Inside a highly soundproofed and electromagnetically shielded briefing room at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Trident Headquarters, the air was still, with only the faint hum of the holographic projector and the rustle of turning pages.
At the center of the large, circular conference table, the Hero Association's simple yet striking blue shield emblem floated.
Seated around the table, besides core figures like Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Phil Coulson, were several heads of departments from Technical Analysis, Strategic Planning, and Paranormal Phenomena Research, all with grave expressions.
Agent Coulson stood before the main seat, manipulating the holographic interface; his voice had lost its usual gentleness, replaced by the calm and objectivity characteristic of an intelligence Officer.
"Officers, based on multi-channel intelligence gathering, technical monitoring, and incident analysis over the past few weeks, we have completed our first comprehensive threat assessment report on the 'Hero Association,'" Coulson said, switching the interface to display a document summary marked "TOP SECRET" before everyone.
"First, their organizational structure and speed of development," Coulson pointed to a data chart, "From Kingpin's press conference until now, in less than two months, the Association has completed the entire process from concept proposal, legal registration, platform construction, to initial operation.
Their efficiency is far beyond any startup organization, even exceeding the establishment speed of some of our S.H.I.E.L.D. departments."
"Their current core management is extremely streamlined, led by Kingpin, with James Wesley as the general manager, yet their decision-making efficiency is astonishing.
A hero hierarchy has been initially established: 'Sandman' with S-Rank potential as their flagship; 'Daredevil' filling intelligence and reconnaissance gaps; 'The Silent Heart Master' addressing mental corruption; plus a number of C and D-Class Heroes for supplementation and reserves.
More importantly," Coulson emphasized, "is their recruitment capability.
Global 'demonic' poster promotions, coupled with their APP platform and tangible salary benefits, are forming a powerful gravitational field.
We have monitored at least seventeen previously recorded but unaccounted-for low-to-mid-level paranormal individuals globally, whose recent activity trajectories show a trend of converging on New York.
An unknown number of unrecorded new ability users may also be attracted."
The head of the Technical Department interjected, his tone incredulous: "Secondly, their technical strength.
This is the biggest unknown and source of threat in our assessment.
Their APP, its server architecture, data encryption, and especially the real-time event monitoring and publishing system behind it, we still cannot crack, or even understand its basic principles.
This is absolutely not a level achievable by Kingpin's original forces or any known technology on Earth."
He brought up several blurry photos, taken precariously by high-altitude reconnaissance satellites and undercover Agents.
"Their headquarters construction site uses equally unknown building technology.
There are no large machines, no large numbers of workers, only a few pieces of equipment with unknown functions operating silently, with abnormally fast construction speed.
And their Logistics Department equipment," the screen switched to a mall cleanup site, "that highly efficient material recycling, sorting, and energy purification technology also surpasses existing civilian and even some military technology levels."
Hill continued, "In terms of operational model and social impact, they have demonstrated extreme professionalism and a 'customer service' mindset.
From mission release, hero execution, to post-battle cleanup and psychological counseling, they have formed a complete closed loop.
This has greatly reduced the collateral damage and social panic from paranormal incidents, compared to certain... 'lone wolf' heroes," she paused subtly, "gaining extremely high public approval and support.
They are subtly redefining the public's expected standards for 'heroes' and 'crisis management'."
Coulson switched to the final section, his expression most serious: "Core figure: Wilson Fisk (Kingpin).
All our psychological profiles and behavioral models have almost completely failed for him.
He abandoned his lucrative underground empire, cultivated for many years, investing astronomical sums and these unknown technologies to establish what is ostensibly a 'non-profit' hero organization.
His motives cannot possibly be merely 'maintaining World peace' or 'a sense of social responsibility'."
"We analyze that his potential strategic objectives may include:
1. Legitimacy and Power Restructuring: Whitewashing himself through the Association and, based on this, establishing a power entity that controls paranormal forces, independent of the existing international order.
2. Talent and Data Monopoly: Systematically recruiting and training paranormal individuals, and using their monitoring system to collect global paranormal event data, forming a dominant monopoly on information and talent.
3. Technology Validation and Expansion: Using the Association as a testing ground and application platform for his unknown technology, continuously iterating and upgrading, serving his ultimate goal.
4. Order Challenger: His commercialized, institutionalized hero management model directly challenges the traditional heroic values represented by the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority in maintaining global security."
On the holographic projection, the threat level indicator for the Hero Association finally settled on a constantly flashing red — "HIGH THREAT, requires continuous monitoring and development of containment strategies."
The briefing room fell silent.
Everyone realized that the Association Kingpin had concocted was no longer a "novelty" to be taken lightly, but a nascent, rapidly developing potential adversary, supported by unknown technology, whose fundamental objectives might conflict with the existing order.
Director Fury's single eye swept over everyone present, finally settling on the red threat indicator, his voice low and cold:
"The conclusion is clear.
This is not a charity organization, nor is it Kingpin's whim.
This is a meticulously planned operation aimed at reshaping the landscape of paranormal power."
He stood up, his black leather jacket exuding a heavy sense of oppression.
"Adjust our strategy towards the Hero Association.
From 'observation and engagement' to 'monitoring, restriction, and competition'."
"Hill, intensify monitoring of all the Association's overt and potential affiliated businesses and funds, looking for any clues to their technology source.
At the same time, activate 'Project Lighthouse' to try and establish our own, more standardized paranormal individual contact and support network; we cannot push all talent to their side."
"Coulson, your people continue to attempt infiltration, targeting not only technology but also their mid-to-low-level managers and heroes, looking for potential points of division or information channels."
"Technical Department, form a special task force, concentrate all resources, even if you can't crack it, analyze as much as possible the blind spots or limitations of their monitoring system."
He looked at the red indicator one last time, a cold glint in his single eye.
"Tell the World Security Council that we may need more authorization and budget.
This World is becoming more... complicated than before, all because of a gangster who wants to be a 'hero boss'."
"And we absolutely cannot let him, and his damned Association, do as they please."
The meeting ended, and everyone left with heavy expressions.
Fury remained alone in the briefing room, looking at the Association's emblem on the holographic projection, his finger unconsciously tapping the table.
Kingpin... where did you get these technologies?
What is your true purpose?
He knew that the next confrontation with the Hero Association would definitely not be as "friendly" as the first.
A conflict without gunpowder, yet potentially more intense, had already begun.