"Enyin..." (Murmuring in sleep)
Several beauties were sound asleep.
Felicia's beautiful eyes were closed as she breathed softly.
Poor little Cindy frowned in her sleep, deeply unconscious.
Skye smacked her lips, her arm resting on something soft—Barbara's body.
Gwen was curled up in a tight embrace with Jessica, their jade-like legs intertwined.
"Hu~" (sound of gentle breathing)
From between their slightly parted lips, a bubble had formed... A small, white, translucent bubble that expanded and shrank with their fragrant breaths—truly adorable~
…..
Pierce's office.
"…After the Colombian National Liberation Army took over the embassy, the guards helped me escape, but the rebels took hostages. Nick was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s local lead, and he proposed a plan—to launch an assault via the sewers..."
Pierce chatted with Rogers while flipping through some files.
He was trying to use his connection with Nick Fury to gain Captain America's trust and lower his guard.
"I said: No, we'll negotiate. But the rebels refused and ordered a kill-on-sight."
"They swept through the basement and found—nothing."
"Nick disobeyed my direct orders, issued commands on foreign soil without clearance, and rescued a dozen government officials—including my daughter."
At this point.
Steve interjected, "So you promoted him?"
Pierce: "I've never regretted that decision."
As he said this.
Feeling the time was right, he went for the kill and asked Captain America:
"Captain, why was Nick at your house last night?"
Steve glanced at him and calmly shook his head.
"I don't know..."
Pierce: "Did you know that place was bugged?"
Steve: "I knew. Nick told me."
"Did he also tell you he was the one who bugged it?"
"...."
Steve didn't respond—he just looked at him quietly.
"Let me show you something."
Pierce, seeing this, opened a pre-loaded video player.
The footage showed Steve's past mission where he captured a pirate named Batroc.
That mission coincided with the Dark Elves' arrival, so Cap hadn't made it to Greenwich in time.
"...They communicated via email and paid through wire transfers..."
Pierce explained it all to Steve.
The general idea was———
Batroc hijacking the ship was just a cover.
The real purpose was to trade S.H.I.E.L.D. secrets with Nick Fury.
The deal went south, and Fury paid with his life...
"If you really knew Nick Fury, you'd know that's impossible."
Steve didn't believe a word of Pierce's nonsense.
"..."
Seeing Cap's disbelief.
Pierce's gaze narrowed, holding a trace of icy coldness...
"You know, I didn't want to work on the Council—Fury asked me to."
He stood, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked outside as he spoke.
"Because we're realists. We know—that beyond diplomacy and false niceties, building a better world sometimes requires destroying the old one."
That naturally earns you enemies. They'll say you're shameless and dirty, because you're willing to do the unspeakable to create something greater.
"Just thinking about how peacefully those people live now—it enrages me!"
After revealing a bit of true emotion.
Pierce turned and looked at Steve.
"Captain, you were the last person to see Nick alive—I don't believe that was a coincidence. I think you feel the same. So, I'll ask you one more time—why was he at your place?"
"..."
Steve sat in silence a while longer, then picked up his shield from the couch, strapped it on, and chose to leave.
"Excuse me."
.....
[Beep———]
After calling Silvija.
Rachel leaned at the foot of the couch, her cat-eyes slightly dazed and unfocused...
"Huff... huff..."
She was breathing lightly.
Her soft pink lips were in the same state as Felicia and the others...
Pop~~
Alita extended her silver index finger and gently poked the bubble forming from Rachel's lips, popping it.