No Wildflower Smells as Sweet as a House Flower

Inside a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base, Nick Fury glared furiously at the stack of intelligence reports about Loren on his desk.

Then, in an almost roaring voice, he bellowed at the group of agents in the office.

"Fuck, is this the intelligence you gathered on Loren before?

Some spoiled rich kid, some family's troublemaker, some worthless lump of mud.

If that kid is worthless mud, then what are we? Maggots in a toilet?

It was precisely because of your earlier intelligence failures that all this bullshit happened afterward.

Damn it, good thing I was wearing a bulletproof vest. Otherwise, you'd all be standing here holding my memorial service right now."

After returning from Morgan Manor, Nick Fury had fallen unconscious due to severe internal injuries and was rushed to the hospital.

The emergency treatment had lasted an entire week, and he had only awakened from his coma two days ago.

After resting for just one day, he had hurried back to work and immediately called a meeting to chew people out.

It had to be said that his reputation as the Fuck Hero was truly well deserved!

"Sir, don't get angry. The doctor said you must avoid anger during this period, or it will affect your recovery."

Coulson, standing to the side, quickly reminded him.

Nick Fury let out a deep sigh. He did not continue yelling, instead turning to Natasha.

"Natasha, while I was unconscious, did that kid cause any more trouble?"

Natasha shook her head. "Nothing happened. In fact, Morgan Manor has been unusually quiet.

According to reports from the field agents we deployed, Loren hasn't left the house for an entire week."

"He hasn't gone out for a week? What is that kid secretly cooking up now?

But knowing his nature, he definitely isn't holding in anything good.

Tell the field agents to keep watching him from a distance. The moment anything unusual happens, report it to me immediately."

"Are you sure we should keep watching him? If Loren discovers us, the consequences could be severe."

"We're only monitoring his manor from afar. He won't notice.

That kid is an enormous threat. If we don't keep him under supervision, no one knows what crazy things he might do.

Right, from now on, put him on the S-class dangerous individuals list!"

"What? You're putting him on the S-class danger list too? Isn't that inappropriate?"

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. We're only raising his threat level, not actually doing anything to him. Just do as I say."

"Understood." Although Natasha did not entirely agree, she obediently carried out the order after hearing Nick Fury say so.

Just then, Nick Fury abruptly changed the subject.

"Oh, right. Yesterday, Stark Group sent several invitations for tonight's technology showcase gala to the military, and they gave me one.

But because of my condition, I can't attend, so I'll give this spot to you. Natasha, attend in my place."

"Okay." Taking the invitation Nick Fury handed over, Natasha nodded and accepted.

"I heard Loren will be attending tonight as well. Natasha, make good use of this opportunity.

That kid may be dangerous, but I have to admit that both his personal strength and his family's influence would be very helpful to us.

If we can bring him over to our side, the Avengers I'm building will become even stronger.

And from what I can see, that kid is a genuine lecher. Your beauty might have some effect on him.

If you can win him over, that will be a great achievement. When the time comes, I certainly won't treat you poorly."

Natasha's expression became complicated upon hearing Nick Fury's words.

She had never expected her direct superior to want her to sell her charms to win over Loren.

Although she had used that tactic plenty of times before, this was her first time being officially ordered to trade on her looks.

"Sir, if you asked me to deal with anyone else, I'd have some confidence.

But if it's Loren, then honestly, I have no confidence at all.

He doesn't lack women around him, and those two women are far prettier than I am. I'm afraid I'm not up to the task."

"It's fine. Just do your best.

Although you aren't as pretty as those two women, what if that kid has unusual tastes?

You know, men always grow tired of the old and crave the new.

No house flower smells as sweet as a wildflower. Even if you're a morning glory, there's still a chance you'll be picked."

"..." Natasha.

"No, sir, why do I feel like you're insulting me?"

"No, I absolutely didn't mean it that way. It was only an analogy. All right, it's getting late. You should head to the gala."

"Fine!"

Although Natasha was displeased by Nick Fury's words, she still obediently went to prepare for the gala.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was seven in the evening.

At the banquet hall inside Stark Industries Tower in New York, the crowd was already packed shoulder to shoulder.

Ever since Tony Stark had announced that he was Iron Man, Stark Group's stock had skyrocketed.

Tony Stark, already famous throughout New York as a playboy, had become even more renowned, instantly turning into one of the world's most watched superstars.

Tony Stark, who had always been arrogant, naturally enjoyed such an outcome.

He loved the feeling of being the center of everyone's attention.

And in order to take that experience to the fullest, as well as promote Stark Group's latest green energy products,

he had organized this technology showcase gala.

But while it was called a technology showcase, it was really just an exhibition of his Iron Man Suit.

After all, Tony Stark had shut down the weapons manufacturing division a month earlier, causing the company's previously soaring stock to plunge back to the bottom.

So at this point, he needed a shot in the arm to reverse the group's worsening decline.

In the top-floor office of Stark Industries Tower, Tony Stark swirled a glass of red wine as he gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows at New York's stunning nightscape, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Tony, the invited guests are almost all here. Shouldn't you get ready and show your face?" Pepper Potts asked from behind Tony Stark.

"Yeah, it's about time I showed my face. But for some reason, my right eyelid keeps twitching. I have a bad feeling, like something bad is about to happen."

"Tony, you've been staying up every night doing research lately. If I were you, forget about my eyelid twitching—I'd probably have my heart stop beating. Don't scare yourself. It's just a sign that you haven't rested enough."

"Maybe. By the way, has anyone from the Morgan Family arrived?"

"They have. And it's Young Master Morgan himself. As the company's second-largest shareholder, you should go meet him."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's go down and take a look!"

At the entrance to the extravagantly luxurious banquet hall, Loren, dressed in a black suit, slowly stepped out of a stretched Lincoln.

Behind him, Tifa, dressed to the nines, followed closely. Tonight, she was his only companion.

But not long after he got out of the car, a pleasant voice called his name.

"Hey, Loren!"

Hearing someone call him, Loren immediately turned around.

At once, he saw a breathtaking blonde, blue-eyed young woman jogging toward him.

The newcomer was none other than his high school classmate, Gwen Stacy.