Sincerity

"Phil Coulson?"

Anton froze for a moment, staring at the slightly balding man before him. They didn't look alike, but they were both bald.

Maybe men who loved to smile all shared the same weakness.

Coulson grew a little uncomfortable under his stare. He felt that the kid in front of him was looking at him with hostility, always eyeing his "sore spot."

"I'm here because of what happened yesterday."

Ignoring Anton's unfriendly gaze, Coulson remained gentle in manner.

He got straight to the point. "Please come with me. On behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., I'd like to have a talk with you."

"What kind of talk?"

Anton crossed his arms, his tone flippant.

"Your companions are already waiting for you in the conference room," Coulson said.

"Then lead the way."

Anton raised his brows and gestured for Coulson to proceed.

Hotel conference room.

Eddie, Anne, and Lewis had arrived ahead of time. Under the watchful eyes of the Bureau—or S.H.I.E.L.D.—personnel, they sat at the conference table.

Eddie studied them carefully, surprise written across his face.

Venom did not need to tell him that this group had undergone special training. Every gesture they made carried an indescribable air about them.

Thinking of their introduction—the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

They were an official agency!

They were most likely here because of yesterday's battle on the Golden Gate Bridge!

Two monsters had fought, and Batman had joined the battle!

If an incident that sensational did not alert a special department, then were those people really being paid to sit around on home soil doing nothing?

"Anton."

A few minutes later, they saw a bleary-eyed Anton slowly follow a man into the room.

"Go on, Coulson. What do you want?"

Anton nodded at Eddie and the others, signaling them to stay calm. He then pulled out a chair and sat down, carrying himself as though he were the host.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Phil Coulson, from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. I'm responsible for this meeting."

Coulson introduced himself to Eddie and the others again before continuing. "We understand the full circumstances of what happened yesterday. Carlton Drake's crimes are unforgivable. He will receive the harshest punishment, and he will never leave prison for the rest of his life."

"You don't need to emphasize that. With or without you, Drake would spend the rest of his life in prison."

Anton sounded utterly certain. With a faint, knowing smile, he said, "Government agencies always show up after the fact. You didn't come looking for us today just to ask about the symbiotes, did you? You should be talking to the employees at the Life Foundation's research facility about that."

"That is one reason. After all, among those present is the world's only symbiote host." Coulson did not get angry despite being rebuffed. Looking at Eddie and Anton, he added, "Besides that, S.H.I.E.L.D. hopes to strengthen our contact with the two of you."

"Strengthen contact?"

Eddie blinked and looked at Coulson. "What does that mean?"

"This world is not as peaceful and stable as the two of you imagine. The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division has made tremendous contributions in that regard," Coulson said. "You may think we appeared too late, but in truth, this was more like a test."

"A test for Eddie and me?" Anton asked.

"Yes. You passed the test. Therefore, we hope that the two of you can become special consultants for S.H.I.E.L.D. and assist us in handling related incidents." Coulson said, "In return, we will take responsibility for wrapping up this incident, including dealing with any future trouble."

"And if we refuse, you won't deal with it?" Anton pressed.

"No. We would still do so."

Coulson kept smiling, exceedingly polite. "No matter when, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s doors will always be open to the two of you."

"I'd rather see your sincerity before you say something like that," Anton said.

"In fact, we have already shown our sincerity."

Coulson said, "The Osborn Company asked me to apologize to Mr. Brock and guarantee that it will not harass him again. As for the Life Foundation shares, Norman Osborn has promised to transfer ten percent to the Jameson family."

As he spoke, he took out a check and handed it to Eddie. "Mr. Brock, this is also part of the Osborn Company's apology."

Eddie accepted it and looked it over. The string of zeroes made his head spin.

Ten million!

And that was merely an apology.

Eddie understood even better what ten percent of the Life Foundation's shares meant.

A deal worth several billion had simply been handed over to the Jameson family behind Anton. The Osborn Company truly had money to burn!

"That does look quite sincere."

Anton was somewhat surprised as well. Stroking his chin, he politely declined. "All right. Eddie and I will carefully consider S.H.I.E.L.D.'s invitation."

S.H.I.E.L.D. looked powerful, but it was really a cesspit full of trouble.

Anton had neither had his head caught in a door nor been kicked by a donkey. Why would he voluntarily jump into that pit?

At the very least, until the Hydra problem was resolved, S.H.I.E.L.D. could not be considered a good place. For now, the most they could do was maintain contact with each other, just as Coulson had implied.

"Then we won't disturb you any longer!"

Coulson understood what he meant. With a slight smile, he left him a means of contact and waved goodbye. "If you need anything in the future, you can contact me anytime."

"No problem." Anton nodded.

"Oh, right!"

Before leaving, Coulson looked at Anne and Lewis, who had been observing quietly, and said politely, "Ms. Weying and Mr. Lewis, there's a confidentiality agreement here that you'll need to sign."

"Uh..."

Anne and Lewis exchanged a glance. They had thought this had nothing to do with them, but they readily agreed.

A few minutes later, Coulson and the rest withdrew completely.

Anton and the others remained seated in the conference room.

Eddie repeatedly ran his fingers over the check. The corners of his mouth stretched so wide that he could barely stop smiling.

He had never imagined that the biggest fortune he would ever earn in his life would come from something akin to extortion—compensation he had demanded.

"Stop grinning!"

Anton rolled his eyes. "Now that everything's settled, shouldn't you start thinking about when you're going to return to normal life?"

"What?"

Eddie was dumbfounded. "I'm a multimillionaire now, and I still have to work?"

Anton gave him an unfriendly look. "I've even kept the editor-in-chief position at the Daily Bugle open for you. You aren't planning to dump me and go solo, are you?"

"A few days off isn't too much to ask, right?"

Eddie asked cautiously.

"Three days!"

Anton was decisive. "After three days, get yourself back to New York and report for work."

"No problem."

Though Eddie thought the time was a little short, he agreed without hesitation.

Everything he had experienced these past few days felt as if it had introduced him to a new world. Returning to an ordinary life would give him time to adjust, so he would not loosen up too quickly after being under so much pressure and suffer a mental breakdown.

After a pause, he thought of that government agent from earlier, the one named Phil Coulson.

"Phil?"

Eddie pondered for a long while. Looking at Anton, hesitation appeared on his face. "Did we forget someone?"

In an apartment somewhere in San Francisco.

Phil Urich was watching videos online about the "Golden Gate Bridge Monster Battle," so thrilled that he was jumping around on the floor.

Ever since the news broke, he had sent messages to both Anton and Eddie.

Neither of them had replied.

Phil did not think much of it, assuming the two were busy dealing with the aftermath. He had no idea that his two bosses had spent the entire night partying at a nightclub and had completely forgotten that they still had an employee "guarding an empty room" alone in San Francisco.