Chapter 31: Nick Fury’s Methods (Part II)

Nick Fury was indeed dark-skinned, dark-hearted, and audacious! He formed seals with both hands, and with a soft sound, another Nick Fury appeared beside him. This new Fury began to weave seals and transformed into Ivan Vanko.

"Shadow Clone, Transformation Technique! Amazing!" Yang Xin admired Nick Fury's shamelessness, his reverence flowing like an endless river, unstoppable as the floodwaters of the Yellow River.

"It's a Fire Clone, Transformation Technique," Nick Fury corrected, handing the Dimensional Pocket to the transformed Ivan—the Fire Clone—who nodded and made a reassuring gesture.

Nick Fury immediately dispatched a small squad of agents, appointing Coulson as their captain, to escort the Fire Clone of Nick Fury directly to the command center of the airspace carrier. He suggested that Coulson's squad deliver Ivan Vanko to the military prison.

"Agent of the Age, Coulson!" General Ross and Justin Hammer exchanged glances, clearly unwilling to let Coulson take Ivan away. Who knew what secret orders Coulson might have received, or what he might discover?

General Ross and Justin Hammer promptly stated that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s assistance was unnecessary, and their own personnel would suffice.

"Ivan Vanko is yours now. S.H.I.E.L.D. takes no responsibility for anything that happens," Nick Fury declared coldly, dismissing Ross and Hammer.

They immediately took Ivan Vanko aboard a fighter jet and summoned an escort squadron to accompany them.

Nick Fury let them depart, the airspace carrier keeping a discreet distance. Once Ross's jet was truly gone, the carrier vanished from sight.

Justin Hammer and General Ross, relieved to have shaken off the carrier, breathed deeply and sped to Hammer Industries with Ivan Vanko.

Hammer Industries had become a military restricted zone, guarded by numerous soldiers and fortified with advanced technology and defensive systems, sealed off by land, sea, and air—a fortress.

Ivan Vanko was brought in. Before Hammer and Ross could interrogate or threaten him, Ivan displayed eager cooperation, declaring his lifelong ambition was to defeat Stark Industries at its core and demanding that, once the reactor was built, he be credited.

Only those with desires cooperate well; the desireless are saints, and saints are to be revered, not put to work. Ivan was no saint, but all his demands were met. Equipment and supplies poured in.

Ivan was busy, leading Hammer Industries' scientists, inventorying materials, and acting as if he would start work the moment everything was ready.

General Ross, with many responsibilities, couldn't stay at Hammer Industries. Seeing Ivan so pragmatic, he gave instructions and left.

At first, Justin Hammer watched Ivan twenty-four hours a day, fearing tricks. But Ivan proved reliable, openly hating Stark Industries, cursing them at every turn and vowing to crush them. Hammer relaxed; he didn't believe Ivan could escape.

Hammer began gathering funds, mortgaging everything for bank loans, and demanded money from the military and Congress, determined to buy what Ivan needed, create a super armor, and triumph at the upcoming weapons expo—defeating Tony Stark.

Hundreds of trucks arrived, loaded with supplies. Ivan personally led the scientists, inventorying everything and directing the trucks to seal the goods in warehouses, his urgency obvious.

"How much do you hate Tony Stark?" Justin Hammer's voice came from behind Ivan.

"Hate? I just want to drag his arrogant face to the ground, kick it hard twice, and spit on it." Ivan's face twisted with rage at the mention of Tony Stark.

"Good suggestion. When you kick that egomaniac and spit on him, count me in. I'd like to kick him a few times and spit, too." Hammer, seeing Ivan's contorted face, was not afraid—he was even more excited.

"You won't have to wait long," Ivan finally smiled, though the smile was as sinister as the rest.

"Tonight, I'm not leaving. I'll stay here. Move all my equipment here, where I can watch it," Ivan said, gesturing to the endless supplies.

"As you wish!" Justin Hammer replied with a gentlemanly smile, offering a glass of red wine in reward.

He was greeted by Ivan's raised middle finger; Hammer was only amused.

That night, Hammer Industries' defenses were tightened. A black crow silently perched at the warehouse window.

Meanwhile, aboard the distant airspace carrier, Nick Fury—normally grim and taciturn—broke into hysterical laughter for the first time, and Yang Xin joined him.

As for Nick Fury's windfall of supplies, Yang Xin only admired him; he felt no envy. Using the Dimensional Pocket once to get a Quinjet was a sure bargain, and whatever else Fury gained was his own skill.

Some might envy Fury's gains, but not Yang Xin. He understood that a gentleman loves wealth but acquires it rightly. Fury's position was earned, and one must not let profit cloud judgment.

Suddenly, Ivan Vanko, at Hammer Industries, opened his eyes and stared at the black crow at the window. Their gazes met, and one of the crow's eyes was unmistakably a Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Why don't you use Kamui Space to collect the supplies?" Yang Xin asked aboard the carrier.

"Kamui Space is too slow. The Dimensional Pocket is faster. I've tested it—the pocket collects items much more quickly and is limitless, while Kamui Space is finite and consumes more chakra with large objects," Nick Fury explained while issuing remote commands.

Ivan immediately took out the Dimensional Pocket, placing it in the crow's beak. The crow soared, circling above the supplies, as the pocket devoured the warehouse’s contents like a giant whale.

Suddenly, air raid sirens blared. Not an enemy attack, but Ivan’s own twisted setup. Hammer and Ross had boasted that no one could breach their defenses—not even a mosquito.

Tonight, there was no mosquito, only a crow with the Mangekyō Sharingan.

No matter how elite the guards, from the alarm to assembly and breaking down the warehouse door, time was needed. In that brief window, the crow, circling with the Dimensional Pocket, devoured all the massive supplies.

Once it finished, the crow’s Mangekyō Sharingan spun, space ripples appeared, forming a vortex. The crow flew in with the pocket and vanished.

At the same time, Nick Fury aboard the carrier was arguing with Security Council members, creating his perfect alibi. Once finished, he removed his eyepatch, his Sharingan spun, and the crow emerged from the vortex with the Dimensional Pocket. It handed the pocket to Fury, then disappeared with a soft sound.

"These supplies will stay with you for now," Nick Fury tossed the Dimensional Pocket to Yang Xin.

"Why? Aren't you afraid I'll steal them?" Yang Xin was surprised.

"They’re safest with you right now. As for stealing? I trust you," Nick Fury said calmly.

"The King of Agents trusts no one," Yang Xin retorted.

"Except you."

"Why?"

"No reason. Not just me—Coulson, Natasha, Hill, all trust you." Nick Fury gave Yang Xin a meaningful look, then turned his attention to the screen.

On the screen, Ivan Vanko was tightly bound and dragged before Justin Hammer.

"General Ross made me do it," Ivan grinned, his teeth gleaming coldly as he mocked Hammer.

Then Ivan turned to white smoke and vanished.

Hammer was stunned, then furious, convinced Ross was behind this trick. If Ross could create the Hulk and Abomination, why not this?

With the video as evidence, Hammer stormed off to Congress in a rage.