Nick Fury wasn't surprised at all when Anton called out his name; in fact, he thought it only natural.
Coming to meet Anton willingly meant he was already prepared to face whatever might happen.
Whether Anton was Batman or not, he treated him as someone of utmost importance.
Partly, this was because Anton had close ties with most of the superheroes currently active in New York.
Partly, it was because of the DC company Anton had founded.
From Batman and Green Arrow to Cyborg, even Nick Fury, with one eye closed, could no longer ignore the value behind DC.
As Coulson had said, who knew what would come next? Superman, Flash, Shazam… heroes taking turns appearing. And did their presence mean that aliens were inching closer?
The reasons were complicated.
In any case, once Fury received the information, he immediately pieced everything together and put Anton in a position he couldn't ignore.
So, he headed to New York to meet Anton.
Additionally, based on the intelligence they had, Anton was very likely a member of the superhero team Batman founded: the Justice League.
This gave both sides more to discuss.
"It seems there's no need for introductions—you already know me well."
Nick Fury replied calmly. Black Egg's face was unreadable, and he said evenly, "Anton, S.H.I.E.L.D. has investigated everything about you. Since you took over the Daily Bugle, your changes have surprised countless people."
"The prodigal returns!"
Anton's expression was sincere. "Isn't this the storyline everyone likes?"
"You haven't merely returned," Black Egg said, his tone darkening. "You're now closely connected to a mysterious organization. And you should know…"
He paused, emphasizing the next words: "This organization is not legal."
"So… you're legal?" Anton countered.
"Do you think the UN Security Council has your back, so you can confidently tell me the Justice League is illegal?" Anton said with a faint, knowing smile.
Black Egg's face remained expressionless. "That's the truth."
"But as far as I know, the team you're trying to assemble is currently empty. It's not even more than just an idea yet."
Anton glanced at Natasha beside him. "Even if you count Black Widow and Hawkeye, you should call it a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Squad, not a superhero team."
Black Egg's expression darkened further.
In truth, Anton's words startled him. The superhero team he was trying to form was indeed empty.
Yet that was supposed to be a secret.
Even his most trusted confidant, Coulson, didn't know whom he planned to invite or whether any formal invitations had been sent.
This was Black Egg's own secret.
It would only be revealed once the team was officially formed.
Yet Anton seemed certain that the superhero team he was forming had zero members.
Did that mean everything he had done was under their watchful eyes?
So, within S.H.I.E.L.D., there were one or more pairs of eyes tracking him?
Every move he made was exposed to Anton and his people.
Black Egg's face grew heavy.
Even his usually inscrutable expression betrayed the change in his thoughts.
Anton didn't know what he was thinking, but from the shift in his expression, he knew Black Egg had been intimidated.
A deeper smile crept across his face.
After a moment of silence, Black Egg spoke: "In any case, I hope the Justice League will consider cooperating with S.H.I.E.L.D. You will need us."
"I think it's you who needs us more."
Anton replied with interest. "Nick, Batman already warned you. You must have felt it—the unrest within S.H.I.E.L.D., right?"
Black Egg frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He wanted to tell you the words I once said… 'Clean the house before inviting guests!'"
Suddenly, a deep voice rang out from behind Black Egg and Natasha.
They both turned sharply, seeing a figure clad in black armor, a cape billowing, exuding a commanding presence, standing at the office door, facing them squarely.
"Batman!!"
Natasha's pupils contracted.
Batman had approached so closely—less than five steps—and neither of them had noticed.
Then she realized something, glancing at Anton.
It seemed the detective work was solved: Batman and Anton were not the same person.
Previously, everyone who assumed Anton was Batman had been deceived by the pair.
Black Egg was equally shocked, taking a deep breath.
He hadn't come alone; DC company employees had already been politely asked to leave.
Only Coulson and Hawkeye remained at the doorway to prevent intruders, ensuring that only a few of them were on that floor of DC.
As for outsiders…
For example, Eddie Brock, still upstairs at the Daily Bugle deck, working and also a superhero—perhaps even a formal member of the Justice League under the alias Venom—had made no move. Yet Batman had appeared before them without a trace.
What was even more terrifying: Coulson and Hawkeye hadn't reacted at all.
Two possibilities:
One, they had been knocked out by Batman.
Two, they hadn't even noticed Batman enter DC.
The former was manageable. The latter meant Batman's abilities were far beyond imagination.
Neither Black Egg nor Natasha noticed that Anton's eyes had slightly curved in a barely perceptible smile.
The Batman before them was his decoy.
The decoy could be placed anywhere within a hundred meters of the original.
Though it was a main template, it could still manifest as a decoy.
Notably, the difference between the main template and other heroes seemed only that its appearance remained unchanged.
After transforming into Green Arrow and Cyborg, he had tried changing his main body. Without exception, he became Oliver Queen or Victor Stone. Only when in Batman form did he retain his own face.
Batman had two inherent traits:
One: "Identity Concealment."
Two: "Indestructible, immune to attacks, with an unrecognizable yet perfectly chiseled jawline."
The second trait's name was long, but it perfectly described Batman's core concept.
Of course, alien traits like Venom's were unavoidable bugs.
Even Anton noticed differences between his own body and the Batman decoy—posture, movements, even the corners of the mouth beneath the mask.
It was no wonder Black Egg and Natasha couldn't recognize him.
…
"Clean the house before inviting guests?"
Black Egg's face twisted.
He wasn't uneducated; in his era, he had heard this phrase before.
Note this: in exams across the ocean, it meant, "Remove foreign invading forces from China, then establish diplomatic relations with countries willing to follow principles of peace, democracy, and equality."
Suddenly, he realized this phrase perfectly described S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal situation.
This wasn't a hint—it was a clear message.
Still, Black Egg kept his emotions in check, calming himself quickly.
Then he pondered the "invite guests" part.
It seemed to mean that Batman and the others had no ill will toward S.H.I.E.L.D. and were willing to cooperate—provided the "house" was clean.
"If that's your attitude, I'm willing to accept it."
Black Egg's face brightened. Then he added, "Batman, I can communicate with the UN Security Council, but I need you to tell me—where exactly do the worms inside S.H.I.E.L.D. come from?"
He was genuinely puzzled.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was a relatively independent power organization, with multinational enforcement rights.
For such an organization to have internal corruption was natural.
But Fury couldn't have imagined that even he, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highest-ranking member, was under the control of these worms.
Before noticing, it seemed fine. But now, observing deliberately, Black Egg realized S.H.I.E.L.D. was like a child with candy-filled teeth—shiny on the outside but hollowed and black within.
"The trouble within S.H.I.E.L.D. is long-standing. It's your own matter. Outsiders cannot interfere—it must be resolved internally," Batman said calmly, yet gave Black Egg face.
"The corruption in S.H.I.E.L.D. is a historical problem."
He slowly spoke, forming the shape of a word with his mouth.
Hydra.
Nick Fury immediately caught the word, his face betraying shock, the impact indescribable.
Natasha froze, also recognizing the lip movement.
"Then we won't see you out!"
Seeing this, Anton knew it was time to bid farewell.
He stood, speaking without ceremony.
The Batman at the office doorway stepped aside, making the message clear.
Black Egg composed himself, nodded to Batman and Anton, and led Natasha out of the office.
Coulson and Hawkeye noticed the movement and glanced inside.
The first thing they saw wasn't their director or female colleague, but a tall, imposing, chilling shadow.
Batman!!
"When did he get here?"
Coulson was stunned, Hawkeye's eyes widened, scalp tingling.
They had no idea when Batman had entered DC.
One thing was certain: before they arrived, Batman had not been there.
So Batman must have come after they arrived.
Then they saw Anton beside Batman.
Both were momentarily confused.
But this scene seemed to solve a long-standing question.
Anton was not Batman!
The previously inexplicable things now made sense.
"Let's go."
Black Egg's face darkened. He ordered the group to leave DC.
"Burton, ride with Coulson."
At the entrance downstairs, Coulson and Hawkeye exchanged a glance and got into the same car.
Black Egg and Natasha went to another vehicle.
"Nick!"
In the car, Natasha returned to her Black Widow persona. Her beautiful face turned serious as she said, "What Batman just said…"
"Don't tell Burton or Coulson," Nick said lightly. "You understand, Natasha. We cannot trust anyone right now."
Natasha said nothing, casting a deep glance at Black Egg.
She couldn't yet distinguish friend from foe. But she was certain: if she hadn't coincidentally been with Nick Fury when receiving Hydra's intel from Batman, she would never have been trusted.
This was Nick Fury: he trusted only himself.
…
Anton watched S.H.I.E.L.D. leave, exchanging a glance with the Batman decoy, which vanished into thin air.
"Sigh."
Anton exhaled.
Not out of fan sentiment, but lamenting that his beautiful assistant had left him.
Too bad the Catwoman costume he had prepared would need someone else to wear it.
Still, there would be future opportunities. Plenty of them.
He thought further: to build the Justice League, he couldn't just act recklessly. S.H.I.E.L.D. could provide excellent cover when necessary.
So establishing contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. was inevitable.
This was also why he told them to handle their own internal issues before discussing cooperation.
Moreover, Anton's identity was impeccable.
His father, J. Jonah Jameson, had cultivated New York's political scene for years, maintaining strong personal relationships.
Out of respect, no one would openly oppose him.
As for clandestine affairs, Anton feared no one.
Outwardly, as Justice League spokesperson, he commanded legitimacy.
His public identity: wealthy heir, entrepreneur, screenwriter, Hollywood prodigy, Justice League spokesperson—a life of success.
Secretly, beyond these titles, he had Batman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, and potentially Superman, Flash, Aquaman, and… Wonder Woman.
"In a while, will I be able to put the Avengers on the ropes?"
Anton fantasized.
Meanwhile, upstairs at the Daily Bugle, Eddie continued working diligently. Everything that happened today, plus the camera footage, would take his flourishing career to the next level.
They all habitually overlooked one person: Phil Urich.
Anton and Eddie didn't know that Phil, now deep undercover, had boarded a plane to Brazil with remnants of the Bigfoot Gang and Dr. Stockman.