104

Chapter 104: The Attack on Fury

"What do you think about the Insight Plan? I find some of its concepts quite appealing, but they might have significant side effects."

In Trudheim Manor, Sharon Carter was seeking Thor's opinion. Implementing this plan would undoubtedly bring monumental changes to the world, and once started, there would be no turning back. This uncertainty made her uneasy, so she sought Thor's perspective, believing someone from a higher-level civilization might grasp the essence better.

"To me, this is a very flawed plan. While the intention to prevent crime is admirable, the key issue is the lack of measures to address potential future losses once possible crimes are discovered."

"If someone is arrested or even killed before committing a crime, the crime never actually occurs. So, what is the basis for their guilt? Modern criminal law rejects such preemptive guilt."

Sharon was somewhat enlightened. She continued, "Then let me offer an example. If we could have acted against a dictator before the war, wouldn't it have been justified?"

Thor smiled. "Don't forget, that dictator also rose with the support of the Germans. If the Insight Plan's algorithm had been applied, it would have resulted in the destruction of Germany. It would have been genocide."

Sharon Carter felt a shiver run down her spine.

Thor added, "Have you considered that a crime prevention system lacking effective oversight or misused could become a tool of totalitarianism to maintain control? Are you certain that every individual managing the Insight Plan has no personal agendas?"

"Needless to say, I understand!" Sharon Carter turned and left, intending to discuss her concerns with Nick Fury regarding the Insight Plan's safety.

The discussion between Nick Fury and Steve Rogers ended poorly. After Steve left, Nick Fury was left in deep thought, acknowledging that Steve's points were quite valid.

"Dinglingling—" The phone rang. He answered, listened for a minute, and hung up expressionlessly.

"Where's Minister Pierce?"

"In the conference room, meeting with the council."

"Tell him I need to speak with him urgently."

"I must request a vote to postpone the Insight Plan! We need to further confirm its safety," Nick Fury insisted.

"And if something goes wrong with the inspection?" Pierce narrowed his eyes.

"Then we're fortunate to catch it now before the space carriers are launched."

Pierce was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright, I agree. But you'll need to invite Iron Man or Thor to my nephew's birthday party."

Nick Fury left, and as soon as he did, the smile on Pierce's face vanished. He picked up a secondary phone with a grim expression.

Shortly after Nick Fury left, he was assassinated before he reached home by a masked man with metal arms. He rushed to Steve's house to deliver important information but was killed by a second wave of attackers, this time with an unclear gunshot wound.

Sharon Carter arrived, gun drawn, scanning the area cautiously.

"I'm going after the enemy," Steve said, and hurriedly left.

Sharon Carter called for emergency assistance and noticed a phone in the victim's hand with a note: "Let Thor collect the body."

Steve chased the Winter Soldier down the street. Initially, he had a chance to catch him, but during another close encounter, he pulled off the Winter Soldier's mask and then...

"Bucky? Is that you? Great, you're alive!"

The Winter Soldier seized the opportunity, subdued Steve, and vanished into the night.

Nick Fury's death deeply affected Steve. Though still grieving, he was informed by Rumlow and returned to S.H.I.E.L.D under the "protection" of a team of agents.

Alexander Pierce took advantage of the situation, framing Steve for Nick Fury's murder and placing him on the wanted list.

"This USB drive has a special code programmed into it. Once we insert it into a computer, the location will be revealed immediately."

"And how much time do we have before S.H.I.E.L.D arrives?"

"There's more time. I met a highly skilled hacker two days ago," Natasha said with a smile, pulling out her communicator. "Hey, Skye, could you do me a favor and set my coordinates as S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters?"

After a minute, Skye responded, "Okay, we're ready to start reading the USB drive."

They traced the former S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, only to be met by a figure who had been dead for many years.

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