Many wanted William dead, but just as many wanted him to return to Earth or at least see the second spacecraft successfully reach Mars.
One of those people was Alexander Pierce, who hoped to use the spacecraft to send HYDRA to Mars.
Ever since William mentioned that the spacecraft's controls might be made accessible to external pilots for the sake of rescue, Pierce had been eyeing the mission. He closely monitored Nick Fury's movements and deduced Fury's interest in the spacecraft when he personally traveled to England.
However, Pierce didn't interfere with Fury's actions. To him, the best outcome would be the destruction of the second spacecraft.
In William's panic and desperation, he might agree to more of HYDRA's demands—or even consider joining them to ensure his survival.
Pierce wasn't the only one with this mindset. Those who knew William well didn't focus on sabotaging the component manufacturers but instead tried to locate William's secret production base.
Anyone with half a brain could figure out that key parts like the spacecraft's engine and energy converter were developed by William himself.
If William could produce the most critical and complex components on his own, why would he rely on others for the rest?
From their perspective, if they were in William's position, they wouldn't trust outsiders with something as vital as their survival.
Nick Fury met Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, at a café in London. She had been working undercover, infiltrating Abigail Chase's circle.
"The underground section of Oxford Castle—does it house a secret production facility?" Fury asked bluntly.
Natasha shook her head. "Judging by material transport records, no unusual supplies have been delivered to Oxford recently.
"There haven't been any suspicious vehicles spotted within 30 kilometers of the castle, either."
"Then where is Devonshire's secret base?" Fury muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. "How did he build the first spacecraft's engine and other components and transport them to London?"
"For weeks, we've been monitoring the trade of specialized metals but haven't found a single lead. Could it be that the Devonshire family isn't just producing the finished products but also manufacturing the raw materials themselves?"
Fury's voice dripped with suspicion as he looked at Natasha. "You have nothing else?"
"I'm sorry, Nick," Natasha replied with a frown. "Since William flew to Mars, Abigail Chase has been actively guarding against newcomers like us.
"Even those who've worked closely with William in the past haven't been able to meet with her or Lady Lena."
"What about his mercenary group, the Expendables?" Fury pressed. "They've been with him since the beginning."
Natasha hesitated before saying, "I only know that their leader, Barney Ross, tried to meet Abigail a while back, but he couldn't get in either.
"From what I've gathered, most of the group members are now millionaires. They only take on group missions, and lately, Barney Ross has been seen with someone named Trench.
"The two of them recently went to Antarctica and have stayed in London since their return."
"Trench? Antarctica?" Fury's interest was piqued. "Do you know what their mission was?"
Natasha shook her head. "No one knows the details. All we know is that William hired an English icebreaker to go to Antarctica a while back.
"I reported this to you before. Didn't you find anything?"
"No," Fury replied, frowning deeply. He didn't mention that a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had also gone to Antarctica.
Their official report stated they found nothing, but Fury couldn't shake the feeling that something was being hidden.
Natasha wasn't a rookie. She noticed the subtle shift in Fury's expression and realized he wasn't telling her everything.
"What about the Devonshire Group? Any unusual activity?" she asked.
"None," Natasha said, shaking her head. "Except for the publicly traded electricity company, all other businesses are either wholly owned or under the family's absolute control.
"William's just stuck on Mars, and with his capabilities, who knows? He might suddenly announce a new energy source and fly back himself.
"Under these circumstances, no one dares to stir up trouble."
"Wait," Fury murmured, his single eye widening as he muttered to himself, "new energy… new energy…"
Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table. "How did I not think of this before?"
He knew about Starscream's pursuit of William and had assumed the Decepticon would have the upper hand.
Yet, Starscream—an alien robot they once feared would kill William—was taken out with what seemed like a simple trick.
Could this have been part of a larger scheme?
If Starscream was dead, his energy core might still be intact. What if William had obtained it?
Fury stared at the live broadcast on the café's TV, showing William experimenting with potato farming on Mars.
"Is this a ruse?" Fury muttered. "Is he pretending not to know how to use Starscream's energy core? Or has he already figured it out and is lying to see who will betray him?
"Or is he waiting for his enemies to foolishly walk into his trap?"
Fury's thoughts raced. Perhaps those who helped William now would earn the Devonshire family's trust in the future.
The spacecraft, red mercury bombs, the Devonshire battle suit, and the energy weapon capable of killing Starscream—all tantalizing prospects.
Instinctively, Fury considered reporting his suspicions to his superior, Alexander Pierce. But the memory of the Antarctica mission gave him pause.
That mission had been orchestrated by Pierce himself. Was it possible Pierce had already made contact with William?
Watching the TV as William walked out of his spacecraft with a smile, describing the Martian terrain, Fury couldn't shake the feeling that Pierce and William might have already struck a deal—or were at least concealing something together.
"I'll need to send my own team to Antarctica," Fury decided.
He turned to Natasha. "Leave for now. From this moment on, your mission is strictly observation. No actions without my direct orders. Understood?"
(End of Chapter)
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