S.H.I.E.L.D. Under One Man

"That’s right. It’s that exaggerated."

Erik spread his hands helplessly.

Any intelligence agency backed by a nation held untouchable authority over ordinary people, and those intelligence agencies all had to serve as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s enforcers.

Given S.H.I.E.L.D.’s authority, it could freely mobilize local police and military forces, directing any local government department to coordinate operations.

Jane and Daisy were still uncertain when they caught sight of Coulson in the corner of their eyes. He suddenly walked toward Kyle, who was standing alone some distance away.

Daisy cried out and tried to go over and pull Kyle back.

"Daisy, wait!" Erik hurriedly grabbed her. Watching the two meet, he said calmly, "It’s fine. If it’s him, there might be a turning point…"

Jane narrowed her eyes at that and looked at Kyle with faint anticipation. This would also happen to confirm the suspicion in her heart.

"Hello, sir."

Coulson walked up to Kyle and proactively extended a friendly hand. Studying Kyle’s face, he said in puzzlement, "I keep feeling that you look familiar, as if I’ve seen you somewhere before."

"Perhaps." Kyle nodded calmly and lightly shook Coulson’s hand. In that single instant, Coulson’s expression changed slightly. Awkwardly, he withdrew his hand, which now bore finger-shaped indentations.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving first. I still have things to do with a few friends." Kyle gestured toward Jane and the others, then ignored Coulson and left on his own.

"Take care." Coulson let out a breath and said with forced composure.

After Kyle and the others left, Coulson remained rooted in place, his brow tightly furrowed as he pondered something.

"Sir, what’s wrong? Is there something suspicious about that Mr. Karr?" Two agents stepped forward and asked in confusion.

"Karr?" Coulson’s eyes abruptly widened. Unable to contain his emotions, he urgently asked, "That man was called Mr. Karr?"

"Yes. We just found out. Headquarters even has files on him," an agent replied.

"It really was him. He actually appeared here… All right, there’s nothing wrong now." Coulson patted his chest. He had suspected it earlier as well, but only now had he fully confirmed Kyle’s identity.

"Sir, who is he?" The two newly recruited agents clearly did not understand the significance of the alias "Karr."

"If I told you, it would probably scare you, so I’d better not. Hurry up, pack the equipment, and drive away from here." Coulson sighed, looking at the red marks on his palm with the frustrated feeling that he had only brought trouble upon himself.

The god had not left New York City for half a year, yet now he had come wandering among mortals.

Coulson sighed inwardly, took out his phone, and dialed Director Fury’s number.

No matter what, he had to report this matter to the director.

Ever since S.H.I.E.L.D.’s internal turmoil half a year ago, the older agents would tremble whenever they saw the statue of the Symbol of Peace. The inhumanly bloody scene of Bloodbath at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters remained vivid in their minds.

S.H.I.E.L.D. indeed had many departments and people beneath it, but it was always beneath one man. Many agents had likely carved that fact into their bones.

Coulson’s encounter with Kyle, and his attitude of treating him like a stranger, weakened Jane’s suspicions about Kyle’s identity considerably.

That was a good thing, too.

After all, Kyle did not want to expose his true identity too soon. Blending in with an ordinary scientific research team and secretly helping Thor was extremely convenient.

If Thor found out he was here, he would probably complain about why Kyle was not helping him return to Asgard.

Kyle had no desire to meddle in Asgard’s family drama.

Kyle followed Jane and the others back to the RV. Jane drove out of town, preparing to head toward the rumored meteor crash site.

Before the vehicle had even left town, they came across Thor outside a pet store by the roadside, trying to buy a warhorse from the clerk.

Thor had probably become too accustomed to flying. After losing his divine power and Mjolnir, thirty miles on a mortal body would likely take an entire day to walk, so after giving it careful thought, he decided to find a warhorse to ride there…

After being viciously mocked by Daisy once again, the prince from Asgard finally climbed into the back of the RV.

The RV drove out of town beneath the afternoon sunset, kicking up a cloud of dust across the wilderness as it headed toward its destination thirty miles to the south.

By the time they neared the crater, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Both light and warmth had faded away, and night shrouded the cold, deserted wilderness.

Like a lonely traveler, the RV switched on its headlights and continued onward, two faint beams piercing through the night.

When they were about half a mile from their destination, Kyle, seated in the front passenger seat, suggested that everyone get out and walk the rest of the way.

The group had yet to understand why when Thor opened the door, climbed down from the back of the RV, and walked onto a small slope to look into the distance. There, he could see a ring of light like a small city, faintly enveloping the sky above the crater.

"Brother Karr is right. This iron contraption called an automobile is too conspicuous. We’ll have to travel the rest of the way on foot." Thor spoke as he could no longer restrain himself. He set off at once, quickening his pace toward the source of the light.

Kyle silently followed close behind. Seeing this, the others could only grit their teeth and continue onward.

Ten minutes later.

The group reached the vicinity of the crater, lowered themselves, and lay prone along the edge of the slope to look down ahead.

Centered around the crater, a large modern research facility had already been established on site. The three-story structure was brightly lit, and staff could be seen inside conducting investigative work.

Protective iron fencing marked with high-voltage warnings had been erected around the facility. Numerous armed guards patrolled the area, while even more supplies were being transported in by trucks and planes.

Erik lowered his voice. "In less than half a day, they built a temporary fortress this quickly. This must be S.H.I.E.L.D.’s handiwork."

"If it’s only a meteorite, why don’t they just take it away? Why insist on building a city here?" Jane asked in confusion.

"Yeah, that’s completely unnecessary." Daisy agreed.

"It’s simple. Because they can’t take it away. You stay here. I’ll retrieve what belongs to me." Unable to hold himself back, Thor went his own way and stepped out. Under the cover of night, he charged straight toward the protective fence.

"That bastard, doesn’t he know he’ll drag us down with him? Karr, what should we do now?" Daisy complained, then turned around and was startled to discover that Kyle, who had been at the back of the group, had disappeared at some point.

"Where’s Mr. Karr?" Jane noticed as well.

"Probably went with him." Erik forced a bitter smile and pointed toward Thor’s receding figure.

At that moment, inside S.H.I.E.L.D.’s temporary research facility.

In the center of the research complex, the silver hammer had not been moved. It remained in the middle of the crater as researchers in white coats moved in and out, gathering data beside it with measuring instruments.

Presiding over the operation, Coulson stood in the second-floor control room of the temporary research facility, looking down at the series of meticulous procedures being carried out around the hammer.

Suddenly, as though an external enemy had invaded, the temporary base’s alarm rang out sharply and loudly through the night sky.

Enemy attack!