Chapter 11: Everything Not Recognized by S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Illegal! Must Be Taken

On the morning of the second day, Director Nick Fury massaged his shiny black bald head, staring with a headache at the report on his desk. He had thought the incident involving the alien girl had finally settled down, but it seemed new ripples were appearing.

Just last night, after Phil Coulson had finally settled that troublesome little girl, Annie, things hadn't even calmed down for a moment before several even more troublesome individuals emerged! According to the report submitted by Coulson and Melinda, these people seemed to be sorcerers, and they likely belonged to some kind of organization.

They could use magic; they could use the Mirror Dimension! Well... in any case, for S.H.I.E.L.D., they were extremely difficult to deal with! Because they could draw circles and suddenly appear behind you for melee combat! Even a combat expert as skilled as Melinda had been caught off guard by their "circle tactics."

The good news, however, was that they were eventually easily captured by little Annie.

According to the report from Level 10 Agent Hill, who had gone to provide support last night, all she and her combat squad could do after jumping from the helicopter was secure the five individuals who were struggling, bound and unable to move on the beach.

Agent Hill was currently in a special cell beneath S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, presiding over the interrogation of these five people. In truth, the interrogation had been going on all night and was reportedly not going smoothly. Because the captives were impervious to both soft and hard tactics, and Hill did not dare to use overly extreme methods, the matter had reached a temporary stalemate.

He knew Hill's capabilities; he hoped she could extract some useful intelligence soon. After signing his name to the report, Director Nick Fury was about to call his secretary to file it when he suddenly noticed the space in his entire office begin to warp.

*What is this?*

Nick Fury became instantly alert, his single eye turning exceptionally sharp. Was this the Mirror Dimension mentioned in the report? He understood immediately—someone was up to something, and it was almost certainly related to the five people they had captured!

Thinking quickly, he drew the Colt Python from his waist and spun around, aiming the muzzle toward the other side of the office. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a silhouette near the sofa. He swore that a second ago, there had been absolutely no one there! And now! A middle-aged woman with a bald head, dressed in linen robes, was standing right there!

Although the woman looked kind and benevolent, and even shared his own shiny bald head, Director Nick Fury didn't care about that. No matter how harmless she looked, it wouldn't stop him from aiming his sights at her, er, bald head! In Nick Fury's book, there was no principle of "no bald person shall harm another bald person."

"Please, relax! Friend, do not be nervous. Believe me, I mean no harm. I only wish to have a proper talk with you—an open and honest discussion," the bald woman said with a smile toward Nick Fury, as if the gun pointed at her head did not exist.

"Who are you?"

Looking at the warping space around him, Nick Fury's expression grew solemn. His intuition told him this was indeed the Mirror Dimension mentioned in the report; it truly was a miraculous spell! Although he spoke while observing his surroundings, his hand holding the gun did not waver in the slightest. The muzzle remained fixed on her head; if she made even the slightest suspicious move, he would fire immediately!

"You intend to speak to me like this? Please! Your weapons may not pose any threat to me," the bald woman continued to smile, raising a hand to gesture toward the revolver still pointed at her head.

Nick Fury fell silent for a moment. Looking at the surrounding Mirror Dimension, he deliberated for a while before finally having to holster his collector's edition Colt Python.

After all, he was currently at a disadvantage, like meat on a chopping block. As a normal human, he truly seemed unable to resist these mysterious, supernaturally gifted freaks. In that case, it was better not to make a fool of himself further.

"Is this how you all conduct negotiations? I don't see any sincerity from you!"

As the dignified Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he had actually been hijacked by an unknown person—and in his own office at headquarters, no less! It was impossible not to feel infuriated. Looking at the warping Mirror Dimension, Nick Fury could only curse inwardly: *Damn sorcerers! Damn bald heads! Er... cough, I suppose I'm bald too? Fine, that one doesn't count!*

"This is merely an appropriate means to avoid being disturbed by outsiders, is it not, Director Nick Fury?" The bald woman spoke unhurriedly, smiling as she looked out the window at the S.H.I.E.L.D. staff who were continuing their work, unaware of any anomaly.

"Allow me to introduce myself. You may call me the Ancient One, a Sorcerer Supreme from Kamar-Taj."

"The Ancient One? Sorcerer Supreme? I'm sorry, I've never heard of them!"

Nick Fury strode back to his desk, slammed his pistol onto the surface, and sat back down in his director's chair, eyeing this composed Sorcerer Supreme with cold eyes.

"Of course, you can understand it as me being the leader of an indigenous Earth sorcerer organization called Kamar-Taj," the Ancient One explained, seeing his confusion.

"In fact, Kamar-Taj's functions are quite similar to those of S.H.I.E.L.D.—at least very similar! However, while you maintain the peace of the material world on Earth, we maintain the Mystic Arts and prevent the Earth from being eroded by the dangerous Dark Dimension."

"Excuse me, does Earth have sorcerer organizations? And what is the Dark Dimension? How is it that I've never known of these things?" Nick Fury could not accept his own ignorance. He was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; why was there a sorcerer organization called Kamar-Taj that he knew nothing about?

"The mysteries of this world are infinite. In this great universe, we are all small. Ignorance is not a fault; it is precisely because of this that we humans constantly explore the unknown."

*You have much more to learn! The existence of Kamar-Taj is older than the history of your nation. Even the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme, would not claim to be omniscient. What are you, a director of the mundane world, in comparison?* However, the Ancient One did not say this aloud, merely continuing to look out the window with a smile. She had come today for an initial contact, not to engage in a competition of knowledge.

"Stop! Fine. State your purpose, Honorable Sorcerer Supreme!" As a former Level 10 agent, Nick Fury's will was incredibly firm; he would not be swayed by a few words from this stranger.

However, he had gained a rough understanding of her identity as a sorcerer. Since an alien sorcerer girl had already appeared, it wasn't impossible to accept the emergence of an indigenous Earth sorcerer organization.

"The five people captured yesterday—they are your people, aren't they?" He sought to seize the initiative in the negotiation, refusing to let her lead him by the nose.

The Ancient One turned around helplessly to look at the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. who had interrupted her. This Black man was not easy to deal with! She hadn't even had a chance to deploy her "persuasion techniques" yet!

"Very well, that is indeed the case. The five you captured were led by a sorcerer named Daniel from the New York Sanctum. I deeply regret yesterday's incident and the misunderstanding between our two parties. But please believe me, this was merely their private action and does not represent Kamar-Taj. I hope your side will release them to resolve this misunderstanding." Since the other party was unwilling to engage in much dialogue, the Ancient One decided to get straight to the point.

"Even if you say so, that is no reason for us to release them voluntarily! You must realize they launched an attack on my people. You should pay some price for this!"

The art of negotiation is to seize the initiative, probe the opponent's bottom line, and finally concentrate various chips to coerce them into compromise or paying a higher price! The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a master of these negotiation tactics.

He could release the people, but the other side had to provide an equivalent exchange! He was currently thinking: he must demand something of equal value to those five people! Whether it was mysterious magical knowledge or more intelligence, he would have to deliberate carefully.

"No, I think you misunderstand. I have already taken those five away. I came here simply to notify you, hoping that both sides can resolve this misunderstanding and avoid further friction." As she finished speaking, a red circle appeared behind the Ancient One. She took a step back into the circle and vanished. With her disappearance, the entire Mirror Dimension in the office returned to normal.

This! This left Director Nick Fury utterly speechless! *Dammit, she just left like that?* He thought she had truly come to negotiate, so he had just been brewing a long list of conditions to present! And then she just left? What did she take him for—the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?!

Her people attacked his side first; after being caught, instead of offering an apology or compensation, she just showed up to rescue them without a word! And before leaving, she had the audacity to come to him and say: "I've already rescued them, it was a misunderstanding! I hope you don't mind?!" What kind of international joke was this! What did she think S.H.I.E.L.D. was? This was sheer lawlessness!

Director Nick Fury felt that S.H.I.E.L.D. had to acquire a group of superhuman forces as soon as possible. Wild sorcerer organizations like Kamar-Taj—unrecorded, unacknowledged, and lawless—had to be suppressed immediately! Dissolve them, and confiscate all their illegal assets and books! They could not be allowed to continue developing like this!

"Director! Something bad has happened! Those five people have suddenly disappeared!" Maria Hill, a Level 10 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, burst into the Director's office to report, only to pause when she saw the Director's grim expression.

"That... I just found out. You can leave for now."

(End of Chapter)