Honey Trap

The atmospheres in the two interrogation rooms were completely different. Things between Roy and Chief George Stacy were somewhat subdued; the topic they had just discussed was too heavy. This was a common phenomenon in America. Many people went bankrupt every day. Some of it was their own fault, but more often than not, the banks were to blame.

The room shared by Jack and Phil Coulson was filled with the smell of gunpowder, its atmosphere unusually explosive as the two men glared at each other head-on. The terms Phil Coulson proposed would never be met. Why? Because more than four million dollars had already been burned away, turned into ashes—a very expensive pile of dust carried off by the wind, with no telling where it would land.

Roy and Jack left their interrogation rooms with their lawyers. They exchanged a glance, then departed NYPD headquarters together. Chief George Stacy hurried over to Phil Coulson. "How did it go?"

Phil Coulson shook his head. "No progress at all. Based on my observations, they're the robbers, but their resolve is incredibly firm. It'll be hard to pry open their mouths. We can only follow them and keep watch for when they use that dirty money."

"Damn. We have leads, but no way to move forward. This is all we can do." Chief George Stacy sighed helplessly. If the two men had still been ordinary workers, there might have been a way. But now they ran an investment company, had clean funds they could use openly, and could hire lawyers to protect their rights. The police could do nothing.

Phil Coulson said nothing more, merely frowned in thought. Then he took out his phone and returned to the interrogation room. "Director, this is the current situation..." Phil Coulson began reporting the details. He had first confirmed the suspects, but there was currently no way to break through. The suspects kept their mouths shut, and they had no evidence or point of entry whatsoever. They had identified the suspects entirely through observation.

"Mm, I understand. Since they possess such skills, it'll be difficult for you to catch them slipping. Their method of murder was also extremely sophisticated." Mo Fei had killed Jerry, and people had seen right through the method, but there was no evidence. Everything at the traffic monitoring center was normal, and there was no way to investigate the traffic light malfunction. It was perfect. The law had always required evidence.

"Director, then all we can do next is follow them and hope they find a way to use that dirty money," Phil Coulson said.

"Not necessarily. If they can make money through investments, why would they need to use that dirty money? Or rather, why would they need to use it anytime soon? What you need to do now is keep an eye on that anonymous account. That should be the share meant for the technical operator behind them. Also, don't tail the suspects." Nick Fury had unexpectedly rejected Phil Coulson's plan.

"Watch the anonymous account? I hadn't thought of that. I'll arrange it. We really don't need to follow the suspects?"

"No. I'll make other arrangements. When one path is blocked, you try another."

"Yes, I understand."

Nick Fury put down the phone, considered things briefly, then picked it up again and made a call. "Come to my office."

Before long, there was a knock on the door. Then a tall, beautiful young woman entered. Her black business suit accentuated her height and curves, while her high heels made her seem even taller.

"Director!"

"Agent Maria Hill, I have an assignment for you. For the moment, I'm classifying it as Level Seven," Nick Fury said seriously.

"Level Seven? Director, I'm only a Level Six agent right now!" Maria Hill had followed Nick Fury ever since he entered S.H.I.E.L.D. At present, she was the person he trusted most and one of his key trainees.

"Yes, but your target is only an ordinary man. You'll use your advantages as a woman to get close to him. His wife left him and his child not long ago, so now is a good time. Agent Phil Coulson will provide you with the specific information." Nick Fury was preparing to use a honey trap.

"Yes, understood!" As a female agent, Maria Hill had received this kind of training as a matter of course. She was naturally no stranger to it.

"Agent Phil Coulson will tell you the key points of this mission later. Our goal is the technology, and you must be careful. The other side is like a Ghost in the network. Our current technology cannot detect them at all, so you cannot reveal even the slightest flaw. Go to New York and meet up with them!" Nick Fury did not explain every detail of the mission. Such matters were not something a director should personally concern himself with.

Maria Hill accepted the assignment. Though she did not yet know the full details, she was not anxious. Since she was to use her advantages as a woman, she needed to prepare her clothing and makeup. The target's aesthetic preferences were another issue that needed consideration.

Maria Hill called Phil Coulson directly. "This is Maria Hill. I'm taking over this mission." S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ranking system had been implemented after Nick Fury took office. There was nothing to discuss between a Level Six agent and a Level Five agent; Phil Coulson and Melinda May obeyed their superiors directly.

"Understood. Is there anything Agent Hill needs?"

"The target's information. Detailed information, especially information on his ex-wife, or whether he has any mistresses or the like. Those are the priorities."

"Understood. It'll be ready in ten minutes. I'll send it to you directly."

Jack was an ordinary man who had long since been investigated thoroughly, inside and out. Phil Coulson obtained the files from George Stacy, then faxed them to Maria Hill.

After receiving the information, Maria Hill analyzed the target's personality, tastes, and family. She was no stranger to this. When agents carried out missions, honey traps were often used. It was not that they had to sacrifice anything of themselves, but rather that they used their advantages as women to take the lead in their interactions, especially emotionally. Female agents were generally well suited to such methods. Of course, Melinda May was not among them. She was the force-first type.

"The director wants to do this?" Melinda May asked after Phil Coulson finished sending the files.

"It's a good method." Phil Coulson nodded in agreement.

"Why not try my method? Sneak into the target's home at night, apply some pressure and offer some incentives. Maybe he'll talk."

"No. Their technology is too terrifying. There may be surveillance everywhere around the target. If they obtain evidence of your actions, we'll be on the defensive. Even if the target confesses, it won't be admissible as evidence then."