Grant Ward

Grant Ward had never attended S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. He was entirely self-taught, making him very different from the academy-trained agents.

Still, he occasionally returned to headquarters, and Daisy arranged a meeting time over the phone.

Surprise, bewilderment, confusion—those were the agents' first reactions when they received invitations to make a movie. Ward was no exception.

As a Hydra spy who had weathered countless storms, he was still somewhat dumbfounded when he received the news.

"Why do you want me to play the male lead? I've never acted before." The two met at a café inside headquarters. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he asked with an amused expression.

Daisy scoffed inwardly. You've never acted? Your entire life has been one big performance! You've acted from beginning to end, and your skills wouldn't lose out even against those Best Actor winners.

Of course, she could not say any of that aloud.

"Mr. Ward, your image fits the script's requirements very well. Handsome, striking, sharp features, exceptional combat skills, and a sense of justice—those are all your strengths."

Ward's first instinct was to refuse. He had never heard of a spy becoming a celebrity. That was far too high-profile.

But as a member of Hydra, he knew how much Nick Fury valued the three women. Though he could not determine whom the Director would ultimately choose, this was an opportunity to get close to Daisy Johnson, analyze all sorts of intelligence about her, her personality, her preferences, and even assess whether it might be possible to recruit her into their camp. Hydra would never give up such a heaven-sent opportunity.

Hydra's upper ranks were eager to obtain Daisy's intelligence. As a spy, he had no right to refuse.

Ward maintained a gentle smile while more than a dozen thoughts ran through his mind.

Seemingly realizing that he had been thinking for too long, he raised the script, indicating that he was still reading the character information.

Having undergone training from both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, he read very quickly. Relying on his spy's acting skills, he had roughly sketched out Dr. Grant's character in the film within a dozen seconds.

It had to be said that the character actually resembled him quite a bit.

As the adopted son of Hydra senior operative John Garrett, Ward did not feel much identification with Hydra. From beginning to end, he had only followed Garrett's orders. If his adoptive father told him to be a good man, then he would be a good man; the reverse was true as well.

But no matter how highly Garrett regarded him, Garrett himself was only a minor higher-up. If his superiors ordered one of his spies to carry out a mission, he could only obey.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Grant Ward felt as though he had been forced to the edge of a cliff.

One step forward carried a high chance of exposure. One step back, and Hydra would kill him, perhaps even taking his adoptive father down with him.

He had no room to choose.

After working for S.H.I.E.L.D. for so many years, Grant Ward had not been without the desire to become a hero. Reality simply had not allowed it.

Perhaps I should let myself relax a little? He wavered inwardly.

After sorting out his thoughts, he asked Daisy, "What if a mission comes up during filming?"

"You won't be assigned any missions." She had already discussed that with Nick Fury.

Ward asked again, "If an agent's real face appears on screen, how will I handle my career afterward?"

That was not something to worry about either. Americans really suffered from severe face blindness! Over at DC, Superman only needed to put on a pair of glasses, and Wonder Woman only needed to tie up her hair, and no one could recognize them. Things were somewhat better here, but face blindness still existed.

"Mr. Ward can grow some facial hair. Our makeup techniques can also make you look older than you actually are."

With things having reached this point, Grant Ward could no longer think of an excuse to refuse. He could only say that he was willing to participate.

Without another word, Daisy took him to Coulson for an audition. It had to be said that even though Ward did not want to expose his true self, his usual reckless and impulsive image, combined with the acting skill he revealed without a sound, still earned unanimous praise.

He also saw an acquaintance in the crew: Agent May, who had taught Daisy quite a few fighting techniques.

A beauty like Daisy, who would score an eighty out of a hundred, was merely average in Americans' eyes. But to them, Aunt May was a super beauty—every bit of that fierce face looked gorgeous!

Members of the crew endlessly fussed over her. No matter when it was, someone was always trying to strike up a conversation with Aunt May.

This aunt had recently divorced her husband over personal issues and had kept a cold expression ever since. She applied to Director Fury for a transfer to a desk job. As her friend, Phil Coulson brought her into the crew as well and gave her a role as the wealthy man's head bodyguard.

Daisy looked at the crew and felt utterly helpless. Coulson, May, Ward, Fitz, Simmons, and herself—S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Season One could start filming right away!

After securing the male lead, Daisy contacted her nominal teacher, Dr. Hank Pym. She planned to give Old Pym the role of Dr. Hammond.

"An old man who abuses genetic technology?" Old Pym was a little stunned when he received the script she brought over. At his age, why was he going to act in a movie?

"Exactly. It reminds ordinary people to have a sense of reverence. Old Doctor was overly idealistic and ultimately brought about bitter consequences. I think you're very suited to this role." Daisy invited him with great sincerity.

It had to be said that the role moved Old Pym. Warning ordinary people and scientists alike to remain reverent, he thought the message was excellent. After a little thought, he agreed.

Daisy talked Old Pym into joining the cast, and before leaving, she secured another five million in sponsorship from Yale University. All she had to do was film the laboratory scene on location at Yale University.

Five million came in with ease. After leaving Yale, Daisy sighed with emotion. Having S.H.I.E.L.D. at her back really made it easy to earn money.

If Nick Fury had not been building private secret bases around the world, he would have become the richest man in the world long ago!

The main cast was mostly in place, but the remaining two child actors could not be found among the agents.

The boy and girl fully embodied what it meant to be bratty children, screaming and courting death in every possible way in the film.

Suitable actors were not easy to find, and there were no agents of that age. She could only look outside.

The actors' union had ancestor-level protective clauses for minors. The actors she chose had to be gifted, and their parents could not be too awful either.

After searching carefully, she really did find a boy and a girl.

Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker were both eleven-year-old children. They would have no problem playing these roles.

Daisy decided to meet them first, then persuade their parents afterward.

She did not find Peter Parker in the classroom, so she spent ten dollars to learn where he was.

What had happened was simple: an all-too-common case of school bullying. Peter had been bullied by his classmate Flash Thompson, then fought back bravely. Now, both the bully and the victim had been taken away by the teacher.

After asking for the location, Daisy headed toward the teachers' office.