109

Chapter 109: Saving People

Nick Fury's fears were realized. With such a massive incident, the council's trust in S.H.I.E.L.D. had plummeted. After more than fifty years of existence, S.H.I.E.L.D. was on the brink of dissolution.

He used his hidden authorization to release all the information about S.H.I.E.L.D. In the end, he destroyed his concealed arsenal, disguised himself, and left, effectively dismantling S.H.I.E.L.D.

But this was only part of the story.

Peggy Carter, the founder who had been retired for many years, stepped up once again to take control.

With the support of former key figures such as Phil Coulson and Sharon Carter, S.H.I.E.L.D. transformed from a prominent force to a covert organization, handling the tasks the Avengers could not.

As Thor's partner, Peggy Carter became a crucial link between them.

Meanwhile, Nick Fury remained responsible for the Avengers.

"It's a shame that after all my efforts to build S.H.I.E.L.D., it has come to this," Peggy Carter lamented in the living room.

Skye, who was standing nearby, expressed her frustration: "You don't know how those old council members questioned us. They were furious, even though they were the ones who insisted on bringing Dr. Zola into S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, when things go wrong, they blame us!"

"I'm embarrassed to talk about the safety of the people, especially when I don't know who nearly dropped a nuclear bomb on New York."

Though Skye joined S.H.I.E.L.D. at a young age, she had not dealt directly with the higher-ups and had never experienced such political disgrace.

"Now we are all without a home. You have to take me in..." Peggy said with a smile, looking at Thor.

Historically, after S.H.I.E.L.D. was disbanded, some senior executives, including Maria Hill, moved to Stark Industries. Howard Stark, the former president, was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, and relations between the two parties were amicable.

However, Peggy Carter was not part of that equation. Given Stark's personality and his experience with Obadiah Stane, he might be uncomfortable with another senior figure like Peggy.

The current Avengers base was an adaptation of the Stark Building. In the future, as the number of Avengers grew, they planned to relocate to a new base in the suburbs.

Thor intended to personally invest in the construction of this new base. He didn't like relying on others. As for the funds...

The United States, as a country where guns are legally owned, has relatively poor nighttime security, leaving streets empty late at night.

In a secluded alley, a group of armed men in black surrounded a mother and her child.

"Run, keep running!" The leader of the men sneered.

The woman looked desperate. Her husband had always been vigilant about their safety, employing many bodyguards, but this group had clearly come prepared.

She pleaded, "Please, let my son go! I'll give you as much money as you want!"

The man in black laughed heartily, "Money? While I like it, today I only want your son's life!"

He raised his gun, ready to shoot.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, but the expected death didn't occur. The woman looked up to see a figure in front of her, catching the bullet with one hand.

The man in black was startled by this scene. A subordinate angrily shouted, "Who are you? Get lost and mind your own business!"

He aimed his gun at Thor's head...

Thor sneered, "How dare you point a gun at me? Your boss hasn't said anything, so who are you to act so boldly?"

With a swift motion, Thor struck the man's head, spinning it around like a top. After a while, his head fell to the ground, his neck twisted and not a drop of blood spilled...

Terrified, the men in black recognized Thor and shouted, "Fall back!" They quickly turned and fled.

Thor didn't bother to pursue them; their fate was sealed. He turned to the mother and child.

"Thank you for saving my son. I am so grateful!" The woman clutched her ten-year-old boy, unable to stop thanking Thor.

"It's nothing," Thor was about to respond when bursts of submachine gunfire and screams erupted outside the alley.

The gunfire ceased within ten seconds.

Thor regained his focus, waved his hand, and said, "It's okay, it was just a small effort."

"It might be easy for you, but for me, they mean everything."

An extremely burly middle-aged man walked into the alley, followed by a group of bodyguards armed with submachine guns.

One of the bodyguards carried a dying man, the leader of the group who had just fled.

It was the burly middle-aged man who spoke.

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