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Black Widow reached out and touched the barrier, realizing she was locked out. She couldn't help but mutter to herself,
"So he knew about us all along. Looks like I'm going to get an earful from the Director when I get back."
She called for backup from the logistics division at the local SHIELD branch, arranging for the injured agents to be transported for medical treatment. Then, she quickly dialed Director Nick Fury's private line and briefed him on the situation.
Meanwhile, inside the school, Wolverine, noticing that George had set up another magical barrier, lit a cigar and teased,
"George, that lady was holding her backside earlier. You two didn't—"
"Logan, the kids are still here. Watch what you say,"
Professor X interjected quickly, giving Wolverine a stern look.
Several of the children were grinning mischievously, clearly having understood Wolverine's implication.
"Alright, no more jokes,"
George said with a smile, waving his hand.
"I only gave her a small lesson, just a little warning. The real challenge comes tomorrow. Everyone go back and get some rest."
The children filed out to their dorms.
Today had been easy. Tomorrow's negotiation with Nick Fury would be far more important.
If the talks went well, not only would they be free from SHIELD and Hydra's interference for a long time, but they could also lift the CIA's bounty on Professor X and reclaim his vast fortune.
The next day, at 1:50 PM, a black sedan pulled up at the gates of the Mutant School.
Nick Fury, the SHIELD Director wearing his signature eye patch, Black Widow, whose bruised backside had finally healed, and Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye with his bow slung over his shoulder, stepped out of the vehicle.
"Has the tech division figured out what this is?"
Nick Fury asked, walking toward the school gate and knocking on the transparent barrier.
Black Widow quickly replied,
"They say it's a powerful force field. Most regular firearms wouldn't be able to break through it, but missiles would do the trick."
"Such a shame. If they had been willing to join the Avengers Initiative, it would have been much easier,"
Nick Fury sighed. He genuinely admired George, the mutant with such incredible abilities.
"Welcome, Director Fury, to our humble school. Please, come in and have some tea. We can discuss things calmly."
The gates opened instantly, and the barrier disappeared, revealing George sitting on a stone bench, brewing tea.
"Tea? Didn't expect you to be a fan of that,"
Fury remarked, walking calmly into the school with his companions and sitting down across from George.
George waved his hand, causing the brewed tea to levitate and settle in front of Nick Fury.
"I've watched a lot of television after leaving the base, and I developed a bit of an interest in this drink. Don't you like it, Director?"
"I prefer black tea over green,"
Fury replied.
"That's easy,"
George said, pointing at the cup in front of Fury.
"Flavido!"
A transformation spell activated, and the green tea instantly turned into black tea.
"How's that? If you're not a fan of tea, I can always offer you some wine instead."
George took a sip of his own green tea, smiling.
Fury watched the magical display with a slight change in expression before breaking into a grin.
"I'm curious—why did you insist on meeting with me? You said it concerns SHIELD's life or death. What exactly do you mean?"
"Why did you bring just two subordinates? Aren't you worried I might just kill you all right now?"
George didn't immediately answer, instead countering with a question of his own.
Fury chuckled.
"Killing me would be pointless. Someone else would just take over my position. No matter who steps into my shoes, they'll still have to consider the safety of the world, and they won't just let you be."
He leaned back, his tone confident.
"And besides, SHIELD is not as weak as you think."
He pointed to the ceiling:
"If I need it, a missile will hit here with pinpoint accuracy. Can your force field block that?
Even if it can block one, can it stop a second or third?"
George immediately threw down the gauntlet upon Fury's arrival, and naturally, Fury could not back down.
George laughed heartily,
"Director, you're joking, right? Why would I kill you? We're just a bunch of honest, law-abiding mutants. I was just messing with you—don't take it seriously."
"Honest, law-abiding?"
Black Widow, standing behind Fury, rolled her eyes.
"I believe Mr. George, of course, but the people in the White House will have a harder time with this. So, I still hope you'll reconsider our offer.
You can think of it as a transaction—one that benefits both sides."
"A transaction, huh? Well, I invited you here today for a bit of a win-win deal as well,"
George replied calmly.
"I want you, Director, to cancel the CIA's pursuit of Professor X, return his assets, and stop interfering with our lives. Also, help us re-register this school and establish proper identities for my students.
In exchange, I'll tell you a secret."
"A secret?"
Nick Fury's face broke into a slightly amused expression.
"Mr. George, are you joking again? What kind of secret could be worth those terms?"
George coolly poured himself another cup of tea,
"What if this secret concerns the safety of SHIELD and even the entire world?"
"What did you say?"
Fury's tone shifted, sensing that George wasn't playing around.
"If that's really the case, then it's worth considering, but I don't believe you have such a secret."
George lifted his gaze to meet Fury's eyes, and then dropped a bombshell that changed the expressions of the three in the room.
"After Red Skull's disappearance, you all thought Hydra had been completely eradicated, so you launched the Rewind Project and brought Hydra's scientist, Dr. Zola, into SHIELD.
What you didn't realize is that Zola began secretly rebuilding Hydra within SHIELD, turning most of the agents trained in SHIELD's academy into Hydra operatives.
Even among your high-ranking officials, many of them are Hydra agents.
So now, SHIELD should more appropriately be called Snake Shield.
The so-called world-saving missions you think you've been undertaking? They've only been clearing the way for Hydra, helping them achieve their goals."
"Do you think this secret is worth the terms I just proposed?"
"How do you know all of this?"
For the first time, Fury's composure slipped, and his calm demeanor cracked.
Even when George had previously threatened to kill him, Fury had remained unflappable.
"The ones who attacked me, Coulson, and Miss Potts last time? They were Hydra operatives.
Both Professor X and I have psychic abilities that allow us to alter and read memories.
So finding this information wasn't all that difficult,"
George continued, unshaken.
"If you don't believe me, you can investigate when you return. I'm sure if you look into it, you'll quickly find traces of this."
(End of Chapter)