In a secret underground chamber.
After the doctors, nurses, Steve, and others had left, only Fury, a female agent, and the newly arrived Kyle and Raina remained.
Fury attempted to sit up on the operating table, but his severe injuries, combined with significant blood loss, left him too weak. He could only give a somewhat awkward sideways glance at Kyle.
The female agent hurried over to assist him, carefully helping him into a more comfortable position using a pillow as support.
Kyle took a seat in a chair next to the hospital bed and gazed at Fury. "You seem to be doing alright. Since you have the strength to talk, I doubt you'll die that easily. But if you do, please don't put 'Acting Captain of the Howling Commandos' on your tombstone. I can't bear that embarrassment."
"I'm not dying," Fury replied with a calm expression, taking a labored breath. He explained his condition, "I have damaged vertebrae, a broken sternum, a pierced liver, among other injuries."
Even with an infinite means of sustaining himself, he wasn't getting any younger, and these severe injuries made Fury seem like an elderly man.
Kyle asked bluntly, "Do you know who the person taking action against you is?"
Fury, weakened and gasping, responded slowly, "Agile, quick reflexes, precise marksmanship. He uses Soviet-made bullets and is a veteran in Mastery Assassinations."
Kyle shook his head slightly while issuing a subtle reminder, "I didn't ask about the agent; I'm referring to the person orchestrating the attack behind the scenes."
Fury fell silent at those words, his face displaying hesitation and uncertainty.
It was evident that he had an idea.
Kyle speculated in his mind and continued, "When you were attacked, I was targeted by the same group while using your former director's special car. Of course, they're all dead now."
Fury trembled slightly all over, and his face displayed a contemplative and troubled expression. He still didn't speak.
It seemed that he knew something.
Kyle added, "Are you still unwilling to admit it? Currently, SHIELD is entirely infiltrated by Hydra, with their agents embedded at all levels, from high-ranking to low-ranking. They hold the upper hand."
He paused, then made a meaningful addition, "The current Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. might very well be the top commander of the Hydra organization."
Fury finally couldn't keep silent any longer and sighed, expressing his regrets, "Kyle, you were right last time. I'm truly useless now."
He had been renowned for his strategic command since World War II, so how could he not have guessed, even by now, the situation he had merely thought of but was unwilling to admit?
SHIELD, an organization with the mission of eradicating the Hydra, and defending world peace, was turned against itself by the very force it aimed to destroy. This was an unprecedented global scandal!
And all of this had occurred under the watchful eyes of Fury.
Fury laboriously moved his fingers and pulled out a photograph from his pocket. The picture depicted the current Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Alexander Pierce, in the prime of his life.
"A few years ago, he declined the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, 'Peace is not an achievement but a responsibility.' I handed the position of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to him."
Fury put the photo down and let out a resigned sigh. "To this day, I still can't believe that he's the most significant infiltrator for Hydra."
"Everyone makes mistakes. The key is to correct and amend them promptly," Kyle stated matter-of-factly.
Fury looked earnestly at him and said somewhat mysteriously, "Kyle, you never make mistakes."
"I just have enough ability to correct them without anyone knowing them," Kyle shrugged and rose from his seat, walking directly toward the door, accompanied by Raina.
"In the current situation, it aligns with the agreement we made earlier, Fury. You are unable to rectify this colossal mistake you made so now, it's time for me to step in."
"Kyle... No, Commander!" Fury's emotions surged suddenly, and he struggled to get off the operating table. The bandages on his wounds immediately tore, and blood spilled. The female agent quickly moved forward to support him.
Kyle didn't turn back, and with Raina, he left the emergency room.
Behind them, Fury's words of persuasion continued sporadically, "Commander, please give SHIELD another chance! Just wait for two more days, only two more days..."
Only when they entered the dimly lit corridor did the voice completely fade away.
"Boss," Raina quickened her pace to catch up with Kyle. She looked at his cold and stern profile and asked softly, "Are we heading to the SHIELD headquarters now?"
Kyle shook his head. "Not yet. Give it two more days."
Once he took action, the entire New York would be in an uproar, and the SHIELD building would likely be partially destroyed.
Fury, while decisive, had poured over sixty years of his life into building this towering structure. Now, he had to consider demolishing his life's work. Even the most resolute individuals would hesitate.
"Cleaning up something so thoroughly corrupted isn't as simple as it seems. Sometimes, you have to be ruthless and tear it all down to build it up again."
Kyle pondered for a moment and instructed Raina, "For the next two days, closely monitor SHIELD's activities, with a focus on whether or not Project Insight is launched."
As long as the Helicarriers haven't taken off, even giving them three days to breathe is fine. But if the Helicarriers are launched with Project Insight, then it would cross the line for Kyle.
The SHIELD cleansing plan, starting now, was intricately connected with Project Insight.
After leaving the underground room, Kyle and Raina headed back to the Empire State Building.
Their car stopped right in front of the building, and they were greeted by a commotion and argument at the entrance. Kyle looked over, surprised by the scene.
Two tall, burly card users in suits and sunglasses were each holding the arms of a beautiful punk girl, lifting her off the ground and forcibly moving her toward the exit.
The punk girl struggled intensely, her beautifully made-up face contorted in anger. Realizing that she couldn't free herself by sheer force, she threatened in a cold voice, "Let go of me, or I'll get tough on both of you!"
"What can you do to us?" One of the card users sneered.
"Don't force me!" The punk girl raised her eyebrows coldly, and the card users didn't notice that her palms were beginning to emit a faint greenish light mist.
Just then, a cold, steady voice sounded, "What are you two doing?"
Both card users raised their heads, and when they saw Kyle had returned to the entrance, they were shocked and quickly released the punk girl's arms. They respectfully bowed their heads and greeted, "Hello, Family Head!"
The punk girl glanced at Kyle and silently lowered her head to adjust her sleeves. The green light mist on her hands disappeared as if it had never been there.
The other card user explained, "This girl came to the company's consultation desk and claimed to be Raina's friend, but she also openly insulted you."
Raina stepped forward and said softly, "She is indeed my friend, that's correct."
Both card users were taken aback. The Devil Guardian of the family, Raina, actually had friends?
"Alright, you guys can continue with your work," Kyle said to them. He looked at the punk girl and said with a hint of helplessness, "As for her, even if she insults me ten times, it's not a big deal."
Why did this lady voluntarily enter the Supernatural Affairs Bureau?
(End of this chapter)