Chapter 87

Maria Hill was somewhat unfamiliar with the names Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons.

After checking the S.H.I.E.L.D. internal network on her phone, she discovered that these two were students at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, an institution under S.H.I.E.L.D.

Leo Fitz possessed exceptional talent in mechanical engineering and electronic engineering.

Jemma Simmons was also a little genius, majoring in the field of biochemistry.

While they were indeed talented in their respective fields, they were too young and not particularly outstanding within the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

She could understand Barbara Morse and Sharon Carter, as both were excellent agents.

But Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons left Maria Hill unable to fathom the reasoning.

"Barbara Morse and Sharon Carter are no problem, but for Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, I need to know why it has to be them."

"They are freshmen who just enrolled in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy; I must know the reason before I can consider whether to let them join."

……

Maria Hill’s attitude was very firm; she looked as if she would absolutely not let them take the risk unless he explained clearly.

However, that was only how it looked.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was not a charity, and certainly not a kindergarten.

Although Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons were young, they were also people of S.H.I.E.L.D.

One was skilled in mechanical and electronic engineering, and the other was skilled in the field of biochemistry.

Su Quan had the Super Soldier Serum and had also mentioned having all kinds of spaceships; this was almost telling Maria Hill explicitly why he wanted them.

Not to mention the vibranium, or the "ethereal" spaceships, just the Super Soldier Serum she had experienced personally was enough to make her and S.H.I.E.L.D. accept greater risks.

Therefore, Maria Hill was playing hard to get, wanting to take the opportunity to obtain more intelligence.

Su Quan looked at the somewhat indignant Maria Hill and shook his head gently.

Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons were not that important to him.

Choosing them was, first, because they truly had real talent and could help Bruce Banner research Wakandan technology, and second, out of pure appreciation.

The reason he didn't contact them privately but instead traded with Maria Hill was mainly to see her attitude.

Now it seemed—

Su Quan spoke slowly: "You disappoint me."

Maria Hill explained: "I must be responsible for their safety."

"You can't be responsible for anyone's safety, including your own!"

"What disappoints me is not that you have ulterior motives, nor that your ulterior motives are too obvious, but that your attitude is not properly aligned!"

"As the Commander-in-Chief of S.H.I.E.L.D., perhaps this status has given you confidence, or perhaps I was too polite to you last time, giving you the illusion that I am easy to bully."

A golden portal gradually formed as it swirled at his fingertips. Su Quan reached in and pulled out a short black baton.

"Remember? I said last time, you are important, but not that important!"

"In the vast universe, you are just a drop in the ocean. I think you are important, so you are important; I think you are not important, and you are just sand on the beach, to be scattered away with a flick of the hand!"

Maria Hill's expression gradually became grave. Her slender fingers tapped on her phone in an unknown pattern, while her body tensed up as she stared at Su Quan.

"I'm sorry, I apologize for my previous behavior. I agree to your terms."

"Tomorrow morning, Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, Barbara Morse, and Sharon Carter will appear at Quandou Society on time."

The attitude was very sincere!

Su Quan glanced at her phone. Hmm, the motive was not pure!

Before the results come out, there are always people who think the outcome is undecided and that they are the dark horse!

Su Quan gave a light twist, and a golden light lit up on the black baton.

Maria Hill reacted quickly, bracing against the back of the sofa, intending to jump behind it.

Unfortunately, even though she had become a super soldier, in front of Su Quan, she was still like the Monkey King facing the Five Finger Mountain of the Buddha—without a shred of a chance!

"Ssh!"

The golden light was like a black hole; in an instant, Maria Hill had been completely consumed.

Su Quan walked leisurely to the liquor cabinet on the side, drinking wine, waiting for the Time Variance Authority or the reinforcements Maria Hill had called to appear.

Time passed by in a flash.

The golden rectangular portal never appeared.

It was unclear whether pruning Maria Hill did not affect the stability of the Sacred Timeline, or if the Time Variance Authority had other plans.

"Bang!"

The door to Maria Hill's house was suddenly kicked open violently.

A fully armed squad moved quickly and rushed in with tacit coordination.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Several guns aimed at Su Quan in unison, and infrared dots reflected on his body.

"Nothing found."

"Nothing found."

While most people were "locking on" to Su Quan, others had already quickly checked other areas.

Su Quan leaned casually against the bar counter, smiling as he scanned the members of this squad one by one, finally looking at the man leading them.

"Brock Rumlow, Captain of the S.T.R.I.K.E. team."

"Should I call you S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, or should I call you Hydra agents?"

Brock Rumlow, a member of Hydra.

After the Insight Project in [Captain America: The Winter Soldier] failed, he was burned, later returned under the name Crossbones, and quit Hydra to become a mercenary.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. team led by Brock Rumlow nominally belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D., but in reality, it had long been thoroughly infiltrated and was now entirely Hydra.

"Where is Maria Hill?"

Brock Rumlow, whose identity had been exposed, reacted first by trying to determine if Maria Hill knew about this.

Su Quan smiled and comforted him: "Don't be nervous, she is no longer in this world."

Not in this world—did that mean she was already dead?

Brock Rumlow breathed a sigh of relief and gave a wink to those beside him. Soon, two team members approached Su Quan with guns, preparing to make an arrest.

Brock Rumlow shouted in a deep voice: "I warn you, you'd better not play any tricks."

Su Quan smiled without a word, letting them approach. It wasn't until they took out handcuffs that he slowly picked up the black baton and, as if joking, tapped each of them on the body.

"Ssh!"

Golden light lit up, and the two Hydra agents were pruned.

Su Quan's movements were like a joke, but Brock Rumlow didn't think it was a joke. With Su Quan's slow movements, why didn't his men dodge? Why didn't they react?

And the mysterious weapon in his hand—it clearly looked no different from an ordinary police baton, yet it could easily annihilate people?!

"Drop your weapon!" Brock Rumlow shouted viciously, aiming his gun.

Su Quan laughed: "You're right, drop your weapon!"

Despite saying that, he had no intention of putting it down.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, and a bottle of wine behind Su Quan was shattered.

Brock Rumlow stared fixedly at Su Quan: "Last warning, drop your weap—"

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out again, and a bullet hit the ground beside Brock Rumlow's feet.

Brock Rumlow was startled and turned his head in anger, wanting to see which bastard was so careless.

As he turned his head, cold sweat slid down Brock Rumlow's forehead.

One by one, dark gun barrels were aimed at him.

He—his men had rebelled?!

"You, you guys—" Brock Rumlow was completely stunned.

His men had rebelled?

How was that possible!

They were all Hydra; even if someone rebelled, it was impossible for an entire squad to rebel, right?

Brock Rumlow suddenly understood how S.H.I.E.L.D. would feel one day if they discovered that his entire squad was Hydra.

— Author's Notes —

PS: Except for Sharon Carter, the other three are from [Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.].