"Sir, I always feel like we're being set up!"
Inside Alexander Pierce's office at S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Looking at Alexander Pierce, who was even angrier now than when he lost dozens of HYDRA elites earlier, Sitwell spoke cautiously.
Sitwell knew why Mr. Pierce was so furious.
He was even angrier than when the HYDRA base in Sokovia was destroyed and dozens of elites from various departments like Congress and the CIA were captured.
The reason was the bombing of Su Che and Steve Rogers's home.
Mr. Pierce believed that members of HYDRA had acted without his authorization.
This would cause HYDRA to suffer heavy losses once again!
That's right—compared to the earlier losses, Pierce was more concerned about the internal panic within HYDRA.
Someone had taken revenge on the Silver Moon Knight and Steve Rogers without the leader's consent!
This was the most frightening part.
Once this kind of panic situation arose, it would lead to internal turmoil within HYDRA.
Then, perhaps this group of people would face a major disaster.
It might even affect the Insight Project, into which countless efforts had been poured.
It would sound ridiculous to say that HYDRA members are afraid of death.
Even Sitwell felt that he wasn't afraid of death.
Well… he shouldn't be afraid!
But if a goal pursued for over a decade or even decades were ruined,
then such a blow would be absolutely unbearable for HYDRA.
That was why Mr. Pierce was so angry.
But…
Sitwell always felt that things weren't that simple.
Although both Nick Fury and Mr. Pierce believed that the bombing retaliation came from HYDRA…
"Tell me what you think!"
Hearing Sitwell suggest that the bombing of Su Che and Steve's home wasn't carried out by HYDRA members under his command, but that HYDRA was taking the fall for some other force, Alexander Pierce's expression softened slightly, and he urged him to continue.
"Sir, think about it: the team led by the Silver Moon Knight just rooted out the assets we've painstakingly embedded in various major departments over the years."
"Then they went and destroyed the HYDRA base in Sokovia. Now, anyone would assume that we in HYDRA must hate this group to the core!"
"In that case, once a member of this team is attacked in retaliation, everyone will think it's an attack from our HYDRA."
"However, you did not issue any order to retaliate, and as far as I know, since you suppressed this matter, no HYDRA members have had any intention of striking back."
"After all… that's the powerful Silver Moon Knight, and our old nemesis Steve Rogers!"
Seeing Mr. Pierce's expression improve significantly, Sitwell hurried forward to pour him a glass of water.
"Sir, think about it: although there's panic within HYDRA right now, without your orders, we definitely wouldn't dare to retaliate."
"After the team led by the Silver Moon Knight has taken down so many of our forces, they're bound to suspect that there are more HYDRA agents lurking in the shadows."
"And almost everyone on that team, except for the Silver Moon Knight, has ties to Nick Fury."
"Even Silver Moon Knight Su Che was first contacted by Nick Fury sending Natasha Romanoff, not to mention Steve Rogers later!"
"And as for Nick Fury, sir, I'm afraid no one knows him better than you."
Taking the water glass from Sitwell, Alexander Pierce frowned in thought, then nodded slightly.
Coming out of Nick Fury's office earlier, he had been blinded by anger and instinctively assumed it was his HYDRA subordinates who had done it.
But now, thinking calmly, there probably weren't such fools under his command!
Even those action teams who relied on brute force rather than brains wouldn't act without orders!
"Damn it, are you saying Nick Fury is behind this?"
Taking a sip of ice water, Pierce nodded. "That's right. Given Nick Fury's paranoid nature,"
"after rooting out so many of our forces, he wouldn't feel relieved. Instead, he'd suspect that there are even more HYDRA agents hidden in the shadows!"
"That's just Nick Fury's character."
"So now it seems that Nick Fury deliberately had someone bomb Silver Moon Knight Su Che and Steve Rogers's apartment."
"His goal is to make us panic, throw us into self-doubt, and thereby expose more of our operations!"
Watching Alexander Pierce recover from his anger, Sitwell quickly added, "Exactly, sir. Nick Fury must have done this on purpose, aiming to frame us. He wants to see if HYDRA will take the bait."
Slamming the water glass heavily on the table, Alexander Pierce let out a long sigh of relief. "Damn it, I was almost tricked by Nick Fury!"
"I almost lost my composure and caused a catastrophe!"
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have supported him as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Then what should we do now, sir?"
Seeing that the blame had been successfully shifted to Nick Fury, Sitwell quickly asked about the next steps.
As long as Mr. Pierce didn't think it was internal disobedience within HYDRA and thus wouldn't carry out a top-to-bottom purge, then he would be safe.
Seriously, Sitwell was scared too.
If he were exposed, it would be over!
As for whether this was a conspiracy by Nick Fury or some HYDRA members acting without authorization, it didn't matter.
Once Mr. Pierce was stabilized, they could investigate slowly.
If it turned out to be their own people, so what?
When the time came, they could just quietly eliminate that fool.
As long as he himself wasn't implicated, everything would be fine!
"What's next?"
Pierce, now back to his senses, let out a cold laugh, his expression turning icy.
"Isn't Nick Fury trying to use this self-orchestrated bombing to fish out our HYDRA agents?"
"Then let's play along and give him a little surprise!"
"Sitwell, arrange for some people to be 'exposed' now. Remember, choose those low-level HYDRA members who don't know too many secrets."
"Use their lives to give Nick Fury the illusion that HYDRA's leadership has been completely rooted out, and all that's left are some insignificant, ordinary small fries."
At this, Alexander Pierce pondered for a moment. "Also, go contact Su Che and Steve!"
"Contact them under the guise of offering compensation."
"It doesn't make sense that Nick Fury can win over the Silver Moon Knight, but I, the Secretary-General, can't offer material compensation to the heroes who got revenge by eradicating HYDRA!"
"Yes, sir!"
Hearing Pierce's order, Sitwell immediately nodded.
As long as he wasn't implicated, everything was fine!
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(TL : More Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)