Coulson looked toward the medical pod, his expression relaxed.
"Thanks to Hermione's amazing magic, she healed Skye."
Garrett's expression froze for an instant, but before he could say anything else, the medical pod's door opened.
Skye stepped out. Though her face was still a little pale, she moved freely, showing no sign of having suffered a serious injury.
She even pulled a face at Coulson.
Garrett's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately put on an even warmer smile and went to greet Skye.
"That's wonderful! Seeing you're all right is a huge relief!"
"Thank goodness for our wizard's incredible magic. It really is an eye-opener."
He beamed, as though he were genuinely delighted by Skye's recovery.
Hermione stood nearby, quietly watching the scene.
Beneath Garrett's smile, she caught a fleeting trace of gloom, like the displeasure of someone whose carefully laid plans had been disrupted.
A smile curled Hermione's lips.
He was quite the actor.
Who would have thought that this level-eight S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, this smiling, affable "nice guy," was actually a high-ranking member of Hydra?
Years ago, he had been gravely injured on a mission and abandoned by S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving him seething with resentment. When Pierce later approached him, joining Hydra had been the natural next step.
But the injuries from back then were so severe that he still relied on mechanical modifications to stay alive.
After learning that Coulson had returned from the dead, he had become obsessed with uncovering the secret of his resurrection, hoping to use it to treat his old injuries.
He had arranged for Skye to be shot this time to see how Coulson would save her. He had never expected Hermione to save her with magic instead, leaving him unable to uncover the secret of Coulson's resurrection.
Just then, May walked in.
"Quinn's awake."