Lu Yifang Causes Trouble

Late at night, near the outskirts of the Mutant Academy, a group of figures quietly gathered in the shadows.

"Sir, newly appointed S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 0233 reporting." A young agent strode up to Lu Yifang, saluting him and the Coulson and Melinda beside him.

"Agent 0233, have you completed the tasks I assigned you?" Lu Yifang cleared his throat and said sternly.

"Of course, sir, but..." Agent 0233 nodded, though his expression wavered. As an agent, he knew not to ask what he shouldn't, especially as a rookie in S.H.I.E.L.D., while the man before him was the Special Security Advisor, flanked by two renowned Level 7 agents. Still, recalling the advisor's recent orders, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Agent 0233, is there a problem?"

"A small one." Agent 0233 gritted his teeth and finally spoke up. If he didn't get clarity, he felt this drill couldn't go on.

"Sir, isn't this a counter-terrorism drill? Why are we using live ammunition, and why did we bring that thing?" Agent 0233 glanced at the small rocket launcher nearby, his lips twitching.

"When the enemy appears, are we really supposed to fire?"

"Of course we fire. Aim for the head over the chest, and if you hit the chest, put in two extra rounds. When you see an armed helicopter, don't hesitate—blast it out of the sky. Pull out all your best tricks and go all out. Don't treat this as a drill." Lu Yifang instructed seriously.

"So this isn't a drill at all, but a real operation disguised as one," Agent 0233 muttered to himself in exasperation.

But then again, he doubted it was a real operation either. Besides live ammo and the rocket launcher, they'd brought loads of fake blood, makeup kits, and cameras. Wait—even a real operation wouldn't need those. Only a performance would. What the hell were these big shots planning?

"Agent 0233, a very important question: can you shoot photos and video?" Lu Yifang patted his shoulder earnestly.

"Not an expert, but I'm decent at it," Agent 0233 replied instinctively. Photography and filming were basic skills for any good agent. He didn't get why the advisor asked.

"Good. Can you do makeup?" Lu Yifang nodded, pressing on.

"Makeup?" Agent 0233 was even more baffled.

"Sir, I only know the basics, but the female agents on the team have professional training and are pretty skilled."

"Then I'm relieved. Go wait for orders." Lu Yifang sighed in relief and waved him off.

"Relieved my ass. That drastic shift in your tone makes me even more uneasy. Are all S.H.I.E.L.D. veterans a bunch of lunatics?" Agent 0233 grimaced as he silently withdrew.

"These new agents lack discipline," Melinda remarked, watching Agent 0233's every move, shaking her head in disapproval.

"Mel, they've done well enough. Even you and I, faced with such odd orders back in the day, would've had our hearts pounding," Coulson said with a smile.

"Yifang, don't you think this is overkill? With Professor X around, one thought and those guys wouldn't escape."

"If only Professor X were at the academy. I called Katie earlier—he came back, but soon after, he rushed off to find Magneto to get up to speed." Lu Yifang shrugged helplessly.

"Even without Professor X, there are others..."

"All gone." Lu Yifang cut Coulson off. "Cyclops went with Professor X, and Jean and Storm are hunting down the mutant traitor who tried to assassinate the president."

Colonel Stryker had picked his timing perfectly. If not for Fury's warning, Lu Yifang would've been home tonight, oblivious to what might happen at the academy. Then things could've gone south.

"So it sounds like we're in a tight spot."

"Not too bad. After I notified Katie, most of the mutant kids escaped into the tunnels. Only the fighters are left." As Lu Yifang spoke, seven or eight armed helicopters streaked across the sky.

"Perfect. They're here and haven't spotted us. Agent 0233, ready?" Lu Yifang turned to the young agent behind him.

"Sir, I'm ready." Agent 0233 hoisted the rocket launcher, aiming at one of the helicopters.

"Idiot, who told you to use that? I need photos and video—record all of this."

"Sorry, sir." Hearing that, Agent 0233 quickly swapped to a camera.

Several helicopters hovered over the Mutant Academy. Some landed, while others began dropping fully armed soldiers from the air.

Under Lu Yifang's watch, a squad stormed into the academy's buildings. Just then, the lead soldier was blasted back by a burst of flames.

"Perfect, we've got the evidence. Now it's our turn." Seeing John's fire, Lu Yifang immediately gave the order.

"Don't worry, sir, I'll capture it all on camera," Agent 0233 said confidently.

"Are you brain-dead? Who told you to film? Grab the rocket launcher!" Lu Yifang snatched it from him and fired at one of the helicopters.

"See? This is real action."

"I..." In that moment, Agent 0233 almost saw Lu Yifang donning sunglasses, chomping a cigar, with a thick gold chain around his neck, accompanied by a mocking tune echoing in his ears.

So, with a heart full of MMP, Agent 0233 shouted, "High noon!" grabbed his gun, and charged out.

"Boom! Boom!" Several helicopters were shot down by the small rocket launchers. Before the stunned special forces could react, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new agents had already stormed in.

Though Stryker's chosen soldiers were elites, on par with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, their mission was capture—they carried mostly tranquilizer rounds, thanks to President Obama's threats.

But Lu Yifang's side was fully loaded with live ammo. With him, Wolverine, and the other mutants still at the academy, the enemy was quickly overwhelmed.