Their Hero, My Enemy

Lin Hao chose to trust Zheng Xian's judgment. After all, Zheng Xian was a seasoned expert in the intelligence field. If he said there was no problem, then there likely wasn't.

"Two years ago, when Cheng Yi first went to North America, he scouted the area by visiting a bar. I think that's when he was targeted by the 'mole'," Zheng Xian said, quickly identifying a possibility based on Ivan's account.

"So, there's definitely a mole in the American branch," Lin Hao frowned. "And it's highly likely they're still lurking, waiting to give me a surprise."

"You'll have to investigate these matters yourself," Zheng Xian said calmly, wiping the orchid leaves. "Nick Fury is a formidable opponent. After you blew up his Los Angeles branch, he's bound to guess that our new head has arrived in North America."

"How many people are left alive in the entire American branch?" Lin Hao's expression turned grave.

Zheng Xian put down the cloth and said in a deep voice, "There were originally 288 people, but now only 63 remain. Go and memorize their information."

"Alright, I should head back to San Francisco too." Lin Hao turned and left.

While the S.P.E.A.R. duo were discussing Nick Fury, he had already been standing by the crater of the former Los Angeles branch for a long time.

The former base was completely gone, leaving only this massive pit.

"Boss, we've searched the entire site and haven't found any residual radiation," Leo Fitz, who held a doctorate in physics, reported to Nick Fury, holding his instrument.

"But many citizens around witnessed a mushroom cloud, and distant surveillance cameras also captured the footage," Phil Coulson said, extremely frustrated.

The Director had sent him to the West to recruit "Black Panther" and "White Dog." However, "White Dog" had vanished without a trace, and "Black Panther," despite being contacted, had been killed.

It was one thing that the person wasn't found, but in the blink of an eye, an entire Los Angeles branch had vanished with a "boom."

The unlucky Coulson felt his chances of promotion were slim.

"That's the strange part. If it were a nuclear bomb, the surrounding surveillance equipment wouldn't be intact," Fitz shrugged.

"If it wasn't a nuclear bomb, what other weapon could destroy a base so thoroughly?" Coulson couldn't think of anything.

"Where are they?" Nick Fury interrupted their discussion, asking, "Are there no survivors from the Los Angeles branch?"

"We received news last night and arrived at dawn. We've been searching... no, we've been searching for ten hours and haven't found a single colleague."

Coulson's expression was solemn, as if a heavy burden rested on his shoulders.

"Grant and Melinda have been dispatched to the airport and the docks, respectively. We've also sent people to the highway exits. So far, there's no indication that any branch colleagues have left Los Angeles."

"The comparison results are out," Jemma Simmons said, approaching with a tablet. "We found some DNA in and around the deep pit, and after comparison, we've confirmed they belong to colleagues from the Los Angeles branch."

"How many have been identified?" Nick Fury took the tablet.

"Less than a third. The samples are too small, not even a fingernail-sized piece of body tissue..." Simmons spread her hands. "It's fair to say we haven't even found a complete hair."

"So, the entire Los Angeles branch was vaporized into molecular states by a mysterious weapon?"

Leo Fitz's eyes lit up, like a glutton encountering a delicacy.

"This is so cool! I really want to know what kind of weapon it was."

"Judging by the shape of the soil splatter at the scene, it should be an outward-expanding explosive energy, rather than an inward-collapsing one," Simmons continued.

"But can sheer thermal or kinetic energy alone decompose buildings and human bodies to this extent?" Fitz fell into thought.

"Or perhaps it was some kind of radiation-like energy, just undetectable by our current equipment..."

The two technicians engaged in their usual exchange, a pattern that had continued since their days at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

However, outsiders often couldn't understand them.

Nick Fury walked away silently a few steps, with Phil Coulson following closely. Even though he couldn't understand, as long as he remained composed, outsiders wouldn't be able to tell.

"Someone from S.P.E.A.R. has arrived."

Nick Fury suddenly spoke, his tone very certain.

"Zheng Xian sent a new person to take over the American intelligence network."

Coulson looked around and stepped forward, speaking softly, "But the 'mole' didn't receive a mobilization notice, and the remaining S.P.E.A.R. agents are still dispersed."

Months ago, Nick Fury had planned and orchestrated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operation against the S.P.E.A.R. American branch. Phil Coulson, as the direct executor, had also been responsible for the subsequent tracking, naturally retaining contact permissions with the "mole."

Coulson was like a "political commissar" to the Avengers and deserved the evaluation of "dedicating his life to the country" for all of America.

However, one man's hero is another man's enemy.

To the S.P.E.A.R. agents, Phil Coulson was a butcher stained with the blood of their comrades.

This was a fundamental issue of stance.

"Either this new person in charge is a super-powered individual, or they've quickly assembled a new team of operatives. Otherwise, it's impossible for them to have taken down the entire Los Angeles branch," Nick Fury said with a serious expression, feeling a sense of gravity, yet also igniting the fighting spirit within him.

At his level, sparring with masters was the only way to feel accomplished.

"Then he's likely to continue his revenge..." Coulson felt immense pressure bearing down on him.

However, he didn't regret participating in the operation to dismantle the S.P.E.A.R. intelligence network months ago.

Conflicts, confrontations, and sacrifices were almost daily occurrences on the intelligence front. This was a battlefield without visible smoke, an endless war.

Coulson never regretted stepping onto this battlefield, because he was protecting the America he loved.

"Intensify intelligence gathering. As long as this person continues to act, we'll eventually catch him," Nick Fury said confidently. "The American continent is our home turf."

Lin Hao was unaware that "Black Nick Fury" was increasing his focus on him. After returning to San Francisco from Wakanda, he happily proceeded with another "lucky draw."

Yes, after starting a brief war in Wakanda, he reaped a large amount of "Essence of Grievance" and could once again activate the "Hundred Consecutive Draws."

"Ever since I came to America, one day here is worth more than ten back home," Lin Hao said, beaming. "Life is getting more promising!"

Before, back in China, it would take four or five months, or even half a year or more, to gather enough for a "Hundred Consecutive Draw." Now, he could do it in less than a week. The efficiency had increased more than twentyfold.

Lin Hao summoned the Little Devil, lit three sticks of incense, and bowed to the heavens and earth of this dimension, praying for good fortune.

Turning around, he instructed the Little Devil, "Begin."

His luck was incredible this time; he got a drop on the very first try.

The Little Devil's short arms pulled out a pink bellyband.

"Come here, I need to teach you a lesson!"

Lin Hao's brow furrowed into deep lines. He grabbed the Little Devil's cheeks with both hands and sternly reprimanded it, "I told you to bring me things that are unique and would catch my eye, and you keep bringing me panties, stockings, leather outfits, and bellybands every single day?"

"Are these the kinds of things that catch your eye?"

"Ying, ying, ying..."

"What do you mean it's not my eyes it catches, but your eyes?"

Director Lin was displeased and kept rubbing its chubby little face, creating various expressions with the three white marks.

"Explain yourself clearly. Whose eyes are these supposed to catch?"

"Ying... wuwu..."

"That's right. Beautiful women who like me could circle the Pacific. Do I need these things?" Lin Hao snatched the bellyband.

After receiving the information, his expression went from shocked to stunned, and then to a mixture of regret and remorse!

"How could you... why..."