Ancient One, why have you started speaking in riddles?
Puzzled, Lucas accompanied the Ancient One to watch the movie 'Snowpiercer'.
Then, he displayed astonishing efficiency.
A portal opened, leading directly to Xandar, where he found Loki. He handed the Ancient One's collection of books to him, gave him instructions, and brought Loki back to Earth.
Although he had been enjoying his time on Xandar and was reluctant to leave, Loki wanted to return and show off his Nova Empire national gift to Thor.
Another portal opened, and Lucas returned to the bookstore.
He saw Coulson, who had been waiting for a long time.
'So that's what the Ancient One meant. There's always work to be done, but when there's a chance to slack off, you should take it decisively.'
'If I had returned any later, Coulson might have left, and the matter could have been postponed until tomorrow.'
"Good evening, Coulson. Is there anything I can help you with? The bookstore is about to close, you know." Lucas said playfully, greeting Coulson.
He had just hacked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Tesseract not long ago, so he couldn't just kick him out.
"Lucas, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to discuss with you what to do with the alien battleship wreckage." Coulson perked up, forcing a smile.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had been extremely busy recently, and as the de facto acting Director, he was under immense pressure.
"Alien battleship wreckage? Didn't I give it to Tony to handle? You should talk to him." Lucas deflected.
Various governments might care about the alien battleship wreckage, but he didn't. The word 'wreckage' was enough to explain everything.
Coulson looked helpless.
Although he hadn't gone to Tony yet, he knew Tony's response would be exactly the same as Lucas's.
"Lucas, it was Stark who handed this matter over to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Oh, I see."
Lucas pondered for a moment before making a decision, "Then I'll make a few requests, and S.H.I.E.L.D. can handle the rest as they see fit."
"First, compensation for New York citizens. Those who survived my battle with Thanos and have the glowing white runes on their hands. Their medical expenses, lost wages, and some asset losses, please verify them and compensate them to the maximum."
"Second, don't forget Kamar-Taj's share."
Gwen, who was listening nearby, asked, "Lucas, what about those who died?"
"Gwen, you know I have good and evil vision. And it wasn't me who brought Thanos here. Someone opened a portal through the Tesseract, and Thanos escaped here."
Gwen fell silent.
These past few days, she had participated in many rescue efforts and knew that no one with the glowing white runes on their hands had died or been seriously injured. This glowing white rune was also called the God's Blessing.
But similarly, there were many people without runes.
They were injured, and even died.
Now, people with and without runes on the back of their hands have even formed two opposing groups.
If, again, there's differential compensation...
"Lucas, doing this will completely divide the survivors."
Lucas fell into thought.
He hadn't considered that.
But the world is inherently unfair, and there are many instances of differential treatment.
Can't bad people be treated differently?
"Gwen, I know this world isn't black and white, but a delicate shade of gray."
"But in fact, this glowing white rune isn't just for good people. Ordinary people, those who aren't too bad, they all have it."
Pausing, Lucas continued, "People with runes and people without runes, they should naturally be two separate groups."
Coulson interjected at this point, agreeing with Lucas and making a guarantee, "Gwen, Lucas is right. I heard that the New York Police Department is secretly preparing to register those without the glowing white runes and mark them for special attention."
"Also, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be careful not to cause widespread unrest."
"Mm."
Gwen nodded, saying nothing more.
She believed that with S.H.I.E.L.D. being careful and her looking after things, there shouldn't be any problems.
"Lucas, if there are no other conditions, then I'll take my leave."
Coulson, seeing that it was getting late, offered to leave.
He still had a lot of things to do, and if he didn't hurry, he'd be working all night again.
"Coulson, one more thing, tell the others." Lucas stopped Coulson.
He remembered those impolite people, and his tone involuntarily grew cold. "I don't understand management and business, but I understand killing."
Coulson's expression became serious, and he nodded solemnly. "Understood, I will inform them."
Lucas's meaning was clear: it was a warning to those people not to play petty games with him. If he was in a bad mood, he would overturn the table.
Afterward, Coulson, with a heavy heart, turned and left.
Coulson now felt immense pressure. His tone when he guaranteed Lucas and Gwen earlier was very firm, as if it would be easy to achieve.
But given the situation in the United States, it was not so easy to ease the conflict between the two groups.
Especially since the citizens of New York were currently holding their breath, like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
I miss you, Director Fury.
Coulson decided to put Nick Fury's resurrection ceremony on the agenda.
Whoever wants to be the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. can have it, he didn't want it anymore.
...
"Chieftain, Director Fury should be dead. No one on Earth knows about our existence anymore."
"Can the regulations on our people be relaxed a bit?"
"Can the plan also be put on the agenda?"
In an ordinary manor, an extraordinary conversation was taking place.
"Gravik, be patient. We still haven't fully understood the superhuman powers on Earth."
"Moreover, Carol promised to help us find a suitable home. After Director Fury's death, she should return once. Let's see what she says first."
"Yes, Chieftain."
The man named Gravik nodded outwardly, but inwardly, he was roaring.
Patience! Patience!
Damn Talos, I'm tired of waiting!
—
"Director Fury should be dead. This is truly good news."
In a secret meeting room, a secret video conference of HYDRA members was being held.
The host was Alexander Pierce.
"Thank you all for your hard work during this time."
"Cut off any exposed clues and hide those that haven't been exposed. After this period, things will get better."
On the screen, a figure spoke, "Tony Stark has tracked down the Winter Soldier. Should we abandon him too?"
Pierce hesitated.
The Winter Soldier was HYDRA's sharpest blade.
"Abandon him. Dr. Zola, please erase the traces on the internet."
The figure on the screen was also one of HYDRA's leaders, Arnim Zola.
He joined HYDRA during World War II and was Red Skull's right-hand man. After the war, he feigned surrender and later joined S.H.I.E.L.D.
After being diagnosed with terminal illness in 1972, he transferred his consciousness to a giant computer from the same era.