The next morning, summer sunlight streamed through the villa windows into the living room. Lin Hai leaned back on the sofa, phone in hand.
He found the number saved as "Nick Fury" in his contacts and tapped call. After a few rings, the call connected.
"Doctor Lin." Nick Fury's voice came through the phone. "It's rare for you to call me first."
Lin Hai lounged on the sofa, his tone casual. "Director Fury, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"Has anything unusual happened in Mexico State lately?"
The other end went quiet for a moment. Nick Fury thought it over before answering. "What kind of unusual?"
Lin Hai fell back on the excuse he had used several times already. "I got some information through a method similar to divination. It suggests something out of the ordinary might happen in Mexico State within the year."
"I don't know exactly what. This method doesn't give me details, only a rough time and place. So if anything unusual comes up, please let me know, Director Fury. I might be able to help when the time comes."
"Oh?" Nick Fury asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You can do that too? But since when did you become so eager to help?"
"I've always been eager to help," Lin Hai said solemnly. "I just don't usually get the chance to show it."
Nick Fury rolled his eye. After buying those potted plants from Lin Hai last time, he could tell that while Doctor Lin wasn't a bad person, he wasn't some selfless do-gooder either.
Still, he replied politely, "All right. I'll keep an eye on Mexico State and call you if anything comes up."
"Thanks." Lin Hai hung up and tossed his phone onto the coffee table.
Nick Fury put