Chapter 29 29: I Remember You Had a Plan, Didn’t You, Nick?
Supernatural incidents were nothing unfamiliar to an organization like theirs—one that had existed for decades and was specifically responsible for handling such matters.
Over the years, they had dealt with no small number of paranormal events across the world. Creatures that ordinary people believed only existed in movies and television—werewolves, vampires, and the like—actually did exist.
They simply hid within human society, rarely known to the public.
And even when someone did find out, it would be dealt with immediately through one method or another.
There were also records of other abnormal phenomena being handled.
Even some strange, dangerous, and unknown entities had been collected and contained, to the point that an entire department had been specifically established for containment.
But true contact with demons had never happened before.
With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enormous operational network, they could quickly detect and track suspected supernatural incidents.
The problem was that by the time they arrived, most of those incidents turned out to be false alarms—or simply no longer existed.
From S.H.I.E.L.D.'s perspective, they had no idea there was a group on Earth called "Sorcerers" whose sole purpose was dealing with these things. Naturally, they could only conclude that many supernatural events were fabricated myths.
As for demons, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence analysis department had made guesses before.
After all, some of the dangerous and unknown things they had contained could not be explained through science at all. It was obvious those things originated from somewhere humanity did not yet understand.
But with the appearance of the beautiful man-eating demon case in Devil's Kettle, and after thorough investigation and verification, they had officially confirmed that this time, it was real.
Because of that, the area surrounding Devil's Falls in Devil's Kettle had already been completely sealed off.
Tracing Jennifer's case from beginning to end had not been difficult. With the professionalism of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, they had already investigated every detail clearly.
Simply put, Jennifer and her best friend Needy had gone to a bar to attend a performance by the band "Low Shoulder."
The band's lead singer, Chip, wanted fame so badly that he planned to offer a virgin sacrifice to Devil's Kettle Falls—which he believed to be a place connected to Satan—in exchange for success.
They chose Jennifer as the sacrifice.
What they didn't know, however, was that Jennifer was not a virgin.
The ritual went wrong, and as a result, she became possessed by a demon.
That was what led to everything that followed—Jennifer becoming a man-eating demon and the entire town of Devil's Kettle being shrouded in fear for half a month.
Ironically enough, the very band members who had caused all of this had all survived.
Of course, those band members had already been taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, and they would receive the punishment they deserved.
During Matthew's battle with Jennifer, there had been a brief exchange between them.
Matthew had once asked whether Jennifer, possessed by the demon, was herself the demon.
Jennifer had not directly answered yes, but her words—
"No, we've simply become one. She is me, and I am her."
—had indirectly provided the answer.
With all of this evidence combined, the existence of demons had become almost undeniable.
And if demons were real, then the possibility of Hell—something completely bound to their existence—also became infinitely more likely.
Legendary things from myths and stories were appearing in the real world.
Even someone as experienced and well-traveled as Nick Fury found it deeply troublesome.
These unstable factors were completely outside his control, and he did not even know how he was supposed to deal with them.
Could human technology really work against creatures from myths and legends?
Could science solve this?
He didn't know.
The key issue was that Jennifer had already been blown to ashes. There was no direction left for research.
All that remained was Devil's Kettle Falls, and until they found a reliable way to deal with it, resources would continue to be spent sealing the place off.
What was he supposed to do—actually sacrifice another non-virgin woman and summon another demon just to test its strength?
Without a real solution, doing something like that would be pure insanity.
"Nick, you know our responsibility is to maintain stability and balance. Anything beyond our control must have a clear answer."
Pierce's tone grew heavier.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Some people can't sit still anymore?"
"Extraordinary lifeforms bring danger, but they also represent mystery and the unknown. There will always be people fascinated by that kind of mystery—especially those who are already close to death."
Pierce's words carried deeper meaning.
Nick Fury understood immediately and let out a cold laugh.
"Anyone who deals with demons only ends up falling into the abyss."
"Just like what happened in Devil's Kettle this time."
"Everyone knows that," Pierce said calmly. "But when a person's life is nearing its end, they often stop caring about danger. Selfishness is human nature, isn't it?"
He lifted his coffee, blew lightly across the surface, and took a sip. The bitterness mixed with a trace of sweetness brought him visible satisfaction.
"What they want isn't just lifespan." Fury thought of Matthew, and the overwhelming combat power he had displayed in Devil's Kettle.
That unbelievable strength was no less terrifying than destructive mutants like Magneto.
More importantly, that incomprehensible speed and destructive force—every part of it was enough to make people covet it.
For certain people, the best possible outcome for that boy would be having him strapped to an operating table.
Lifespan, power, ambition—those greedy desires could never truly be satisfied.
"I remember you had a plan?"
Pierce suddenly changed the subject, asking something that seemed unrelated to their previous conversation.
"The Avengers. That project has been shelved more than once… are you saying…" Fury paused as he was about to finish his coffee, turning to look at his old friend.
"I didn't say anything."
Pierce smiled warmly.
Fury didn't believe that for a second.
This old fox would never bring up that plan without reason.
After a moment of silence, Fury thought it over and slowly shook his head.
"Not yet. The timing still isn't right."
For S.H.I.E.L.D., investigating Matthew's background had been simple.
From his birth to his growth and life experiences, they had already analyzed nearly everything—his approximate combat capabilities, his personality, even his behavioral tendencies.
Fury had long since memorized that report.
In his eyes, Matthew was exceptionally outstanding.
That powerful ability to manipulate light, his mature values and personality, his decisiveness when it came to killing, yet without losing his sense of kindness—
Overall, he was a good kid.
But if Fury wanted him to join the plan he envisioned, the timing still wasn't ripe.
More importantly, before anything else, it would require time—time to approach him, observe him, and understand him more deeply.
Nick Fury said nothing more about Matthew after that.
But Pierce understood clearly.
Fury was interested.
Which meant that any trouble that might come later, Fury would suppress it himself.
In truth, with the power Pierce controlled, he could also eliminate certain influences. But now that Matthew had already drawn Fury's attention, any move on his part could easily trigger Fury's suspicion.
The task Matthew had given him was to continue lying low, expanding quietly, and using S.H.I.E.L.D.'s power to make things easier for Matthew.
Pierce's visit to see Fury this time had been purely because of his public responsibilities.
As for whatever thoughts Fury might have regarding Matthew, Pierce wasn't worried.
With Fury's style of doing things, it would be nothing more than contact, analysis, and observation.
And with Pierce there, none of that was a real problem at all.
...
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