A massive airborne carrier hovered steadily over the harbor east of New York City.
Thor led Loki to Central Park, where they met up with Iron Man, Tony Stark. Accompanying them was Captain America, Steve Rogers.
Their mission was straightforward—complete the handover of the Tesseract and return Loki to Asgard, bringing an end to this chaotic episode.
Meanwhile, Bruce Banner and the puppet version of Kagura Hitomi remained aboard the Helicarrier, engaging in a discussion about Banner's future.
Would he return to his peaceful life in a small town in Kolkata, or would he take up Kagura Hitomi's offer to join the Griffin Security Agency?
Bruce himself naturally leaned towards a quiet, undisturbed existence.
Both he and those who knew him understood the terrifying destructive power of the other personality within him.
Humanity hadn't reached such a desperate point that they needed to rely on an unpredictable monster for security.
Of course, Kagura Hitomi saw things differently.
The Griffin Security Agency was a secret organization dedicated to safeguarding and monitoring human civilization.
Kagura was well aware that even if this Loki incident was resolved, countless new threats would emerge in the future, demanding vigilance and strength from Earth's defenders.
Whether for the Avengers or Griffin, having the Hulk on their side was undeniably beneficial.
Since the puppet Kagura was an exact mental and emotional replica of her original self, she held the same views and opinions.
In essence, Banner discussing his future with her was no different from discussing it with Kagura herself—there were no issues of delegation or authority.
Rhode Island Industries Headquarters, New York
With Loki's matter nearly settled, Kagura returned to Rhode Island Industries headquarters alongside Natasha Romanoff and Bucky Barnes.
Their priority was to organize their equipment, submit mission reports, and take stock of their next steps.
They had disengaged from the battlefield immediately after intercepting the Penguin Logistics transport carrying the Tesseract.
Staying any longer would have unnecessarily exposed Griffin to public scrutiny, potentially leading to unwanted misunderstandings.
The transportation and return of the Tesseract were best left to the professionals at Penguin Logistics.
At this point, Kagura saw no reason for further complications.
If Nick Fury and the Avengers couldn't even handle the wrap-up, that would be truly embarrassing.
"Come on, guys, Griffin already did most of the heavy lifting—just clean up the loose ends!"
…Wait, why did that feel like a classic case of tempting fate?
Eh, whatever!
Now, it was time for some personal business!
Griffin's biggest challenge at the moment was manpower.
Recruiting new heroes was essential.
While the puppet Kagura was working on persuading Bruce Banner to join, there was another candidate lying in bed, just waiting to be recruited.
A free superhero, just up for grabs!
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It felt like sinking into the depths of the ocean, caught in a storm of swirling chaos.
It was an overwhelming experience—an immense foreign consciousness forcibly pushing his own mind aside, cramming him into a dark corner of his own psyche.
It was like being force-fed a dozen bottles of the strongest vodka and then strapped to the roof of a sports car going 300 km/h down the winding roads of Mount Akina.
Hawkeye, Clint Barton, snapped his eyes open.
Finally, the world around him returned to normal.
A clean white ceiling.
A tidy, well-kept room.
Soft bedding.
A steady heartbeat.
A clear mind.
He slowly raised his hand, staring at it in disbelief, confirming that he was once again in control of his own body.
"Oh, f**k..." He exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples. "Finally, I'm normal again..."
"You're awake."
A familiar voice spoke beside him.
Turning his head, he saw a striking redhead clad in a sleek combat suit that left little to the imagination.
"Nat... was it you who saved me? I feel like I've been through hell."
"No," Natasha replied casually, pouring him a glass of water from the bedside table. "It was Hitomi."
"Hitomi?" Barton took the glass. "Oh, you mean that sharp-eyed little girl who can verbally tear Fury apart without a second thought?"
"Hey! What do you mean by 'verbally tear apart'?!" A playful, indignant voice came from the doorway.
Kagura stood there, puffing her cheeks in protest. "I'm a kind and gentle young lady, you know!"
Natasha smiled. "Hitomi, you're here. Looks like Clint is back to normal. Thanks—I owe you one."
"No need to be so formal, Nat! We're sisters, after all!"
"Mm." Natasha stood up. "I'll leave you two to talk."
She added, "Stark and the others have begun returning the Tesseract and dealing with Loki. I believe everything will work out."
Kagura nodded. "Rest well, sister. And don't forget to come up with a believable excuse for Fury about your little 'disappearance.'"
"Oh, don't worry. I can already picture Fury's face when he hears it." Natasha smirked before exiting the room.
Kagura took a seat next to Barton's bed. "How are you feeling, Agent Barton?"
"Like I've been brought back from the dead." Barton downed another gulp of water.
"Being brainwashed is an unforgettable experience. You can't even imagine it—it's like seeing the world through a warped lens. Even the sun looks green."
"Seriously?" Kagura scratched her head. "Uh… is it still green now?"
"No, thankfully, everything's back to normal," Barton assured her before giving her a nod of gratitude. "I owe you my life."
"No need to be so dramatic," Kagura waved him off with a grin. "But I do have a proposal for you."
"Oh?"
"Agent Barton, Natasha and I are part of the Griffin Security Agency—a covert organization dedicated to protecting human civilization."
"We gather extraordinary individuals and provide them with top-tier equipment. Interested in joining?"
"So… another S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Barton raised an eyebrow.
"No!" Kagura huffed, pouting.
"Why does everyone say that? Has S.H.I.E.L.D. really done such a great job protecting the world?"
Barton chuckled. "Fair point. Can I learn more about Griffin before making a decision? If you're the one inviting me, I'll seriously consider it."
"Especially since Nat is involved. If she trusts Griffin, I don't have much reason to refuse."
"That's great!" Kagura beamed. "Oh, and we have some seriously awesome gear lined up for you!"
"New gear?"
"Yep! You're going to love it!" Kagura grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling with excitement.
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