Seeing Peggy's back disappearing from sight, Howard withdrew the smile from his face and waved for his secretary to close the office door behind her.
After a moment of contemplation, he pulled out a phone from his drawer.
Entering the encrypted channel, he dialed a mysterious number.
Toot, toot, toot.
It rang three times before someone answered.
"What's wrong with you? I told you, try to keep a low profile and keep your hands clean to avoid leaving any traceable clues."
Howard curled his fingers and struck the table, expressing his inner dissatisfaction.
He managed to fool Peggy Carter with the excuse of working with the White House, seeking external support for S.H.I.E.L.D.
But it was just a delaying tactic.
As the highest leader of S.H.I.E.L.D right now, Peggy Carter had more power that goes far beyond Howard's understanding.
For example, the Red Room.
The spy agency that originally belonged to Leviathan had become secretaries in S.H.I.E.L.D.
The beautiful and lovely 'Sparrows' were specially trained and then assigned to various departments to act as secretaries and so on.
To some extent, they were Peggy's eyes and ears, giving that female commander a more effective grip on the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D.
No problems could be hidden from the Red Room's eyes.
Including the field team led by Nick Fury and the mutant academy headed by Emma Frost, the White Queen ...
These were independent bodies that Howard couldn't interfere with and had no authority over.
The only place he could infiltrate would be the research department.
And not all of them, such as Arnim Zola, Bolivar Trask … Their laboratories simply banned other people.
As for Howard Stark, he was even more unwelcomed.
"This guy really has bad people skills!"
Thinking about that, 'Howard' spat out these words.
Obviously, he wasn't Stark.
"We've been careful enough. S.H.I.E.L.D. has too many eyes and too much power. Completely avoiding their attention is simply impossible."
On the other end of the phone, there was a grumbling voice.
"This planet isn't powerful enough. We can completely control their hierarchy and then disband S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Those superheroes, as well as mutants ... are very disciplined. As long as they're pressured and divided by public opinion, I think it won't take long for them to scatter."
Howard frowned, seemingly a little upset, and spoke in a deep voice, "Are you trying to teach me how to do things?!"
He was the commander of the advance troops of the Skrull Empire.
"No, no. Take it as ... some advice."
The voice coming from the phone instantly dropped.
"You only see the first layer, while I have considered the second and third layers."
Howard cleared his throat and said in a deep voice: "S.H.I.E.L.D. not only has the privileges from the World Security Council but, as far as I know, covertly has a great relationship with the Masters of the three Sanctums."
"Besides rashly launching an operation, what if that Superman guy comes back... How would it end?"
The impostor had scoured Howard Stark's own memories and had some knowledge of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s missing Director, Luke Cavill.
The impression left by the other party to the public was only the word 'powerful'.
This was the first thought that came to most people's minds when they mentioned that Director.
"We should be careful to make sure the mission will be completed."
Howard earnestly urged, "Don't cause any more trouble on your side. Increase your infiltration efforts and try to eliminate the military hierarchy. I'll continue to inquire about the news related to 'Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S' and the whereabouts of Dr Mar-Vell and the Light-Speed Engine of the Kree Empire."
He then gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone.
Howard Stark was an essential figure in S.H.I.E.L.D, and he liked to run around a lot.
Therefore, he was selected by the advance troops of the Skrulls to become one of the first subjects whose identity would be used.
Peggy, who also had a high position, had a complex network and often went in and out of the White House, which was a bit difficult for the Skrulls.
"Superman ..."
The Skrull, disguised as Howard Stark, narrowed his eyes.
As everyone knew, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D had disappeared for a long time.
Considering that there had been similar disappearances before, the Skrull officer chose to remain latent.
Finding the Light-Speed Engine to contribute to the Skrulls' grand cause was his first priority.
Conquering Earth could take a back seat.
...
...
"What do you think of this?"
In the headquarters building, in the top floor office, Peggy asked softly as she propped her jaw with one hand.
Nick Fury was sitting across from her.
"About Mr Stark?"
Nick Fury was weighing his words. He was currently a level-8 agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, responsible for the management of the field team.
"These are some abnormalities, but it doesn't prove anything. Sometimes there is a fine line between genius and madman … Besides, Mr Stark is never normal."
"He often tells jokes that no one understands and would lock himself up in the lab for over ten days ..."
Fury didn't have much contact with Howard, and he didn't quite understand what kind of 'abnormal behaviour' Peggy was saying.
"How has Steve been?"
Peggy didn't dwell on the topic but brought up the long-retired Captain America.
"Uh, Captain Rogers and his wife and ... Mr Barnes have been doing pretty well."
Fury replied with a somewhat odd look on his face.
If they ignored the second half of the sentence, people would think that Captain America was happily married.
But, adding the second half of the sentence would make it strange.
Obviously, it was a peaceful life of the two. Why was there an additional presence?
"Get Steve in here, S.H.I.E.L.D. needs Captain America's help."
Peggy looked bemused. She was used to the close brotherhood between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.
Frankly speaking, at every family gathering, she even felt that Margery, Captain America's wife, was the extra presence.
"Understood."
Fury's heart sank, and then he slowly nodded his head.
Peggy was more than ready to ask Captain America to come back from retirement but also planned to contact the White Queen, Emma Frost, and alert the Masters of the Sanctums.
Intuition told her that unseen changes were taking place, and a terrible storm had started to brew.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had to be ready to deal with it and ensure that it wouldn't be crushed.
Peggy methodically issued instructions until all the work at hand was taken care of.
She rubbed her temples to relieve her fatigue.
Every time she was free, the Commander of S.H.I.E.L.D couldn't help but think of the bastard who pushed all his work onto her. He was really irresponsible.
"If Superman was around, how could these problems come up...? "
Peggy shook her head and bitterly smiled.
Luke had always been S.H.I.E.L.D.'s anchor. With his presence, everything was calm and quiet.
But with Superman's absence, the world turned dark.
...
...
Knowhere, Tivan Group's building.
"Feel any better after the drink?"
Glancing at the drunken Captain Marvel, Luke lowered his glass and asked.
Within these few hours, the other party was close to emptying out his inventory.
Cup after cup, bottle after bottle, it never stopped.
"Good, much better."
Carrol spluttered.
"Then, do you want to go back to Earth?"
Luke suggested that returning to the familiar environment could arouse Carol's deeper memories.
"Earth?"
Carol's eyelids were a little heavy.
"It's not like a direct flight from New York to London. It's not that easy."
There was an unknown distance between Knowhere and Earth.
Even if Captain Marvel completely released the power in her body and flew at the speed of light, it would take some time.
"For me, it's much easier than flying from New York to London."
Luke smiled. Yon-Rogg and his men would be left to the Collector, who would negotiate with the Kree Empire, so he decided to make a trip back first.
Talos, the defected Skrull, had already said that there was an advance team rushing towards Earth in search of the Light-Speed Engine developed by Mar-Vell.
If anything went wrong, S.H.I.E.L.D wouldn't be able to cope.
Snap!
Luke gently snapped his fingers.
A transmission portal was instantly formed.