"With Nick Fury's skills—and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency—it won't be long before they track me down."
Carl Hudson leaned back in his chair, deep in thought after hanging up the call with Tony.
Whether it was Tony Stark or the soon-to-arrive Dr. Banner, both were integral parts of Fury's Avengers Initiative. Getting involved with them meant it was only a matter of time before Carl caught S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention.
But that didn't worry him.
Since Fury had already learned about Hydra through Tony, his focus would be directed elsewhere for the foreseeable future. Even if Fury started to suspect Carl, he wouldn't have the resources to act on it immediately. In fact, there was a decent chance Fury would come looking for Carl's help instead.
And if S.H.I.E.L.D. decided to investigate? So be it.
The Hudson Group was a legitimate, reputable enterprise. Aside from its unusually well-equipped private security team, everything about the company was clean. Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. embedded agents within the organization, they'd find nothing alarming. All research was conducted by respected scientists like Dr. Stern and Ethan, and all of it aimed at benefiting humanity.
Carl smiled faintly. Eventually, once his strength surpassed a certain threshold, he wouldn't need to concern himself with earthbound forces like S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra at all.
Just then, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
"New side quest available. Please check the task panel."
He instinctively opened his mission interface and tapped on the side quest tab.
Mission: Save Tony Stark.
Details: Tony Stark has been poisoned by palladium due to prolonged exposure to the Arc Reactor's energy output. Help him eliminate the source of his poisoning.
Reward: The Elder Wand.
Carl blinked, eyebrows arching in surprise. "The Elder Wand? As in the Elder Wand from the Harry Potter universe?"
He quickly skimmed the details again.
He knew the lore well: one of the three legendary Deathly Hallows, crafted from elder wood and thestral hair. It was said to amplify a wizard's power immensely, making spells faster, deadlier, more precise.
But Carl wasn't a wizard. He had no magical lineage and no access to magic. At this point, the wand might as well be a fancy stick. He'd be better off carrying a combat knife.
Still, he shrugged. "Free loot's free loot."
And besides, saving Tony was inevitable.
If the story followed the original course of events, Tony would eventually solve his own problem. Nick Fury would hand him a video left behind by Howard Stark, which contained clues hidden in a model of his father's old expo design. That discovery would lead Tony to synthesize a brand-new element, ultimately replacing palladium and curing himself.
Carl figured he wouldn't have to lift a finger to see the task through.
But now, he realized this could be a perfect opportunity to win Tony's cooperation more thoroughly. If he offered help before Tony solved the issue on his own, the favor would create a stronger sense of debt—an emotional leverage point.
Closing the panel, Carl exhaled slowly, then sat in a meditative pose to resume his chakra extraction training, eyes gently closed.
Yet even as he sank into focus, one thought echoed in his mind:
Will things really play out the way they did in the original timeline?
He had underestimated the ripple effect of his presence in this world.
The butterfly had already flapped its wings—now the storm was on its way.
Washington, D.C. — S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Trident Building
Office of the World Security Council Liaison — Alexander Pierce
Alexander Pierce stood behind his desk, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Potomac. The former S.H.I.E.L.D. director, now a powerful figure on the World Security Council, turned to face the bald man standing in front of him.
"Sitwell," he said calmly, "Nick Fury is getting suspicious."
Sitwell's expression stiffened in surprise. "That's impossible. We've maintained our cover flawlessly. Most of S.H.I.E.L.D. already answers to us. Every scrap of intel he gets comes through our channels."
It was true—Sitwell had been instrumental in building Hydra's influence from within. As the man in charge of recruitment for S.H.I.E.L.D., he had quietly embedded Hydra operatives over the years—whether through selective recruitment of ideologically vulnerable agents or slow corruption of promising candidates. From fresh Academy graduates to seasoned field agents, many had unknowingly fallen under Hydra's control before they even stepped foot into headquarters.
Even high-ranking officials hadn't been immune. Take John Garrett, for example—once left for dead on a mission, now one of Hydra's fiercest assets.
And if any real S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stumbled across something suspicious during a mission? Their reports were intercepted and scrubbed before they ever reached Fury's desk. If necessary, the agents themselves were eliminated in "accidents" during subsequent operations.
So how could Fury possibly know?
Pierce waved away the question, his voice low and decisive. "Don't underestimate him. Even after all these years—despite S.H.I.E.L.D. being flooded with our people—he still managed to create off-grid facilities we haven't uncovered."
He stepped forward, his tone sharpening. "I'll have someone take care of him. Be ready, Sitwell. When the dust settles, you'll take his place."
Sitwell hesitated, clearly uneasy. "Isn't this too soon? He only suspects something—we don't even know what he knows. The Insight Plan still has holes."
"I'm not waiting," Pierce snapped. "You don't know Fury like I do. If he smells a lie, he'll tear the whole building down to find the truth."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "He was my best move. Appointing a non-Hydra loyalist like him gave S.H.I.E.L.D. credibility we could never build ourselves. Under his leadership, it became the global titan it is today—and Hydra rode that wave to power. But now he's becoming a liability."
Pierce's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk.
"He made S.H.I.E.L.D. great. But that same strength makes him dangerous. I saw his activity logs last night—unusual moves, secure comms. He's digging."
Sitwell straightened, the hesitation in his eyes replaced with resolve. "Understood."
He turned and left the office.
The moment the door closed, Pierce stepped to a hidden panel, opened a secure line, and spoke coldly into the communicator:
"Activate the Winter Soldier. Mission parameters: eliminate Nick Fury."