Seeing Paige's back disappear from sight, Howard put away the smile on his face and waved to his secretary to close the office door.
After thinking for a moment, he took out a mobile phone from the drawer.
Enter the encrypted channel and make a call to an unknown contact.
Drip, drip, drip.
It rang three times before someone answered.
"What's going on with you? I've already said, try to keep a low profile, and keep your hands and feet clean to avoid leaving any clues that can be traced."
Howard raised his fingers and tapped the table hard to express his inner dissatisfaction.
He finally fooled Peggy Carter by cooperating with the White House and giving SHIELD a reason to seek external support.
But this is just a delaying measure.
As the current top leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., Peggy Carter has more power than Howard knows.
For example, the red house.
The spy agency originally affiliated with Leviathan has become the secretariat of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The pretty and lovely "Nightingales" are specially trained and then assigned to various departments to play roles such as confidential secretaries.
To a certain extent, they are all Peggy Carter's eyes and ears, allowing the female commander to more effectively control the internal situation of SHIELD.
Any disturbance could not be hidden from the sight of the red house.
There is also the field team led by Nick Fury, and the mutant academy of White Queen Emma Frost...
These are independent agencies that Howard cannot intervene in and has no authority to direct.
The only place he can penetrate is the scientific research department.
And that's not all, like Arnim Zola, Bolivar Teslak... the laboratories they are responsible for do not allow outsiders to enter at all.
As for Howard Stark, that is even more unwelcome.
"This guy's popularity is really bad!"
Thinking of this, "Howard" complained.
It was obvious that he was not the real person.
"We have been careful enough. SHIELD has too many informants and too much power. It is simply impossible to completely avoid their attention."
There was a complaining voice on the other end of the phone.
"This planet is not very powerful. We can completely control the top management of mankind and then disband S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Those superheroes, and mutants... all abide by the rules. As long as they use the pressure of public opinion to force and divide them, I believe it won't be long before they will become a piece of loose sand!"
Howard frowned, seemed a little unhappy, and said in a deep voice, "Are you teaching me how to do something?"
He is the commander of the advance force of the Skrull Empire this time.
"Don't dare, don't dare, I just...suggest."
The voice from the mobile phone immediately dropped.
"You only see the first layer, but I consider the second and third layers."
Howard cleared his throat and said in a deep voice: "S.H.I.E.L.D. not only has the authority of the World Security Council, but as far as I know, it also has a close relationship with the magicians of the three major temples."
"Besides, if you launch an action rashly, what if the guy named Superman... is found? How will it end?"
The impostor searched Howard Stark's own memory and had a certain understanding of Luke Cavill, the missing director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The only impression the other party left on the public was "powerful".
This is the first thought that most people have when they mention Mr. Director.
"We should be careful and careful to ensure that the mission is completed."
Howard spoke earnestly and warned: "Don't cause any more trouble on your side, increase infiltration efforts, and try to catch all the top military officials. I will continue to inquire about the 'Pegasus Project' and Mar-Vell of the Kree Empire." The whereabouts of the Doctor and the Lightspeed Engine."
Then he gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone.
Howard Stark is an important figure in SHIELD, and he also likes to run around.
Therefore, he was directly selected by the Skrulls' advance force and became the first person to be disguised.
As for Peggy Carter, who also holds a high position, because her relationship network is too complex and she often travels between the White House and the Council headquarters, it is difficult for the Skrulls to attack her.
"Superman..."
The Skrull leader, disguised as Howard Stark, narrowed his eyes.
As we all know, the SHIELD director has disappeared for a long time.
Considering that similar disappearances had occurred before, the Skrull leader chose to lurk.
Finding the light speed engine, thereby contributing to the Skrull Empire's grand cause, is the first priority.
Conquering the earth can be a little slow.
…
…
"What do you think about this?"
In the office on the top floor of the headquarters building, Paige held her chin with one hand and asked softly.
Opposite her sat Nick Fury.
"About Mr. Stark?"
Nick Fury considered his words. He is currently a level eight agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is responsible for the management of the field team.
"If it's just a little abnormal, it won't prove anything. Sometimes there's a fine line between genius and madness... Moreover, Mr. Stark is usually not normal."
"I would often tell cold jokes that no one would understand, and then lock myself in the laboratory alone, not leaving the house for ten days and a half... "
Nick Fury did not have much contact with Howard Stark, and it was difficult to understand where the abnormal behavior mentioned by Peggy Carter was reflected.
"Steve, how is he doing?"
Peggy did not dwell on this topic, but brought up Captain America, who had retired long ago.
"Well, Captain Rogers and his wife, and... Bucky Barnes, they are living pretty well."
Nick Fury replied with a strange expression.
If you ignore the second half of the sentence, you can assume that Captain America is happily married.
But adding the second half of the sentence makes it look weird.
It is obviously a peaceful life for two people, why is there an extra existence that violates the harmony
"Get Steve, SHIELD needs Captain America's help."
Peggy looked indifferent. She was used to the close brotherhood between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.
Frankly speaking, every time she gets together at a family gathering, she even feels that Margaery, the wife of Captain America, is the redundant one.
"clear."
Nick Fury felt a chill in his heart and nodded.
Paige is not only planning to ask Captain America to come out, but also plans to contact the White Queen Emma Frost to alert the mages of the three temples.
Her intuition told her that unknown changes were taking place, and a terrible storm had begun to brew.
SHIELD must be prepared to respond and ensure that it is not defeated.
Peggy issued instructions methodically until all the work at hand was completed.
She rubbed her temples to relieve fatigue.
Whenever she had some free time, the female commander of SHIELD couldn't help but think of that bastard who put all the work on himself and was not responsible at all.
"How could there be these problems if Superman was still here."
Paige shook her head and smiled bitterly.
Luke will always be S.H.I.E.L.D.'s anchor. With him around, everything will be calm.
But with the departure of Superman, the world has become undercurrents.
…
…
In the ignorant land, the Difan Group Building.
"Do you feel better after drinking?"
Glancing at the drunken Captain Marvel, Luke put down his glass and asked.
In the past few hours, the other party had almost wiped out all his inventory.
Cup after cup, bottle after bottle, without stopping.
"Okay, much better."
Carol stammered.
"Then do you want to go back to Earth and have a look?"
Luke suggests that returning to familiar surroundings can evoke warmer memories deeper in Carol's heart.
"Earth?"
Carol's eyelids were a little heavy.
"It's not like it's a direct flight from New York to London. It's not that easy."
There is an unknown distance between the ignorant land and the earth.
Even if Captain Marvel completely releases the power in his body and flies at the speed of light, it will take some time.
“For me, it’s a lot easier than flying from New York to London.”
Luke smiled, leaving Yon-Rogg and his gang to negotiate with the Kree Empire, and he decided to go back first.
Talos, the surrendered Skrull, has already said that an advance force is rushing to Earth to find the light speed engine developed by Mar-Vell.
If something happens, SHIELD may not be able to handle it.
Snapped!
Luke snapped his fingers gently.
A teleportation portal was formed in an instant. (End of chapter)