章 521: Chapter 518 | Therapy, Secret Invasion.
Tivan Group's building was the most conspicuous building in Knowhere.
Standing on the observation deck on the top floor, people could get a panoramic view of the entire area.
Luke sat down on the couch with ease, smoothly pouring a plant-based drink for Captain Marvel, who had a complicated expression and hadn't fully digested those memories.
"You might not be able to accept the truth for a while; that's normal."
Like a young psychiatrist, he began to treat Carol with some therapy.
"The human body has some kind of emergency mechanism that automatically kicks in once the mind has been subjected to a strong stimulus. Sometimes the reluctance to believe in the truth is one of the measures of protection."
Captain Marvel had been secretly mind-controlled by the Supreme Intelligence of the Kree Empire, using highly effective brainwashing techniques.
Although Luke used the psychic abilities of the Super Kryptonian to awaken the past memories hidden in Carol's mind...
Due to her long indoctrination into the Kree Empire's interests above all else doctrine, she was always ready to die for them.
It was an equal ideological transformation, which had already taken the Supreme Intelligence's shape, and couldn't be restored to its original form too quickly.
It took some time for the psychological aspect of the rehabilitation to take place.
"I know my real name, and I know everything that happened, but ... when I come out of that elaborate and despicable lie and see the real world, it still feels uncomfortable."
Captain Marvel lifted the glass and took a sip.
It was bitter but refreshing.
"Having been lied to once, it's hard to trust anyone else."
Speaking slowly and methodically, Luke continued, "For the same reason, you subconsciously suspect that everything in front of you may be a sham."
"It's because Yon-Rogg, and the Supreme Intelligence, have caused you great psychological trauma and psychological distress."
Carol nodded in deep understanding.
As soon as she thought that Yon-Rogg, whom she respected at heart, was, in fact, an utterly hypocritical villain, she couldn't help but feel some physical discomfort and nausea.
"What are you going to do with them?"
Luke noticed her discomfort and took the initiative to change the subject.
"Yon-Rogg has the Kree Empire supporting him ..."
Carol gently reminded.
At the very least, she had spent a long time on Hala.
And understood the military strength of the Kree Empire.
"That doesn't matter. My men gave Ronan the Accuser a hard time not too long ago, and Yon-Rogg is a nobody compared to the Kree's Accusers."
Luke waved his hand, looking relaxed and clearly not giving the Kree Empire a second thought.
Frankly, he would even like to see the Supreme Intelligence get annoyed and start a war.
In that way, out of a claim of self-defence...
Superman, who could blow up a space fleet with his bare hands, would break into Hala on his own and then disassemble the Supreme Intelligence's computer into parts.
In theory, of course.
Luke didn't need any reason to do anything.
But he cared about his reputation and didn't want to become the next mad titan.
As long as everyone followed the rules, sitting at the poker table and playing the game wouldn't be a big deal.
"Forget it. It's better to let them go."
Carol still had concerns.
In her perception, the Kree Empire had an extremely powerful military.
It would be unwise to mess with such a behemoth just to get back at Yon-Rogg.
"This is your personal matter. Naturally, you have the final say."
Luke nodded in agreement. 'Powerful' was a word that didn't need an explanation.
In the future, Carol would understand...
How terrifying an individual at a singularity level was.
A mere Kree Empire was nothing.
"What are you going to do next?"
Luke's eyes flickered as he threw in a new question.
"I don't know. I didn't know that I was from Earth until a few hours ago. The mentor who trained me was actually an insidious liar ... The false life that the Supreme Intelligence had shaped for me was undone, but my original life was also destroyed."
Carol lowered the drink in her hand, looked at Superman, bit her lip and asked, "Is there any alcohol here?"
Luke snapped his fingers and as if by magic, pulled out a bottle of Earth's whisky.
"Authentic hometown flavour."
With a wave of his right hand, the wine cabinet automatically opened, and two glasses floated out.
"So, can you have a drink with me?"
Carol wasn't in a good state of mind and desperately needed assistance from alcohol.
"With pleasure."
Luke was very gentlemanly.
...
...
On Earth.
At S.H.I.E.L.D.
A graceful, seemingly unchanged Peggy stepped on her high heels, threw open the door with a bang and entered Howard Stark's office.
The loud noise alerted the entire staff throughout the floor.
They glanced towards Howard Stark's office for a few moments, then gathered up their curiosity and went about their business with their heads down.
"Please tell me, what's going on here?"
She slammed a pile of papers down on the table. Her tone was harsh, offering no half-hearted respect to an old friend she had known for years.
"Why did two-thirds of the massive funding that S.H.I.E.L.D. granted to the four laboratories in your name disappear for no apparent reason? It wasn't used for any research-related work but was diverted to other accounts."
Peggy was furious and questioned repeatedly.
When she saw the report, she could hardly believe her eyes.
Those four laboratories under Howard Stark's direct authority had committed an extremely egregious misappropriation of funds.
And after her detailed investigation, she found more than that. The money that was embezzled ended up in an unnamed overseas company.
Digging deeper, the trading company, which was clearly just a front, had private records of money dealings and transfers with a number of senators in Congress.
Following this line, Peggy even went all the way to Stark Industries.
She found that Howard recently, despite the strong opposition of the board of directors, spent huge sums of money on buying over 20 small and medium-sized security companies with unknown names in the industry.
"You used S.H.I.E.L.D.'s name to pay off members of Congress to promote the expansion of overseas military bases, then sent researchers to conduct human experiments on those disabled soldiers ... Howard, this is a crime!"
Peggy folded her arms across her chest and glared at Howard, who was sitting behind his desk.
The other party had been acting a bit odd since returning from Wakanda.
Despite the identical appearance, he felt like a different person.
"It was my agreement with the White House. The President needs Stark Industries to provide the military with stronger 'weapons', not missiles, not guns, but living, breathing Super Soldiers."
Howard said, with a smile on his face, making light of the situation.
"Illegal human testing, and the integration of those security companies into a reorganised military-industrial complex directly responsible to the Pentagon ... is what the higher-ups wanted."
Peggy's pretty eyebrows furrowed into a frown. She looked at Howard with even more unfamiliarity in her eyes.
She simply couldn't believe that the other party would say that with such a natural tone.
"What do you mean by higher-ups? I'm higher up than you are!"
Peggy said in a cold tone.
"Times have changed, Carter."
Howard stood up, propped his hands on his desk and whispered, "The White House has long been unhappy with the excessive power and intrusive behaviour of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the World Security Council is having a hard time tolerating the huge budgetary provisions allocated each year."
"There is no enemy in this world! Hydra has long been under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s rule, and those damn mutants, they're all peacefully staying in school or on TV in talent shows and variety shows."
"With world peace, the very existence of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been called into question."
Howard stared at the female commander standing before him and faintly said, "I've received some information that if S.H.I.E.L.D. maintains its arrogant attitude and ignores the White House and the orders of the World Security Council any longer, it will soon be disbanded."
"So, I secretly reached an agreement with the President and even made a gesture of goodwill to the Pentagon in order to keep S.H.I.E.L.D. and consolidate my position."
Peggy tried her best to remain patient as she listened to Howard's long, rambling speech.
She was silent for a moment and then turned to leave with the words, "Take care of yourself".
"Heh, naive woman."
Howard snorted as he tugged on his tie.
Whether it was an illusion or not, a hint of green vaguely seeped beneath his natural complexion.
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