Superman from the comics: Starting with the Black Robe

Chapter 209 Forming the Avengers

Chapter 209 Forming the Avengers

For Nick Fury, then director of S.H.I.E.L.D., today was arguably the most difficult day for the agency.

It wasn't enough that an intruder capable of shapeshifting and transforming into his own likeness could steal the Tesseract from a top-security research facility with impunity.

Next came that son of a bitch who looked just like that purple-faced monster, Devourer of Planets, who razed the entire Manhattan district to the ground in the ensuing conflict.

That's Manhattan, the heart of New York City. Fury could imagine how hysterical those men in Congress would be.

According to Stark on the phone, that thing called Galactus is supposed to devour the entire Earth or something.

After being bombarded with criticism from various officials of the Security Council, Fury, with his face already dark as could be, cut off the holographic projections of most people, leaving only one.

Alexander Pierce, his old buddy, former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and now chief of the Security Council.

Fury, seething with anger, immediately lashed out at his old colleague the moment the meeting ended: "Why didn't you speak up for me?!"

Fury felt that his old buddy was really a "good brother". When everyone in the council was making things difficult for him, Pierce not only didn't protect his son, but also spoke up for him!

"I'm already being quite lenient by not cooperating with them to strip you completely, Nick."

As the highest-ranking Hydra agent to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce, as the council's chief, began to manipulate Fury through psychological warfare:

"After all, it was I who recommended you for the position of bureau chief. I can't go back on my word."

Pierce's two sentences immediately silenced Fury, but that didn't mean he couldn't be defiant: "The council keeps calling me, how can I go? Galactus has been staying in Manhattan—"

Some irrational stakeholders in the Security Council attempted from the outset to force S.H.I.E.L.D.'s space carrier into the war zone to launch a suicide attack on Galactus in order to buy time.

Nick Fury wouldn't tolerate such a bug. Ordinary weapons had already proven ineffective against Galactus. If he rashly sent the mothership into the enemy's line of sight, it would probably be blasted to the ground by a single glare from the enemy the next second.

"I know exactly what's going on, and I understand your command. You and I both know that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current structure is no longer adequate to adapt to the increasingly severe situation."

Pierce chose to temporarily set aside the council members who wanted to use the attack from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier to create a window for transferring assets:

"But the Council invests hundreds of billions every year, not so you can just stand by and watch the invaders burn New York to ashes—so hurry up and produce some results, okay?"

"learn."

Fury knew what Pierce meant by "get something done".

One is a hypothesis proposed by S.H.I.E.L.D. in recent years, based on its technological advancements, called "Project Insight," which is considered the ultimate solution. With it, S.H.I.E.L.D. could free up most of its resources from dealing with mundane, sporadic crimes.

Dedicate resources to where they are truly needed.

Secondly, Fury had this idea a long time ago: with so many lone superpowered individuals, street fighters, and vigilantes in the world, why not unite them to deal with a powerful enemy like today?

Fury even had a name in mind: "The Avenger?"

After getting Tony into the high-security medical bay inside the Helicarrier, Joey began to smile as he dealt with the incessant chatter of Coulson:

"No, thanks, but I'm sorry, I'm not interested. You're a good person, but I'm already in an organization."

Despite receiving numerous rejections from the very first word, Coulson remained unperturbed, his smile growing even warmer.

"Aren't you really willing to learn more, sir?"

"Your S.H.I.E.L.D. is building the world's strongest superpowered team."

Having a smiling tiger like Coulson standing next to her made Joey extremely uncomfortable: "Don't act like you're trying to trick people into buying swimming and gym memberships."

If Joey hadn't suddenly remembered that S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't entirely clean, and hadn't worried that some people within S.H.I.E.L.D. might do something to Tony, he would have been doing his job long ago, instead of being held back and tormented by Coulson.

It has to be said that Coulson is indeed a very seasoned superhero fanboy, and he can readily spout all sorts of subculture references.

Normally, Joey wouldn't mind chatting with him for a while, but now, feeling like the end of the world was chasing him, he really wasn't in the mood to discuss which Captain America suit looked better with Coulson.

Even Ganata, who was extremely possessive of her food and had transformed into a beetle, hiding inside Joey's cloak and refusing to leave, was not bothered and escaped Coulson's persuasion by flapping her newly grown little wings.

Fortunately, just as the two were talking, Captain America came from the other end of the corridor.

"Hello, Captain!" Joey was overjoyed, immediately shaking off Coulson's entanglement and exchanging the secret code with the captain:

"How was that mystery novel I recommended last time? Did you figure out who the murderer was?"

Did he actually investigate the Hydra affair?

After shedding his comical costume and donning a more military-style, practical uniform, Captain America looked much more energetic.

His face was flushed, his brows furrowed, and he seemed preoccupied. He didn't react until Joey was almost right in front of him.

"Oh, right, I haven't started watching yet."

Less than a day has passed, and he hasn't even started investigating Hydra yet.

"Then you should hurry up and go see it. The story is very exciting, so I won't spoil it for you."

Even as he and Captain America continued exchanging coded messages, Joey's gaze never left Tony. He only breathed a sigh of relief after watching the S.H.I.E.L.D. medical staff use medical methods to alleviate Tony's symptoms and he slowly woke up.

Then, without any hesitation, he barged into the ward, trying to get rid of the largely useless medical staff: "Thank you..."

Joey's eyes swept over the name tags on the two medical staff members' chests: "Doctor Fitz and Doctor Simmons, you're now Tony Stark's saviors. Remember to ask him for an unlimited check—but before that, could you...?"

Joey smiled and waved, politely gesturing for him to leave.

Coulson, who had followed them in, nodded to the two men: "Go and rest first."

The two agents, having received their orders, set up the medical equipment, gave Tony a few instructions, and then left, leaving Joey and Tony behind.

"Don't even mention the checks. You just blew up my entire building. If you do this dozens of times again..."

I'm definitely going to go bankrupt.

Tony, who had just woken up, was not in much spirits, but it was already quite an achievement that he had survived the explosion of Leopardton's reactor.

At this moment, both he and Joey's gazes fell on Coulson in the room. However, the shameless Coulson had no idea what "reading the air" meant. Not only did he not move in the room, but he also asked Tony with concern:

"Don't worry about that scar, it will heal quickly and won't stop you from picking up girls."

Coulson was clearly referring to the twisted scar on Tony's face: "My medical team has handled much worse wounds before."

Coulson then brought up the task assigned by the chief:

"How about learning about the Avengers?"

Coulson's ideas about the Avengers were nothing new to Tony.

However, before he went to find Joey a while ago, he made a sarcastic remark to his face, which made a certain black bastard who brought up the Avengers topic so angry that he wanted to shoot himself. After that, no one bothered him with such things again.

Now that Tony's vision extends to the entire multiverse, he naturally looks down on such a loosely organized group even more.

Therefore, his answer was:

"Okay, I'll join."

"Oh, and there's more!"

As if afraid Coulson would regret it, the weakened Tony still managed to grab Joey's cape with all his might:

"Superman volunteered to join!"

Caught off guard, Joey exclaimed, "Huh?"