Two people who were not good to the core sat together discussing world peace; no matter how you looked at it, there was a thick sense of incongruity.
"Mr. Pierce, I understand what you mean and, at the same time, I very much agree with your thoughts. I know about the situation outside, but I don't think this little commotion is enough to lead to S.H.I.E.L.D. being directly abolished?"
"It's indeed not to that extent, but this is the information age. Mr. Hong is a young man and should understand this more clearly than an old man like me. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. will not disappear, the public discussion is currently in an uproar. Everyone knows what kind of organization S.H.I.E.L.D. is, which has caused some inevitable impacts on many of its future operations."
After a short while, he spoke earnestly, "In the Battle of New York that just passed a few days ago, aside from the Avengers organized by Fury, only you and your team performed most notably. You were even able to fight the legendary God of Thunder. Many people now know about your abilities. You should know what everyone is calling you now?"
"Hmm?" Hong Fei suddenly raised his eyebrows, feeling that something was wrong.
Seeing his expression, Pierce was also stunned for a moment. "You don't know?"
Hong Fei shook his head, his eyes still blank.
Pierce immediately smiled. "Alright, then I'll be the one to tell you. Now, whether it's on the internet or in official circles, the title for you has gradually begun to unify. They call you: the Dragon King."
In an instant, Hong Fei's eye muscles contracted, the corners of his eyes twitched, and his brows furrowed deeply. The next second, his Psychic Power spread out, quickly finding Big Head, who was carefully observing chemical vessels in the laboratory earlier.
"Do you know what they call me outside?"
Hearing the voice, Big Head put down the vessel and said with a full smile, "Of course, Boss, they call you the King."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Ah? Boss, haven't you been online lately?"
"Do you think I enjoy surfing the web?"
Seeming to hear a hint of danger in Hong Fei's tone, Big Head hurriedly said, "Sorry, Boss, I didn't mean that. But I can swear, this title has absolutely nothing to do with me. It's entirely because of your performance in the Battle of New York. Arthur can testify for me."
"I'll deal with you later."
Turning back, Hong Fei said without changing his expression, "Well, it is indeed the first time I've heard of this title."
"Yes, in fact, it is quite amazing. They call you King; I think on a global scale, this is a very noble praise." Pierce's tone was very sincere.
"I thank you."
"You're welcome, this is a common consensus."
Hong Fei took a deep breath. "Let's not talk about that for now. Returning to what we were just discussing, I wonder if there's anything I can do to help you?"
Pierce's smile faded slightly as he slowly said, "As the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a current consultant, although I cannot demand that you stand on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s side, I still want to sincerely implore you not to get involved in this controversy full of contradictions."
The implication was for Hong Fei to maintain a neutral attitude. But this whole lawsuit was orchestrated by Hong Fei himself. Did Pierce know this truth?
Raising his eyes to look, their eyes met; Pierce's expression and gaze were filled with deep sincerity. After staring for a few seconds, Hong Fei suddenly laughed.
"Of course, why not?"
A smile immediately bloomed on Pierce's old face. He rose immediately, extending his hand to Hong Fei.
"That's wonderful. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Hong Fei stood as well, shaking his hand politely.
"Mr. Hong, this has been a pleasant meeting. Rest assured, we'll resolve this matter as quickly as possible."
Pierce paused, his tone thoughtful. "To be honest, compared to Fury's Avengers, I value you and your team far more. Your performance in battle shows a cohesion the Avengers lack. You're a true team."
"Thank you for the kind words," Hong Fei replied. "Though I recall Fury was your personal choice for Director?"
"That's true," Pierce admitted. "But I didn't expect him to act so recklessly once he took the position. His contributions are undeniable, of course. He's a capable leader. Still, this situation is... unfortunate."
"A shame, indeed."
"Quite."
Their hands lingered briefly before parting. Pierce added, "Mr. Hong, I apologize for the intrusion. I hope our next meeting won't involve such unpleasant matters. I look forward to future cooperation."
Hong Fei chuckled softly. "You're too polite. I share the same sentiment."
"Good. S.H.I.E.L.D. has much to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Until next time."
"Of course. Let me see you out."
They walked to the door together. After watching Pierce's car disappear beyond the manor gates, Hong Fei stood silently for a moment.
Pierce was shrewd and measured, using S.H.I.E.L.D. as a pretext to personally appeal to Hong Fei to avoid the ongoing controversy. It was a clever move. By framing his plea as a defense of S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce not only demonstrated his loyalty to the organization but also positioned himself as prioritizing global security over personal interests.
Had Hong Fei not known Pierce's true allegiance to HYDRA, he might have been convinced.
The conversation also revealed something else: even if Fury managed to clear his name from the "criminal" accusations, his tenure as Director was likely over. The list of plaintiffs was extensive, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s financial backers were deeply dissatisfied with his leadership. Fury's reputation had taken a significant hit.
Yet, Hong Fei knew better than to underestimate him. Fury was no ordinary man. His loyal followers, the bases he'd built with diverted funds, and the personnel he'd recruited would remain under his command. A comeback wasn't out of the question. In the current climate, stepping back might be the wisest move. Once the storm passed and S.H.I.E.L.D. retreated into the shadows, Fury could quietly reclaim his position.
Master Hong's voice echoed in his mind: 'Pure wishful thinking.'
Big Head trotted over from the laboratory building, leaning in beside Hong Fei.
"Boss, he doesn't seem like a good guy."
Hong Fei glanced at him. "Are you a good guy?"
Big Head hesitated. "I'm asking you."
"This... I am? No, I'm not?"
Hong Fei raised an eyebrow. "A good person doesn't need the world to know they're good to survive. But as a bad person, the best way to survive is to make as many people as possible think you're good. Which one do you think you are?"
Big Head pondered for a moment. "Then I think I'm a good person. I don't care if others think I'm good."
Hong Fei nodded solemnly. "I think so too."
......
Back in the living room, Hong Fei asked, "What's the situation with Killian?"
"Boss, he's ready to launch a full-scale operation. With Captain America's lawsuit drawing most of the public's attention, he can move more freely against targets in Congress and even the White House. The Ten Rings facade he's using isn't powerful enough—its destructive potential is limited. I had him invest more funds to recruit additional personnel. I also brought back his Extremis formula."
"How is it?"
"That's an impressive biological agent, but the side effects are deadly—it's highly volatile. I don't think we can refine the formula further without discovering some unprecedented genetic material to stabilize it. As it stands, Extremis has no practical value. I've forwarded the data to Dr. Cho—the regenerative properties might assist her Regeneration Cradle project."
"Good. Stay with Killian for now and help expand his operations. Just don't get caught. Tony Stark can't find any traces of you."
Hong Fei turned abruptly. "Arthur!"
The AI's voice responded instantly through the room's speakers. "Sir?"
"Analyze Pierce's movement patterns. Focus on his frequented locations and any signal blackouts over the past few years. Map the probable zones—I'll handle the field work."
"Yes, sir."
Hong Fei shifted his attention to Big Head. His voice dropped. "Why didn't I hear about that title earlier?"
Big Head flinched. "I—I thought you knew."
"You thought wrong."
"My mistake!"
"Forget it." Hong Fei rolled up his sleeves. "Let's discuss your progress instead. How's the psychic training coming along?"
Big Head's eyes tracked the movement warily. "Significant improvement overall, but the growth rate's plateauing. I'll probably hit my ceiling within two months."
"Quantify 'significant.'" Hong Fei stood.
"Less than threefold increase."
Big Head retreated a step. Hong Fei tilted his head. "Why are you backing up?"
"Boss," Big Head gulped, "if you're upset about something, just say it outright."
"You sure?"
"Positive!"
"Fine. I want to punch you."
For the first time in nearly two years, the manor walls reverberated with Big Head's yelps.
When the noise subsided, Hong Fei retreated to his quarters and entered the bathroom. He studied his reflection as a slow smile formed. A quiet exhale escaped him.
Good. No facial asymmetry.
Yet days later, a thread of disappointment lingered. He'd expected the Ancient One to seek him out—grand debates about philosophy, destiny, the usual mystical drivel. But he didn't expect that after that brief glimpse during their confrontation, the sorcerer had apparently written him off entirely.
Which raised an obvious question: where else could he find practitioners of magic?