Crisis of Trust

God knew how many high-ranking officials in America had now been replaced by Skrulls?

Could the many Councilmen present, even the President sitting in the White House, also possibly be Skrulls in disguise?

This revelation chilled every American to the bone.

So powerful America had only been an illusion? America had long since been secretly controlled by aliens?

"Let me reiterate: we Skrulls came to Earth in peace. We absolutely have no intention of secretly invading Earth!"

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly uncontrollable, Talos tried to explain further. But clearly, no one present was listening to him. Each of them seemed distracted, as though they were thinking about something else.

Then again, it had already been conclusively proven that he and the alien beside him had impersonated Nick Fury and Hill. From the very beginning, they had not been honest, choosing instead to participate in the council while wearing Nick Fury’s face.

No matter what, even if Talos talked himself hoarse now, no one present would believe him.

Leaving everything else aside, who among those capable of becoming Councilmen or capitalists was not ruthless? Did they think every wealthy capitalist was as kind as Tony Stark? That they were Super Heroes?

What a joke. The world of capital was a world where people devoured people. Every capitalist was ruthless and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. These people had never trusted others easily, especially after the Skrulls had already "deceived" them once. It would be a miracle if they believed them now!

"Tsk, tsk, how interesting. Aliens disguised as humans are now proposing the establishment of a Sky Sword Bureau to defend against aliens?" Zheng Xian looked at the silent American Councilmen with an ambiguous smile and drove a wedge between them. "What should this be called? Defending against myself?"

"…"

There were more aliens than just Skrulls! He was deliberately twisting the issue!

Talos remained silent. He wanted to refute him, but he also knew that even if he talked himself hoarse, no one would believe him.

At the same time, Talos gained a profound understanding of Zheng Xian’s dark-hearted nature.

What kind of person was this? How could such a black-hearted bastard exist?

Were these Nick Fury’s enemies? They were simply terrifying. How had Nick Fury endured this? If it had been Talos, he would probably have broken down long ago.

"Aliens want to build a so-called defense system over your heads. Well, as everyone knows, a defense system is itself a powerful offensive weapon. Aliens are preparing to install a weapons system above your heads. Is it really meant to defend against aliens?"

Take America’s Patriot System and THAAD System. Though they were air-defense weapons, they themselves possessed formidable offensive capabilities.

Looking at the American Councilmen, who had long since fallen silent, Zheng Xian continued to add fuel to the fire. "Installing a Sky Sword Bureau above your heads that can drop nuclear bombs on you at any time—and you actually agreed to it?"

"I oppose establishing the Sky Sword Bureau!"

Pierce slammed the table without hesitation, his face filled with righteousness. At a time like this, he had no choice but to oppose it. The existence of the Skrulls had already been confirmed; if anyone continued supporting the Sky Sword Bureau, they would be suspected of being a "Skrull."

Pierce did not want to be called a Skrull. Skrulls were a pitfall now—whoever touched them would be unlucky!

"I oppose it too!"

The Councilmen snapped back to their senses. No one wanted a bomb hanging over their head that could explode at any moment. Anyone who still agreed to establish the Sky Sword Bureau at a time like this might really be a Skrull in disguise.

Of course, they might also simply have something wrong with their brains.

"I think so too. After all, if aliens build a weapons system over your heads, perhaps they are treating you like livestock in a pen, ready to slaughter you whenever they wish."

Zheng Xian wore a smile as he spoke words that cut straight to the heart. Yet there was no denying that his words were highly effective, instantly driving the relationship between the people of America and the Skrulls to freezing point.

The capitalist masters were used to standing above others and controlling life and death. Now that they heard their own lives were in someone else’s hands, how could they possibly accept it? Zheng Xian had struck right at their sore spot.

If the aliens’ plan succeeded, these high-ranking American officials would become lambs waiting to be slaughtered!

No one could accept that fact!

"Guards, seize them!"

Pierce’s expression was extremely grim. As a veteran undercover agent, he understood better than anyone how devastating Skrulls could be as infiltrators.

He did not know whether Talos was telling the truth, but he did know that aliens had indeed come to Earth twenty years ago. He had also read the files and knew of the Skrulls’ existence.

But this was his first time seeing living Skrulls, and only now did he truly realize how terrifying they were.

More than twenty years! If Zheng Xian’s guess was right and Skrulls had long ago infiltrated America until it was riddled with holes, then the consequences would be unimaginable!

Moreover, Hydra had always had a plan called Project Insight, and it bore an astonishing resemblance to the Sky Sword Bureau!

Project Insight was intended to use Dr. Zola’s algorithm to determine who posed a threat to Hydra, then use helicarriers to strike them with precision and eliminate them.

And now, according to Zheng Xian’s speculation, if the Sky Sword Bureau were established, would it not become another "Project Insight"?

Hydra could hold others’ lives in its hands, but it would never allow another force to hold its own life in its hands!

Well, except China. China’s Space Force was already highly developed, making it impossible to defend against. Fortunately, China had not displayed any aggression. Given China’s current strength, it had no need for underhanded schemes. If it truly wanted to kill an enemy, it could just charge straight in. Resorting to plots and schemes would only waste time.

Therefore, as long as no one provoked China, China probably would not target them.

"No, we cannot even be sure whether the soldiers here are Skrulls in disguise. We might as well kill the two of them outright!"

A man had to be ruthless to stand firm. Having risen to become a leader in both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, Pierce was no simple man. Looking at the two alien Skrulls, he frowned and decided to act immediately.

He took a pistol from one of the guards beside him, preparing to shoot Talos and the other alien dead.

Pierce had just learned that after transforming into someone, Skrulls could retain that person’s memories for a period of time. That made him extremely nervous.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had only just been mostly replaced with Hydra agents through his efforts. He could not let Skrulls impersonate those infiltrators and obtain their memories, exposing Hydra’s existence.

Pierce understood better than anyone that if Hydra’s existence were exposed, it would undoubtedly bring about its destruction.

On Earth, Hydra’s hate rating was definitely higher than that of aliens!

Therefore, to prevent Hydra’s affairs from being exposed, he had to silence them!

And he also had to find an opportunity to purge S.H.I.E.L.D. and see whether any Skrulls had infiltrated it!