Chapter 98: Warning

"Yeah, I just don't trust these so-called heroes. It's better to keep them under strict control. I don't want to depend on the goodwill and morality of a few individuals for our safety," a middle-aged, rather portly man declared on TV, earning a murmur of agreement from the audience.

"Natasha, look up that congressman's name and basic info on that loudmouth," Thor said, a mischievous look in his eye.

The Avengers around him froze in surprise, and Steve quickly stepped in. "Thor, don't do anything rash!"

"Yeah, Thor," Natasha added, raising an eyebrow. "The U.S. has over 300 million people—there's no shortage of idiots out there. This isn't Asgard, you know."

Thor shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "Relax. I just want to put these types on a blacklist. If there's another global crisis, I'll know which people I don't need to worry about saving. They're clearly fine trusting the politicians who nearly nuked their city."

Everyone exhaled, relieved, though Thor's eyes held a flicker of annoyance. He recognized these types, the ones who humiliate and oppose superheroes but seem all too eager to bend the knee to alien powers. Clearly, certain forces were using public sentiment as a weapon to turn people against them.

Peggy Carter, who had joined the celebration, nudged him with a grin. "So, off tomorrow, huh? This time it better not be for decades, or I won't be around to play referee."

Thor chuckled. "Not decades, promise. Unless… you want to come with me?"

Peggy laughed, shaking her head. "Not just yet, thank you. But do you need something from me before you go?"

"Can't I just want to see you?" Thor feigned innocence.

Peggy smirked. "If that were true, you'd have gone to the manor first."

Thor grinned, then turned serious. "Actually, I do have a request. Have you come across any particularly skilled hackers in S.H.I.E.L.D.—and they have to be fully trustworthy. A lot of folks in S.H.I.E.L.D. don't exactly see eye to eye with us."

Peggy's demeanor changed, and she gave a knowing nod. "Yes, there's one hacker I can vouch for completely."

She took a deep breath, launching into a story. "Over twenty years ago, one of our agents rescued a baby girl during a mission. The plan was to send her to an orphanage, but I noticed something different about her and decided to adopt her. You know, a lonely woman finds herself wanting companionship." She shot him a look, then continued. "I discovered her knack for computers early on. She went through intensive training at the academy and, even though she's young, there's hardly anyone who can match her in hacking."

"Right now, she's officially a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent… and she happens to be a huge fan of yours." Peggy chuckled, shaking her head.

Thor blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Trust me, she's a complete 'Captain Blake fangirl." Peggy sighed, as if remembering the endless stories she'd told the girl about Thor.

Late that night, Thor found himself in the living room of a modest apartment, facing a young woman with a star-struck look in her eyes. She had an undeniable energy and confidence, though he sensed something cunning beneath her enthusiasm.

"Oh my god! You're really Captain Blake —no, Thor! I can't believe it! This is a dream come true!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Thor cleared his throat, feeling a bit thrown by her fervor. "Yes, well… I could use some help from an expert hacker. The kind I can trust completely. Think you're up for it?"

Skye grinned, pounding her chest with confidence. "The best hacker on Earth is standing right here! You think I'd ever betray you?" She reached out, grabbing Thor's arm and giving it an affectionate shake, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Thor, sensing her audacious energy, gently disentangled himself and leaned down to whisper a few details of the mission. Skye's expression shifted to surprise, but she nodded eagerly.

The next morning, Thor departed for Asgard, taking Loki along for judgment. Stark, back in his workshop, turned on the news to catch up on the aftermath of the invasion.

In the background, he heard a few familiar names—and then he looked up as the screen shifted to display a cascade of incriminating documents and records.

"Is this… bribery, collusion, illegal assets, criminal records?" he muttered, surprised. "That's… quite a harsh response."

All across the country, viewers watching the broadcast saw the same information spill across their screens. Major newspapers received stacks of documents overnight, all detailing the black history of a high-profile congressman. The incriminating headlines dominated the morning.

The FBI quickly swooped in, freezing the congressman's assets, with his entire family put under scrutiny. Given the overwhelming evidence, even the most powerful allies dared not intervene. Though some people speculated that he was a victim of a political scheme, those in the know recognized this for what it was—a warning to anyone who dared challenge Earth's defenders.

For people in power, it was a stark reminder: no one's secrets were truly safe.

In an office in Washington, chaos erupted. A high-ranking official slammed his fists on the table, fury etched across his face.

"Someone explain this to me! We scrubbed those records—how did they dig them up?"

A visibly stressed programmer with glasses looked up miserably. "Sir, anti-tracking efforts indicate that the source of the leak was… Congressman Williams' own computer. It's as if he exposed himself."

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