A Talk with Sitwell

"Come on! Fill the glasses!!! Tonight, we drink to our hearts' content!!!"

"Today, I got promoted! Drinks for the whole place are on me!!!"

Although he had practically crushed Garrett in their fight today, Jack, who had been promoted to deputy director of the New York City branch and was only one step away from becoming branch director, still invited his subordinates to the bar for countless drinks.

While everyone was playing games, Marian pulled Jack into a corner.

Still riding high on excitement, Jack asked, "Why'd you drag me into a corner? Don't tell me you've finally gone straight?"

Marian: "..."

After slapping Jack across the forehead, Marian grabbed his clothes with both hands and shook him hard, trying to knock some sense into the bastard who had been running his mouth for three years.

Jack was nearly shaken sick. Clutching his stomach miserably, he said, "W-What are you doing...? Aren't there already enough embarrassing photos of me on your phone?"

"If you keep too many in stock, your girlfriend might think you're bisexual..."

Jack's constant lack of seriousness made Marian's hand drift toward her holster.

Seeing that she was about to draw her gun on the spot, Jack finally became a little more serious. Holding down Marian's hand, he said with a cheeky grin, "All right, all right, I know what you want to say. As for this look in my eyes, I don't really have any way to control it for now..."

"That's exactly why I'm so worried about you..." Marian's eyes were filled with concern. She and Jack had entered S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy in the same class, and they had known each other for six years.

It was because of those six years together that Marian could clearly sense the changes Jack had gone through.

Three years ago, Jack, who had originally been steadily climbing the ladder one step at a time, suddenly went mad with ambition for promotion and joined all kinds of high-risk classified missions.

Those missions were almost all Level Eight or Level Nine operations, with some even personally led by Director Fury.

Marian had once worried that Jack would die on a mission someday.

But he came back alive every time.

And he always seemed just like before.

But recently, the change in Jack's eyes had made her worry that the aftereffects of those high-risk missions were finally surfacing.

Maybe that was proof that Jack was suffering through unprecedented torment deep inside?

As his only friend in S.H.I.E.L.D., she should extend a helping hand to him!

The guy whose heart was steadily drawing closer to the do-whatever-he-wanted Homelander said helplessly to Marian, "Marian, you worry too much!"

"We've known each other for six years, right?"

"I even remember the name of every one of your 'ex-girlfriends.' You remember what beer I like best. We know each other this well, so if something were wrong with me, you'd definitely notice it right away."

"My eyes have nothing to do with what's in my heart, got it?"

"All right, I can tell from that look on your face that you don't believe me. The main thing is, I've been inspired by some movies lately—like the whole killing-with-a-glare thing. I've been practicing a sharp gaze, so... look, when I smile, do my eyes still seem evil?"

Jack smiled. That dry smile paired with his Evil Gaze made Marian feel that the man in front of her was no different from a smiling tiger.

Jack: "..."

Tormented to the point of floating away by that Evil Gaze, Jack decided that from tomorrow onward, he should just wear sunglasses every day. Otherwise, sooner or later, the nickname the agency gave him would definitely become "Prince Evil Gaze"...

Just then, Sitwell entered the bar frequented by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Jack saw him wave over, told the bartender to serve Marian three more rounds, then headed toward Sitwell.

"Come on, let's talk outside."

"Mm-hmm."

The two left the bar and went into the alley by its back door.

After confirming that no one was around and there were no surveillance devices, Sitwell's expression darkened. He asked coldly, "Jack, what exactly happened today? Are you planning to poach Garrett's people?"

Knowing Sitwell would come asking about this, Jack had prepared in advance and immediately turned the accusation back on Garrett. "Boss, how many more years do you think Pierce's body can hold out?"

At those words, a sharp glint flashed behind Sitwell's glasses. He asked Jack in a threatening tone, "Did you sneak a look at the medical files from Pierce's personal physician?"

Jack shrugged indifferently. "Come on. You don't need medical files to know Pierce's condition. Everyone knows Pierce won't last more than a few years."

"Garrett is recruiting people as fast as he can right now. Whether he inherits the throne in the end or we split apart according to tradition, our side will take a hit. Are you sure you want to reprimand someone loyal to Hydra at a time like this?"

Although Sitwell looked somewhat cowardly, he was still a Level Eight agent. Without real ability, he could never have reached that rank, so he did not take Jack's words too seriously.

He did not fall for that kind of trick!

So he said bluntly, "You're loyal to Hydra? Which Hydra are you loyal to?"

"I'm loyal to the Fundamentalist Faction." Jack sneered, and his naturally mocking sneer made Sitwell frown.

Because Sitwell knew exactly what the Fundamentalist Faction meant.

Modern people generally regarded the orthodox Hydra as Red Skull's World War II faction, believing Red Skull to be the true Hydra.

But in reality, the true Fundamentalist Faction—the real orthodox Hydra—was a group of idiots trying to bring the Inhuman Hive back to Earth!

That's right, idiots!

The American Hydra improved by Red Skull and later shaped by Pierce had long since thrown that idiotic idea out the window.

Wasn't controlling Earth themselves satisfying enough?

Did they really have to invite some daddy back?

So when Jack personally admitted that he belonged to the Fundamentalist Faction, Sitwell immediately planned to pull out Hydra's historical records and give this immensely promising young man a proper lesson in Hydra history.

"I'm kidding, hahahahaha!"

"?"

A huge question mark slowly appeared over Sitwell's head. He stared blankly at Jack, who was laughing so hard he could barely close his mouth, having no idea what the hell was wrong with him.

After laughing for four or five seconds, Jack smugly patted Sitwell on the shoulder. "I got you, didn't I? Hahahaha! The Fundamentalist Faction? Give me a break! We're the American branch. We don't even give a damn about Red Skull, so why would we give a damn about some monster from ancient times?"

Seeing Sitwell's face turn black, Jack wisely stopped laughing and said, "All right, all right, don't get mad. Mainly, I just found it funny that you asked which Hydra I was loyal to."

"When you ask me that question, can you tell me which Hydra you're loyal to?"

"If we both have our own selfish motives, why are we pretending to be guardians of loyalty here?"

At that, Jack's voice sank. "Garrett's war machine has already started moving. In all of S.H.I.E.L.D., aside from old hands like you, who can stop him?"

"Rumlow? You? Or me?"

"Time keeps passing, Sitwell. You need to take some time and think carefully. Once Garrett rises to the top, will he spare the life of a loyal subordinate of Pierce like you?"

"I, Jack Wilson, have my own way of surviving this crisis."