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*****
Following his previous gesture, Nick Fury slid a second folder across the table toward Tony Stark.
Although he already had a strong suspicion about its contents, Feny picked up the document and scanned it. Sure enough, printed clearly on the cover were the words: Avengers Initiative: Preliminary Report.
"The universe is infinite, yet our understanding of it is tragically limited," Nick Fury said, his voice dropping into a cold, authoritative rasp. "You didn't think you were the only superheroes in the world, did you? The truth is, there are many more out there just like you."
"Tsk."
Feny clicked his tongue dismissively. When it came to knowledge about superheroes, he was arguably the most qualified person on the planet to speak on the matter.
He skimmed through the proposal. To put it simply, the document was an invitation for them to join an organization called the 'Avengers.' The group would remain independent of any specific jurisdiction, required only to step forward and defend the Earth when it faced an existential threat.
"I'm having a little trouble following the logic here," Tony interjected, having flipped through his copy much faster. "What exactly does this mean? 'Iron Man recommended, Tony Stark not recommended'?"
"That is Agent Romanoff's assessment of you," Fury replied, turning his gaze toward Tony. "Which is why I've slated you for a role as a consultant."
"I'm sorry, but you clearly can't afford me," Tony snapped, slamming the folder shut with an audible thud.
Because of Feny's interference in the timeline, Tony had significantly less contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. than he might have otherwise. Consequently, he felt no particular attachment or interest in this so-called "Avengers Initiative" at the moment.
Feny closed his report as well, weighing his options. Internally, he was reluctant to join the Avengers officially. After all, he was already a practitioner of the Mystic Arts, an apprentice of Kamar-Taj. Joining the Avengers would likely bring a host of complications—paperwork, oversight, and the inevitable headache of choosing sides in future political conflicts.
However, joining did offer certain advantages. For one, there was the 'Obelisk' he had been thinking about for a long time. Furthermore, an official status would stop S.H.I.E.L.D. from constantly digging into his background and personal life.
In the end, he decided on a compromise.
"Three things," Feny said, looking Fury in the eye. "One question, one condition, and one item. If you agree to them, I will provide my assistance on three separate occasions. And, as a bonus, I'll make sure Tony serves as your consultant."
"I have no intention of being a consultant for some super-boy-band," Tony interrupted from the side, but both Feny and Nick Fury ignored him.
"You can start by telling me what those things are," Fury said.
He didn't ask why Feny wasn't joining outright; he went straight to the negotiations. Fury wasn't afraid of demands; he was only afraid of people who wanted nothing. As long as a price existed, any obstacle could be overcome.
"First, I want to find that orange cat—specifically, the one you're thinking of right now. Second, my identity must remain completely off the books at S.H.I.E.L.D. I will reveal it only to you, and it is not to be shared with anyone else without my express permission. Finally, I want a silver Obelisk. It's useless to you, and frankly, none of your people could use it even if they tried."
The moment Feny mentioned the orange cat, a tidal wave of shock crashed through Nick Fury's mind. That particular incident was known to only a handful of people, and every official record of it had been meticulously destroyed. He couldn't fathom how Feny knew about it.
Specifically, the true nature of that 'cat' was a secret that, theoretically, no one on Earth should know.
Has she returned? was Fury's first thought. But he immediately dismissed it. She had been gone for so many years; if she had returned to Earth, he would have been the first person she contacted.
"I can provisionally agree to the last two," Fury said, his eye narrowing as he stared at Feny. "But you have to tell me: how do you know about that cat?"
"I know many things," Feny replied flatly. "For instance, I know about your old friend who suffered from amnesia, and I know about the pager you keep."
Feny, of course, had no intention of revealing his sources. Not even the Ancient One truly understood how he possessed knowledge of the future; it was his greatest secret.
With his visor down, Fury couldn't read Feny's expression or see his eyes. This lack of visual information only served to heighten the Director's wariness to its peak.
"Consider this a bonus," Feny added after a moment of thought. "If you ever run into a problem that's particularly difficult to solve, you can come and ask me for advice."
Feny figured there was no harm in offering. He didn't guarantee he would provide an answer, after all. If he didn't want to talk, he simply wouldn't.
Nick Fury remained silent for a long time, processing the information. Eventually, he chose to accept the terms, though not without some haggling.
"Fine. However, regarding the cat, I don't actually know where it is at the moment. As for your identity, I will keep it off the records and tell no one. But concerning the item you requested—I must inspect it first to determine if it's safe to hand over. I also need to know exactly what you plan to do with it."
"You don't know where it is?"
Feny was genuinely surprised. Before he could even consider if Fury was lying, he heard the Director's follow-up demands and rolled his eyes behind his mask. "Why don't you just ask to tag along whenever I use it?"
"Is there a danger?" Fury asked, his tone dead serious.
"You'd actually consider coming along?" Feny said, exasperated. "This item is useless to a normal person. And don't worry—it won't pose any threat to the Earth."
Fury didn't believe him for a second, but for now, the priority was uncovering Feny's identity and stabilizing this "dangerous variable." Besides, the item was currently in his possession. Whether he actually handed it over was a decision he could make later.
"Fine. I agree to your terms," Fury said, his mind already spinning with secondary plans. "So... who exactly are you?"
Tony, who had been listening intently, frowned slightly but remained silent. He could tell the 'one-eyed director' wasn't as simple as he looked. Yielding this easily usually meant there was a catch.
"First, you need to swear an oath. Then I'll tell you," Feny said.
He wasn't about to trust Nick Fury blindly. The man was the world's premier spy; believing his word alone was about as sensible as believing a pig could fly.
"An oath?" Fury blinked, taken aback.
"Yes. Swear that if you fail to keep these conditions, your body will rot and your heart will stop instantly," Feny said calmly. He was planning to use a bit of 'Ars Magna' logic combined with a psychological trick to rattle the Director.
"Did he have to swear one too?" Fury asked, gesturing toward Tony. He was trying to gauge if this was some mystical trap.
Tony turned his head away, offering no answer. He was fascinated by the turn of events. Feny had always been shrouded in mystery, and Tony was privately curious to see if such an oath would actually have any physical effect.
"Just swear it," Feny urged, calming his mind and focusing his intent.
Fury hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should go through with it. He had already given his word, and refusing now would be an admission that he never intended to keep it. Moreover, the prize was finally learning Feny's identity.
Fury hadn't reached the position of Director just through Hydra's internal promotions; he had a naturally unconventional, risk-taking streak. He decided to test the waters.
"I swear," Fury said firmly. "If I do not abide by the conditions we have discussed, may my body rot and my heart stop beating."
"Perfect. The contract is sealed!"
Feny snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a basic Kamar-Taj magic circle manifested in the air, glowing with orange sparks before dissipating into nothingness. Feny adopted a look of deep satisfaction.
Both Tony and Fury's expressions shifted instantly at the display of clear, undeniable magic.
"Your oath is now in effect. Make sure you keep it, or the consequences won't be pretty."
Feny deactivated 'Incursio,' the heavy armor melting away to reveal his true form. He looked at Fury with a bright, mocking smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Nick Fury."
But Nick Fury didn't feel like smiling.
He realized he might have drastically underestimated Feny's capabilities. Fortunately, he had left himself a few loopholes—he hadn't specified whose name he was swearing in, and the oath was predicated only on the conditions they had "discussed."
What he didn't realize was that Feny didn't actually know how to cast a binding contract spell. It wouldn't have mattered if Fury had sworn in the name of a stranger; Feny only needed him to speak the words aloud.
In the very next second, as Fury was mentally reviewing his loopholes, a sharp, sudden pang of pain shot through his chest. He instinctively clutched his heart, his face paling.
(End of Chapter)