After saying that, Mercer patted her on the shoulder.
He used only the strength an ordinary person would use in greeting, yet it sent Natasha slumping limply over the table.
She had already exhausted far too much of her mental and physical energy in the illusion.
Even sitting upright had been a struggle, and Mercer's pat finally exposed it.
Stepping out of the Western Restaurant, Mercer saw several vans parked nearby and knew the people inside had to be those S.H.I.E.L.D. Special Forces Soldiers.
Although Natasha had told them to retreat, the matter was too important for them to actually leave.
Someone must have ordered them to remain on standby. Mercer merely smiled and nodded at them before walking off in another direction.
Seeing how little regard Mercer had for them, the Special Forces Soldiers inside the vans exchanged looks.
They had not been at the scene and had not witnessed the heavens and earth change color with a mere lift of Mercer's hand.
They found it strange that a boy like him warranted so much caution. Wasn't this overkill?
"What do we do now?" someone asked.
"I'll check with the director."
The man who answered was Rumlow, the leader of this operation.
If Natasha had not repeatedly stressed that they must not go inside, he would already have led his men in.
He immediately contacted Nick Fury. After hearing what had happened, Fury fell silent for a long moment before speaking.
"Pull back for now. I trust Agent Romanoff's judgment," Nick Fury said.
With the director having spoken, Rumlow could hardly object. He could only acknowledge the order, fix his gaze on Mercer for a moment, then turn around and leave with his men.
As Mercer walked farther away, he sensed S.H.I.E.L.D. leaving, and the corners of his mouth