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[Frog] Chapter 97: The Brotherhood of Mutants
🕑 Added 2024-10-06 16:29:29 +0000 UTC"Alan, isn't this color a bit too bright?"
In front of the computer, Gwen looked at the new suit design Alan had just finished and felt the colors seemed too bold.
Alan glanced at it. "If you don't like it, we can go back to the original color."
"It's not that I don’t like it. I just think the overall color should be a bit softer."
Alan thought for a moment. "That works. A softer color would suit you better too."
Hearing the command, Red Queen immediately generated a new color scheme.
As soon as the new color appeared, Gwen clapped her hands. "Perfect, this is it!"
"Alright, let’s go with this."
"I’ll check over the next couple of days to see if there are any areas that need upgrading. Once everything’s good, we’ll have Red Queen start making it."
"Pika... Pika..."
"Pika... Chu..."
Nearby, Pikachu seemed to protest with a sulky expression.
Alan quickly picked him up and petted him. "Don't worry, you'll get yours too."
"Pika... Chu..."
Only then did Pikachu happily jump around.
"You little glutton, why are you so impatient?" Gwen stroked Pikachu’s head, while Pikachu put his hands on his hips, "Pika... Chu..."
Alan chuckled and explained, "He says he wants to wear something nice too."
"Such a vain little thing!"
Suddenly, Red Queen's voice cut in. "Master, Nick Fury is here."
Alan squinted his eyes. "What's he doing here?"
The screen on the computer switched to a live feed of Nick Fury and Maria Hill stepping out of a car in front of the apartment building.
Curious, Gwen leaned closer. "Nick Fury...?"
"Who's that?"
"A nosy fellow," Alan described wryly.
He then looked at Pikachu. "Pikachu, do you want to stay in your room or hang around out here?"
"Pika... Chu..."
"Alright, then let Gwen hold you and pretend to be a plush toy for a bit."
Pikachu nodded and jumped into Gwen’s arms.
Sure enough, a moment later, there was a knock at the door.
Alan walked over and opened it.
Standing there was none other than Nick Fury in his signature black attire, along with his assistant, Maria Hill.
"Hello, can I help you?" Alan asked, feigning ignorance.
Nick Fury, looking serious, responded, "Hello, are you Mr. Alan Ford?"
"Yes, that’s me."
Nick Fury then pulled out a badge from his pocket. "We’re federal investigators. I’m Nick Fury, and this is Maria Hill."
"Do you know Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin?"
Alan secretly laughed.
If you'd been more straightforward, I wouldn’t be looking down on you right now.
"Of course, I know him," Alan replied without hesitation, surprising both Nick Fury and Hill. They had expected him to deny it, not answer so easily.
In the next moment, Nick Fury and Maria Hill realized they were being toyed with.
"With all the news coverage these past few days, how could I not recognize him?"
Nick Fury's expression remained unreadable, but Maria Hill's brow furrowed.
Had she really been fooled by a kid? To Hill, Alan seemed no different from a child.
"So, may I ask what brings you here?" Alan continued.
Nick Fury looked at Alan, speaking slowly, "Do you know that Kingpin once intended to target you?"
Feigning fear, Alan replied, "Agent, you must be joking. I'm just an ordinary college student. Why would he come after me when I haven't wronged him?"
Hill, unable to tolerate the sarcastic tone any longer, interjected, "An ordinary college student? Owning 60% of Stark Industries' stock, nearly a billionaire, and you call yourself ordinary?"
Realizing she'd lost her composure, Hill paused.
Now that Hill had laid it all out, Alan opened the door wide. "So you've already done your homework before coming here. Come on in, standing at the door is tiring me out."
Nick Fury shot a glance at Hill, and she immediately went quiet.
Once inside, Fury noticed a girl sitting on the sofa, holding what appeared to be a plush toy.
Alan casually sat down next to Gwen. "Find a place to sit, and ask whatever you need to. I’m feeling a bit sleepy." He yawned.
To be honest, Alan preferred when Nick Fury would just introduce himself directly as part of S.H.I.E.L.D. This roundabout approach was dull.
There was no way Fury had discovered Alan's Emperor identity. The fact that Fury had come was likely due to Kingpin's earlier attempt on Alan's life, leaving some clues behind.
Those four thugs who lost their minds on their way to confront him—that alone should have raised suspicion. If Fury didn’t connect this to Alan, then he didn’t deserve to be S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director.
Seeing how relaxed Alan was, Fury knew this would be a tough nut to crack, so he decided to lay all his cards on the table.
"I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," he said. "This is Agent Maria Hill."
Gwen, sitting quietly, found the term "S.H.I.E.L.D." unfamiliar. She hadn't heard of it before. But with Alan there, she remained quiet and acted normally, knowing he'd explain it to her once these two left.
Fury formally introduced himself, "You might not have heard of us..."
Alan interrupted, "Oh, I’ve heard of S.H.I.E.L.D. At Tony Stark's party, some of the high-society types mentioned it. A powerful intelligence agency, right?"
"Looks like we have a decent reputation," Fury said with a slight smirk.
Alan rolled his eyes. Wow, shameless. He had just said that offhandedly, and Fury had taken it seriously.
"Alright, what's your real reason for coming here?" Alan asked bluntly.
Nick Fury and Hill exchanged glances before Fury spoke again, "Do you realize you're in danger right now?"
Upon hearing this, Alan laughed. "Director Fury, is this how S.H.I.E.L.D. threatens people?"
Hill, standing behind Fury, pulled out a file and handed it to him. Fury took the file and passed it to Alan.
"We’re not threatening you. I believe you’ve heard of the Brotherhood of Mutants, haven't you?"
...
