Grant Ward...
Richard immediately recognized the person who came in later.
He looked much younger than I remembered...
This is understandable, considering that, as far as I remember, his official debut was in 2016 when the S.H.I.E.L.D. Civil War broke out...
" Adele, have you seen that kid Thomas brought?"
Adele nodded and said, "I saw it, boss."
Richard swirled his wine glass and said casually, "He's John Garrett's adopted son..."
"What?" Adele was startled and immediately cursed under her breath, " Thomas, that idiot!"
She pressed her hand on the table, about to get up...
Richard pressed down on her shoulder with one hand and forcefully pushed her back down.
"Don't rush..."
"Let's see how he performs first..."
On the other side, Thomas put his arm around Grant's shoulder and shouted triumphantly.
"Hey guys, let me introduce you to a new guy!"
" Grant Ward!"
As he spoke, he pushed Grant forward and continued.
"A top student who just graduated from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy of Operations this year!"
Someone in the bar immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! This newcomer is amazing!"
Those present were all second or third-generation HYDRA, and they knew very well that those who came out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy of Operations were basically the future elite agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..!
In particular, those who receive the title of "top student" are very likely to become high-ranking officials in charge of a certain base ten years later.
"Welcome, Grant brothers!"
" Thomas finally did something brilliant!"
"Want a drink, buddy?"
Grant flashed a bright, cheerful smile and introduced himself.
"I'm Grant Ward, nice to meet you all."
"Thanks to Brother Thomas for the introduction, which gave me the privilege of meeting so many elites of my age..."
Thomas crossed his arms, chin held high with pride, clearly very pleased with himself.
Adele gritted her teeth, muttering under her breath.
"That idiot!"
Grant displayed remarkable confidence and charisma, radiating effortless grace.
So he quickly became friends with these proud Little Snakes!
"Hey, Grant, this is Stephens..."
" Add ..."
" Cass ..."
Bernhard...
Grant wore a perfect smile and bumped fists with each of them.
"I am Coulson..."
Grant exchanged fist bumps with Coulson across the bar. "Hi, Coulson, nice to meet you. Can I have a Vodka?"
Coulson wore a silver earring in his left ear, nodded kindly, expertly poured him a glass, and pushed it towards him.
Grant took the glass, raised it, and thanked him, "Thanks, buddy!"
Richard nodded in praise, "He did very well, Adele."
His praise only made Adele's face flush with embarrassment and anger. She lowered her head in shame and apologized, "I'm sorry, boss, it's my fault for not keeping it a secret..."
"No!" Richard shook his head. " Grant Ward meets our admission criteria perfectly..."
"Young, confident, excellent, proud, an exceptionally talented individual!"
"Also, Adele..."
He smiled and reminded him:
His adoptive father John Garrett, had a nickname: ' The Clairvoyant '...
" Clairvoyant?!" Adele exclaimed in surprise. "That old fox John Garrett is actually one of us?!"
"One of our own? Heh..." Richard chuckled and shook his head. "He himself doesn't think so..."
Adele was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"
Richard explained, " John Garrett has always been an excellent Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"His decision to cooperate with HYDRA was out of necessity..."
"Because he was seriously injured during a mission in the Balkans of Southern Europe in the 1990s, he chose to cooperate with HYDRA to save his life..."
"He was the first generation of ' Deathlok ' developed by Cybertek..."
"This project was carried out under the name of Lanzel Biotech Company..."
"And my university advisor Jennings Phillips, was a participant in this project..."
"Unfortunately, the technology at the time wasn't advanced enough..."
"While the mechanical modifications saved his life and strengthened his body, his physical condition is still declining day by day..."
"The original experimental data for the secret experiments that kid Shay was in charge of came from the ' Deathlok Project ' subsequently led by John Garrett..."
At this point, Richard added meaningfully, "You should all be thankful, Adele!"
" John Garrett hadn't noticed your underhanded tactics before..."
"However, he noticed it and even tracked it down here..."
Adele's expression changed drastically. She stood up abruptly, pulled a women's pistol from her back waist, and cocked it with a 'click'.
"I'll take care of him right now!"
Adele's actions drew the attention of others in the bar.
Thomas opened his arms wide, grinning broadly, and said, "Hey, dear Adele..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Richard sitting there Richard.
He broke out in a cold sweat instantly, hurriedly lowered his arm, and nervously greeted, "Boss, hello! When did you arrive?"
Richard, a smile playing on his lips, said, "I've been here a while... but I suggest you run now..."
After he finished speaking, he pointed to Adele standing to the side.
Thomas blinked, stunned. "Uh, run?"
Adele kicked over the chair next to her and yelled, " Thomas! You idiot!"
"You actually brought an undercover agent here yourself!"
As soon as Adele spoke, the other Little Snakes in the bar all changed their expressions, and they simultaneously pulled out their pistols and pointed them at Grant Ward.
Grant Ward stiffened, slowly raising his hands and forcing a smile.
"Hey guys, I think there's definitely some misunderstanding here..."
He defended himself in a hoarse voice, a bead of cold sweat slowly sliding down his forehead.
"I'm not an undercover agent!"
Thomas glanced at Grant Ward, then turned back to Adele, who was pointing a gun at him and looking furious, and asked in bewilderment, "Fuck, what's going on?"
" Adele! I investigated Grant for three whole months before I even made contact with him; he couldn't possibly be an undercover agent!"
"Shut up, you idiot!" Adele snapped, exasperated. "When are you going to change your careless habits?!"
"Last time it was Shay, this time it's you, Fuck! How come all my partners are idiots like you!"
The other Little Snakes were innocent victims...
Adele continued her tirade:
"This Grant Ward is John Garrett's adopted son!"
"What did you say?!" Thomas whirled around to look at Grant. "Fuck you, Grant, tell me, is what Adele said true?!"
Grant's face turned ashen; he hadn't expected his undercover mission to be exposed so soon after it had barely begun!
He could only desperately try to explain himself:
"Hey guys, there must be some misunderstanding here!"
" John Garrett is indeed my adoptive father, but I am not an undercover agent!"
"I'm an adult now! Thomas and I became friends because we share similar interests!"
"Trust me, guys!"
I swear in the name of God!
The Little Snakes looked at each other, unsure whether to believe him.
Richard chuckled and said loudly, " Grant Ward, we don't believe in God here!"
The Little Snakes immediately realized what was happening and looked at Grant.
That's right! They now worship Richard, the true god who has demonstrated extraordinary power!
Sensing the increasingly intense killing intent around him, Grant couldn't take it anymore. He swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice:
"I... I need to make a phone call!"