Chapter 200: In the Elevator, Captain America and Xi Nian
Island City, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Main Building.
"Stop!"
The moment Xi Nian stepped through the front gate, four male agents blocked his path.
"It's me, Quake."
Behind him, the woman in the black uniform stepped forward. She pulled out her agent credentials, flashing them with a cold voice: "On Director Nick Fury's orders, I'm bringing him to tour S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters."
Nick Fury?
The four agents exchanged looks, but still held their ground.
Skye sneered, stepping up beside Xi Nian. "What? Yes, Nick Fury was indeed killed yesterday by an unknown force. But this order was given while he was still serving as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. What, less than a day after his death, you're ready to defy the Director's command?"
"Of course not. We're still in shock over the Director's assassination."
The lead agent forced a laugh. He waved his hand, and the other three stepped aside, allowing Xi Nian and Skye to enter.
Past the gate, there was the strictest of security screenings.
Every living thing, every object, was subject to scanning devices.
Xi Nian had Jarro's split bodies surrounding the building earlier, but even those couldn't pass this level of security. Even the smallest transparent jellyfish clone clinging to an agent would likely be detected by the scanners.
"No pets or phones allowed inside."
The inspector said bluntly to Xi Nian.
Xi Nian held Xiao Huang in his arms and pulled his phone from his pocket.
At that moment, Skye interjected. "He should have temporary clearance granted by the Director."
"Even so, as an external visitor…"
The inspector glanced at the monitor, then froze. "Huh?" His eyes widened as he blurted out in surprise: "The Director gave this kid such high clearance? I haven't seen that since Captain America himself."
"You may bring your pet and phone inside. Please proceed!" The inspector hurriedly changed his tone.
…
At the gate, watching them pass smoothly through security, the lead agent quietly tapped his comms and spoke in a low voice:
"Yesterday, Director Fury granted a teenage boy—about sixteen years old—an unusually high temporary clearance. He assigned Quake to escort him. Both of them have now entered headquarters."
Meanwhile.
At the very top floor of the building, above even the Director's office.
A middle-aged man with neatly combed blond hair sat on a leather sofa before a wide glass window. Dressed in a tailored suit, he listened to the report.
"I see."
His eyes narrowed dangerously. With a dismissive tone, he said, "Nick Fury is dead. That boy no longer matters. What matters is Quake—she was one of Fury's closest confidants, and her powers are troublesome. If she's come back here, she's probably investigating. Gather a strike team. Don't let them leave this building."
The gate agent hesitated. "Capture or kill? If it's capture, Quake is a very difficult target…"
"Kill them."
The man spoke lightly, arrogantly crossing his legs, as if he sat in the clouds above. He didn't even blink.
One sentence.
It was like a verdict, sealing both their fates.
…
Inside, Xi Nian and Skye entered the vast lobby. It felt strangely empty, with only agents moving briskly back and forth.
"This is the largest intelligence base in the world—no exceptions. Everyone here is the elite of the elite. The whole building was built to military defense standards, housing field agents, intel officers, medics, and more. Over ten thousand people work here at once. They can monitor anomalies anywhere on the globe simultaneously."
Skye slipped into a tour guide's role, quietly explaining beside Xi Nian.
Xi Nian glanced at her. "Skye, why are you still following me? Didn't you finish your escort mission already?"
"Escort means to bring you here, and also to take you home."
Her tone was serious. "Until you're safely home, my mission isn't over."
"…That's cheating."
Xi Nian felt she was twisting the rules, but he had no proof.
"You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?" Skye pressed him with a sharp look. "Where do you plan to go inside S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
She was starting to feel that this boy carried too many secrets.
For example—
Yesterday she had checked him carefully, confirming he didn't have a phone. Yet today, he did.
"If you insist on tagging along, then do your job as a guide."
Xi Nian smiled mysteriously. "So, where can I get a cup of coffee here?"
Skye: "…"
…
Xi Nian and Skye stepped into an elevator and pressed the button for the third floor. The doors were about to close—
Clang!
A hand thrust in from outside, stopping them.
Both Skye and Xi Nian tensed, looking up.
And then—
The two inside the elevator and the man entering froze.
"Xi Nian?" The tall young man who stepped inside exclaimed in surprise.
"Mr. Rogers. Long time no see." Xi Nian greeted politely, offering proper respect to his elder.
Yes—
The man wearing a blue combat uniform, a star-marked round shield on his back—was none other than Captain America.
"Indeed, long time no see. Didn't expect to run into you here."
Steve Rogers looked at him with genuine astonishment.
"Wait a second."
Skye looked back and forth between the two of them, shocked. "You two… know each other?"
Xi Nian smiled. "I was traveling in New York the other day. I happened to meet Mr. Rogers at the memorial museum. Let's just call it a chance encounter."
"That's right, we got along well." Rogers nodded in agreement.
The two exchanged a look. Between men, no more words were needed.
Skye eyed them suspiciously.
There were questions all around, but all three knew this wasn't the time.
"What floor do you need, Captain? I'll press it for you," Skye asked.
"Thanks. Top floor." Rogers answered casually. "I'm here to talk with the Director."
"And you two?" He raised a brow, asking offhandedly.
"We're going to the third floor for coffee," Xi Nian said with a bright smile.
One man heading up for a meeting, another heading down for coffee.
Watching them both act so calm and natural, Skye suddenly had a gut feeling—something big was about to happen inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
…
After parting ways with Captain America in the elevator, Xi Nian really did go to the public lounge.
He even asked Skye, the female agent, to make him a cup of coffee with milk.
She didn't know what to say, but eventually went to the counter and prepared it.
Sitting near the wide glass windows, Xi Nian set Xiao Huang on a chair beside him. Then, calmly and casually, he pulled out his phone.
"Let's see what secrets S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters is hiding…"
The glow of the screen reflected in his eyes.
Truth was—
No matter what Skye suspected, from the moment Xi Nian brought this phone inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, his mission here was already halfway complete.
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