Chapter 236 The End!

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.

Following the defeat of the Avengers and the disappearance of the Sky Carrier over the city of Washington, Alexander Pierce, located at the headquarters, quickly received the news from the scene.

Pierce face was grim, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Useless!"

He cursed vehemently, "All of them are useless!"

The outcome greatly exceeded Pierce expectations, leaving him in utter surprise.

He had never imagined that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, on which he had pinned high hopes, would be defeated so easily by the Justice League, failing to achieve the mutually damaging outcome he had hoped to see.

Instead, Batman and the Justice League shone brightly, and in the final moments, the Sky Carrier reckless engagement with Batman in the city further highlighted Cyborg moment of glory.

Thus, his ill intentions inadvertently paved the way for Batman and the Justice League to break through.

"Batman, you may have won, but this isn't over!"

Pierce muttered to himself and picked up the phone on his desk, dialing a number.

It was the number of the U.S. representative to the World Security Council.

S.H.I.E.L.D. authorization to have the Avengers act against the Justice League had been approved and agreed upon by the World Security Council.

Now that the battle was lost, it was natural to use political means, along with the higher-ups, to brand Batman and the Justice League as villains, to avoid adverse public opinion against S.H.I.E.L.D. later.

However, his call wouldn't go through.

"What going on?"

Pierce expression darkened as he sensed something was wrong.

Thump, thump, thump! Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Who?"

Pierce was startled and turned toward the door.

Creak—

Before he could speak, the office door was pushed open.

"My name is Cyborg."

Cyborg approached slowly, his voice deep: "Pierce, you and I are no strangers."

"You dare come to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Pierce placed his hand under the table, pressing the alarm button, then glared furiously:

"You criminals, aren't you afraid of being pursued by us?"

"Criminals?"

Cyborg showed a mocking smile:

"You, the highest leader of Hydra, saying these words to me, feels a bit like magical realism, doesn't it?"

"Oh, and stop pressing that!"

Suddenly, he looked at Pierce with a half-smile:

"The S.H.I.E.L.D. rapid response team you're trying to summon has already been taken care of by me.

Now in S.H.I.E.L.D., you're the only one left who can still sit and talk to me... Otherwise, why do you think I was a step late?"

"By the way, they've already reached the Washington military district, waiting for me to bring you over!"

"What?"

As the man in front of him spoke and approached, Pierce pupils shrank, but he was helpless, only able to show a look of despair.

Meanwhile, at the Washington military district.

"A super warship has arrived!"

A super warship?

Upon hearing these words from the soldier, John Kler and several military leaders exchanged glances in the meeting room, each harboring a guess.

The Sky Carrier!

Earlier that morning, they had approved the Justice League request to take action against S.H.I.E.L.D., and just hours later, a major battle erupted in Washington between S.H.I.E.L.D. Avengers and the Justice League.

During the battle, the Avengers were defeated, and S.H.I.E.L.D. urgently deployed the Sky Carrier to support the Avengers, but they were still defeated.

The whole sequence of events didn't require special military channels to be known it could be heard from radio broadcasts.

Knowing that the Justice League possessed alien teleportation technology, they immediately realized that Batman had arrived with the Justice League.

"No need to panic."

John Kler stood up: "Let go over there."

Quickly.

The group left the meeting room and headed to the military district training field.

Although it was daytime, the training field was covered in a large shadow, naturally because of the huge warship hovering above.

"This is the Sky Carrier..."

A gleam crossed John Kler eyes.

The level of technology on the Sky Carrier, which almost condensed all of Earth advanced technologies, especially in military equipment, was even slightly more advanced than the equipment and weapons held by their own military district.

In other words, the Sky Carrier was like an aircraft carrier at sea, a maximum representation of military power.

At that moment, Kler had a thought.

If they could keep the Sky Carrier, it would significantly strengthen the military power.

"Mr. Kler."

Suddenly, a voice sounded in front of John Kler.

"Everyone has been brought back!"

Kler looked towards the speaker it was Batman, with all members of the Justice League and the captured S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel, including all members of the Avengers, behind him.

Batman, without waiting for Kler to speak, continued: "I presume you've taken care of the matter I entrusted to you."

"Indeed, we arrested Nick Fury from the hospital and brought him here. According to the DNA information extracted from him, it matches exactly with the genetic clone of Zatan lying in the morgue."

Kler nodded, speaking solemnly: "It certain, the Nick Fury in the hospital is a fake, his real identity is Zatan, the master of disguise from the Cobra organization."

"What?"

The Avengers members, both enlightened and shocked upon hearing this, had already learned of this news from rumlow, who had confessed the truth on one hand, and from the military, confirming the news was indeed true, shattering some of their inner illusions.

S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers could no longer deny it their actions were terribly wrong.

The most shocked was actually Tony Stark.

"Impossible, I've compared Nick DNA information, which matches with S.H.I.E.L.D. records, how could he possibly be impersonated?"

Tony eyes widened, utterly astonished, the thoughts in his mind vanishing, but still somewhat incredulous, he said dazedly:

"Could it be that Nick Fury was replaced from the very beginning?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. has already become a head of Hydra, is changing documents that difficult?"

A voice drifted boundlessly.

Swoosh! Suddenly, a silver figure appeared, holding another somewhat thin and stooped individual in front of everyone.

This person was Cyborg.

And the person he subdued and brought to the Washington military district was none other than Alexander Pierce, familiar to most present.

"That not right."

Tony was still full of doubt, his voice heavy:

"Jarvis analyzed the data—there no trace of tampering in S.H.I.E.L.D. database. If there were, I wouldn't have been fooled by such a simple trick."

"That because you underestimated Hydra," Cyborg said.

"Hydra has a digital entity, Dr. Zola. He like a ghost in the network, able to move freely through cyberspace.

Just like your AI butler, Jarvis, hiding his tracks is child play for him."

"A network ghost… Dr. Zola…"

Tony finally understood. The realization struck him that he had been played by Hydra all along.

"A network ghost!"

The other Avengers, along with Coulson and Hill, exchanged shocked and ashamed looks.

The truths unveiled so far showed that S.H.I.E.L.D. had been thoroughly duped from beginning to end.

Hydra ability to operate unseen, right under their noses, was nothing short of exceptional.

"Dr. Zola? Didn't he die? Diagnosed with a terminal illness in 1972 and shortly afterward passed away.

Many senior agents in the agency even watched his burial," Coulson said, exchanging a glance with Hill.

As high-ranking members of S.H.I.E.L.D., especially Coulson, they were privy to much internal history.

Zola, full name Arnim Zola, had been one of Hitler trusted lieutenants during World War II, a Swiss geneticist, and Earth first human genetic engineer.

Hitler had intended to use Zola genetic expertise to realize his vision of a "master race" ruling the world.

However, with the defeat of Nazi Germany and Hydra apparent collapse, Zola became a prisoner of the U.S. Army.

Later, Zola supposedly died.

Before his death, he had even gained the trust of Tony father, Howard Stark, one of S.H.I.E.L.D. founders.

"You'll have to ask the relevant parties about that," Cyborg said, turning his gaze toward Pierce, whom he had brought in.

"He didn't die," Pierce sneered, laughing triumphantly.

"When Zola was diagnosed with his terminal illness, he transferred his consciousness into a giant computer of that era, becoming a digital entity—what you'd call a network ghost."

Hearing this, chills ran down everyone spines.

But some couldn't help but wonder why Alexander Pierce was so cooperative, answering every question without hesitation, seemingly unconcerned about revealing Hydra secrets.

Then they noticed Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth wrapped tightly around Pierce body.

Several people suddenly understood.

Those familiar with Wonder Woman, either through research or from the movies Anton had made, recognized this magical artifact.

The Lasso of Truth—it was the ultimate interrogation tool!

"But after World War II, Hydra was completely wiped out by the Allies. How did you manage to rise again?"

Coulson and the others voiced their confusion. Hydra resilience seemed inexplicably strong.

"That all thanks to Tony father, Howard Stark!" Pierce gaze locked onto Tony.

"What?"

Tony was taken aback, unable to believe that his father could be implicated in such matters. He gritted his teeth:

"Don't talk nonsense. My father would never have been part of Hydra."

"That true," Captain America, Steve Rogers, interjected, nodding firmly.

"Howard wasn't that kind of person."

As Howard wartime ally, Steve had complete faith in him despite his eccentric behavior. But as he glanced at rumlow, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

"The reason I say this," Pierce continued slowly,

"is because after founding S.H.I.E.L.D. with Peggy Carter and Chester Phillips, your father approved a program."

"It was this program that gave Hydra the chance to rise again and ensured its survival."

"The Paperclip Project."

Coulson eyes widened in sudden realization. He murmured, "So that it."

The details of the Paperclip Project, in simple terms, involved assigning carefully selected German scientists from World War II to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. This allowed remnants of Hydra, such as Dr. Zola, to take root within the agency.

Looking back now, it was undoubtedly the worst decision in S.H.I.E.L.D. history.

And so far, there no close second.

"I see."

Suddenly, John Kler began clapping, a smile spreading across his face. "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Not only him, but the other military leaders standing with him also wore expressions as though they were enjoying a good show.

They weren't entirely unfamiliar with the Paperclip Project.

Given the adversarial relationship between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. military, where each constantly tried to undermine the other, such outdated secrets from the last century had long since ceased to be classified.

Moreover, Chester Phillips wasn't just one of S.H.I.E.L.D. founders he had also been a military representative at the time.

Many of S.H.I.E.L.D. dealings were open secrets to the U.S. military in the previous century.

It was only in the current century that S.H.I.E.L.D. gradually drifted out of U.S. control, becoming a thorn in the military side.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. brought this mess upon themselves," Kler said with a smirk.

"You've dug yourselves into a pile of crap, and now there no one left to clean it up for you."

Turning to Batman, Kler nodded appreciatively.

"Batman, thanks to you and your team, this thorn has been removed. From here on, we'll handle the rest. Don't worry, we won't let you down.

I will coordinate with my fellow generals to petition the president for the Justice League to become an officially affiliated military organization.

The military will share enforcement authority with the Justice League."

He paused for emphasis. "From now on, the Justice League and the military will be inseparable."

In other words, the Justice League would become a vested partner with the military.

Hearing this, all the Justice League members, except for Anton and his duplicates, were visibly thrilled.

For heroes operating on the fringes, gaining official recognition was a tremendous honor.

It was akin to Captain America during World War II—admired by all, with official status and backing, everything he did was seen as just and righteous.

Unfortunately, the current Captain America was merely a symbolic military figure but, in reality, an employee of S.H.I.E.L.D.

After all, Rogers had been dug up from the ice by S.H.I.E.L.D.

"As for S.H.I.E.L.D., the president will hold you accountable."

Kler then turned his gaze to the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel, smiling slyly.

"After this, you might need to find a new headquarters."

The implication was clear: even if you survive, you'll be stripped of a layer of skin.

The faces of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents turned grim.

This debacle left S.H.I.E.L.D. with no room to argue.

Hydra resurgence and the battle instigated by S.H.I.E.L.D. were both tied to its poor decisions.

There was no escaping punishment.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. will accept the punishment it deserves," one agent began,

"but these incidents were all part of a plan. To draw out Hydra, we've made immense sacrifices…"

"That said, Mr. Secretary of Defense, Mr. Kler, I will personally explain the full details of this matter to you and the president."

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Hearing it, Coulson and the others froze, their pupils dilating as they turned toward the source of the voice, expressions of shock etched across their faces.

From the crowd of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents surrounded by the military, a familiar figure stepped forward.

The person shed his disguise—it was none other than Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. current director, presumed dead.

Seeing him appear, everyone was utterly stunned.

"Nick, you're alive?"

John Kler mind raced with countless thoughts, his expression darkening as he sensed trouble brewing.

Nick Fury, long thought dead, was suddenly standing alive before everyone.

Clearly, this had been premeditated by Nick Fury.

Under the current circumstances, his appearance could at least mitigate 30% of S.H.I.E.L.D. losses.

Meanwhile, Anton, in his guise as Batman, watched Fury with great interest.

While he was mildly surprised by Fury "resurrection," it also felt entirely expected.

Given what he knew about Nick Fury—a man of such deep scheming—it seemed impossible that Hydra could have taken him out so easily.

"That right, I'm fine," Nick said with a nod, his gaze sweeping over rumlow and Pierce before letting out a cold laugh.

"If I hadn't faked my death, these people wouldn't have shown their faces so brazenly… Pierce, I really didn't expect you to truly be part of Hydra."

"Nick…"

Pierce expression was grim. The moment he saw Nick Fury appear, he realized he had fallen into a trap.

This entire situation had been an elaborate plan to draw him out.

"You're cautious, I'll give you that," Pierce sneered.

"You hid your fake-death plan so well, didn't tell a soul, and stood by while the Avengers were beaten and S.H.I.E.L.D. took heavy losses… Nick, I wonder if you've ever truly trusted anyone."

If Fury had informed even one other person of his plan, Hydra might have intercepted the communication within S.H.I.E.L.D., and Pierce wouldn't have acted so recklessly.

"No, there are people I trust," Nick Fury replied,

"You used to be one of them, but you've proven to be a disappointment."

"Enough," Kler interrupted.

"This is our territory, not a place for your petty disputes. Nick Fury, no matter your reasoning, the actions of S.H.I.E.L.D. this time caused significant damage and losses to Washington. S.H.I.E.L.D. will be held fully accountable and will pay the price."

"I've already said that we will take full responsibility for what ours," Nick Fury replied, turning to Batman.

"If I may, could you ask Wonder Woman to release our people?"

"Hmm," Anton waved dismissively.

Swoosh!

Wonder Woman released the Lasso of Truth.

The Avengers members regained their ability to move immediately.

Without hesitation, they subdued their former comrade—or rather, the Hydra spy in their ranks—rumlow.

At the same time, Alexander Pierce, who stood beside Cyborg, was handcuffed by military personnel.

"In that case, we'll leave the rest to you," Batman said with a shrug.

"From here on, this has nothing to do with the Justice League. As for the remaining Hydra remnants…"

He cast a sharp glance at Nick Fury.

"I trust certain people have their arrangements."