Benevolence Society

"You're saying someone used my name to build up a faction? That's impossible!

They don't even know that test site belongs to me!"

Oaks frowned. He often went to Little Rainforest, even if it was only to collect experimental data. There was no way he would have failed to notice any social organization there.

"This..."

Coulson and Melinda exchanged a look, each seeing the seriousness of the situation in the other's eyes.

"Then... if this isn't an organization established by you, Dr. Lin, things have become troublesome."

Melinda shrugged. There had been plenty of surprises today.

"Just call me Oaks."

Oaks waved a hand, then thought it over carefully again before saying uncertainly:

"Could it be... their leader is a burly Latino man with a disabled left leg?"

"That's right. Did you think of something?"

Coulson's eyes lit up.

"According to our information, this organization is called the Benevolence Society. Their leader is Blaze Clark, a former mercenary who ended up in the slums to make a living after being crippled on the battlefield..."

"Wait, wait!"

Oaks nearly blurted out, "What the hell?"

"What did you say that organization was called?"

"The Benevolence Society, Mr. Oaks."

"..."

Oaks covered his forehead as waves of headache washed over him.

That infamous extremist organization... had absolutely nothing to do with him!

"Have they carried out any extremist actions?"

"Uh, aside from their extreme xenophobia, there are no signs of violent crime for now."

Coulson looked strangely at Oaks, who had fallen into an odd state the moment he heard the name. He could not help feeling a little worried.

"Are you all right, Mr. Oaks? This organization..."

"I think I should go meet this organization's leader."

Oaks suddenly spoke, though he still held his forehead in that strange pose, making Coulson and Melinda want to laugh.

"So, you remembered this organization's connection to you?"

Seeing him like this, if Coulson claimed the Benevolence Society had nothing to do with him, he would immediately grab Melinda and dance the cha-cha.

"It's loose end I left behind in a moment of softness."

Oaks lowered the hand covering his forehead. In that brief time, he had already made his decision.

"Although I didn't lead it, since this began because of me, I must take responsibility."

Coulson and Melinda both revealed faint smiles at his words.

Oaks's attitude showed that he was someone who took responsibility. Among people with special abilities, such people were undoubtedly exceedingly rare—the kind who benefited society.

"May I ask what exactly happened?"

Coulson was still quite curious, and it concerned his mission report as well.

"According to our investigation, this organization is simply extremely xenophobic. They do not allow any untrusted people into their territory, meaning the area around your Ecological Test Site—

Of course, we can understand the reason. But in order to investigate this matter, one of our outstanding field agents was even hospitalized—

The people there use somewhat extreme methods to protect their secrets, which is why I said earlier that this might affect the outcome of our assessment of you."

"Then come with me."

Oaks sighed.

"That Ecological Test Site, I call it Little Rainforest. It had already achieved its experimental purpose half a year ago, and I had collected enough data."

Standing up, Oaks took a long coat from the rack.

"But by then, the slums' peculiar order was already close to taking shape... so I didn't shut the place down.

I originally thought it could at least help a few more people, but now it seems it has caused quite a bit of trouble."

Oaks put on the long coat, his expression turning cold.

"If I find out that organization really had nothing better to do than commit illegal acts..."

He looked at Coulson and Melinda and gave a cold smile.

"What I gave them, I can naturally take back. And they'll pay interest on it."

"Mr. Oaks, you can't carry out vigilante justice."

Coulson stood as well. Though he also wanted to see what Oaks was capable of, that clearly violated regulations.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Oaks, but if there really is a problem, leave it to us."

"I'll drive. Coulson, you'd better go over all the Benevolence Society's intelligence with Oaks."

Melinda pulled Lola's car keys from Coulson's pocket and smiled.

"Little Rainforest is an ecological miracle. Those other ecological parks are nothing compared to it... If it can be preserved, it would probably be a good thing for both the slum residents and public order."

"Thank you, Ms. Melinda. I'll consider it."

The initially tense relationship between agent and subject unexpectedly eased. It was apparent even from the way they addressed each other, leaving Coulson and Melinda both surprised and relieved.

Veteran driver Melinda took the wheel herself, terrifying who knew how many members of the Hip-Hop Tribe and Street Racers along the way. By the time they parked, they were already beside Little Rainforest.

"What are you people doing here?!"

The moment Oaks got out of the car, several fierce-looking Black men rushed over.

"Outsiders aren't welcome here! Leave immediately, or don't blame us for getting rough!"

"We're with the government."

Naturally, Coulson had no intention of explaining what the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division was. They were not important enough.

"We want to see your leader."

"Leader?"

The Black man at the front sneered.

"Government trash actually cares about slum affairs now?

We gathered on our own. What leader? Do I look like a leader to you? Hahaha!"

The several Black men burst into laughter as if they had heard something hilarious.

"No leader? Then what is this young man about to do?"

Melinda had appeared behind the group at some point.

A scream rang out. The Black men spun around and saw a young Black man with his arms twisted behind his back, restrained by Melinda.

"Damn it, let go of Little Jack, you bitch!"

"Hey! You're in deep trouble! I guarantee you won't make it out of this street!"

"Send someone else to report this!"

The Black men raised a ruckus, but unlike those from other blocks, they did not swarm forward.

It was not that they did not want to.

They did not dare.

Because Coulson was wiping his sidearm with a silk handkerchief.

"Enough!"

A low shout, not particularly loud yet seeming to resonate with the surroundings, rang out. The slum resident who had been about to report the matter stopped in his tracks.

One hand in his pocket, Oaks pointed with the other at Little Rainforest, surrounded by fencing.

"Go tell Blaze Clark to come see me.

I created this Little Rainforest, and I can take it back—

If you're ready to spend the winter, feel free to ignore me."