Chapter 493: Who is the Hardcore Tough Guy? (Part 2)

"I have a dream..."

"I hope that all my employees could work hard, voluntarily work overtime, ask no reward, guarantee, or complaint..."

"I have a dream that my funds would be eternally plentiful, and that no one will ever ask me where they are spent..."

"I have a dream..."

"Stop!" Shiller interrupted Nick Fury's recitation. He said, "Quit beating around the bush. You want me to relocate some of Hydra and infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D., becoming new agents under your command, right? How many do you want?"

"Why not the same amount as those we've sold off?"

"Since you've done it this way, why not do it even more thoroughly?" Shiller outdid himself with his swift response. He said:

"Disband everyone apart from key personnel. Replace them with my people from Hydra."

"I'll appoint you as the chief officer of the Hydra New York State Division, operating under a codename and communicating via phone. All Hydra Agents operating in New York State will report to you after gathering intelligence."

"You can use New York State's Hydra to deal with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Hydra, then mobilize S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Hydra to deal with Hydra in New York State."

"This way, if you arrange for the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Hydra to be disadvantaged, you can ask Congress for funding. If you arrange for the Hydra in New York State to be disadvantaged, you can report to me, and I will appeal to headquarters for funds."

Nick Fury genuinely began clapping, he stood, extending a hand to Shiller. Shiller rose as well and their palms, one black one white, clasped together. While looking at Shiller, Nick said:

"Nick Fury online, codename, Roar."

Meanwhile, at the Avengers base, Peter was standing in front of a whiteboard telling three younger mutants: "Next, we are going to assault a Hydra base at the west docks..."

"This is different from our previous strikes against Kim and the Gang's criminal enterprise. You will face professionally armed and experienced Hydra Agents with plentiful firepower."

"Alright, quit talking and let's go." Shadow, evidently impatient, remarked: "Before we went against the gang last time, you were going on about how strong they were. But what happened? We took them down in a round."

Amplifier, arms crossed, stated: "I know you're concerned about our safety but what's there to be afraid of when we have the symbiote? We're immune to bullets and have all sorts of special abilities. Their firepower is therefore irrelevant."

Peter sighed helplessly. To some extent, he understood how Matt and Steve must have felt. These new mutant kids were exactly like the Spider Man of old, relying on their strength, speed, and Spider-sense, without the slightest fear of ordinary enemies with guns.

Back then, Matt, Stark, and Steve had all emphasized the importance of tactical strategies, but no lessons were learned until mistakes were made.

Thinking about it, Peter just shook it off, placed his pen and erasing board to the side and waved his hand saying, "Let's move."

Inside the Stark Building's meeting room, Stark, Steve, Matt, Eric, Erica, Natasha, Barton and other Avengers members were all seated around the conference table, listening to Eddie's 90th plan.

Apart from Steve taking it reasonably seriously, everyone else appeared to be daydreaming.

With his hand propping up his chin, Stark slowly closed his eyes again, then "bang", his head hit the table. Abruptly awake, he jerked his head up, held out his hand towards Eddie, and said, "Stop!"

Stark took a deep breath, straightened up, and said: "I'm not denying the importance of tactical strategies, but you've prepared…uh…"

"Around 150 plans." Eddie interjected.

"Alright, around 150 plans... Isn't that a bit excessive?" Stark rubbed his face with both hands and said, "I think we can adapt as we go. Let's move out now."

Eddie pulled a dissatisfied face, squinting at Stark and pursing his lips downward. Suddenly, Eddie shook his head, concurring reluctantly. It seemed to Stark that he was likely arguing with that blob of slime inside his head.

Steve also got up and chimed in: "Focusing on strategy is justified, but there are times when seizing the opportunity is more paramount. I've noticed that Hydra has been mysteriously restless lately, seemingly mobilizing their personnel. They must be preparing for some wicked master plan."

"Now..." Steve rapped on the table, picked up his shield, and declared, "Avengers, assemble!"

"Objective: Eliminate all Hydras in New York State and its surroundings, including their outposts, communication centers, and rendezvous spots. Let's deploy lethal measures where necessary."

Steve said with a serious face: "Remember our principle, do not underestimate your enemy, we must eradicate evil."

The group around the table all stood up. With a "whoosh", Stark's battle armor flew in from outside the window, securing onto him. Stark remarked, "Last time's competition wasn't conclusive. Let's determine a winner this time around."

"Natasha, Eric, Barton, you're with me; Everyone else is on your team." Stark continued, pointed at Steve and said: "May the best team win."

With that, he turned around and activated his armor to take off, disappearing into the New York skyline.

Natasha shrugged, "He's pretty impulsive, yeah? But right now, he's our captain. Let's get moving. Barton, you and Eric will head back to the Avengers Base to grab equipment, and I'll return to S.H.I.E.L.D. for reporting..."

The two men nodded in agreement. Natasha had no sooner exited the meeting room than she picked up the pace, whipping out her phone to say, "Director! It's bad! They're about to start sanctioning Hydra again! And they're turning it into another competition!"

"Stir up trouble? No can do. I'm tailing Stark's crew, he'll notice! ...Alright, I'm on my way."

After hanging up the phone, Natasha moved swiftly. Once inside the car, she nearly flew to S.H.I.E.L.D., arriving in Nick's office, where smoke was already filling the room. Nick, smoking and holding his forehead, looked visibly troubled.

"What's going on? They're competing again? Isn't Hydra's heat over yet? Why are they still hung up on this issue?"

Natasha, sighing, responded, "Have you forgotten? Captain America and the Winter Soldier went to the Nebula of the Fairy Constellation on vacation. After staying there for a while, they wanted to return to Earth, but the Winter Soldier adamantly refused to come back, no matter how much the Captain tried to persuade him."

"When the Captain returned, he accidentally complained about it in front of Stark, which triggered Stark again. So, they fought and are now in a cold war."

"What does their cold war have to do with Hydra? What has Hydra done wrong?" Nick, with a sorrowful heart, said, "Their last competition destroyed at least a dozen Hydra bases, how many will they damage this time?"

Natasha almost hesitated to say, "Director, do I still need to contact the KGB?"

Upon finishing her statement, she found it somewhat absurd. Natasha sighed, shook her head, and said, "Although I really don't know how you became the head of the Hydra New York State Division, having the KGB pose as Hydra under your command, wouldn't that be a bit too...?"

Natasha, scratching her head furiously, disrupted her already messy red hair even more. The female agent, extremely exasperated, continued, "I made a call to the KGB earlier, informing them to infiltrate us. They thought I was a spy left behind by the former Soviet Union. They even called me comrade! God!"

Nick's eyes lit up as he asked, "Are you?"

"Of course, I'm not! I hate the Soviet Union! I regret not shooting Gorbachev when I had the chance..."

"Well then, it seems like you are a Soviet spy. All Soviet spies I know want to give Gorbachev a piece of their mind..."

Overwhelmed, Natasha raised her head and took a deep breath. Nick comforted her, saying, "Don't mind. Who you are now doesn't really matter, what matters is who you work for."

"I work for S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

"And who does S.H.I.E.L.D. work for?"

"You... do you want me to say that S.H.I.E.L.D. works for you?"

"No. S.H.I.E.L.D. works for Hydra. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s importance and status are elevated because of Hydra's existence. Our mission is to eliminate Hydra."

"So, you're saying that I work for Hydra?"

"Not just you." Nick let out a chuckle, "All of the Avengers work for Hydra."

Shaking her head, Natasha replied, "I will relay this brilliant concept to Captain America tomorrow."

"Yes, you must emphasize our slogan."

"Slogan? What slogan?"

"Long live Helada!"

Natasha stood there, one hand on her hip, the other covering her face, saying, "Why don't you let Barton do this job, I want to live."

"Enough with the jokes. What do you think of my earlier performance? Did I seem like the head of a Hydra division?"

Nick then swayed his body in his typical rhythm, reflecting his joy. "Never has a Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. held this position, but I view it as the starting point rather than my end goal!"

Looking at him, Natasha said, "You're not planning on a promotion, are you?"

"Given the current situation, I bet Shiller sure wants a promotion. If he moves to the headquarters, won't the position of head of Americas division become vacant? Do you think I stand a chance?"

Before Natasha could respond, Nick raised his hand, "No worries. Once I become the head of Hydra's Americas division, I'll make you the head of the New York State division!"

"At that time, you can plant as many KGB agents here as you want, and in less than two years, you'll get the medal the Soviet Union owes you."

Natasha snorted lightly, murmuring to herself, "A medal..."

There was a change in the female agent's eyes as if she was reminiscing about the past. Seeing this, Nick transitioned from his jolly demeanor and said, "You're still the same, wearing your emotions on your face the moment they're mentioned."

"What emotions?" An indignant Natasha raised her tone, completely disagreeing with Nick.

"You hate it, and yet, you miss it."

Natasha composed herself, revealing her usual cold demeanor. She turned on her heel and left the room, leaving only the sound of the closing door echoing in the empty office. As the door closed, Nick added,

"Ain't that something we all do?"