Alien?

"Was it really okay to say that in front of me, the person involved?"

"Also, Director Nick, what brings you here this time? I shouldn't have broken any laws."

Ryan walked to the wine cabinet, opened a bottle of French Romanée-Conti, poured three glasses, and handed them to Nick Fury and the silent Agent Coulson.

"Before I answer your question, could you tell me how you knew about us?"

Nick accepted the wine Ryan offered and asked.

The organization under his control was one of the most secretive in the world.

Moreover, the name S.H.I.E.L.D. had only just been approved for use. For Ryan Garcia to know about it was highly abnormal.

"As long as more than two people know a secret in this world, it's no longer a secret. You know, once a group develops to my level, there are always things one learns that ordinary people don't."

Ryan shrugged.

"Is that so?" Nick raised an eyebrow but did not pursue the matter. Instead, he demanded, "I heard you fell out with all your shareholders at this morning's meeting. Why did you do that? And what are you planning to do with the funds transferred from the Swiss bank?"

"That's a trade secret. I don't think I need to report to you how my company should operate."

Ryan took a sip of red wine, his tone displeased.

It sounded like Nick was interrogating a criminal. Nick should have been grateful that Sebas was the one accompanying him today. If it had been Albedo or Shalltear instead, anyone who dared speak to Ryan in that tone would already have received a one-way ticket to hell.

"Of course. As long as you don't break the law, how you run your company is your freedom. However, this Mr. Sebas Tian beside you needs to come back with us for questioning."

To Ryan's surprise, Nick easily let the previous questions go. His gaze locked tightly onto Sebas, every nerve on alert.

What concerned him now was no longer the economy, but war—a war between planets!

If everything matched his guesses, this might very well be the second alien invasion he had experienced!

He should have realized it long ago: those wildly popular works with unknown authors, and Ryan Garcia's amnesia ten years ago, as recorded in the files!

If his failure to uncover any information on Sebas Tian had not jolted him awake, he might still have handled this as an ordinary business matter without giving it much thought.

And now... because of his negligence, the aliens might have spent the past ten years infiltrating Earth through the Haulers Group to an unknown extent.

Why had the Haulers Group suddenly made such a major move now?

Had the preliminary preparations for invading Earth already been completed?

No matter what, he had to uncover some inside information this time and make up for his mistakes over the years.

Where was their home planet? How advanced was their technology?

Was negotiation possible? If a battle broke out, when would it begin? And just how many people had infiltrated Earth?

Too many questions weighed on his mind. He had already prepared himself—prepared to summon Captain Marvel back if necessary.

Thinking of the communicator in Hill's hands at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Nick relaxed slightly.

Even in the worst-case scenario, Earth was not entirely without the strength to resist.

"Can I know why, Director Nick?"

Ryan was silent for a long while before asking.

He was not surprised that this matter had drawn S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention. But something seemed to have gone wrong. Nick Fury's true purpose in coming here today was not Ryan's plan, but something else.

That much was clear from how easily Nick had abandoned his questioning about Ryan's scheme. He seemed more concerned about Sebas—he even seemed nervous.

But even if S.H.I.E.L.D. had failed to find Sebas's records, why would the mighty director of S.H.I.E.L.D. be nervous?

He was certain of it.

Since arriving in the Marvel world, Sebas had not used any abilities beyond ordinary understanding. Even if Demiurge had been exposed, it would not have left Ryan as confused as he was now.

"It's just a routine investigation. For someone like Sebas Tian, whom S.H.I.E.L.D. can find absolutely no information on, it's hard not to suspect connections to certain spies. Perhaps you could explain?"

Nick took a sip of wine from his glass and praised it before speaking.

"A routine investigation requires the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to come in person?"

Ryan listened to Nick's explanation with mockery on his face.

"After all, this concerns the head of a hundred-billion-dollar group. If I sent one of my subordinates, would you let him take your man away?"

Nick gave a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Based on Ryan's phone call after getting out of the car and Sebas's strange gesture of pointing at his temple, as described in the earlier reports, he had inferred that they might have already been exposed.

But as long as there was even the slightest possibility, he did not want matters to escalate into violence. After ten years of development and infiltration, Earth was at an absolute disadvantage when it came to intelligence.

"I don't believe you." Ryan looked into Nick's eyes, shook his head, then walked to the sofa and sat down, utterly calm.

"Let's speak frankly about this. Your purpose in coming here, and where I gave myself away." Seeing Nick about to deny it, Ryan cut him off. "I knew about the thirty-five people surrounding the house outside before you came in. So there's no need to say certain things. I wouldn't believe them even if you did."

"Fine. Then let's speak frankly!"

Seeing Ryan lay everything out in the open, Nick Fury stopped stalling. He walked over and sat opposite Ryan, his remaining eye fixed tightly on him as he asked, "Who are you?"

Bang!

Ryan's heart suddenly pounded violently. The shock nearly made him lose control of the poker face he maintained by controlling his facial muscles.

Had his transmigration been exposed?

That was impossible. Over the years, he had never told a single person that he had transmigrated.

Besides, even if someone knew, that person absolutely would not be Nick Fury!

So was he guessing, or trying to bluff me?

"I am Ryan Garcia. Why do you ask?"

Ryan spoke with extreme calm.

"It seems you're still not being candid." Nick, unable to read anything from him, shook his head. "Your amnesia ten years ago, the works in your company with unknown authors, and your company's name all make everything quite obvious."

"Perhaps you thought no one would connect those works to an alien civilization. No—you believed that even if someone did make the connection, no one would truly believe it."

"But there's one thing you may not know. Earth has once suffered an invasion by an alien civilization, and I was there when it happened."

"So tell me. Where is your home planet? What is your purpose in coming to Earth and lying low here?"

Nick's single eye widened as he leaned forward, refusing to miss the slightest change in Ryan's expression.