S.H.I.E.L.D., Trident Headquarters.
In the deepest part of the command center, the lighting was deliberately dimmed, with only the faint glow from countless holographic screens and control panels illuminating Nick Fury's stern, rock-like face. Reflected in his single eye were the final scenes of the Times Square incident, transmitted from various angles.
Daredevil, the blind lawyer who always carried a touch of tragedy and solitude when fighting crime in Hell's Kitchen, now appeared in high-definition close-up on the main screen—he stood in the shadows, his red uniform strikingly conspicuous under the flashing neon lights, yet strangely out of place amidst the surrounding chaos.
He showed no victorious posture, merely stating calmly into his communicator, "Target eliminated," before vanishing like a ghost, leaving the Hero Association's Logistics Department to efficiently handle the aftermath.
The entire operation, from Kingpin issuing the command to Daredevil's precise targeting and fatal strike, then to target elimination and the Logistics Department's entry, unfolded like a precisely edited film sequence, smoothly and chillingly efficient.
Fury said nothing, tapping the smooth surface of the control panel with his finger.
A technically processed audio clip played in the room—it was Daredevil's extremely brief communication with frontline heroes via the Association's encrypted channel during the operation:
"The target's main body is not on the screen. He is below you, about fifteen meters southeast, near a subway vent, disguised as… a tourist who is 'live streaming'."
"Now!"
The voice was calm, precise, devoid of any personal emotion, entirely serving the mission objective.
Immediately after, another scene was brought up.
It showed The Silent Heart Master Lin, after failing to construct a silent force field and suffering a mental backlash, being quickly and professionally escorted away by two Association medical personnel from the Logistics Department, and immediately taken by a waiting mobile medical unit.
The entire process took no more than thirty seconds.
Finally, the screen switched to the backend data stream of the Association's official APP (a portion that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technical department managed to intercept), clearly displaying:
[B-Class Hero "Daredevil" successfully handled tiger-level threat "Traffic is King". Mission contribution assessment: 65%. Points reward issued.]
[C-Class Hero "Iron Wall": Contribution 15% - Successfully established and maintained a frontline defensive barrier, effectively hindering the spread of mental pollution, protecting civilians, and distracting the enemy. Points reward issued.]
[C-Class Hero "Swift Shadow": Contribution 10% - Performed high-speed reconnaissance and probing, drawing some of the target's firepower. Points reward issued.]
[D-Class Hero "The Silent Heart Master" Lin, mission participation assessment: 8% (attempted suppression, drew fire). Medical resources allocated, psychological intervention initiated.]
[Association Technical Analysis Team: Contribution 2% - Real-time data analysis and communication assurance. Team reward distributed.]
Maria Hill stood quietly behind Fury, having also watched all the footage.
She looked at the quantified contributions on the screen, the automatically issued points, the standardized logistical procedures that activated without waiting for commands, took a deep breath, and broke the silence:
"Officer, the threat has been neutralized. Target 'Flashy Richie' has been contained, civilian casualties are zero, and property damage is kept to a minimum.
From the results, the Hero Association's handling… was perfect."
"Perfect?" Fury finally spoke, his voice deep like an undercurrent from the depths of the earth.
He turned, his single eye sharply fixed on Hill, "Hill, you only see the result.
Now look at the process."
He pointed at the screen, his fingertip almost piercing the holographic image.
"A 'vigilante', Matt Murdock, who was originally outside the system, relying on personal conviction and a bit of luck to fight crime in Hell's Kitchen.
How long has he been with the Association?
Look at him now!"
"Precise target positioning, ignoring visual illusions and mental pollution—this is certainly his ability, but look at how he is being used!
Kingpin didn't even have to be on site; he was just at headquarters, deploying him to the most needed position on the battlefield like a program module, and with a single effective strike!"
"And The Silent Heart Master, whose ability is rare but clearly lacks experience.
One failure, and she's immediately rotated out, while a complete medical and psychological support system instantly follows up, ensuring she won't suffer lasting effects, and even potentially customizing a specialized training program for her based on the data from this failure!"
"Iron Wall and Swift Shadow, they were responsible for frontal containment and feints, perfectly coordinating with Daredevil's fatal strike."
"Logistics, medical, technical analysis… every link meshes like a gear."
Fury's voice gradually rose, carrying a cold, validated prescience.
"They aren't simply recruiting heroes, Hill.
They are systematically producing heroes!"
He walked to the main console, pulling up S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal assessment report on the Hero Association, which was marked in red with keywords such as "unknown technology source," "efficient mission dispatch mechanism," "standardized hero training process," and "comprehensive welfare and logistical support."
"Look at this model!" Fury pointed at the report, "Discover potential ability users (regardless of their background) → Evaluate and classify through the system → Provide targeted resources (technology, training, equipment) for enhancement → Incentivize and constrain through a points and ranking system → Deploy suitable 'heroes' to suitable 'missions,' and equip them with a comprehensive support system."
"What does this resemble?" Fury's gaze pressed on Hill like a physical weight, "Doesn't it resemble how we screen and assemble Agent teams?
No, it's even more efficient, more… industrialized than us! Because we still have to consider loyalty, beliefs, background checks, while they seem to only care about 'ability' and 'utility'!"
Hill was silent, fully understanding Fury's concerns.
S.H.I.E.L.D. represented an order based on national authority and international cooperation, while the Hero Association was establishing a parallel order based on unknown technology and pure efficiency.
"Kingpin isn't building a superhero team." Fury walked to the massive bulletproof window, looking out at the shimmering river and the vaguely visible silhouette of the Association's new headquarters rising in the distance, "He's building a system, an 'heroic ecosystem' that can detach from existing social structures, operate independently, sustain itself, and continuously expand."
"Today, they can solve a mentally polluting internet celebrity monster for 'points' and 'missions.' Tomorrow, when this system is large enough, when it's filled with various superhuman individuals drawn in for various reasons (money, power, sense of belonging, or even helplessness), who can guarantee it won't be used for other purposes?"
"When the power to define 'order' is in the hands of a private organization and that former gang leader, what will the World we know become?"
Fury turned, his single eye glinting with unprecedented solemnity.
"Stark is still caught up in superficial issues like 'should heroes get paid.' He's wrong, terribly wrong.
The core of the problem isn't money, but power—the ultimate power to define heroes, assign missions, and even decide what kind of 'order' is worth maintaining."
"Kingpin and his Association are silently seizing this power.
Using social security benefits, using black-tech equipment, using a 'system' that appears incredibly reasonable and efficient."
He walked back to the control panel and pulled up an encrypted folder labeled "lighthouse project."
"We can no longer merely observe and probe." Fury's voice was decisive, "Notify the World Security Council; I need an immediate top-level briefing.
At the same time, 'lighthouse project' is preparing to launch Phase One."
"We need to figure out what the core of his 'system' truly is.
Before he expands this 'hero production line' globally and completely changes how superhuman powers interact with our World."
Hill straightened her back, her expression solemn: "Understood, Officer."
In the command center, only the faint hum of equipment remained.
Fury stood alone in the pale blue glow, like a lone wolf sensing a new threat approaching, vigilantly watching the rapidly rising shadow of that behemoth in the darkness.
His initial concerns were no longer just concerns, but were evolving into a cold reality.
A silent war for the future of order, its prelude had already begun.