Chapter 248 The Scent of Ambition and Conspiracy

The production of Constantine wrapped up even faster than Anton had anticipated.

After completing the Satan scenes, only minor details remained to be handled, freeing Anton from needing to oversee the set constantly.

A few days later, as the film entered post-production, Anton finally had time to leave Los Angeles and return to New York.

Harry had requested a meeting to discuss certain matters.

At Oscorp headquarters, Anton faced Harry, reflecting on how two months had flown by since their last meeting.

"Recently, S.H.I.E.L.D. main focus has been eradicating Hydra remnants," Harry began, recapping his time within the organization.

"Nick Fury obtained some intel from Alexander Pierce and spent two months verifying it.

The Avengers were deployed multiple times, and I participated in several missions as well."

He paused before continuing, "And as for the Pegasus Project… S.H.I.E.L.D. is nearing success."

Anton eyes narrowed, ignoring the first half of Harry words and honing in on the final statement.

The Pegasus Project is about to succeed?

In other words, Loki arrival—and with him, the Chitauri invasion—was imminent. Or perhaps Loki had already set foot on Earth.

"Not only that," Harry added gravely.

"The Tesseract contains boundless energy. If we can harness it, human civilization could advance at an unprecedented pace.

But it clear that neither S.H.I.E.L.D. nor the military has any intention of sharing this energy with the world."

"Of course not," Anton said with a faint smile.

"No organization would willingly share that kind of power."

He leaned back slightly, his expression turning contemplative. "The deeper their research goes, the closer we are to an impending crisis."

Harry frowned, clearly unsettled.

Anton decided to drop a hint. Though Harry was now part of the Avengers, his heart still lay with the Justice League.

This was evident from how Harry had once approached Anton, offering $150 million to invest in a Batman film just to obtain an autographed picture of Batman.

Furthermore, during a critical moment in Harry rise as Oscorp head, it was Green Arrow who had come to his rescue.

Since then, Harry had remained loyal to the Justice League in spirit, even if circumstances had led him to join the Avengers.

"Harry," Anton said calmly, "the Pegasus Project won't proceed smoothly for long. A major crisis is brewing."

"What kind of crisis?" Harry asked, his unease growing.

"It not the Pegasus Project itself it the Tesseract," Anton explained, his tone patient but firm.

"The Tesseract is an incredibly rare artifact in this universe, something that only ended up on Earth by accident. Decades ago, the Pegasus Project failed because of alien interference.

Now that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military have reactivated the Tesseract, they've exposed Earth coordinates once again. That means those who desire the Tesseract power will come knocking."

"Why not stop it before it too late…" Harry began, but then paused, a bitter smile forming.

"You're right. They wouldn't listen."

"They won't understand the consequences until they've been hit hard," Anton said coolly.

"But don't worry. This crisis is well within our control. Having you in the Avengers is part of ensuring that control.

Once the crisis unfolds, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers will be in no position to recover."

Harry inhaled sharply, startled by Anton calculated foresight.

As Anton predicted, if the Pegasus Project resulted in alien invasion—especially a large-scale one like the Chitauri attack—the fallout would dwarf the damage from the Battle of Washington.

S.H.I.E.L.D., as the project leading authority, would face unparalleled consequences, potentially even dissolution.

The Battle of Washington had already inflicted significant damage on S.H.I.E.L.D., but Nick Fury cunning had kept the organization intact.

However, the crisis tied to the Tesseract was on a completely different scale.

Facilitating an alien invasion of Earth would be seen as nothing short of treason against humanity—a burden S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't bear.

In the original timeline, S.H.I.E.L.D. managed to escape such scrutiny because the Avengers successfully repelled the Chitauri invasion, balancing the scales.

The attack also highlighted Earth vulnerabilities, reinforcing the necessity of the Avengers and earning the backing of the World Security Council.

But in this world, things were different.

The Justice League, led by Batman, held far more public trust than the Avengers. The Avengers were no longer the sole guardians of Earth.

This loss of uniqueness diminished the Avenger importance.

In this scenario, the fallout from the Chitauri invasion wouldn't lead to the same outcome.

Instead of increased support, the World Security Council might enact unprecedented punitive measures against S.H.I.E.L.D.—potentially dismantling both the organization and the Avengers.

And that, Anton thought, would mark the beginning of a new era.

"Hmph."

Anton lips curled into a smirk.

He was never one to be generous.

The Battle of Washington had been Hydra doing at its core, but Nick Fury scheming, faking his death to manipulate events and involve the Justice League, had left Anton deeply displeased.

The reason he hadn't gone after S.H.I.E.L.D. then and there was simple—they weren't yet a fallen foe.

At the time, they were more like a wounded warrior, fighting to survive despite their losses.

Looking at the bigger picture, it was clear that Nick Fury aggressive push to establish the Avengers Initiative, even before the Pegasus Project gained traction, wasn't just coincidence.

He likely anticipated that rebooting the project and harnessing the Tesseract energy would draw extraterrestrial attention.

Why else would Fury, after decades as S.H.I.E.L.D. director, suddenly feel the need to assemble a team of superheroes just before restarting the project?

If you thought about it, rebooting the Pegasus Project had always been Fury ultimate goal.

And Fury, knowing the risks, had worked quickly to establish a contingency—a team capable of defending Earth: the Avengers.

All these interconnected events were likely part of Fury elaborate, calculated plan.

But Fury had underestimated his opponents.

And, thanks to Anton influence, Fury had also chosen the wrong people for the Avengers.

"Doctor Doom, Sandman, Doctor Octopus..." Anton mused with a cold smile.

Sandman and Doctor Octopus might have some potential for redemption, but Victor Von Doom? Anton couldn't see someone as self-serving and power-hungry as Doom, who lost control the moment he gained power, willingly serving S.H.I.E.L.D. agenda for the greater good.

"Harry, here a piece of advice," Anton said, breaking his train of thought as he turned to face Harry.

"Keep a close eye on Victor Von Doom. That guy isn't as simple as he seems. He could become a major liability for the Avengers."

"Doctor Doom?" Harry was visibly surprised, unable to grasp why Anton would make such a claim.

In his interactions with Victor, Harry had found him arrogant, yes, but he hadn't seen anything outright alarming.

If anyone posed a risk, Harry would have thought it'd be Sandman or Doctor Octopus, both of whom had criminal records.

Did Doom have a criminal record he didn't know about?

Harry hesitated, unsure.

"This is where we'll leave things for now," Anton said, standing to leave.

"Trust me on this one."

Without another word, Anton departed, leaving Harry sitting in his chair, deep in thought. Anton words echoed in his mind, planting seeds of doubt.

As he stared at the office walls, Harry face grew increasingly grim. Doctor Doom... a potential threat? He couldn't shake the unease creeping over him.

As soon as Anton left, Harry Avengers-issued communicator emitted an urgent beeping sound.

"Emergency order!"

Coulson calm voice came through the device. "Everyone, please activate your communicators. We have some important information to share."

Swish!

Harry tapped the communicator, and a holographic screen materialized before him.

The screen displayed multiple small frames, each showing a current member of the Avengers, as well as Coulson and Nick Fury.

"We need everyone to assemble at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base immediately," Coulson began.

"The Pegasus Project joint dark matter energy research base has encountered an unusual situation.

A group of agents suddenly went rogue and attacked the facility.

Fortunately, Barton and Natasha were present and managed to neutralize the threat."

"Agents?"

Tony Stark voice cut in, his tone skeptical. "S.H.I.E.L.D. agents? Were they our own people or Hydra plants?"

On-screen, Tony looked visibly exhausted, far from his usual confident self.

His famous "sexy stubble" was scruffy and unkempt, and it was clear he hadn't slept in days.

The others knew that ever since the Battle of Washington, Tony had secluded himself at home, obsessively working on new armor designs.

No one knew the details of his progress.

This emergency meeting was the first time Tony had responded to a S.H.I.E.L.D. summons in months.

Whatever he was working on, it was clearly consuming him. If history was any indication, the final product would likely be something extraordinary.

"After investigation, they were our own agents," Coulson said gravely.

"We suspect their minds were manipulated. After capturing them and conducting interrogations, we found they had no memory of their actions."

"So, another superhuman?"

Captain America, Steve Rogers, spoke up, his face grim.

Since the battle with the Justice League, Steve had gained a clearer understanding of the complexities of their world.

"Yes," Coulson confirmed with a nod.

"We believe someone is targeting the Tesseract. We need to assemble part of the team to help safeguard it.

The Pegasus Project has entered its critical phase, and this is a vital moment."

Harry mind raced as he recalled Anton recent warning: The Pegasus Project will bring a crisis.

He hadn't expected something strange to happen so soon after Anton words.

Was this the prelude to the crisis?

"I'm in," Harry said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"I'll participate. I'm very interested in the Pegasus Project, and I'd like to see the Tesseract for myself."

"I'll head over too."

"So will I."

One by one, the other members voiced their agreement, committing to the mission.

Coulson looked satisfied as the team pledged their support.

Meanwhile, Nick Fury remained silent, his deep gaze scanning the faces on the screen.

Harry couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. Anton words and the current developments seemed to align perfectly.

If this is just the beginning, what coming next?

Victor Von Doom shut off the holographic screen of his communicator, his eyes glinting with ambition.

"The Tesseract…"

A cunning smile curled at the corners of his lips, the kind that hinted at boundless schemes.

Nearly two months had passed since he joined S.H.I.E.L.D., and his understanding of both the organization and the Avengers had grown considerably.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was undoubtedly a powerful entity, wielding authority across multiple nations.

As for the Pegasus Project and the Tesseract, Victor had amassed quite a bit of knowledge.

Although the project was a joint operation involving the military and NASA, and not strictly a top-level secret, Victor scientific prowess had made him a valued member of the initiative.

In the comics, Victor Von Doom is a genius polymath—master of physics, robotics, genetics, weaponry, and time travel.

He even delves into magic, making him the ultimate hybrid of science and mysticism.

However, his cinematic counterpart had been considerably weakened, lacking magical expertise and focusing solely on scientific achievements.

Still, he remained an exceptional scientist, and his reputation as a former classmate of the Fantastic Four had ensured his involvement in the Pegasus Project.

Despite his contributions, Victor was surprised by the obsessive secrecy with which S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military guarded the Tesseract.

Although he worked daily on calculations related to the artifact, the Tesseract itself remained out of reach.

Only Dr. Erik Selvig, the project lead scientist, had direct access to it.

Victor had to settle for observing from a distance.

Every experiment, every piece of data, had to go through Selvig approval.

Even when granted permission, scientists merely assisted Selvig during experiments, never handling the Tesseract themselves.

This rigid hierarchy frustrated Victor.

After weeks of fruitless attempts to get closer to the Tesseract, he had abandoned the idea of asking for access and instead taken a leave of absence to strategize.

Now, the opportunity he'd been waiting for had arrived.

"If I can obtain the Tesseract, harness its energy, and combine it with my own abilities…"

His eyes burned with determination. "I could become a god."

Even with his limited understanding of the Tesseract, his calculations suggested its energy was enough to obliterate the Earth with ease.

After surviving the cosmic storm that had given him his metallic form and control over electricity, Victor believed that if he could integrate the Tesseract energy into his abilities, he would achieve limitless power.

Without hesitation, Victor packed his belongings and drove to New York airport.

His destination: Washington, D.C., where S.H.I.E.L.D. main headquarters would direct him to the Pegasus Project joint dark matter research facility.

At the same time, the other Avengers were making their way to the base.

Hours later.

The Avengers gathered outside the facility gates, their presence a testament to the gravity of the situation.

Victor, however, had no patience for pleasantries. Without acknowledging his teammates, he strode purposefully into the base.

Harry, who had just exchanged greetings with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, frowned as he watched Victor hurried steps.

Anton earlier warning echoed in his mind: "Victor Von Doom is not to be underestimated."

Before he could dwell further, Steve Rogers clapped him on the shoulder.

"Let head inside," Steve said.

"Right," Harry replied, shaking off his unease as the group followed Victor into the base.

Unbeknownst to them, one of the base guards had been watching them intently.

The guard gaze lingered on Victor retreating figure before a sly, foxlike smile spread across his face.

Had Thor been present, he would have immediately recognized the guard as none other than his mischievous half-brother, Loki.

"Such ambition," Loki murmured to himself, his nose twitching as if sniffing the air.

"And such a delicious scent of conspiracy. I like it."