The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, the Oriole Waits Behind

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The sun slowly rose, its gentle light like a soft veil, spilling bit by bit across the vast earth.

Bathed in the warm sunlight, Ghost Rider lost his formidable powers as well, his terrifying skull-headed form reverting to that of a normal human.

Carter unhurriedly adjusted the distinctive cowboy hat on his head, then lovingly stroked his beloved steed.

Johnny sat astride his motorcycle, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked around helplessly. Then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed as though all support had vanished from his body.

"What happened to him?" Wes asked, full of doubt.

Carter gave a slight shrug and replied calmly, "Don't mind it. Rookies are always like this."

As he spoke, he casually pulled a cigar from his coat, lit it with a lighter, took a deep drag, and asked, "Who is the Sorcerer Supreme? Why is Hellstorm so afraid of her?"

Just then, the roar of engines suddenly erupted as five cars came speeding over, kicking up clouds of dust.

A group of heavily armed, well-equipped men swiftly got out and tightly surrounded Wes and the other two.

However, their guns were pointed downward, and they showed no intention of attacking for the moment.

Coulson, whose hair was somewhat thinning, quickly walked up to Wes and respectfully handed him a business card.

"Mr. Erwin, we are with Homeland—"

Wes bluntly cut Coulson off. "I remember you. You attended the auction."

"I'm very glad you remember me." Coulson maintained his friendly smile. "We truly mean no harm. We simply want to ask a few questions."

"No harm?" Wes raised a brow and stared sharply at the agents surrounding him. "Do you think I'd believe that?"

"After all, I'm only an ordinary person. Facing 'special people' like you with special abilities, it's only natural for me to feel somewhat unsafe," Coulson said, trying to reassure him. "Please rest assured, they absolutely won't do anything excessive."

"Is that so?" Wes revealed a chillingly sarcastic smile.

The next second, something unexpected happened. Half the agents suddenly raised their guns, swiftly released the safeties, and aimed without hesitation at their own comrades.

The sudden turn of events left the agents present frozen in terror, not daring to move an inch.

"Whoa—whoa, easy—everyone stay calm!"

Coulson panicked and quickly raised both hands, trying to signal that he posed no threat.

"Mr. Erwin, please calm down. There must be some misunderstanding between us." The smile on Coulson's face had turned stiff, making him look exceedingly awkward.

"A misunderstanding? I don't think so." Wes lightly waggled a finger, his tone icy. "The first time you attended the auction was a year ago. That means you've been watching me in secret since at least then."

Wes pressed at his throbbing temple and continued, "You followed me all the way from New York, didn't you? During yesterday's fierce battle, you must have been hiding in some corner and watching in secret."

"What? Did you think I'd exhausted my magic after that battle and decided to come pick up the scraps?"

Coulson's back was instantly soaked in sweat, his clothes clinging tightly to him.

Every word Wes said was correct. Following Nick Fury's orders, they had indeed planned to take control of Wes while he was weakened after the battle, then pry the secrets of magic from him.

But they had never expected Wes to still have strength left.

"Looks like I guessed right."

A powerful killing intent suddenly appeared in Wes's eyes, and the atmosphere grew tense to the extreme.

Just as he was about to make his move, an urgent ringtone suddenly sounded.

Coulson hurriedly pointed at his pocket and cautiously said, "It's our director. I hope you'll hear him out."

Wes immediately took out the phone and turned on speakerphone.

"Hello, Mr. Magus. It seems my subordinates have had quite a serious conflict with you, and I sincerely apologize for that."

Nick Fury's voice came clearly through the phone.

"Mm... Hmph. What do you want to say?" Wes remained expressionless as he reached out and swiftly tore a button from Coulson's clothes. A tiny camera was hidden on it.

"It seems I underestimated the power of technology. You must have gone to quite some trouble to uncover my identity."

"Mr. Erwin, please understand us. As an organization devoted to protecting people all over the world—"

The moment Nick Fury began speaking, he launched into an endless stream of lofty rhetoric.

Erwin listened from the side, thoroughly stunned. So officials, whether in the East or the West, were all the same when it came to empty formalities.

"Enough. Cut the crap. Time is tight, and I don't have time to listen to you ramble."

Nick Fury frowned in displeasure. Ever since becoming director, no one had ever dared speak to him like that.

But with his subordinates still in Wes's hands, he could only swallow his anger.

"I can let your subordinates go."

"What are your conditions?"

"How much authority does your organization have?"

Nick Fury answered with immense pride, "In the United States, there's nothing we can't accomplish."

Wes could not be bothered to expose Nick Fury's boasting and merely said flatly,

"Listen. If you want your men to come out of this unharmed, prepare large excavators and loaders. Have them all delivered to the designated location before sunset today."

Hearing Wes's demand, Nick Fury secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's simple."

"Remember, don't try to fool me, unless you want hell to descend."

"Hell descending? What do you mean?"

Before Nick Fury could finish, Wes ruthlessly hung up.

The act enraged him so much that he flew into a rage in his office and cursed, "Motherfucker!"

Wes casually tossed the phone back to Coulson.

"Mr. Erwin, can you remove your magic now?"

"No." Wes coldly refused, leaving no room for negotiation.

Just as Coulson was about to say something else, Carter reached out and pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

Coulson looked at the cowboy with a face full of confusion.

Carter said earnestly, "Stop talking. This Wizard doesn't have a good temper. Don't make things worse."

After hearing that, Coulson could only give a helpless bitter smile.