The Subject of Value

"So?"

Oaks finished reading the evaluation report Coulson handed him, setting it down on the table with indifference:

"Goose has been missing for over a decade without causing any chaos, and now that someone's watching her, you're getting nervous?"

"Then, what do you mean?"

Coulson breathed a sigh of relief—at least the other party was willing to talk.

Still, he silently marveled at how laid-back scientists could be.

"Here's the thing, Dr. Lin. The threat level of a Flerken... Goose... is actually tied to you, her current owner.

In our investigation, you personally have no issues, of course, but the extent of your control over Goose... that's the key point we need to understand by meeting you in person."

Oaks raised an eyebrow. S.H.I.E.L.D. had completely missed the mark...

But that was fine; at least he could enjoy some peace for a while and stockpile more cards.

However, if he only relied on being "the Flerken's keeper" in front of a powerhouse like S.H.I.E.L.D., he might end up very passive.

Goose listens to you? Great, then whenever there's a mission our agents can't handle, you step in and help, right?

Refuse? We can't take on the Flerken, but we can sure take on a harmless scientist like you.

She's got backing and connections—do you?

As fierce as the Flerken is, S.H.I.E.L.D. has Motherfucker-Man as an acquaintance of hers. Slapping a muzzle on her would be a piece of cake.

A muzzled Flerken is just an ordinary cat.

Worst case, they call her original owner back to take her away. But you, a mere scientist—no matter how eco-friendly your research, if you piss off S.H.I.E.L.D., what's eco-friendly worth?

They'll slap some charge on you, take your research, and take you too.

Don't think an organization as high-and-mighty as S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't do it. In terms of modus operandi, they and Hydra are two sides of the same coin—no exaggeration.

"Let's put it this way: as a biologist, I have a few... special research results."

A faint smile crept onto Oaks' face, making Coulson feel something was off.

"You're all aware of my achievements in plant research?"

Coulson glanced back at the greenery on the shelf and nodded cautiously:

"Yes, a truly remarkable achievement. Too bad there's no Nobel Prize for biology."

"Plant improvement is my research focus, but I'm a biologist, and I've also made some progress in animal research."

Oaks set Goose on the table between him and Coulson:

"Goose, lie down."

Goose licked her mouth and lay down.

"Oh? You're quite the skilled animal trainer?"

Coulson was unimpressed—his own dog could do that:

"Is this research in animal training?"

"Goose, who planted the bug here last time?"

Coulson's eyes went wide as Goose raised a paw and pointed at herself!

"Where was that bug placed?"

Goose jumped off the table, padded over to the sofa, and pawed at the underside—exactly where Coulson had placed the bug last time!

"Does this agent have anything un-eco-friendly on him?"

Goose hopped onto the sofa, squeezed behind Coulson's lower back, and he immediately clapped a hand over it...

"Alright, alright, Dr. Lin. I believe Goose can understand you!"

Sighing, he unholstered a gun from his waist:

"Little one, you can't mess with this."

For someone of Coulson's rank, carrying a gun was perfectly normal.

"But Flerkens are naturally highly intelligent."

"Yeah, that's true. Goose has even started understanding the news lately. So here's what."

Oaks shrugged:

"Show Goose some information—anything, I won't look."

He turned around. Coulson blinked—if that was the case...

He pulled out his phone and showed Goose a message.

"Alright," he said.

Oaks turned back, and Goose meowed a few times at him.

"Dear Mr. Philip, your excellent credit record qualifies you for a five-thousand-dollar credit line. Please click the link below within 24 hours to verify your credit card number and ID. Late verification will affect your credit record."

"Wow, I didn't know your name was Philip. Guess that's fitting for a high-level agent, huh?

Also, five thousand bucks and you need a loan? Your pay must be terrible!"

"Uh... I'm not Philip. I don't know that person. This is just a scam text."

Coulson instinctively tried to deflect, but the next moment he caught himself:

"You can really understand Goose?!"

"Other animals too, but only animals. Humans are animals too, but they're too complicated."

"Sorry, Dr. Lin. I need to be careful about this."

Coulson's face turned serious as he made a call:

"Yeah, May. Find a few animals. Anything will do. No, no, fish won't work."

Hanging up, Coulson knew he had to reassess the young man before him:

"Dr. Lin, you must understand how important this research finding of yours is."

"Actually, I think you'd be better off calling it an 'ability.'"

Oaks shook his head, rejecting Coulson's framing:

"It was a lab accident. A scientific miracle that can't be replicated."

"..."

Coulson's expression grew even graver. That meant the value of this "ability" had shifted from a research outcome that could be studied to Dr. Lin himself!

What did the ability to hold complex conversations with animals mean?

A beast tamer? A circus master? A pet rescue expert? A top-tier veterinarian?

No. As a S.H.I.E.L.D. Level 7 Agent, he knew full well that the greatest value of this ability was intelligence!

Even in an age of highly advanced technology, there were still vast blind spots in intelligence gathering that technology couldn't solve.

Since ancient times, humans had never stopped training animals for various purposes.

But those were efforts with huge costs and minimal returns—hardly successes.

And S.H.I.E.L.D. had seen firsthand how powerful real animal spies could be.

A former S.H.I.E.L.D. member, the genius physicist once known as Ant-Man, Dr. Hank Pym, had invented a helmet that could command ants via brainwaves.

With that unique device, even without Pym Particles, Dr. Pym could provide formidable intelligence support on missions.

But after he fell out with S.H.I.E.L.D. and left, both the miraculous Pym Particles and that Brainwave Helmet were no longer in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands.

And that helmet could only command ants.

Now, this Dr. Oaks Lin could communicate with animals—even relay complex information!

Think about it: most mission targets would have counter-surveillance awareness against electronic devices and human spies.

But what would they do about stray cats and dogs fighting or napping at their doorstep all day?

Maybe they'd even give them some food if they looked cute!

Coulson closed his eyes briefly and let out a long breath. Just then, a knock came at the shop door.

Level 7 Agent Melinda May had arrived with the test subjects.