Fury held a grudge against that woman's actions, as she only cared about saving people and maintaining peace throughout the Universe, not returning to see her hometown for decades.
However, it wasn't a major crisis endangering Earth, so he couldn't use the pager to call her back.
Even with such a powerful person on Earth, controlling a powerful country, and no one to counterbalance him, it always made people feel uneasy, but Ron had not shown any intention of threatening Earth.
As for his current predicament... it had not yet reached a desperate point.
"Endure for two days, and things will have a result."
He comforted Captain America and Nick Cage; the U.S. would not abandon them and would come to negotiate their rescue once they received the news.
Both were somewhat unwilling; one had participated in World War II, destroying Nazi Bases as easily as eating and drinking, while the other, having spent time on the streets, had a bit of a gangster temper. It was impossible to expect them to quietly stay in a water prison after being captured.
Helpless against the Vibranium-infused cage, they tried calling for guards to go to the toilet or faking a high fever and unconsciousness needing medical attention, but the guards ignored them completely.
No matter what tricks they pulled, the guards only watched from a distance, like watching two monkeys perform.
Despite their unwillingness, after all the fuss, nothing worked, and the two had no choice but to settle down.
After soaking in the water prison for several days and receiving news that Fury and others had been detained and imprisoned, the U.S. deliberated and debated for a few days before sending people over, promising a long list of conditions in exchange for their release and to mitigate the incident's impact.
When two sides are of similar strength, negotiations are often a contest of will and momentum, seeing who has the tougher stance.
Facing the threats brought by Fury, Ron was completely unconcerned and adopted an even tougher stance, directly taking action and even detaining the 'middlemen'.
With a single word, he could command the entire nation to follow his will; he could fight immediately if he wanted, and once the fight began, he could fight however he pleased.
The U.S. was different; they dared not truly go to war with a technologically advanced nation over such a matter, especially since they were still unclear about Ron's true strength.
Ultimately, they chose to compensate with money, materials, and technology, spending a large sum to apologize and rescue the people, agreeing to put the matter behind them.
Fury, General Ross, and his subordinates were eventually released.
However, as Captain America boarded the U.S. fighter jet sent to pick them up, he was limping, carrying his shield.
He used to be a good soldier, until he took an arrow to the knee.
After soaking in sewage for several days, his wound became infected; it was only due to his robust physique and recovery ability far exceeding ordinary people that he hadn't died.
"Perhaps after I go back, I can start considering retirement."
On the transport fighter jet, Captain America's expression was somber.
His leg injury would likely be difficult to fully recover from. Counting the seventy years he was frozen in sleep, he was already a centenarian, fully qualified to enter retirement.
"Captain, your injury won't be difficult to recover from."
Fury, opposite him, comforted him.
"Through Wakanda's medical technology?"
His leg was injured during a conflict with Wakanda; would they treat him?
"When we get back, I'll first use the agency's methods to treat you. If that doesn't work—I have another method."
Fury thought of something, then hesitated before speaking.
"I don't think that would be a good method." Seeing Fury's expression subtly grave and his tone unusually hesitant, he said with a hint of suspicion.
"If successful, Captain, you could become even stronger, more powerful, more agile than you are now, and unafraid of injury."
Fury's eyes flickered, and he added, as he spoke, what started as a sudden bold idea, he began to seriously consider its possibility.
"If it were anyone else, they might not make it and lose control, but Rogers perhaps could."
"So, what's the price?"
Inside the cabin, his expression turned serious, and Steve Rogers pursed his lips, asking in a deep voice.
As a subject of the Super Soldier Serum experiment, and having his mind altered by the serum, he was well aware that generally, it was impossible to gain power without paying something in return.
"At most, a small risk." Fury didn't elaborate, signaling him to relax.
...In Asgard.
On the throne that once belonged to the King of Gods.
Thor held gungnir, his eye bandaged, his expression troubled.
A few days ago, a woman suddenly broke into the Heavenly Palace. He clutched his almost-blinded eye and rushed furiously into his Father's sleeping chambers.
It turned out that his awakened Father and Mother told him that the woman who had mocked him and almost blinded his eye was actually his second sister, Audreyf, who he thought was Death, and who had been living in Heaven, deceived and raised by Angels.
His concern for his elder sister Hela's matter had always worried him; perhaps his second sister's return could contribute to the coming Ragnarok.
The Heavenly Palace guards were killed because his second sister was deceived; it wasn't his second sister's fault.
However, a few days later, Audreyf left Asgard, her whereabouts unknown, leaving Frigga heartbroken.
Additionally, Loki, whom Thor had imprisoned, had also escaped.
"Loki, don't let me catch you again!"
On the throne, Thor gritted his teeth, gripping gungnir tightly in his hand.
At that time, although he was greatly angered by his Father sacrificing his lifespan to clean up his younger brother's mess, he ultimately did not kill his brother, with whom he had grown up.
He merely gave him a good beating and threw him into prison.
A few days ago, Audreyf broke into the Heavenly Palace, triggering an alarm. Loki, who was imprisoned, cunningly used an illusion, transforming into a scene where Thor was pinned to the ground, about to be killed by Loki with a dagger. The guards quickly opened the cell to help the prince, only for Loki to knock them down and escape.
"Brother, how dare you insult me like this!"
According to the prison guards, in the illusion, Thor was pinned to the ground with a dagger at his throat, crying and begging Loki for mercy, saying that Loki was the rightful King of Asgard, and he was just a brute with a head full of muscles, begging him to spare his life.
Hateful!
Even when using illusions to deceive the guards, he didn't forget to mock him. Thor indignantly slammed his fist on the throne.
The moment he learned Loki had escaped, he wanted to capture him back.
But Heimdall searched for a long time and couldn't find him, concluding that Loki might no longer be in the Nine Realms.
Thor had to temporarily give up the idea of catching Loki.
Recently, Asgard has been plagued by internal and external troubles.
Odin entered his long slumber, and some people within the Nine Realms began to grow restless, stirring up small-scale rebellions. He had no choice but to suppress the rebellions along with The Warriors Three and Sif.
During this time, Thor's use of Mjolnir was seen several times, and rumors about him had spread throughout the Nine Realms, mocking him for carrying a pink hammer with a cat pattern on it.
It was even used as a basis for rebellion—Odin's son no longer resembled a warrior, nor did he look like a king, and Asgard was bound to decline sooner or later.
For the sake of his image, he had no choice but to set aside his beloved Mjolnir and temporarily use gungnir instead.
However, Thor was accustomed to using short-handled heavy weapons, and holding gungnir always felt awkward and unfamiliar, feeling too light. He suffered several setbacks in battle, and although he wasn't injured, he was quite disheveled.
"Mother said Father once had the Dwarf King Eitri prepare a king's weapon for me, to replace Mjolnir after my coronation. Perhaps I should go and see it."
...In Wakanda, Research Department.
"Jane, your examination report is out."
In the pristine laboratory, Ron slowly walked over, holding a physical examination report.
"How is it? Very healthy, right?"
Jane, wearing a white coat, was manipulating a holographic projection, studying the data recorded last time in Old Bridge Town. Her delicate features and pretty face looked up, smiled at him, and then returned to her research.
"I don't think it's necessary at all. I know my own body."
She had previously followed Selvig in studying the Ancient Winter Coffin. After her research temporarily concluded, she began to revisit the Old Bridge Town data and had been excitedly immersed in the laboratory.
During this time, Ron asked her to get a physical examination, which she felt was completely unnecessary. Her passion for scientific research filled her body and mind, and she felt she had endless energy, healthier than healthy.
"Honestly, I don't think someone who constantly works day and night and doesn't eat or sleep on time can be very healthy."
Next to her, Daisy, who was processing data, said vaguely with a lollipop in her mouth, having a different opinion.
In the half-year she worked as Jane's assistant, she clearly saw how terrible Jane's living habits were. She often ran to the wilderness late at night to record data, working day and night, and fevers and colds were common occurrences.
"Cancer."
Ron frowned slightly and said, "Jane, you have cancer."
In the comics, Jane once lifted Thor's Hammer to become Lady Thor. That was after she got cancer. During chemotherapy, her hair was shaved, and she was emaciated, no longer possessing her former beauty. Only by lifting Thor's Hammer could she return to her original appearance.
But each time she lifted Thor's Hammer, Thor's Hammer would cleanse the effects of chemotherapy in her body, making her condition worse.
Thinking of this, he asked Jane to get a physical examination to see if she had already developed cancer.
"Cancer?"
Hearing the word cancer, Jane smiled, "Ron, you're not joking with me, are you?"
But seeing Ron's expression, which didn't look like a joke at all, she couldn't smile anymore.
She took the handed-over physical examination report and, as she read it, she froze, covering her mouth: "It's really cancer?"
It showed she had stomach cancer, already developed to a mid-stage, approaching late-stage.
"No way?" Daisy rushed over anxiously. She and Jane had a very good relationship, and seeing Jane staring blankly at the lab report with sadness in her eyes, she quickly comforted her.
"Jane, it's okay.
All cancers in Wakanda can be easily cured. You'll be healthy again in just a few days."
Cancer is an incurable disease outside, but in Wakanda, it's no different from a minor fever.
"I... I just thought of my parents."
Jane's eyes were slightly red, and she said sadly. She knew cancer wasn't incurable in Wakanda; she was more reminded of her parents by the situation.
"My Mother also died of cancer."
When she was nine, her Mother died of cancer. After the tragedy, her Father, a plumber, worked day and night, exhausted, so she could attend school. Even so, he tried his best to be with Jane, never forgetting her birthday, giving her a happy childhood.
"And my Father, my Father would support every decision I made, encouraging me to try. He gave me everything, but not long after I went to college, he also passed away from a heart attack due to overwork."
As she spoke, her eyes were red as she looked at Ron, hugged him, and said softly.
"Ron, thank you."
If Ron hadn't brought her to Wakanda, following her usual life trajectory, she would never have thought of getting a physical examination. By the time she noticed the symptoms, it would certainly have been too late, and she would have died from illness like her parents.
During this time, she was immersed in the laboratory, not even thinking about her own body. It was Ron who cared about her and had her get a physical examination, which led to this discovery.
Patting her back, Ron comforted her for a moment, then took out the cancer treatment agent.
"With this injection, you can recover after a good night's sleep."
Using civilian methods, it takes several days for ordinary people in Wakanda to treat cancer, but in fact, Wakanda has more advanced medical technology, where one injection can cure it.
"I understand."
Leaving Ron's embrace, Jane's face was slightly red. She nodded gently, took the agent, and went for a much-needed rest.
"That's great, but why doesn't someone care about me?"
A voice suddenly came from beside her.