The World Kept Turning

"I could take some time to understand the world myself."

"If you’re willing to help me voluntarily, you must have conditions. Tell me what they are first."

Seeing that Nick Fury was trying to extend a friendly gesture, Steve did not accept it. Instead, he got straight to the point.

"Since we’re both reasonable people, this will be easy to discuss."

"My condition isn’t difficult. I want you to join the Avengers Initiative I established."

Nick Fury immediately took out a document and tossed it onto a table two meters away from Steve.

Hearing the childish name of the team, Steve walked over, picked up the document, and began reading it.

"The strongest superhero team in history?"

"The ultimate team for handling supernatural incidents?"

Steve frowned as he read the basic origins of the Avengers Initiative.

"You were frozen for decades. The world has completely changed now, and wars that affected the entire world have ended for good."

"The world has become more peaceful and developed, but that peace exists only within Earth itself."

"Compared to wars caused by internal conflict, we now face another kind of crisis."

"The threat of extraterrestrials from the universe."

Nick Fury spoke.

"The threat of aliens?"

"Has humanity’s technology advanced to the point where we can discover the planets aliens live on?"

"Are you going to tell me next that humanity is heading into space to wage war against aliens?"

Hearing such wildly unrealistic words, Steve set down the document and looked at Nick Fury with a mocking laugh.

"Steve, I’m not joking with you."

"It wasn’t Earth’s technology that discovered alien planets. It was aliens that discovered our planet."

"And they have already come to Earth before. No one knows when they may return in the future."

"Compared to alien technology, Earth’s technology is far too backward."

"Ordinary people have limited abilities as well, so I have to gather a team of heroes who are like superhumans."

"When the aliens arrive, humanity must have the ability to fight back, rather than merely watching them do whatever they please on Earth."

Seeing that Steve did not believe him, Nick Fury spoke with a grave expression.

"Fury, even if I assume I believe you, I don’t believe the military or those politicians who see nothing but profit and have no regard for human lives."

Seeing Nick Fury’s serious expression, Steve did not hide anything and directly voiced his impression of the military and politicians.

Sometimes, America’s military and political leaders might issue disgusting orders simply to cover up a scandal and save face.

"You probably don’t know how S.H.I.E.L.D. came to be. Its founders included your friends Howard Stark and Peggy Carter."

"Its purpose has always been to handle certain supernatural incidents."

"And the Avengers Initiative answers to S.H.I.E.L.D."

"As the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., I can’t give you an absolute guarantee, but I can promise that I won’t disregard your will."

Nick Fury knew it was only natural for Steve, who had witnessed the dirty methods of soldiers and politicians, to have no favorable impression of either politicians or the military.

"…"

Hearing that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s founders included people he knew, Steve fell silent.

"If you join the Avengers Initiative, then as long as there is no alien invasion—"

"Your usual opponents will at most be terrorists. You’ll fight to prevent too many innocent people from being sacrificed."

"For that, S.H.I.E.L.D. can arrange a place for you to live and provide you with the money you need for daily life."

"With your abilities, such missions won’t be difficult for you."

Seeing Steve waver, Nick Fury pressed his advantage.

"Who is currently in the Avengers Initiative?"

Hearing Nick Fury’s terms, Steve truly had no reason to refuse.

"The Avengers Initiative currently has few members. Including you, there will be four in total."

"The list is in the document. You can look through their information yourself."

"You won’t meet for the time being, but learning about each other’s backgrounds and abilities in advance—"

"Will help you work together more smoothly in the future."

When Nick Fury heard Steve ask that, he knew Steve had already agreed.

Steve flipped through the document again and found that it indeed contained some general information about the Avengers Initiative.

Although the information was incomplete and could not fully represent each person’s abilities, it did show the abilities they mainly relied upon in battle.

Iron Man Tony Stark was also prominently listed. His combat ability mainly came from the super-technological Iron Man armor he had invented.

Aside from Tony Stark, there were also the super agents codenamed Hawkeye and Black Widow. Their strength was indeed far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Captain America Steve Rogers, as the initiator of the Avengers Initiative, I sincerely welcome you aboard."

At that moment, Nick Fury stood up and walked over to Steve. Smiling, he extended his hand.

"May I ask who the captain of the Avengers Initiative is?"

Steve also extended his hand, shook Nick Fury’s, and asked.

"My original intention was not to completely control your will."

"Because you are all powerful heroes. Your strength will give you more ways to respond to every kind of crisis."

"So aside from giving broad directives and providing technological support and the like—"

"You can complete missions according to your own ideas and abilities."

"So there is no captain at present. Perhaps when you gather in the future, you can discuss who should take that role."

Hearing this, Nick Fury immediately understood that Steve wanted to be captain. However, he did not give a definite answer and instead left Steve and the others to decide for themselves.

"Fine. I hope you keep your word."

"You can leave now. Just send some low-level agent to help me understand the modern world."

Steve was not surprised by Nick Fury’s words. His earlier question had merely been a test.

"I believe that once you understand the modern era, its entertainment will not disappoint you."

"And after all these years, Peggy Carter has grown old, but she is not dead yet."

"If you want to see her, you can visit this address."

"As for how you get through the door, I assume you won’t need my help?"

Nick Fury reached into his breast pocket and took out a slip of paper with an address written on it.

"Of course not."

Hearing that Peggy was still alive, Steve’s heart trembled. He immediately took the slip of paper and replied.

"Let me give you one piece of advice."

"You were frozen for decades, and your age stopped at that moment, but the world kept turning."

"Some people and things have long since changed beyond recognition."

After Steve took the slip of paper, Nick Fury patted him on the shoulder before leaving and spoke earnestly.

Third update. Please vote.