Chapter 877: A Galaxy of Challenges - Rotten (22) (Patreon)

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Peter was still in a state of shock, setting down his telephone. However, at that moment, Natasha walked in, tossed a keychain onto the table, and said, "Peter Parker, your ride is waiting outside. I can't join you for the sake of avoiding suspicion. Take your yellow mouse friend and get going."

"No, wait a minute. This is too sudden. Why me... I can't... How can I possibly become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Are you all joking?" Peter kept stepping back, saying, "This is absurd! Why would they make me the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Natasha chuckled and crossed her arms, saying, "Is there a possibility that it's just you left?"

"Just me left? You mean, everyone else sacrificed themselves?"

"No, think about it carefully. Is there anyone else besides you who is genuinely more suitable?"

As Peter contemplated this, the reality mirrored the scenes in his mind, just as it had happened two days earlier.

Nick Fury was dead, or at least, multiple confirmations had verified his genuine demise. Additional genetic testing confirmed a perfect match, and the autopsy results confirmed that it was indeed Nick Fury who had died.

However, his death did not signal the end of turmoil but rather the beginning of a greater one.

Firstly, who had killed him?

Everyone suspected the military, even the military suspected themselves. They all believed it was the work of Tartufaction, and within Tartufaction, each member suspected their colleagues.

While they complained about the greenhorn's recklessness, they also thanked him for removing the balance of power that S.H.I.E.L.D. had provided against the military.

Congress was well aware of this situation and could not afford to let it escalate further. Tartufaction was known for its radical tendencies and disagreed with the system of checks and balances. They were always prepared for war to elevate their status. Congress couldn't allow that.

Once a war broke out, the entire political system would be in chaos, and nobody wanted to be swept away. Therefore, Congress's goal was to maintain stability.

With that in mind, the position of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director became crucial.

Congress hoped to have someone from Nick Fury's lineage take over to continue balancing the military. They had the ability to support such an individual, but there was one problem: none of Nick Fury's direct successors could assume the role.

Coulson had sacrificed himself, Hill had disappeared with valuable intelligence, and as for Natasha, well, she was Natasha. Who would dare make her the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Ward and Marc, who had shown promise, were not ideal candidates either. One was a cold-blooded killer with no leadership qualities, and his position within S.H.I.E.L.D. was not high enough to justify such a sudden promotion. Marc, on the other hand, was competent, a seasoned agent with great skills and a good track record. However, the problem was that he had previously worked for the CIA. Handing S.H.I.E.L.D. over to the CIA was no different from handing it over to the military.

Then there were a few mutants left, but the problem with mutants was that Congress could not promote one immediately after such an incident. That would not put out the fire but rather fan the flames.

So, Congress turned their attention to the Avengers.

In their view, these superheroes were unlikely to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. effectively. Still, as long as they had the title, it would suffice. As long as they could maintain temporary stability, Congress would have enough time to select a suitable inheritor.

However, not all members of the Avengers were suitable. Firstly, there was Captain America. Steve was an excellent fit, and Congress understood him. Although he wouldn't lean towards Congress, at least he wouldn't lean towards the military either. He could maintain impartiality and fairness, making him suitable.

However, the problem was that he strongly refused.

Steve claimed that he would never take over S.H.I.E.L.D. unless the truth behind Nick Fury's sacrifice was uncovered. Moreover, he insisted that once he took over, he would definitely uncover all the truths.

Nick had juggled left and right for so many years, and not everyone was unaware. Even if they didn't know the severity of the situation, they could sense something was amiss. If Captain America took over, he was known for his integrity and had a lot of influence. Many people had grown up hearing his legends, and there was a risk that they would be influenced by his words and actions, making intelligence work impossible.

Stark, on the other hand, was already in charge of Stark Industries and the Solar System development plan. If he took over S.H.I.E.L.D. as well, it would consolidate too much power, which went against Congress's principles of checks and balances.

Blade, the vampire hunter Erik, and Matt, a blind man, along with the remaining members, either had mutant powers or had relationships with sticky symbiotes. They were generally unsuitable.

At this moment, one person came into their view: Spider-Man.

If Congress wanted to investigate, Peter Parker's connection to Spider-Man was impossible to conceal. Once they investigated, they would find that this young man had a decent background and abilities.

Raised by his uncle and aunt in an ordinary U.S. working-class family, Peter was a native New Yorker. After excelling in high school, he managed to secure a spot at New York University.

During his time at university, he had a clean record. While he didn't actively participate in extracurricular activities, he achieved notable success in scientific research, making him a valuable asset in the field of knowledge.

At the same time, Spider-Man was a relatively positive hero figure, greatly beloved by teenagers. Unlike Captain America, Spider-Man didn't have the same level of influential rhetoric, making him a figurehead who could maintain a more neutral stance in public opinion.

In general, Spider-Man's image had received praise, though it wasn't universally acclaimed. He possessed abilities but was not all-powerful, came from a modest background, which was actually his greatest advantage. In this context, he seemed like a suitable candidate.

Indeed, in Congress's view, this greenhorn might not fully understand the complex relationships and extensive intelligence work within S.H.I.E.L.D. However, this was precisely what they wanted. Spider-Man was only a transitional figure, meant to prevent the military from gaining control. He was expected to hold the position for a short period, and someone else would naturally take over in the future.

Even more importantly, appointing Spider-Man as the director wouldn't trigger a strong backlash from the military. They understood that this young man, with no experience or background in intelligence work, couldn't possibly take full control of S.H.I.E.L.D. It would be as if the treasure trove was temporarily entrusted to someone, and when they couldn't manage anymore, it would be everyone for themselves.

As Peter, reluctantly accepting his role, boarded the car, he still appeared bewildered. He couldn't comprehend how he had become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., especially since he hadn't even graduated from college yet.

Pikachu, held in his arms, wrinkled its nose and said, "I smell a conspiracy. Do you think you'll be facing the barrels of a hundred and eighty black hole guns or various traps once you get there?"

Peter absentmindedly stroked Pikachu's ears and said, "I'm not afraid of guns or traps. I have my Spider-Sense to evade them. What I'm afraid of is..."

Taking a deep breath, Peter continued, "In college, I didn't join any clubs because I'm not very good at reading between the lines. I have trouble understanding all those subtle hints. I'd rather not think about it..."

"College clubs are like that. But the world's largest intelligence institution, S.H.I.E.L.D... My goodness, I feel like I'm about to enter a different space where the way of thinking and speaking is completely different..."

With this anxious feeling, Peter arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base.

He expected to encounter cold faces and various troubles, but to his surprise, as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, two rows of agents stood in perfect formation. The receptionist smiled and said, "Director, please follow me."

Peter's eyes widened, and after confirming that his Spider-Sense remained silent, he hesitantly took the first step.

The receptionist, a female agent, led him into an office. She smiled and said, "This is your office. You can go inside and wait. The weekly work reports for this week will be delivered shortly."

Peter nodded, feeling somewhat clueless. He walked in, sat down, paused for a moment, and then said, "Well, since things have come to this, I guess we can only work hard..."

He then wore a pained expression and added, "I hope these documents aren't more complicated than research materials..."

He reached for a stack of documents on his left, opened them, and found a long list of names and various strange locations. Peter immediately covered his forehead and said, "What am I supposed to do? Match them together? How do I know where each of them should go?"

"Hello, Director. The weekly work reports have arrived," another agent walked in, handing Peter a thin stack of documents. Peter opened it and found only a few lines written on them:

"This week's work was completed smoothly, all personnel are in position, and all tasks are progressing without any unexpected incidents."

Peter raised an eyebrow and said, "Is this the work report? It seems too simple."

"Yes, Director, it's not supposed to be difficult. You'll get the hang of it quickly," the agent said with a smile. "Next, all you need to do is sign each of these documents."

"But how do I determine if a document needs my signature?" Peter asked.

"That's the Deputy Director's job. The documents sent to you are all ones that require your signature," the agent replied earnestly.

"What about the enemies lurking here, like Hydra, and what happened to Hill and their pursuit..." Peter inquired.

Upon hearing the word "Hydra," the agent's smile trembled for a moment, but he quickly said, "If you want to apprehend Hydra, we'll conduct a special operation. You just need to sign the documents."

Peter looked somewhat reluctant, not knowing what else he could do. Even with his high intelligence, the intricacies of intelligence work were not something he could grasp quickly.

So, for the next two weeks, Peter's job was simply to sign his name on each document and receive extremely brief weekly reports stating that everything was proceeding smoothly.

Spider-Man stood at the center of the whirlwind, watching people bustling around him, feeling like he was involved yet not.

Meanwhile, Peter sat in the driver's seat, repeatedly pressing a button, causing the massive machine to operate. He had no idea whether the machine was running smoothly or if his involvement made any difference.

At the same time, in the Congress council chamber and the military meeting room, two voices filled with confusion and astonishment simultaneously exclaimed, "S.H.I.E.L.D.!! Why has it suddenly become so efficient?!"

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 878: Brilliant Stars, Rotten (Part Twenty-Three)