At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
"Director, the two superpowered warriors you mentioned—could they possibly be those two psychiatric patients?"
Coulson asked cautiously. He knew this route very well; he had ambushed that handsome man in a suit on it before.
At the time, he'd felt sorry for him. The man was so handsome and so young—how had he ended up with a mental illness?
"That's right. Is there a problem? The two Asgardian Princes are brave and skilled in battle. There's a war underway right now, so isn't it perfect to have them join in?"
Is there a problem? There were plenty of problems!
At the Director's words, Coulson's expression instantly grew complicated. He stared at Xia Ling in disbelief, trying to find a trace of a joke in his eyes. But it was clear he was serious.
"Director, are you telling the truth? They really are Princes of Asgard, and you're going to have them take part in a war? Do you think you might be under too much pressure at work?"
Coulson looked at his boss with some concern, wondering whether his recent nightly revelry had left him short on energy.
As for work? That couldn't be it. He handled all the Director's day-to-day work himself. Aside from a few particularly important matters, the Director never got involved.
"Of course. I never lie!"
That wasn't what you said before!
"Yes, you're right."
As a seasoned office worker, Coulson would never dare contradict his superior.
Whatever his superior said went. If his boss said east and he insisted on going west, he'd only be making trouble for himself.
Besides, the salary was genuinely good. Coulson didn't think he could find another job that paid as well if he got fired.
"You say you believe me, but you still don't buy it."