Interrogation

Agent Coulson had been working for S.H.I.E.L.D. for quite some time. As a top-secret agency that had yet to be made public, whenever Coulson flashed his S.H.I.E.L.D. badge, ninety percent of people would ask something along the lines of, "What kind of agency is that? How come I've never heard of it?"

Then he would patiently explain that they were a classified organization responsible for handling matters involving high-level secrets, and so on...

But this newspaper owner wasn't playing by the rules! Who started off by asking someone to recite their organization's full name?

The name written on the badge was "S.H.I.E.L.D." Anyone could tell from that spelling that it was an abbreviation for a string of words. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents all knew that, but there really weren't many who could recite the organization's full name.

You really couldn't blame them. The full name was just... fucking long!

But Coulson truly deserved to be called a veteran S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Without blinking or even pausing for breath, he smoothly recited, "Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, commonly known as S.H.I.E.L.D."

Richard immediately looked at Agent Coulson with newfound respect. You could even memorize a name that padded the word count this much? Impressive, impressive...

Beside him, Agent Grant Ward remained impassive, his expression as stiff as ever, but inwardly, he was quietly relieved. Good thing he didn't ask me, or I really wouldn't have been able to answer. There was even a hint of admiration in his gaze toward Coulson. It was impressive that he could remember a name too long to fit on an ID badge...

"Impressive, impressive. I think S.H.I.E.L.D. should give you a few more medals," Richard said earnestly.

Coulson froze, somewhat unable to keep up with his train of thought. What? It was just the organization's full name. Sure, it was a little hard to remember, but did it really warrant a medal?

Richard pointed at his head. "Your hairstyle makes you look like the type with an especially heavy workload. You must be very busy, right?"

With hair that sparse, anyone who didn't know better would think he was a programmer.

Coulson's face darkened. What did he mean, especially heavy workload? I got this hairstyle done professionally. Got a problem with it? Did this guy have no idea how to talk?

"All right, then, you two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents," Richard asked, "what can I do for you?"

"It's about what happened last night." Agent Coulson did not bother arguing with him. "Yesterday's conflict happened right outside your newspaper office, and so did the giant's appearance. We're investigating the matter. We'd like to know whether anyone in the office saw or heard anything unusual beforehand, especially before that giant appeared..."

"Ultraman." Richard waved the newspaper in his hand. "If you read today's paper, you'd know that giant has a name. He's called Ultraman."

"All right... Ultraman." Agent Coulson clearly did not want to dwell on something as trivial as a name. "So, do you have any information to offer? A newspaper as large as yours surely wouldn't have missed any clues, right?"

Richard shrugged. "Then why don't you buy today's paper and give it a read?"

"Thank you, I bought one on my way to work and have already read it," Coulson said. "But we'd like to know what wasn't printed in the paper. It would be even better if you had any photographic material..."

"No." Richard answered cleanly and decisively. "I'm very sorry, but I really can't help."

The two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents exchanged a glance. Ward then walked to the back and quietly shut the door.

Richard raised an eyebrow. What, were they planning to torture a confession out of him?

Richard was not afraid of them at all, but wasn't this a little too brazen?

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Richard. We just want to have a proper talk." Coulson said, "Look, we didn't originally want to bring this up, but in order to earn your trust, I've decided to be a little more open with you." He paused before saying, "We know your secret."

"Oh?"

Richard was a little surprised. Had they really found out so quickly that he was Ultraman? Then S.H.I.E.L.D. really did seem capable... Though it wouldn't matter even if they knew.

"A few years ago, before the Daily Planet was founded, you encountered a group of robbers in Hell's Kitchen," Coulson said. "There were three of them, and they were armed, yet you took all of them down with your bare hands. One of them was sent flying more than ten meters with a single shove from you... That isn't something an ordinary person could do."

Richard suddenly understood.

Oh, that's what you meant. You should've said so earlier.

He remembered now. It had been shortly after he had transmigrated into Marvel, when several blind little thugs had blocked his way in Hell's Kitchen. More accurately, it had been his very first day in this world.

Richard really had not intended to expose his abilities that time. To be honest, he had not even known what abilities he had to expose. He had just transmigrated and was still completely bewildered. Before he had even had time to check out his cheat, those three unlucky thugs had cornered him. They shoved him around, and he had merely resisted instinctively. With one casual push, he sent one large, muscular guy flying more than ten meters away.

The other two nearly pissed themselves on the spot. They did not even have time to care about their unconscious companion before turning and running for their lives.

Richard felt deeply wronged. You might not believe it, but they really had attacked first...

Not long afterward, he discovered that his cheat gave him Ultraman's powers. At the time, he had mentally prepared himself for the authorities to come knocking. He had used power clearly beyond human limits in the middle of the street, so it would not have been strange for someone to notice.

Yet no one ever came to trouble him afterward, so he naturally forgot all about it.

Only now did he learn that S.H.I.E.L.D. had noticed him all along. They simply had not said anything.

In truth, this world was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface. Especially in this era, the number of superpowered individuals around the world was steadily increasing. A mere strength-type superhuman was not enough to make S.H.I.E.L.D. overly alarmed.

"I'm not saying this to threaten you," Coulson continued. "What I mean is that you can trust us completely. S.H.I.E.L.D. knew long ago that you were different, yet we have never disturbed your life. You have no reason to be on guard against us."

This was actually a very common situation in all kinds of cases. Witnesses with guilty consciences often resisted dealing with officials. Former convicts, addicts, illegal immigrants, and the like—when questioned by police officers or agents, even if they knew something, they would not speak honestly.

Clearly, Coulson had placed Richard in that category.

"If that still doesn't help you remember anything, I can offer a small hint," Coulson continued. "Last night, shortly before that giant appeared, our instruments detected an unprecedentedly powerful energy signature. It was an energy unlike anything we had ever seen before, and its source... happened to be near the location of your newspaper office."

"Oh? That's quite a coincidence." Richard nodded. "So you're asking whether I hid that giant in my storage room? Then I can responsibly tell you: no, Agent. I did not hide a giant as tall as a building in my newspaper office's storage room."

Coulson could not help wanting to roll his eyes. Of course I know you didn't hide him there. Isn't that obvious...?