The S.H.I.E.L.D. incident became a top trending topic. Natasha released all information about the organization, and now the entire internet could see what S.H.I.E.L.D. had been doing. Steve's goal was also achieved, eliminating S.H.I.E.L.D. along with HYDRA. The price was that all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, whether HYDRA or not, were collectively unemployed. Of course, they wouldn't just disappear. They would just take on new identities, re-form, or join other intelligence organizations.
Beneath the skeletal wreckage of the Helicarrier, Bucky pulled an unconscious Steve from the water. The catastrophic impact of the carrier's fall had plunged Steve into darkness, but for Bucky, seeing the man who had just risked everything for him ignited a conflict that overrode his mission. Flickering images of a smaller, scrawnier man and a bond of undeniable closeness assaulted his mind, and he knew he needed time to decipher these ghosts of the past. After leaving Steve safely on the shore, he vanished.
It was Sam who eventually found him, but Steve had sunk into a deep slumber from which no one could rouse him. This was a battle he would have to win on his own.
Nick Fury, the publicly "dead" man, also destroyed his identity after this incident, completely moving from the light into the shadows. He knew HYDRA was far from finished. The secret Alexander had spoken of was too important. And, about the Wizard King.
Fury touched his neck. He had never thought that the Wizard King, whom he had always regarded as a Sword of Damocles, had already met him. And, even knew about the weapons. HYDRA and the wizards. A venomous snake waiting for an opportunity in the dark and a giant dragon overlooking the earth from the sky. He didn't know when disaster would strike this planet again. Maybe in London, maybe in New York.
Removing his iconic eyepatch, Fury put on a pair of sunglasses. He doused the warehouse full of secrets with gasoline and lit a lighter. Dropping it to the ground, he set the warehouse on fire. Watching the results of most of his life turn to ashes in the flames, Fury was filled with emotion.
But an uninvited guest arrived just as he finished everything.
"It's far from over."
Fury finished speaking and slowly turned around. A man in a suit and bowler hat, with a crossed wand and gavel emblem on his chest, watched him quietly. Beside him, Credence walked down from the Silver Hand Johnny building, his face expressionless.
The man next to him announced, "Nick Fury, you need to come with us for a trip."
Fury briefly considered his chances of escaping from this man. He took a deep breath, put one hand in his pocket, and said, "Can you give me a day to take care of some things?"
The man with the badge smiled like a smiling tiger, looked at his watch, "You have twelve hours."
After speaking, the man tipped his hat to Credence. "Lord Dumbledore, it's an honor to see you here."
"Wizarding Circuit Court Inspector, Wilkertess Edward, at your service."
Wilkertess finished his smiling bow, gave Fury a meaningful glance, waved his wand, and disappeared with a crack.
Fury looked at Credence and asked, "Are you inviting me too?"
"Sorry, I'm already booked." Fury looked as if he were in high demand.
Credence's gaze went past him, and he raised his right hand. Dark matter drifted from his hand. Fury looked at the familiar substance, his eyes showing apprehension as he raised both hands, "Alright, let's go to your place first, Lord Dumbledore."
The black mist enveloped Fury, and then the two shrank and disappeared. Fury suppressed the urge to vomit. When he reappeared, he was already in the unpleasant Silver Hand Johnny building.
"I'm really curious, what gives you the confidence to even ignore the Wizarding Circuit Court?"
"Or is the Wizarding Circuit Court just for show?"
Seeing this familiar place, Fury couldn't resist testing the waters with his words.
"The Wizarding Circuit Court is the legal representative of the magical world, a subordinate body of the Wizarding Supreme Court."
A female voice came, and Nagini sat on the sofa. Sunlight shone through the window, illuminating her side profile. Nagini's voice carried an unquestionable authority.
"You have desecrated wizarding law. The Wizarding Circuit Court will pass judgment on you."
"In magical lands, bringing non-magical people is not allowed here."
Hearing he would be judged, Fury asked calmly, "So why did you bring me here?"
"I can give you a chance, Nick Fury." Nagini's face, in shadow and sunlight, became mysterious.
Fury pondered for a moment. "Let me hear it. What kind of chance?"
The dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D. was far from over.
London. On the leather sofa, Mycroft elegantly crossed his legs.
"When justice is mixed with darkness, it becomes blurred."
The file folder in his hand dropped. "The shield that protects the world is broken. We need a new shield."
In this chess room, the game of chess on the table was at its final move. A white-haired old noblewoman touched the necklace on her chest, while a sturdy man in military uniform remained silent. A brown-haired, middle-aged man wiped his black-framed glasses. A hand picked up the file and opened it. Looking at the contents about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s public actions and a large number of research project codenames, the man with messy hair tapped the table and asked, "What do you want, Mycroft?"
"Power." Only Mycroft could say this so openly.
The man with messy hair was the Prime Minister of this country, who held great power. But hearing these words, he couldn't help but twitch his eyelid.
"I need the power to be free so that Miracle Children can protect this world without any worries," Mycroft said unhurriedly. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is dead. Let the Oaken Shield take up the position of protector."
The Prime Minister put down the file folder, his fingers tapping. "The World Security Council..."
"After the S.H.I.E.L.D. scandal," Mycroft said lightly, "they won't agree, but they won't object either."
"Miracle Children will become our country's symbol, just like Captain America is to America. The only difference is..." Mycroft sat up straight, with a mysterious smile, "We won't demolish our own building."
The Prime Minister was very tempted by his answer. In Britain, the Prime Minister wasn't the one with the highest power. The Queen's existence, even after relinquishing much power, was still the symbol of Britain. Those ancient nobles, compared to a commoner who had studied at university for a few years, were more willing to support the glory they had served for hundreds of years.
Mycroft was the Queen's man. The Prime Minister knew this and couldn't shake his position in the cabinet. Now he was being asked to relinquish even greater power, a Miracle Children organization to rival the Avengers. It wasn't just about power, but also money. The annual operational costs and law enforcement powers.
Even if the Miracle Children's strength couldn't match the Avengers, they had an advantage the Avengers lacked. Obedience.
With S.H.I.E.L.D. gone, the World Security Council would "keep the child and get rid of the father," retaining the Avengers mechanism, but sooner or later disagreements would arise. Compared to the disobedient Avengers, the Prime Minister was more inclined toward the Miracle Children. Plus, with S.H.I.E.L.D. gone, the Miracle Children organization had a natural opportunity to become a symbol.
The Prime Minister agreed to this matter. But this was only limited to Mycroft. If it were anyone else, even with such naturally advantageous conditions, he wouldn't agree. Mycroft, as the Queen's most trusted person, with the support of the Prime Minister and the Queen, his proposals passed with almost no obstruction.
Steve lost John's friendship. Well, it made sense, given his childhood best friend. Few people could give that up so easily.
"So you're selfish, just like me."
John returned to the manor. Unexpectedly, he saw the person who had been lost in the manor.
"Martha? You haven't left yet?" John stared at her in surprise.
After all, as someone who could read minds, John knew of Martha's inner fear of him. He had thought that if he let her leave, she would run away happily.
Martha had been lost in the manor, not knowing how to get back, and had ended up in the side hall. Seeing John, Martha was delighted and then excitedly showed John her discovery.
"Look at this!" She extended her finger, a drop of blood dripping from it.
John raised an eyebrow, "And then?"
Martha seriously raised her hands toward the drop of blood. The blood gradually floated up and stretched out. Like a thin thread, it wrapped around Martha's finger. A trace of surprise flashed in John's eyes.
"It seems the vampire curse and virus have mutated within your body."
Touching the thin thread, it was as tough as a wire and could even cut objects. Martha was very excited. She hadn't expected to not only no longer fear sunlight but also gain superpowers. The magic-inhibiting blood and John's blood had mutated, causing changes that gave Martha superpowers.
Martha had found a blessing in disguise, but she could only control her own blood. And the thread produced from a single drop of blood wasn't very long, only about a foot.
John watched her tirelessly display her ability. After half an hour, Martha lay on the sofa in the main hall, her face pale. She had lost too much blood.
"Grumble!"
A thunderous roar came from Martha's stomach. She blushed and covered her stomach, burying her face into the side of the sofa, looking too embarrassed to be seen.
"You haven't eaten?" John's heavy expression, due to the Winter Soldier and HYDRA, had eased considerably because of these small interruptions.
He was helpless. This silly girl was even a medical student. He wondered how she had even passed her exams.
"Don't you know how to cook?" John stared at her suspiciously.
A female college student living alone shouldn't be unable to cook, right?
At this, Martha nimbly flipped over like a salted fish, her voice full of resentment, "There's nothing here but tea, and I can't do magic."
"Ahem," John realized this was true and laughed awkwardly, "I didn't think of that."
He didn't eat, so he hadn't thought of stocking anything other than black tea. To prevent Martha from starving to death in the manor, John could only open his phone. Fortunately, someone was willing to deliver to the suburbs. He placed an order.
And then, the two stared at each other from dawn till dusk. He had still overestimated the speed of Western food delivery. At this rate, it would be quicker to just go out and eat.