Hearing Finney's words, Skye lowered her head and remained silent for a long while. It was unclear what she was thinking, but finally, her face flushed slightly, she reluctantly agreed.
While Finney was persuading Skye, Nick Fury, after leaving the base, immediately contacted a senator.
"This could be Earth's first interstellar war, but we're not ready. Therefore, I need a response team to stop this war from happening."
"But you're playing with fire, Commander!"
On the screen, a senator looked at Nick Fury and said, "These are not forces you can control."
The others also disagreed with the Avengers plan, especially since Nick Fury had specifically stated in the plan that they were not under his control, so they remained silent for the time being.
"Have you ever fought a war, Your Excellency?"
Nick Fury looked at his superiors, who had been cooped up in their offices for far too long, and said in a deep voice, "When it comes to real combat, do you like being controlled?"
"You said Loki has an army. Does that mean Asgard is going to declare war on Earth?"
Seeing her colleague speechless, another female senator changed the subject.
"Not Asgard, but Loki."
Nick Fury remembered that Finney had said Thor might come to help, so the army couldn't be Asgardian.
"What about his brother? Thor?" the senator continued.
"According to intelligence, Thor has no ill intentions towards Earth, but he's far away. We can only rely on ourselves," Nick Fury said.
"What about the Finney?" the senator asked, mentioning Finney. "Can't the Finney stop Loki either?"
Only the people at the base knew about Finney's disappearance, and since he had returned today, Nick Fury answered calmly, "He needs help, which is why this response team should be formed!"
After much haggling, Nick Fury finally got them to compromise and agree to temporarily form this response team, though whether it could truly be established remained to be seen.
Having completed the formalities, Nick Fury immediately headed to the next location without a moment's rest.
In a somewhat dated boxing gym, a muscular man with a well-defined chest and a prominent buttocks was furiously punching a heavy bag.
Left punch, right punch—his movements were crisp, sharp, and powerful.
"Can't sleep?"
Nick Fury asked, stepping out of Captain America's house as he watched the sweat-drenched workout.
"I slept for seventy years, sir, I think I've had enough."
"Then you should go out for a walk and see the scenery."
Seeing Nick Fury approach, Steve Rogers finally stopped hitting the sandbag, unwrapping the bandages from his hands as he asked, "A mission for me? Sir! To integrate me into the new world?"
"To save it!"
Looking at the document Nick Fury handed him, Steve hesitated for a moment, then took it, opened it, and immediately saw the Tesseract.
Nick Fury briefly recounted Loki's story, then slowly said, "This world is changing faster than you can imagine."
"I'm used to it."
Steve was still angry about the Tesseract, replying expressionlessly, then packed his things to leave.
"I've left the mission details at your house."
Watching Captain America carrying the sandbags away, Nick Fury thought for a moment, then added, "Do you have any specific suggestions for retrieving the Rubik's Cube?"
"You should leave it in the sea!"
Steve said without turning back, then left the boxing gym and returned home.
Looking at the documents Nick Fury had placed in such a prominent position, Steve sighed and began to examine them carefully.
The documents didn't actually contain specific mission plans or operations; they were mostly introductions to other people, such as Asgard, Thor, Loki's information, Banner's situation, Tony's identity, and the Iron Man suit.
Meanwhile, Coulson, following Nick Fury's instructions, arrived at Stark Tower to find Tony and Banner.
On the top floor of Stark Tower,
Tony and Pepper were chatting intimately when Jarvis's voice suddenly rang out: "Sir, Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is calling for you."
"Tell him I'm not here!"
Although he held the title of advisor, Tony didn't have much affection for S.H.I.E.L.D.
"He probably won't believe you, sir."
As Tony continued to upgrade, Jarvis's intelligence level also increased.
"Be confident, Jarvis, I'm on a date right now!"
Tony casually remarked, intending to continue cultivating his relationship with Pepper.
Unfortunately, Pepper knew the importance of interpersonal relationships and also had a certain fondness for Agent Coulson, so she advised Tony, "See what he wants to talk to you about first, just in case it's related to Finney!"
Tony's expression changed upon hearing this, but he ultimately answered the phone.
"Stark, we need to talk, it's urgent!"
Coulson's serious face appeared on the phone screen.
"What's wrong, is the end of the world coming?"
Tony joked casually.
"More or less!"
But Coulson's answer surprised Tony. Looking at Coulson's serious face, it didn't seem like he was joking. He opened security clearance and let him take the elevator to Tony.
"What trouble have you gotten into this time?"
Tony asked, looking annoyed, as Coulson walked over carrying a computer.
"You can take a look at this first."
Coulson handed the computer to Tony.
"I don't like people handing me things, you can put it on the table."
Tony didn't take the computer, but shrugged and walked to the sofa to sit down, waiting for Coulson to place the computer in front of him.
Pepper noticed Coulson's urgency and nervousness, so she didn't embarrass him. She casually took the laptop, smoothing things over for Coulson, saying, "It's okay, I like it when people give me things."
Then, she went to Tony and handed him the laptop.
Tony took the laptop, looked at Pepper and then at Coulson, gave a helpless smirk, started the computer, transferred the data to the building's server, and then opened it on the holographic projection in the room.
Pepper was also looking at the surrounding data in surprise. Suddenly, she seemed to notice something and turned to Coulson, asking, "Finney…the Silver Knight has appeared?"
"This is the latest data compiled by the director,"
Coulson nodded. Although he hadn't seen Finney return with his own eyes, he had seen more detailed data and knew that Finney had appeared with Loki.
When Tony heard this news, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. He said, "I knew that guy wouldn't get hurt so easily."
"Also, please inform Dr. Banner; it would be best if he could participate in this mission!"
With Finney's change, this dangerous mission involving Banner wouldn't have to be carried out by Natasha anymore, although this might very well cause Banner to lose a love that already had little hope.
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(End of Chapter)