Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 973 The Agent's Little Tricks (First Update)

Being reintegrated into the US intelligence system has a significant advantage: it allows for legitimate surveillance of the global internet, accessing content as desired, just like before. Whether it's public or private cameras, keywords on social media, or even every data terminal (even those not connected to the internet), everything can be viewed through access to the S.H.I.E.L.D. database, and it's completely legal—even if the public doesn't accept it, resolutions passed privately by Congress still go through. The Prism program exposed by Snowden is only a small part of the CIA's cyber intelligence system; other departments have their own cyber intelligence systems.

The two advanced AIs (including Samaritan) used by Immortal City to screen the internet had previously gained access, but those permissions were invalid and illegal, requiring hacking through system vulnerabilities. While S.H.I.E.L.D. lacks advanced AI for screening, it also avoids those cumbersome steps, thus acquiring intelligence much faster.

So when Agent Coulson identified Robbie Reyes, Elias Morrow and Southridge Prison also came to light. Mike knew nothing about Elias Morrow, but when he saw the prison visit footage that S.H.I.E.L.D. had found, he knew that the Immortal City forces, represented by Wanda Maximoff, had acted quickly. He glanced around and saw that all the newly joined researchers at S.H.I.E.L.D. were busy with their work, and he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Agent Coulson viewed the recording using Gemma Simmons's privileges (he had lost some privileges as a field agent due to a power shift), and then easily accessed the backend to delete the system logs. Gemma Simmons left work early and returned to her small rented apartment, and took the day off to look at apartments the next day because she had seen a nice guy.

Mike knew that Coulson's actions had violated several S.H.I.E.L.D. rules, many of which he himself had set. Yet Coulson had broken them without batting an eye, suggesting this wasn't the first time. He couldn't fathom how Agent Coulson had passed lie detector tests before—S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lie detector system included micro-expression analysis. It was a system developed before the Hydra rebellion, capable of using 212 micro-expressions as a basis for judgment. Even a single unnatural blink could detect a lie—perhaps Agent Coulson had left himself a backdoor, but no one knew how or why he had done it. But overall, Mike was somewhat relieved, because Agent Coulson hadn't completely entrusted S.H.I.E.L.D. to him.

It wasn't that Mike had any complaints about the new director; it was just that he didn't quite trust Congress and politicians.

“We can’t let the Immortals act alone, Mike. No one can guarantee that Salomon’s forces won’t cause additional casualties while dealing with trouble. You know their style, the East Coast earthquake, remember?” Agent Coulson said softly. His expression was as serious as ever, making it hard not to believe him. “I know this is beyond S.H.I.E.L.D.’s capabilities, but our job isn’t just to solve problems, it’s to protect people. For us, civilian casualties are intolerable. S.H.I.E.L.D. has to do what it has to do. S.H.I.E.L.D. must be different from the Hydra-ruled past, and different from all other intelligence agencies in the United States. We must stand on the side of life and justice.”

Agent Coulson gave Mike time to think. Although it wasn't long, it was enough for Mike to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.

"I invite you to join me on the Gentle Breeze One. Let's go and protect the innocent who shouldn't have died. This mission record will be completely deleted, and the flight path will be buried in the Gentle Breeze One's cruising route. The boxes that Fitz is studying will be the only clues, and our new director will not know about the Immortal City or Salomon's existence."

"Oh shit! You've almost convinced me, Coulson. Looks like you've got everything arranged." Mike panted like a bull. "But you have to promise me that if things get out of control, you'll have to contact the Avengers. I know Nick Fury gave you the Avengers' contact information, and I want them as backup for this mission. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease. This time, the enemies include super soldiers, witches, demons, and ghosts. This is the Avengers' job."

"I promise you, I have Tony Stark's contact information. He already knows I'm back from the dead," Coulson said. "But I'm also thinking of contacting Captain America. You know... Big fans and stuff... honestly, they still have my set of cards. I don't even know if I should be happy about that."

"Give me twenty minutes. I haven't said hello to Youyou since I got back."

Agent Coulson raised an eyebrow. "Yoyo just went to a party in Miami, and she doesn't seem to be in a good mood."

"I know what's going on." Mike's voice was deep and resonant, like freshly solidified basalt, from which orange-red lava and thick smoke seemed to rise from the cracks when the toxic heat blew. Coulson noticed that something was off with Mike—he knew each of the team members and knew how Mike would react to various emotions. But he wasn't a micro-expression expert; he had only taken a required course, so he couldn't discern Mike's current thoughts.

"I'll be there shortly."

"Hurry up, the fuel is all refueled, and there's some equipment you need to move." Coulson nodded, saying nothing more. The bonds between agents are dangerous, but Coulson wanted Mike to make the decision himself; he trusted Mike's judgment. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a family, but that refers to his former team, not those who joined later—they share a life-or-death connection, and everyone is willing to give their all for their family members. That's why Daisy's disappearance was so painful; it felt like betrayal. "Especially your axe shotgun; logistics has provided you with a few extra. And your beer; ground crew doesn't handle beer."

"Self-harm tendencies are quite unusual for someone who has just woken up from a vegetative state." Constantine held the instrument and bent down to scan the patient on the bed. He still hadn't taken off his helmet; the overly ornate armor clashed with the dimly lit ward, and he had to bend over to make sure his helmet didn't hit the ceiling.

"Not necessarily. When patients in a deep coma awaken, they find their lives have been turned upside down. For the patient, the past time was just a nap, but for others, he was a dead man lying in a hospital bed. Waking up to find that the girl he liked has become someone else's wife, his family has fallen apart, and he has gone from a young man to middle age... This is no less than a complete blow, and it is normal for many people to have suicidal thoughts and self-harm tendencies. However, awakening from a vegetative state is not common, so there are not many psychological papers on the aftermath of vegetative state awakening."

"The dose of sedative Joseph Bauer was a bit too high." Constantine picked up the patient's bound wrists and examined them. "There are fingerprints; it seems he struggled quite a bit. There's no record of him waking up in the medical records; he woke up suddenly, something jolted him awake."

"Lucy Bower, one of the missing spirits." Nick Fury thought for a moment. "It's unlikely she just wanted to see her comatose husband, absolutely not. There's only one possibility—"

"—I'm looking for that book. Joseph Bauer knows where it is." Constantine took a needle-free high-pressure injector from a pouch on his magnetic belt. "So he should wake up."

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(End of this chapter)