Bab 138: Chapter 134
Only one chapter today.
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"Then it exploded like fireworks," Tony added, looking at Nick Fury beside him with a disgusted expression. "The things you design are really cruel."
"A person exploding in such a tight space always reminds me of the time I put a carton of milk in a small box and then—" Tony shuddered, "nauseating."
Fury sneered, unphased. "Believe me, Tony, you're the one making them sick."
Tony shrugged. "It's normal for the poor to hate the rich. But hey, I'm still a brilliant rich guy and a genius. I get it."
As they spoke, Fury, Tony, and Agent Hill walked toward the woman's enclosed cabin. Before Fury could say anything, Hill accessed the control panel. The transparent glass on several other enclosed cabins darkened, becoming soundproof as well.
Fury stepped up to the floor-to-ceiling glass and addressed the woman, her head hanging low. "Ms. Bloody Mary, there's something we want to discuss with you."
The woman didn't respond, humming softly to herself. Tony grinned, enjoying Fury's frustration. Fury, however, wasn't surprised. He spoke evenly, almost to himself. "Based on what we know, you have multiple personalities. The primary personality seems to be Mary Walker, but right now, Bloody Mary is in control."
"Each personality competes for dominance," Fury continued. "But the main personality and the other, timid one are too weak to challenge you and the fourth personality. Yet, you've managed to suppress Typhoid Mary for a long time."
"So, what's changed? What made you grow stronger?" Fury snapped his fingers, summoning a holographic projection in front of the glass. It displayed the full-body image of a man.
"I believe this is the person who convinced you to betray Kingpin. And the person you've been searching for these last three months."
The humming stopped. Mary slowly raised her head, revealing a face divided: the left side scarred and grotesque, the right side delicate.
Despite her unsettling appearance, Fury, Hill, and Tony—who could always be counted on for a sharp tongue—remained unfazed. There was no disgust in their eyes, only calm resolve.
Bloody Mary didn't care. She rose slowly and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with light, measured steps. Reaching out, she traced the man's face reflected in the glass, her eyes filled with intoxicated enthusiasm.
Tony shifted uncomfortably, unable to ignore her obsessive gaze. As if breaking from a trance, Mary turned to face Nick Fury on the other side of the glass. Raising her gaze slightly, she looked at the man in the trench coat and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "What do you want?"
"The same as you. We want to find him."
Fury and Bloody Mary locked eyes.
"Find him?" Bloody Mary shook her head, her voice tinged with bitterness. "He's like a ghost in the fog of night—unseen, untouchable. I've scoured every corner of New York for three months, and still… nothing."
"He's too mysterious, too powerful." She looked at the trio before her, a mocking glint in her eye, as if they were nothing but clowns. Tony bristled, uncomfortable under her gaze, but he couldn't argue; she wasn't mocking them out of spite—it was just the truth.
Since Tony first saw the man with Natasha, he'd deployed Jarvis' advanced facial recognition to search tirelessly, day and night. Yet they had found nothing. In the information age, unless this person was hiding in the deep wilderness, any contact with modern society would leave traces. And Jarvis would've caught them.
"You want to find him, and so do we," Fury said. "You're trying to find him on your own. Believe me, even after a hundred years, you won't succeed."
"But we might."
"What are you saying?" Bloody Mary stared at him, intrigued.
"Technically, you're a prisoner," Fury continued, his tone calm. "Your crimes would have you locked away here for life, with no chance of finding him. But there's a special clause. I can authorize your release under certain conditions."
"And what are those conditions?"
"You join S.H.I.E.L.D."
Tony gave Fury a disgusted look. He'd come here out of curiosity about Natasha's involvement, only to find Fury pulling recruitment tactics on her.
Bloody Mary sneered. "I'm only loyal to my lover."
"I don't doubt your loyalty," Fury replied evenly. "Think of it as a deal. You work with S.H.I.E.L.D., we help you find him. Once he's found, you're free to leave."
She tilted her head with a sinister smile. "You've studied my personality. You know I'm dangerous."
Fury didn't flinch. "Right now, we need people like you. S.H.I.E.L.D. has resources around the world. If we can't find him, you certainly won't on your own."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why do you want to find him?"
"What do you want with him?" Bloody Mary asked.
"We've observed his actions over time," Fury replied. "After piecing them together, we believe he possesses secrets about this world and may be using his power to fight against one or more unknown forces. We don't want to be left in the dark, playing the fool." He added, half-truthfully, "We mean him no harm; we just want to make a deal."
Mary held Fury's gaze, searching his single eye for any sign of deceit. He remained steady and unblinking, calm in his conviction. After a few seconds, she relaxed.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
"I doubt you're interested in playing the hero. We need you to do what you do best."
"And what do you think that is?" Bloody Mary challenged.
"Of course." Fury didn't hesitate. "Killing. I don't care how you do it—use whatever cruel methods you want to eliminate those… obstacles."
"I like this deal," she replied with a ferocious smile. "But betray me, and you'll regret it."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone