"You’ve probably noticed Vought’s recent publicity campaign," ’Hal’ said.
Fury nodded at that. There was no way he could’ve missed it. Vought’s dia push had been everywhere lately.
He replied, "I know. They’ve stirred up emotions across the country. Even people who never cared about superheroes have heard about it thanks to their viral marketing. To be honest, our guess isn’t that different from what people online are saying. Vought is clearly trying to tie their new hero to the image of Arica. They want to grow their power by using that hero’s future rise."
If they were just ordinary stars, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But the problem was, Vought’s superhero celebrities actually took action. During robberies or shootings, they really showed up. That’s how the company was able to build real influence with these entertainnt heroes.
"Then let ask you, who can truly represent the entire United States? Not even the man sitting in the White House can do that. Do you really think Vought can just pick so random hero, give them a flashy promo, and suddenly tie an entire country to them?"
"That..." Fury was caught off guard. He had completely overlooked that question.
Connecting a hero to a neighborhood or a city was easy. A good back story, a few successful missions, and the connection was built. But linking one hero to a whole nation? That was a different level entirely.
Especially in a country like the United States, where each state operated independently, and the relationship with the federal governnt wasn’t always clearly defined. Given those circumstances, uniting everyone under a single superhero was anything but simple.
Even ’Hal,’ a decorated soldier who’d survived the Civil War, hadn’t earned full nationwide recognition.
"So then, what kind of powerful hero is Vought planning to introduce that could actually represent Arica?" Fury muttered.
His first thought was that Vought must’ve used the cosmic storm energy to create so kind of monster. Soone on the sa level as Reid, at the very least. Otherwise, without that kind of power, how could a hero carry the weight of a nation?
"Maybe," ’Hal’ said, stepping forward as his ring lit up with a green glow, "strength isn’t what they’re relying on."
He projected a green hologram in front of them.
"A few days ago, while I was patrolling Earth, I passed over the Arctic and saw this."
Although the projection only had one green color, Fury imdiately recognized the figure in it: Reid.
And what the image showed was the mont Captain Arica was discovered and dug up.
"They... dug up Captain Arica?" Fury’s eyes widened. That possibility had never crossed his mind.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D. didn’t have the kind of technology needed for sothing like this yet, and he had no idea just how far LexCorp’s tech had advanced.
It’s hard for people to imagine things outside their scope of common sense. Right now, Fury’s understanding simply wasn’t enough for him to even consider the possibility of soone digging up Captain Arica.
But with ’Hal’ showing him hard proof, it all made sense.
Fury gathered himself together and murmured, "That’s right. It’s him. If it’s the Captain, he really could beco the symbol of Arican heroes just by existing. He doesn’t need overwhelming strength. He only needs to stand there."
In the Marvel world, following World War II, the United States began competing with the Soviet Union for global dominance, not just because of its growing power, but also because of the story it told the world.
It was Captain Arica, Steve Rogers, who defeated Hydra, the sinister group behind the Nazis. The U.S. used that victory to spread the image of itself as a global savior.
They built the legend of Captain Arica.
It’s hard to say how much that narrative influenced other countries, as no foreign governnt would encourage its own citizens to worship a dead Arican. But within the U.S., everyone saw him as a hero. People loved him.
In fact, so schools even had actors dress up as Captain Arica to give impassioned, patriotic speeches as part of moral education programs.
Before Vought International erged and turned superheroes into a comrcial product, if soone stopped a random holess man on the street and asked who his hero was, as long as he was Arican and not an immigrant, he’d almost certainly say Captain Arica.
This was the result of over half a century of continuous propaganda across all levels of Arican society. It gave Captain Arica a status far beyond what his actual power would suggest.
After all, glorifying a dead man had no consequences.
But who would’ve thought that Vought would actually dig him up and now planned to use his terrifying influence?
"If Captain Arica actually partners with Vought..."
Just imagining it sent a chill down Fury’s spine.
LexCorp was already loved by the people for advancing technology and improving quality of life. Vought had taken that admiration and transford it into heroes, a format Aricans embraced wholeheartedly. If they added Captain Arica to that mix now, the result would be obvious.
All of the U.S. could fall under LexCorp’s control in no ti. There’d be no voices left to oppose them.
"This can’t happen. We can’t let the newly awakened Captain side with LexCorp."
Fury didn’t deny what the company had done for the country. But he couldn’t let them turn the nation into their personal property.
"So, do you have a way?" ’Hal’ asked directly.
He had no intention of stepping in. Unless LexCorp broke the rules, his support for S.H.I.E.L.D. would remain limited to intelligence and cosmic affairs.
"I do." Fury gave a nod.
If he were still just an ordinary agent or so low-ranking desk worker, maybe he really wouldn’t have co up with a solution. But now, as director, after having combed through nearly every piece of information in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s database during this ti, he had a plan.
Since Vought wanted to win over Captain Arica, then they just had to do it better.
And in this, the agency had a unique advantage.
Because one of the people who had helped end the war, take down Hydra, and build S.H.I.E.L.D. alongside Howard Stark... was soone very dear to Captain Arica’s heart.
’If we can get her help...’ Fury thought.
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