The highest-ranking commander of the base suddenly fell unconscious.
The most important item in the base, the hamr, also mysteriously vanished.
In an instant, this newly established base fell into utter chaos.
Of course, the term "utter chaos" is relative to other special agent organizations; compared to others, it wasn't a complete disaster—more like everyone was scrambling around in confusion.
"Doctor! Where's the doctor? The General has fainted!"
"Guards! Guards!! The hamr is gone!!"
Listening to the voices around him, Blaine, the mastermind behind it all, couldn't be more delighted.
Pulling off a bold act and then vanishing—what a thrill.
…
Although things were temporarily chaotic, the base was, after all, jointly established by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military.
Very quickly, a few high-ranking officers, second only to the general, took charge and began organizing the situation.
First, the unconscious general was imdiately sent for dical treatnt.
Second, they reported the disappearance of the mysterious alien hamr.
The sudden disappearance of the alien hamr was classified as a mysterious incident, which technically fell outside the military's jurisdiction. S.H.I.E.L.D. was better equipped and faster at handling such matters.
This base was a joint venture between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military, but in truth, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the one calling the shots, with the military acting more as a "supporting" force.
And this incident was no small matter.
In fact, any incident involving extraterrestrial elents was automatically treated as top secret and of the utmost importance.
So naturally, no one dared take it lightly.
Once the report was submitted—
Nick Fury and Natasha imdiately boarded a jet and arrived at the New xico base from New York within thirty minutes.
"Tell
exactly what happened," Nick Fury said, his face dark and stern.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had already detected the energy signature of Thor's hamr the mont it appeared in this world.
The energy it contained was on par with that of an entire planet.
How could sothing like that just go missing?
If it had fallen into enemy hands, no one could predict what they'd do with it.
If possible, those hostile forces would tear S.H.I.E.L.D. apart first, because S.H.I.E.L.D. stood in the way of their ambitions.
Although Nick Fury wasn't sure how they stole it—or whether they could even use such a powerful weapon—
As long as the hamr wasn't under their surveillance and had fallen into soone else's hands, it was a massive threat—a hidden danger that had to be found and neutralized imdiately.
That's why Nick Fury decided to lead the investigation personally. He even instructed Natasha to delay her mission to eliminate a terrorist organization and co to New xico first. That alone showed how seriously he was taking this.
…
The military officer addressing Nick Fury felt like he was speaking to the President himself. Cold sweat stread down his forehead as he carefully organized his thoughts and combined the accounts from various witnesses into a cohesive tiline of events.
"First, the problem seems to have started with the General," he explained.
"The General was supposed to be stationed in his office, but today, he suddenly appeared at the back gate of the base. He didn't do anything unusual—just stared at the sandstorm for a mont and then ordered the guards to shut the gate."
"After the gate was closed, he went straight to the area where the hamr was being kept. He forcibly ordered the soldier on duty to remove the protective glass cover. It was at that mont that the hamr disappeared. The General then returned to the back gate, gave another order to open it, and collapsed right after that."
"To this mont, the General still hasn't regained consciousness."
The tiline was clear. The incident had originated with the General.
Nick Fury exchanged a glance with Natasha. "Take us to the surveillance footage—now."
The base had a comprehensive monitoring system, with surveillance everywhere except inside restroom stalls. Even the General's office had a cara installed.
"Yes, sir."
The officer quickly pulled up the footage from the General's office.
Nick Fury and Natasha stared intently at the screen.
"Stop right there!" Natasha said. "Slow it down."
On the screen, the General appeared dazed for a brief mont. The golf club he had been holding slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
"The General was being controlled," Natasha concluded.
She had seen many strange thods in her years, and she was almost certain that's what had happened here.
"If I'm not mistaken, the person who stole the hamr is the sa one who controlled the General—having him open the gate twice, enter and exit the base, and open the hamr's protective cover."
Nick Fury made his judgnt but still frowned deeply.
Because there was one thing he couldn't figure out—if the General was being controlled, and the hamr was indeed stolen, then how did that person manage to remain completely undetected, even by surveillance?
The Hand? No—it couldn't be. Those ninjas might be able to reduce their presence, but it was impossible for them to beco completely invisible to caras!
Wait…!
Nick Fury and Natasha suddenly thought of the sa person.
Although that person wasn't known for mind control, if anyone in this world could steal the alien hamr without leaving a trace, it would be him.
They looked at each other and spoke in unison: "Pull up the footage of the hamr's disappearance—now!"
The officer didn't understand why, but still nodded and complied without hesitation.
The footage played.
Onscreen—
'The General' barked a sharp order at the soldier guarding the hamr.
The soldier, visibly shaking, imdiately lowered his head and unlocked the protective casing.
And the mont it was opened—
The hamr, which had been sitting securely under the glass, vanished.
That 'General' seed to realize the plan had succeeded and quickly left without even glancing at the soldier beside him.
By now, everything was crystal clear. The General's behavior was clear evidence that he had indeed been controlled.
"Rewind a few seconds. Pause right there."
*************************************
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