Their conversation was short.
After a simple question and answer, the call ended.
After Hawk hung up, he looked at his phone, seemingly contemplating something, then looked up at the sky.
His gaze seemed to penetrate the reddened clouds, through the atmosphere, and lock onto a high-definition communication satellite.
Connected through the high-definition communication satellite.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Combat Command Center.
Maria Hill, who had returned here, stood with her arms crossed, her expression calm but internally somewhat anxious as she looked at Hawk on the big screen, seemingly staring back at them.
She worried this call might make Hawk feel threatened.
In fact, this wasn't a threat.
This was a compromise.
Just leave, go back to New York City, and pretend today's incident never happened.
There's no choice.
At the Pentagon, some hawkish generals were clamoring to drop a nuclear bomb on Hawk.
But then...
If it succeeds, fine, but what if it fails?
Who would bear the cost of failure?
After hearing he would have to take the blame if it failed, the hawkish general fell silent.
He could be tough, but refused to take the blame.
After all...
If they dared to act, Hawk really dared to kill.
They didn't dare gamble.
The most important thing.
They couldn't gamble, especially since the image of General Ross lying dead like a dog, with not even his head remaining, was right in front of them.
No general at the Pentagon wanted to be the next one.
So playing dead became the only choice.
Still, playing dead is one thing, but Hawk was still at the Quantico Military Base.
So, the Pentagon thought of Maria Hill.
Maria Hill looked at Hawk on the big screen, seemingly staring at her through the satellite, took out her phone, and dialed.
Hawk, looking up at the sky, placed the ringing phone to his ear.
"Hello."
"Hawk..."
"Reason."
Hawk's tone was calm: "You only have one chance to explain, Ms. Hill."
Hill quickly said: "Returning the car."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
Under the high-definition satellite, Hawk's expression was clear as day.
Hill steadied herself and quickly explained what Natasha Romanoff was doing today, returning the repaired car to Gwen in New York City.
Of course.
She also mentioned that after Hawk left New York City, to prevent the military from capturing Gwen to threaten Hawk, Natasha stayed there just in case.
Aside from her suspicion that this incident was likely collusion between Nick Fury and General Ross, which she didn't mention, everything else was said.
She currently had no evidence for that.
But...
She would find out.
Maria Hill thought to herself.
Hawk listened to Hill's explanation, silence prevailed for a moment, then he retracted his gaze from the sky.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Hill heard the gratitude, breathed a sigh of relief, then seemed to think of something.
"I can arrange a plane to take you back to New York City."
"...Alright, thank you."
Hawk thought for a moment, didn't refuse, and after hanging up the phone, took a deep breath while looking at the only intact building in the entire base.
His right foot slightly retreated, and at the moment it landed, the stone slab beneath burst apart.
Next moment.
Boom!
At the moment Hawk's right fist was punched out, visibly, the building before him had glass shattering all around, and in the blink of an eye, the whole building crumbled, collapsed...
With the rumbling dust rising at that moment, thus, the entire Quantico Military Base was left with no intact building, completely reduced to ruins.
Maria Hill watched this scene through the satellite screen, her brow twitching.
The hawkish generals at the Pentagon watched this, their hearts shocked beyond measure.
Having left S.H.I.E.L.D., in a secretive room, Nick Fury, also watching this scene, his lone eye flashing with peculiar light.
Half an hour later.
As the S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft took off from Quantico Military Base once again, only after the plane completely disappeared from sight, did the soldiers waiting outside the base re-enter it.
Looking around.
The ground cracked, buildings collapsed.
Armored cars, tanks, fighter jets burned to charcoal, corpses scattered all over, resembling an apocalyptic scene.
But what drew the most attention was the massive corpse lying on the rubble, completely charred to ashes.
"Hiss!"
"This is..."
"Abomination?"
"His head?"
"Where's Abomination's head?"
Some soldiers, emboldened after Hawk left, came to the Abomination corpse, looking at the headless Abomination, exchanged glances.
Next moment.
These soldiers seemingly thought of something, simultaneously looked in the direction where the S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft vanished.
High above in the sky.
Sitting on a soft sofa, Hawk looked at the charred, grim Abomination head placed before him, shook his head, twisted the head up, and threw it into the nearby trash bin.
Initially, he planned to take this head back to his sister's grave, as a gift for her.
But his sister was timid, scared even by a mouse, this ugly gift would likely frighten Anya to tears.
So...
Forget it.
Better not scare Anya, back when she was alive and cried from fright, he could still comfort her.
Now his sister is in Hell, if she gets scared to tears, he wouldn't be able to comfort her anytime soon.
Hawk thought to himself.
Only...
Thinking of his sister still waiting for him to rescue her in Hell, his urge to go there grew stronger.
After the Quantico war, Hawk had a clear and complete understanding of his current strength.
One sentence.
I'm invincible!
But...
Invincible in the world.
A foe descends from the heavens!
The Monarch of the Hell Dimension, Mephisto, is not a mere mortal.
He is a god.
A Dimension God.
Hawk is currently not qualified to obtain what he desires from a Dimension God.
Even if his Little Cosmos truly exists in the Marvel Cosmos, it's still impossible.
After all, placing Mephisto in the Saint Warriors Cosmos is almost like equating him with the Netherworld King, Hades.
Just awakened, no Holy Armor, not even the Sixth Sense awakened—how could a Saint Warrior fight Hades right from the start?
That Saint Warrior must be out of his mind.
So...
"The Holy Armor is key."
"And I also need the Reality Gemstone, to use the Reality Gemstone, to make my Little Cosmos truly exist in the Marvel Cosmos."
"Only this way, and only this way."
"Can I go to Hell to find my sister."
Thoughts flashed rapidly in Hawk's mind as he decided on his next steps.
The Holy Armor is key.
And he had already found two of the Holy Armor's materials, only the last piece of Orichalcum was missing, which in the Marvel Cosmos is called Vibranium.
As long as he gets the Vibranium, he can forge the Phoenix Holy Armor.
By then, even if his Little Cosmos hasn't been truly projected into the Marvel Cosmos, wearing the Holy Armor, he would have the power to battle Thor.
After all...
The story of the Reality Gemstone takes place in Thor 2.
Should be next year.
Second half of the year?
Hawk pondered.
Just then.
The door of the cockpit opened, and a S.H.I.E.L.D. female agent walked out.
Sharon Carter!
Just about to speak, Sharon Carter glanced at the ugly head inside the trash can and was slightly astonished.
"Mr. Hawke, this head..."
"Leave it."
Hawk snapped back, following Sharon Carter's gaze to the head in the trash can, shook his head: "It's too ugly, I'm afraid it would scare my sister to tears."
Sharon Carter heard this and chuckled: "Indeed."
At first, Sharon found Hawk's actions today very hard to understand.
But...
After going through the information about Hawk, Sharon developed a different mindset.
"You're a good brother, Mr. Hawke."
"Heh."
Hawk glanced at Sharon, letting out a small laugh: "I'm not, if I truly were, my sister wouldn't have died."
The conversation opened up.
Sharon took a seat on the sofa opposite Hawk: "It's not your fault, Mr. Hawke, if your sister knew you avenged her, she would be very happy."
Hawk heard this, looked at Sharon, but said nothing.
Sharon felt a jolt, blinking.
"What is it, Mr. Hawke, did I say something wrong?"
"No."
Hawk shook his head, withdrawing his gaze: "So you also agree with my actions?"
Sharon smiled and said: "From a professional standpoint, I have no comment, but from a personal perspective, I totally agree. However, if I had a brother, and if I perished, I'd hope my brother could live happily and not dwell in hatred."
Hawk fixed his gaze back on Sharon.
Their eyes met.
Hawk smiled slightly.
"I don't like it."
"Hmm?"
"Forgiving enemies is God's business, I prefer sending them to meet God."
"Understood."
Sharon was initially taken aback, then nodded thoughtfully, and jokingly said to Hawk: "Then I hope I never become Mr. Hawke's enemy."
Hawk laughed heartily, looking at Sharon.
"If people do not offend me, I will not offend them."
"Understood."
Sharon raised an eyebrow, nodding once more with a broad smile, then shrugged: "So after returning to New York City, do you have any plans, Mr. Hawke?"
Hawk seemed to think of something, looking at Sharon.
"Learn to drive."
"Learn to drive?"
"Yes."
Hawk nodded.
Then move his sister to a new home.
He has money now.
A lot of money.
A half-hour later.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. private jet landed steadily at an airport on the outskirts of New York City.
Stepping off the plane, the first thing Hawk saw was his girlfriend standing near a yellow Corolla that had been repaired, wearing a yellow coat, arms crossed, smiling tenderly at him.
Hawk disembarked and walked over.
Their eyes met.
"I'm back."
"Hmm."
Gwen smiled brightly.
"Go home?"
"Yes."
"Let's go, get in the car."
"Am I driving?"
"No, you haven't passed your driving test yet. If you get caught, watch out for George sending you to court."
"Would you plead for me?"
"Hawk!"
"Hmm?"
"You have to admit your mistakes and stand in court to bravely acknowledge your wrongdoings."
"..."