Really Back

Chapter 21: Really Back

As an illegal organization, the Deadlock Gang had survived to this day largely thanks to the protection of the local police chief. That was why Coulson had come here today.

Before arriving, he had sincerely hoped the police chief knew nothing—that he was merely a corrupt official taking dirty money to shelter the gang. That would have made the situation much better.

But he had heard the word the chief shouted before dying loud and clear, completely shattering that hope. "Take the body back for a thorough examination. Investigate his connections and everyone he has been in contact with recently. Don't miss a single one."

As Coulson gave the orders, he failed to notice a green eye with yellow pupils slowly vanishing from the corner of the room.

"The timing was perfect." Evenson covered one eye as he spoke. Kilrogg's Eye—a little scouting trick used by Sorcerers.

"Lord, how did you know the poison would take effect so precisely?" Sarah asked as she dusted with a feather duster.

"Just like you knew that old fool would shout your false name before he died." Evenson dismissed the spell as he answered.

"Hahahahaha!" Master and servant looked at each other and laughed.

For a Sorcerer, controlling when poison took effect was as easy as a succubus making an unsuspecting man, when he was on the verge of death and mentally at his weakest, act according to carefully directed misdirection. There was no difficulty at all.

And so, with the police chief's death, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation for the day came to an end. As for explaining the operation and calming the public, other departments and the media would handle that. S.H.I.E.L.D. had never concerned itself with such things.

After returning to headquarters and settling the detainees, Coulson went to the Director's office to report the operation to Nick Fury.

"Sir, the operation has concluded. I'm here to report the results." Coulson said directly as he entered Nick Fury's office.

Nick Fury, who had been standing before the floor-to-ceiling window looking outside, turned around. His eyebrow rose above his single eye. "Good. I've been waiting for a long time."

"The operation has concluded. Nearly all members of the Deadlock Gang have been arrested..." With Nick Fury's permission, Coulson began his report.

"Just get to the 'but.'" Nick Fury saw Coulson's grim expression and knew there had to be bad news.

Coulson drew a deep breath. "But before our operation, eight members of the Deadlock Gang disappeared without a trace."

Nick Fury's facial muscles twitched at the news, but Coulson continued. "These members ranged from low-level thugs to high-ranking cadres. However, they were all solitary by nature and did not get along well with the other Deadlock Gang members. And..."

Coulson paused. Nick Fury asked, "And what?"

After taking another deep breath, Coulson continued. "One thug hung three grenades behind his door and ambushed the arrest team. The team leader, Zealot, and three team members were killed, while another was seriously wounded."

"A very old-fashioned trap. The Japanese used that trick all the time during the Pacific War." Nick Fury sat behind his desk, rubbing his hands together. "But can we confirm it was aimed at us? Or that they were Hydra?"

Even now, after taking action, Nick Fury was still uncertain whether Hydra agents had infiltrated the Deadlock Gang. According to his intelligence, the Deadlock Gang was simply too pathetic. Why would an organization like Hydra send people to hide in such a gang?

"Sir, it isn't strange for petty criminals to disappear." Coulson walked straight up to Nick Fury's desk, braced both hands on it, and stared him down. "But hanging grenades behind a door and setting the trigger so precisely is not something those scum could do."

Ordinary petty criminals ran when they had to run. Why would they set up a deadly trap like that? Were they not worried their crimes were serious enough? And making a cluster bomb out of three grenades was clearly not a skill some street thug should possess.

"And." Coulson continued, "when I went to interrogate the local police chief, he had already taken poison and died right in front of me. According to the autopsy, it was an unknown new type of poison. It caused every organ in his body to fail and rot. I could barely find a single intact organ in his abdomen."

"A police chief. Do you understand what that means, Agent Coulson?" Nick Fury asked grimly.

"Yes, I do, sir." Coulson nodded. "It means Hydra agents may have infiltrated even some members of the government."

"That is a terrifying conclusion." Nick Fury said in a low voice. "Can we confirm that he poisoned himself?"

What Nick Fury meant was whether someone might have poisoned the police chief. The difference was enormous. If he had been poisoned, it meant the chief had merely sheltered a small gang and knew nothing about Hydra, meaning Hydra was still operating among the lower levels of society. But if he had committed suicide with poison, it could only mean he was a Hydra martyr. Hydra had already cultivated followers within government agencies.

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, Director." Coulson shook his head. "I know of no poison that potent that could remain dormant without taking effect. And I can guarantee that before I arrived, that bastard was the only person there."

Indeed, a poison that could turn a person's internal organs into mush, leaving only a cavity full of bloody sludge after the abdomen was cut open, and make even veteran coroners vomit nonstop, could not possibly be a slow-acting poison. That simply was not scientific. Of course, if Magic was involved, that was another matter.

"And when I broke into that bastard's office, I personally heard the words he shouted before he died." Coulson's eyes widened, his face already twisting slightly with rage.

"What did he say?" Nick Fury asked.

"Before he died, he shouted, 'Hydra.'" Coulson said with absolute certainty.

"It really is back." Nick Fury covered his face with both hands. Only after a long while did he speak. "Put those missing men on the wanted list immediately. Isolate and interrogate every remaining Deadlock Gang member. And..."

Nick Fury fixed Coulson with his single eye. "You and Melinda will both undergo investigation. Don't disappoint me, Coulson."