"Given Nick Fury's capabilities and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency, it's likely they'll find me soon," Li Chuan thought to himself after hanging up with Tony.
Whether it was Tony or Dr. Banner, who he was about to get his hands on, both were part of Nick Fury's Avengers initiative, so it was only a matter of time before Li Chuan's contact with them drew attention.
Actually, there was nothing to worry about, because since Nick Fury already knew about HYDRA's existence through Tony, then for a long time to come, his energy would likely be focused on outwitting HYDRA.
Even if he sensed something was off with Li Chuan, he wouldn't have the energy to deal with him, and might even come to him for help later on.
As for any related investigations, that was even less of a concern.
Let them investigate; his Li's Group was a genuinely legitimate company in the United States, at most with a more extensive bodyguard team, and it hadn't done anything illegal, so they could investigate freely.
Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. sent spies into the company, it was fine; all the experiments in the company's labs were legitimate, and Dr. Stern, Dr. Ethan, and others were researching drugs that benefited humanity.
After dragging it out for a while longer, when he became stronger, he could disregard Earth organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA.
"There's a new side quest. Please check the quest log."
Li Chuan, who was contemplating matters concerning S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, heard the quest prompt in his ear and naturally opened the panel, clicking on the side quest log.
Quest: Save Tony Stark. Tony Stark is suffering from palladium poisoning due to frequent use of the Ark Reactor for energy. Help him resolve the poisoning.
Reward: elder wand.
"elder wand? Is that the elder wand from the Harry Potter World? What use do I have for that thing?!"
Seeing the quest reward, Li Chuan was stunned.
He knew the elder wand, one of the Deathly Hallows from the Harry Potter World, made from elder wood and Thestral tail hair, capable of helping wizards more easily cast powerful and deadly magic.
But he wasn't a Wizard, nor did he have Wizard Bloodline, so he couldn't cast magic. Holding the elder wand was less useful than holding a dagger; it was completely useless, at least for now.
"Forget it, it's a free reward anyway."
Li Chuan thought about it and felt relieved, because even if he didn't do this side quest, it would eventually be completed.
According to the original plot, after Tony was poisoned, Nick Fury would give Tony the video left by Howard. Tony would realize from the video that his father had left the synthesis method for a new element in a model in his office, but it couldn't be created due to the technology available at the time.
Then he would create a new element that could replace palladium, completely solving the poisoning problem from using the Ark Reactor.
You see, Li Chuan didn't need to do anything; this quest could be completed.
"Perfect, I can use this opportunity to have Tony help me complete the plan, otherwise he might not agree."
Closing the panel, Li Chuan closed his eyes and practiced Chakra extraction while waiting for Tony to arrive.
However, would things really unfold according to the original plot? He had underestimated the series of butterfly effects brought about by his appearance as a butterfly in this World.
Washington, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Triskelion, former Director, current World Security Council Minister's office.
Alexander Pierce instructed the bald Agent in front of him:
"Sitwell, Nick Fury is getting suspicious."
"How is that possible? We've been hiding so well, and now most of S.H.I.E.L.D. is already our people. All the intelligence he knows is provided by us."
Sitwell's face showed surprise.
He was the main person in charge of recruiting new Agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. Whether it was special recruits from outside or Agents graduating from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, every Agent's file would first come into his hands.
Based on the information in the files, he could screen out which Agents had the potential to be recruited into HYDRA, and then they would become HYDRA Agents before even entering S.H.I.E.L.D.
This included many high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. officials; if their ideological awareness wasn't high, he would lure them with various benefits, turning them into HYDRA Agents.
Just like John Garrett, who was injured and almost died on a mission.
Therefore, most of the intelligence Nick Fury could see was the intelligence they allowed Nick Fury to see, and this intelligence, of course, would not contain any information related to HYDRA.
If any true S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents noticed suspicious points during missions, their reported information would be erased before reaching Nick Fury, and those Agents would be sacrificed in their next mission.
Under such circumstances, he really couldn't figure out how Nick Fury would become suspicious.
"Don't worry about that for now. He's not a simple man. Even though most of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been our people over the years, he has still secretly created many secret Bases that we are not aware of.
I will send people to deal with him. You prepare yourself; I will have you take over his position next."
Pierce waved his hand and instructed.
Sitwell hesitated:
"He's only suspicious. Wouldn't it be too early to deal with him now? The Insight Project still has many imperfections."
"I can't wait. I know him very well. Once he's suspicious, things will become very troublesome. Deal with him first, and once you become Director, continue to perfect the Insight Project."
Pierce's tone was very firm, clearly indicating his considerable recognition of Nick Fury's abilities.
If he hadn't truly recognized Nick Fury's abilities, he wouldn't have chosen Nick Fury, a non-HYDRA personnel, to take on such an important position as Director when he stepped down.
In fact, he felt that his move was very good.
It was precisely because Nick Fury's abilities were too strong that S.H.I.E.L.D., which was not very prominent back then, could become such a global behemoth now.
At the same time, it indirectly propelled the development of the entire HYDRA, and also allowed the Insight Project to reach its current stage.
To be honest, if it had been himself, or any other HYDRA member, in the Director's position, it would have been impossible to make S.H.I.E.L.D. so glorious.
But at the same time, he was also very wary of Nick Fury in his heart. After observing Nick Fury's abnormal behavior last night using the authority he secretly retained.
Even if it was just a suspicion that the other party might have noticed something, he immediately decided to eliminate him.
"Understood!"
Sitwell nodded, then exited the office.
After Sitwell left, Pierce immediately activated a secret communicator and instructed:
"Activate Winter Soldier. Mission: Kill Nick Fury!"
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