The armored vehicles stopped a few hundred meters away from the palace, and countless heavily armed soldiers quickly disembarked, used the armored vehicles as cover to form a military position, and aimed their weapons and artillery at the Vongola Family headquarters.
In the sky, several military helicopters circled overhead.
The members of the Vongola Family also took out their weapons and used the building as cover to confront the troops outside.
However, guns with Thompson submachine guns and Chicago typewriters as their mainstays paled in comparison to the modern elite U.S. military on the opposite side—it was not an exaggeration to say they were beggars before an emperor.
But each member's face was calm, showing no tension about equipment disadvantages or inability to win the battle.
Fury noticed this and raised his evaluation of the Vongola Family's strength even higher.
"Listen to the people inside—you are surrounded! Exit the building and surrender within five minutes!"
"Listen to the people inside—you are surrounded! Exit the building and surrender within five minutes!"
"Listen to the people inside—you are surrounded! Exit the building and surrender within five minutes!"
The helicopter broadcast surrender demands. Tsuna looked at Fury indifferently. "If you have a way to stop them, act quickly. Otherwise, I can only use my own methods."
"Don't be impulsive. I'll find out what's going on."
Fury took a deep look at Tsuna, raised his hands and walked toward the opposing army. "Hill, I need to know who initiated this military operation."
The information was transmitted through the Bluetooth headset hidden in his ear to the Quinjet concealed in high-altitude clouds, and the temporarily formed crisis response team quickly made calls to inquire.
Meanwhile, Fury, under escort by two soldiers, went to the army position before a general in his fifties.
Fury knew him and immediately shouted in confusion, "Brigadier General Talbot, what are you doing?"
"What?"
Talbot, who'd been about to greet Fury, was immediately upset. "I am the Chief of Staff of the Department of Defense, personally appointed by the president at the White House. I'm a Brigadier General of the United States—why should I explain my actions to you, an irrelevant person?"
"I'm executing an important mission!"
"I'm on an important mission too!" Talbot said. "I don't know why the president trusts you, the head of a secret service that doesn't belong to the United States, and I don't care what mission you're on. But for America's good, I must act."
"Your actions will only bring disaster to the United States and humans around the world!" Fury was not polite at all, pointing at Talbot. "I've already greeted the relevant departments before I came. The matter here belongs to S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"I haven't received any relevant notice. I only know there were gang battles in Harlem's streets. This is a serious incident that challenges the United States' authority. City Councilwoman Mariah called for the arrest of these perpetrators."
"Mariah?"
Fury was stunned. When he was thinking about who this so-called Mariah was, Hill's voice came through the earpiece. "Mariah Dillard, New York City Councilwoman. Her cousin Cornell Stokes is the boss of the Viper Gang in Harlem, sells arms privately, and used money earned by the gang to fund Mariah's congressional run."
Suddenly, Fury understood everything.
The Vongola Family came to Harlem and ruled the gangs in this area, seriously hindering Cornell and Mariah's interests, so she used her status as city councilwoman to attack the Vongola Family.
(This bastard!)
Fury was so angry he just wanted to shout expletives.
To be a city councilwoman, it was impossible for her to lack knowledge or brains. It was impossible she didn't know what the power displayed by the Vongola Family meant.
But she did it anyway.
This showed she didn't care about the consequences of doing so—only cared about her own interests.
But Fury was very clear this moment was critical and he must stay calm. Once anger overwhelmed him, conflict between the U.S. military and the Vongola Family would be inevitable, and the relationship model they'd finally negotiated would also be broken.
Thinking this, he took a deep breath and said to Hill, "Immediately notify the Department of Defense and ask them to stop this military operation. At the same time, contact Mariah for me!"
"Understood!"
When Hill's voice came from the other end, Fury breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Talbot's disgusting voice.
"There are still two minutes. If you can't convince Mariah, I will order the army to open fire." Talbot had a comfortable smile on his face, as if taking the initiative while Fury was deflated pleased him.
"Do you know that if I fail here, you'll be finished!" Fury said angrily.
Talbot just took it as angry speech and didn't take it seriously at all. He laughed even more happily and showed Fury his watch's hour hand. "There's still one and a half minutes."
"Mother fucker!"
Fury uttered profanity on the spot and was about to give Talbot a piece of his mind when Hill's voice came through the earphone. "No one answered the call to the Department of Defense, but Mariah was contacted!"
Fury's heart sank, and he immediately knew this matter was no longer as simple as Mariah's abuse of power for personal gain. The White House or the military also wanted to get involved.
As for the reason, he feared it was the extraordinary power displayed by the Vongola Family.
Over the years, the United States had been committed to replicating the miracle of Captain America and creating super soldiers.
For this reason, they'd sponsored considerable military equipment research expenses to Oscorp, and the military had been researching super soldier serum constantly.
Therefore, it was impossible to stop this military operation through the military.
"One more minute!"
Fury looked at the smug Talbot, took a deep breath, and said, "Transfer the call immediately."
The signal rang twice, followed by a strange woman's voice.
"Hello, Ms. Dillard, I'm the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D...."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Before Fury could finish speaking, she interrupted. "Sorry, I haven't heard of this department. If you are an official institution, please apply through official channels, and my assistant will arrange the schedule."
After speaking, the phone hung up.
Fury showed an expression of disbelief and had the urge to trace the wireless network, find the other party, and beat her up.
"Fury, time's up."
Talbot pointed to the hands on his watch and smiled.
Fury's expression changed suddenly, and he quickly urged, "Talbot, don't do something stupid—you will die!"
"Escort our Director Fury to rest in the back." Talbot ignored Fury, and after having Fury taken away, he looked at the Vongola Family with a serious expression. "Not a single surrender. Fine then—as expected. Fire!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
Character Notes:
Glenn Talbot - From Marvel Comics/MCU. A U.S. Air Force officer and Department of Defense Chief of Staff. Often acts in what he believes are America's interests, sometimes conflicting with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Mariah Dillard - From Marvel Comics/MCU. Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes' cousin and a corrupt New York City Councilwoman who uses her political position to protect criminal interests in Harlem.