Late night, New York.
Midtown Manhattan, Park Avenue, Hilton Hotel.
Raina had just finished her shower and was lying down, having only just started watching a movie on demand when she received a call.
The number was unknown, but she didn't need to guess—it could only be Addison.
After all, he was the only one who had her temporary number.
"You'd better go travel for a while. Don't stay in North America."
The moment the call connected, Addison's low, grim voice came through.
"What happened?" Raina immediately sensed something was wrong.
"I sent a team to the Clockwork Psychiatric Hospital. Looks like they walked right into an ambush—none of them came back. Dammit!"
Addison sounded as if he were on the verge of snapping, fury boiling in his tone.
"That's… impossible…" Raina was stunned.
She knew exactly what kind of power Addison wielded. The agents he deployed were top-tier professionals. Who could possibly wipe them all out?
"I'd love to know that myself! Shit!" Addison growled.
That team had made up a third of the forces he could mobilise at the moment. If they were truly wiped out, his upcoming plans would be thrown into chaos.
The last thing he wanted.
"Could it have been S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Raina asked carefully.
"I'm not sure what exactly happened. That's why I want you to lay low for now…
If S.H.I.E.L.D. was involved, they'll learn about your connection to Dr Raymond. That would put you directly in their sights."
"Understood."
"Keep in contact. Don't come back until I say so."
"Got it."
Beep... Beep... Beep...
Raina stared at the phone, dazed, forgetting to hang up.
After about half a minute, she jolted back to herself.
"Was it him?"
The face of the man who had humiliated her the first time—the one with the striking mixed-race features—appeared vividly in her mind.
She didn't know why, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he had something to do with this.
Logically, a defenceless psychologist couldn't have wiped out an entire unit of armed soldiers…
Yet somehow, she still believed he was involved.
She had no evidence—only a woman's intuition.
Precisely because she had no proof, she hadn't told Addison. He would've thought she'd lost her mind.
"How could the Clairvoyant, who's always outplayed S.H.I.E.L.D., suddenly stumble this time?"
Raina was full of doubt.
For the first time, she questioned the power of the man she had so blindly revered.
Until now, she had always believed the Clairvoyant to be a major figure in the world of the extraordinary, someone whose influence reached everywhere—even within S.H.I.E.L.D.
But this time, he had clearly faltered.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it…"
No matter how much she tried to make sense of it all, she couldn't find a clear thread. In the end, she gave up and focused on getting out safely.
---
The S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft carrying Raymond, Hill, and May didn't head to S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ directly, but instead flew toward the area near the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy—not far from the Triskelion.
In a secluded villa west of the Academy, Director Fury was already waiting.
As Raymond stepped off the aircraft behind Hill and May, the one-eyed director—looking every bit the pirate captain—approached warmly and embraced him.
"Welcome back, Dr Raymond!"
"It's been a while, Director."
Ray smiled.
From the memories of the body he now inhabited, he knew their relationship had been a strong one.
It was Fury himself who had personally convinced him to secretly join the "Tahiti Project" and later take up a role as guest lecturer at the Academy.
Since then, their friendship had remained close.
"I'm sorry I never came to visit. I hope you understand… My identity's too sensitive. Dropping by unannounced might've brought more harm than good."
Fury spoke with genuine regret.
"No need to explain. We're on the same side." Raymond shook his head and smiled.
Hill cut in:
"Gentlemen, perhaps we could continue this conversation inside?"
"You're right, Hill. I'm getting careless."
Fury chuckled and slapped his forehead.
They entered the villa together.
May headed straight to the kitchen to make coffee while Raymond, Hill, and Fury sat down in the lounge to chat.
Worth noting—Hill had already briefed Fury via secure communication about what had happened at the psychiatric hospital. So he was up to speed.
As soon as they sat down, Fury turned to Raymond with concern:
"Hill told me your condition has mostly recovered?"
Raymond nodded. "Doing quite well. Under normal circumstances, I shouldn't relapse again."
"Good… I told Hill that if your condition hadn't improved, I'd have arranged to bring your doctor here to treat you personally."
Raymond smiled:
"No need. You forget—I'm the best doctor I know."
"I never doubted that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to your door back then."
"Enough flattery—let's talk business. What's your take on all this? Hill mentioned your working theory. Any new leads?"
Fury sighed with a wry smile.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network is spread so wide… Even with suspicions, I can't just start throwing accusations around—it'd cause mass panic.
And the Council would seize the chance to replace me. You know how they feel about me."
"Figuring this out is hard. Damn hard. Incredibly hard."
He said "hard" three times in a row—it was clear how difficult this had become.
Raymond paused, then said,
"I don't see it that way."
Fury looked at him, surprised.
"Oh? Then what's your view?"
"The issue is simple. You lack the evidence to launch a full investigation, and you can't realistically interrogate everyone who's suspicious.
So why not change your strategy…? If you can't investigate, don't. Throw out some bait, and let the fish come to you."