Zhou Cheng had already resolved the most difficult part, and the subsequent finishing touches were naturally no challenge for the Avengers.
Under Captain America's leadership, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Kilian's secret Base was quickly taken over by S.H.I.E.L.D., and the laboratory that Captain America deemed "evil" was also destroyed.
Of course, before that, Black Widow had already copied some relevant data and information.
This goes without saying.
And so, due to a small diary, Kilian, a super villain who would later bring endless fear to the entire United States and almost kill Iron Man, went offline silently.
But how should one put it?
Falling into Nick Fury's hands and becoming Nick Fury's guinea pig, at least he still has his life, doesn't he?
Whether this is a blessing or a curse for Kilian is truly hard to say.
But for Nick Fury, this question is undoubtedly a good thing.
"Officer, everything is in here."
At the Triskelion, in the Director's office, Black Widow placed a special hard drive in front of Nick Fury.
Nick Fury glanced at it, remaining expressionless on the surface, but instinctively felt a surge of excitement deep down.
"Well done, Natasha."
Nick Fury nodded approvingly at Black Widow, then, without any wasted words, directly put away the hard drive.
And in his heart, he made a very pleasant decision: he must research that "Extremis Warrior potion" as quickly and vigorously as possible.
He aimed to perfect this potion in the shortest possible time.
"Also, what about Kilian and them?"
Raising his head again, Nick Fury turned his single eye towards Black Widow and asked.
"As you commanded, they have been imprisoned in the Vault Prison."
Black Widow immediately reported.
The Vault Prison is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret prison specifically for detaining super-powered individuals, prepared especially for super criminals like Kilian.
It has an exaggerated level of security, so even a terrifying Extremis Warrior like Kilian couldn't cause any trouble.
Nick Fury couldn't help but nod secretly.
However, for Nick Fury, imprisoning Kilian in the Vault Prison was only temporary.
Because the secret research Base specifically prepared for Kilian was not yet ready.
When it was ready, he would undoubtedly be transferred.
This was Nick Fury's ready-made guinea pig, so he naturally couldn't be left to waste in prison.
Of course, such a thing couldn't be accomplished overnight.
But fortunately, everything was under control, and Nick Fury could proceed slowly.
"So, what can you tell me about Satan?"
After understanding the intelligence related to the mission, Nick Fury asked Black Widow another question.
That's right, assessing Satan's strength and potential threat was another secret mission Nick Fury had given Black Widow.
It must be mentioned here that although Nick Fury had no intention of exposing Zhou Cheng's identity as a diary holder, faced with such an extraordinary power, he naturally couldn't ignore it.
Just as he secretly monitored Bruce Banner and the elderly Captain America, he also arranged personnel to secretly monitor Zhou Cheng.
But unfortunately.
The personnel Nick Fury arranged with Zhou Cheng would always miraculously lose their memories, and some related equipment would frequently malfunction.
Undoubtedly, these were Satan's methods.
Satan not only knew about Nick Fury's surveillance but also easily bypassed it.
The information Nick Fury usually received was irrelevant, or even extremely boring, and those were still "donations" from Satan.
As for some of Satan's truly core information, what was frustrating was that Nick Fury hadn't managed to get anything.
So, this opportunity to hire Satan was also a rare chance to understand relevant information about Satan, and Nick Fury naturally wouldn't miss it.
"Satan's strength is even more terrifying than the intelligence indicates."
Black Widow said this, a solemn expression appearing on her face, "Preliminary estimates suggest Satan possesses a form of telekinesis."
Black Widow then described to Nick Fury how Zhou Cheng had killed those Extremis Warriors.
She also included some of her own analyses.
Nick Fury's expression began to grow serious.
Telekinesis had already been demonstrated in the battle between Satan and Hulk.
The opponent used this move to temporarily trap Hulk.
But Nick Fury hadn't expected that Satan could also use this move to perform a more "precise" operation like "beheading."
Coupled with Satan's ability to fly, shoot feathers for attack, and various methods that could put Hulk to sleep.
In addition, there was some related information found in Hell's Kitchen, which was enough to prove that Satan's body was as strong as steel, completely invulnerable.
Satan's potential threat to Nick Fury had reached a peak.
It's no exaggeration to say that, based on the strength Satan has displayed so far, he alone could sweep through the current Avengers.
And this was only the strength Satan had shown!
But Nick Fury had enough reason to believe that Satan must possess many other methods not mentioned in the records.
"Anything else?"
Nick Fury listened to Black Widow's report without changing his expression, and instead of offering an opinion, he asked again.
"From the moment Satan first joined us, he seemed very low-key."
"He didn't show any resistance to Rogers' commands, or more accurately, he didn't care…"
Black Widow's voice continued, and she then proceeded to give some psychological evaluations of Zhou Cheng.
"So, combining all of the above, I personally believe that although Satan is very powerful, he will not be a threat."
"Besides, I don't think there's much chance of him joining the Avengers."
"Although he had an operation to combat crime in Hell's Kitchen before, it now seems that wasn't him."
Black Widow gave her conclusion.
Nick Fury understood.
These conclusions were actually similar to those of his usual assessment team, with no significant discrepancies.
As for joining the Avengers, Nick Fury was increasingly losing interest in that aspect.
In fact, taking a step back, the current situation was quite good.
If there was something that couldn't be resolved and required Satan's intervention, he could just pay, clean and simple.
"By the way, are there any leads on the African-American Captain America?"
After discussing Satan's matters, Nick Fury remembered some other things and began to ask Black Widow.
This was a mission Nick Fury had given Black Widow a long time ago, but it was later interrupted by other missions.
And after Thor left Earth, Nick Fury once again entrusted this important mission to Black Widow.
After all, this matter not only concerned the African-American Captain America himself but also the African-American Captain America's grandson, Patriot.
That was the future Young Avengers!
For Nick Fury, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
After all, children are the most innocent and easiest to fool.
Subtly influencing them from childhood would make it even more convenient to control them in the future.
"Officer, that will take some time."
Black Widow, however, gave this answer, "But I have found some clues."
"After Dr. Erskine was killed, the Military did launch some secret plans, attempting to replicate Dr. Erskine's results and create more super soldiers."
"Whatever those plans were, not much information was left, and I still need some time."
Nick Fury nodded, indicating he understood: "Keep following up."
"Understood!"
After discussing some other matters with Black Widow, Nick Fury finally waved his hand, dismissing his capable subordinate.
"Officer."
And not long after Black Widow left, Agent Hill appeared before Nick Fury once again.
She also held a document in her hand.
"These are some documents I found about the Ten Rings. Their traceable records go back a thousand years, and their legends are spread across the World."
"Major events in various places around the globe, including Europe, North America, and Asia, seem to have their shadow."
"But they left little information, mostly related legends and fragmented clues."
Nick Fury casually flipped through the documents Agent Hill had found, indicating he understood.
This was consistent with the diary's mention of Xu Wenwu being a thousand-year-old monster.
However, the information provided by Agent Hill did not contain any information about Xu Wenwu.
"What about their leader?"
Nick Fury looked up and asked.
"A blank slate, no clues can point to him or her. In fact, no clues can point to this organization at all."
Agent Hill shook her head.
As of now, everything she had found was indirect and related, but there were no direct clues.
The mystery of the Ten Rings was evident.
"Keep an eye on it."
Nick Fury pondered for a moment, then gave Agent Hill this command again, and then dismissed her as well.
"Oh, and Satan's final payment!"
After all the relevant official business was done, Nick Fury wasted no time.
He immediately pulled out his phone and made a call: "Settle all the remaining payments."
"Understood."
The other party immediately performed the relevant operation.
At Zhou Cheng's Villa, he immediately received a notification that the remaining forty-five million U.S. dollars had arrived.
"Another fifty million received, not bad, not bad."
Zhou Cheng was in a great mood.
Fifty million U.S. dollars, in any country in the World, would be considered a huge sum.
Now he had earned it in less than half a day.
He could only say that listening to Xiao Jian Jian's advice and entering the mercenary business was indeed an absolutely correct decision.
Not only could it solve the problem of powering the diary, but it could also improve his life along the way.
After all, although he was a super soldier, and after such a long period of enhancement, Zhou Cheng's strength was actually very, very strong.
But who could refuse a comfortable life?
And to be honest, acting with the Avengers this time was also a very interesting experience.
Zhou Cheng habitually thought, and summoned the diary.
He recorded his mood on it.
...
Marbury Luxury Villa.
"Tony, Dr. Wu's appointments are booked three months out."
Pepper Potts, in a professional skirt suit, looked dashing.
While tying Tony Stark's tie, she spoke to him about business.
"Didn't you tell him it was me having the surgery?"
Tony asked back, as if it were the most natural thing in the World.
"Do you think I would book you with a surgeon and deliberately hide your identity?"
Pepper Potts looked speechless.
Tony, of course, knew this. He wasn't seriously asking; he was just expressing his surprise.
Who was he?
Tony!
It was no exaggeration to say that no matter which hospital he went to, wouldn't they treat him like an ancestor?
Everything would surely be put aside to make sure Tony was comfortable first.
Yet this Dr. Wu actually wanted him to wait three months?
It had to be said that he was quite arrogant.
"So he knows it's for me, but he still wants me to wait three months. That's really uncommon."
Tony couldn't help but complain.
"It is uncommon, for someone not to give face to the famous Tony Stark."
Pepper pursed her lips and smiled, "So, what are you going to do? Wait for him for three months?"
"What else can I do?"
Tony spread his hands helplessly, "Book it for me."
"You actually accepted it so obediently? That's not like you, Tony!"
Pepper continued to tease Tony.
"Sir, the diary has been updated."
And after Pepper Potts left, Jarvis immediately sent a reminder.
Tony Stark, of course, wasted no words and immediately went to the diary.
Indeed, he saw that new content had appeared on it.
[Today, I actually fought alongside Captain America and Iron Man. I have to say, it was a truly interesting experience.]
[Last time they teamed up against Destroyer, this time they teamed up against Extremis Warrior. Could it be that the Avengers has already been formed?]
[Although Nick Fury had long had the idea of forming the Avengers, the actual realization of this idea should have been during the New York Battle.]
[I didn't expect it to happen so early this time.]
[However, the Avengers at this time are truly a bit weak.]
[Captain America, the "fifty-fifty" guy, goes without saying. I wonder if Thor, one of the Big Three, has joined.]
[As for Stark, is his current armor Mark VI or VII? Never mind, it doesn't matter.]
[Aside from the nanotech armor that allowed Stark to rival gods as a mortal, his other armors were just so-so.]