As the altitude continuously climbed, the optical cloaking panels on the underside of the Helicarrier began to light up one by one.
This behemoth gradually vanished into the azure sky.
On the other side, inside the Helicarrier, in the central command bridge.
Countless Agents were busy in front of three-dimensional holographic projections and complex control panels, with various data streams pouring down the screens like waterfalls.
Director Nick Fury stood at the highest command console with his hands clasped behind his back, methodically directing the coordination of personnel from all sides.
Hearing the sound of the automatic door opening, Fury turned his head, his single eye sweeping over Steve, Banner, Reze, and the others who walked in.
Finally, his gaze landed on Makima.
In that instant, a trace of embarrassment inexplicably flashed across the dark face of the Agent leader, who was usually unflappable even when Mount Tai collapsed before him.
After all, not long ago, that Asgardian deity, whose identity had already been confirmed, had mistaken Makima for the highest authority in S.H.I.E.L.D., even speaking rashly in front of him, Nick Fury.
Although the matter was absurd, it still left Fury, the true 'top man,' feeling somewhat bothered.
However, Fury was not a narrow-minded person after all.
He quickly sneered inwardly, casting that embarrassment aside.
"What would the villagers of Asgard know?" Fury silently grumbled to himself.
He nodded to the group and was about to walk down the steps to greet them.
On the other side.
Makima stood at the entrance of the bridge, curiously observing her surroundings.
From the metal walls to the holographic operation consoles, and then to the elite S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents bustling about like worker ants.
A smile tinged with appreciation curved her lips.
"How beautiful..." she murmured softly, as if marveling at the miracle of human technology.
But only Su Modie, Reze, and the others could hear her. After speaking, she added in a calm and matter-of-fact tone:
"This thing belongs to me."
...
By the time everyone passed the busy Agent area and arrived at the iconic large round table behind the command console, the personnel were finally gathered.
Steve, Banner, Makima, and Reze took their positions around the table in turn, while not far away, Natasha and Barton had been waiting for some time.
Only missing Thor and Tony, the original Avengers would be fully assembled.
Fury theatrically showed them his back, looking as if he were masterminding everything, before seemingly noticing their arrival and turning around to greet them.
"Hello, everyone."
Steve seemed somewhat distracted.
This centenarian soldier, who had awakened after crossing over from the World War II era in a glacier, currently resembled Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden; his pair of azure eyes were looking around the bridge at the high-tech equipment beyond his comprehension with unconcealed shock.
Then, under the confused gazes of the others, he silently reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and handed it to Nick Fury.
Fury accepted it as a matter of course, not even bothering to say thank you, merely tucking it neatly into his pocket.
This was actually just a small bet between him and Fury.
When Fury first tried to get him to accept this new era, Steve had confidently bet that since he had experienced something as extreme as crossing seventy years, there should be nothing left in this World that could shock him.
But now...
Looking at this hundred-thousand-ton steel giant capable of flying ten thousand meters high, Captain America calmly used ten US dollars to admit the limitation of his perspective.
Hmm... It was definitely not Steve casually trying to buy some kind of humanoid souvenir for ten dollars while touring the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Cough, cough... A bit dark...
However, Reze, who had been maintaining a World-weary expression by the round table, heard Su Modie's sudden dark joke in her mind and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
This left Bruce Banner next to Reze completely bewildered.
Banner was already feeling uneasy due to the Hulk's inexplicable aversion to this girl. At this moment, he was startled by Reze's sudden outburst, his shoulders shaking slightly. He turned his head and looked at the purple-haired girl with a strange expression.
What is wrong with this little girl?
No one said anything. Could it be that the table suddenly told her a bad joke?
Facing Banner's expression that clearly read, 'Are you okay?', Reze quickly coughed twice, forcibly suppressed the wildly rising corners of her mouth, and resumed a cold expression, pretending nothing had happened as she looked away.
She muttered internally...
Modie-chan!
If you're going to watch the show, just watch quietly. Who can stand you constantly making such sarcastic remarks!
Su Modie, at Fisk Tower, pouted. She couldn't help it either.
She could only say that her pure mind had been corrupted by the wicked internet...
Fury cleared his throat and began systematically assigning tasks to everyone.
Banner soon arrived at his dedicated workstation.
In fact, before this, Makima had already given him a heads-up.
This mission did not require the Hulk to appear at all; S.H.I.E.L.D. truly needed Banner's exceptionally clever little brain.
He only needed to use his professional knowledge of gamma rays to track the faint radiation signal, thereby significantly narrowing the search radius for the Tesseract. The reward Banner would receive after succeeding would be the freedom he dreamed of—
He would no longer be strictly monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D..
This promise sounded quite familiar, didn't it?
It was almost identical to the rhetoric Fury used when tricking Reze into working for them.
Facts proved that the old Braised Egg's words were like farts; you just listen and forget them.
However, for Banner, who had been confined in an underground containment facility for over half a year, where even breathing fresh air was a luxury, this was truly a reason he absolutely could not refuse.
He sighed, resignedly pushed up his glasses, and began rapidly typing on the holographic screen. While Banner was concentrating on his work, Steve wandered around the bridge like an old man taking a stroll in the park after dinner, hands clasped behind his back, looking around.
Before, without a point of comparison, it wasn't so obvious, but now, standing among a room full of high-tech Agents wearing tight combat suits, Su Modie, looking at Captain America in the crowd, finally couldn't help but start complaining.
Look at this extremely retro outfit—a blue and white checkered shirt paired with extremely stiff dress pants, cinched at the waist with a very conspicuous high-waisted belt, topped off with a brown, old-fashioned leather jacket.
This attire, this temperament—if they gave him an enamel mug printed with 'For the People' in his hand,
What difference would there be from a retired old cadre?!
It was only thanks to Captain America's high male'stats' that he managed to pull off this deadly combination.
If an ordinary person wore this outfit to squeeze onto a crowded bus, they would probably have a kind young man voluntarily stand up to offer them a seat.
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