Washington.
Autumn was gradually getting a bit chilly.
Nick Fury stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D's office, looking down at a rundown pickup truck speeding along and coming to a clattering stop at the S.H.I.E.L.D entrance.
Nick Fury couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
All of S.H.I.E.L.D knew that their ace agent Uehara Naraku's vehicle was just such a rundown pickup truck, always giving the impression that it might break down at any moment...
Nick Fury didn't wait for Uehara Naraku to come up in the elevator before his mind started rethinking things, was it really right to entrust the most important mission to this seemingly unreliable guy?
Besides Uehara Naraku, it seemed there wasn't anyone particularly suitable.
Natasha Romanoff was still tracking down an arms smuggler, Clint Barton was managing the construction of a subterranean base to safeguard the Tesseract.
Moreover...
This mission also involved Captain America Steve Rogers, which meant only Uehara Naraku, who had been partnered with Steve Rogers lately, could take it on.
The first words Uehara Naraku spoke upon entering the office showed his clear unreliability: "Sir, our mission to wipe out the Hydra bases with Captain Rogers went well, and you called me to headquarters to report—isn't it to issue an early bonus?"
"There will be a bonus."
Nick Fury's single eye twitched slightly, and he motioned for Uehara Naraku to sit at his desk before solemnly saying, "Let's talk business first. Twenty-seven hours ago, Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill defected with an important document..."
"Are you kidding?"
Uehara Naraku's eyes widened instinctively, and he quickly shook his head, saying, "That's hardly possible! I don't believe Coulson and Hill would defect, even if Special Agent Romanoff and Clint did, Agent Coulson certainly wouldn't..."
"This is a fact."
Nick Fury knocked on the table, looking seriously at Uehara Naraku as he continued, "Yesterday I issued the confidentiality order... Although I suspect there may be other reasons for their defection, we must retrieve them as soon as possible."
"Understood, I also think there could be other reasons behind this."
Uehara Naraku nodded earnestly and said softly, "Together, they're no match for me, I'll track them down swiftly..."
It's starting!
It's starting again!
Simply by following Nick Fury's thinking, there's no need to worry about him suspecting a thing, as for retrieving Coulson and Hill's mission...
It will provide a perfect excuse for him to take a break.
"Very good."
Nick Fury was unaware of Uehara Naraku's intentions to slack off.
This Director of S.H.I.E.L.D nodded in satisfaction.
While Uehara Naraku liked to solve problems with brute force within S.H.I.E.L.D, his combat skills were certainly reassuring...
"Once you retrieve Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill..."
Nick Fury lowered his voice at this point: "Don't rush to bring them back, report to me immediately, investigate the truth behind their defection..."
There are still Hydra spies within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Until everything is clarified, having Coulson and Hill return to S.H.I.E.L.D would only alert the enemy, and Fury definitely didn't want to alarm Steve Rogers with this...
After all, he's Captain America!
Once the belief of an era in the United States!
And also a crucial member of the Avengers Squad... Not to mention he is currently helping S.H.I.E.L.D. clear out Hydra bases.
"Leave it to me!"
Uehara Naraku swiftly nodded.
No matter what truth Nick Fury wanted, Uehara Naraku could help him uncover it... Or, Uehara Naraku was already planning what kind of truth to provide Fury with.
I'll need to think this through carefully...
Looking at it now, it seems Nick Fury still has some level of trust in Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill, so I need to find a way to gradually erode that trust...
I have to say.
Nick Fury really chose the right person.
If Nick Fury had assigned this mission to other agents, they probably wouldn't find Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill's whereabouts for a year or more...
"There's another matter..."
Nick Fury leaned forward slowly, staring intently at Uehara Naraku as he continued to question him: "You've been at the frontline with Captain Rogers for a while now, Agent Uehara Naraku, what's your opinion of Captain Rogers?"
This is the most straightforward way to assess!
Recently, only Uehara Naraku interacted with Steve Rogers the most, making him the most familiar with Captain America.
Nick Fury harbored some slight suspicions.
Was Coulson worried that Steve Rogers might be framed and took away the crucial German letter, or was it simply a matter of helping hide Steve Rogers' true nature?
"The captain has rich combat experience."
Uehara Naraku's answer was quite skillful, he thought for a moment before continuing: "Speaking of which, I have one matter as well..."
Uehara Naraku's expression slowly furrowed, and he said softly: "Since teaming up with the captain to wipe out Hydra bases, we've often secured victories..."
"But lately, it feels like those Hydra agents lurking within S.H.I.E.L.D are growing increasingly restless. Last month, the captain faced seven assassination attempts..."
"Recently, we even discussed intensifying reviews to quickly identify the spies, if this continues, the situation at the frontline..."
"Don't worry about that."
Nick Fury slowly shook his head, softly continuing, "I will visit Dr. Bruce Banner next week and invite him to assist in sweeping Hydra bases..."
Nick Fury didn't want to bring up the review issue; he had been considering slowly expanding the review range within S.H.I.E.L.D once those Hydra members that have surfaced were eliminated...
To be honest...
S.H.I.E.L.D has become a troublesome burden.
The current state of S.H.I.E.L.D is extremely chaotic, especially after Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill's defection, which has only exacerbated the situation...
Recently, Nick Fury has increasingly valued the Avengers Squad he established. He already planned to use the Avengers Squad as a combat group, while S.H.I.E.L.D serves as a supporting intelligence agency, maximizing both their roles.
This mission involving Hydra just happens to be an excellent opportunity...
Originally, Nick Fury wanted the Avengers Squad to use this opportunity to better coordinate with S.H.I.E.L.D agents, with S.H.I.E.L.D providing intelligence and the Avengers' Superheroes handling threats from terrorists.
"By the way."
Nick Fury glanced at Uehara Naraku before continuing, "Finish the pursuit of Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill swiftly... Before you leave, fill out a form to join the Avengers Squad."