Alfred, unaware that Strucker had deliberately let him take the Monkey Talisman, mistakenly believed he had outwitted Strucker. However, Strucker's true capabilities were far beyond Alfred's understanding, almost as if he operated on a different level entirely.
Strucker had willingly given up the Monkey Talisman mainly because its physical form was no longer of significant use to him, much like Barry Allen and others who had already harnessed its power and thus had less need for the talisman itself.
"Boss! I've got the Monkey Talisman back!" In Garon's secret base, Alfred excitedly handed over the talisman. His brief but tumultuous encounter with Strucker had been a rollercoaster of emotions.
Alfred had almost thought he'd fail Garon's mission, unable to bring back either Strucker or the talisman. Yet, he managed to turn the situation around with his quick wits and reactions, or so he believed.
"What about Baron Strucker? Did you defeat him?" Garon, upon seeing Alfred with the talisman, seemed to understand something and asked softly.
"Boss, I underestimated Strucker this time. He is very strong, and I barely managed to get past him. But in the end, I brought back the Monkey Talisman. Is that mission accomplished?" Alfred asked tentatively.
"Tell me everything that happened, don't hide anything," Garon said after a moment of silence.
"Yes!" Alfred, noticing Garon's serious expression, immediately recounted his experience.
"Is that so?" Garon mused, then smiled. "Well done. Bringing back the Monkey Talisman is a great achievement. Rest up. I'll call on you for the next mission, but be more cautious next time."
"Don't worry, boss, I'll make sure to complete the mission!" Alfred said, invigorated by Garon's praise, and happily left.
Garon sighed after Alfred left, shaking his head and muttering, "Well, as long as he can fight, that's enough. Not everyone can be a genius subordinate. A bit of foolishness can be good."
"But Strucker's message is clear. He doesn't want to get involved in the talisman affair. Does he have a different path due to the power he gained from the talisman? Or something else?"
Holding the Monkey Talisman, Garon contemplated Strucker's motives. "Well, never mind about Strucker. It's a pity not to have him study the talisman's power, but it won't change my overall plan. There are no loopholes in my plan here unless Strucker exposes it."
"But he has no reason to do so. If he willingly gave up the talisman, he doesn't want a full confrontation with me. Still, to be cautious, I should coordinate with multiple parties and hasten the plan."
"SHIELD and Area 13 are manageable, but dealing with Nick Fury is tricky. I need to choose a time when he's out, as I can't just storm into SHIELD without causing a huge uproar. Pierce would turn against me for sure. I'll wait for Fury to come out before making a move..."
"Monkey Talisman... Holy Lord..." Garon resolved to approach the Holy Lord's chamber, previously avoided due to mistrust. With the Holy Lord in deep slumber, the talisman showed no reaction.
"Should I try?" Garon was still not entirely convinced. Given the Holy Lord's ancient and seemingly invincible nature, caution was paramount.
"All units, aim your laser weapons at the chamber. If there's any movement, even if it means leveling the chamber, do not hesitate!" Garon ordered decisively, ready to experiment with his suspicions.
A Hydra soldier, unafraid of death, entered the chamber with the talisman, eyeing the Holy Lord's serpent statue.
"Boss, I'm next to the statue. Should I put the talisman in it?" the soldier asked hesitantly.
"Circle the talisman around the statue, but don't place it in the gap," Garon instructed.
"Yes!" The soldier obeyed, circling the talisman around the statue, but the statue, seemingly in deep slumber, remained unresponsive and did not absorb the talisman.
"Come back," Garon finally ordered after watching the futile attempts. This confirmed his suspicions, and he felt relieved.
Days later, Robert still lived with Diana, enjoying a comfortable life of daily battles, hearty meals, and rest. Rumors of Diana having a boyfriend spread in the Louvre, especially since she hadn't been to work for several days, shattering the hearts of her admirers and colleagues. While colleagues were merely disappointed, admirers couldn't accept it and wanted to see who had won Diana's heart.
Unfortunately, with neither Diana nor Robert appearing, these admirers had no way to vent their frustration.
Meanwhile, Garon received news that Nick Fury was leaving SHIELD on a mission. The details didn't concern Garon; his focus was on seizing the opportunity.
"Alfred, it's your turn, but remember to be careful. Knock Fury out, don't kill him, or Pierce will turn against us. The Dog Talisman is in his watch. Just take that, understand?" Garon instructed Alfred seriously.
"Don't worry, boss, I'll complete the mission and safely bring back the Dog Talisman!" Alfred pledged confidently.
"Good, just wait for my order," Garon said, patting Alfred's shoulder.
After Alfred left, Garon contacted undercover agents in Area 13 and SHIELD, notifying them of the operation's timing.
In SHIELD, five Hydra agents gathered quietly, each with their role: creating distractions, cutting power, preparing escape routes, and planning the attack...
Unbeknownst to them, Mr. Skull, a senior SHIELD official who was actually one of Martian Manhunter's disguises, was watching them.
"Hydra starting a move? Talismans..." Martian Manhunter mused, deciding not to interfere. "Let that troublesome kid and the Kryptonian handle it. Time to shed this disguise..."
"What are you doing?!" Suddenly, the Hydra agents' plan was disrupted by Alex Danvers, Kara's sister, who was aware of the talisman situation.
Amidst the ensuing chaos, the agents successfully stole the Rat Talisman and escaped. In the darkness, Martian Manhunter, as Mr. Skull, pretended to be shot, creating a diversion.
When the lights returned, Alex was shocked to find Mr. Skull bleeding out. "Minister, you're hit! Someone help!"
"It's useless. I can feel my body failing. I won't last long..." Martian Manhunter feigned weakness, convincing everyone of his mortal injury.
"Minister! No..."
In his final act as Mr. Skull, Martian Manhunter created a dramatic exit, furthering the chaos within SHIELD and concealing the true nature of his disguise.
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