As Axel finished speaking, he released Director Hill and casually returned to the bed.
Natasha stayed silent for a moment. Her eyes moved between Axel and Director Hill as she spoke thoughtfully.
"So we can just openly talk about conspiracies now?"
She shook her head, clearly unable to make sense of the situation.
Nick Fury thought for a moment before answering.
"That is because Mr. Axel believes he stands above every conspiracy and scheme. When someone thinks like that, they have no reason to hide anything."
Fury then glanced at Director Hill and sighed softly.
"In any case, it is good that you are alright, Director Hill. Since Axel helped you secure the position of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., I am curious about something."
He carefully looked at Axel.
"How is Secretary Alexander Pierce doing?"
Axel scoffed and spread his hands.
"He should be fine. I only ripped off one of his arms and wiped out two of his special forces teams. Compared to the benefit of becoming friends with me, that loss should be acceptable."
Then Axel waved his hand dismissively.
"I am going to get dressed now. Do you people seriously plan to stand here and watch?"
"It is not impossible," Natasha replied with a teasing smile.
Fury immediately turned around and started walking toward the door.
Steve grabbed his arm.
"You are really leaving?"
Fury paused, then answered with a bitter smile.
"I am going to find Axel some watermelon and tell him a few dark jokes while he eats. Maybe that will keep him entertained enough to spare my life."
He gently patted Steve's arm.
"What else am I supposed to do? Not even a nuclear weapon could kill him. The man can apparently teleport anywhere he wants, even to a space station near the Moon."
Fury shook his head.
"Think about it, Steve. What kind of strategy works against someone like that? Fighting him is pointless. Dark jokes seem like the safer option."
With that, Fury nodded toward Axel, who was laughing on the bed, then walked out of the room.
Just before he left, Axel suddenly stopped laughing and called out.
"Nicholas!"
Nicholas was Fury's real name.
Axel grinned.
"You are a lot more entertaining than I expected. Maybe you actually will survive this."
He scratched his head.
"Honestly, I am starting to regret removing you from the Director's seat. You are way more fun than Director Hill."
He pointed at Hill.
"Was she always this stiff when she worked under you?"
"Director Hill has always been a serious person, sir," Fury replied calmly.
Then he finally left the room.
But just as Fury stepped into the hallway and let out a quiet breath, Axel's voice drifted out from behind the door.
"Oh, there is something you probably do not know."
Axel spoke casually.
"I can hear every sound on Earth. Literally every sound."
He chuckled.
"For example, if I wanted to, I could hear Tony Stark right now while he designs anti-Axel armor and complains to JARVIS about food."
Inside the room, Axel tossed the blanket aside and began putting on the clothes Director Hill had prepared for him.
Hill hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to help him finish dressing.
Natasha clicked her tongue softly, then left the room with Steve.
---
Half an hour later, inside the Helicarrier command center.
Axel sat comfortably in the main chair, eating watermelon while listening to Nick Fury speak.
"Forty years ago, my grandfather had a stable job in Brooklyn. He operated elevators for blind residents."
Fury continued calmly.
"My father, on the other hand, disappeared during a game of hide and seek when I was young. He promised to come back when I finished counting to a thousand. I think I have counted to a hundred million by now."
He shrugged slightly.
"Clearly I lost that game."
Fury picked up another slice of watermelon.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. eventually helped me learn what really happened. In the 1980s, while I was an agent, I discovered my father owed two kilograms of heroin to a crime boss in Brooklyn. When he fled to Chicago, he was killed within two weeks."
He continued.
"The reason I joined S.H.I.E.L.D. was because of an old classmate, Alexander Pierce. He excelled at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy and recommended me to the Director at the time, Peggy Carter."
Fury looked forward quietly.
"Before that, I thought basketball would be my only path in life. Back then, professional sports were one of the few opportunities available to someone like me."
He sighed.
"Pierce and Director Carter helped pull me onto a different path. Unfortunately, I disappointed them. I led S.H.I.E.L.D. for ten years and never imagined we would face someone like you."
His mustache twitched slightly.
Fury silently picked up a piece of watermelon and offered it to Natasha.
Natasha hesitated.
"You are sure I can eat this?"
Fury responded flatly.
"This is not the time for more dark jokes. Axel is already getting bored."
Natasha and Barton accepted the watermelon.
Steve looked around the room with frustration.
"This whole situation feels insane. If you people want to keep chatting, go ahead. I am going to train."
He gave Axel a long look before leaving the command center.
After Steve left, Barton and Natasha also excused themselves.
Soon only Nick Fury, Director Hill, and Axel remained.
Axel leaned back comfortably while Director Hill massaged his shoulders.
Fury finally spoke quietly.
"I have been telling dark jokes for thirty minutes just to keep you entertained. If you expect me to continue, I will need time to study a full collection first."
He looked directly at Axel.
"So let us be honest. What exactly do you want?"
"Vibranium," Axel answered immediately.
"I need a durable battle suit. My movements are too powerful. If the material is not strong enough, I end up wrecking the armor myself."
He shrugged.
"Even Stark's suits cannot handle the stress. Vibranium is the only thing tough enough."
Axel then looked back at Director Hill.
"Director Hill, do I really look like someone with complicated motives?"
Hill responded with a cold expression.
"No. Your motives appear extremely simple. Until recently, I assumed I was your only objective."
She squeezed his neck firmly.
Axel grinned and turned back to Fury.
"See? Simple goals. Sleep with Director Hill and get vibranium."
He laughed.
"Of course, even if I get both of those things, do not expect me to disappear. The Helicarrier is cool as hell. I like living here."
He tapped the holographic table display.
His finger landed directly on the continent of Africa.
"If I get what I want, maybe your stress level drops a little."
Fury studied the map for a moment.
"But there is something I do not understand."
He looked up.
"You can teleport anywhere. Yet you insist on taking the Helicarrier to Wakanda. You even refused my offer to send you alone by plane."
Fury frowned.
"And frankly, Wakanda looks like a small and underdeveloped African country. Why are you so certain it has vibranium?"
Axel started laughing.
He slapped Fury heavily on the shoulder.
"You said it yourself. If something goes wrong later, that will be your responsibility."
His smile faded slightly.
"If I go with the Helicarrier, it is negotiation."
He leaned forward.
"But if I go alone, that becomes a massacre."
Axel scoffed.
"If I show up by myself, the Wakandans will definitely try to kill me. I do not tolerate that kind of bullshit."
He slapped Fury lightly on the bald head.
Then flames suddenly engulfed his body.
In the next instant, Axel vanished.
Fury frowned.
"Massacre?"
He exchanged a quick glance with Director Hill.
"Director Hill, immediately bring up satellite surveillance over Wakanda. I want to know why Axel cares so much about that place."
"You are right," Hill said quickly.
She began adjusting the command console.
Within moments, the satellite feed focused on Wakanda.
The screen showed scattered tents and a few shepherds guiding sheep into wooden pens.
Hill frowned.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
She issued a command.
"Search for Axel. Find his position immediately."
The satellite camera began scanning rapidly.
Within three seconds, it locked onto a location at the border of Wakanda.
On the screen, Axel raised his fist as if preparing to strike something in front of him.
Fury frowned.
"Is something hidden there?"
Then Axel punched forward.
Boom.
The entire landscape shook violently.
The satellite image trembled.
Then something unbelievable appeared.
Under the fading sunset, the illusion surrounding Wakanda collapsed.
A massive, futuristic city slowly emerged from hiding.