Queens.
Shang-Chi had been having nightmares for days.
He wanted to find someone to talk to, but there was no one he could confide in.
Peter and Aunt May were away, so Shang-Chi could only head to Midtown High School by himself, dark circles stark beneath his eyes.
Fortunately, apart from the severe damage to Manhattan, the other districts had not been affected too much.
Passing by the construction crews busily removing the Chitauri wreckage, turbulent thoughts churned in Shang-Chi's mind.
He had killed someone.
He had killed someone again.
When the Chitauri invaded, he happened to be working in Manhattan and had no choice but to fight back.
Facing aliens, even with their advanced technology, Shang-Chi's strength was more than enough to cope.
He killed several Chitauri soldiers, and at first, everything was fine.
Until he saw someone taking advantage of the chaos to commit a crime.
A fallen woman, and a robber scavenging for valuables on her person.
Shang-Chi couldn't hold back. He beat the robber to death.
This was something he hadn't expected.
Anger clouded his mind, and his punch felt like it had infinite strength, shattering the man's bones.
Although in this chaotic time, no one would notice the death of a thug, Shang-Chi, who had killed for the second time, started having nightmares.
He ran back to his apartment in Queens and washed his hands under running water for an hour.
Only when his skin turned white from the soaking did he stop, staring blankly at his powerful hands.
For some reason, he was a little scared.
The man was clearly a piece of trash, and his death was deserved.
But Shang-Chi began to fear returning to the life he once had.
He didn't want to become like his Father, ruthless and cruel.
So he started having nightmares.
In his dream, he returned to the stronghold of the Ten Rings.
He saw his Father.
Wenwu.
And... his sister.
He didn't dare to meet his sister's eyes; he was afraid of seeing disappointment.
It was his escape that had left his sister there alone.
In the dream, Wenwu took Shang-Chi, just like on the night he left, and placed a weapon in his hand.
"Go kill him."
A cold and ruthless tone, with an order that could not be refused.
Kill someone?
Kill who?
You are a born killing machine.
Go kill those people, kill those who are in the way.
Shang-Chi struggled. He didn't want to become a killing machine, much less an emotionless killer.
He threw down his weapon and ran away.
This once warm home had become like a cage.
He ran, looking back, seeing his sister's disappointed eyes and crying expression.
Wenwu's gloomy face.
He didn't dare to look. As he ran, darkness closed in on him, threatening to swallow him completely.
"What's wrong?"
Shang-Chi woke with a start. The white-haired old man beside him waved a hand. "How did you manage to sleep standing up in the street?"
"Sorry, I..." Shang-Chi left in a hurry.
Leaving the old man with a puzzled look on his face.
***
Back at Taran Industries, John's return meant it was time for desperate, non-stop work again.
"The newly established Recycling and Cleanup Department?" John stared at the document that needed his signature and looked at Hattie.
Hattie said lightly, "The group of people Ferdinand recruited."
"Oh, it's them." John remembered agreeing yesterday to have a group of people recycle Chitauri technology.
With a clean and decisive signature, John signed several more documents consecutively.
They were nothing more than records of recent losses and some equipment purchase requests.
Olov had bought several plots of land in Washington to build new energy generators, which had made Taran Industries' financial situation a bit precarious.
After the military saw the Steel Soldiers display their might, they felt they were one of the few assets that could contend with aliens and signed a new, massive order.
Taran Industries' available funds were dwindling, which was indeed a bit worrying.
John glanced casually. "Business can slow down a bit during this period."
Hattie nodded. After finishing all his work, John leaned back in his comfortable chair. "Get me a cup of coffee. Hand-ground, please."
Hearing him, Hattie pursed her lips. After stepping out, she directly took out a packet of instant coffee and brewed it with hot water.
John wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway.
After working as his assistant for this period, Hattie had gradually learned some things about John.
For example, she suspected that he had no sense of taste.
She had observed for quite some time. When it came to drinking coffee, John never cared what kind of coffee he drank.
Or rather, he just cared about the act of drinking coffee.
It was the same with eating. In John's refrigerator, she had never seen anything edible.
When eating out, he would always take one bite and never touch it again.
So Hattie speculated that perhaps John didn't dislike eating, but rather couldn't taste anything.
Bringing in the instant coffee, John casually picked it up and took a sip, a look of contentment on his face.
"Don't you think wearing sunglasses is a bother?"
John glanced at Hattie's sunglasses, which covered half her face.
Hattie said calmly, "I like these sunglasses."
"Then you must really love them." John put down his coffee and said lazily, "How about I give you a raise if you don't wear sunglasses to work?"
"No." Hattie refused decisively.
After speaking, she noticed that John didn't say anything else.
Turning her head, she saw John staring at her.
"I think you should understand me, Miss Hattie Shaw." John said lightly, "I don't mind where you come from, just like Natasha."
"Hiding things will only create distance between us."
John's words were already as straightforward as they could be.
Hattie hesitated.
Speaking of which, John had no reservations towards her either.
Not only did he let Hattie know his Wizard identity, but he also openly let her witness the formation of the Second Alliance.
With all these actions, it was impossible for Hattie not to be moved.
As an Agent, being trusted like this wasn't because of her superb acting skills, nor was it because of her outstanding appearance.
It was simply because of John's arrogance and his trust in the people he chose to employ.
So after hesitating for a moment, Hattie spoke. "I am an Agent."
John said calmly, "I know."
Taking a deep breath, Hattie continued, "I am an Agent from MI6, ordered to come here and become an assistant."
She wanted to see a trace of anger on John's face, but she failed.
John's expression was calm, as if he were listening to someone else's story.
He was only a little surprised when he heard MI6. He hadn't expected the Agent to be from his hometown.
Seeing that he didn't have much of a reaction, Hattie could only say, "I'm not here to monitor you, or to harm you. On the contrary, I'm here to assist you. My superior gave me a lot of freedom."
"Your superior is very smart." John smiled. "I think we can put aside that little bit of suspicion now."
He stood up and walked in front of Hattie, staring into the eyes beneath the sunglasses, and said, "Welcome, Miss Hattie Shaw."
He extended his hand, a smile playing on his lips, and added, "It would be even better if you could take care of the work."
Hattie's lips curved upwards, and she smiled. "What are you thinking, Boss?"
Trying to avoid work?
No way.
After breaking through that barrier, Hattie felt a wave of relief.
The feeling of hiding a secret wasn't pleasant.
Then...
She looked at the coffee cup in her hand and fell into thought.
"Does it have to be hand-ground?"
She glared fiercely at the closed office door. While preparing a new cup, she added ten sugar cubes.
***
Taran Industries' underground laboratory was a restricted area.
Even Olov needed to report before entering.
John walked in and saw Ivan, who had rarely put down his Fighter Armor, tinkering with Chitauri weapons.
"The materials of these weapons are somewhat superior to ours." Ivan took off his goggles and said with a toothpick in his mouth. "In terms of technology alone, they are also ahead of us."
He pointed to a damaged aircraft. "Hover technology. I disassembled it and found that the technology inside is somewhat similar to the magic crystal you gave me."
He took out a purple oval-shaped object, which was the core of the Chitauri technology's operation.
An energy source that supported the Chitauri weapons for various uses.
Putting everything else aside, just selling these materials alone could generate a large income for Taran Industries.
However, only a fool would sell these things. The technology inside was the most important part.
"The technology team is a bit weak." John fell into thought upon hearing this. He couldn't leave everything to Ivan alone.
Even if Ivan didn't mind, the efficiency of one person working tirelessly couldn't compare to a group of people researching together.
John planned to expand the research team.
The Taran Technology Department.
***
(End of Chapter)
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