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Washington D.C., Triskelion Building.
This grand building, which once represented the World's highest privileged institution, still stands on the banks of the Potomac River.
Inside the office, Alexander Pierce leaned back in his chair, calmly watching the television.
A news conference was playing on the TV screen.
"...After a joint in-depth investigation by Vought International and the Federal Department of Justice, we have confirmed that the series of allegations against former S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury were all meticulously fabricated conspiracies by Skrulls who infiltrated Earth's government to dismantle human defense forces."
"The President has personally signed a pardon, fully restoring Nick Fury's reputation and revoking all wanted orders against him..."
On the TV screen, it switched to a scene of Nick Fury in a suit, shaking hands with President Ellis on the White House lawn.
Pierce listened to the whitewashing rhetoric in the news, a sarcastic sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Beep."
The electronic door lock of the office made a slight unlocking sound.
A black figure walked in.
Nick Fury was still in his unchanging all-black attire.
The two didn't speak immediately, just stared at each other across the desk.
"I saw the news," Pierce was the first to break the silence. "Congratulations, Fury. You've crawled back from hell again, and you're washed cleaner than a blank sheet of paper."
"I'm surprised, Pierce," Fury sneered. "You're actually still sitting in this building. I thought the first thing Homelander would do after taking over S.H.I.E.L.D. would be to throw an old fossil like you into the Potomac River to feed the fish."
"It seems Homelander's tolerance for parasites like you is higher than I imagined."
"Homelander needs order. And I just happen to be best at establishing and maintaining order," Pierce didn't mind Fury's words. "Besides, Fury. We're both working for him now; you're no better off."
Fury snorted coldly.
He didn't come here today for this kind of pointless verbal sparring with Pierce.
"I don't understand, Pierce." A question that had been circling in Fury's mind for a long time was finally asked at this moment.
"Back then, you were the one who pushed through all opposition to promote me to the position of Director."
"I always thought you valued my determination to protect this World. I treated you as my most respected superior, my mentor."
"You know exactly what kind of person I am," anger burned in Fury's eyes. "I have never been HYDRA, and I never will be."
"So, Pierce. Tell me."
"Why did you choose me to be the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the first place?"
Pierce looked at the angry Fury, his face showing no emotion.
"Do you really not know the answer, Fury?"
"The reason I chose you," Pierce said slowly, "is because you are a natural-born HYDRA."
Fury was stunned, an insulted anger appearing in his eyes.
"Motherfucker, are you fucking talking nonsense?!" Fury growled.
"Calm down, Fury. Let me finish," Pierce raised his hand, stopping Fury's outburst.
"Let's review what you've done since you became Director."
Pierce held up one finger. "You implemented absolute regional compartmentalization; the Agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. are not subordinate to each other and are wary of one another. The left hand never knows what the right hand is doing."
"Because of this, I could brazenly plant people, transfer funds, and develop weapons in various departments without worrying about being discovered by cross-referencing from other departments."
He held up a second finger. "You kept everyone in the dark and used the Tesseract to develop weapons of mass destruction. You claimed it was for defense, but those things you built could easily destroy a small country. This was exactly what we needed; it directly boosted our military power by several levels."
Then a third finger. "Project Insight. That was a project you personally pushed forward, Fury!"
"What did you say to Captain America back then? You said, 'We can eliminate hundreds or thousands of enemies at once. We solve them before they become an actual threat.'"
"Punishment before the crime—what a perfect theory."
"You don't need to join HYDRA, and you don't need to shout 'Hail HYDRA'..." Pierce spread his hands, a hint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.
"...Because you yourself are the perfect embodiment of HYDRA's doctrine!"
"So, since you are so excellent, I had no choice but to pick you," Pierce's eyes were like torches, completely disregarding Fury's increasingly darkened face.
"And facts have proven my vision was correct."
"During your years as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA has seen its fastest and best development in history."
Pierce's words were like sharp knives, each one stabbing into the deepest part of Fury's heart.
Fury was silent for a long while, trying to find some words to refute Pierce.
But every single thing Pierce listed was something he had done with his own hands.
Through his actions, he had perfectly practiced HYDRA's philosophy.
He, Nick Fury, had unknowingly become the very thing he hated most.
Fury didn't say another word. He slowly turned around and walked out of the office step by step, without giving Pierce another glance.
Pierce ignored Fury's departure and poured himself a glass of whiskey.
"Hail Vought."
He whispered to the air, then downed the drink in one gulp.
...
Without a word, after completing his induction procedures at the Triskelion headquarters, Fury went directly to a newly built space station in low Earth orbit.
S.W.O.R.D. Space Station.
Fury scanned the busy staff around him.
These people wore uniform Divine Blade Agency uniforms. Everyone worked as efficiently as if they were on stimulants; there was a light in everyone's eyes, as if they were all striving for a dream, not looking like they were at work at all.
"Officer!"
An Agent stopped beside Fury. He stood straight and reported with a fanatical look in his eyes.
"The engine debugging for the 'Nature Space' Pioneer Starship, delivered by Vought Deep Space Technology via Miniature Capsules, has been completed. We can conduct a Space Jump test at any time."
Fury knew the background of the person in front of him—a through-and-through HYDRA Agent.
Not just him; eighty percent of the people in this entire space station were HYDRA.
Homelander had really shoved all these lunatics onto him.
"Very efficient," Fury commented coldly.
"For the future of humanity, for the great order, we never slacken," the Agent answered with his head held high.
"Keep it up. Don't let those aliens turn us into space junk."
"Understood, Officer. Cut off one head, two shall..."
"Get out and get to work!" Fury roared, interrupting her.
After the Agent left, he took a photo from his coat. The photo showed Vara stroking her slightly bulging belly.
"I will secure a safe starry sky for you."