to a nuclear bomb, and S.H.I.E.L.D. should fulfill its supervisory duty, not allow a completely unknown individual to roam freely.

Therefore, when Ms. Holly used this as a pretext to question Alexander Pierce, the council chairman was unable to even refute her. Other council members also seemed to see an opportunity and began to advocate for reducing the share of alien weapons and research opportunities allocated to the United States. After Alexander Pierce finally managed to stabilize the situation, promised to give Ms. Holly an explanation, and delayed the meeting, he turned off the conference projector, sat down in his office chair with extreme frustration, and poured himself a glass of wine.

S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't without information on Salomon Damonette, but that information was no different from that of an ordinary person—just a standard citizen file. No one knew what secrets lay hidden beneath Salomon's unremarkable record. S.H.I.E.L.D., however, believed they knew nothing about this superhuman's name, abilities, personality, family background, or assets. Alexander Pierce believed that only Nick Fury within S.H.I.E.L.D. should know anything, because according to Agent Sylvie's recollection on the Helicarrier, Nick Fury had communicated with the knight who removed his mask. But Pierce speculated that Nick Fury probably didn't know much either; otherwise, given their long-standing working relationship, Nick Fury would have surely shared all the basic information with him.

Suddenly, a possibility occurred to him, a possibility that made him straighten his back: it was very possible that Nick Fury knew the knight very well, but he just wouldn't tell anyone. He was using this information as a trump card, and he was hiding his little secret—why would he do that?

Alexander Pierce decided to test the waters.

In reality, the situation wasn't as bad as Pierce imagined. Nick Fury did want to tell him some information about Salomon, but the information vanished the moment it reached his lips, like water poured into the desert—the memory hissed and evaporated, only to resurface slowly afterward. Nick Fury thought of the contract; he was certain it was the power of magic, that he was bound by it and couldn't say anything—then he thought of his agents. Aside from Agent Coulson, who had already died, only Agent Romanoff had worked with Salomon Damonette on missions.

Agent Romanov, however, said that she had also signed a contract and could not provide assistance.

"Monther F*uck! That little bastard really didn't leave me any loopholes!" Nick Fury slammed his fist on the table in anger, then sighed and slumped into his chair. When Alexander Pierce summoned him, he still looked sullen.

The World Security Council chairman poured Nick Fury a drink and then casually mentioned Project Insight, observing Fury's reaction. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. had no objections to the plan; he even wanted to expedite it. Nick Fury also believed that the Avengers shouldn't be left to handle everything; S.H.I.E.L.D. must take the lead. But this wasn't what Alexander Pierce wanted. He knew Fury's skills as an agent; lying was no problem for him.

“You have to tell me something, Nick. The World Security Council is very unhappy that you’ve withheld information about an Avenger—let’s call him the Avenger for now—and the council members have said even worse things,” Pierce said with a smile. “Give them some information, like throwing a bone without meat, so they feel their power has been exercised, so their administration has been effective. Nick, say something, don’t be too stingy.”

"I don't even need to listen to know what they're saying. It's nothing more than 'outlandish thugs,' 'an undisciplined armed group.' Politicians were already saying those things when the Chitauri were wiped out. But so what? If another alien invasion happens before our plan is complete, we'll still need the Avengers." Nick Fury avoided addressing Pierce's analogy and instead began to mock the politicians. "I didn't see them stand up when there was an alien invasion. Especially Councilor Malik, he hasn't even been held accountable for launching the nuclear missile yet."

"Almost there, Nick. Have you found the missing nuclear bomb?" Alexander Pierce asked the question that was of utmost concern to the US government; no country could sleep soundly after losing a nuclear weapon. The FBI, CIA, and NSA were all mobilized to find the bomb—a nuclear bomb couldn't simply vanish into thin air; that was just a trick.

"Found it." Nick Fury was even more exasperated at this. Salomon Damonette had indeed returned the nuclear bomb, but the handover location was rather poor. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. never imagined that Salomon would hide it in the Pentagon's basement. In other words, if any board member had pressed the nuclear button even once, the Pentagon would have been blown to bits!

"Is the nuclear bomb still intact?"

"Yes." Nick Fury thought for a moment. He figured he could ignore the screwdriver marks all over the warhead, since they looked like someone had tried to disassemble a nuclear warhead. He could guess who it was with his toes. Salomon Damonette was a real handful, and he didn't think it necessary to send this information to the Council, or those politicians would jump around like startled hens.

Thinking of this, Nick Fury sighed and took another swig of his drink.

"Very good. With that nuclear bomb, the impeachment of Director Malik can begin." Pierce nodded. If the nuclear bomb disappeared, it meant that this matter couldn't be resolved with a nuclear bomb, and Gideon Malik's judgment was correct. In that case, the responsibility for launching the nuclear bomb couldn't be placed on Gideon Malik. Pierce had always looked down on these traditional Hydra families, believing that they were obsessed with ancient legends and should have been eliminated long ago. He was very happy to have Malik ousted from the council.

“But that’s far from enough, Nick,” Pierce said. “The Council won’t be satisfied with this.”

"What does the sudden disappearance of a nuclear bomb remind you of?" While Nick Fury couldn't directly reveal information about Salomon and magic, he could guide others to think for themselves. For example, right now, he could use language to guide his superior to discover the truth.

"magic?"

Nick Fury shook his head.

"If it's not an illusion, then it must be a mass illusion?" Pierce asked.

"No," the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. denied again.

Pierce shrugged. "What else could it be? It can't be magic, can it?"

Nick Fury remained silent and did not respond.

"Okay." Alexander Pierce took a deep breath. "Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent, including those alien creatures that appeared during the attack on the police station in the town of Orogrand..."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand, Nick? You know perfectly well how vulnerable I'd be with the council without this information!"

"Do you remember what the devil is best at, Pierce?"

"Deception...of a contract?"

"Yes, the contract, I signed it."

"Can you tell me his name?"

"No, I tried. Once you realize it's magic, you can't say the name."

Pierce asked anxiously, "Your agents also fought alongside him. Tell me, did they have a contract?"

"have."

"Shit! Does everyone in this world have signed a contract? Is there any other way I could find out about him?"

"You can only talk to him, Pierce." Nick Fury finished his drink and stood up from his chair. "But you'd better have a bundle of grass ready beforehand."

Why?

"Because he could very well turn you into a goat."

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I overslept on the weekend...

(End of this chapter)