Three days after the war, inside Avengers Tower.
A high-stakes post-war strategy conference was underway in full swing.
Tony brought up a series of post-war casualty and property damage assessment graphics, projecting them straight into the center of the conference table.
"Guys, even though personnel casualties were kept under tight control this time, looking at the economic loss metrics is still giving me severe angina." He tapped the table, floating the first agenda item. "We can't just sit back and take hits passively forever.
So, I propose... launching an AI-powered automated Armor Mass-Production Initiative. We'll build a tireless Iron Legion to circle Earth 24/7 in space, isolating threats outside our atmosphere as much as humanly possible!"
According to original expectations, Cap should have slammed the table in opposition right about now. But today, Cap remained surprisingly well-behaved.
Ever since a non-Supergiant-controlled Hulk shattered his spine with a single punch, Cap had achieved absolute enlightenment. Facing monsters of this scale, one truly couldn't afford to harbor even half a shred of soft-hearted mercy.
Of course, the more critical underlying reason was... the present-day Avengers wasn't structured around a dual-leadership standoff between the two of them!
Peter was the sole shot-caller for the entire Avengers—and by extension, all of S.H.I.E.L.D. Under these circumstances, even if Tony developed any improper ideas down the line, Peter could effortlessly suppress any potential threats. That being the case, why bother adding unnecessary complications?
With Cap maintaining complete silence, the proposal passed unanimously.
Then came the second item on the agenda.
"Defense alone isn't enough; we need to have our own eyes in the cosmos," Peter said, leaning forward and scanning the room. "During this Battle of New York, if Asgard hadn't stepped in to provide key intelligence, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
This serves as a stark wake-up call: we cannot rely entirely on the Asgardians' goodwill. We must construct Earth's very own outpost in deep space."
This time, Cap finally spoke up: "Peter, your vision is sound, but the problem is... who would be willing to stay isolated in deep space long-term? While it's a noble assignment, it's inherently unfair to anyone."
"Don't worry, Comrade Popsicle, I've already selected the perfect candidate!" Peter flashed Cap a mysterious grin before dropping a name that took everyone present completely off guard:
"And that candidate... is Nick Fury!"
"The Black Egg?!" Cap blurted out instinctively.
The moment the words left his mouth, he clapped a hand over his lips, internally wincing at how he had accidentally spoken his inner thoughts out loud.
Scanning his surroundings to ensure no one was low-key chuckling at his expense, Steve cleared his throat with a cough, acting like it was nothing: "Uh... didn't former Director Nick get transferred over to the CIA on charges of gross dereliction of duty? By now, isn't he..."
Cap originally wanted to say 'shot by a firing squad ten minutes ago', but felt it wasn't entirely appropriate to say aloud, so he opted to keep his mouth shut instead. Everyone got the gist anyway...
"That guy spent so many years scheming in the shadows of S.H.I.E.L.D.—how could he possibly be restrained by others so easily?"
As Peter spoke, he pulled up a clip of surveillance footage. Recorded on screen was the exact scene after Nick Fury was escorted onto a specialized CIA transport vehicle, only to be ambushed and rescued by Skrulls.
"Leave the search to me. From here on out, he'll be stationed at the deep space outpost monitoring cosmic movements. Consider it his way of atoning for his prior gross negligence."
Hearing this, naturally no one raised any objections.
Once the meeting concluded, Peter didn't hesitate, stepping straight onto his hover-glider to scan the entire territory of the United States for traces of Skrulls.
Skrulls possessed flawless shape-shifting capabilities, allowing them to infiltrate human society completely undetected. To anyone else, this was an exceptionally tricky puzzle. But in front of Peter, who possessed the Byakugan, it couldn't have been easier.
Peter quickly located a Skrull, hoisting him by the throat and instructing him to lead the way to the main Skrull hideout—Mar-Vell's Near-Earth Orbit Laboratory.
Without the slightest hesitation, Peter barged right inside.
Instantly, red alarm klaxons blared wildly across the facility. Countless fully armed Skrull soldiers wielding plasma rifles poured out from every corridor, surrounding him in a tight perimeter—yet not a single one dared to pull the trigger.
Are you kidding? These Skrulls watched the news too!
Who didn't know by now that The Arbiter's combat prowess was so terrifying he could effortlessly blow up Chitauri motherships with his bare hands? Against an absolute monster like him, a small fry crew like theirs wouldn't even serve as a warm-up.
"Get your manager out here."
A short moment later, Talos—the leader of the Skrulls on Earth—hurriedly arrived at the scene.
Peter glanced at the elderly Skrull and bypassed all useless pleasantries, getting straight to the point: "Where's Nick Fury?"
Talos hesitated briefly before ordering his subordinates to bring out Fury, who was hiding out in a panic room.
Taking a look at the very-much-alive Nick Fury, Peter couldn't help but mockingly remark: "Just as I expected—you Black Egg aren't just a Hydra mole, you're a full-blown traitor to planet Earth itself."
Fury was fuming so hard that steam was practically rolling out his ears, but knowing that Peter's arrival meant he was likely needed for something, he kept his mouth shut and let Peter blow off steam.
Seeing him adopt this quiet stance, Peter felt it was rather dull and turned directly to Talos: "Hand the guy over to me. In exchange, I will personally venture into deep space and find a fully habitable planet that belongs exclusively to the Skrulls."
"Once I locate a planet suitable for your species, you pack up and beat it immediately. If I catch even a single Skrull lingering behind on Earth after that, I will execute them on the spot!"
Hearing these words, Talos's previously dim pupils instantly ignited with brilliant hope, his breathing quickening by several notches: "You... are you serious?"
He even subconsciously adopted a respectful honorific.
Peter glanced sideways at the silent Fury nearby, speaking with a heavy dose of sarcasm: "Unlike certain Black Eggs over there, I don't go around painting imaginary pies for people.
He will be stationed at a space outpost in the future monitoring cosmic movements, so you guys can always reunite up in space down the line."
Recalling Peter's virtually omnipotent demonstrations on the news and live broadcasts—where even high-tier commanders like Supergiant and Dwarf were effortlessly dealt with—Talos naturally didn't dare to harbor a single shred of doubt.
He immediately slapped the desk and agreed to the trade, handing Fury straight over to Peter on the spot.
On the way back with the Black Egg, Fury observed Peter for a long time before finally opening his mouth to ask: "You... why did you save me?"
"Don't flatter yourself," Peter replied coldly, casting a brief side-eye. "I simply needed a convenient tool-man!"
After shutting the Black Egg down completely with that sharp line, Peter began quietly mapping out his upcoming cosmic campaign in his own mind.
He certainly wasn't running a charity organization; making this deal with the Skrulls was entirely a convenient move. He had already identified the absolute ideal planet for the Skrulls to settle on.
The answer was Star-Lord's biological father—Ego the Living Planet!
That old guy was a genuine, full-fledged Celestial. Not only did he possess terrifying, galaxy-tier power, but his most critical trait was his absolute energy-sharing capabilities! Peter had been eyeing that specific ability for a very long time.
As long as he slaughtered Ego:
First, it would provide a vast living environment for the Skrulls, removing them from Earth permanently.
Second, he could utilize the watch to extract Ego's genetic template, allowing himself to become a Perfect Celestial!
When that time came, he could share the Celestial power with Gwen, Felicia, and the others, enabling them to break straight through their own physical power ceilings as well!
This move right here? This was called: The Skrulls might profit massively, but Peter never loses!
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