Chapter 256: Foolish SHIELD
"From now on, SHIELD enters maximum alert."
Inside the Helicarrier command room, Nick Fury issued orders to all SHIELD members:
"According to reliable intelligence, the agent codenamed Black Widow—Natasha Romanoff—has been confirmed as Hydra spy."
"One day ago, Black Widow's partner Hawkeye Clint Barton escaped custody. According to latest intelligence, he's currently in New York."
His voice transmitted throughout the entire Helicarrier via electrical current. SHIELD members—regardless of current tasks—stopped their work.
"Upcoming days won't be peaceful, people. I need several senior agents proceeding to New York, apprehending Hawkeye as quickly as possible."
Nick Fury observed his list, reading several names—including Agent Phil Coulson, Agent Hill, and Agent Nineteen.
Beside Nick Fury, Agent Hill crossed her arms, coldly observing the Director closing internal speakers:
"Nick Fury, I'm starting suspecting you're SHIELD's fattest Hydra agent."
"What are you planning?"
Nick Fury smiled without warmth, observing Agent Hill. Stepping forward several paces, both hands grasped Hill's shoulders, turning her toward the command room exit:
"Get out."
After dismissing Agent Hill, Nick Fury sat in the command room chair, hands crossed, eyes closed while contemplating something.
Half an hour later, command room doors pushed open. One SHIELD senior agent rushed inside hurriedly:
"Director Fury, why isn't my name on the list?"
Nick Fury rotated his chair, turning around. Using crossed-finger backs supporting his chin, he observed the newcomer:
"Garrett."
"Director." The hurried arrival was precisely SHIELD Level 8 Agent Garrett. "Why not me?"
Nick Fury observed Garrett with strange expression:
"Because your clearance level isn't high enough."
"I'm applying proceeding to New York, Director Fury." Garrett seemingly hadn't heard Fury's words. "This is rare opportunity personally confronting Hydra. You can't always assigning missions to Coulson and others."
"As former colleagues, you should know Black Widow and Hawkeye's partnership capabilities." Nick Fury said. "As SHIELD Director, I cannot watch my agents marching toward death."
Garrett shook his head, his expression somewhat disappointed:
"Director, you don't trust me?"
"No—quite the contrary." Nick Fury stood, walking before Garrett while patting his shoulder. "Listen. If I didn't trust you, how could I possibly entrust SHIELD's training weapons disposal authority to you?"
Garrett understood:
"Appears Director Fury still doesn't believe my capabilities... But like you said—since I've been disposing all SHIELD training weapons, you know I've continuously trained myself with various weapons? Training volume far exceeding other agents?"
"No." Nick Fury observed Garrett. "You train so extensively just to find suitable opportunities eliminating Hydra?!"
"Exactly!" Garrett replied unhesitatingly.
Nick Fury smiled slightly. Just as he prepared speaking, his encrypted communication channel rang:
Beep beep beep...
"Agent, I need you temporarily avoiding this." Nick Fury didn't answer communications, instead observing Garrett.
SHIELD Director's encrypted communications naturally couldn't be heard by Level 8 Agent Garrett. Garrett showed zero doubt, turning to exit the command room, leaning beside doors while quietly waiting.
"Agent Nineteen, report situation." After Garrett departed, Nick Fury spoke quietly.
"Report my ass." Agent Nineteen Barbara Morse—two hundred kilometers from Cube Prison—held communication devices in one hand while tossing gum into her mouth with the other. "Didn't you tell me sending communication requests at this time?"
Nick Fury's expression remained serious, not speaking, listening as Mockingbird complained endlessly about boredom through communication channels.
This state maintained three full minutes. Only then did Nick Fury expressionlessly disconnect communications, summoning Garrett back inside:
"Just received latest intelligence... Mockingbird Barbara severely injured."
Garrett's eyes brightened. But his expression quickly tensed:
"What happened?"
"During combat with Hydra, stomach stabbed." Nick Fury's expression appeared exceptionally serious. "Garrett, I need you replacing her proceeding to New York. Agent Coulson will assist you."
"Hydra again!" Garrett gritted teeth—as though wanting dismembering Hydra completely. "How do I contact Agent Coulson?"
"This is his encrypted communication." Nick Fury handed over one security key.
Garrett accepted the key, carefully storing it in his pocket:
"Await my good news, Director Fury."
Nick Fury appeared somewhat exhausted, waving his hand:
"Go. Have Agent Hill arranging helicopter for you."
Garrett didn't depart. Instead standing motionless in position, observing Director Fury's facial expressions:
"Director Fury—Black Widow and Hawkeye confirmed as Hydra. Is intelligence reliable?"
"Agent Nineteen's injury was Hawkeye's doing." Nick Fury's eyebrows furrowed together. "He nearly took Barbara's life."
"Understood." Garrett nodded, turning to exit the command room.
One hour later, carrying equipment and tools, Garrett boarded one New York-bound helicopter.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH...
Amid propeller noise, the helicopter distanced increasingly from the Helicarrier. Only after becoming invisible did Garrett rapidly crouch, moving quickly.
He first inspected the cabin for listening devices, checking whether communication channels were closed.
Only after confirming SHIELD hadn't strictly guarded him did he finally sit back in cockpit seats. His mouth corners stretched wider until—disregarding image—he clutched his stomach, laughing uproariously.
"Nick Fury! SHIELD! HAHAHAHA! A bunch of stupid donkeys!"
---
North Brother Island.
Hulk's capabilities remained too powerful for Venom Robin.
Regardless of methods Venom Robin employed, he couldn't genuinely injure Hulk—more resembling annoying fly buzzing chaotically around Hulk.
Putting himself in Robin's position, Dr. Octavius felt he'd become extremely annoyed—even furiously explosive. But Hulk wasn't.
Hulk's hands opened like two enormous palm-leaf fans. Among ten swats, three-four successfully connected with Venom Robin.
Once connected, Venom Robin immediately flew backward at extreme speeds, heavily crashing into laboratory walls.
Within merely twenty minutes, laboratory walls were already covered with over ten different-postured human silhouettes—all left by Venom Robin.
"Fly!"
"Big Underpants!"
Beyond fighting, Hulk and Venom Robin's mouths didn't stop either—exchanging insults sentence by sentence.
Professor Morbius couldn't restrain yawning. Despite his vampire constitution, watching these two's childish combat made him drowsy.
Hulk obviously bullied children. From beginning to end, he'd barely shifted his feet.
Conversely, during this battle, Venom Robin completely exerted full-power states.
But he'd only received one day's Batman training. Even though his bandage combat suit had been equipped with comprehensive Batman-provided equipment and tools, Venom Robin still couldn't display Batman's effortless competence when confronting Abomination.
This caused Venom Robin continuously relying on instinct battling Hulk. Beyond some speed advantages, even his fifty-ton strength couldn't fully manifest.