16. Difficult Decisions (Part 1)

The next morning, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Fury showed up in his office on time.

He checked his work schedule for today, well, it is rare that there is no meeting that he needs to attend, which means that Fury may be able to sneak in today and get off work on time.

This made Chief Braised Egg Head very happy.

Become an agent.

There is still a big difference from managing a secret service organization.

The former can occasionally take out tasks, and most of the latter's work is sitting in the office.

Merlin would occasionally perform some more important tasks in person, but Fury hadn't been out on the field for almost ten years.

Even during the days of the most intense confrontation with Hydra, Fury still sat in the office very peacefully.

He had to do that, he had to be in the building, be a mascot, be a anchor.

If one day, even the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. will draw his gun and go into battle, it means that this organization is really about to end.

Ten minutes later, the ruthless signature machine Nick Fury finally finished processing a bunch of documents that needed to be signed.

He looked around, secretly took out a portable electronic scale from the filing cabinet behind him, put it on the ground, took off his shoes, and stood on it.

Soon, a number that made Fury frown suddenly appeared on the electronic scale.

"Oh, I'm getting fat again."

Fury patted his stomach, he hid the scale sadly, then moved his waist and walked to the window of the office.

He looked at the cold and serious face reflected in the mirror.

With that solidified expression, it was as if the whole world owed money to that face.

Fury reached out, squeezed his face, and then showed a big smile towards the glass.

The director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, who has always been steady, occasionally goes offline. Of course, most agents can't see his director's funny appearance.

"Bang, bang"

There was a knock on the door in the office, and Fury hurriedly adjusted his expression, returning to his original indifferent state.

He coughed lightly, folded his hands behind his back, and said:

"Come in."

The next moment, the door of the office was pushed open, and Alexander Pierce tremblingly walked into Fury's office, leaning on a cane.

"Pierce?"

Fury looked back at the old boss in surprise, and said:

"Why did you come to my place?"

"I'll drop by to have a look."

Pierce sat on the sofa with a smile.

The chairman of the World Security Council is already very old. Compared with more than ten years ago, Pierce seems to have really become old now.

Wrinkles appeared on his forehead, his originally gray hair became all white and thinned, and his waist, which was always straight, also bent down.

Even the expression on his face became the kindness and kindness that an old man should have.

Only those eyes seemed to be as bright and sharp as before.

"Is Merlin not here?"

Pierce sat on the sofa with a cane in both hands, watching Fury make coffee for him himself, the old man asked:

"I just went to his office, is he on vacation today?"

"That's not true."

Fury replied:

"He went to do a very important 'official business', and it may take some time before he comes back."

"Oh, that's how it is."

Pierce nodded and said:

"This is good. He still has the same sense of responsibility as I remember, and he will never refuse the responsibilities that he should shoulder. Well, I finally read him correctly."

"You tell me these things every time you come over."

Fury walked to the table with two cups of coffee, put a cup of coffee in front of Pierce, sat on the sofa on the other side, and said to his old friend:

"I used to doubt whether Merlin was your illegitimate child. It has been more than ten years. I have never heard from you that you are disappointed in him."

"Because he never lets us down."

Pierce said with a smile:

"From the time I knew him to now, he hasn't done anything wrong, no matter how difficult it is, he also helped you eliminate the Hydra elements hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Those damn bastards have been hiding in our shadows for decades, only to be unmasked by a young man."

"I didn't say he was bad."

Fury spread his hands, and he said:

"Merlin has always been my most capable assistant."

"So, how about making him chief?"

Pierce said suddenly:

"Let Merlin take your place and really start running S.H.I.E.L.D."

"A younger leader may allow S.H.I.E.L.D. to radiate greater vitality and take on more responsibilities in the field of world security affairs"

"He went to Switzerland for a meeting for me. My old friends all spoke well of Merlin. Everyone admired this young man whose actions speak more than words."

"Young man? He's almost 40"

Fury was not overwhelmed by Pierce's sudden topic.

He picked up his coffee and said to Pierce:

"Besides, it's not impossible to let Merlin replace the director. He has already proved his ability in the position of deputy director, but what about me? Pierce, are you planning to let me retire like this?"

"of course not!"

Pierce winked at Fury like an old urchin, and said:

"I intend to recommend you to the World Security Council"

"It's the same as when I was recommended by Ms. Carter back then. You have to go my way again. Maybe the relationship between you and Merlin in the future will be the same as the relationship between me and you now."

"this"

Fury was a little hesitant. He was not too resistant to entering politics. He had been a spy all his life, and it would be nice to change roles when he was old.

Still he hesitated, and said:

"It's a bit too sudden, isn't it?"

"Suddenly? No, not suddenly."

Pierce took a sip of his coffee, and he said to Fury:

"Your qualifications are completely sufficient, and SHIELD, as a subsidiary body of the World Security Council, is already in the same system. Promotion to the council is also a normal process, and no one will object."

"And no one is more qualified than you to be the overseer of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the rest of the system."

The old man shook his neck, he breathed a sigh of relief, and turned the conversation into a tone of chatting between friends, he said:

"Look at me, Fury, I'm old, I have to walk with a cane now, I can't sleep 5 hours a night, I just twisted my waist last week, and I fell asleep during the meeting yesterday. Somewhat out of control."

"Maybe in a few years, I'm going to die"

Pierre said calmly to Fury:

"I have to arrange the funeral while I still have time."

"You have sss serum in your hand."

Fury said:

"It's because you don't want to use it"

"That thing has hangovers, Fury."

Pierce advised:

"It will make you dementia one day, I don't want to die as an old fool, I advise you not to use that thing"

"Birth, old age, sickness and death, this is the law of nature and the order of nature. We should abide by it and maintain it instead of breaking it."

"Order, well, order is already your belief, so I won't argue with you about it."

Fury rubbed his chin, he said:

"But this matter, I have to think about it for a while, and I can't give you an answer right away."

"Pierce, even if I am willing to obey your arrangement, it will take a long time for the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to complete the handover of work with Merlin."

"So you have to hurry up."

Pierce stood up, he shook his back, and he said to Fury:

"Hurry up and finish it while I can still do something for you. Well, I'm leaving now, so keep busy."

"Um."

Fury got up to send Pierce off, but just as the office door opened, Fury's assistant, Agent Hill, just walked towards the director's office with a stack of documents.

When Pierce passed by, he saw the name on the cover of the document.

Ann Labray, Umbrella

These few keywords made Pierce's eyes narrowed suddenly.

The old man suddenly reached out and patted his forehead, as if he had forgotten something important, he turned back and said to Fury:

"Ah, I'm really old and there's one more thing I want to tell you. It won't disturb your work, will it?"

"No, it won't."

Fury didn't notice anything. He and Pierce returned to the office. Agent Hill put the documents on the director's desk and turned to leave.

There are two old men left in the office.

"The other day, the Central Park thing, that runaway monster"

Pierce sat on the couch, and as he watched Fury pick up the file, he said:

"What's the outcome of the investigation into that matter?"

"Why do you suddenly care about this?"

While looking at the documents related to the umbrella company, Fury asked casually:

"I thought you cared about something higher."

"I don't want to, Fury, I'm an old man, my energy is limited, but there are always some things you can't avoid."

Pierce sighed and said:

"Sky Eye suffered a lot in that operation. One of their commandos was almost wiped out. You know that organization is directly under the White House."

"So some old friends brought the lawsuit to me. They said that the S.H.I.E.L.D. combat unit hindered the commando's actions, causing serious damage to the elite soldiers"

"I personally don't believe it, but I have to find out."

"Hmph! They still have the face to mention this!"

Fury's expression became indifferent, and he said to Pierce:

"It is true that our agents stopped the actions of the Sky Eye Commando, but the reason is that those guys disregard human lives!"

"Our investigation into that incident has concluded"

"There are more than 15 witnesses who witnessed the entire process of the commandos of the Sky Eye Society shooting innocent people. I know that the commandos of the Sky Eye Society are very mixed, but with all due respect, they really deserve death."

"Our agent saved at least 27 innocent people in that critical moment. He is the real hero!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Pierce didn't care about the truth of this matter at all, and talking about it was just a conversation, so he took advantage of the situation and asked:

"Then what's the truth about this matter?"

"I heard that the remnants of Abstergo are working on some bloody illegal biological project? How can these bastards be restless?"

"Fury, you have to spend some time on this aspect, don't let those ambitious people have a chance to play."

"We've been working hard, Pierce."

Fury said helplessly:

"We have blocked many, many illegal biological experiment projects over the years, but there have always been people driven by profit or ambition."

"The bio-augmentation project has always been a very popular outlet since the birth of Captain America, and it is normal for it to be banned repeatedly."

"What's more, this matter is not as simple as you think, Pierce."

Fury said:

"The news you got is false, this was not done by someone from Abstergo."

"Um?"

Pierce widened his eyes and showed a puzzled expression. He said:

"Not them? Who then?"

"Sorry, I can't tell you, Pierce."

Fury showed an apologetic expression, and he said to Pierce:

"I can't speak casually before the matter is concluded, but if you really care about this matter, then after the end, I will give you an investigation report."

"Uh, it's okay, it's okay."

Pierce waved his hand hastily, and he said with a smile:

"I'm being rude, look at me, I used to be a secret agent, but now, I have forgotten the confidentiality regulations"

"I shouldn't ask about these things."

The old man stood up and said to Fury:

"Now that the truth of the matter has been found out, I'm leaving first. You can continue to work. Don't forget to send a copy of the investigation records of those bastards who disregard human lives to the White House."

"Shut up their mouths, and don't let them bother me, an old man, again."

"Oh, by the way, I have a new idea about the 'Insight Project', maybe it can make up for it"

"Pierce"

Fury stood up and sent Pierce to the door of the office. He interrupted the old man helplessly. He said to his old boss:

"We've talked about this topic many times. I know you appreciate the ideas and effects of the insight plan. You've always wanted to push it forward, but both Merlin and I think the plan is lacking."

"We have many better ways to protect order, let's forget about the seriously flawed ones of the Insight Project."

"Um."

Pierce nodded silently, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and he said with a regretful expression:

"Well, since you all say that, forget it."