Make Some Friends

"Pretty cautious."

As Little Hawking followed Agent Hill into S.H.I.E.L.D., he keenly noticed that the surveillance cameras in every corner rapidly adjusted to focus on them, turning along with their movements.

It seemed that any small move they made would be captured by these advanced surveillance devices.

Moreover, every staff member inside looked exceptionally fit. The pistols at their waists were made from a special transparent material and did not appear to be metal.

"Charles?"

At that moment, Magneto glanced at Professor X, who shook his head.

Clearly, Magneto wanted to confirm whether Professor X could still use his abilities, while Professor X shook his head to indicate that they had been interfered with.

"Please rest assured, everyone. We mean no harm. We merely want the upcoming conversation to be a little fairer. The Director sincerely hopes this exchange can proceed amicably."

Perhaps noticing Magneto's unpleasant expression, Agent Hill immediately explained with a sincere look.

Professor X smiled.

"That is understandable. That is what I hope as well."

Magneto merely snorted.

Hill maintained her smile as she led Little Hawking and the other three into the elevator.

"Director's Office."

"Yes, Agent Hill."

As soon as Hill finished speaking, the elevator gave a mechanical reply and immediately shot upward.

Does S.H.I.E.L.D. already have artificial intelligence in this era?

Little Hawking could not help but marvel inwardly.

It was the year 2000. Mobile phones outside were still mostly flip phones, yet S.H.I.E.L.D. had already maturely implemented artificial intelligence programs.

All he could say was that in this Marvel world, the general public's technological level was not much different from the real world's, but certain special organizations possessed technology far beyond reality.

Mutant School was the same. It had no shortage of advanced technology as well.

"The Director wishes to speak with Mr. Charles and Mr. Erik privately."

Outside the Director's Office, just as Little Hawking was about to push Professor X inside, Hill stopped him. Mystique was stopped as well.

Are they planning to divide and conquer us in case the talks fall apart?

Little Hawking's thoughts stirred.

Professor X and Magneto had clearly thought of the same possibility, but Professor X did not mind.

"Then I'll trouble Agent Hill to find a place where Little Hawking and Raven can rest."

He had not come with hostile intentions, and he believed the negotiations would go smoothly, so naturally he did not object.

This would also demonstrate their sincerity to Nick Fury.

"Please rest assured, Mr. Charles. We have prepared a dedicated lounge."

Hill still wore her professional smile.

Little Hawking did not particularly care either.

He felt that as long as Nick Fury was not brain-dead, he would not start a conflict with them in Washington, the capital where high-ranking officials gathered.

And given Professor X's temperament, he would likely prioritize peace as well.

Even if a conflict truly broke out, there was nothing to fear with Professor X and Magneto present, even if he could not transform into a great ape.

This was a city, filled everywhere with reinforced concrete. If Magneto unleashed his full power, he could wreck the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. Tower, and that large-scale interference device would be dismantled in an instant.

So rather than follow them in and listen to the three discuss all that pointless nonsense, he might as well rest outside. Given his current status, he would not be able to get a word in even if he went inside.

"This way, please."

After closing the door to the Director's Office, Hill led Little Hawking and Mystique to a lounge far from the office.

Quite a few snacks and drinks had been prepared there.

However, two agents had also been stationed at the door. They were familiar faces: one was Hawkeye, and the other was Black Widow.

"Did you take care of him?"

After sitting down in the lounge, Mystique immediately asked Little Hawking in a veiled manner.

Little Hawking smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry. He won't live to see tomorrow."

A bright smile instantly appeared on Mystique's face.

"No wonder Erik thinks so highly of you. You really are impressive."

Because of the painful experience of being dissected and experimented on, she loathed disgusting humans like Stryker who used mutants for experiments the most.

If Little Hawking had not acted, she would have found an opportunity to kill him afterward.

"Why don't you two come in, sit down, and make some friends?"

Leaning against the lounge sofa, Little Hawking's eyes shifted as he looked at Hawkeye and Black Widow standing at the door like guardian statues. He warmly waved at them.

For the time being, it seemed unlikely that they would clash with S.H.I.E.L.D. It would be better to take the chance to build some rapport with these two future Avengers. They might prove useful someday.

Human nature was complicated. Sometimes today's enemy could become tomorrow's friend, so there was no need to draw lines so rigidly.

Without any personal grudges involved, having more friends meant having more paths open to you. That applied everywhere.

Seeing Little Hawking wave at them with an innocent expression, Hawkeye and Black Widow exchanged a glance before walking in together.

Their assignment was to monitor Little Hawking and Mystique, especially Little Hawking.

They could obviously monitor them better inside than from the doorway. At the same time, if they could obtain intelligence on Little Hawking through conversation, Nick Fury would undoubtedly be very pleased.

Compared to the nearly transparent intelligence they had on Professor X and Magneto, they knew practically nothing about Little Hawking, the student from Mutant School.

The only intelligence they had was what they had witnessed firsthand during that battle.

S.H.I.E.L.D. could not really be blamed. Little Hawking had appeared out of nowhere, and in war-torn Sokovia at that. Not long afterward, Professor X had taken him away directly.

Even with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence capabilities, there was no way they could uncover much.

"Hmph!"

Seeing Black Widow and Hawkeye enter the lounge, Mystique snorted and closed her eyes.

She did not like humans.

"My name is Hawking. What should I call you two?"

Little Hawking proactively picked up two bags of chips from the table and offered them to Hawkeye and Black Widow.

"Natasha."

Black Widow accepted the chips with a harmless smile, giving only her first name and not her surname.

"Clinton, or Barton."

Hawkeye did the same. However, compared to Black Widow, who was skilled at disguising herself, his expression was far less natural. Little Hawking had knocked him unconscious with a single blow.

If he had not later seen footage of Little Hawking using Great Ape Transformation to battle Captain Marvel, that would have remained a stain on his career as an agent.

After introducing themselves, Black Widow deliberately moved closer to Little Hawking and began chatting with him about everyday matters, trying to build a closer relationship with him.

As expected of the most gifted spy trained by the Red Room, Black Widow, who looked only sixteen or seventeen at the time, already possessed master-level skill in conversational techniques and psychology.

Even though Little Hawking knew full well that Black Widow was fishing for intelligence, he did not find it abrupt or unpleasant in the slightest.

Of course, he was not foolish enough to actually reveal his own intelligence.