Chapter 125: Chapter 120
Future chapters at patreon.com/FFAddict.
Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look, if you wish!
Just like Nick Fury, Coulson, Black Widow, and others, Tony Stark was equally caught up in a flurry of activities. But Iron Man was busy with something unrelated to journals. He had not made any arrangements regarding spoilers for the journals and was instead conducting an investigation. An investigation into what? Undoubtedly, it was the EMP pulse that had caused his armor system to go offline. The moment Tony Stark learned of this, he instantly realized he had been ambushed! Someone was out to kill him! The appearance of the Hulk was entirely a trap set against him, Tony Stark. But who could it be?
Iron Man fell into deep thought. Frankly speaking, there weren't many with both the motive and means to orchestrate such a plan, and almost immediately, Tony Stark arrived at the most likely answer: Hydra! Wanting to kill him and capable of laying such a grand scheme – that would be Hydra, wouldn't it? He had sent Senator Stern to jail and finished off the Winter Soldier. It would be more surprising if Hydra remained indifferent.
"Jarvis, pull up all surveillance footage from the incident and see if we can find something," Tony Stark ordered Jarvis without hesitation despite his strong suspicions. In the blink of an eye, Jarvis projected multiple surveillance feeds around Tony Stark, creating a dizzying array of images. Jarvis immediately began searching through them, but sadly, Hydra's senior agents who had acted against Tony Stark knew all too well how to avoid surveillance, leaving nothing useful behind.
Tony Stark was not surprised by this; someone capable of assassination wouldn't leave traces for Hydra to pick up easily. "Sir, should we contact Nick Fury?" Jarvis, the considerate AI, suggested. Since there were no leads from the surveillance, it seemed best to leave it to someone like Nick Fury.
"There's no need for that," Tony Stark waved it off, knowing Iron Man had another idea. To assume that leaving no trace at the scene meant Tony Stark was at a loss was naive. Let's not forget that Iron Man was one of the world's most brilliant scientists! Tony Stark was well aware that globally, only a handful of individuals could create an EMP pulse of such magnitude. And only one research team had weaponized it. That team was now under thorough surveillance by Jarvis.
After just half a month, Tony Stark uncovered the truth: Hydra. Indeed, it was Hydra. With everything pointing to Hydra and the fact that they would take action against someone like him, there was little doubt the order came from the top. So now, Tony Stark was truly at odds with Hydra, which didn't surprise him and for which he had been psychologically prepared.
"Hydra, huh?" Tony Stark murmured, contemplating their next move. "Jarvis, contact Nick Fury," he finally decided. Going up against a giant like Hydra alone was not wise. Cooperation with SHIELD would prove far more efficient.
"Understood, sir!" Soon after, Jarvis contacted Nick Fury and within three hours, Fury arrived at Iron Man's lavish residence.
I must say, Fury's time management is brilliant.
"Alright Stark, this should be the safest place on earth now."
"So if you have something to say, you can speak directly."
After a simple introduction, Nick Fury got straight to the point with Iron Man.
Tony Stark, on his part, wasted no time in telling Fury about the assassination attempt orchestrated by HYDRA using Hulk as bait.
He also communicated his willingness to unite with SHIELD to fight HYDRA.
"It seems HYDRA has provoked someone they shouldn't have," Nick Fury commented meaningfully, appearing calm on the outside, but feeling delighted on the inside.
The matter of HYDRA had always been a significant burden on Fury's mind.
Although the plan to infiltrate HYDRA with Skrull double agents had been proven workable and effective, it still wasn't enough for Fury.
The addition of Tony Stark would be a tremendous boost for Fury.
After all, JARVIS's technology, which far exceeded that of the current era, could indeed play a vital role.
"Yes, this is the last thing they should have done!"
Tony Stark nodded in agreement, then began to discuss the details of "cooperation" with Nick Fury.
After about half an hour, they concluded their meeting, with both parties quite satisfied.
"Stark, if I were you, I'd request protection from the military," Nick Fury suggested seriously to Tony Stark before leaving, "Or I could arrange for personnel."
"No, I'll give Rhodey a call."
After some contemplation, Iron Man made such a decision.
Even though Tony Stark always seemed cocky and carefree, he knew how to prioritize.
Now that he had been targeted by the dangerous organization HYDRA, even if he disliked being followed by bodyguards, Stark understood the necessity.
His parents had died at the hands of HYDRA, and if it weren't for Satan's timely appearance last time, he, Tony Stark, would have perished.
With such a stark lesson learned, how could Tony Stark not make the necessary preparations?
His preference for the military over SHIELD was naturally because Iron Man trusted his good friend Rhodey more than Fury.
The last thing Iron Man wanted was for Fury to plant a spy in his midst.
Another consideration was involving the military, as a massive entity, would create even more trouble for HYDRA, delivering a more fatal blow.
With that, they amicably reached an agreement.
"OK!"
Nick Fury said no more but left Stark's mansion directly to return to his office.
In the following days, Nick Fury truly began comprehensive cooperation with Tony Stark.
The mutual sharing of intelligence and resources multiplied their efficiency.
Many secrets that Nick Fury had been unable to uncover, well hidden in secrecy, were continuously exposed.
Fury was in a very good mood, which was undeniably great news.
A few days later, Hawkeye Barton brought another piece of good news.
"Director, we've located the Red Guardian!"
"He's detained in a secret prison in the Gulag forest."
"One of the secret detention facilities provided by Natasha."
In the office, Hawkeye Barton stood before Fury to report.
Though Nick Fury kept a composed facade, a flicker of excitement passed through his heart; things were going surprisingly smoothly!
The Red Guardian was found so easily!
And he was located in Siberia, of all places, allowing operations to proceed even more covertly and unnoticed.
It truly felt like the heavens were making things convenient for him.
It was an unexpected joy that Nick Fury had not anticipated.
Fury wondered whether to commend the audacity or question the sanity of the Red Room.
Knowing that the "traitor" Black Widow was active, yet seemingly not preparing at all seems negligent.
Even if they had created the illusion that the Red Room was destroyed, one would still expect them to cover their tracks.
Clap!
As he spoke, Hawkeye Barton placed a file on the desk.
Nick Fury opened it to find photographs of the Red Guardian.
Looking at the man's belly, which matched the descriptions in the diary, he had indeed become quite overweight.
"Barton, I have a new task for you."
Pulling his gaze from the Red Guardian's photographs, Nick Fury continued with a new assignment for Hawkeye Barton.
What was the mission?
Undoubtedly, it was to rescue the Red Guardian from the secret prison.
Certainly, the mission had its difficulties, but for a top agent like Barton, it wasn't insurmountable.
After all, if both Black Widow and Yelena could do it, then with Nick Fury's support, Barton couldn't fail.
And, as Fury predicted, Barton led a team beyond SHIELD to execute the plan, and in a month and a half, they successfully extracted the Red Guardian.
They brought him to a highly confidential base, brought him before Nick Fury.
"The food in prison wasn't that bad, eh, Mr. Aleksei?"
Fury looked meaningfully at the Red Guardian, "Or should I say, Red Guardian."
"It has been a long time, I didn't think anyone still knew that name."
The disheveled Red Guardian looked reflective and then showed a mix of wariness and solemnity, fixing his gaze on Nick Fury, "Who are you, and what is your purpose in bringing me here from that hell?"
"You were a man like Captain America, allowing a person like you to rot in such a place would be a real pity."
"So, I've decided to offer you a second chance."
Nick Fury first affirmed the Red Guardian's stature and then revealed his intentions.
"So, what's this chance?" the Red Guardian arched an eyebrow.
"Avengers."
Fury disclosed the Avengers' plan to the Red Guardian.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone