Starting Trouble

Chapter 36: Starting Trouble

Sometimes, "the pot calling the kettle black" could be said the other way around. Evenson usually called Hubbs a hopeless homebody, but he was actually even more reclusive than Hubbs. Hubbs at least went out to walk himself morning and evening, while Evenson had practically reached the point of never stepping beyond his front door.

Evenson had his own reasons for that. How could a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan? Just because I usually don't go out doesn't mean anything. Whenever I do take a long trip, it's far enough to scare you all to death. You know the Void, right? Who knew how many light-years it was from Earth? I'd been there several times already. That was called lying low for three years, then stunning the world with one feat. What did you people know?

But then again, the Void was certainly far away, yet every time he went, he only projected his spirit there while his body remained at home... It was not entirely his fault, either. He relied on his own two legs whenever he went out. Anything farther away meant taking buses or squeezing onto the subway, and he could hardly bear to take a taxi. As for buying a car, given his current financial situation, that could only remain a beautiful dream. He could afford a bicycle, and it was low-carbon and environmentally friendly, but as a Sorcerer and a transmigrator with dignity, he simply could not afford that embarrassment. Damn it, after transmigrating for over twenty years, if he still had to pedal a bicycle whenever he went out, then seriously... what a joke.

Since Evenson did not go out, the household shopping was usually left to Sarah the succubus. After thinking it over, Evenson found that she was the only suitable choice.

Who else could he send? Hubbs was a dog. Was he supposed to let him carry money in his mouth to buy groceries and bargain with the vendors? Every research institution in America would probably gather at the market within seconds. As for Topsy, he might not even be as tall as the vegetables he bought. Evenson did not want to be accused of abusing the disabled, so he was ruled out as well. Dumen would probably stand in front of a vegetable stall from opening in the morning until closing at night, so there was no point counting on him. Tyler would be fine, but considering his build and appearance, the vendor would probably call the police before he got two words out. So Sarah was the only one he could send. And with Sarah's assets, if she were willing to toss out a flirtatious glance, the vendor might even forget to charge her. Unfortunately, that damned lesbian refused to do it, which left Evenson extremely troubled.

Today marked the twentieth day since Evenson's return from the Void. As usual, Sarah went out carrying a basket to buy groceries. After walking two blocks, she entered a secluded alley, dropped a slip of paper, then came back out and continued toward the market. There seemed to be nothing unusual about it.

However, not long after Sarah left, a faint green flash flickered in that alley. Then a man appeared there, with a small pile of burning paper ash at his feet.

The man had slicked-back blond hair, black sunglasses, black gloves, a perfectly pressed black suit, and gleaming leather shoes. His face was ice-cold. "Going out really is troublesome."

Warlock magic, Demon Array. This could be considered a Sorcerer's teleportation spell, allowing a Sorcerer to teleport to the location of the array. However, it had a time limit. If it was left unattended for three or four days, the array would become invalid.

Needless to say, this man, who looked like the sort of villainous big boss who could survive several sequels, was Evenson in disguise. The reason he was dressed like this and had appeared in such a secretive manner was because he was about to stir things up.

After walking for around twenty minutes, Evenson arrived before a roughly sixty-story building. The building housed a company that appeared to be a research institution on the surface, but was actually a secret Hydra laboratory.

Evenson entered the building and approached the front desk. He said to the female employee on duty, "I'd like to see Mr. Daniel Howitzer."

"Do you have an appointment, sir?" the employee asked politely after glancing at Evenson.

"Yes, I do."

"May I have your name?"

Evenson gave his name. The employee checked her computer, then said, "There are still thirty minutes until your appointment. Please have a seat and wait."

Evenson went over to a sofa in the lobby and sat down, considering what might happen shortly and how he should respond.

The half hour passed quickly. A female employee in business attire led Evenson into an elevator and up to the top floor, then brought him into a massive office spanning nearly two hundred square meters.

Six bodyguards stood in two rows inside the office. The moment Evenson entered, two of them stepped forward. "Sir, we need to search you."

Evenson raised his arms. One of the bodyguards began patting him down. Once the search was complete, the bodyguard nodded to his companion standing guard behind him, indicating that there were no weapons and everything was normal.

Only then did Daniel Howitzer, the man Evenson had come to see, emerge from a concealed side room. He was a refined-looking man with white hair and glasses, appearing to be only in his forties or fifties.

Judging by his appearance alone, no one would have guessed that he was a Hydra division chief. In terms of seniority, even Pierce, who had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., could only be considered his junior. Daniel Howitzer had been a direct disciple of Red Skull and the former head of Hydra's Austrian branch. When Hydra fell, he had been captured by Peggy Carter and the Howling Commandos, then imprisoned in a special prison. He was not released until the 1980s, after Hydra had been reborn and infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.

The reason he looked so young was because of a cruel operation he had carried out. He had dissected a living female Inhuman with the ability to live forever, extracting from her the factors that restored his youth.

After coming out, Howitzer sat behind an enormous desk and stared at Evenson without saying a word.

"Wiske. Albert Wiske." Evenson introduced his false name, then politely extended his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Howitzer."

Howitzer ignored Evenson's outstretched hand and merely said coldly, "You have five minutes, Mr. Wiske."

As a Hydra division chief and the top leader of a massive research institution, Howitzer was not someone just anyone could meet. When Evenson had returned from the Void, he had immediately called Howitzer's company. If he had not insisted that he had something extremely important to tell Howitzer in person, something the other party would definitely be interested in, they likely would not have bothered with him at all. Even so, the appointment had been scheduled twenty days later, and the meeting was limited to five minutes.

"Hmph." Evenson chuckled lightly and withdrew his hand, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. "Fine. Then let's get straight to the point. I'm here to help you, Mr. Howitzer."

"Heh heh heh, help me? What can you possibly help me with?" Howitzer found it amusing. He was one of Hydra's top figures, with tens of thousands of men under him. What could an unknown nobody like this possibly do for him? Help him spend money?

But Evenson's next words left him utterly shocked and tense to the extreme.

"I can help you obtain that thing which was once in your hands, only to be snatched away by someone else—the thing you have been trying to reclaim ever since."

Today was the second day of the Lunar New Year, and we had guests over. I drank over half a kilo and really couldn't hold on, so I only wrote one chapter. The extra chapter will have to wait until tomorrow. I'm truly sorry.