Half an Hour later.
Coulson walked out of the room helplessly, glanced left and right, then took out his cell phone and dialed the Director's number.
Soon, the connection was established, and a familiar voice came from the other end.
"Coulson~~"
"Director, your guess was correct. This time, we are indeed dealing with visitors from outside. And there are... unexpected developments." Coulson took a deep breath and relayed the details from Dr. Selvig, word for word.
After he finished, silence followed. Coulson listened intently as the faint sound of footsteps came through the line. After a long pause, Fury's voice returned.
"Do you think it's credible?"
"We used instruments to analyze his micro-expressions, eye movements, and heartbeat throughout the process. Everything checked out." Coulson didn't answer directly but added, "Moreover, much of the information Dr. Selvig mentioned requires a significant amount of specialized knowledge, resources, and manpower to fabricate."
"If they're lying, the stakes are too high to justify it. So, what could their motive even be?"
Fury exhaled heavily. He didn't respond immediately, but the implications were sinking in. SHIELD had already investigated every possible angle. Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy Lewis had their lives, finances, and histories scrutinized. Everything seemed perfectly ordinary.
Coulson continued, "If we eliminate all impossibilities, then what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."
Fury sighed. His headache was worsening. Though he had known about aliens since the 1990s—especially with the Skrulls as allies—this situation was spiraling far beyond his expectations. The arrival of the Kree and their advanced technology was one thing, but now demons like Blackheart, Mephisto, and even figures like Thor and the Asgardians had entered the equation.
The world wasn't just about aliens anymore. It was about gods and demons, too.
These were external threats SHIELD couldn't ignore, and Fury hated feeling like humanity was so insignificant in comparison.
"Damn it..." Fury muttered under his breath.
He had originally hoped that recruiting mutants for the Avengers would bolster Earth's defenses against extraordinary threats. But now, even that felt insufficient.
Still, buried within the bad news, there was a sliver of hope. Thor and Asgard, if genuine, could potentially be allies. At least for now, they seemed non-hostile and willing to communicate.
On the other hand, demons like Mephisto represented a far greater danger. But according to Blackheart, someone had already defeated and banished Mephisto back to Hell.
This mysterious figure intrigued Fury. He had long been tracking the elusive man who seemed to be at the center of these extraordinary events.
"Why would he stay hidden?" Fury muttered to himself. "Is it really just to avoid entanglement in human affairs? Or are those untraceable incidents also his doing? Like SHIELD, perhaps he's fighting from the shadows..."
This line of thought was unsettling but plausible. Fury recalled how Thor had been approached almost immediately upon arriving on Earth. That kind of coordination pointed to a highly capable and resourceful organization.
For now, Fury felt a small sense of relief, knowing someone was capable of countering beings like Mephisto. But that relief quickly turned into unease.
The mysterious man was powerful—powerful enough to defeat a demon lord. Based on Thor's conversations, Odin, the All-Father, could destroy entire planets. If this man was anywhere near Odin's level, his power could devastate the Earth.
Fury grimaced. If his pursuit of this figure angered him, SHIELD—and possibly the entire planet—might not survive.
"Director?" Coulson's voice snapped him back to reality.
Fury steadied his thoughts and replied, "You mentioned his mood seemed off?"
"Yes. According to Dr. Selvig, Jane Foster, and our own observations, he's been stable for the past few days. But today, his mood shifted drastically. He seems... sad, depressed. He's refusing to communicate."
"What do you think caused it, Coulson?"
"Maybe he's not the only one who came from Asgard."
"You're suggesting other Asgardians are on Earth and said something to him that upset him?"
"It's the only possibility that fits," Coulson replied.
Fury rubbed his temple. "It seems like something significant may have happened within Asgard. Keep observing. If he wants to approach the hammer, let him. Don't interfere. I suspect we'll see some unexpected developments soon."
"Understood. And Director... what do you mean by 'unexpected developments'?"
"Just a feeling. Our team in Mexico is ready to provide backup if needed. Keep me updated."
"Got it."
"Oh, and Coulson," Fury added, his tone softening slightly, "there's a surprise waiting for you when this mission is over."
"Looking forward to it, sir."