Inside the new Avengers base, those agents who had clearance to access the latest intelligence wore heavy expressions but dared not tell anyone. The reason was simple: the two most important members of the Avengers were being held captive, and no one knew if they were alive, when—or even if—they would return.
"I'll talk to Solomon," said Nick Fury, his brow furrowed and his tone severe. "But I can only guarantee the survival of Avengers members, not every agent. Unless Solomon sees them existing in the future—like Agent Coulson, Rogers, and Stark."
"This never should have happened in the first place. Agent Hill, you failed to control Tony Stark and Steve Rogers' actions."
"I couldn't," Maria Hill shook her head decisively. "It was impossible. Even Agent Coulson's team and the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are beyond control. Gonzales, Weaver—they're still on the carrier, and I can't reach them."
"Your intel is outdated, Hill. Coulson didn't tell you everything," Nick Fury sighed.
"Gonzales is dead—killed by Skye's mother, Jiaying, the same Inhuman Solomon is now holding. As for Agent Weaver, she was disappointed in Coulson and has defected to Victoria Hand's camp."
Hill merely shrugged, indicating there was nothing she could do.
Though she hadn't suffered much blame for Hydra's uprising due to being a World Security Council plant inside S.H.I.E.L.D., as Fury's most trusted deputy she had faced intense scrutiny and regular lie detector tests. She no longer had the ability to weave intelligence networks like she once did. Now, her role was more as a congressional mole inside the Avengers—just as she had once been within S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I know. But I need you to make sure they don't do anything rash. You too, Agent Romanoff. You're supposed to be the Avengers' failsafe—to prevent the big boys from getting hotheaded. Maybe a robot, too—who knows what's going on anymore?" Fury's single eye was fixed on the evidence gathered by the Avengers regarding Solomon's actions. Even the simplest deductions pointed to Solomon hunting monsters and averting a greater disaster.
Nick Fury was quite satisfied with Solomon's results. Although the earthquake wasn't completely prevented, it was clear he had stopped something much worse.
Once again, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director confirmed Solomon was the same kind of man as himself. From Fury's perspective, Solomon's operational results were near perfect.
"As for the kid, I'm sure he's chasing down some critical intel. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so determined to interrogate Jiaying. That suggests the information can't be confirmed by magical prophecy, which means it could involve an extinction-level event. As for magical contamination... this is Steve Rogers' first time seeing how Kamar-Taj actually operates." Fury scoffed. "He always said the Avengers weren't like S.H.I.E.L.D. Well, now he's seen the real world. S.H.I.E.L.D. became what it was because it had to. Kamar-Taj, too. I can practically picture how negotiations went—Rogers refused inspection, conflict erupted, and more agents died."
Fury sighed heavily.
"This is the result of lacking professional training—letting emotion rule without considering reality. When they return, make sure they don't antagonize Solomon Damonet. I don't want to see Solomon on the opposing side. If it comes to that, the Avengers won't have a prayer—except maybe begging Thor for help. Solomon is no pacifist."
"That's easier said than done, Director," Romanoff said, clearly worried. "Tony Stark is not known for his forgiveness. As for Rogers, Solomon's actions would be unacceptable to him. I'm sure Captain Rogers clashed with Agent Hand—and I suspect very few agents survived."
"What did you say?"
At that moment, Solomon sat at a steel table, carefully recording every word the madwoman spoke. Officer Carter stood to the side with arms crossed, watching warily as her eyes darted between the madwoman, Solomon, and Bayonetta.
She couldn't figure out what the man was doing. A lunatic's ramblings couldn't be used as legal testimony, and recording them was even more absurd. Equally absurd was the woman in the tailored suit sipping coffee and occasionally planting kisses on the young man's cheek—utterly unprofessional for supposed federal agents.
What made Carter hesitate was that Solomon had mentioned Harold Finch—that alone was enough for her to grudgingly trust him for now. She had already sent Finch a photo of Solomon's credentials for verification.
Glancing at her phone discreetly, she saw Finch's reply.
"Why do you need info on this man?"
Ha! Carter thought. Seems you have your own little secrets, Mr. Finch.
She quickly texted back, "Just tell me if they're real FBI agents."
"I know the man. As for your question: no. But if you check with the FBI, yes."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the man I know is not an FBI agent, but he has real credentials, and they exist in the database. I found the woman's records too—she has multiple nationalities, and all her documents are authentic."
"They're interrogating a mental patient!" Carter protested. "Who the hell are they?"
"My advice: don't get involved," Finch replied urgently. "They're extremely dangerous. The incidents they handle are not something ordinary people can deal with. If they want to act, let them. Don't try to investigate them—it's for your own good, Officer Carter."
"CIA?"
"No. Worse than the CIA! Do not question them!"
"Why?"
"I can't tell you, Officer Carter. But Sameen Shaw is nearby—she's agreed to come to the station to talk to them. For now, just pretend you saw nothing."
"So long as they don't harm that poor woman."
Solomon stood, straightening his notes. The madwoman had immediately begun reciting prophecies upon seeing him. He had plenty of experience interpreting prophecies and divine revelations, and by correlating them with recent events, he could already infer the general future the woman described.
"My dear, I need to send her back," he said to Bayonetta. "You and Jeanne should go ahead. I promise to catch up."
"Just like that?" Bayonetta, who hadn't formally studied divination magic, could still sense the magical aura around the madwoman. The woman had been blessed by some deity, but unable to withstand it, her mind had crumbled.
"Her prophecy concerns what's happening recently... I suspect she was sent to warn us."
"Goodbye, Spirit of the Severed Lifeline," the madwoman said dreamily to Officer Carter as she passed her. "Your coffee was delicious."
"I can't just let you walk out of here, Agent," Officer Carter said, blocking their path. "Don't misunderstand." She waved a hand. "You still need to sign some paperwork."
"I hope Mr. Finch explained things, Officer Carter. No, he didn't betray you—you just couldn't hide your tricks from me." Solomon looked at the officer calmly. "You're a good cop. Fate has returned to you the life you lost. Cherish your second chance."
"What do you mean?"
"It means you've already died once."
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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