"Haha."
Seeing Nick Fury's utterly defeated expression, Heisenberg couldn't help but laugh rudely.
But after laughing his fill, Heisenberg waved at the crowd.
"It seems I've interrupted your meeting. Let me just state my business quickly."
As his words fell, everyone present was momentarily stunned.
Was this how things were supposed to unfold?
Shouldn't you have politely excused yourself when you saw we were in a meeting?
You're… really something else!
Of course, they dared to think it but wouldn't dare say it aloud.
Heisenberg, however, seized the moment to explain his purpose.
"I need you to find someone for me: Zebediah Killgrave, a former spy.
He once stole nerve gas from your U.S. Army base, but the mission went wrong. He was consumed by the gas, yet gained some utterly insane abilities.
In your search, under no circumstances should anyone make contact with him, because anyone who does will be effortlessly controlled by him!
In short, I just need you to provide his location. I'll find him and take him out.
My subordinate, Erica, will work with you. You'd better follow her lead, or I won't be responsible for any casualties!"
With that, Heisenberg nodded to himself.
"That's it. Get on it quickly. I won't disturb you further."
As his words faded, he had already sliced through the sky, vanishing without a trace.
In mere seconds, Heisenberg reappeared in the hospital.
He approached Erica and instructed,
"Once the collaboration with S.H.I.E.L.D. begins, keep an eye on someone named Rumlow. He'll be your future teammate, so be a bit friendlier to him."
At this, Erica and Bullseye instantly felt boundless admiration for Heisenberg.
They'd only heard of S.H.I.E.L.D. planting spies in gangs, but now the boss had already embedded his people within S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Even if Rumlow was just a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, he could still play an incredibly important role!
For a moment, Bullseye and Erica were filled with anticipation for the future.
…
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in Washington after Heisenberg's departure.
The group exchanged glances…
"Uh…"
Dr. Banner couldn't help but speak up.
"This guy… I've never seen him before. He's always been so… domineering?"
"Heh, Banner, you have his kind of power too, so you can be just as domineering!"
Tony said coldly.
Never mind whether he'd drunk Heisenberg's wine or exchanged manly banter with him.
Even if they'd shared a single drink, Tony couldn't stand Heisenberg's high-and-mighty attitude.
As he'd once told Pepper, he was destined never to be friends with Heisenberg. The most likely relationship between them was exactly this:
A rival!
Hearing Tony's words, Banner's heart trembled.
Honestly, in that moment, he truly questioned himself.
Why could Heisenberg use his immense power to intimidate S.H.I.E.L.D., to the point where they practically worshipped him?
And what about himself?
Why did he have to live a life of hiding, starving, and trembling in fear?
Why couldn't he live like Heisenberg?
If only he could embrace that power within him!
At this thought, Banner froze.
He understood.
He knew why he wasn't as carefree as Heisenberg.
Because that power wasn't his—it was the Hulk's.
That power didn't belong to him, and he deeply feared and loathed the Hulk's existence.
But he so desperately wanted a normal life.
Could he control the Hulk's power, or shed it entirely?
If only he could regain a peaceful life, no longer fearing that a moment of anger would unleash the Hulk!
In that instant, he made a decision.
Setting aside Banner's inner turmoil, the rest of the Avengers were clearly wary of Heisenberg.
"The last time I saw him, he was a handsome naked man. I thought after we picked him up, we'd have a chance for… something to happen," Natasha quipped.
"Something to happen? The only relationship we can have with him now is his unilateral dominance over us!" Hawkeye shrugged.
"Yeah, unilateral dominance. We can't even refuse his demands."
Nick sighed deeply.
"After all, his demands aren't too high. He doesn't need this country, doesn't want to destroy humanity, and doesn't aim to become a new god."
"But we can't just keep giving in to him, Nick. I came to my father's department as an advisor, not to assist some alien!"
Tony's words were blunt, but they echoed Nick's thoughts.
Nick nodded at Iron Man and said solemnly,
"Then let's exchange intelligence and decide how to control him."
As he spoke, Nick clapped his hands, and the conference room plunged into darkness.
Virtual lights converged in the room, and a clear image appeared in the center of the round table where everyone sat.
Nick Fury explained,
"By exchanging intelligence, I mean I'll show you some of the secret weapons I've acquired.
Among you are experienced commanders like Captain America, and geniuses like Tony and Banner.
So I hope you'll help me vet these secret weapons.
He's too powerful. If something unacceptable happens, we'll likely only have one chance!"
As he spoke, a beautiful but gaunt woman appeared in the center of the table.
"Jane Foster, a young astrophysicist, and also Thor's girlfriend!"
The virtual image shifted, and Jane Foster quickly transformed into the towering Prince of Asgard.
"Thor, Prince of Asgard, heir to the throne of the realm eternal. No one knows how his abilities compare to Superman's.
But I believe if we can contact him through his girlfriend, he'll be an ally, because a proud guy like him would never tolerate someone even prouder!"