Marvel Magic Case Files

Chapter 980 Focused on the Mission and the Cold-Blooded Bastard (Second Update)

Constantine paid no attention to Daisy Jensen's stammering explanation or Gemma Simmons's emotional shift from resentment to pity, and finally to tears. But he still needed information on all the items in the warehouse; only then could he know if S.H.I.E.L.D. was hiding anything it shouldn't. Daisy Jensen performed her task admirably; although the Guardians didn't want to know the details, she still obtained the necessary access.

Nick Fury was tense for a few seconds after learning this, until Constantine bluntly told him that most of the "dangerous items" in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collection weren't really dangerous and had no value in being contained by the Immortal City. However, as is customary, he had to conduct a thorough inspection to avoid discovering an alien parasite like last time, which would require a strike transport ship to drop a nuclear bomb—Constantine's definition of danger was something that couldn't be dealt with by guns and tanks. When he explained the Immortal City's definition of danger, Nick Fury was so angry he almost laughed, wanting to swear but unable to, because compared to the things in the Immortal City's collection, the so-called "world crises" that S.H.I.E.L.D. had resolved were indeed insignificant.

Once the intelligence agency's cybersecurity division gained access, it immediately began operations to assist Constantine in screening the intelligence. The Guards didn't inform Daisy Jensen of their intentions, allowing her to independently sift through the information she wanted. The mixed-race hacker's statement was entirely accurate; he had never trusted her, and he was a cold-blooded bastard.

Gemma Simmons stormed back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base.

Today was her routine lie detector test, but the secrets piling up inside her were growing, and she wasn't even sure if she could fool the facial analysis system. Daisy Jensen, Robbie Reyes, Dr. Radcliffe, and Fitz's AI, Ada—a distraught Gemma Simmons didn't even want to greet Fitz, instead burying herself in the lab trying to calm herself—not to mention what would happen if she were discovered lying; since S.H.I.E.L.D. got on track, every agent had a dagger called "unemployment" lurking behind them. Gemma Simmons felt that sharp dagger pierce her clothes; the cold blade was only a shirt separating her from her skin.

Fitz clearly couldn't grasp Gemma Simmons's thinking; the word "unemployment" and any concept of it simply didn't exist in his mind. For Gemma Simmons, unemployment meant utter ruin—not being able to pay rent, not being able to afford her own house and car, let alone the various expenses after marriage. "Don't say that, how many times do I have to tell you…" Fitz said through gritted teeth, "It's because of the lie detector test."

"This has nothing to do with lie detectors!"

"What do you want me to do!"

"We should have shared all of this!" Gemma Simmons abruptly ended the conversation. "We were in the same bed, but all this time, you've been lying next to me and hiding things from me."

"Don't be like that, of course I wanted to tell you." Fitz's expression immediately filled with apology. "I know you think she's amazing..."

“Yes, it is. It is indeed remarkable.” Gemma Simmons said seriously, “but now it’s getting me fired! If my eyes turn even slightly to the left, I’m finished. Unlike some people, I’m not good at keeping secrets.”

"So...this is because of the lie detector?"

Gemma Simmons glared at him like an enraged lioness, and Fitz immediately shut up and surrendered. He now remembered a widely circulated and timeless truth: never reason with a woman, because you never win. "I can stay and practice with you. We can hide coins in our shoes and thumbtacks under our tongues," he said. "You're not glancing to the left right now."

Gemma Simmons took a deep breath, struggling to suppress her anger. If she had any non-lethal weapon on hand, she would have picked it up and fired at Fitz—lethal weapons would do too, she didn't mind. "No need, you can go. Coulson needs you more; they need you to give them the antidote." She sighed. "I'll figure something out. I promise, I won't get fired today."

Leopold Fitz left with a clear conscience, but Gemma Simmons's expression remained grim. If she were discovered to be lying, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't fire her; instead, they would throw her in jail. The United States has so many overseas prisons, and S.H.I.E.L.D., now under Congress, has the authority to use several of them. No one would be able to find her then, as she would likely be imprisoned in a jail below the deck of an ocean liner. S.H.I.E.L.D. had used this method frequently in the past; Gemma Simmons had witnessed similar cases at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.

In retrospect, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s return to the public eye is not a good thing for anyone.

"Wanda Maximov, this is Constantine of the Imperial Guard."

"Roger that, we're on our way to Southridge Prison." Wanda craned her neck, peering at the traffic ahead. "We've run into a little trouble, we're stuck in traffic. There was an accident on Highway 10, everyone's stuck here. Robbie's trying to find a detour to Southridge Prison, are we still making it?"

“Perhaps, if you act fast.” Constantine took another dusty box from the shelf and twisted the lock with his bare hands. “S.H.I.E.L.D. has sent people to Southridge Prison; intelligence believes they want to take Elias Morrow. Wind One is currently en route to Los Angeles, and I believe if you continue to stand still, they will definitely take him. Daisy Jensen said something she shouldn’t have; she thought I couldn’t hear her after she turned off the communications… so Gemma Simmons knows something, including Lucy Bauer. We’re assuming Agent Coulson dug up information about the Dark Book from past files… Elias Morrow must have seen what that book looked like in the past.”

"Shit! Do you think they'll cause trouble?"

"Resolve this matter as soon as possible."

"Where are you, Constantine? Aren't we supposed to be on a mission together?"

“That’s right, so you need to hurry. I still have to finish the other details of this mission, and I need to make up for all the mistakes you’ve made. You’re welcome; it’s what I should do.” Constantine’s tone was as flat as a dead fish. “Intelligence indicates that a group of terrorists has infiltrated Los Angeles. I don’t want you to be delayed because of this. That’s a matter of racial hatred within American society; it doesn’t need the interference of an external force like the Immortal City, understand?”

Robbie Reyes turned his head and noticed that Wanda's expression was getting increasingly grim.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Any new developments?"

"Yes, but it probably has nothing to do with us. Apparently, a group of terrorists who hate Inhumans are running rampant in Los Angeles. Constantine told me not to waste time and to hand it over to the police." The witch smoothed her hair. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is also on their way to Southridge Prison. We need to speed things up."

“Although that big guy was brutal, I think he’s right,” Robbie Reyes nodded. He didn’t care about any terrorist organizations that hated Inhumans; the White House had released plenty of lists of organizations—Antifa, a black left-wing organization, the Proud Boys, a white right-wing organization, and so on. All it took was for the local police to get involved, and those so-called terrorists would surrender obediently, not even daring to fire a shot, for fear of attracting SWAT team fire and being mercilessly killed. “Sit tight, buckle up, our journey won’t be very comfortable,” he said. “We’ll definitely get to Southridge Prison before the S.H.I.E.L.D. people arrive. To be honest, I’m starting to regret not taking your advice. Are your organization’s agents still there?”

Please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)