Agent Carter

"Thank you so much for saving us, young man!"

"If it hadn't been for you today, things would have turned out terribly."

Howard Stark's voice interrupted Rorschach's thoughts.

The playboy strode quickly over to Rorschach and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

If this remarkable young man had not appeared, the consequences would truly have been unthinkable.

What Howard Stark did not know was that even if Rorschach had not appeared, neither he nor Anton Vanko would have died.

Though getting injured would probably have been unavoidable.

At the same time, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents around him likely would not have survived.

"Mr. Stark, are you all right?"

Rorschach glanced at the soot-covered, disheveled Howard Stark and asked.

"I'm fine. I feel like I could have a few more drinks right now without any problem."

Howard Stark waved his hand, then stared at Rorschach and asked, "Young man, what's your name? I'm Howard Stark, but since you already know me, I suppose there's no need for an introduction, right?"

"Rorschach." Rorschach gave his name. There was no reason to hide it.

Even if Howard Stark had not specifically asked, Rorschach would have found an opportunity to reveal his name.

As far as he was concerned, good deeds deserved to be credited.

"Ror-schach..." Howard Stark looked mildly surprised. "So you're Chinese?"

In Howard Stark's impression, Chinese people were physically rather weak. He had not expected the young man before him to completely overturn that impression.

Bang!

The door was violently pushed open. A decisive-looking woman rushed in with a group of people.

Like Charles, she had a distinctly British air about her, and her figure was exceptionally curvaceous.

Though she was not exactly young by the standards of this era, that only added to her mature charm.

Peggy Carter.

When Rorschach saw Peggy Carter's particularly outstanding features, he seemed to understand what Captain America liked about this woman.

"Jesus Christ!"

Peggy Carter swept her gaze over the wreckage strewn across the room and the three werewolf corpses lying on the floor, and her expression immediately changed.

So the Soviets had actually sent werewolves to carry out the assassination?

What an oversight.

They had previously only screened for highly trained agents and spies, allowing several werewolves to slip in successfully.

"Stark, are you all right?"

Worry immediately appeared on Peggy Carter's face as she hurried to Howard Stark's side.

"Relax, Peggy. I'm perfectly fine!"

Howard Stark spoke to Peggy Carter in a deliberately casual tone, even turning around in a circle before her.

To show that he was unharmed.

Only then did Peggy Carter fully relax.

She then looked at Anton Vanko, who was being watched by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents nearby. Once she confirmed that the mission had been completed, she turned her attention to Rorschach.

"Stark, who is this?"

Peggy Carter glanced at Howard Stark.

"He's an extraordinary Chinese kid. Luckily, he showed up in time, or we might have ended up as food for those beasts."

Howard Stark briefly explained what had happened to Peggy Carter.

After hearing it, a flash of surprise passed through Peggy Carter's eyes, and she could not help looking Rorschach over a few more times.

Her eyes flickered, though it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Rorschach, thank you very much for everything you did today. That was incredibly cool, really. I've never seen such a cool young man."

"However, could you spare us some time and come back with us? We need to ask you about a few things."

"Don't misunderstand. It's all standard procedure. Oh, right, you may know that I'm Howard Stark, but you probably don't know my other identity."

Howard Stark continued politely, pulling out a business card and handing it to Rorschach.

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division?"

Rorschach could not help shaking his head. Who on earth came up with such a tongue-twisting name?

"I know, I know..." Howard Stark looked helpless. "In fact, I don't like the name either. But at the very least, it accurately describes what we do, doesn't it?"

"Mr. Stark, may I make a suggestion?" Rorschach casually put away the business card.

"Of course!"

"How about S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Howard Stark's eyes immediately lit up. "Like a shield protecting our homeland's security. It's vivid, it fits perfectly. Carter, honestly, I think we might want to consider it..."

Peggy Carter's face darkened slightly.

Howard Stark, you're the head of an intelligence organization now. Could you be a little more serious?

"Simon, you three stay behind. Everyone else, move out!" Peggy Carter issued her orders with crisp efficiency.

"Rorschach, I promise it won't take up too much of your time. It's just a simple formality," Howard added from the side. "What do you say?"

Rorschach himself had little interest in going to S.H.I.E.L.D. for some procedural formalities.

But just as he was about to refuse, he reconsidered. S.H.I.E.L.D. was a place where trouble often gathered, and Howard Stark himself was no ordinary man.

Could this trigger another mission?

Although Rorschach had only just completed a mission and felt that the chances of triggering another one were not high, the system had not been developed by him. Everything was merely his own speculation.

Even now, Rorschach had not figured out exactly how the system triggered missions.

So he might as well take this opportunity to test it out.

If it triggered a mission, that would be ideal. He could earn another batch of Origin Points.

And if it did not, that was fine too. At the very least, he could expand his network with someone like Howard Stark, who might prove useful someday.

Either way, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain.

No matter how he calculated it, it was a worthwhile deal!

Rorschach made his decision.

"Okay, no problem. But before that, I need to let my friend know," Rorschach said to Howard Stark.

Thanks to reader 20190421205103805 for the tip!