Chapter 61: Killing the Demon (Part 1)
Atsar's massive, battered body was thrown backward as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer, crashing through a half-collapsed wall that was already teetering, and landing heavily in a pile of rubble, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Although klein's Five Elements: Annihilation had most of its energy blocked by Atsar's Judgment's End, it ultimately failed to kill him.
However, Atsar's broken body struggled within the ruins, his dark purple Hellfire flickering like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing.
A terrifying depression appeared where the energy of the Five Elements: Annihilation had grazed his chest, leaving bones and internal organs clearly visible. The writhing granulation trying to repair the wound was being suppressed by the residual holy power, slowing his recovery to a near standstill.
He was still alive, but at the end of his rope. His aura was weak and chaotic, and those crimson vertical pupils that once burned with madness were now dim, filled with unbelievable terror and agony.
What made him most desperate was that his connection to the source of Hell had been weakened to the point of nearly being severed under the continuous bombardment of the opponent's mixture of holy and Five Elements Power.
As long as Atsar could return to Hell, he would have a way to recover the vitality he had previously sacrificed to Lord Asmodeus.
If this continued... he really wouldn't be able to go back!
This thought coiled around his collapsing consciousness like the coldest poisonous snake.
No! How could the great Atsar, a subordinate of Lord Asmodeus, fall in this lowly human world?!
"Arghhh—!!" Extreme fear and resentment, mixed with a final burst of madness, turned into a soul-tearing roar.
Atsar's remaining single arm suddenly plunged into his charred chest, forcefully ripping out a violently throbbing dark purple tumor that emitted a thick scent of sulfur and blood, with a distorted rune faintly visible at its core—
That was his final hell core, the place where his soul resided.
"By my true name! I sacrifice this body! I call upon my master! Lord Asmodeus! At the cost of half my soul, I pray for you to descend your power and crush this ant before me!!"
Using the last of his strength, he crushed the hell core!
Poof!
Thick dark purple blood and shattered energy fragments mixed with that distorted rune, turning into a dark red beam of light that shot into the sky, instantly disappearing into the space crack above that had long been distorted by the battle!
Buzz—!!!
A terrifying will, far more powerful, ancient, and profound than Atsar's, filled with endless lust, corruption, and a sense of dominion, seemed to cross infinite dimensions.
Slightly stirred by the call made with the demon's true name and the sacrifice of his core, it followed the call, forcibly widening the crack for an instant and casting down a sliver of... red light.
The moment that single sliver of red light descended—
Boom!!!
The entire ruins, and even the area for several kilometers around, vibrated and distorted violently, like a lake into which a giant boulder had been thrown!
Every living being—the unconscious Emily, Coulsonwatching nervously from a distance, the small animals remaining in the ruins, and even the plants—
All felt a shudder at the same time, born of biological instinct, a mixture of extreme temptation and absolute terror!
It was as if some indescribable, incomprehensible great existence had cast its gaze upon this tiny area.
Time seemed to stretch and freeze.
A fanatical, distorted smile, a mix of sacrificial satisfaction and extreme pain, appeared on Atsar's battered face.
"Arghhh—!!!"
Atsar's broken body was struck by this evil, distorted, dark red beam of light.
He let out a series of inhuman howls, a mixture of pain, ecstasy, and distorted sacrificial satisfaction.
His final hell core completely shattered, turning into the purest demonic essence, which, mixed with the sliver of power containing Asmodeus's aura, flooded frantically into his broken shell.
Buzz—!!!
The dark purple Hellfire flared up violently, but its color shifted to a deeper, more foul dark red, nearly black, as if it had condensed all the fallen desires of the world!
Within the flames, countless distorted faces, tangled limbs, and blasphemous symbols could be vaguely seen flickering and wailing.
Atsar's already massive body began to expand and distort further!
Charred scales peeled off, and new flesh and bone reorganized and grew frantically in the dark red fire. However, it wasn't restoring his original form, but transforming into something even more deformed and non-human—
Muscles bulged and flowed like lava, bones pierced through skin to form hideous spikes, his head moved closer to that of a reptile, and the fire burning in his single eye turned into a pure, soul-freezing pitch black.
Most terrifyingly, his remaining body began to collapse and condense inward. All the new, distorted flesh and bone, along with the dark red-black fire, were being frantically compressed, purified, and shaped as if forged in an invisible furnace!
In just two or three seconds, Atsar's massive demonic body completely disappeared!
In its place was a javelin floating in mid-air, dark red-black, about three meters long, with a hideous and distorted design!
The shaft was not metal, but more like some living demonic flesh and bone flowing with dark red lava, its surface covered with constantly writhing distorted faces and blasphemous runes that seemed to be moaning in pain.
The tip was not sharp, but a miniature black-hole-like vortex that constantly rotated and swallowed the surrounding light and energy, emitting a destructive aura that made space itself tremble.
The entire javelin was surrounded by that terrifying pressure originating from Asmodeus—ancient, deep, and filled with extreme corruption and the desire for dominion!
"Spear of Desire and Destruction!"
A bizarre, genderless whisper, a mixture of Atsar's final lingering thoughts and a sliver of Asmodeus's divine might, rang out directly in the air, filled with absolute malice and a declaration of destruction.
The black-hole-like tip locked onto klein, who was on the distant ruins, having just forced his aura to stabilize, his expression solemn to the extreme.
"Ant... feel... my master's... great power... and... the destruction... of his gift..."
The moment the words fell—
Swoosh—!!!
The dark red-black Spear of Destruction moved!
There was no sound, no light or shadow, only a bizarre silence as space was forcibly torn, compressed, and then swallowed by it.
It didn't fly in a straight line, but seemed to travel through layers of space; one moment it was in its original spot, and the next, the black-hole-like tip was already less than a meter from klein's chest!
Fast!
Indescribably fast!
An attack that transcended the concept of speed, akin to a spatial jump!
Before the tip even arrived, that destructive aura—condensing a sliver of Asmodeus's divine might and mixed with all of Atsar's essence and resentment—
Had already pierced through klein's skin, muscle, and bone like billions of icicles, reaching deep into his soul!
Freezing! Annihilation! Corruption! Irresistible!
A matter of life and death!
Roar—!!!
klein's pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks, and his entire body's blood seemed to completely boil and burn at this moment!
A Beast-like roar erupted from his throat, as he no longer held anything back, no longer had any reservations!
All the remaining power in his body—
The Five Elements Power, Wonder Woman's holy power, the energy accumulated from Cyclops, Armament Haki, and even the source threads of the String-String Fruit.
At this moment, they were forcibly extracted, compressed, and fused by him with a near-suicidal, violent will!
"Open up for me—!!!"
Sixteen threads, like giant waves mixed with all of klein's power, shot out from the ground simultaneously!
"Sixteen Holy Assassin Bullets: God's Execution!!!"
Chapter 62: Killing the Demon (Part 2)
The sixteen threads did not scatter to attack; instead, the moment they were shot out, they intertwined, wrapped, and spiraled upward in front of klein!
Each thread contained the pinnacle of one of klein's powers, resonating and amplifying each other. Finally, an instant before the spear tip struck, they condensed into a chaotic spiral spike only as thick as an arm, yet seemingly capable of piercing through heaven and earth!
"Boom—!!!"
The tip of the chaotic spiral spike collided head-on, without any fancy tricks, with the black-hole-like tip of the 'Spear of Desire and Destruction'!
This time, there was no loud bang, no explosion.
There was only an absolute silence and a sudden burst of pure black centered on the point of collision!
That wasn't darkness, but a void formed after light, sound, and even space itself were completely swallowed and annihilated!
The pure black expanded rapidly, swallowing everything around it—bricks, steel, fire, dust...
In the distance, Coulson and the others only felt their vision suddenly darken, followed by an indescribable suction force, as if even their souls were about to be pulled out of their bodies!
They gripped nearby fixed objects tightly, their faces devoid of color.
The pure black lasted for about a second.
And then—
"BOOM!!!!!!!!!!"
A terrifying energy that no language could describe erupted violently from the center of that void!
It wasn't an explosion, but a sympathetic detonation at the level of laws, produced after matter and energy were forcibly annihilated in the ultimate collision!
Gold, green, blue, red, brown, black, white, dark red... countless chaotic streams of energy surged and swept in all directions like the birth of the Universe!
Everywhere they passed, everything was completely decomposed and vaporized!
The original ruins of the textile factory, along with the foundation dozens of meters deep below, vanished instantly, erased by force, revealing the fresh, high-temperature vitrified rock layer beneath!
A giant hemispherical crater with a diameter of over a hundred meters and a depth of dozens of meters abruptly appeared on the edge of Queens, New York!
The edges of the crater were smooth as a mirror, showing the vitrified characteristics of being instantly melted by extreme temperatures and then rapidly cooled.
At the center of the pit's bottom, remnants of dark red and chaotic energy faintly intertwined and annihilated in wisps, making slight crackling sounds, but they could no longer pose any threat.
The sky seemed to be torn apart, unable to close for a long time.
Wild winds carrying high temperatures and radioactive dust swept in all directions.
The ruins were gone, and most traces of the battle were erased.
Only this terrifying crater, looking as if it had been struck by a meteor, remained, silently recounting what kind of extraordinary power collision had erupted in that instant.
At the edge of the crater, the gale howled past with scorching air and radioactive dust, blowing the sweat-drenched strands of hair on klein's forehead into a mess.
He knelt on one knee on the scorched, vitrified ground, one hand propping up his knee, his chest heaving violently. Every breath brought a searing pain, as if his lungs were filled with scalding sand.
The muscles all over his body were trembling uncontrollably and wailing in pain.
That strike just now, which nearly overextended everything to forcibly merge all his powers, had almost drained his last ounce of strength; even maintaining a kneeling posture was a struggle.
His body was empty, the Five Elements Power exhausted, the divine radiance dimmed, the Cyclops energy pool hit rock bottom, Armament Haki was difficult to condense, and even the threads of the String-String Fruit had become faint and ethereal.
But he was still alive.
That was enough.
Just now, at the moment of the final energy detonation when everything was about to return to nothingness.
Atsar's tattered soul phantom, like a rag torn by a gale, fled hurriedly back to Hell through a spatial rift, wrapped in the embers of dark red energy.
"Ant! I will remember you!!" Atsar's roar, filled with endless malice, fear, and a hint of bluster, finally reached klein's mind.
"When I return to Hell to recuperate... when I report everything to Lord Asmodeus... you, and this lowly mortal world... will all endure my master's boundless wrath!! I... will definitely come back!!"
The voice quickly dissipated and was annihilated in the turbulent energy.
The barrier between Hell and the mortal world resealed, cutting off that nauseating scent of sulfur and blood.
klein slowly and deeply exhaled a breath of turbid air carrying the smell of blood.
"Come back? Back to your mother?!"
He curled his dry, cracked lips into a cold, mocking sneer.
"You won't get that chance, scum."
During the final collision, at the delicate point of balance where energies annihilated each other and a sympathetic detonation occurred at the level of laws...
He had made a small move.
He had silently and skillfully attached the last trace of his remaining Divine Power to the very core of the 'God's Execution' energy burst.
At the moment the powers collided and annihilated, and Atsar's soul core was exposed and fled in panic—
That wisp of Divine Power, like a hound with its own consciousness, accurately bit into the deepest part of Atsar's soul.
Then, like a maggot on a bone, it was carried back to Hell along with Atsar's fleeing soul.
"Hell..." klein muttered to himself, his eyes cold.
Demonic power is suppressed in the mortal world; by the same token, Divine Power is also suppressed.
Upon returning to Hell, demonic power is unsealed, and similarly, Divine Power will also be unsealed.
When that time comes, he will return to Hell with half a broken soul, dragging a source heavily damaged by the Five Elements annihilation and God's Execution, nearly on the verge of collapse.
"Faced with a sudden burst of Divine Power, how will you deal with it then? You little bastard!"
klein shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
He struggled, using his last bit of strength to stand up unsteadily.
He looked around.
The massive crater, the vitrified ground, the ruins completely leveled and vaporized by the shockwave, Coulson and a few surviving Agents fainted on the ground, and in the distance, the faint sound of Police sirens alerted by the commotion.
"Damn, I made too much noise..." klein cursed under his breath, rubbing his aching temples.
He had to leave quickly. Emily was still lying over there; although his talisman was keeping her alive, she had to be treated as soon as possible.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to ignore his body's protests and his brain's dizziness. He identified the direction and walked toward Emily's general location with staggering steps.
Picking up Emily and checking that the patterns on her arm had disappeared, klein walked toward his pickup truck.
As for whether Coulson and the others fainted on the ground would be picked up by vagrants like scallions dipped in soybean paste...
...or arrested by the Police as Terrorists, it had nothing to do with klein.
However, just as klein was about to leave, he seemed to feel something. He glanced back, then smiled and turned to leave directly.
Chapter 63: Demon Aftermath
Just as klein had expected, before Atsar, who had returned to Hell, even had a chance to rejoice, his body and soul were annihilated by a sudden eruption of Divine Power.
Deep within Hell, in an unknown place of slumber, Asmodeus suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward the spot where Atsar had been annihilated.
He had far too many subordinates; the death of a few meant nothing to him. However, this was Hell, and a subordinate being suddenly wiped out by Divine Powerpiqued his interest.
His body flickered and suddenly vanished, reappearing at the site of Atsar's annihilation.
He sensed that this subordinate had just borrowed a tiny fraction of his power at the cost of his soul, only to be pursued into Hell and killed by Divine Power.
This made him suddenly quite interested in the person who had killed his subordinate.
Although, in Hell, the more powerful one is, the more severely they are suppressed when coming to the human world.
If someone like Asmodeus were to go to the human world, they would basically be on the level of a kitten or puppy.
Nevertheless, through Atsar's soul, he still managed to sense klein's presence.
With a playful smile, Asmodeus returned to his place of slumber. After thousands of years, something had finally caught his interest.
Although he couldn't come to the human world yet, perhaps one day he would. Given the chance in the future, he definitely wanted to meet this interesting little fellow.
...
Unaware that he was being watched by Asmodeus, one of the Seven Sovereigns of Hell, klein was currently driving his pickup truck, taking Emily back to his shop.
klein carried her to the second floor, kicked open the door, and tossed her onto the bed. His movements weren't exactly gentle, and Emily frowned unconsciously in her deep sleep.
klein didn't turn on the main light, only switching on a soft reading lamp by the bed.
The warm yellow glow fell on Emily's paper-pale face, highlighting the dark circles under her eyes and her cracked lips.
Her breathing was weak but steady. klein pulled over a chair and sat down by the bed.
He extended his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together against Emily's wrist pulse to carefully examine her internal condition.
A significant amount of her life force had been drained, there were signs of minor organ failure, and her nerves were extremely fatigued.
But at the very least, she was still alive.
With some good nourishment in the future, her body could still recover to eighty or ninety percent of its original state.
He stood up, walked to the small refrigerator in the corner of the room, and took out an unopened bottle of distilled water.
Returning to the bedside, he propped up Emily's upper body, letting her lean against his arm, his movements unusually careful.
He unscrewed the cap, brought the bottle to her lips, and patiently fed her half the bottle of water bit by bit.
In her coma-like state, Emily swallowed instinctively. As her parched throat was moistened, her furrowed brow seemed to relax slightly.
After feeding her the water, klein laid her back down, pulled over a clean, fluffy down comforter, and carefully tucked her in all the way to her chin.
Having finished all this, klein stood by the bed and watched her quietly for a few seconds.
This woman, who just hours ago had been on the verge of collapse from extreme fear and hatred, and who had resolved to act as bait after the tragic death of her best friend, was now as peaceful as a child.
Yet, the deep exhaustion between her brows and the tremors that seemed etched into her soul still remained.
"Sleep," he whispered, though it was unclear to whom. "The nightmare is over."
He reached out and turned off the reading lamp. The bedroom plunged into darkness.
klein tiptoed out of the room and closed the door.
He slowly walked down the stairs, his steps a bit unsteady. He made his way to the sofa in the dark, too lazy to turn on the lights, and threw himself onto it.
He fumbled around to pull a thin blanket, usually used for naps, from the corner of the sofa and haphazardly covered himself.
As his body relaxed, all the forcibly suppressed fatigue and soreness surged up like a tide.
His bones felt like they were falling apart, his muscles were sore and swollen, and his mind felt like a pot of stirred-up paste, buzzing incessantly.
With every breath, a burning dull pain emanated from deep within his chest, reminding him of how severely he had overextended his body during that final desperate strike.
"Damn... tired as a dog..." klein muttered in the dark, his voice so raspy he even disgusted himself.
He forced himself to turn on his side, found a slightly more comfortable position on the sofa, and pulled the thin blanket over his head.
Sleep.
Tomorrow's business? Deal with it tomorrow.
The next morning, klein was startled awake by a sharp, tearful scream.
"Aaaaaah—!!!"
The sound came from the second floor, followed immediately by frantic footsteps thumping down the stairs.
klein sat up abruptly from the sofa, the blanket sliding off. A hangover-like headache and full-body muscle soreness hit him instantly, making him groan as his temples throbbed.
Before he could fully wake up, Emily had already rushed in front of him.
Her hair was a mess, and she was still wearing last night's rumpled, dust-stained clothes, but her face held an almost manic expression—a mix of ecstasy, disbelief, and the thrill of survival.
"mr. klein! mr. klein! Look! Look!"
She was incoherent, practically lunging at the sofa. Without a word, she rolled up the sleeve of her left arm, thrusting her fair forearm in front of klein's eyes and pointing at it with trembling fingers.
"It's gone! It's gone! It's really gone! Look! Look here! Here! There's nothing left!!"
Her voice was high-pitched and clearly tearful, tears welling in her eyes which were red with excitement.
The twisted, ominous Black Curse marks that had been on the inside of her forearm were now completely gone.
Her skin was as smooth as ever, with only a few extremely faint, pale white marks—like scratches from fingernails that had healed—that were almost imperceptible unless one looked closely.
"It disappeared last night," klein said, rubbing his aching temples. His voice was raspy from just waking up. He leaned back slightly, avoiding Emily's overly excited arm.
"You're safe now, completely safe. That piece of trash Daniel and his master behind him have both been dealt with. From now on, you can sleep soundly."
"Safe... really safe..." Emily murmured, tears finally streaming uncontrollably down her pale cheeks.
But these were no longer tears of fear and despair; they were a release of long-suppressed emotions, the ecstasy of finally escaping the shadow of death.
Her legs gave way, and she almost collapsed to her knees, but klein caught her by the elbow just in time.
"Thank you... thank you, mr. klein! Really... thank you so much! I... I don't know what to say... You saved my life! You..."
"Stop right there," klein said, raising a hand in a 'pause' gesture, cutting off Emily's incoherent thanks.
"No need to thank me. I was entrusted with a task, and I saw it through. Since I took your commission and your deposit, I naturally had to do the job right, otherwise, I'd be ruining my own reputation."
He paused, looking at Emily's tear-streaked face, which now glowed with a new lease on life, and added flatly:
"If you really want to thank me, just find some time to transfer the remaining balance to my account. Now that you're fine, you can go home. By the way, help me pull down the rolling shutter at the door. I'm not open for business today; I need to rest."
Emily wanted to say more, but seeing klein's exhausted expression, she stopped.
She remembered that this seemingly cynical young man before her had gone through a battle last night so perilous it was beyond normal imagination; he was likely exhausted both mentally and physically.
She nodded vigorously, haphazardly wiping away the tear tracks on her face, trying to compose herself.
"Yes, yes! I understand! The balance... no, I'll go to the bank and transfer it right now! Immediately! mr. klein, please get some good rest! If you need anything, contact me anytime!"
Chapter 64: Another Plot Character Appears
Emily's high heels clicked "clack clack clack" as she walked toward the door.
Just as she was about to pull down the rolling shutter door, a voice sounded behind her.
"Miss Russell, what are you doing?"
Emily turned around and saw that the newcomer was Aunt Mei.
She happily showed her arm to Aunt Mei, "Look, look. mr. klein has already helped me solve the trouble!"
"Really? That's great, congratulations!" Aunt Mei was sincerely happy for Emily, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"Thank you, thank you for taking care of me before." Emilytook a deep breath, letting her excited mood calm down a bit,
"However, mr. klein is a bit tired because of my matter and doesn't plan to open today. He asked me to help him pull down the shutter door."
Hearing this, Aunt Mei's gaze subconsciously looked into the dim depths of the shop, a flash of concern in her eyes.
She nodded to Emily, "I understand. Leave the rest to me. Miss Russell, if you have things to do, go ahead."
"Then I'll trouble you, Ms. Mei. I'll be going now, goodbye!" Emily thanked her again.
Then, carrying her handbag, she turned and walked quickly into the early morning street with light but somewhat unsteady steps, like someone recovering from a serious illness, soon disappearing around the corner.
Aunt Mei watched her figure disappear before turning to enter the shop.
Hearing the sound, klein propped up half his body from the sofa and gave a mumbled response to Aunt Mei at the door: "Hmm, you're here?"
Aunt Mei walked over quickly and squatted by the sofa, using the faint light filtering through the window in the early morning to carefully examine klein's complexion.
The exhaustion on his face was impossible to hide, with faint dark circles under his eyes and somewhat chapped lips.
Aunt Mei's heart twinged slightly. She reached out and gently felt his forehead; the temperature wasn't high.
"How are you? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Aunt Mei's voice was full of concern and worry.
"I'm fine, just a bit drained and tired. I'll be okay after a nap." klein shook his head, his voice still raspy.
Aunt Mei breathed a small sigh of relief, but her brow was still not completely unfurrowed.
"Have you eaten? I'll go make you some breakfast right now. After you eat, go upstairs and have a good sleep. I'll watch the shop, how about that?"
"Alright," klein didn't stand on ceremony. He leaned back and slumped onto the sofa again, waving his hand weakly. "Then I'll trouble you. Just make anything, as long as it fills my stomach."
"It's no trouble, just wait." Aunt Mei stood up, briskly rolled up her sleeves, and turned toward the small kitchen in the back.
Soon, Aunt Mei came out carrying a tray.
On the tray were a bowl of steaming, thick oatmeal, a golden-fried egg, and two pieces of French toast.
"Come, eat something first." Aunt Mei placed the tray on the coffee table next to the sofa and sat on the single sofa nearby, watching klein.
klein struggled to sit up. He didn't say anything, just buried his head and started eating.
Aunt Mei didn't speak either, sitting quietly to the side, watching him eat with a gentle gaze, occasionally getting up to refill his cup with some hot water.
Soon, the bowl of oatmeal, the fried egg, and the two pieces of French toast were all eaten clean by klein.
He put down his fork and let out a long, satisfied breath, feeling a warm current spread from his stomach, dispelling some of the exhaustion that had seeped into his bones.
"Full?" Aunt Mei asked.
"Yeah, full. Your cooking is as good as ever." klein wiped his mouth and gave a sincere compliment.
"That's good." Aunt Mei stood up to clear the dishes. "Go upstairs and sleep. I just changed the sheets in the bedroom. Leave things here to me; no one will disturb you today."
klein nodded, no longer pushing himself. He knew that in his current state, he really needed a good rest to recover.
He pushed himself up using the sofa's armrest, his steps still a bit unsteady as he slowly moved toward the stairs.
Aunt Mei followed behind him with the tray, watching him climb the stairs step by step. His figure looked a bit frail in the morning light, a far cry from his usual arrogant and domineering, seemingly omnipotent image.
Her gaze grew even softer, carrying a trace of imperceptible heartache.
Reaching the bedroom door, klein pushed it open. The room was clean and tidy, with sunlight filtering through the half-drawn curtains and casting warm spots of light on the floor.
"Call me if you need anything," Aunt Mei said softly at the door.
"I know," klein replied, closing the door behind him.
He walked to the bedside and, too lazy even to take off his clothes, threw himself directly into the soft bedding.
The moment his body touched the bed, all the aches and exhaustion seemed to find an outlet, surging up all at once.
He let out a comfortable grunt, pulled the quilt up to his chin, and smelled the scent of sun-dried fabric and faint laundry detergent on the quilt. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
A few seconds later, the sound of even and deep breathing rang out in the quiet bedroom.
Aunt Mei stood outside the door, listening to the sounds inside for a while. Once she was sure klein was fast asleep, she turned and went downstairs quietly.
By the time klein woke up, it was pitch black outside.
He sat up in bed and stretched, his whole body making "crackling" sounds.
klein felt much better; at least his head didn't hurt anymore, and his body had strength.
He went to the bathroom to relieve himself, then went downstairs.
Aunt Mei was sitting at a solid wood long table, quietly flipping through a fashion magazine by the soft light of a desk lamp. Hearing his footsteps, she looked up with a gentle smile on her face.
"Awake? Feeling any better?"
"Much better." klein twisted his still somewhat stiff neck and walked to the kitchen door. Seeing the dinner plate covered with a thermal lid on the counter, his heart warmed.
"Come and eat." Aunt Mei had already stood up and walked to the counter, lifting the thermal lid.
"It's still hot; I just heated it in the microwave." She carried the plate to the long table and set out the utensils.
Looking at the steaming pan-seared steak, roasted potatoes, and vegetables on the plate, klein's stomach growled betrayingly.
He pulled out a chair, sat down, and picked up his knife and fork.
"Won't you join me?" He cut a piece of steak and put it in his mouth; the meat was tender and cooked perfectly.
"I'll just watch you eat." Aunt Mei sat back down, propping her chin on her hands, her gentle gaze resting on klein's face, a satisfied smile in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth.
klein said no more, focusing on the food on his plate.
He was truly hungry, sweeping through the steak, potatoes, and vegetables like a whirlwind, even using bread to wipe the sauce clean.
After the last bite, he leaned back comfortably in his chair and patted his stomach: "Full."
"That's good." Aunt Mei stood up to clear the dishes.
"How about not going back tonight?" klein said, looking at her busy back. "It's so late; it's a hassle to travel back. Stay and sleep with me."
Aunt Mei's dishwashing movements paused slightly, and she didn't turn around immediately.
The sound of running water splashed. A moment later, she turned off the faucet, dried her hands, and turned around with a hint of embarrassment on her face.
"I can't. I told Peter I'd be back tonight. He's still waiting for me at home."
She knew Peter. Although the boy was independent, in his heart he had always been very dependent on her, his only relative. She wouldn't break her word on something she had promised.
klein looked at her and didn't insist, just nodded: "Alright, then hurry and finish up. I'll drive you back after you're done. It's dark; it's not safe for you alone."
Aunt Mei smiled and said nothing more, speeding up to clean the kitchen, drying her hands, and picking up her handbag.
klein also stood up and took the car keys from the coat rack by the door.
The two locked the shop door. klein started the blue raptor, and Aunt Mei sat in the passenger seat.
When klein and Aunt Mei returned to Peter's home, there was someone unexpected there.
And a system notification sounded in klein's mind.
[Ding...]
Chapter 65: Green Goblin
Aunt May and klein returned to Peter's home and pushed open the door to find an unexpected guest besides Peter.
Seeing them return, Peter quickly stood up and adjusted his glasses somewhat awkwardly to introduce both sides.
"Aunt May, Kline, you're back. This is Mr. Norman Osborn, Chairman of the Osborn Group."
"This is my aunt, and this is klein, my best friend."
Norman Osborn, who was sitting on the sofa, also stood up calmly.
He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, with an impeccable, gentle, and polite smile on his face. His gaze swept quickly over Aunt May, a fleeting hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Good evening, Mrs. Parker, mr. klein." Osborn's voice was gentle and well-bred. "Peter mentions you often. I'm truly sorry for disturbing you so late."
[Ding!]
[Detected key Marvel plot character: Norman Osborn]
[Identity: Chairman of Osborn Industries, Green Goblin]
[Prompt: Host has encountered a new plot character. Reward: Draw count +1! Would you like to start the draw now?]
"First, no draw."
klein thought to himself while quietly observing the Norman Osborn before him.
This helmsman of Osborn Industries looked younger than expected, in his forties, with a handsome face and deep, sharp eyes.
Despite his warm smile, an aura of being in a high position and in control of everything, along with a faint, hard-to-detect trace of fatigue and... paranoia deep in his eyes, vaguely seeped through.
"It's no trouble at all." Aunt May quickly put down her handbag, a proper smile appearing on her face as she stepped forward to shake hands with Osborn.
"Mr. Osborn, welcome. Peter often mentions how you've looked after him; thank you so much. Please, have a seat."
"You're too kind, Mrs. Parker." Osborn smiled and shook Aunt May's hand, a brief touch with impeccable etiquette.
"It's because Peter himself is excellent; he has helped us a lot. I'm just providing him with a platform to showcase his talent."
His gaze turned back to klein as he extended his hand. "mr. klein, a pleasure to meet you. Peter always says you're his best friend and a very outstanding, special person. Glad to meet you."
"You flatter me, Mr. Osborn." klein also reached out and shook Osborn's hand.
After a few pleasantries, everyone sat back down. Peter sat somewhat nervously next to Aunt May, while klein sat on the single sofa opposite them.
"Mr. Osborn, your visit this time is...?" Aunt May poured four cups of black tea, handing them to the guest and klein, while holding one herself as she asked gently.
"Mainly to see Peter. His performance during his internship at Osborn Industries was outstanding, exceeding the expectations of many of our senior researchers.
He is not only diligent and eager to learn but also shows amazing talent and intuition in biochemistry and materials science. In time, he will surely shine brilliantly in the relevant fields."
Peter was a bit embarrassed by the praise. His face reddened slightly, and he adjusted his glasses, whispering, "It's because Osborn Industries has a great platform, and my colleagues taught me a lot..."
"No need to be modest, Peter. Your talent deserves the best resources." Norman Osborn looked at him with a hint of admiration, but klein keenly caught that deep within that admiration, there seemed to be a hidden... fanaticism?
Norman Osborn chatted with Aunt May for a few more minutes about casual things, asking about her work.
Aunt May only said she was helping out at a friend's shop without going into detail, and then he asked about klein's studies.
His conversation was witty and his knowledge broad, which quickly eased the somewhat stiff atmosphere.
About twenty minutes later, Norman Osborn looked at the understated but expensive watch on his wrist, set down his teacup, and stood up elegantly.
"It's getting late, so I won't intrude any further. Mrs. Parker, mr. klein, it was a pleasure meeting you. Peter," he turned to Peter and patted his shoulder, "keep it up. The future of Osborn Industries needs young people like you."
"Thank you, Mr. Osborn. I will." Peter also stood up quickly.
"I'll see you out." Aunt May also rose.
"No need to trouble yourself, Mrs. Parker. My driver is downstairs." Norman Osborn waved his hand. "Thank you again for your hospitality. Goodbye."
He nodded to klein again, then turned and left the apartment with steady steps.
The door closed softly.
Aunt May walked to the window and watched the stretch Lincoln silently slide into the night before turning around and asking with some concern:
"Peter, did Mr. Osborn come for something urgent?"
Although Norman Osborn had been talking and laughing just now, saying many complimentary things,
Aunt May always felt that a man of his status personally visiting late at night couldn't be as simple as just checking on an outstanding intern.
Peter scratched his head and adjusted his glasses bashfully. "Actually... Mr. Osborn wants me to formally join Osborn Industries and work in his core biotechnology research department."
Aunt May's eyes lit up. "That's a good thing! Osborn Industries is a top-tier company; the benefits and development prospects must be excellent."
"I know, Aunt May." Peter lowered his head, his voice a bit low. "Mr. Osborn offered very good terms and promised to give me the best resources and guidance. But... I refused."
"Refused? Why?" Aunt May was somewhat puzzled and felt a bit sorry for Peter.
Peter looked up, his eyes clear and firm. "Aunt May, I interned at Osborn for a while, and I did learn a lot and saw many cutting-edge things.
But the more I came into contact with it, the more I felt... my foundation isn't solid enough, and my horizons aren't broad enough."
"Osborn Industries' research direction is very advanced and tempting.
But I don't want to rush there just because of my friendship with Harry or because Mr. Osborn values me.
I want to learn more in other places first, see more of the World, and truly figure out the path I want to take and can take in the future."
He paused and looked at Aunt May with a hint of apology. "I know this is a rare opportunity that might not come again. But I don't want to regret it later because of personal favors or shortcuts. I want to rely on myself and take it step by step."
Seeing the persistence on Peter's face, the slight regret in Aunt May's heart slowly faded, replaced by a sense of relief and pride.
She reached out and gently stroked Peter's head, her voice soft. "You've grown up, Peter. Having your own ideas and thinking so clearly is a good thing. I support you. Just do what you think is right."
"Thank you, Aunt May." A smile of relief appeared on Peter's face.
Aunt May looked at klein again. "Kline, what do you think?"
klein took a sip of the now-cold black tea, crossed his legs, and shrugged indifferently:
"What's there to think? Peter is right; relying on yourself is better than relying on anyone else. Osborn Industries is a big cake, but many people are eyeing it, and there are many rules.
While you're young, go bounce around in other places, broaden your horizons; it won't hurt. Once your wings are strong and your skills are sufficient, won't you be the one to decide where you want to go?"
He paused and added another sentence with a meaningful tone that only he understood:
"Besides, in some places, the water is too deep. Jumping in blindly makes it easy to drown."
Peter nodded, half-understanding. He only knew that he had made a choice following his heart and had received support from the two people closest to him, which made him feel much more at ease.
Meanwhile, klein was thinking about more.
Norman Osborn... this Green Goblin had appeared.
It seemed that some plots wouldn't change much because of his appearance.
Little Spider's destiny seemed to be slowly sliding along its established path.
But so what?
"Alright, it's late. Everyone, wash up and go to sleep." klein put down his teacup, stood up, and stretched. "Mei, see you at the shop tomorrow. Peter, study hard and improve every day."
After saying that, he ignored the two and strolled toward the door, preparing to leave.
"Kline, I'll see you downstairs," Peter said quickly.
"See me out my foot; it's just a few steps. I'm off." klein waved his hand without looking back, pulled open the door, and his figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs.
The night breeze was slightly cool. klein got into his raptor and started the engine but didn't drive off immediately.
He sat in the driver's seat, fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel, his gaze passing through the windshield toward New York's bright but indifferent night sky.
"Tsk, it's getting more and more interesting. But the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish! A bit of chaos is good!" he muttered to himself, a flash of excitement in his eyes.
The raptor let out a low growl and merged into the midnight traffic, heading toward Brooklyn's Chinatown.
Chapter 66: Red Queen
Lao klein returned to the shop, pulled down the rolling shutter door, walked behind the wide solid wood desk, and sat in the grandmaster chair.
The back of the chair let out a faint creak, as if welcoming its Master's return.
Lao klein closed his eyes to rest for a few seconds, then opened them and brewed himself a cup of black tea.
"Red Queen," he said to the air after taking a sip, "Is there any movement from S.H.I.E.L.D.? That kid Coulson didn't die, did he?"
The room was silent for a few seconds, then a clear, steady, and emotionless synthesized female electronic voice came from the speakers:
"Master, hello. Coulson did not die. He and the remaining Agents were rescued by the NYPD and then taken away by S.H.I.E.L.D. He is currently recovering in a hospital."
Lao klein's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't made a move?" he asked.
"Yes, Master. No information has been detected regarding S.H.I.E.L.D. coming to look for you," Red Queen's voice remained steady.
"Tsk..." Lao klein put down his teacup and leaned back into the chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the smooth mahogany armrest, making a rhythmic 'tap, tap' sound.
It's been a day.
An entire day has passed.
Although last night's disturbance on the edge of Queenswas in an abandoned industrial area, the final energy explosion was definitely not small.
A deep crater, vitrified ground, a factory building that vanished into thin air...
That guy Coulson saw him take down the Hell Demonwith his own eyes. With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s style and resources, it was impossible for them not to come "get a sense of the situation" or at least test the waters.
Yet now, everything was calm and quiet, as if nothing had happened?
This efficiency was more than just a little slower than he had imagined.
Red Queen, the prize he had fished out of the system's lottery pool after his last contact with Coulson, was now his capable assistant.
As a super artificial intelligence that exists at any node in the network World and is nearly immortal, as long as Lao klein doesn't die, she can be reborn and roam within any network node.
Wherever there is a network and data flow, it is her domain.
Without using the power of the Reality Stone, Visionwould at best have a 40-60 split with Red Queen—
Vision 4, Red Queen 6.
In the network World of Earth in this era, Red Queen was the undisputed queen.
And her abilities went far beyond that.
Under Red Queen's control, the wealth Lao klein now possessed was snowballing.
The money originally hacked from Kingpin and already laundered had quietly expanded to a figure that would leave any Wall Street tycoon dumbfounded, thanks to Red Queen's millisecond-level financial operations.
Stock markets, futures, foreign exchange markets, cryptocurrencies... all the loopholes and rules of the financial system were like an undefended sandbox before Red Queen.
Even better, all these operations were disguised through layers of thousands of shell companies and anonymous accounts worldwide, eventually flowing into an ultimate vault at the bottom of the Deep Web that Red Queennamed "The Matrix."
Aside from Red Queen and Lao klein himself, no one knew of the existence of this code-named "The Matrix," let alone touched the astronomical figures inside.
"Red Queen," Lao klein suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, "How is your infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network going?"
"Master, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal network firewall has nine layers, using quantum encryption and dynamic biometric verification. Conventional infiltration methods are ineffective."
"However, there are 17 known vulnerabilities and 3 logical backdoors in their peripheral servers and non-core data streams transmitted through public network nodes."
"By simulating Agent Coulson's biometrics and behavioral patterns, I have successfully obtained Level 7 clearance, allowing limited access to some non-core databases, monitoring of some communication channels, and low-risk operations under his identity."
That guy Coulson really is a "good colleague."
He deserves much of the credit for Red Queen being able to reach S.H.I.E.L.D.'s doorstep so quickly.
"Very good." Lao klein picked up his teacup, took a sip of black tea, and continued, "Keep monitoring S.H.I.E.L.D., and at the same time, increase the monitoring level on Norman Osborn and Peter Parker. Notify me immediately if there are any special circumstances."
"Instruction received, Master. Monitoring task priority has been adjusted," Red Queen responded calmly.
Lao klein nodded and drained the remaining black tea in the cup.
The scalding liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't dispel the slight irritability in his heart stemming from yesterday's battle.
If it were before yesterday, Lao klein's mindset might have been—
Lying flat, just getting by, and being a fun-seeker!
But after fighting that hellish trash Atsar, the laziness in Lao klein's heart completely vanished.
He hadn't been able to insta-kill, flash-kill, or massacre that Hell Demon, and in the end, he was even forced to exhaust all his resources.
This feeling of not being in control made Lao klein very unhappy!
Extremely unhappy!
Completely unhappy!
He needed power now—stronger power, overwhelming power.
To gain power, he had to use the lottery; to speed up the lottery, he had to stick close to the plot.
Although the timeline hadn't officially started, undercurrents were clearly beginning to surge.
As one of the core figures of the future, sticking close to Little Spider would greatly increase the chances of triggering plot characters.
The appearance of Norman Osborn was the best proof.
"Tsk, can't even slack off," Lao klein muttered.
He no longer hesitated. His consciousness sank into his mind, calling out that long-silent system interface.
"System, start the lottery!"
Before his eyes, the familiar light screen expanded, and a huge illusory compass emerged out of thin air, densely covered with countless shimmering, patterned fan-shaped slots.
The needle began to spin rapidly, passing over dazzling icons: strangely shaped weapons, ancient scrolls, potions glowing with strange light, shadows of creatures never seen before, and even patterns of Planets and nebulae...
The speed grew faster and faster, finally turning into a blurred band of light, before eventually wobbling to a stop on one slot.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for drawing the reward—Bukujutsu]
[Effect: By manipulating the energy within the body, negate the Planet's gravitational pull to achieve free flight.]
[Flight speed, altitude, flexibility, and duration are directly related to the user's own energy and control precision. Currently at the initial mastery stage.]
"Bukujutsu?" Lao klein's eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but widen.
Good stuff!
Humanity's yearning for the sky is etched into their bones.
Although he could previously do things like "wall-walking" and "mid-air movement" using the power of the String-String Fruit, that wasn't true flight after all and had many limitations.
This Bukujutsu was a genuine flight skill! Coming from a high-power World like dragon ball where Planet-bursting was common, its potential was enormous.
"Learn it immediately!"
With a thought, a vast amount of information, techniques, energy circulation routes, and that subtle sense of anti-gravity control regarding the Bukujutsu flooded into Lao klein's mind and physical instincts like an epiphany.
In just a few breaths, he felt a brand-new way of flowing energy within his body that he could command as easily as his own limbs.
Lao klein was somewhat impatient. He leaped up from the grandmaster chair, not even bothering to go outside, and began experimenting right there on the first floor.
At first, it was a bit awkward; his body only rose a few centimeters off the ground and wobbled.
But soon, relying on his powerful body control and mental strength, he quickly found the feeling.
The energy flow became smooth, and a wonderful sense of weightlessness washed over him.
With a slight thought from Lao klein, his feet slowly left the ground.
Ten centimeters, twenty centimeters, fifty centimeters...
He hovered in mid-air about a meter off the ground, his body as steady as a rock.
"Haha, it worked!" Lao klein rejoiced and tried to control his body to move.
Forward, backward, upward, downward, panning left and right, and even slowly spinning in a circle in mid-air.
At first, the movements were a bit stiff, but they soon became smooth and natural, like a fish entering water or a bird returning to the forest.
He shuttled gracefully through the limited space of the shop, bypassing display cabinets, gliding past the ceiling, and finally even trying a head-down, feet-up inverted hover without any hindrance.
The sense of freedom and change in perspective brought by flight put him in a great mood.
"Not bad, really not bad!" Lao klein slowly landed and clenched his fists with satisfaction.
Although the flight speed in the initial stage might not match some supersonic heroes and the altitude was likely limited, it excelled in flexibility, stealth, and relatively controllable consumption. Furthermore, as his own energy grew and his proficiency with the skill improved, its potential was immense.
Chapter 67: Discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D., Part 1
S.H.I.E.L.D., an underground Base in New York, Medical Wing.
In a private ward, Coulson was dressed in blue-and-white striped hospital scrubs, leaning back against an adjustable hospital bed. His face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes had regained their usual clarity and composure.
After a day and night of treatment, he had finally regained consciousness.
On the day klein left, he and the remaining Agents were brought back to the New York Police Department by the arriving NYPD.
However, once Fury received the news, he immediately posted bail and arranged for them to be moved to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s medical Base in New York.
...
Two days later, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, The Triskelion.
The Black Braised Egg stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, his back to the door, staring with his single eye at the shimmering Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
A massive holographic projection screen floated in the middle of the office, silently scrolling through complex data streams and satellite imagery.
Among them, several photos of startling clarity were frozen on the massive, glass-rimmed crater on the edge of Queens.
Knock, knock. Two restrained and rhythmic raps sounded at the door.
"Come in." Fury didn't turn around; his voice was low and steady.
Coulson walked in. Holding a folder, he came to a stop about three meters in front of the desk.
"Officer."
Fury finally turned around slowly, his single eye landing on Coulson, scrutinizing him for a few seconds as if confirming whether his most capable subordinate was truly intact.
"Sit, Phil." He pointed to the chair opposite the desk and walked back to sit behind his large black chair, hands interlaced on the desktop.
"How are you feeling?" Fury asked, his tone devoid of much emotion.
"Not bad. The medical department said with a few more days of rest, my physical indicators will fully return to pre-combat levels. It's mainly... the mental shock. It needs a little time to digest."
Fury's single eye narrowed slightly. "Understandable. I've had a rough look at the report you submitted from your hospital bed; it's... startling. Now, tell me the details. From your perspective."
"Yes, Officer." Coulson took a deep breath and placed the rewritten report, along with an encrypted data disk containing copies of fragmented on-site surveillance data and energy reading analyses, in front of Nick Fury.
He had even used S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal psychological assessment scales to analyze his own observations, judgments, and mental state at the time to ensure the objectivity of the report.
Coulson started from receiving the abnormal energy alert, to leading the team into the abandoned textile factory, encountering Daniel, losing the firefight, then to klein's sudden appearance, suppressing and heavily wounding Daniel with inconceivable means,
to Atsar descending from Hell, and finally that world-shattering ultimate collision that felt like a duel between gods and demons.
"So, you saw it with your own eyes: that young Asian man, alone, head-on killed a demonic subordinate from the Hell dimension known as 'Atsar'?" Fury's voice was low, betraying no emotion.
"Yes, Officer." Deep in Coulson's eyes, a trace of lingering fear and shock remained.
"Though the process was... extremely difficult, he indeed did it. The fact that the rest of our team members, including myself, survived is largely because he attracted and confined the vast majority of the combat pressure and destructive range to an area far away from us."
"Daniel, the initial attacker, according to subsequent analysis and the statements of klein and Emily Russell, should have been a human deeply contaminated by Hell's aura and used as the core of some ritual.
He died completely under klein's attack, and his remains triggered the descent of Atsar. As for Atsar..."
Coulson paused for a moment, seemingly searching for the right words, "Its power level far exceeds our previous records. It even briefly summoned, or rather, drew upon a higher level of demonic power through some self-sacrificial blood rite... but it was still defeated and banished by klein."
"A higher level of demonic power?" Fury's single eye narrowed slightly.
"Yes, Officer. Atsar was originally about to be defeated by klein, but after he finally sacrificed his own core, the on-site detection showed an exponential leap in the energy index, and a brief but extremely intense dimensional interference phenomenon occurred.
Subsequently, Atsar transformed into a highly threatening energy spear. Its destructive power... according to the post-event survey and analysis of the site, was enough to easily destroy several city blocks.
It was klein who, with some kind of attack we cannot fully parse—a mixture of multiple energy attributes—crushed that spear head-on, ultimately leading to Atsar's total defeat and death."
After Coulson finished, the office fell into a brief silence. Only the extremely faint hum of the overhead ventilation system could be heard.
Fury's fingers tapped twice lightly on the smooth desktop. He finally reached out and picked up the report, but didn't open it, merely stroking the hard cover with his thumb.
"What about the energy attribute analysis?" he asked.
"The preliminary analysis results are attached to the data disk, Officer," Coulson replied immediately.
"The residual energy spectrum at the scene is extremely complex, mixed with at least five different types of fluctuations similar to elemental power,
a high-intensity, high-thermal directed energy suspected to be of biological origin,
an unknown energy thread that can materialize and possesses extremely strong cutting and binding characteristics,
and... a 'holy' attribute power with very special properties, showing extremely strong restraint and purification effects against evil energy.
That last power played a key role in the battle against Atsar."
"Multiple abilities gathered in one person..." Fury muttered to himself, his single eye glinting. "A sorcerer? A Mutant? Or some supernatural system we've never seen before? Or... an extraterrestrial?"
"Currently impossible to determine, Officer," Coulson said truthfully. "His behavior patterns and power demonstrations do not completely align with any supernatural system or Mutant files we know of.
Some of the techniques he used against the demon had clear Eastern occult colors, but the essence of his core power seems to transcend the simple categories of 'magic' or 'Taoist arts'.
Furthermore, according to our previous background check on him, just a few months ago, he was merely an ordinary, financially strapped Chinese-American college student. The acquisition of this power was very... abrupt."
"An abrupt rise, mysterious power..." Fury set the report down, leaning back into the high-backed chair, his gaze seeming to pierce through Coulson into the void.
He paused, his single eye refocusing on Coulson's face: "And you're telling me that the one responsible for all this is a young man in his early twenties, driving a pickup truck, who runs a grocery store in Brooklyn?"
"Yes, Officer." Coulson felt a hint of pressure, but he still nodded with certainty. "Unbelievable as it is, all the evidence, including my own eyewitness testimony, points to this conclusion."
"His attitude toward S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Fury changed the question.
"Cautious, but not hostile." Coulson carefully recalled his limited interactions with klein.
"He seems to know of our existence but doesn't care. When we were exchanging fire with the demon, he reminded us to evacuate; before the final energy burst, he also warned us.
But he clearly doesn't want us interfering too much in his affairs. His lawyer is Matt Murdock, which might explain a few things."
"Daredevil..." Fury was no stranger to that name. "A troublesome street vigilante is now the lawyer for a troublesome individual. Interesting."
He fell silent again for a moment, seemingly weighing his options.
Chapter 68: Discovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Part 2)
"Alright, Phil. Go back and recover well. I'll leave this matter to someone else. I have other things for you later."
"Yes, Officer."
"You may go."
"Yes."
Nick Fury sat in his large black high-backed chair, watching Coulson's figure disappear outside the office door.
The heavy solid wood door cut off the sounds from inside and out.
Fury didn't move, remaining in that posture with his hands crossed under his chin, his one eye staring into the void ahead, but deep in his pupil, he seemed to be rapidly calculating, weighing, and filtering.
In Coulson's report, that Asian youth, with the destructive power he displayed, his eerie combination of abilities, and his specificity against supernatural threats, was undoubtedly a major unstable factor that required high attention and even needed to be brought under control.
But how to make contact, and whom to send, was a difficult problem.
Send a combat or intelligence team directly? The risk was too high.
The combat power the other party displayed was enough to easily wipe out an elite squad; a forced contact would likely trigger an uncontrollable conflict and might even push such a person to the opposing side.
Conventional diplomatic or recruitment methods?
Given the aloof attitude the other party currently showed toward S.H.I.E.L.D., and the arrogance hidden beneath his cynical exterior, it would likely be difficult to succeed and might even cause resentment.
A special candidate was needed.
Someone sharp enough, good at observing, and able to respond flexibly to various emergencies.
Originally, Coulson would have been the most suitable candidate, but he was injured. Even a capitalist wouldn't exploit their employees like that.
Black Widow was also a suitable candidate.
Her insight, adaptability, and extensive experience in intelligence and infiltration were enough to handle most complex situations.
But the problem was that she was currently executing an important mission in Eastern Europe involving biochemical weapons left over from the former Soviet Union and couldn't get away in the short term.
Although Hawkeye was loyal and reliable, with top-tier sniping and tactical abilities, his personality was relatively... direct.
Having him conduct this kind of preliminary contact and assessment, which required high skill and patience, was probably not the best choice.
He was more suited to providing support from the rear or acting as a force guarantee once the situation became clear.
Among the other Agents, there were experts skilled in psychological analysis and negotiation, but facing a target who could kill a Hell Demon single-handedly, with an unknown power system and unpredictable thoughts,
Fury held reservations about how much their professional skills could achieve in the face of such an absolute gap in individual strength.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the smooth tabletop as he pondered who would be suitable.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Fury said.
The heavy solid wood door was pushed open silently, and Maria Hill walked in with a steady pace, holding a folder that wasn't very thick.
Her expression was its usual calm, but deep in her eyes, there was a bit more gravity than usual.
"Officer, I have an emergency to report to you." Hill walked to the desk and placed the folder on the smooth surface in front of Fury.
"What is it?" Fury withdrew his gaze from outside the window, and it fell upon the document.
"The Technical Analysis Department conducted a seventh round of high-precision energy residue scanning and spectrum backtracking analysis on Agent Coulson's mission site—the abandoned textile factory area in Queens. The results just came out."
She paused, her gaze meeting Fury's one eye, and added word for word, "Through cross-referencing and feature matching, the technicians confirmed that the core part of the energy spectrum characteristics remaining in that area matches the trace energy residue collected from the scene of Kingpin's death in his penthouse about two months ago,"
"which wasn't completely annihilated by the fire, with a matching degree of 99.7%."
The air in the office seemed to freeze for half a second.
Fury's body leaned forward almost imperceptibly, and his right index finger, which had been resting casually on the armrest, stopped its unconscious tapping.
He made no other movement, but simply locked onto Hillwith his deep, bottomless one eye.
"Are you sure?"
"The technical department cross-verified it three times, using the most advanced reverse energy field simulationand quantum state comparison technology, excluding all known natural energy interference, weapon residues, and the possibility of Mutant ability fluctuations."
Hill's answer had no hesitation. "The two samples, although their energy intensities are Worlds apart, have highly consistent core energy frequency combinations and decay patterns. It can be concluded that they come from the same power system, or the same person."
Fury stopped speaking and reached out to pick up the folder.
Inside the folder was a thick stack of technical analysis charts, spectrum comparison diagrams, 3D energy field simulation renderings, and dense data and conclusions.
Fury's gaze was like the most precise scanner, quickly scanning through those complex data and curves.
His gaze finally fixed on two high-precision energy spectrum diagrams placed side by side.
One was from the ruins of Kingpin's apartment, and the other was from the edge of the deep pit in Queens.
In the two spectra, the matching degree curve on the adjacent comparison chart almost merged into a perfect straight line.
Fury's breathing paused for an imperceptible moment. This brought him quite a shock.
A person who had quietly taken out Kingpin, the underground emperor of New York.
A person who, under the watchful eyes of many, had directly confronted and killed a demon subordinate from Hell, displaying a terrifying combat power that even S.H.I.E.L.D. found troublesome.
These two identities were, at this moment, firmly welded together by these two cold energy spectrum diagrams.
klein.
This name's danger level and importance assessment in Nick Fury's heart instantly soared by several orders of magnitude.
He closed the folder, his movements regaining their usual steadiness, and placed it gently back on the desk, whispering to himself.
"Interesting..."
A suddenly rising unstable factor with an unknown power source, a style of action that was neither good nor evil, and the ability to stir up the New York underworld and even counter supernatural threats.
Moreover, this factor was now right under his nose, running a so-called "Supernatural Response Agency," looking like a harmless, somewhat capable Exorcist.
Fury was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Hill, his one eye filled with determination.
"What do you think if I have you go and contact this klein?"
Hill was clearly stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Fury to arrange such a task for her.
But her surprise lasted for less than a second before the expression on her face returned to its usual calm.
"I will carry out the order, Officer."
Fury nodded, not surprised by her reaction.
Maria Hill was never one to execute tasks based on personal feelings or preferences; her reliability and efficiency were exactly what he needed right now.
"Very well." Fury leaned back into his chair, crossing his hands in front of him again.
"Temporarily hand over your work on tracking the Ten Rings' activities in Eastern Europe to your deputy. Your priority, from now on, is adjusted to this matter."
"Yes, Officer. The handover process will be completed within two hours."
"Good."
"Go then. Report any situation directly to me at the first opportunity."
"Yes, Officer." Hill gave a final, standard military salute, then turned and left the Director's office with crisp, decisive steps.
The heavy door closed gently again.
Nick Fury turned his gaze back to the night view of Washington outside the window, but his thoughts were completely occupied by that young man far away in Brooklyn, New York.
"klein..." He whispered the name, the light in his one eye deep.
"Let me see if you are New York's cleaner, or a... new trouble that needs to be locked in a cage."
Chapter 69: Maria Hill
klein had been living quite well these past few days.
Emily settled the final payment with klein the next day and even wanted to invite him to dinner, but she was rejected.
Was it really about the food? She was just thirsty! Bah! Despicable! A boy has to protect himself when he's out and about.
Peter and Osborn were also at peace. klein could only hang around the shop bored, joking and flirting with Aunt May... doing... the things they loved to do.
This morning, klein was dozing in the shop when the crisp sound of the doorbell rang.
Before klein could see who it was, the system prompt in his mind sounded simultaneously.
[Ding!]
[Detected Marvel key plot character: Maria Hill]
[Identity: Future Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., one of the most trusted deputies of the Black Braised Egg]
[Hint: Host has encountered a new plot character. Reward: Lottery draw +1! Start the draw now?]
"No!"
klein didn't move from his grandmaster chair, looking at the woman who walked in.
She was tall, with a well-proportioned and upright figure, dressed in a sharp-cut, high-quality dark gray women's suit, with her white shirt buttoned meticulously all the way to the top.
Her chestnut hair was tied back in a smooth, tight bun, revealing a clean forehead and a well-defined jawline.
Her face was beautiful but without any unnecessary embellishment. Her eyes and brows exuded a sense of efficiency, and her legs were very long.
After entering, her gaze was like a precision scanner, quickly and methodically sweeping over the shop's furnishings, screens, and display cases, finally landing on klein, who was slumped in the grandmaster chair behind the long table.
There was no curiosity or surprise in her eyes, only a professional scrutiny.
klein whistled inwardly.
Whoa, this vibe, this style... Sister is slaying me.
"Welcome. Buying a talisman or exorcising evil? This shop has clearly marked prices, no bargaining."
Hill stopped about two meters from the long table, a distance that was neither rude nor too close, maintaining a safe and observant gap.
Her gaze met klein's without any dodging.
"Mr. klein?" Her voice was like her appearance—clear and steady.
"That's me." klein crossed his legs, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the grandmaster chair. "And you are?"
"Maria Hill." She didn't reach out her hand, only nodding slightly. "I have some things I'd like to talk to mr. klein about. Regarding... some... abnormal events that happened in Queens a few days ago."
Although her words were cautious, they were enough to indicate her purpose and identity.
The smile on klein's face didn't change, but he knew exactly what was going on.
As expected, they came knocking. The efficiency was a bit slower than expected; klein thought it might be Coulson.
Later, he learned from the Red Queen that he was injured, so he wondered who would come.
He didn't expect it to be Hill! The Black Braised Egg really values him!
"Sit. You mentioned abnormal events?" klein blinked blankly, then let out an "Oh" as if suddenly realizing, pointing to the display case nearby.
"Are you talking about the feedback from customers whose luck improved after buying Peace Talismans? That's just product effectiveness, legal business, honest business for all. If Ms. Hill is interested, you can also get one. I recently made some Career Talismans; they have miraculous effects on promotions and raises."
Hill sat on the sofa, her expression not changing at all, as if she didn't hear his banter.
She just looked at klein quietly, her blue eyes like a frozen lake.
"mr. klein, we don't need to beat around the bush." She went straight to the point, her tone still steady but carrying an undeniable weight.
"We have some... conclusive evidence linking you to the abnormal energy burst on the edge of Queens, as well as an earlier... sensitive incident."
She paused, observing klein's reaction, and continued: "We are not here to hold you accountable or take any coercive measures.
In fact, given the ability you demonstrated in handling this abnormal event, and... objectively avoiding larger-scale casualties and destruction, we prefer to view this contact as an informal, preliminary communication and risk assessment."
Her wording was very official and cautious, stating her position (we know it was you), lowering her stance (we're not here to fight), and throwing out an olive branch (we see your value).
The smile on klein's face faded slightly, but it didn't disappear.
He picked up the small purple clay teapot on the long table, poured himself a cup of tea that had already gone cold, and took a slow sip.
"Communication? Assessment?" He put down the teacup, his fingers rubbing the warm rim, and looked up at Hillwith a hint of playfulness in his eyes.
"Assessing if I'm qualified to be locked in some secret Basefor slice-and-dice research? Or assessing when I'll lose control and blow New York to the sky?"
Hill seemed to have expected this reaction; her expression remained calm: "Our duty is to protect the World from extraordinary threats, whether they come from aliens, the supernatural, or... uncontrolled individuals.
Our assessments are based on data and behavior, with the goal of preventing crises, not creating them. For collaborators, we provide resources, intelligence, and a certain degree of... freedom of action."
"Collaborators?" klein scoffed, leaning forward with his elbows on the long table, staring into Hill's eyes.
"Listen. I opened this shop to make a living and occasionally clean up the trash in my neighborhood. That business in Queens was because someone begged me, I took the money, and I got the job done. It's that simple.
I have nothing to do with your agency. You protect your World, and I live my life. It's better for everyone that way, don't you think?"
Hill was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing her options.
She didn't show any annoyance or urgency because of klein's rejection; instead, it was as if she had received some expected feedback.
"I understand your position, mr. klein," she finally said, her tone still steady.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. respects individual choices. But I need to remind you that this World is becoming increasingly complex and dangerous. Trying to handle certain risks with individual strength alone may bring you unexpected chain reactions."
"That's my business." klein leaned back against the chair again. "Don't trouble yourselves."
Hill nodded and didn't try to persuade him further. She seemed to have never expected to reach any agreement in one contact.
Her purpose for coming today was more like a formal appearance, a face-to-face assessment, and... passing on certain information.
Chapter 70: Cooperation?
Aunt Mei came out of the small kitchen in the back carrying two cups of steaming black tea, placing one by klein's hand and preparing to hand the other to Hill on the sofa.
"Ms. Hill, please have some tea." Aunt Mei had a gentle and appropriate smile on her face.
Hill nodded slightly but didn't reach for it. "Thank you, ma'am. But there's no need, I should be leaving."
She stood up and straightened the hem of her suit, clearly not intending to stay any longer.
Just as she was about to turn toward the door, klein's voice rang out from behind the long table:
"Ms. Hill, please wait a moment."
Hill stopped, turned sideways, and looked at klein with some surprise.
Aunt Mei also held the teacup, a bit confused.
"While there are some things we can't agree on, there are other things we can. For example—doing business."
"Business?" Hill raised an eyebrow slightly, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
She sat back down on the single sofa, her posture still upright, but clearly more focused.
"What kind of business does mr. klein want to do with us?"
"A business that can give your Agents an extra life while on a mission, or help them complete their objectives with ease." As klein spoke, he leaned down and took a small wooden box wrapped in dark green silk from a drawer under the long table.
Opening the wooden box, there were ten yellow paper talismans neatly arranged, folded into triangles, with different colored runes outlined in cinnabar on the edges.
The talisman paper itself carried a faint scent of sandalwood, and those runes faintly shimmered with gold, green, blue, red, and brown light.
"Five Elements Talismans." klein pushed the wooden box to the edge of the table so Hill could see clearly.
"There are five types here, two of each. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, each with its own strengths."
He pointed at the talismans and introduced them one by one:
"This one with the crimson runes is the 'Fire Element: Flame Burst Talisman'."
"Once activated, it's equivalent to a piece of high-performance C4 plastic explosive, with directional detonation and controllable power. It explodes wherever it's stuck, silently and without leaving conventional explosive residue."
"This one with the light blue runes is the 'Water Element - Fog Guiding Talisman'."
"Once activated, it instantly releases a large amount of low-temperature water mist, which not only obscures vision but also effectively interferes with infrared thermal imaging, acoustic detection, and most other non-optical reconnaissance methods."
"The duration depends on the environment, roughly three to five minutes."
"This one with the earthy yellow runes is the 'Earth Element - Bedrock Talisman'."
"Once activated, it can instantly raise an earth wall up to three meters high and half a meter thick at your designated location, with a durability comparable to reinforced concrete."
"It lasts for ten minutes, making it the absolute best cover for field encounters or urban street fighting."
"This one with the emerald green runes is the 'Wood Element - Rejuvenation Talisman'."
"Once activated and placed on a wound, it can quickly stop bleeding and promote cell regeneration, having a significant immediate healing effect on external injuries such as knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and fractures."
"It can sustain the life of someone heavily injured and speed up the recovery of minor injuries. Of course, it can't cure terminal illnesses or soul trauma."
"Finally, this one with the pale gold runes is the 'Metal Element: Vajra Talisman'."
"Once activated, it forms an invisible energy shield on the user's body surface, effectively resisting small-caliber firearm fire, shrapnel, and even a certain degree of energy impact."
"The duration depends on the intensity of the attack; it can block twenty or thirty rounds of conventional pistol bullets without much issue."
After klein finished his introduction, he leaned back in his chair and looked at Hill with a smile like a devious merchant:
"How about it, Ms. Hill? With these things, wouldn't your frontline Agents who are out there risking their lives be much safer? Wouldn't their missions go much more smoothly?"
Hill listened quietly, her blue eyes staring unblinkingly at the talismans in the wooden box. Although there was no expression on her face, her eyes clearly showed she was rapidly analyzing and evaluating.
"mr. klein," she finally spoke, her voice still steady but with an added hint of caution,
"The effects you've described... sound incredible. But we need concrete evidence to prove they are indeed effective, stable, and controllable."
"Understandable." klein waved his hand generously. "That's why I gave you two of each. One for your technical department to test, analyze, and perform destructive experiments on."
"The other can be given to a frontline field Agent you trust to try out in a relatively controlled environment. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth, right?"
Hill nodded. The proposal was reasonable and showed the other party's sincerity—at least their business sincerity.
"Then, what about the price?" She asked the most crucial question.
"Price?" klein laughed and tapped his finger lightly on the table. "Take them back and use them first. If they work well, then come back and talk to me. If they don't work, or the effects don't meet expectations, then no matter the price, it's useless, right?
"I have confidence in the things I make, and I also believe in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s evaluation capabilities. Once you've verified them and find them worthwhile, we'll sit down and have a long talk. At that time, the price will definitely be fair—you get what you pay for."
This answer both showed confidence and kicked the ball back, making it impossible for Hill to refuse immediately.
Hill was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Finally, she reached out her slender fingers and carefully took the ten talismans from the wooden box. Without looking further, she put them directly into a specially made waterproof pocket inside her suit.
"Very well." She stood up and looked at klein again, her gaze less scrutinizing than before and more serious.
"I will take these back for evaluation. Regardless of the outcome, I will contact you again."
"I'll be waiting anytime." klein also stood up and made a "please" gesture. "Mei, see Ms. Hill out."
Aunt Mei quickly put down the tray and accompanied Hilltoward the door.
At the door, Hill stopped, turned her head, and took one last look at klein.
"mr. klein, I hope our next meeting will be a pleasant business negotiation."
"Of course." klein grinned. "I also like doing business with straightforward people."
Hill said no more, gave Aunt Mei a slight nod, turned to push open the shop door, and got into an SUV.
Aunt Mei walked back and looked at klein with some concern. "Klein, those talismans... are they really as powerful as you say? Also, is it dangerous to do business with those people?"
"Don't worry, Mei." klein slumped back into his grandmaster chair and stretched lazily, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"The talismans are real, and the effects will only be better than what I said. As for the danger?"
He sneered.
"Who can you do business with that isn't dangerous? The key is whether the profit is large enough. S.H.I.E.L.D. has money, a lot of money.
"Black Braised Egg... oh, that's their boss. He's a bit of a cheapskate, but he never hesitates when it comes to spending money on things that can save his subordinates' lives or improve mission success rates."
He picked up the tea, which had already gone cold, and drained it in one gulp.
"Just wait, it won't be long before they come back to me with a thick checkbook. Then, we can have a good rip-off... I mean, a fair trade."
Aunt Mei looked at klein's confident expression, as if he could already see the money flying in, and smiled helplessly, shaking her head as she went back to her own work.
klein leaned back in his grandmaster chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the armrest, looking out the window as the smile on his face deepened.
The connection with S.H.I.E.L.D. was now preliminary established.
In the future, whether it was for intelligence, resources, or... opportunities to trigger more plot characters, there would be another path.
"Black Braised Egg, oh Black Braised Egg," he whispered to himself with a bit of schadenfreude, "is your wallet ready to bleed?"