Detective Phil Coulson (Seeking Investment!)

In fact, Coulson had not been able to find much useful information at the scene. There was no way to compare the shoe prints Master Wong had left in the asphalt, because those shoes were low-level magical items produced by Kamar-Taj itself and possessed a certain degree of protective capability. The only thing he could determine was how high the temperature at the scene had been, but that only made him raise the threat level of this suspected mutant. The trace examination team had also found some red fibers at the center of the high-temperature area, but Coulson could not be certain they were one hundred percent connected to this case.

Coulson's admiration for Nick Fury rose once again. Of course, what he admired most was that Nick Fury had lost an eye fighting aliens. (Coulson did not know that Nick's eye had been clawed out by a cat.)

As expected of the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—he had managed to accurately assess the threat level without even reaching the scene, then dispatched an agent of the appropriate rank, like him, to handle it. But those thoughts were useless. Coulson could not exactly write such nauseating flattery in his report.

Still, there was some good news. Based on the projected body-size comparison, the person who robbed the senator and the person who left the shoe prints were the same. He had now concluded that there were two mutants: one capable of producing extreme heat and blinding light, while the other might be able to control air or something similar. And the affected area that day was not limited to the outskirts—the trail of destruction stretched all the way from City Hall to the outskirts.

Agents did not believe in coincidences. It was impossible for two unknown mutants to happen to gather together that day. This was a group crime.

That made Coulson sigh again.

Some mutants, after suddenly gaining powers, did things they would never have dared to do before. For example, storming into a company and killing the boss who exploited employees all day and demanded 996 work schedules; or running into an alley to commit evil deeds, forming their own little gang to bully men and women. But even mutants who lived peacefully could very well embark on an antisocial path, which was why S.H.I.E.L.D. monitored mutants who had not yet done anything bad.

It was a very complicated matter. After all, no one wanted a neighbor who could hold assault rifles, RPGs, and other weapons at any time. Even if that neighbor promised never to fire them, who would believe it? Mutants wanted peaceful lives, but once their abilities were exposed, they were very likely to be reported.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance system was also extremely inhumane. Installing cameras and listening devices in a target's home was commonplace. Very few mutants could endure having their privacy exposed and being watched at all times. Targets often lost their jobs after submitting to S.H.I.E.L.D. inspections, leaving them with no choice but to resist. But overall, this monitoring system was quite effective. Under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s watch, the odds of mutant crime dropped dramatically, and targets were often shot dead by response teams the moment they began to act...

Coulson believed that the mutants he was investigating were living in poverty and had turned to crime only out of desperation. Their targets were members of the capitalist class, people with a certain social standing. According to Coulson's investigation, Senator Ricky White's White Family had been among those involved in the Salem Witch Trials. The two mutants had probably only recently acquired their powers and were highly unskilled at controlling them, which was why they had gone to the outskirts to use their abilities. They probably did not want to hurt anyone. Otherwise, the senator and his bodyguards could not possibly still be alive.

Thinking of this, Coulson relaxed slightly. They were people who needed help, and he was confident that he could soothe the emotions of these two mutants. But the problem now was that S.H.I.E.L.D. could not find them at all. This place was out in the countryside, with no surveillance cameras and no cars parked nearby. There was no way to check dashcam footage.

Just as he was at a loss, a new lead reached him—Agent Sitwell had found the waitress at the café across from City Hall. According to this brown-haired waitress, two strangely dressed customers had come in yesterday. What had left a deep impression on her was that one of them ate an enormous amount, while the other was very good-looking.

The café's surveillance footage had already been transferred to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s computers. When Coulson arrived at the café, he took the tablet and looked at the footage.

"A child?" Although the footage was somewhat blurry, after the technicians enhanced it, Coulson could still see Salomon's height compared to the others in the recording. Salomon's captured face further confirmed his suspicion. Salomon had simply overlooked one thing: he remembered to cover his face at the robbery scene, but forgot to do so at the café. Still, it was understandable. He had originally thought the operation would not need to be so rough.

The brown-haired waitress nodded. "He looked about twelve or thirteen."

Coulson nodded. He was now glad he had not asked Melinda for help. Facing a mutant who was also a child could very likely awaken Melinda's painful memories of Bahrain once more. Although the title "Cavalry" sounded cool, it had left Melinda drowning in guilt.

"What were they wearing?" Coulson pointed at the image on the screen. "This fat guy looks like some kind of Eastern monk. I've seen those, uh, 'martial monks.' And this child... a wizard?"

The waitress shrugged. As mentioned before, Salem was a tourist town. Dressing like a wizard was nothing strange, and Salomon's red robe also confirmed Coulson's conclusion: Salomon had been at the center of that high-temperature zone.

"All right, thank you for your help. We won't disturb your work any longer." After Coulson had the waitress leave, he looked at Sitwell.

"What?" Sitwell blinked, but the light reflecting off his eyes made it impossible for Coulson to see his expression.

"Request access to more surveillance footage." Coulson sighed. He truly did not want to lay hands on a child, but according to his assessment, these two mutants were probably not irredeemably evil. Within the limits of his authority, Coulson intended to help them as much as possible.

Unfortunately, even after searching through every surveillance camera in Salem Town, they did not find Salomon or Master Wong leaving town. S.H.I.E.L.D. had nearly begun to think that Salomon and Master Wong were locals, or tourists traveling by private car, because neither target appeared on any of the long-distance buses leaving town.

"We're completely out of leads," Sitwell said. "Search the identity database. Run facial recognition."

Coulson fell silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup and took a sip of coffee—why was this coffee even more sour than instant coffee?

That brief distraction did not interrupt Coulson's thoughts. In the end, he nodded and agreed. These mutants were extremely dangerous. Coulson could not imagine what kind of tragedy would result if the target lost control in an enclosed space, such as an elevator or a bus.

Coulson had to find him as soon as possible.

After nearly an hour, just when Coulson could no longer endure the waitress who kept smiling as she brought him unbearably sour coffee, Agent Sitwell came to inform him that they had found the target's identity information. Coulson fled his seat as if he had been granted a pardon.

"This is the target." Sitwell pointed at the computer. Coulson looked over and saw the same face as in the surveillance footage—

"Salomon Damonet

English

Currently residing in London

Date of birth: December 25, 1995"

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