Los Angeles, S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch.
Ward and Melinda had prepared to reel in their catch after deciding to deploy the "Impersonator." They knew this bar was a hidden channel for S.P.E.A.R., and its security was extremely high. They had been lying in wait for months, anticipating the arrival of S.P.E.A.R.'s new head of operations for the Americas.
Although the "Impersonator" appeared flawless on the surface, no one could guarantee that the bar owner wouldn't see through the ruse. If he did, it would alert the enemy, so they had to be ready to close in.
Even if they couldn't catch a high-ranking S.P.E.A.R. official, they at least couldn't let this operative, who had been lurking for years, escape. Perhaps they could extract some useful intelligence from him.
As it turned out, they captured the person, but after over thirty hours of brutal interrogation, they hadn't extracted a single piece of useful information. The old man adamantly denied being a S.P.E.A.R. agent.
"Director Ward, someone at the main gate..." Grant Ward, inside the interrogation room, heard the panicked voice of the guard over the comms channel. "No, it's a Black Panther that broke in."
Melinda May received the same news almost simultaneously. She immediately alerted Grant Ward, "It's the Black Panther that appeared in San Francisco a few days ago. I heard Coulson is in San Francisco looking for these two 'Orcs'."
"Let's go see what he wants," Ward said, leaving the interrogation room.
After more than thirty hours of interrogation and trying every method without success, Ward had encountered such tough nuts before. He was experienced; unless they found something crucial to break the target's psychological defenses, there was no hope of getting information anytime soon.
With no progress here, and another high-value target showing up unexpectedly, Ward was naturally very interested.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Los Angeles branch was a standalone three-story building, surrounded by an iron fence, with access control and a guard post at the main gate.
Will Fortson anxiously waited in front of the building after forcing his way through the gate.
Seeing Ward and Melinda leading the way out, he asked, "Are you the bosses here?"
"You don't know where you are?" Melinda's reaction was sharp.
"I don't need to know," Will Fortson said assertively. "I just need to know if you're interested in me."
"I can cooperate with you, as long as you accompany me to San Francisco to rescue my family. I'll agree to any of your demands."
Will didn't doubt the Demon Lord's words. Instead, he was grateful that his great master had given him a hint, allowing him to be prepared.
"Alright!"
Melinda agreed without hesitation and instructed her subordinates who had come from headquarters, "Prepare a Quinjet. We're leaving now."
Afterward, she immediately contacted Coulson, who was in San Francisco.
"Coulson, I have the Black Panther you're looking for. We're flying to San Francisco immediately."
Seeing Melinda's decisive action, Ward could only follow suit with a helpless sigh.
Before leaving, he reminded the head of the Los Angeles branch, "Make sure you keep a close eye on the person in the interrogation room. Call him a doctor, don't let him die."
"Don't worry, Director. We'll keep an eye on him."
The branch head knew they wouldn't have a chance to tag along and claim credit, but the agents were already happy to end the months-long stakeout and return to their usual enjoyable routines.
The Quinjet was much faster than Fortson's metal wings. They soon arrived in San Francisco and rendezvoused with Phil Coulson, who was waiting there.
"Mr. Fortson, it's a pleasure to meet you," Coulson quickly stepped forward, extending his hand to Will.
Coulson had been extremely anxious these past few days, searching all over San Francisco without finding any trace of the other "Orc," Jack Bryan.
He thought the operation was about to fail and his dreams of promotion and a raise would be dashed, but he never expected Will Fortson to show up voluntarily.
"Allow me to introduce myself, we are the Strategic Homeland Defense..."
"I don't care who you are. My promise won't change," Will said impatiently, having no time for small talk. "As long as you come with me to rescue my family."
"Of course," Coulson said confidently.
America was the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Dealing with a few kidnappers within the country would be a piece of cake.
He was even grateful to the kidnappers for creating this opportunity, otherwise, they wouldn't have had a chance to get close to Will Fortson, who was in the military.
Due to strict military discipline, soldiers couldn't leave freely and normally didn't have law enforcement authority within cities. Even if Will Fortson had sought help from the military after his family was taken, it likely wouldn't have yielded results.
S.H.I.E.L.D., however, had law enforcement authority, and this was a perfect opportunity to do him a favor.
After Will provided the location specified by the kidnappers, Coulson, May, and Grant, all Level 7 agents, quickly formulated a professional rescue plan.
"Will, you go in alone. We'll quietly secure all surrounding streets to ensure no kidnappers escape."
Not long after, Will Fortson appeared at the designated location.
The location designated by Hazak was an abandoned factory on the outskirts of San Francisco.
The mercenary on guard duty saw Will descending from the sky and quickly called out to Hazak, "Boss, this guy has wings! He flew down from the sky!"
"Bitch!" Hazak finally reacted. "No wonder the client this time offered a million dollars."
Although he had heard about America's recent racial discrimination issues and saw the "Black vs. White war" on the news, the boss who hired them only told them to come to America to kill someone, offering a high price of one million dollars for it.
Hazak knew that a high price meant high risk, but their line of work was always on the edge of a knife. So, after only a moment's thought, he accepted the commission.
To be cautious, he brought his entire team.
It was only at this moment that he confirmed the target was indeed the "Orc" from the news.
Although Will Fortson's family had also mentioned names earlier, Hazak, busy with women, hadn't paid attention. America wasn't short of people with the same name.
Moreover, after he was done, he killed them. He really didn't think too much about it.
"Let him in," Hazak gritted his teeth. "I don't believe he can kill all of us before he runs out of strength!"
Will Fortson heard Coulson's voice through the communicator, knowing they had completed the blockade and were bringing reinforcements. Only then did he confidently walk into the abandoned factory.
Hazak, seeing that his men had entered the encirclement, impatiently ordered, "Open fire!"
Gunshots pierced the night sky, and dense volleys of bullets rained down on Will.
"Fuck!" Will was both shocked and furious.
The enemy's blatant attack was clearly aimed at him, and their lack of negotiation meant his loved ones had already met a terrible fate.
His rage extinguished his reason. Will transformed into Black Panther, extended his claws, and charged towards the gunfire, fighting with broad, sweeping attacks, completely disregarding his defense.
Flesh and blood flew, and screams echoed endlessly.
"Harrison, Jacob, answer me quickly!" As his subordinates were progressively lost, Hazak felt a sliver of fear amidst his rage.
This enemy was unlike any he had encountered in his many years as a mercenary. A mere "Orc" had caused them such heavy losses.
With his squad's equipment and strength, they could have successfully slaughtered even real beasts. During missions on the African savanna, they had often hunted leopards and lions for extra meals.
Hazak didn't understand that when humans truly possessed the strength of a beast, their intellect would react wonderfully with that power, far beyond a simple combination of human and beast.
Before you continue
Explore the wiki