Chapter 9: CH 9
Manhattan – Inside Su Che's Apartment
"Haaah…"
As the simulation ended, Su Che let out a deep breath, his chest rising and falling heavily.
For a brief moment, he had truly experienced the doomsday catastrophe that he had fabricated in the diary.
The suffocating depression.
The bone-chilling fear.
The relentless despair.
Every negative emotion imaginable had weighed down on him, suffocating him.
It wasn't just a visual illusion—
It was a true, lived experience.
If someone with a regular heart tried to fake such emotions,
Anyone with real experience could tear the lie apart instantly.
The Rule of Survival in the Marvel Universe
"Never underestimate anyone."
That was the iron rule Su Che had engraved into his mind ever since arriving in the Marvel Universe.
Even if he knew what was supposed to happen in the future,
If he underestimated others just because of that knowledge—
He'd eventually end up dead.
And that was not an option.
His instincts had been right—
Whether it was Nick Fury or Natasha Romanoff,
Both of them were far from ordinary people.
Their intelligence, experience, and instincts made them incredibly dangerous.
Ordinary people could never reach their level.
Like now—
In the diary, Su Che had written that he didn't trust S.H.I.E.L.D.,
That he could only trust a handful of people within the agency.
Both Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff had seen this statement—
But neither of them directly questioned it.
Nick Fury's Unspoken Thoughts
Natasha Romanoff didn't ask, and Nick Fury didn't explain.
When Natasha left his office,
Nick Fury's expression was visibly unsettled.
As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director,
As a man without any superpowers,
Yet capable of gathering and commanding a team of superheroes like the Avengers—
Nick Fury had an extremely absurd theory forming in his mind.
But for now—
He kept it to himself.
Nick Fury's Deduction – Tony Stark's Fate
Tapping his fingers lightly on the desk,
Nick Fury's mind began working through the diary's clues.
"Based on everything written, there's a 70% chance that the 'Tony' Su Che mentioned is Tony Stark."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have opened a coffee shop across from Stark Industries."
"People naturally gravitate toward those they trust and feel familiar with. It's basic human nature."
However, there was another crucial detail—
"Su Che mentioned that everything begins with Tony Stark's kidnapping."
With that thought,
Nick Fury tapped his desk once more,
And in the next second,
A holographic projection of Tony Stark appeared before him.
Displaying Tony's current itinerary,
His recent activities,
And various news reports related to him.
As Nick Fury examined the projection,
His mind began connecting the pieces together.
The Decision: To Intervene or Not?
"Su Che set up his coffee shop across from Stark Industries, but he never wrote that he intended to stop the kidnapping."
"That means this kidnapping will be one of the defining moments in Tony Stark's fate."
From the timeline speculations in the diary,
The kidnapping should be happening soon—
Otherwise, Su Che wouldn't have written that he wanted to 'rest for a while' before things started."
Nick Fury leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Should he send agents to shadow Tony Stark?
To prevent the kidnapping?
After ten full seconds of contemplation,
Nick Fury made his decision—
He would do nothing.
Why Not Stop the Kidnapping?
• The diary's details implied that Tony Stark's life wouldn't be in danger.
• More importantly, this event was necessary—
It was the moment that transformed Tony Stark from a reckless playboy into a true hero.
• Changing it could alter everything in unpredictable ways.
Instead of worrying about Tony Stark's fate,
Nick Fury was far more concerned about the diary's version of the future.
Would the same catastrophic future unfold in his own world?
That was the real question.
Looking Ahead: The First Meeting Between Natasha Romanoff & Su Che
Closing Tony Stark's hologram,
Nick Fury's thoughts shifted.
Now, his attention was on something else—
The upcoming meeting between Natasha Romanoff and Su Che.
Would this encounter bring unexpected surprises?
Would Su Che confirm the diary's legitimacy?
Would they uncover more hidden truths about the future?
Nick Fury was eager to find out.