"So, in summary," Fury interrupted, finally turning around to pin the Skrull with a single eye. "One disgruntled Stark ex-employee with a fishbowl on his head fooled you, my entire ground team, and half of Europe with some damn projector technology."
Talos looked embarrassed. "It is not entirely like that, Nick. The technology was highly advanced. The drone integration with the localized atmospheric manipulators created thermal signatures that mimicked…"
"What do you mean it's not like that?!" Fury barked, slamming his hand onto the metal console. "You are an intelligence operative! You can double check all damage! Property damage caused by a machine and damage caused by a genuine enhanced individual leave totally different physical footprints! Are you sure you didn't leave your brain back at home?"
"And even after capturing that guy," Fury continued, his voice rising in anger. "One of your people killed him by mistake?! Do you think I will eat this excuse?"
"No, it's not like that," Talos pleaded. "I interrogated the agent under truth serum. The weapon malfunctioned. Beck likely rigged his own suit to self-destruct to avoid capture."
Fury rubbed his temples. "What's the investigation report from the tech guy we pulled off the roof?"
"After our interrogation, the result was the same as what Mysterio had described under Maximoff's compulsion," Talos reported. "William Ginter Riva confirmed the entire plan. It was a manufactured crisis to usurp Tony Stark's legacy."
"Thank god Wanda was there," Fury muttered. "Otherwise, you would have been fooled entirely, and there would have been a much more massive disaster when he deployed the fire elemental in the city center."
Fury looked back at Talos. "What about technology?"
"All the equipment has been rendered completely non-functional," Talos explained, pulling up a schematic on his pad. "It will take a very long time to recover the technology. However, with the help of Mysterio's remaining team… who are currently in custody and extremely willing to work for us to reduce their sentences… we might be able to salvage the blueprints."
"That is the only good news you have said all day," Fury grunted. "Did you find out who destroyed those motherboards?"
"We don't know," Talos admitted, shaking his head. "Our sensors show absolutely zero point of origin."
"Did you ask Wanda if she did it?" Fury pressed.
"Yes. I asked Wanda before she left," Talos confirmed. "She stated it was not her doing. She claimed she didn't even know there was a threat until I called her at the hotel."
Fury turned back to the viewport.
"So," Fury murmured. "Someone utilized an EMP in such a highly localized way that it only damaged targeted equipment without knocking out the city grid. I think it's done by some highly advanced tech. Find out where that tech is, Talos. I want that tech in my pocket."
"Yes, sir. I will try," Talos nodded.
"Don't try. Find me that tech," Fury ordered, turning his gaze back to the Skrull. "If someone uses a weapon like that for a malicious reason, they might do far more damage than this Beck criminal ever could. This technology is very dangerous. It should be in our hands."
[Perspective: Aryan Spencer]
I drove through the winding streets of Prague, navigating the afternoon traffic with a relaxed ease.
Wanda was sitting in the passenger seat. The window rolled down, letting the cool breeze rustle her auburn hair.
"Where are we going?" she asked, turning to look at me, a contented smile on her face.
"I am taking you to see the royals," I announced, tapping the steering wheel. "Or, at least, where they used to live."
We parked near the base of the massive complex, walking the rest of the way up the steep cobblestone incline.
We reached the main ticket pavilion of Prague Castle..
"Dvě vstupenky, prosím," (Two tickets, please,) I said to the attendant behind the glass. "Přijímáte eura?" (Do you accept euros?)
"Yes, we accept euros," the attendant replied in English, noting my accent. "That will be 900 CZK, or roughly 38 Euros."
I handed over a crisp fifty euro note, waving away the change.
We took our printed tickets and walked through the massive wrought iron gates into the first courtyard.
"Welcome to Prague Castle," I said, gesturing broadly to the sprawling complex of gothic and romanesque architecture. "It was built in the 9th century. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest ancient castle in the world."
"It is massive," Wanda looked up at the towering spires of St. Vitus Cathedral dominating the skyline of the third courtyard.
We spent the next two hours wandering through the ancient halls.
We walked through the Old Royal Palace, marveling at the vaulted stone ceilings of Vladislav Hall.
"You know," I whispered, leaning in close to Wanda as we stood beneath an ornate chandelier. "I read that in the 16th century, knights used to hold indoor jousting tournaments right here in this hall."
"Indoors?" Wanda asked, looking skeptically at the wooden floors. "That seems very dangerous for the horses."
"They had special ramps built," I explained, wrapping an arm around her waist. "But honestly, if I were a knight, I wouldn't waste my time jousting. I would spend all my time wooing the beautiful sorceresses in the high towers."
Wanda laughed. She turned in my arms, resting her hands flat against the lapels of my blazer.
"Is that so, Sir Spencer?" she teased, her green eyes sparkling. "And what would your strategy be to woo this sorceress?"
"Well," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I would start by bringing her chocolate ice cream. Then, I would dazzle her with my extensive knowledge of 9th century architecture. And finally, I would lock our destiny to a bridge with a brass padlock."
Wanda smiled, her gaze softening with affection. She reached up, adjusting the collar of my shirt.
"That is a very effective strategy," she murmured. "I think the sorceress would surrender immediately."
"I certainly hope so." I smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips.
We pulled apart slowly, the ancient stone walls of the castle providing a surprisingly romantic backdrop for our modern love story.
We continued our tour, walking through the golden lane.
It was a picturesque street lined with colorful houses that looked like they belonged in a fairy tale.
"These houses are so small," Wanda noted, ducking her head slightly as we peered into the window of a blue painted house. "Who lived here?"
"Originally, the castle guards," I recited, playing the perfect tour guide. "But later, goldsmiths and artisans moved in. Hence the name, Golden Lane. Even the writer Franz Kafka lived in house number 22 for a while."
"It looks like a dollhouse," she smiled.
I leaned against the wall of the blue house, pulling her flush against my chest.
"We could buy one," I joked. "We could retire from our grueling schedule of vacationing and become Czech artisans. I will forge gold rings, and you can use your magic to make the tourists buy them."
"That sounds like a very good idea," she giggled, leaning back against me.
"I know, right. That's why we must diversify our portfolio," I reminded her, kissing the side of her neck.
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the castle gardens, holding hands and getting lost in the castle's history.
PS: There are 30+ Advance chapters available on the Patreon for those who want to read ahead. www.patreon. com/Drrajnovel