Chapter 130: The Green Monster

“Something like the Illuminati?” Hill stepped forward, placing the files he held onto the table as he casually inquired.

“That’s nothing more than a fabrication concocted by conspiracy theorists, sparking mindless imitation...” Nick Fury bluntly dismissed the notion.

But after a moment, the usually sharp and commanding director of S.H.I.E.L.D. seemed to deflate, his shoulders involuntarily sagging as he admitted, “The longer I investigate, the more I realize the power of this cult. I’ve even found traces of them in documents from the American Revolutionary War. Yet, whenever I try to dig deeper, I come up empty.”

At this, Fury pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

This was a colossal entity far older than S.H.I.E.L.D., like a mountain shrouded in mist—its full scope was simply beyond his grasp.

“But haven’t you still found their trail?” Hill noted, observing Fury’s rare display of vexation.

“Yes... but what good does that do? All I know now is that this group definitely played a role in stirring up trouble during Shen Xinxiu’s death sentence case. I also discovered that the information on the flash drive that helped exonerate Shen was linked back to this mysterious cult.”

“Even I can’t quite figure out what this cult wants, or what role Shen Xinxiu truly plays within it. That prison incident was the only time in decades that this secretive group has made a move,” Fury explained.

“Perhaps they acted on other occasions, but we just haven’t uncovered it?” Hill helped fill in the logic.

“Maybe,” Fury nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, and he asked, “Has Shen Xinxiu shown any unusual behavior lately?”

At this, Hill pulled a file from the table and detailed, “He’s still playing the role of a doctor. But as a healer with superpowers, he’s impressive—his reputation has spread throughout New York in such a short time.”

“Has anyone suspicious approached him?”

Fury’s demeanor shifted back to the calm, calculating spy king he was known to be. In moments like these, seated in his office yet perceiving everything far beyond its walls, the frustration of recent days vanished.

“No,” Hill shook his head. “Though there’s a mix of people, mostly they are either elderly wealthy individuals or battered gangsters.”

“But one thing worth mentioning,” Hill added, pulling out another file.

“Recently, Tony Stark has been in frequent contact with him, even gifting him 1% of Stark Industries’ shares.”

At this, Fury’s single eye widened, “1% of Stark’s stock... When did this happen?”

“Just two days ago. Tony personally delivered the stock transfer contract to Shen’s clinic,” Hill answered truthfully.

“Speaking of Tony Stark, there’s another recent development you should know about.

“Six days ago, Stark Industries was attacked by criminals. Tony, wearing the newly developed silver Iron Man armor, was utterly defeated.

“He was pierced through the abdomen and lost his right hand, nearly at death’s door.” Hill produced a bloodied photograph from the file.

In the picture, Tony wore the sleek silver armor, but there was a gruesome hole in his abdomen, faintly revealing severed pink intestines.

This photo was evidently taken by Rafael en route to Shen’s clinic.

“Was Shen the one who saved him?”

Connecting this to the earlier stock gift, Fury perceptively sensed a link.

“Yes,” Hill agreed. “But knowing Tony’s personality, that alone wouldn’t justify giving away shares. I suspect there’s a secret agreement between them.”

Fury nodded. “That hypothesis is worth keeping.

“Anyone with eyes can see Stark Industries is in turbulent waters. At a time like this, instead of seeking money, demanding stock doesn’t align with Shen Xinxiu’s greed.”

Hill pressed on, “Boss, are you really going to stand by and watch Stark collapse? Remember, they provide significant funding to S.H.I.E.L.D. every year. Their fall wouldn’t bankrupt us, but it would have consequences.”

Fury said nothing, his gaze fixed on the photo of Tony’s injury.

“This wound looks familiar. Is it connected to the injury Agent May reported?”

Hearing this, Hill pulled out a third file, “There is a connection. Coulson reported this. He suspects the attacker was none other than the Crimson Baron.”

“Crimson Baron...” Fury murmured, lifting his head.

Finally, he made a decisive order to Hill: “From now on, hand all matters concerning the Crimson Baron to Coulson. Grant him temporary authority to deploy local agents. We must catch that son of a bitch.”

Fury had grown weary of the Crimson Baron—a persistent nuisance like a fly that refuses to die.

“By the way, do we have combat data on Tony’s armor?” Fury asked, pointing at the photo.

Hill shook his head, “No. Tony only wore it once and suffered a devastating defeat. I doubt he’ll ever suit up with it again.”

Fury suddenly smiled. “You underestimate Stark. I bet he’s right now pouring all his effort into improvements, learning from that defeat to make himself stronger.

“At first, I wondered how Tony escaped those terrorists in the Middle East. Now, seeing this armor, I’m starting to understand.”

Hill asked, “In that case, should we stop investigating Tony?”

“That would be convenient. It would free Coulson to focus more on the Crimson Baron.”

“No,” Fury rejected the idea. “Keep Coulson close to Tony. Start by investigating Tony himself and the items stolen from Stark Industries. These are the two best leads I have to uncover that bastard’s identity.”

Hill nodded. “Then Rafael should fully cooperate with Coulson. Intelligence shows things inside Stark are far from peaceful.”

“Anything else?” Fury inquired.

During his absence, Hill—his most trusted and capable agent—had managed all affairs, making countless decisions within S.H.I.E.L.D. seamlessly.

“Yes,” Hill produced a fourth file. “There’s a physicist named Bruce Banner. For unknown reasons, after a lab explosion, he transformed into an enraged green monster.”