บท 118: Chapter 118 Clean the House Before Inviting Guests

Nick Fury wasn't surprised when Anton addressed him by name. In fact, he considered it entirely natural.

Coming to meet Anton was a calculated decision, and Fury had prepared himself for any scenario.

Whether Anton was Batman or not, Fury saw him as a significant figure for several reasons.

First, Anton was closely connected to most of the superheroes who had recently appeared in New York.

Second, there was DC Comics.

From Batman and Green Arrow to Cyborg, Fury could no longer ignore the immense value behind DC Comics, even with one eye shut.

As Coulson had pointed out, who could say whether Superman, The Flash, or Shazam might make their appearances next?

And more importantly, did these emerging heroes signify an approaching alien threat?

The reasons were complex, but the conclusion was clear.

Upon receiving the latest updates, Fury quickly pieced together the bigger picture and elevated Anton importance in his mind.

That why he made his way to New York for this meeting.

Furthermore, based on available intelligence, Anton was highly likely to be a member of the Justice League—a superhero team reportedly formed by Batman.

This gave Fury even more to discuss with him.

"It seems I don't need to introduce myself—you already know me well," Fury said calmly.

His expressionless, dark-skinned face betrayed nothing as he continued in a measured tone:

"Anton, S.H.I.E.L.D. has thoroughly investigated your background. Ever since you took over The Daily Bugle, your transformation has been… remarkable."

"A textbook example of a prodigal son turning his life around."

Anton wore a candid smile. "Isn't this the kind of story everyone loves to hear?"

"You didn't just turn your life around," Fury replied, his tone sharpening. "You're closely connected to a mysterious organization, and you should know..."

He paused briefly, emphasizing his next words.

"That organization is not legal."

"So, you're telling me you are?" Anton countered smoothly.

"You think the backing of the World Security Council gives you the authority to stand here and tell me that the Justice League is an illegal organization?"

Anton gaze locked on Fury, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Fury expression didn't falter. "That the truth."

"But as far as I know, the team you're trying to form is empty," Anton said, his tone casual as he glanced at Natasha nearby. "Even if you count Black Widow and Hawkeye, what you have is a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative squad, not a superhero team."

Fury face darkened, though it seemed impossible for it to get any darker.

Anton words had hit a nerve.

The truth was, Fury superhero initiative was still in its infancy. He had no confirmed members yet, not even tentative invitations extended. This was his closely guarded secret.

Not even Coulson, one of his most trusted agents, knew the full scope of his plans.

How could Anton be so certain that Fury team was empty?

Did this mean everything he was doing was being monitored?

Were there eyes—even within S.H.I.E.L.D.—keeping tabs on him, reporting his every move?

Fury jaw tightened, his expression unreadable but undeniably tense.

Anton couldn't guess Fury exact thoughts, but the subtle changes in his demeanor told him one thing: Fury was rattled.

Smiling faintly, Anton leaned back in his chair, exuding calm confidence.

After a pause, Fury finally spoke.

"Regardless, I hope the Justice League will consider collaborating with S.H.I.E.L.D. You'll need us."

"I'd say you need us more," Anton replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Nick, Batman already warned you. You must have noticed the unrest within S.H.I.E.L.D. by now, haven't you?"

Fury frown deepened. "What are you trying to say?"

"He trying to remind you of something I've already said…"

A deep, commanding voice cut through the tension, coming from behind Fury and Natasha.

Both of them spun around to see a figure clad in black armor, his cape billowing dramatically behind him. His stern and imposing presence filled the room as he stood at the doorway, facing them directly.

"…Clean your house before inviting guests."

"Batman!"

Natasha pupils contracted.

Batman had closed the gap to within five paces of her without her noticing a thing.

Her mind raced as she glanced toward Anton.

It clicked. Batman and Anton weren't the same person.

All those assumptions and rumors claiming Anton was Batman had been nothing more than a smokescreen, a lie crafted by Batman and Anton themselves.

Nick Fury was equally shaken, taking a deep breath to steady himself.

He hadn't come here alone. S.H.I.E.L.D. had already politely cleared out all DC Comics employees, leaving only Coulson and Hawkeye stationed at the entrance to ensure no one else entered. The entire floor was supposed to be secure.

As for outsiders…

That would include someone like Eddie Brock, still working on the Daily Bugle rooftop deck. A part-time worker, a superhero, and possibly a member of the Justice League—better known as Venom.

Yet Eddie had shown no sign of movement, while Batman had appeared silently, as though conjured out of thin air.

The most unsettling part? Coulson and Hawkeye hadn't reacted at all.

There were only two possibilities:

Batman had already taken them out.They hadn't even noticed him enter DC Comics.

The first scenario would be troubling enough, but if it were the second, it would mean Batman stealth skills were beyond anything Fury had imagined.

Both Fury and Natasha failed to notice Anton faint smirk, a subtle curve in his lips betraying his amusement.

The Batman before them, of course, was one of Anton avatars.

His avatars could be deployed freely within a 100-meter radius of his main body.

And while this one mirrored his primary Batman template, it still carried subtle differences—ones even Anton could spot.

Notably, when he accessed avatars like Green Arrow or Cyborg, his form changed entirely, adopting the appearances of Oliver Queen or Victor Stone.

Only when activating Batman did he retain his own face.

Batman also had two passive attributes.

Identity Concealment.The Impeccable and Unrecognizable Sexy Jawline That Repels All Attacks.

Though the name of the second attribute was a bit long, it perfectly encapsulated Batman core design.

Venom, with its alien capabilities, was one of the few potential exceptions to these rules.

Venom understanding of people boiled down to "this guy tastes good" or "this guy looks unappetizing."

Even now, Anton felt that his avatar posture, movements, and even the faint curve of its mouth beneath the mask held a distinction from his own demeanor.

It was only natural that Fury and Natasha couldn't tell the difference.

"'Clean your house before inviting guests'?"

Fury expression twisted into one of intrigue.

He wasn't uneducated—in fact, he had come across this phrase during his school years.

In his time, it had been part of a famous quote:

"Eliminate foreign aggression within China before establishing diplomatic relations with nations willing to uphold peace, democracy, and equality."

Nick Fury suddenly realized that the phrase perfectly described the current state of S.H.I.E.L.D.

This wasn't a hint—it was outright confirmation.

Still, for something he had already started to suspect, Fury managed to keep his emotions in check and composed himself quickly.

Then the other part of the phrase, "before inviting guests," struck him.

It seemed to imply that Batman and his allies bore no hostility toward S.H.I.E.L.D. and were even open to collaboration.

The catch, of course, was cleaning up S.H.I.E.L.D. first.

"If that your stance, I'm willing to accept it," Fury said, his expression softening slightly. After a moment of thought, he added, "Batman, I can take this to the World Security Council, but first, I need you to tell me: where are these parasites within S.H.I.E.L.D. coming from?"

He was genuinely baffled.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was a relatively autonomous organization with multinational jurisdiction.

Corruption within such an institution wasn't unexpected.

But what Fury hadn't anticipated was how deeply these infiltrators had embedded themselves—so much so that even he, the organization top authority, was being manipulated.

Once he began observing deliberately, Fury was horrified to discover that S.H.I.E.L.D. resembled a child tooth riddled with cavities.

While the surface appeared pristine, the interior was rotted to the core.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. internal issues are longstanding. This is your problem, one that outsiders cannot resolve. It must be dealt with from within," Batman replied in a calm tone, though his words granted Fury some face.

"The corruption within S.H.I.E.L.D. is a legacy issue," he continued, his voice steady.

Instead of saying it outright, he shaped his lips silently into a single word:

Hydra.

The infamous name struck Nick Fury like a thunderbolt.

His expression shifted uncontrollably as the realization hit him, the shock leaving him momentarily speechless.

Natasha, standing nearby, was equally stunned. She had recognized the word from the movement of Batman lips, and it sent a chill down her spine.

"Well then, we won't see you out!"

Anton, sensing it was time to wrap things up, rose from his chair and spoke bluntly.

He walked toward the exit, motioning for them to leave.

At the office door, Batman stepped aside, clearing a path for Fury and Natasha—a silent yet unmistakable signal that it was time for them to go.

Suppressing his lingering disbelief, Fury gave both Batman and Anton a curt nod before leading Natasha out of the office.

Outside the office, Coulson and Hawkeye noticed the movement and glanced inside.

What greeted them first was not their director or Natasha, but a tall, imposing figure shrouded in shadows.

Batman.

"When?"

Coulson eyes widened in surprise. Beside him, Hawkeye stared in disbelief, his scalp prickling.

Neither had any idea when Batman had entered DC Comics.

What they were certain of, however, was that Batman hadn't been there before they arrived.

This meant Batman had slipped in after their team was already stationed there—completely undetected.

Their gaze shifted to Anton, who stood next to Batman.

The sight left them momentarily dumbfounded.

But it also seemed to answer a longstanding question.

Anton wasn't Batman.

And with that revelation, many of their previous doubts and inconsistencies finally made sense.

"Let go," Fury said, his face grim, issuing the order for everyone to leave DC Comics.

"Barton, ride with Coulson," he added as they reached the ground floor.

Coulson and Hawkeye exchanged a glance before getting into the same car.

Fury and Natasha entered another.

"Nick!"

In the car, Natasha, back in her Black Widow persona, her beautiful face now stern, said gravely, "What Batman said just now—"

"Don't tell Barton or Coulson," Fury interrupted flatly. "You know what I mean, Natasha. Right now, we can't be sure who the good guys are."

Natasha didn't respond immediately but gave Fury a long, searching look.

While she couldn't say for certain who was good or bad, one thing was crystal clear to her: had she not been present with Fury when Batman revealed the Hydra connection, Fury likely wouldn't have trusted her, either.

That was who Nick Fury was—someone who trusted no one but himself.

Anton watched as the S.H.I.E.L.D. team left. He exchanged a glance with his Batman avatar, who promptly vanished into thin air.

"Ah," Anton sighed, though not out of regret for the lost fan points.

No, he was lamenting the departure of his stunning assistant.

What a shame. The Catwoman costume he'd prepared at home would now have to wait for someone else to wear it!

Still, Anton knew they would cross paths again.

Plenty of opportunities awaited.

Turning his thoughts to the Justice League, Anton realized it wouldn't do to rely solely on brute force. At the right time, S.H.I.E.L.D. could serve as an excellent cover.

Building a relationship with them was inevitable, which was why he had insisted they clean their own house before discussing any form of collaboration.

Besides, Anton public identity was impeccable.

His adoptive father, Jonah Jameson, had cultivated strong personal connections with New York political figures over the years.

Thanks to those ties, no one would openly oppose him.

As for any underhanded schemes? Anton wasn't afraid of anyone.

With him as the public face and spokesperson for the Justice League, he could maintain a position of righteous authority.

His public roles included wealthy heir, entrepreneur, screenwriter, Hollywood prodigy director, and now spokesperson for the Justice League—a true picture of success.

Privately, he held even more impressive titles: Batman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, and potentially, in the future, Superman, The Flash, Aquaman, and… well, Wonder Woman.

"In a little while, will I be able to take the Avengers and wipe the floor with them?"

Anton mind wandered.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the Daily Bugle office, Eddie was still hard at work.

The events of the day, along with the footage he had captured, were more than enough to propel his already thriving career to even greater heights.

But both Anton and Eddie had overlooked someone.

Phil Urich.

Unbeknownst to them, Phil, who had infiltrated enemy lines, was now on a plane to Brazil with the remnants of The Foot Clan and Dr. Baxter Stockman.