The next morning, Yasuo took all his savings and boldly bought shares of Stark Industries, hoping to make a killing once the stock rebounded. As he fantasized about a future of fine dining and saying goodbye to instant noodles, his phone rang, pulling him back to reality.
Agent Coulson had come to Yasuo’s knife shop early in the morning, only to find that Yasuo, who usually opened late, had already left.
“Hey, Agent Coulson. Another call to ask more questions?” Yasuo asked. He had received several calls from Coulson, all for follow-up questions, so naturally, he assumed this call was no different.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to make this call, but there’s something we need to discuss face to face,” Coulson said reluctantly.
Yasuo agreed to meet in half an hour at his shop, willing to cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D. again.
Yasuo was more familiar with the routine this time. Seeing Coulson waiting at the door, he opened his arms for an exaggerated hug.
However, Coulson wasn’t keen on it. “Let’s not. To be honest, if this wasn’t a special case, I wouldn’t be here,” Coulson said, suspecting Yasuo’s intentions.
Yasuo shrugged nonchalantly. “So why are you here? Don’t you know law-abiding citizens are wary of government agents? And where’s Melinda?”
He wasn’t particularly interested in Melinda, but she was a fellow Asian, and her heroic demeanor was much more pleasant than dealing with Coulson.
“She’s on vacation. Her last field mission was before her leave. When she returns, she’ll transition to desk work,” Coulson explained.
“That’s a shame. Desk work doesn’t suit her,” Yasuo said, opening the shop door and inviting Coulson inside to talk.
Inside, Yasuo prepared some instant coffee and handed a cup to Coulson.
“Thanks. I agree, it’s a pity she’s moving to desk work, but it was her choice. Maybe she’ll return to fieldwork someday,” Coulson said, taking the coffee.
“Trust me, she will,” Yasuo said confidently. Knowing the future gave him the upper hand, and he didn’t mind sharing minor insights.
With Melinda as a conversation starter, the atmosphere lightened. Coulson sipped his coffee, grimacing at the taste.
“Alright, let’s get to it. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents don’t visit without reason. What’s going on?” Yasuo asked, curious about the real purpose of Coulson’s visit.
“Have you encountered vampires recently?” Coulson asked seriously.
So, it was about the vampires. Yasuo sighed in relief and joked, “Yeah, I’ve had some run-ins and killed a few. They’re not your protected species, are they?” He knew S.H.I.E.L.D. had to be aware of the vampires’ activities.
Coulson recognized the sarcasm and straightened his posture. “The vampire issue dates back thousands of years. They’ve had a peace treaty with the government, which the pure-blooded vampire council has upheld for centuries. Recently, a new vampire faction has been causing trouble, and we don’t have the authority to intervene.”
“So you just stand by while thousands of civilians are treated like cattle by vampires?” Yasuo retorted angrily. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated by HYDRA, he was still surprised by their inaction.
“Do you understand the full picture? Director Fury has been working tirelessly to maintain peace. Without his efforts, the world wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is,” Coulson said, defending Fury’s actions.
“I don’t understand,” Yasuo admitted, though he had some idea of Fury’s constraints. He chose to feign ignorance to maintain leverage in the conversation, sensing that Coulson needed something from him.
“Director Fury, through personal connections, acquired secret intel on the vampires and shared it with his old friend, Blade, who has been dealing with them in secret. Blade went missing yesterday,” Coulson revealed, shocking Yasuo.
Yasuo had imagined many reasons for Coulson’s visit but didn’t expect this bombshell. It explained Fury’s lack of action against the vampires and Blade’s intel and weapons source.
“I’m just an ordinary citizen forced into dealing with vampires. You don’t expect me to help you fight them, do you?” Yasuo played dumb, testing the waters.
“We don’t need you to fight the entire vampire empire, just help rescue Blade. You know him, and as someone with abilities, don’t you feel proud to protect humanity? I can provide all the intel you need,” Coulson urged.
“No, I just want to be a good citizen. Leave saving the world to the professionals. I don’t want to cause more trouble,” Yasuo said, holding his ground. He was still upset about not joining S.H.I.E.L.D. before and wasn’t going to agree without a solid incentive.
Coulson stared at Yasuo, realizing the boy was more cunning than he appeared, with a maturity that belied his age. Convincing him wouldn’t be easy.
“Thirty thousand dollars. I can secure some internal funds for you. Successfully rescue Blade, and you’ll receive thirty thousand dollars,” Coulson finally offered.
“Thirty thousand? Alright, I need cash upfront. Let’s get moving now,” Yasuo agreed instantly, transforming into the Crimson Moon Yasuo in front of Coulson, ready to leave immediately.
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