Chapter 40

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Please don't be too hard on Gordon and Jonathan. Both of them have different roles within the organization. They are always on the front lines, facing the most dangerous tasks. Unlike us nine, who need to stay behind the scenes for safety reasons to avoid assassination and to prevent the organization from losing its leadership, they are in a much more difficult position. We should understand their hardships and not be so petty."

Gordon: "That's a human thing to say." — continues to give the middle finger

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "If you find it pleasant to hear, Gordon, please put your middle finger down. Jonathan, you too."

Gordon: "How does the one-eyed man 'see' this? There are no video transmission devices here. Is it the new high-tech equipment from the Eastern European branch?" — mutters, retracts the middle finger

Jonathan: "Truly worthy of being the leader of the [Nine Greats], the General Secretary of the organization, the helmsman. You can discern direction in the fog, nothing escapes your eyes. I am truly impressed." — flatters

I (voiceover): "This flattery is too obvious. It's almost as if he's saying, 'The S.H.I.E.L.D. is benevolent and virtuous, benefiting all. May it rule for a thousand years, unifying the world! The General Secretary revitalizes the organization, living as long as the heavens!'"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Hahaha, nothing escapes my eyes? I, a one-eyed man, am grateful if I can see clearly enough to avoid falling down the stairs. How could I discern direction in the fog? Jonathan, you're still as eloquent as ever."

Jonathan: "Not at all, you are too modest, you flatter me."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Flatterer..."

Gordon: "Since the greats are already aware of the recent situation in the production team, I won't waste time repeating it. I have something else to say and hope for your support."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Our support? What can't you handle that requires our support? Tell us."

Gordon: "It's about the planet Oa and the Guardians."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "So it's about foreign relations. What suggestions do you have?"

Gordon: "I hope to formally protest to the Guardians in your name."

s.h.i.e.l.d_03 (sound_only): "Formal protest? Protest what? What have the Guardians done to harm the organization?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_09 (sound_only): "Did they send the Green Lantern Corps to the Chinese branch to snatch people?" — Chinese origin

s.h.i.e.l.d_08 (sound_only): "Impossible. The extradition agreement with Oa was just finalized. They have no reason to do that." — Chinese origin

Gordon: "Stop guessing. I am protesting their use of the sun as a garbage dump and incinerator, throwing all kinds of experimental waste and sealed monsters into it..."

I (voiceover): "So it's a protest against the Guardians for littering. What do the Guardians think, throwing garbage into the sun for no reason? Why not just throw it into a black hole?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Why protest this? It doesn't directly affect the organization. Besides, the organization and the Illuminati have done similar things in the past, so it's hard to oppose it."

s.h.i.e.l.d_06 (sound_only): "Exactly. The friendly relations between the organization and Oa are hard-won. Your formal protest will damage bilateral relations."

Gordon: "I understand all of this, but their continuous dumping of garbage into the sun will eventually cause problems..."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Eventually? That's billions of years from now. You're just worrying unnecessarily."

Gordon: "Worrying unnecessarily? There are so many uninhabited star systems and black holes in the universe where they could dump their garbage, but they travel thousands of miles to the solar system to use the sun as a garbage dump and incinerator. Isn't that strange? There must be a conspiracy. We need to stop them immediately, or the consequences will not only harm the organization but the entire Earth and all of humanity."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Spreading rumors to incite panic!"

s.h.i.e.l.d_03 (sound_only): "Making groundless claims!"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Both of you, stop. Gordon's concerns are valid."

Gordon: "The General Secretary is wise."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "But Gordon, have you considered how the Guardians will respond to our formal protest? They might just ignore it. At most, they will give us some explanations to gain our understanding and silence us, then continue their actions until something really goes wrong."

Gordon: "I propose this to make them wary, to shake them up..."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "I understand, but the organization currently lacks the ability to stop them. We can handle operations on our own turf, but long-distance, interstellar military actions are beyond our reach. We don't have much leverage to negotiate with them. In short, without the power, any action is futile. The concerns and objections of 02, 03, and 06 are also reasonable. It's better to pretend we don't know and maintain friendly relations with them, learning their high-tech, and then we can confront them when the time is right."

Gordon: "Understood." — smirking

I (voiceover): "The old man is smiling... Is there a plot?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Speaking of enhancing the organization's strength, I have an important task for you. I hope you can complete it successfully."

Gordon: "An important task? What task?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "To represent the organization and welcome the distinguished guests from Paradise Island."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Paradise Island? Have the Amazons finally agreed to provide the organization with magical guidance?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound_only): "Indeed, the seed planted five years ago is finally bearing fruit. With their help, the organization's magical research will make a qualitative leap. After all, the guest is the Amazonian princess, a descendant of the Olympian gods, a true magical girl."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound_only): "Such an important guest is invaluable... General Secretary, let the Moscow headquarters handle this. Gordon's rank is too low to match the status of the Amazonian princess. Having him receive her would not be in line with diplomatic etiquette and could offend the guest."

I (voiceover): "What is so special about this Amazonian princess that the second-in-command is willing to lose face to take her from Gordon? Isn't technology the primary productive force? Is magical research that important?"