Except for Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, Nick Fury's most loyal supporters, everyone else silently stepped back.
Even Steve Rogers said nothing.
Seeing this, Nolan let out a soft chuckle.
Nick Fury had done a spectacularly poor job as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Mr. Locke, please calm down," Natasha said urgently. "If you continue down this path, the nature of this situation will completely change."
Perhaps she finally sensed the weight behind Nolan's threat. Even the way she addressed him had shifted.
"Change?" Nolan glanced at her.
"If I refuse to sign today, will the agreement magically invalidate itself? Since things are already out of control, we might as well push them further."
"Red Queen."
Nolan spoke calmly.
"Locate the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Search in progress," Red Queen replied in her emotionless voice.
Natasha and Barton exchanged looks. Unease settled heavily in both their chests.
Nolan Locke was not bluffing. He fully intended to go through with this.
This was bad. Very bad.
Nick Fury might not be popular, but as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he was undeniably a master spy. Natasha and Barton were his most trusted operatives.
They stepped forward together.
"Mr. Locke, please abandon this idea. The appointment or removal of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director must be decided by the Council. You do not have that authority. If you proceed, you will be openly challenging the legal framework of the entire world."
"The consequences go far beyond refusing to sign the Superhuman Registration Act. This would mean standing against the world itself."
Nolan did not respond.
Moments later, Red Queen spoke again.
"Deputy Director Maria Hill has been located."
Her coordinates were transmitted directly to Mjolnir's onboard intelligence system.
"All right," Nolan said calmly. "Everyone, prepare to welcome a new era."
With that, he turned and walked away.
"Nolan Locke!"
Natasha panicked.
She lunged forward in a single stride.
Nolan showed no mercy. A clean, brutal roundhouse kick sent her flying. She crashed to the ground, unmoving.
"I am already very angry," Nolan said coldly. "Do not make me angrier."
The chill in his eyes made many people uncomfortable. This was a side of him they barely recognized.
Tony Stark froze for a moment, then exhaled.
Over the years, he had almost forgotten what Nolan was really like.
When they first met, Tony had treated Nolan with extreme caution. In Tony's eyes, Nolan Locke was a dangerously complex man.
J.A.R.V.I.S. had once reached a clear conclusion. Nolan Locke followed only his own principles.
Fortunately, those principles aligned with what most people considered good.
But Nolan Locke was never someone who compromised easily. It had simply been a long time since anyone had forced him to reveal his true nature.
Tony sighed quietly.
In a strange way, this was reassuring. Nolan Locke was still the same man, someone worth both trusting and fearing.
After a moment's thought, Tony followed him.
The Superhuman Registration Act was over, at least for now.
Now it was time for the Watchers to clean up the aftermath.
The others noticed their movement. Hulk had already reverted to Bruce Banner.
Though Hulk had been injured, his regeneration was terrifying. By the time he turned back, his wounds were mostly healed.
Bruce hesitated, then followed as well.
Meanwhile, Maria Hill was busy in her office.
She knew a battle had broken out, but she trusted that the Director could handle it.
Though she was the Deputy Director, she was just as loyal as the others. She believed Nick Fury always had a solution.
If Fury was on the front line, then it was her responsibility to keep everything else running.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
"Nolan Locke!"
Maria Hill jumped to her feet. Then she noticed Nick Fury, unconscious, being carried like baggage.
"What are you trying to do?"
Nolan walked in. Tony Stark and the others followed.
"I'd like to discuss the issue of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new Director," Nolan replied casually.
"Nick Fury has made too many mistakes. Under his leadership, Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. so thoroughly it might as well have been a sieve. During the Battle of New York, S.H.I.E.L.D. launched a nuclear missile. And that's just the beginning."
"By any reasonable standard, he should have stepped down long ago. Yet here he is."
"Today, we're here to correct that mistake."
Every accusation Nolan listed was verifiable.
Without powerful backing, any one of them would have ended Fury's career permanently.
But that hardly mattered now.
Nolan hated nothing more than people occupying positions they no longer deserved.
Maria Hill's expression darkened.
"Whatever you intend to do, put the Director down first."
"No problem."
Nolan dropped Fury onto the floor without ceremony. Hill's eye twitched.
The man was unconscious. She strongly suspected Nolan was taking revenge.
"Now," Nolan continued, "we can discuss something important. I'd like to speak with your superiors."
"That's impossible," Hill snapped.
S.H.I.E.L.D. answered directly to the Council.
Nolan's eyes narrowed.
"I'm sorry, but you misunderstand. I'm not here to negotiate."
Hill felt a sudden chill crawl up her spine.
She turned.
At some point, something unnatural had appeared behind her.
What was that?
She hadn't sensed anything at all.
Tony Stark glanced at her.
"Director Hill," he said calmly, "I strongly suggest you accept Nolan's request."
"Stark," Hill said sharply, "you're siding with Nolan Locke?"
"No," Tony replied lightly. "We already lost."
After Nitro appeared, Tony felt no resentment, no frustration.
The gap between them was simply too vast.
All he wanted now was to build a new suit. One designed specifically to counter Nitro.
Hill studied Nolan and Tony for a long moment.
Then she exhaled.
"I understand. I'll contact the Council. Give me five minutes. This will require a conference call."
"That's fine," Nolan said.
As Hill prepared the call, Nolan spoke again.
"Deputy Director Hill, have you ever considered removing the word 'Deputy'?"
She looked at him, then shook her head.
"I don't have that ability. S.H.I.E.L.D. is entirely under Director Fury's control. Without him, no one can manage it."
Nolan said nothing more.
Soon, the call connected.
Several Council members appeared as three-dimensional projections. Their expressions were grim. They already understood the situation.
"Nolan Locke," one of them said coldly. "State your position."
"My position is simple," Nolan replied. "Abolish the Superhuman Registration Act, which violates basic human rights. And replace the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"That's impossible!" one Council member shouted. "The Council will not be threatened!"
Nolan remained calm.
"Red Queen."
"William Gibson. Grand Larn Island. How unusual."
The man stiffened.
"You're threatening me."
"No," Nolan said with a faint smile. "This is not a threat."
His expression turned flat.
"I won't sign the agreement. If you intend to force it through, then issue a warrant for my arrest."
Arrest him?
The Council members exchanged looks.
After Ultron, they recognized the danger of enhanced individuals. But more importantly, they had reassessed Nolan Locke himself.
Opposing him meant war.
No one could afford that.
Their original plan had been simple. Push the Act forward while pretending Nolan didn't exist.
They had never considered hunting him.
Now, faced with his open defiance, they hesitated.
Finally, William Gibson spoke.
"Nolan Locke, you are a hero. You should "
"Please don't moralize me," Nolan cut in.
"Repeal the Act. Or arrest me."
Someone cursed aloud.
Suddenly, a video began playing on a Council member's secure screen.
It was footage of the battle.
Nitro dismantling Tony Stark, Thor, and Hulk with terrifying ease.
Each movement carried destructive force comparable to warfare.
And yet, against Nitro, they fell almost instantly.
No one spoke.
Everyone understood what this meant.
Nolan Locke could infiltrate their systems at will. He possessed a machine beyond conventional countermeasures. And he might command an entire mechanical army.
The Council members exchanged glances.
"The Superhuman Registration Act will be suspended," William Gibson said slowly. "It will not be abolished, but placed on hold."
"As for Nick Fury…"
He glanced at the unconscious man on the floor.
"Due to repeated failures and Hydra infiltration, his authority was already under review. Effective immediately, he is removed from office. Deputy Director Maria Hill will assume the role temporarily."
The projections vanished.
Nolan smiled.
"Problem solved."
Peter Parker let out a quiet sigh of relief. Tony Stark looked conflicted.
Politicians did not compromise this easily.
Nolan Locke must have done more than simply talk.
Elsewhere, the Council immediately convened a private meeting.
"This is outrageous," William Gibson snarled.
"But we had no choice," another replied. "Nolan Locke's power exceeds our estimates. And his arguments were not without merit."
Someone scoffed.
"This isn't over. But for now, we can't touch him."
"And removing Fury is fine," another added. "That useless man should've stepped down years ago."
Back in the S.H.I.E.L.D. office, tension lingered.
Maria Hill was now Director, but she felt no joy.
Nolan, on the other hand, felt a hint of regret. Coulson's rank was still too low. He would have made a good Director.
Then Nick Fury groaned and opened his eyes.
Instantly alert, he glared at Nolan.
"Do you have any idea what attacking me means? You're challenging the entire government!"
He turned sharply.
"Hill. Contact the Council. We may need a war."
His gaze locked onto Nolan.
Nolan Locke was too dangerous.
Nolan smiled.
"Sorry, Nick Fury."
"You're out of a job."