Nick Fury knew Iron Man was telling the truth and didn't dwell on it. Instead, he started probing Iron Man about his spatial technology.
"Stark, you've developed spatial technology?" Nick Fury asked, surprised and with a serious expression.
"No, I didn't develop it. This did," Iron Man said, holding up his "Universal Capsule Pendant."
"Universal Capsule?" Nick Fury was speechless.
He'd always thought the Universal Capsule was just a capsule.
He was really too naive.
"Alright, Stark, since your palladium poisoning is resolved, can we discuss how to help me investigate Hydra now?"
Nick Fury then collected himself and began discussing the matter with Iron Man.
"Nick Fury, I'm going to develop a set of Miniature Drones for you. They'll be only the size of a Fly, but equipped with cameras, capable of recording audio, taking photos, monitoring, and even administering anesthetics. How does that sound?"
Iron Man poured two glasses of Red Wine, placing one in front of Nick Fury.
"Sounds excellent, thanks for your support, Stark!" Nick Fury raised his glass of Red Wine, gesturing a toast before taking a small sip.
"Don't thank me, because if you thank me, I'll have to thank you next." Iron Man sat down in front of Nick Fury, not at all reserved. "Where's your Plasma Lightsaber? Did you bring it?"
This was something Nick Fury had already agreed to, so the bald director naturally didn't hesitate.
He immediately took out the Plasma Lightsaber and handed it to Iron Man.
Iron Man's eyes immediately lit up.
In the time that followed, everyone became busy.
Iron Man spent his time holed up in Stark Tower, almost constantly, researching the Plasma Lightsaber while also working on the Miniature Drones for Nick Fury.
Nick Fury, on the other hand, was secretly recruiting suitable personnel to monitor Hydra operatives in the future, while also working behind the scenes to investigate the secret base where the Winter Soldier was being held.
And then there were a whole host of other S.H.I.E.L.D. matters, needless to say.
Captain America was getting used to modern life while secretly investigating the bald commander.
As for the individuals on the Operation Paperclip list, Captain America didn't have the energy to investigate them just yet.
He could only begin once Iron Man's drones and Nick Fury's secretly recruited personnel were in place.
Everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
A month and a half later, Black Widow brought good news.
"Director, I've pinpointed the exact location of this base."
Black Widow appeared in the office, placing a stack of files in front of Nick Fury.
Nick Fury's spirits lifted. He picked up the files and flipped through them. Not only was the specific location marked, but also other more detailed information.
"Director, we now know where the Winter Soldier is being held. What are your next steps?" Black Widow asked, her gaze fixed on Nick Fury.
"This situation requires careful consideration. Now is not the right time," Nick Fury said seriously after a moment of thought.
Through Black Widow's investigation, and with Nick Fury's Clairvoyance assisting, the conditions inside the secret base were already known to them.
The defensive forces there were quite formidable.
Trying to snatch the Winter Soldier from that place would definitely not be easy.
And now, Nick Fury didn't know to what extent Hydra had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., so he naturally wouldn't act rashly.
Moreover, that base was the only Hydra base Nick Fury currently controlled, used for long-term surveillance, and to unearth more of Hydra's secrets.
This was the correct approach.
Not to barge in and expose the base.
As for how to handle the situation, Nick Fury already had a general idea.
First, remain still. Wait until Iron Man developed the drones, and then use them to secretly monitor the base around the clock.
Nick Fury believed he would definitely have a great harvest.
As for the Winter Soldier?
The best time to act wouldn't be to force their way into the enemy base to snatch someone, but rather to wait for the Winter Soldier to be out on a mission.
The only thing to consider was that they didn't know when the Winter Soldier would go on a mission, or how long they'd have to wait.
Could Captain America even wait that long?
"Sir, there's something you'll find very interesting."
Coulson, who was just talking with Black Widow, came before Nick Fury. "A meteorite has landed in a small town."
"And?" Nick Fury shrugged.
"And everyone discovered that the meteorite was actually a hammer," Coulson said, placing a few photos in front of Nick Fury.
The photos clearly showed a huge crater in what looked like a rural area, the kind of crater that could only be made by a meteorite impact.
Just in the center of the large pit, it wasn't a meteorite, but a hammer.
"It's that hammer!"
A glint flashed in Nick Fury's one eye.
In the related images from the answer system, there were images of Thor battling Iron Man, so Nick Fury naturally recognized Thor's Hammer.
And the hammer inside the pit was exactly the same as Thor's Hammer.
"This is Thor's Hammer, sir!" Black Widow said, also somewhat surprised.
She knew that Thor would descend to Earth during the future Battle of New York, but she didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Correct, it's this hammer."
Coulson nodded as well. He had also seen Captain America use Thor's Hammer during the final battle, so he recognized it.
"There's a mysterious power in this hammer. No matter who they are, the locals can't lift it. Some even tried using trucks to pull it, but it didn't work."
Coulson continued to brief Nick Fury.
"It's Thor's Hammer, of course not just anyone can pick it up. So, what about Thor? Have we found any trace of him?"
Nick Fury asked Coulson, his gaze fixed on him.
"I think he's in the hospital," Coulson shrugged. "Some locals accidentally injured a homeless man and, being responsible, took him to the hospital."
"Turns out, the homeless man has mental issues, constantly claiming he's Thor, son of Odin, and so on."
"Currently, he's being treated as a mental patient and is locked up in the hospital."