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With Coleson's insight, he had long foreseen a day like this might come.
From the first time he encountered the new member of Chaldea, he sensed a powerful desire to dominate. It was unmistakably the aura of a monarch. To be frank, Coleson had been deeply uneasy ever since.
Shen He's leadership wasn't bound by conventional governance, and Chaldea's tolerance for concepts once associated with Hydra reflected that flexibility. It was precisely this ambiguity that led Coleson to pledge himself to Chaldea, even if it meant parting ways with Fury—he had wanted to keep a close eye on what might come.
"With the way we're growing, we certainly have the capacity to build a city," Coleson ventured, keeping his tone neutral. "But I'm curious… where exactly does the Chief intend to build it?"
If it were constructed in the United States, it would technically fall under U.S. jurisdiction. But if the plan was to build it on the moon, or even in outer space, that would signal an intention to establish independent rule and slowly expand influence—a sovereign nation in all but name. After all, who could deny that Attilan and Wakanda were cities with similar autonomy?
"I'll explain more later," Shen He replied with a faint, mysterious smile. "For now, just be ready. If the news is released at the right time, it could produce quite the effect."
"…Understood," Coleson nodded.
After such a long conversation, they still hadn't reached the core of the matter. That too was the mark of a ruler. Fury had been the same—always cryptic, revealing only enough to prepare his subordinates mentally.
Still, Coleson's unease deepened.
In America, freedom is held in the same esteem as justice. Violating personal liberty or safety is viewed as evil. That had always been the core ideological divide between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra.
If Chaldea truly intended to enforce rule by power, then the danger would surpass even that of an alien invasion.
Shen He, however, seemed unaware of Coleson's growing anxiety. Though familiar with Coleson's profile, even he couldn't fully read the seasoned agent. In truth, his purpose today was simply to plant a seed—a quiet warning.
Coleson would still lead the virtual reality company and the intelligence division, but once Sky Garden was established, a new power structure would emerge. Through the Garden, Chaldea could formally assert administrative authority. Once the entire virtual company relocated there, every movement would fall under the Empress's gaze.
After all, in Chaldea, treasures were bound to the Heroic Spirits themselves.
Watching Coleson leave, Shen He mused that it wasn't necessary to share this with Tony. Tony wasn't a subordinate—he was a partner. And knowing Tony, he'd likely support the Sky Garden project for the strength it would add to his own arsenal.
Since his capture by terrorists, Tony had developed deep-seated paranoia—he'd back anything that offered control.
As for what came next… a change of pace might be in order. Shen He had long been considering a visit to the Rainbow Bridge, and now that Jiang Lihua—the Empress of the Lelouch World—would soon arrive at his castle, it was only appropriate for the host to prepare a proper welcome.
Meanwhile, Coleson walked away from Shen He's office, his concern growing with every step.
He understood that Shen He didn't regard American ideals of freedom with much reverence. As someone raised in a culture steeped in imperial legacy, Shen He's instincts leaned more toward order than liberty.
Preparation was essential now. That much, Coleson was sure of.
As his thoughts spun, a message pinged on his personal communicator.
It was from Fury.
The timing made sense—Fury had likely intended to contact him soon. With the post-war political landscape in chaos, the government was too preoccupied to navigate Chaldea's unpredictable position. For now, Fury had been unofficially assigned as a liaison.
After a moment's thought, Coleson sent a reply.
He wanted to meet.
And he prayed it wasn't already too late.
---
Three days passed.
This brief period served as a post-war cooldown. Unaffected parts of New York slowly resumed normalcy, while the global military coalition formed during the invasion remained active.
Countries around the world pledged aid for Manhattan's reconstruction.
Ironically, the alien threat had done what decades of diplomacy could not—unite the world under a shared banner. Even staunch nationalists were forced to admit the truth: in the face of extraterrestrial danger, humanity was one.
This new mindset was quickly codified into various international treaties.
However, for kingdoms like Attilan and Wakanda, the diplomatic momentum they enjoyed during the war had vanished overnight.
Throughout the conflict, new treaties and alliances were signed almost daily. But as soon as peace returned, so did political inertia. Promised negotiations were delayed indefinitely, postponed under plausible pretexts.
---
Night. A barbecue joint among Manhattan's ruins.
Coleson, dressed in a crisp suit, grilled meat over a small iron plate, the sizzling sound echoing in the near-empty surroundings.
Then Fury arrived, clad in his signature black trench coat.
"You're late. You used to hate that," Coleson muttered, chewing a large bite of beef.
"I hate other people being late," Fury said dryly, spearing a piece of meat and eating it. "Didn't know you could cook."
"Learned it after getting a girlfriend," Coleson replied with a smile. "If you'd known, you'd have sent me on a jungle mission."
"I doubt your current superior would do that," Fury said, eyeing him sharply.
"You're right," Coleson answered, gaze steady. "In fact, he doesn't care what I do—including meeting you. Even if he knew, he wouldn't stop me."
"That's not trust," Fury said with a hint of disdain. "That's confidence. He doesn't think you can do any real damage."
"…Maybe."
Coleson couldn't argue.
The reason Shen He—or rather, Chaldea—trusted him wasn't loyalty. It was power. Chaldea's true strength didn't lie in its companies or intelligence—it lay in the beings known as "Servants."
Superhuman followers with extraordinary power.
"So, what made you call me here?" Fury asked, stabbing another beef slice. "Last time, you ghosted me."
Back then, their conversation at the VR company had ended with Coleson telling Fury he'd found his true calling there.
"Are you planning to push Chaldea's limits?" Coleson asked bluntly.
"That's right," Fury said, not hiding anything. "Attilan's too cozy with them. Wakanda still has a shot."
That was the reality.
Attilan's alien bloodlines were too valuable, but also too untouchable. No one could demand their genetic data.
Wakanda was different. The Council merely delayed cooperation to push down prices—but it wouldn't last. Their tech was key to countering Chaldea, especially since Chaldea had Tony Stark.
"You'll fail," Coleson said flatly. "And worse, if your provocations trigger Chaldea's wrath, we won't survive the fallout."
"What do you mean?" Fury's face darkened. "Stop dancing around. What's going on inside Chaldea?"
Coleson hesitated.
He wanted to warn Fury without outright betrayal. But Fury knew him too well. Hints wouldn't suffice.
Finally, he sighed.
"You've met Semiramis, haven't you?"
"Yes. She's dangerous," Fury admitted. "But so are many of them—Violet, Misaka Mikoto Alter, even Yifangtongxing. They all blindly follow Shen He. We've tried reaching the Servants, but it's futile."
Multiple psychological assessments confirmed that the Servants held no allegiance to this world. They didn't see themselves as human—only as extensions of their Master's will.
Attempts to bribe, persuade, or convert them had all failed.
"The Master-Slave bond seems absolute," Fury concluded.
"Semiramis is different," Coleson said gravely. "Like Joan, she's a historical Heroic Spirit. I looked into her legend—Queen of Assyria, master poisoner, ruthless empire-builder. Everything she's doing now matches that persona."
"The Empress…" Fury inhaled sharply.
He understood now—why Coleson was worried. Semiramis was the first true careerist within Chaldea.
A major threat.
"But even she obeys Shen He, right?" Fury asked.
"She does… but Shen He's core directive is protecting human civilization," Coleson said softly, eyes fixed on the grill.
That was the danger. If Semiramis reinterpreted "protection" to justify domination, and if Shen He listened…
Then no one could stop it.
Coleson, who idolized Steve Rogers, believed in one thing above all: safeguarding the people's freedom and safety.
Humanity must not advance at liberty's expense.
"…How many allies do we have?" Fury asked, quietly acknowledging the crisis.
"Steve will always fight for freedom," Coleson said confidently.
"…Just Steve? What about Natasha, the Guardian, Tony? What about Joan, the so-called Saint? Will they side with the people?"
"They aren't the key," Coleson shook his head. "The key is the Chief's will. If Semiramis sways him, no one—not even Joan—can stop it."
Coleson understood Chaldea's power intimately. If Shen He chose conquest, the Servants could make it a reality.
This was why Coleson had worked tirelessly to prevent external provocations that might trigger such a response.
"So all this is about Semiramis?" Fury frowned. "Feels like you're meddling in the Emperor's harem."
"That's enough for today," Coleson said, rising. "I've told you what I can. Just… be cautious. If the Chief grows even slightly dissatisfied with you, and she fans the flames, you'll regret it."
That, ultimately, was the reason Coleson had asked to meet.
He knew how deeply Shen He valued his Servants—and Semiramis posed a threat unlike any before.
He had every reason to believe that Shen He's sudden ambition to build a city came not from himself…
…but from the Empress of Assyria, whispering in his ear.
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