Shadow of the Beautiful World

In Fury's office, Merlin, who was almost self-defeating, was relieved to see Fury throwing a black pot on the Ministry of National Defense.

But new questions also arise.

After Fury explained a few things to Hill, and after Hill exited the office, Merlin asked:

About the mysterious 'Seventh District', can you tell me anything?

I don't know much either, Merlin.

Fury sat back in his chair, and he said to Merlin:

I was looking through some old sources recently and found that around 1960, the Ministry of Defense sent an official expedition to the North Pole. No one knew what their purpose was, but in the context of the Cold War, it can make Those soldiers crossed the Arctic Circle at the risk of angering the Soviets, and they must have something important, and even a secret that could turn the tide of the war.

And there's a little more.

Fury leaned back on the chair, crossed his fingers and said to Merlin:

The old documents show that when the Ministry of Defense expedition returned to the West Coast in 1960, it seems to have brought back something secret. In the years since that expedition ended, new technology has emerged in the Ministry of Defense. , new missiles, new tanks, and more advanced information transmission systems, those things help the United States to become stronger quickly.

I even found some clues. In the Apollo Moon Landing Project that started in 1962, many new technologies were used, and the Star Wars Project proposed in the 1980s may directly originate from Area Seven. suggestions, so this makes me have to wonder what those soldiers found under the ice in the Arctic and what they got from it.

Fury said in a serious voice:

And, I am very suspicious now, more than 30 years ago, the real purpose of our astronauts on the surface of the moon, and what did they find on the surface of the moon during the six moon landings?

A series of descriptions from Fury made Merlin feel a kind of creepiness.

As an adult, he is well aware of the hypocrisy of history, but he never imagined that there would be such a big connection behind the incident he was intervening in.

If the rumors about mechanical life and the Seventh District of the Ministry of National Defense are true, it means that he promised to fly over the mountain to help it find b-127, and it is likely to be directly obstructed by the Ministry of National Defense.

So this time, the biggest opponent he will face is probably not the vicious Decepticon robot flying over the mountain pass, but the soldiers of the Ministry of National Defense.

Our colleagues at the Ministry of Defense are just like us, Merlin.

Fury looked at the surprised expression on Merlin's face, and said softly:

They also hide a lot of secrets, and they are still trying to know more and control more. And since the last time we took back the 084 base from the Ministry of Defense, our relationship with them has not been very good.

Then do we need to intervene in this matter?

Merlin asked:

If those mechanical life forms really exist and are trying to launch a threatening attack on us.

I can't tell yet.

Fury shook his head:

There is so little information available now. And, Merlin, I must ask, what is your source?

Fury looked at the several documents in his hand, the stories about the Cybertronians and the division of systems between them, these things seemed to be learned directly from a mechanical life.

This made Fury doubt the reliability and authenticity of Merlin's source.

As for this question, Merlin had already prepared for it. He coughed lightly and said to Fury:

There is one thing I didn't tell you, Fury. Before Ms. Carter disappeared, she met me. Ms. Carter told me to transfer some of the information she kept to you when it was safe. But I can't be sure if it is safe now , so those materials have been kept in my hands, and I found this information in those materials.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

Fury's expression became serious, and he said to Merlin:

What else did Ms. Carter say?

Merlin hesitated for a moment, he looked at Fury, and he asked:

Before I answer this question, I want to ask you a few questions, Fury.

What is the 'Avengers' project? And why are you using s.d. as a cover to transfer cash for it?

Merlin said in a deep voice:

Ms. Carter told me before she left that there was a darkness that was neglected in our organization. Frankly, I couldn't believe it, but the truth was right in front of my eyes. That's why I didn't submit the information to The reason for you. Because I'm not sure, are you also part of that darkness?

Are you crazy?

Fury, who was questioned, replied very bluntly:

I'm the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the highest official in name. What good will it do me to bring down S.H.I.E.L.D.? And, do you think someone like Pierce will allow me to do anything wrong?

Tell me first, what is the Avengers plan?

Merlin asked stubbornly:

This name doesn't sound like a serious plan. Maybe you are really a villain who hides and tries to destroy the world?

Damn it! Merlin!

Fury stood up abruptly, put his hands on the table, looked at Merlin, and said in an angry voice:

That's not something you should know. There are no more than 10 people in the world who know about this plan. Our organization has confidentiality regulations, and you are violating it!

You can punish me anytime, Fury.

Merlin also took a step forward. He pressed his hands on the desk and looked at Fury without flinching. He said word by word:

But I must make sure that you are trustworthy! Otherwise, I would not give those materials to you! There is a reason why Ms. Carter chose me to keep those materials. Maybe she also thinks that you are not trustworthy anymore! You have changed!

The two friends who had worked together very well, this time in Fury's office, there was a sense of tension.

Neither side is willing to back down, and Merlin, who considered Fury a true friend, now finds that Fury is using him and his department as a cover to hide some of his own, perhaps dangerous, secrets.

This made Merlin feel that he was cheated and fooled.

And Fury is also suffering. There is a reason why S.H.I.E.L.D. retains the agent hierarchy. As people who keep secrets, they are destined to be unable to completely confide in anyone, especially a leader like him who has access to all the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D. He cannot tell his subordinates everything he has done.

Although Merlin is very trustworthy.

But rules are rules.

After a few minutes of stalemate between the two sides, Fury gritted his teeth and took a step back. He gave Merlin a hard look, bent down, and in his drawer, opened a safe that was quadruple-encrypted with fingerprints, irises, passwords, and keys, took out a document from it, and threw it in front of Merlin's eyes.

Merlin picked up the file, opened it, and found that it contained his personnel information.

And on this document, he has a new code name

Avengers 004.

What does it mean?

Merlin looked at Fury suspiciously, and the latter said in a blunt tone:

This means that you are also a member of the Avengers plan, even though you don't know it yourself.

You want to know what the Avengers plan is? Very well, then I will tell you, but you remember, Merlin, if anyone, any force, knows anything about the Avengers plan from you If there are any clues, then you can prepare for me and spend the rest of your life in the isolated island prison!

Fury stared at Merlin, he said seriously:

I'm not kidding you!

OK.

Merlin put down the document in his hand. He looked at Fury, spread his fingers, and enveloped the two of them with a shadow to ensure that the secret that Fury would describe next would not be known by a third person.

After doing all this, he made a please gesture.

The Avengers plan was a secret plan proposed by me after the Cree War in 1995, submitted by Pierce to the World Security Council for discussion, and finally established in September 1995.

Fury whispered:

Its level of secrecy is extremely high. It stands to reason that Ms. Carter should not know about it. But I know my old boss very well. She is the best agent in the last world, and her network is so extensive that it makes people I'm afraid, if she insists on looking into this matter, she should indeed be able to find out some information.

And what does it do? It's simple.

Fury tapped his finger on the table:

Everything that happened during the Kree Wars made us realize one thing. There are various crises in the stars that threaten our world, which we cannot solve with normal force. We, as a protection agency , must plan ahead for these crises.”

And the appearance of Carol Danvers made us realize that besides massively improving the existing military technology and armed forces, the second method of self-protection is to form a small but powerful force , an elite squad capable of carrying out star-studded asymmetric combat operations. The members inside should all be super-powerful like Carol Danvers, of course, people like Carol are too rare.

Fury said with some regret:

So we have to mobilize huge resources to find such people around the world, or such people who have the potential to become superheroes.

The Avengers plan has two components. The first is to search for members and invite them to establish an Avengers organization.

The second part is to deal with major crises or wars that may occur in the future. In the current plan setting, once a crisis similar to the Cree War occurs, the Avengers plan will be launched and commanded by the World Security Council , to defend our world and civilization.

How many people do you want to use to fight against the alien fleet that may appear in the future?

Merlin shook his head:

Even if everyone you find is a tough girl like Carol, it's impossible. Individual power is limited in a large-scale war.

Of course we know that.

Fury said to Merlin calmly:

Do you know 'nuclear deterrence'?

Um.

Merlin nodded.

Fury went on to say:

The Avengers organization is similar to the role of nuclear deterrence. Its existence is not to win the war, but to create a deterrent force for the enemy to avoid war.

Once those enemies know that even if they destroy the earth, their civilization will be destroyed with the attack of the angry Avengers, then even the craziest aliens will have a war before they start war. hesitated.

If this is the case, it can be explained.

Merlin nodded, looked at the document in front of him, and asked again:

My number is 004, that is to say, before me, you have found 3 superheroes that you think? Let me guess, Carol should be one of them. What about the other two?

I do not want to tell you.

Fury sternly refused to answer the question.

Merlin shrugged, and he said to Fury:

You've said so much, why keep the last bit of suspense? Secrets are a burden, Fury, and you will feel relaxed only when you share them. And you know, my mouth has always been strict.

All right.

Fury glared at Merlin again, and said:

Carol Danvers is number 002, and number 001 is the undiscovered Captain America Steve Rogers. Don't look at me like that! I didn't order this serial number. Pierce firmly believes that Captain America is still alive. He's the one who made Steve 001.

As for number 003, that's a mutant we're tracking.

Fury said vaguely:

He fought in all the wars from 1840 to the present, and he's been written about in every single one of them. He was in Vietnam with Commander Pierce's squad, and I was part of that squad, and I've seen it with my own eyes. And that crazy mutant fight scene where he shreds 50 people in five minutes is something I'll never forget.

You mean, he can fight well?

Merlin asked:

What's his name?

He can easily eat you for breakfast!

Fury snorted and said to Merlin:

He calls himself Logan, but no one knows his real name.

Okay, I have one last question.

Merlin spread his hands and said to Fury:

Why is it called 'The Avenger'?

Because the future positioning of your organization is 'Avengers', a group of super soldiers who will carry out cruel revenge for their own world and civilization.

Fury said:

Of course there is a reason, I originally called this project 'Earth Defense Project', but the name is too poor. Then I saw a photo of Carroll, so I came to inspiration

Oh yes.

Merlin suddenly realized:

When Carol was a pilot on Earth, her code name in Project Pegasus was 'Avenger'.

Okay, I've told you all my secrets.

Fury folded his arms and said:

You should know, you should know, you should know, now tell me, when are you going to give me the information left by Ms. Carter.

I can give it to you anytime.

Merlin waved his hand, he glanced out the window, he said:

But let's talk about those Cybertronians for now.

Should we stand by and watch the Ministry of Defense cooperate with the Decepticons, or do we intervene and capture those dangerous mechanical thugs?