Touching his bow, Barton falls into doubt

The fake doctor was so furious his face turned green. Rolling up his sleeves, he was about to teach Andrew a lesson.

But Andrew refused to sit around and wait for death. He had only just escaped from Shadaloo's clutches and had no desire to be locked up by another organization.

Forcing himself to stay conscious with his last shred of strength, he gritted his teeth and activated his power, squeezing out a... fart?

Pfft!

"..."

With a cold sneer, the fake doctor spread his arms and pounced arrogantly.

"Haha... Kid, even farting can't save you!"

A red flash suddenly flickered before his eyes. Something was pushing its way out from beneath the flesh between the other man's brows.

That was—a blood-red crystal?

At the same time, a vast wave of telekinetic force began spreading endlessly in every direction.

"Something's wrong! Stop him!"

Realizing something was amiss, the fake doctor instantly panicked.

Hearing the commotion inside, the Hydra agents lying in ambush outside violently shoved open the door and rushed in with guns drawn.

But the erupting telekinetic force was too powerful and too fast. The nearby fake doctor and fake nurse each let out a howl as their breastbones shattered, and with two bangs, they were slammed into the wall.

The agents charging in through the doorway screamed in terror and were hurled backward.

The entire building shook as though a massive earthquake had struck. The light tubes exploded instantly in showers of sparks, while objects throughout the room flew wildly through the air, smashing against the walls with a series of crashes.

The tremors continued spreading outward, sweeping through the entire hospital in an instant!

People throughout the hospital panicked, shouting and screaming as chaos broke out.

"No, I have to get out of here!"

Power from the Killing Stone Fragment continued flowing into Andrew's body, barely allowing his consciousness to retain a shred of clarity.

Struggling to his feet, he panted as he pushed open the window, then looked enviously at the little bird perched on a branch.

Gathering his courage, he bit his lip and flipped himself out of the fifth-floor window.

Outside Brooklyn Hospital.

Clint Barton drove his car to a leisurely stop in front of Coulson.

"Barton, do you remember that Chinese Little Master Hotel you recommended to me last time?"

Opening the door, Coulson climbed into the passenger seat. As he set down his crutch, he smiled.

"Even though the hotel's name is a little strange, the food there is incredible. It tastes absolutely delicious!"

Resting his hands on the steering wheel, Barton's lips curled into the smile of a true foodie.

"That really was the most delicious food I've ever had.

"But that hotel has changed its name now. It's called Chrysanthemum House."

"The owner, Liu Angxing, is also the chef of that restaurant. He looks even younger than Andrew did just now.

"But I have to admit, you can't judge a book by its cover. His cooking is truly impressive."

As he slowly started the car, Barton's foodie soul burned brightly. He had recently found another good restaurant and was planning to take Coulson, whom he had not seen in a long time, out for a proper meal.

Suddenly.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

The ground shook violently. With a screech, Barton stomped on the brakes. Coulson's body lurched, and with a thud, he slammed his head into the windshield.

"What happened? Coulson, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Barton.

"Mm... Just a little dizzy."

Holding his bleeding head, Coulson put on a calm act.

"..."

Barton's eye twitched, and he had no choice but to remind him.

"Coulson, I'm sitting here. Who exactly are you talking to?"

"..."

Coulson's expression stiffened. He silently adjusted his direction. In that short moment, the scene before him had become much clearer—going from nine overlapping images to precisely eight.

"But... haven't there been a few too many earthquakes in New York lately?"

Frowning, Barton's agent instincts made him suspicious.

Coulson also realized the issue and instinctively turned back toward the hospital.

Boom!!

A figure suddenly jumped from one of the fifth-floor hospital rooms.

"It's Andrew!"

In the driver's seat, Barton had clearly seen it too.

"Save him, quick! He'll fall to his death!"

Coulson was shocked and hurriedly reached to open the car door, but after grabbing twice in a row, his hands only caught empty afterimages.

Barton: "..."

Under Barton's stare, Coulson felt awkward, only to see Andrew, dressed in a hospital gown, standing steadily on the ground.

"Oh, I can't believe it!"

There was still a five-centimeter gap between Andrew's feet and the ground.

The Killing Stone Fragment between his brows gleamed brightly. Andrew stood suspended in midair, as if he had noticed Coulson and the others watching him.

His expression tightened. Activating his ability, he shot rapidly into the sky.

Barton lowered his bow. It was not that he could not hit him from that distance; they simply had not yet identified him as an enemy.

Why was Andrew suddenly fleeing? What had happened up there? They knew none of it.

"What do we do, Coulson?"

After hesitating for a moment and watching Andrew's unsteady body sway through the air, Coulson gave an order to the empty space at Barton's right.

"We follow him."

"..."

Touching his bow, Barton fell into doubt.

Bang!!

"Dammit, how did we let him get away?!"

Crossbones Brock Rumlow slammed his fist into the hospital room wall in rage.

If Coulson and Hawkeye had not gone after him, handling the aftermath alone would have been extremely troublesome.

"Captain, our people have found Andrew's trail."

"Where?"

"On the way to Brooklyn Central Park."

Brooklyn Central Park.

Supporting himself against the wall, Andrew emerged from a public restroom.

He had already changed out of that conspicuous hospital gown and into a hip-hop outfit.

It was the "selfless contribution" of some stranger he had met earlier. In return, he had gladly gifted his hospital gown to the man for free.

He believed that, for the sake of their friendship, the other party would surely be very satisfied.

Inside one of the men's restroom stalls, a naked man held the hospital gown with a tearful, miserable expression.

"Fuck, kid, don't let me see you again!!"

After washing his face and replenishing some water, Andrew's mind was in turmoil.

He had no idea who the people attacking him were.

Nor did he know what they had to do with those two agents from before.

But no matter what, he had to leave that place as soon as possible. He had to disappear into the crowd like a drop of water into the sea.

Whew... I'll rest here for a while first.

In a secluded corner near the woods, Andrew found an armchair.

Once my body recovers, I'll fly out of this country—the farther away, the better...

With those thoughts in mind, Andrew slowly closed his eyes, intending to take a brief nap.

But he had clearly underestimated Hydra's intelligence network.

While he rested, several agents disguised as pedestrians quietly approached him.

Andrew was still young and not particularly vigilant.

He thought that after disguising himself, no one would find him anytime soon. But when a tranquilizer dart struck his arm, he finally realized how naïve he had been!

They found me—so quickly! When did they notice me?

Suppressing the pain, Andrew swiftly pulled out the tranquilizer dart. His face filled with panic as he hurriedly ducked behind a large tree.

His eyes darted back and forth, and no matter whom he looked at, each person seemed like the one who had ambushed him.

No. This place is too dangerous!

Turning around, Andrew ran deeper into the woods.

Seeing him flee, the agents lurking in the shadows raised their guns and silently pursued him like hunters.

Thanks to reader Little Piglet for the Qidian coin donation.