Nick Fury picked up a few sugar cubes, dropped them into his tea, and then had Jorge add hot milk before he resumed drinking.
He was still used to the English method of drinking tea; he didn't mind plain hot water, but he didn't like the taste.
"If it weren't for you, I would definitely have put Coulson in the director's position. While his abilities are decent, they're still a bit lacking. With my support, he might have been able to manage, but now Coulson is just a backup option."
"Neither the White House nor the Security Council would want my people in that position, because it would mean everything is still as it was. But you're different. You're the most outstanding capitalist of recent years, perfectly capable, and a first-rate scientist and inventor. In their eyes, you're like one of the original founders of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Qingshui quickly searched his mind and spoke a name.
"Howard Stark?"
"Exactly."
Nick Fury nodded.
Qingshui tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.
Undoubtedly, if he could become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., even a S.H.I.E.L.D. that had been shattered by the Hydra incident and then reformed, that position would still bring him considerable Fortune.
Of course, Qingshui wanted it.
But...
"Do you really have the confidence to put me there? And why me?"
Qingshui looked at Nick Fury.
As Nick Fury himself had said, he wouldn't trust anyone a hundred percent.
For someone like the man in front of him, who was not only dark on the outside but completely dark on the inside once you peeled him open, Qingshui could only trust him to a limited extent, and prepare multiple contingency plans for future developments, always keeping an ace up his sleeve.
This was the safest approach, and the bat in the black suit next door had always done the same.
He didn't believe in such a good thing as a free lunch; if it existed, there would certainly be a price to pay.
"I have confidence, but you'll also need to fight for it yourself. Your identity can leverage the military and the military-industrial complex. As for the President, he owes you a favor. As long as this doesn't cause substantial harm to his interests, he'll also push for you, because it would gain him a political ally—a super capitalist, head of a military-industrial group, medical spokesperson, and now S.H.I.E.L.D. director.
Yes, he owes you a favor. Once that favor is repaid, you'll have a mutual interest and political cooperation, making you a de facto alliance in everyone's eyes.
Plus, I have certain connections and networks. As long as you don't perform too poorly, external resistance can be overcome."
Qingshui looked at Nick Fury expressionlessly.
"I don't need you to tell me what to do. You should know I'm not interested in things that can be figured out with a little analysis."
Nick Fury wasn't surprised that he couldn't fool Qingshui.
If Qingshui were so easily fooled, he wouldn't dare to ask him to be the director.
"Hill, Coulson, Steve, and Natasha—a Level 9 deputy director and three Level 8 executives. They will all support you, help you gain internal support, and firmly secure the S.H.I.E.L.D. director position."
Nick Fury's words carried a hidden meaning.
With the support of these four, he could do well as director, but what if he didn't have it?
That implied that to secure this position, he would have to rely on these four.
Nick Fury meant that to become S.H.I.E.L.D. director, regardless of whether S.H.I.E.L.D. was reorganized, he couldn't bypass these four individuals, led by Captain America.
Did he really have to rely on these four?
Perhaps not, but Nick Fury certainly seemed very confident, and the feedback from the Mind Stone on his chest indeed showed that Nick Fury wasn't lying.
But if he had to rely on these few people to mobilize S.H.I.E.L.D.'s core forces, how was that different from when Nick Fury was director?
If he wanted to accomplish things and escape restrictions, he'd have to invest a lot.
Nick Fury probably only had a few genuine candidates.
Hill and Coulson, Nick Fury's loyal protégés within S.H.I.E.L.D., and then himself and Tony Stark.
The former two, as former S.H.I.E.L.D. high-ranking officials, were deeply trusted by Nick Fury and likely the most suitable candidates in his mind.
But clearly, precisely because they were former S.H.I.E.L.D. high-ranking officials, it was already good enough if they could remain in S.H.I.E.L.D. and continue their previous duties. To become director, it was unlikely the Security Council and the White House would agree.
Because that would be no different from letting Nick Fury continue as director.
Otherwise, S.H.I.E.L.D. would have to go underground and be secretly reorganized.
As for the remaining two, they both held significant influence in America's military, political, and other sectors. Both were seen as super-rich, scientists, and inventors, capable of bringing immense change to S.H.I.E.L.D. in terms of wealth, science and technology, and influence across various fields, just like Howard Stark, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s original founders.
Nick Fury could only choose one of the two.
Tony Stark certainly had the ability to be director, but he was too emotional. He seemed cynical and free-spirited, but in reality, he was loyal, righteous, and sincere with people.
Although very intelligent and not easily deceived, if he were truly deceived, it would be a major problem.
He was fully capable of serving as S.H.I.E.L.D. director, or even in a more important position, and he would undoubtedly do it very well.
But his personality, his sense of justice, and his overly strong sense of responsibility destined him not to be suited for those positions.
Tony Stark could become a great hero, but he would not become a dark-minded, ruthless, dirty, unscrupulous politician or bureaucrat.
Evidently, Nick Fury believed Qingshui could be.
"So you want to play this 'borrow a hen to lay eggs' game? Is this something you just learned from Hydra? If I rely on them to become director, will the power of the director truly be in my hands or yours? I don't want to spend time and effort rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. only to gain nothing."
Qingshui said to Nick Fury.
"I don't think that will be a problem for you."
Nick Fury looked at Qingshui.
Judging by himself, he felt that if Qingshui was truly the same kind of person as him, Qingshui would definitely agree.
Because they were both confident in their abilities and were sure they could get what they wanted from it.
"I agree."
Qingshui's thoughts weren't as complicated as Nick Fury imagined.
Becoming the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. meant gaining Fortune. Why wouldn't he?
Even if he didn't do well as director, he wouldn't suffer any losses.
He would still be seen as a super-rich individual, a big capitalist, and an inventor. He would still be part of the ruling class in America and maintain a high status in this capitalist society.
His extraordinary powers, built from magic and Ninjutsu, wouldn't decline in the slightest.
So, what was there to hesitate about?
For him, whether or not he became director was just a matter of an addition sign or an equals sign.
"But I have one more condition."
Nick Fury continued, addressing Qingshui.
"What condition?"
"To prevent incidents like this Hydra invasion, I want to establish a new team as a branch of S.H.I.E.L.D., called Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D., to act as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mirror. It will prevent unforeseen events, serve as a final safeguard, and be able to do things S.H.I.E.L.D. cannot. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. is ultimately an organization directly accountable to the Security Council. While it has great power, it is also constrained."
Now, Qingshui understood.
Nick Fury chose to pursue both methods: openly reorganizing S.H.I.E.L.D. and secretly building another.
This was Nick Fury's true objective.
During his years as S.H.I.E.L.D. director, he had been heavily constrained by the Security Council and various top global powers. Although he was resourceful, he had manipulated accounts and misappropriated a lot of money, secretly building many hidden bases as contingencies.
This was one of the important reasons he was able to retain some power to make a comeback even after faking his death.
And if Qingshui, as the S.H.I.E.L.D. director, was there on the surface, Nick Fury, as the leader of Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D., would no longer have to endure these many restrictions.
His only restriction would be Qingshui, the director. And clearly, Nick Fury believed Qingshui couldn't restrict him, and might even have to help him conceal the existence of Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D.
What would actually happen would depend on the outcome of their future power struggle.
Would Nick Fury be unrestricted by Qingshui, usurping Qingshui's power within S.H.I.E.L.D., or would Qingshui seize control and keep Nick Fury's Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D. in check?
Qingshui's greatest advantage was that his foundation was different from Nick Fury's; it wasn't within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Even with Security Council restrictions, he could still leverage his wealth, technology, and other abilities, using S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cover to bypass these limitations.
In this regard, he was much more convenient than Nick Fury, who could only try every means to increase revenue, cut expenses, and embezzle funds through false accounts.
But no matter what, Nick Fury's move could indeed revitalize S.H.I.E.L.D. He himself would still hold a significant position within it, guiding and monitoring the supernatural world as he had in the past.
After conversing with Qingshui for a while longer, discussing the details of the various tasks ahead, Nick Fury threw off his leather coat and walked out of Watt Manor.
Outside, a red antique car was parked by the manor gates.
Coulson got out of the car and opened the door for Nick Fury.
"Oh, this car again. You've maintained it quite well."
"Director, I send Lola for maintenance at logistics every month. She looks brand new now."
Coulson chuckled as he and Nick Fury got into his beloved car, Lola.
"It's a shame S.H.I.E.L.D. is disbanded now. Outside auto shops can't maintain Lola at all."
Coulson sighed.
Lola looked like an antique car on the outside, but she had a lot of high-tech components inside. After S.H.I.E.L.D. disbanded, he had nowhere to go for repairs and maintenance.
"Don't worry too much. The new S.H.I.E.L.D. will be reorganized, and it will be better than before."
Nick Fury said.
Coulson's face lit up.
"When exactly, Director?"
"Within this year. And, I'm no longer the director. A new director will take office then."
"A new director?"
Coulson, holding the steering wheel, couldn't help but glance back at Watt Manor.
"You want Watt to be the director?"
"What do you think? Afterwards, you and Hill will support Watt's work within S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I don't doubt his abilities, but… can we truly trust him? What if, like Pierce, he goes down the wrong path one day?"
Coulson worried.
"No need to worry."
Nick Fury said.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had gone astray, and whether it was through Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D. or other methods, checks and balances could be put in place. But Watt, a man strong in power, technology, intelligence, and wealth, now not only possessed even more mysterious magic, but if he were to also gain control of S.H.I.E.L.D., such a powerful organization, who in the world would be able to rein him in?
Nick Fury had his answer.
The pager, which he had carried on his person since the 1990s, was currently in his pocket.
After Nick Fury left, Qingshui picked up his teacup and drank it in one gulp.
"Watos, send a message to Stark and ask him if he's interested in continuing as a senior advisor in the newly formed S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Sent. No response yet."
"Understood. And Mr. Banner?"
"Mr. Banner is conducting experiments on the private island you purchased. He hasn't transformed recently. Would you like to contact him?"
"Send."
A few seconds later, a holographic projection showed Bruce Banner, bespectacled and scholarly.
"Watt? Why the sudden contact? Oh, right, I've already reverse-engineered the Extremis Virus you sent yesterday based on the algorithm. The experiments on mice have been perfectly replicated, but the stability of this technology isn't as good as Professor Connors' Regeneration Serum. I suggest you be much more cautious with this technology, because the Extremis Virus has greater potential for mass human weaponization. You absolutely must not let it spread."
"I know, but there are quite a few people eyeing this, and the military especially believes it can be used to create the Super Soldier Serum."
Qingshui said to Bruce Banner.
"Is it General Ross again?"
Banner sighed.
"No, it's others. General Ross retired from the military and entered politics after his heart bypass surgery. Perhaps after the next election, he'll be America's next Secretary of State."
"This is truly… sigh."
A look of helplessness appeared on Banner's face, and he shook his head.
"Don't worry, Professor Banner. If you can become a high-ranking official in S.H.I.E.L.D., serving as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology department, with that status, the military won't find it so easy to move against you."
A faint smile appeared on Qingshui's face as he said to Bruce Banner.
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