Chapter 19: I Knew Something Felt Off
The three hunters watched the Vampire act in front of them, their eyes almost bulging with rage, especially Eric, whose dark skin seemed to flush red.
"Homelander, just wait a moment, we'll definitely find that Vampire!"
"Right, she was shot, she can't have gone far!"
Eric was the calmest, speaking without a trace of emotion in his eyes: "It's alright, I have another method."
With a whoosh, he drew an ordinary knife. "We'll know if we just cut this woman. Normal wounds heal quickly."
Then he took out his silver longsword. "Silver weapons, however, inhibit wound healing. A comparison will make things clear."
The other two felt relieved after hearing this. Indeed, they just needed to lightly cut her with these two knives; it was simple and fast.
But Sean directly raised his hand to stop them. Just as the three truly believed Homelander was going to shield the Vampire, he said indifferently:
"I have X-ray Vision. I can see where she's hiding. There's a secret door behind the wardrobe. Just knock it open."
All three were delighted to hear this. Shabir immediately smashed open the wardrobe, and everyone saw a pale, weak girl lying inside.
Eric also breathed a sigh of relief. "The misunderstanding is cleared up now. We weren't attacking you, but the Vampire beside you."
Sean also smiled happily, "Yes, the misunderstanding is cleared."
Then, looking at Hess in his arms, he slowly raised her face. Although her pale face wasn't as usual, it still possessed a delicate beauty.
Sean asked with a smile, "So, you're a Vampire after all!"
Hess didn't dare to look into Sean's eyes, knowing she couldn't escape today. She smiled faintly and nodded.
"Then let me see your teeth?"
Hess cooperatively opened her mouth, revealing two pointed fangs, then closed her eyes, awaiting Death's arrival.
Sean touched her teeth and said in surprise, "Tsk, I knew something felt off before."
At these words, Hess's eyes instantly snapped open, her face even beginning to flush. She stared at Sean, speechless for a long time.
The three hunters also felt it was dragging on a bit too long, so they spoke up, "Homelander, why don't you hand these two over to us? We have ways to kill Vampires quickly."
Sean turned to look at him and asked, "Very quickly? Without pain?"
"Uh, no pain, it'll be over quickly!"
"Really, that quickly?!"
Sean's eyes glowed, and a Heat Vision ray shot out instantly. The person in front of him immediately lost their face. As for who it was, Sean didn't care. He couldn't remember their name when they were alive, so why would he remember it after they died?
Shabir was stunned for a full three seconds before reacting, shouting loudly. Eric, however, had already thrust his longsword the moment Sean attacked, aiming straight for Sean's throat.
The longsword didn't even scratch Sean's hair, instead sparking a few embers. Just as Eric was about to retract his sword to strike again, he found it had been pinched by Sean's two fingers. With a slight squeeze, the sword snapped.
Sean took the broken part and stuffed it into the shouting man's mouth. He was a bit noisy; what if he disturbed the peace?
Before long, this person also ceased to breathe. Eric's expression remained unchanged. If his sword broke, he'd use other weapons. He reached his hands back, ready to pull out other weapons to attack.
But soon, he found his hands couldn't move.
Blood flowed from his mouth, and Eric asked with a puzzled expression, "Why?"
That was a good question. Not to mention him, even Hess in Sean's arms wasn't very clear.
Although Hess knew some of Sean's true nature, after all, could someone who did *that* with her on their first meeting be a decent person?
But, but, she really hadn't expected Sean to do such a thing for her. She had originally expected the best outcome to be Sean letting them go out of old affection.
Sean pressed his head against the wall with his left hand, slowly applying force, and looking at Hess in his arms, he said delightedly, "Continue!"
At this moment, although Hess was very surprised, she couldn't care about anything else. She bared her fangs and continued their previous activity.
After an unknown amount of time, Sean only felt that it no longer felt 'off,' so he stopped.
The two lay in the bathtub. Hess was completely drained of strength, unable to even maintain her fanged form. She lay on Sean's body, purring comfortably like a kitten.
"So, you surviving Vampires plan to find a 'protective umbrella' to shelter you?"
Hess rubbed her face against Sean, whispering, "Mm~ Originally, I came to approach Stark. Even though he didn't have his armor then, his influence was still very high, especially since he's also a lecher."
"But that day, Sif, the one in the wardrobe, found you, so I thought I'd approach you first to try, also because approaching you was easier."
With a squeeze, Hess let out a coquettish (jiao chen - coquettish groan), and Sean laughed, "Then I really should thank her properly."
Hess gave him a watery glance, "Later, if there's a chance."
Sean kissed her, thinking while doing things, "Take me to meet the rest of your Vampires."
"Mm~"
This sound, was it an agreement, or...
The next morning, Sean went downstairs and saw Hess preparing breakfast, wearing an apron and a hairband.
Sitting at the dining table, Sean looked at the unfinished meal. Hess, of course, knew Sean was there, right behind her, his scorching eyes like the Heat Vision from last night, shooting into her heart.
Hess carried a plate of breakfast and placed it in front of Sean, then went to the refrigerator to get a bottle of red wine and poured herself a glass.
"Is this what you eat for breakfast?"
Hess swirled her wine glass and leaned forward to display her 'weapons,' "I can't replenish energy by eating human food, only humans themselves can, for example..."
Sean ate the bread in front of him. He had to admit, it was surprisingly better than Christine's. It was plump and springy on both sides, and paired with freshly produced milk, it was incredibly delicious.
"Your breakfast is indeed a bit plain. Come on, don't pity me." Sean put on an expression of great sacrifice, not only exposing his neck but also sitting up a bit straighter.
Hess wasn't stupid. Neither of those two places could be broken by her, so she might as well absorb some other way.
"By the way, where's Sif?"
"Mm~ Kabuneng jian yang guang."
Apparently feeling that she couldn't speak clearly like that, Hess leaned her head out and explained, "I'm a new mutant, not afraid of sunlight, but other things can still harm me."
"And because of this characteristic of mine, the Vampire Elder Council sent me out to find a protective umbrella, and..."
Sean held her face with both hands, interrupting, "Actually, you don't need to explain too clearly. I have Super Hearing, it's no problem!"
Chapter 20: So You Like Claws? I Can Try That Next Time
Boarding the plane bound for Argentina, this aircraft was specially prepared by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Although they were unwilling to let Sean leave America, they had no real means to restrain him. Rather than letting him take a commercial flight and cause a commotion, it was better to just provide him with a plane.
Coulson and Fury's expressions were far from good. They had originally thought Sean was going to Argentina for some important business, but who would have thought...
"You ask what I'm going to Argentina for? Of course, for tourism! Mrs. Hess has been in a bad mood lately, so I'm taking her to Ushuaia to relax."
For such an utterly absurd reason, the two of them couldn't think of any excuse to stop him, because something like this seemed perfectly reasonable coming from Sean.
Gazing at the beautiful scenery outside the window, Sean reclined in the comfortable seat. Hess lay on him in a position she found comfortable. This experience was indeed more comfortable and offered a better view than flying on his own.
"Seems like we're almost there."
The closer they got, the more Hess could sense the aura of the Elder Council.
Sean glanced down at her. Ever since that night, the Affection Points and the affection Hess provided had increased significantly compared to before. It seemed that after opening her heart, she had shed her previous restraint, and the emotions she revealed grew more intense.
"Then let's go!" Sean, holding her, pulled open the plane door and flew out.
It must be said, as a tourist city, the scenery of Ushuaia was truly beautiful.
A small town built against the mountains, the blue sea paired with wooden houses looked particularly natural. Yet, even though it was still summer, one could look up and see snow-capped mountains. The scenery was like the Sun and moon coexisting in the same sky, refreshing and delightful.
Hess pointed towards a cliff on a stretch of beach. This was the last stronghold of their Vampire kind. While there were certainly still some outside, their numbers and quality were far inferior—the kind that would die out on their own even if left alone.
Their choice of this location had its own considerations.
Ushuaia was already considered one of the places on this Planet with the shortest sunlight hours. Their Vampire kind also needed some space for activity, especially the younger ones who simply couldn't bear the loneliness.
The two arrived at the base of the cliff. Hess placed her hand on a rock. An ordinary-looking rock suddenly sprouted a tiny, sharp spike, drawing a drop of her blood. Soon after, an opening just wide enough for one person to pass through appeared.
Sean, still standing outside, could already see the entire interior. The number of Vampires was indeed small, no more than thirty at most.
Hess was about to lead the way, but Sean, wanting to test the Vampires' strength, walked ahead.
The Vampires inside had known of their arrival as soon as they approached the cliff area. They immediately sounded an alarm, gathering all the Vampires—a total of over twenty.
Deep within the cave was a modest-sized round table. Three humanoid figures sat around it, all intently watching a projection on the table. The image displayed was of Sean and Hess.
Soon, a Vampire with a ferocious face and prominent skull bones said sharply, "Hmph! That woman actually brought the enemy inside? I'll go deal with him!"
With that, he bared his Talons and charged out with his dozen or so followers, not even giving the other two a chance to speak.
However, the other two exchanged a glance and chose silence. The plan to seek a protective umbrella had been proposed and operated by them.
And this hot-tempered Vampire simply refused to bow his noble head, stubbornly insisting on using his own power to lead the Vampires back to the top of the World.
In fact, he had done fairly well, and his combat prowess surpassed that of all the other Vampires here combined.
But precisely because his physical prowess was too developed, his brain seemed to have mutated as well. Alas, he had lived too short a time, too young.
The current leader of the Vampires absolutely could not act on impulse. So, when he took most of the clan to their deaths, they did not stop him. This was a necessary step for Vampire reform—internal unity!
Not far away, as Sean walked inward, he frowned and turned to ask:
"Hess, I don't understand your Vampire ways too well. When you welcome guests, do you always bare your fangs and Talons?"
Hess was taken aback. She didn't have X-ray Vision and couldn't see the oncoming, aggressive kin. This was the nest, filled with Vampire aura everywhere; she simply couldn't sense it.
So, she thought Sean was hinting at something and said softly:
"So you like claws? I can try that next time."
This time, it was Sean's turn to be stunned. Although it was a misunderstanding, a beautiful misunderstanding didn't need to be clarified.
Seeing the look in Sean's eyes, Hess suddenly shyly patted him. "There are many people here, and surveillance. Let's wait until tonight."
Great, the misunderstanding deepened.
Sean couldn't help but sigh. Was this the image he had in Hess's mind? Sad, so sad!
"Alright!"
Soon, Hess also sensed something amiss. When she saw the monstrous Vampire approaching, Sean, just to be safe, asked, "This thing, do you know it?"
Hess understood Sean's meaning and said flatly, "Not familiar."
"That's good."
Sean smiled slightly, lifted his glasses, and his eyes emitted Heat Vision.
This time, he used a bit more force. The Heat Vision pierced through six or seven Vampires without stopping, heading straight for the Vampire hall.
It only stopped after hitting the projection on the table. The residual heat radiating from it was too much for the weaker Vampires nearby, who quickly retreated far away.
The other two Elders were also horrified. They had only asked Hess to find a protective umbrella, not for her to bring back God!
Sean paid no attention to the surviving Vampires. They still had some use. He led Hess inside.
Upon seeing Sean enter the hall, all the Vampires shrank into the corners. Only the two Elders remained composed, both standing up and bowing. "Welcome, your esteemed presence graces us."
Sean walked forward, pulled out a chair, sat down holding Hess, and asked, "And these people are?"
Hess raised her hand and introduced, "The one on the left is Elder Cains Frank, the one on the right is Elder Deans Frank. The protective umbrella plan was proposed and operated by them."
Sean nodded with satisfaction, smiling. "Then have a seat, Left Elder, Right Elder. By the way, were those outside with you?"
The Left Elder, who had just lost his name, quickly spoke up, "That was another faction, the militant group. They are not with us."
"Is that so." Sean stroked his chin. "Then lock up the survivors. I'll have a use for them in a few days."
"Understood!"
The Right Elder, who had also lost his name, waved his hand. The terrified underlings behind him hurried out to clean up the mess, leaving only the four of them sitting in the hall.
Chapter 21: You should have fun while you can. Do you really have to be invincible before you can play?
In the dim cave hall, Hess, in Sean Brooke's arms, didn't dare to move, afraid of affecting his judgment. After all, at this point, it was clear who was in charge.
Besides, although she was a child of the Vampire, a natural-born Vampire, she was just their test subject; there was no affection left.
"Hess has already briefly told me about the Umbrella Project, and I don't have any objections."
Sean Brooke said this, and both Elders were very happy, but he continued to ask: "Helping you is no problem, but what do I get out of it?"
The two Elders looked at each other, and the Right Elder said very seriously: "We have the Blood Pool!"
"What's the use of that?"
The Right Elder said with some excitement: "The Blood Pool can instantly turn ordinary people into immortal Vampires, and it can also make them fearless of sunlight, mercury, and all other negative influences, and even gain extremely powerful strength!"
Sean Brooke chuckled, kissed Hess, causing her to blush, and asked again: "Are they as strong as me?"
Immediately, the two Elders stopped talking, their eyes filled with a hint of embarrassment. I guess even the ancestor isn't as strong as you.
"But... but, us Vampires can live forever!"
Sean Brooke's eyes turned red, and he asked suspiciously: "Immortal?"
"Eter... Eternal life!" The Left Elder said quickly: "Human life is limited. You wouldn't want to... after a hundred years..."
Sean Brooke smiled even more happily, his hand kept patting something, and then he realized his hand seemed a bit heavy, so he quickly wiped the tears from Hess's face and said with a smile:
"Sorry, it's hard for me to die, in every sense of the word."
Now, the two Elders had nothing to say, looking at Hess with resentful eyes. We really didn't ask you to bring God here!
Would they doubt Sean Brooke's words? No. If one isn't truly indifferent to the matter of eternal life, one will definitely be tempted, just like the other person they found.
The Left Elder looked at the scene in front of him and thought of something: "We can provide beauties... and everything else you want."
He felt that just saying "beauties" might be a bit insulting to Sean Brooke, so he added that sentence, but he soon realized he was wrong.
Sean Brooke's eyes lit up: "Where? Let me see."
The sudden change in expression stunned the two Elders for a moment. The Left Elder quickly said: "Her name is Dice. She is not here, but she is indeed very beautiful, no worse than Hess."
The Right Elder added: "At the beginning, we let Hess go to the West and Dice go to the East. The goal was the same, so their looks couldn't be bad."
"We can make her come back immediately!"
Sean Brooke thought for a while, looked down at Hess, saw her indifferent expression, and asked with a smile: "Why, do you know each other?"
Hess wrapped her arms around Sean Brooke's neck and whispered in his ear:
"Yes, I know her. However, she has always been a bit jealous of me and wants to prove that she is better than me. But well, she does look okay, but she isn't as big as me here." As she said this, she pressed down a bit.
Seeing Hess's performance, Sean Brooke knew she wasn't the type to fight for things. Sure enough, mature women know how to care for others.
Sean Brooke held up a finger, his tone full of confidence: "One is not enough!"
"There is still Hess."
"She was mine to begin with!" Sean Brooke hugged her tightly, asserting his ownership.
Hearing this, the two Elders dared not refute it at all. But the problem was, they really couldn't bring out more women. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but they didn't think the remaining ones were good enough.
Hess and Dice were born with great difficulty. Not only was their bloodline pure, but they were also beautiful, and they didn't have the negative effects brought by pure bloodlines. You know, the purer their Vampire bloodline, the weirder they look.
The two Elders thought carefully about whether they had any other bargaining chips, but after thinking for a long time, they couldn't help but smile bitterly; they really didn't have any left.
However, the two were people who had lived for a long time after all, and understood that Sean Brookewas willing to cooperate since he didn't kill them, but the initiative of this cooperation was in his hands.
The Right Elder sighed deeply and asked: "We have nothing else to attract you. I don't know if you, Homelander, have any needs... no, places where you can use us."
This time, the two lowered their posture significantly, losing their previous confidence. Well, faced with God, where would they have any confidence left?
Sean Brooke's expression became a little more serious: "I, indeed, need some people to help me deal with some things, but I don't know if you have the ability."
The two Elders immediately bowed ninety degrees: "Please give us your instructions!"
"I need you to find a person, his name is... uh." Sean Brooke suddenly paused. What was that guy who made a scene at the racetrack called? It was so annoying, why was he a man?
Looking at the two people still waiting for his order, Sean Brooke felt inexplicably embarrassed. It was too lacking in the aura of a boss.
"You know Stark, right? You also know his father's name, right? It seems to be the son of a friend of his father when he was young. I forgot his name."
The two looked confused, and Sean Brooke couldn't help but cough twice: "You should be able to find him, right?"
"Then which country is he from?"
"Don't know."
"Skin color?"
"How would I remember that?"
Their eyes became strange. If it weren't for Sean Brooke's embarrassed look, they would have thought Sean Brooke was playing with them.
"It seems he also participated in the design of the Arc Reactor, and was kicked out by Stark's father later. You can investigate the specific situation yourselves."
Sean Brooke's expression became more serious: "If you can't even do this, then we have nothing to talk about. I don't have to cooperate with you; I also know HYDRA."
Hearing HYDRA, the Elders' eyes widened, and they immediately indicated that they would find that person as soon as possible.
Sean Brooke smiled slightly, hugged Hess, and indicated: "After all, we have this connection; I hope you won't let me down."
"We will definitely try our best!"
The two Elders also made up their minds. Even if they had to use the long-unused Ha Gui Tribe, they had to find... that person.
Seeing that they agreed, Sean Brooke felt much more relaxed.
Hmph, he had already been so specific, and if they still couldn't find him, then he would really have to doubt the ability of these things. If they weren't useful, he might as well go to HYDRA.
As for who was HYDRA, heh, just pull anyone you haven't seen from S.H.I.E.L.D.
Afterwards, Sean Brooke took Hess to play in Ushuaia. Although this was Argentina, Sean Brookebelieved that his reputation must have reached here, not to mention that this was a famous tourist attraction.
In order not to be disturbed, Sean Brooke exchanged for this thing as soon as he arrived in Ushuaia. After all, it's better to hide his identity a little.
Wait, wait, wait, wait! Super Glasses!
[Super Glasses: Wearing them, no one will associate you with Homelander Sean Brooke; at most, they will think you look a little like him. PS: Can specify people to invalidate.]
This thing was quite expensive, five times as expensive as Christine, but for Sean Brooke, he thought it was worth it.
You should have fun while you can. If you want to play, just play! Do you really have to be invincible before you can play?
It's just Affection Points, he can just earn more.
Chapter 22: I Haven't Been to University Yet, I Want to Go See It
In this way, Sean spent a rare seven-day vacation, accompanying Hess in Ushuaia to their heart's content.
If it weren't for Hess needing to absorb the Blood Pool, her physical stamina probably wouldn't have been enough.
Indeed, the Blood Pool was useless to Sean, so it was better to give it to Hess to make her body stronger.
...
Although the air in Ushuaia was a bit cold, it was nothing to the two of them. At first, they just lay on beach chairs, looking at the horizon where the sea met the sky, and their moods became much more relaxed.
During this period, their appearances naturally attracted many people; however, after Sean gave a small display of force, no one in this small town dared to hit on Hess anymore.
However, this also attracted even more women.
Another day, Sean woke up from a sea of names, looked at the noisy phone beside him, and sighed silently.
This phone hadn't stopped ringing since the fifth day; he had only turned it on last night to record a few phone numbers.
During the week Sean disappeared, things in New York had been far too lively.
Starting from the third day, citizens became somewhat anxious, not knowing where Sean had gone. By the fifth day, the police station's emergency lines hadn't stopped ringing, all of them asking for Sean to be found.
By the seventh day, people began organizing protests, believing the Military had secretly arrested Sean and demanding they hand him over.
Last night, Coulson arrived and had been waiting downstairs at the hotel, his nose almost freezing off, just to persuade Sean to return, using the excuse that he had found him a new assistant.
Sean knew exactly who it was as soon as he heard it, and looking at the others around him, he felt a bit bored. He called Hess, "You can send the video out now."
"Mm, okay."
"Be careful, don't send the wrong one."
Hess, currently in the Blood Pool, gave a bashful smile, understanding what he meant.
Standing up and looking at the Blood Pool which had almost turned into Water, she had nearly finished absorbing it over these three days. She wondered if she could withstand Sean now.
Hess took out her phone and found a video with a very poor shooting angle and some shaking, but very high clarity, and sent it out.
She didn't know if this matter was good or bad for Vampires. Regardless, the Elders were all very nervous, but once they learned the Daywalker was dead, they instantly felt much more relieved.
But for Hess, these things weren't important.
Her goal before was the Blood Pool; only by absorbing the Blood Pool could she truly become immortal, fearing no human or Vampire. She didn't want to experience the pain of the experiments she endured in her childhood ever again.
Looking at the Blood Pool, now as transparent as Water, Hess smiled softly. Something she once craved even a drop of was now within reach, and it went without saying who it was all because of.
Therefore, she knew her place. If Sean were to cling to her every day, she would actually be a bit afraid. The current relationship was very good; she was stronger now and wouldn't just be a decorative 'vase' in the future.
This position of being below one person but occasionally above him—she was determined to stay in it.
On the other side, Sean also walked downstairs, took off his glasses, looked at Coulson huddled in the corner, and went forward to pat him. "Coulson!"
The quick-reacting Coulson woke up immediately. Hearing Sean finally get his name right, he was a bit moved, but now was not the time for sentimentality.
"Sean, you've had your fun, right? Let's go back quickly!"
He grabbed Sean's hand, ready to leave, but with Sean unwilling, how could he possibly budge him?
"Coulson!" Sean stared at him with a look of heartbreak. "You actually thought I came here to play?"
Coulson was also stunned. He looked upstairs and asked:
"Was it not? I asked the hotel. You came for five consecutive days, with no fewer than three people each time. Only one woman repeated for two days; the others never repeated."
Sean slapped his hands together and said disappointedly, "Oh, I should have changed hotels more often!"
Looking at Coulson's serious expression, Sean also said very seriously, "Coulson! You should believe in me. I've spent a lifetim— a month saving people. What's wrong with enjoying myself a little?"
Coulson replied patiently, "Then have you enjoyed yourself enough now? Can we go back?"
"No, not quite yet! I still have something very important to do!"
Sean's expression was very serious, and his eyes were exceptionally firm.
If it weren't for Coulson, most people would have been fooled.
Coulson took a deep breath. "The twin students from the University of Buenos Aires won't be coming. The school has an anniversary celebration!"
Sean also sucked in a breath of cold air. "Hiss, I don't understand what you're talking about, but is this anniversary fun? I haven't been to university yet, I want to go see it."
Coulson just looked at Sean quietly, his meaning clear: What other excuses do you have?
Just as Sean was thinking of an excuse, Coulson's phone rang. Seeing it was a call from Fury, he stepped to the door to answer it.
Suddenly, Coulson looked at Sean with a shocked gaze and whispered into the phone, "I understand, Boss."
Before Sean could give an excuse, Coulson apologized first. "Sorry, I misunderstood you. I didn't expect you really had serious business."
Sean naturally heard the phone conversation. He smiled and patted Coulson. "It's fine, I'm used to it." Then he tried asking, "So, can we go to that Bushi... whatever university?"
Coulson sighed. "We can, but are you going with this identity?"
Sean grinned, put on his glasses, waited a moment, and then deactivated his disguise for him. "Using this will be fine."
Coulson was even more surprised and asked, "How did you do that?"
"Just a little psychological suggestion, no big deal. Oh, by the way, how did you find my information here? I clearly hid my identity!"
Sean was indeed curious about this. If it was GPS tracking, that would make sense, but wouldn't that only show his location?
But from what Coulson said just now, he seemed to know everything Sean had done these past few days, which was very strange.
Coulson finally showed a smile. "Heh, don't underestimate a top-tier Agent." But then he looked a bit embarrassed and said awkwardly:
"I knew you definitely wouldn't use your real name to have fun. I just needed to investigate recent travelers and ask... for the most handsome one, and I'd know."
Clap clap~
Sean shook his head while clapping, then gave him a thumbs up. This time he truly admired him. Impressive, truly impressive!
He put an arm around his shoulder. "Just for those words, forget the twins, let's go back!"
"Really? That's great!" Coulson's face lit up with joy, but then it quickly fell as he said disappointedly:
"I really thought you were going to the University of Buenos Aires tonight for serious business. I didn't expect..."
"Haha, don't worry about those minor details. Wasn't your goal to bring me back? Now that you've succeeded, aren't you happy?"
As he spoke, he pulled him into the car, picked up Hess, and then they took a plane back to New York.
Looking at the increasingly familiar scenery below, Sean's mood became a bit low. He didn't know when his next vacation would be.
On the plane, Sean and Hess slept soundly, but Coulson couldn't sleep at all, watching the video on his phone over and over, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Do Vampires really exist in the World? Then do other mythological creatures exist as well?"
At this moment, it wasn't just him; all of New York and even the World were so shocked by this strange video that they couldn't sleep.
The video's filming technique was very poor, clearly a secret recording. The location was by the sea, the sky was still quite dim, and the main characters were Sean and seven or eight... men, or rather, seven or eight creatures that were not human.
Chapter 23: How to Prevent X-ray Vision?
In the scene, a group of monsters charged at Sean Brooke, baring their fangs and claws, constantly scratching at Sean Brooke's neck and chest.
Until Sean Brooke's shirt was completely torn, revealing a perfectly sculpted physique.
As the phone camera zoomed in, one could even see a faint smile on Sean Brooke's lips. He gently raised his hand, and the arm of one of the monsters shattered, emitting a piercing wail. And they were speaking English!
But soon, viewers noticed that the monster's arm was actually regenerating, and not slowly. One even had its head smashed but could still recover.
This discovery was both surprising and frightening. Could it be that even Homelander Sean Brooke couldn't completely kill them?
However, as time passed, they noticed that this group of monsters already had a tendency to flee, but each one was caught back by Sean Brooke, seemingly cursing something, but the sound by the sea was too noisy to hear clearly.
Before long, the moment the Sun appeared, all the monsters on the beach turned into dust, and Sean Brooke happily uttered his only line.
"They are indeed Vampires, afraid of the Sun!"
At the end of the scene, Sean Brooke kicked off the ground and flew away.
The scene ended there. The video, less than ten minutes long, sparked heated discussion as soon as it was released. Some said it was a movie, some said it was real, some said it was a Military experiment, and Sean Brooke went to deal with an anomaly.
Various conspiracy theories emerged endlessly. Even official explanations were no longer believed; people only trusted Homelander Sean Brooke, who was present.
This video gave Fury a huge headache. All the big bosses sent messages, asking if the Vampires hadn't already been completely eradicated. Why were there still remnants?
They certainly knew about the existence of Vampires because they had also encountered them: afraid of light, afraid of garlic, afraid of silver products, and craving fresh blood.
Although these side effects might not be much, there was one thing they absolutely could not accept: being controlled by others.
You see, Vampires could freely control the life and Death of those they transformed. How could those who had always been in high positions accept this? What good was such immortality?
Although they didn't accomplish much, they still understood this principle and had this integrity.
Moreover, when all the Vampires suddenly died that time, they were even more relieved, confirming that their decision was indeed correct.
It was from that day on that they no longer heard any news about Vampires and all believed they were extinct. They never expected that remnants would still exist in this World.
Fury spent a lot of time dealing with it and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Sean Brooke was on his way back.
When he was an Agent in his early days, he couldn't even access information about Vampires. It was only after becoming Director that he discovered the secrets of those years. Didn't Coulson not know about this?
"When he comes back, I must ask him clearly if there are still any Vampires left. If there are, they must be eliminated, otherwise, they will be like HYDRA, unkillable."
Fury lay on his chair, re-watching the video and internal data. Fortunately, Vampires were not difficult to deal with; any Agent, if properly equipped, could not lose.
"Hmph, even HYDRA can be cleaned up, let alone you ugly bats."
At Stark Tower, Tony also saw the video and immediately went to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database to find information. He also looked at other files and only breathed a sigh of relief after finding nothing similar.
"Jarvis, where is Sean Brooke now?"
Jarvis: "Sir, his location shows he is on a plane, arriving in New York within three hours."
"Help me send a text message, saying I'd like to treat him to dinner."
"Yes, sir."
But soon, Tony said again, "Forget it! I'll go tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
Tony leaned his hands on the desk, staring intently at the documents in front of him, and took a deep breath. "Jarvis, formulate a plan!"
"Acquire a silver mine and a garlic production Base."
"Yes, sir."
...
In the early hours of that night, Sean Brooke finally returned to familiar New York. Hess said she wanted to go home and check on Sif, wondering if she had dealt with the bodies.
Sean Brooke didn't go back with Hess. He knew he needed to maintain some distance and didn't want the novelty to fade too soon.
Upon returning home, Sean Brooke found that the previous cameras were gone. Although he didn't know why they had changed their minds, it was a minor issue and not critical.
But the next day, he couldn't relax.
He was probably spotted when he got off the plane; everyone knew he was back in New York. Early in the morning, countless reporters blocked the street, and Coulson had to call the Police for help.
Hearing such a commotion outside, Sean Brooke couldn't sleep, so he flew to Christine's house to rest. Hmph, sure enough, the window wasn't locked.
Without disturbing her, he gently pulled her into his arms and slept for another while.
Christine, who had just finished her night shift, was also very tired. She slept until past three in the afternoon before dimly feeling a hand on her. Her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes, a smile immediately appearing on her face.
It turned out that it wasn't a dream after all.
She hugged Sean Brooke with a little excitement, instantly waking him up. Christine was a bit annoyed, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I... I just."
A finger pressed against her lips. Sean Brooke held her tightly in his arms, and after a long while, he whispered in her ear, "I'm hungry."
"I'll go prepare something for you!" Christine shot out and rushed to the bathroom. Even if she was going to cook, she needed to freshen up first.
When she saw herself in the mirror wearing a bear-themed pajama set with cartoon patterns underneath, her face instantly flushed. He had seen her childish side again.
However, it wasn't a good time to go in and change clothes now. Christine glanced at the room, knowing that if she went in to change, it might be evening by the time she came out.
Sean Brooke came to find her as soon as he returned, surely because he hadn't eaten well outside. He had many things to deal with tonight, so she couldn't delay him too much.
But suddenly, she thought of the kitchen, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She had an idea.
After more than ten minutes, Sean Brooke also came out and saw Christine busy in the kitchen. His eyes lit up, and he slowly approached, asking, "What's wrong today?"
Christine's hand holding the spatula paused. She didn't look at him, just stared at the meat in the pot. "It's... it's just to prevent you from using your X-ray Vision."
After saying that, half of her face turned red.
Sean Brooke was amused by her words. He walked behind her, clapped his hands, and praised, "So smart, but..."
"But... what?" Christine asked.
Sean Brooke adjusted her bear-themed apron. "I can still use my X-ray Vision, you know."
Christine closed her eyes, indicating she didn't believe him at all. "What else can you see?"
"Me."
Chapter 24: Sean Brooke Stays Still
As night approached, Sean sneaked back home, mainly because Christine had to go to work tonight; otherwise, he would have liked to stay a couple more days.
Not long after Sean returned, Coulson pushed the door open and walked in. "Sean, the media outside has left, but you'd better find an opportunity to explain things in the next couple of days."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Seeing Sean's nonchalant attitude, Coulson couldn't help but worry. "I have some other matters to attend to recently, so I've arranged for someone else to assist you with your daily affairs."
Sean tilted his head, looking puzzled, and stepped forward to say regretfully, "Why, Coulson? I'm very satisfied with your usual performance. What if you're replaced by someone who doesn't understand how things work?"
After such a long time of working together, Coulson understood Sean's temperament very well.
He knew exactly when to disturb him and when not to, who to let in, and who not to; he had a firm grasp on it all.
Sean highly valued his work capability. If someone else were to replace him and Sean accidentally killed them, what would he do? He wasn't the same person he was at the beginning; after all, people tend to go bad when they have power.
Coulson didn't respond. Based on his understanding of Sean, there was no need for further words. He called out toward the outside, "Berens!"
Hearing the name, Sean didn't react much, but once he saw the person, he understood.
A woman walked in wearing the same suit uniform as Coulson, wearing black-rimmed glasses. She looked somewhat nervous, her small hands constantly rubbing the hem of her clothes, giving off a careless and clumsy impression.
"Se... Sean, sir, hello. My name is Natasha Berens. Fro... from now on, I will be the one liaising with you."
Sean reached out and shook Coulson's hand firmly. "Goodbye, Iverson, let's meet again next time." Then, he walked toward his new personal butler.
Coulson pursed his lips at Natasha, the meaning was obvious: see, just as expected. Then, he shook his head helplessly and left.
Just as Sean trusted his work ability, he also trusted Natasha's work ability.
Likewise, Sean also believed that she was surely very dedicated.
Moreover, it had to be said that this woman really knew how to dress, maximizing her facial and bodily advantages, perfectly catering to Sean's preferences from every angle.
Even the details were perfect; for example, the buttons of her white shirt were only fastened at the bottom three, which, although small, was very charming.
Natasha kept avoiding Sean's gaze, looking down, and occasionally glancing up from below, performing the demeanor of a fan meeting an idol very convincingly.
"Let's sit down and talk." After saying this, Natasha used the folder she was carrying to cover her face and walked quickly toward the sofa.
Sean looked back and clicked his tongue. Tsk, as expected of her. If she studied acting, there wouldn't be any room for other best actors or actresses.
He followed her over, sat opposite her, crossed his legs, and wantonly sized her up with his eyes.
Natasha also sat with her legs together and tilted to the side, opening the folder and searching through it constantly, giving the impression of trying to hide her shyness.
However, she started to feel a bit strange internally. When Fury assigned her the task, he naturally had already compiled the information for her, along with recent assessments from Fury and Coulsonthemselves.
Judging from their accounts, although Sean was relatively... quite fond of women, he wouldn't be this unbridled, would he? Could he have... become arrogant?
This wasn't a good thing. Once human desires inflate, it triggers conflicts, especially for Sean. If his desires aren't satisfied, the one to suffer will be this World.
Natasha felt a mix of emotions. Or perhaps, after Sean realized that no one in this World could stop him, his inner evil thoughts could no longer be suppressed?
For a moment, Natasha couldn't think of anyone who could stop Sean, unless it was a rational Hulk.
Just as she was pondering, Sean asked, "Natasha, how long have you been an Agent?"
Natasha glanced at Sean, then immediately turned the file to the first page and pointed to it while reading: "One year and three months. Before this, I was working in administrative cleanup. Because I handled things well, I was specially approved to handle your affairs."
"And... and, I am personally your fan, so when I heard this news, I was very happy!"
Sean rested his chin on his hand and smiled playfully. Like acting, huh? Hmph, who doesn't?
"Ahem, let's get to the point. When I wasn't here today, did anyone come looking for me?"
"Yes, let me see..." Natasha continued searching through the documents, adjusted her glasses, and her legs shifted slightly at some unknown moment.
"Found it. This morning at seven, while the Police were setting up barriers nearby, a policewoman sneaked over for a while, but she rang the doorbell a few times and then left."
"At 7:45, a female reporter was let in by Coulson, but she also rang the doorbell a few times, and seeing no response, she left as well."
"Around nine o'clock, Stark came to look for you, but seeing you were resting, didn't disturb you. That's all three of them."
Natasha finished speaking in one breath and casually picked up the water glass on the coffee table to drink, but she drank too quickly, and a few droplets of water flowed out of her mouth, trickling down her throat.
After finishing, she suddenly realized and, holding the glass, said very embarrassedly, "Sorry, I forgot this was your glass."
"It's fine, there are more glasses in the kitchen; you can use them freely from now on."
Hearing that these three people had come by, Sean wasn't surprised. He would just look for them one by one tomorrow; besides, the explanation for the public could just be leaked through Millis.
"Then, regarding the Vampire matter, do you have any arrangements?"
Natasha was stunned, feeling a bit strange inside. They did have arrangements, but would he listen?
"We have prepared two plans: one is public, and one is hidden. Would you like to take a look?"
As she spoke, she stood up and bent over to hand the folder in her hand to Sean, not feeling that this posture was problematic at all.
Sean took it, flipped through a few pages casually, and said, "Let's go with public. However, we can portray the Vampire as weaker so people won't be too afraid."
Natasha nodded. "Then we'll use the public plan. I'll arrange it tomorrow."
"Sure. Oh, right, I have to go out very early tomorrow to meet a few people. You know how to drive, right?"
"Yes, I can drive. About what time are you leaving tomorrow morning?"
Sean scratched his head in confusion and said, "Uh, I'm not sure. Why don't you just stay here tonight? I'll call you when I wake up, and we'll leave."
"Ah, this... is that okay?" Natasha held the folder against her stomach, looking coy.
Sean said righteously, "What's wrong with that? That one person, your predecessor, also often... spent the night at my place."
"Although, it was outside the door, or downstairs at the hotel."
Sean naturally didn't say this last part. Natasha, who didn't want to leave in the first place, naturally agreed with a blushing face.
Until she finished showering, changed into Sean's T-shirt, went to the room, and pulled back the curtains to let the moonlight in, she waited for a long time, but Sean didn't come over.
She sat blankly on the edge of the bed, looking at the door, and couldn't help but wonder if she was wrong. Could it be that Sean was still the same as before, and hadn't gone bad?
But today in the living room, the way Sean looked at her felt like she was about to be executed on the spot the next second.
As a knock on the door sounded, Natasha immediately tidied her clothes and went up to open the door. To be honest, it was better for Sean to come than not to come; if he really didn't care for women, it would be quite tricky.
Sean stood at the door and said softly, "Ahem, I have many enemies, and I'm afraid you might be in danger, so I came over to check."
"Yes, my heart is indeed beating very fast." Natasha pulled Sean in, and then she sat on the bed while Sean stood.
"Then can you wait until I fall asleep before you leave?"
"Of course, I'll be right here, staying completely still."
"Really, not moving?"
"Mm, definitely not moving."
"Then, I can rest assured..."
Chapter 25: What? You Want One Too? Then Let's Get Three.
Sean was still very true to his word; when he said he wouldn't move, he didn't move.
It wasn't until Natasha said she couldn't take it anymore and closed her eyes, appearing to have fallen asleep, that Sean finally started moving.
Until seven o'clock the next morning, Natasha's brow was furrowed as she pressed her legs together and slowly opened her eyes. Her biological clock was still very accurate; knowing Sean had things to do this morning, she woke up early.
"Sean, Sean, are you going to..."
Before Natasha could even finish her sentence, Sean nodded, and then, her biological clock was thrown into chaos.
By the time she woke up again, she had learned her lesson. She didn't call for Sean but silently got dressed and slowly walked downstairs. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to make break... afternoon tea.
After all, no matter the man, seeing a woman prepare a delicious meal for him the moment he wakes up would move him beyond words.
Not long after Natasha came down, Sean also walked down while rubbing his eyes, giving Natasha a knowing smile when he saw her in the kitchen.
Natasha naturally saw the smiling Sean and returned a shy smile of her own, then whispered, "Sean, do you want to, cough, eat..."
In an instant, Sean was beside her and replied with a single word, "Eat."
After an unknown amount of time, the two leaned against the sofa. Sean took a few slices of dry bread and began to eat; the toaster had burned out, so there was no way to have anything hot.
Natasha finally seemed a bit flustered, wrapping herself up much more tightly, but she was indeed very professional.
"Wait... wait a second, Sean, where do you want to go first?"
Sean glanced at her, quickly finished the bread in his hand, gulped down some water, and said with a grin, "How about we go tomorrow instead? Let's just stay home today."
Natasha's expression instantly became frantic. Suppressing her nervousness, she said, "That works too. In that case, I should head back and prepare some things first. After all, the media side needs to be arranged."
"Oh, are you leaving?"
Sean crossed his legs and said in an extremely arrogant and disdainful tone, "Didn't they send you here just to serve me?"
At this moment, Natasha actually breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately put on an innocent look, staring at Sean and pointing with a trembling finger:
"What... what are you saying? I never thought you would actually see me this way!"
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry, I can't continue with this job. I will go to the Officer and request a replacement."
After saying that, Natasha covered her mouth and ran toward the door, perfectly portraying the image of a bullied woman. Even at this final moment, she didn't show a single flaw.
Sean rubbed his face. Now, it's time for my performance. I hope it won't be too bad.
"Your Agent level should be even higher than Coulson's, right?"
That one sentence made Natasha freeze at the door, but Sean didn't stop. "I thought they removed the cameras and bugs because they had a shred of trust in me. I didn't expect... Hmph!"
"So, it was just wishful thinking on my part. They removed those things because they had a beautiful Agent who could monitor me up close, so they didn't need them anymore, right?"
Natasha's pupils dilated in shock. Even without turning around, she could feel that Sean was in a terrible mood. It seemed Fury had made a wrong move.
"That's right, I do like women, and I do have a bit of... maybe a lot of that sort of thing, but I truly showed my most authentic side to you all, without hiding anything!"
"And for what?"
Sean thumped his chest, making a thudding sound, his voice gradually rising. "Wasn't it all just to gain that tiny bit of trust?!"
Sean let out a bit of his aura, shattering all the furniture within three meters of him. Natasha's eyes instantly turned sharp, and with a roll, she drew her pistol.
But quickly, Natasha threw the pistol away, as she realized who she was pointing it at. Just now had been a complete subconscious reaction from her long-term training.
However, seeing this, Sean laughed loudly. Although he was laughing, anyone watching wouldn't think he was actually happy.
Sean covered his eyes with a look of sorrow, only taking his hands away when tears were about to fall.
He pointed a finger at Natasha, saying nothing.
Seeing this silent protest, Natasha's heart tightened. She suddenly felt it was time for her to sacrifice herself for this country.
Just as she was about to take all the blame upon herself, Sean flew off with a boom.
This jump really terrified her, feeling worse than being killed. She hurried to find a phone to call Fury, telling him she had blown it and Sean was gone.
When Fury heard this, his first reaction was disbelief. With your looks, you couldn't handle Sean? No way!
The second he heard Sean was gone, he smashed his phone.
He immediately called the people outside, telling them to search for Sean's movements and to bring Coulson over. Once they had Sean's location, they weren't to act rashly; they were to let Coulson make contact.
Having arranged all this, Fury leaned back in his chair, pondering a solution to this matter and its causes and consequences.
While everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D. was running around in a frenzy, where was Sean?
"Woohoo~ Tony, you really know how to enjoy life. This is my first time soaking in a hot spring with a man."
Tony, opposite him, also looked relaxed. "Of course. How about I call over a few supermodels?"
"Sure, let's get two."
"Alright, they'll be here soon. One for each of us."
Sean looked up, slightly surprised. "What? You want one too? Then let's get three."
Tony froze for a moment then burst into laughter. He didn't know why, but the Sean right now didn't have that air of righteousness from before, yet this Sean seemed much more agreeable.
True, people always have some flaws. Someone without any flaws wouldn't be human.
Just as he was about to grab his phone to call a few, he suddenly remembered that he seemed to have handed over all his authority to Pepper. Looking at the reactor in his chest, he realized that it was only at this brink of life and death that he understood his heart deeply loved Pepper.
Thinking that if he called, Pepper would definitely find out, he awkwardly put the phone back and changed the subject. "Cough, anyway, why did you come to my place today?"
Sean gave a long sigh. "Sigh, I've had a falling out with S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Oh? Feel free to elaborate."
"Sigh, it's just that they actually found a very beautiful Agent to monitor me up close. Don't you think that's annoying?"
Tony, opposite him, was still waiting for more, but when he didn't hear Sean continue for a long time, he realized that Sean had come today to show off.
He had discovered another flaw of Homelander Sean: he liked to show off even more than Tony did.
Just imagine, a colleague comes to your house at night to complain, saying the boss assigned him a live-in personal secretary with a hot body and a beautiful face.
And he still has a look of annoyance and disgust on his face. Wouldn't you say this person is just shameless?
Chapter 26: Three Sets of Clothes as Self-Punishment
While soaking in the Hot Spring, the two weren't idle. Sean told Tony some things about Vampires to create a sense of urgency, hoping he would mature faster.
The latter listened very attentively, even getting a tablet to write down everything Sean said.
But at this point, Sean had a question to ask.
Where are my supermodels?
Seeing our Teacher Tony lost in research again, Sean knew there would be no new names tonight.
After soaking for a while and feeling a bit bored, Sean decided to leave. He only came here to find out what Tony wanted from him.
Coming here first was only because he wasn't staying overnight. If he had gone to Millis's place first, he wouldn't have been able to come over tonight.
As soon as Tony saw Sean preparing to leave, he pulled himself out of his research and asked somewhat nervously, "Did you receive an invitation to the Hearing?"
"Hearing? No, why?"
Tony pretended not to care, shrugging his shoulders and saying, "It's nothing, they just invited me to a military Hearing about my armor."
Suddenly, he fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Perhaps, I mean perhaps, wouldn't it be better for the World if I handed over the Iron Armor technology?"
Sean frowned. What was going on? Where was the confident and arrogant Tony from before?
With this attitude, how would he hug a nuclear bomb in the future, how would he eliminate Thanos, and how would he stand at the forefront to allow himself to relax?
Yes, regarding Thanos, Sean indeed had different views. Why bother with him? Let him snap his fingers; as long as he was sure he wouldn't turn to dust, that was fine.
Moreover, maybe half the people gone would be better, hehehe.
Therefore, the original proud and arrogant Tony Stark had to be stronger and more confident; he couldn't just be so negative.
"Tony, although I don't know what made you feel this way, I can tell you very certainly that anyone can wear the Iron Armor, but there is only one Iron Man, understand?"
Without waiting for his reply, Sean flew away.
Because, leaving directly at this moment would seem very stylish.
After leaving, Sean went straight to Millis's house. He didn't sleep very comfortably that night, because although the pillow was very fragrant, it was a bit shaky.
...
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury, who had been up all night, also received good news: Sean went to Stark's house and then stayed at a reporter's house.
This was already very good news. If Sean had just flown out of the country, it would have been truly over.
"Sorry, Director, I really don't know where the mistake was. My performance... should have been okay, but he still found out."
"Alright, Romanoff, now is not the time for self-blame."
Fury sighed, tapping his fingers on the table, "I also bear responsibility for this. First, have Coulson wait downstairs for Sean, inquire about his mood, and then make a decision."
Just like that, Coulson, who had already been relieved, was called back by a phone call and waited downstairs in an apartment building all night.
And he hoped everyone knew that someone felt the pillow was shaky, and someone felt the night was cold.
The next morning, Millis clung to Sean, unwilling to let go. She truly didn't know how to thank Sean. With last night's video... a proper video, which was Sean's explanation of Vampires.
With this video, even if Sean didn't personally participate, the effect was the same.
Vampires were practically known by everyone. At this time, if someone could explain Vampires to them, the resulting popularity would be unimaginably huge.
The benefits it would bring her were also unimaginable.
However, the better Sean treated her, the more ashamed Millis felt, because she felt she couldn't help Sean with anything; besides herself, her help to Sean was completely useless.
The only thing she could boast about was how good she was to him when they first met, entirely and wholeheartedly good. At that time, she wasn't useless.
She was quite proud of this.
"Sean~ I really don't know how to thank you," Millis said, snuggling against Sean.
Sean playfully patted her, causing ripples, "If you're going to say thank you between us, then I'm leaving."
"Don't go, I was wrong. I'll punish myself with three sets of clothes."
"Hmph~ What are you waiting for, go!"
Watching her go to change clothes, Sean put his hands behind his head, slowly enjoying the sight.
Millis was originally a host, so her appearance and figure were naturally outstanding, not to mention she was someone who could maintain a good relationship with Sean for two years.
You know, Sean wasn't a nostalgic person. Maintaining a good relationship relied entirely on Millis's personality and unique skills.
Another day passed, and it was evening. They had ordered takeout once in between. Sean's body was fine, but Millis couldn't handle it.
Also, because Millis had to prepare to narrate the video during prime time in the evening, she finally kissed Sean and then drove away.
Just ten seconds after Millis closed the door, the doorbell rang. Outside was naturally Coulson, who had been waiting for a long time.
"Hey, Bolt, good to see you again. I actually missed you."
Coulson silently breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little sad. Sean had finally remembered his name, only to forget it after just one day.
"Yeah, I missed you too."
"Right? It's been... two days or one day since we last met, hasn't it?"
"P-probably, never mind."
Coulson put away his smile, sighed, and said seriously, "I'm sorry, Sean, I already know what happened. Please believe us, we really have no ill intentions."
Sean waved his hand and turned his back, his meaning clear: he didn't want to listen.
Coulson definitely wouldn't give up, not only because of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s orders, but also to help Sean. At least, he himself believed it was help, so he kept talking.
When Sean felt the time was right, he sniffed slightly and said softly, "Take me to see the Director."
Coulson was stunned, then quickly smiled, "Okay! We'll go now."
Since Sean was willing to sit down and talk, there was a turning point. The fear was that he wouldn't listen to anyone and just fly away, in which case no one could do anything.
After playing with them for a day, Sean felt it was enough. This back and forth would make S.H.I.E.L.D.think he was easier to control.
After all, having had one experience of almost falling out, next time they would understand him better, knowing what he liked and disliked.
Training like this had to be like boiling a frog in warm water, slowly.
Fury, in S.H.I.E.L.D., felt much more at ease when he heard Sean was coming, knowing that this matter had come to a close.
After all this commotion, even Fury didn't realize that his and Sean's positions had suddenly reversed. Before, they were the ones restricting what Sean could and couldn't do.
Now, however, they knew what Sean wanted and didn't want, and unconsciously began to cooperate with him.
Chapter 27: With Monitors Around, You'll Trust Me More
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D., in Fury's office, Coulson led Sean inside and then left, intending to let the two of them have a good talk; of course, he would remain standing guard just outside the door.
Seeing Fury after so long, Sean decided to take the initiative.
Walking to the window and looking at the lights gradually turning on outside, he said wistfully, "Director, can you put the monitors back in my house?"
"There's no need."
"I feel like with monitors there, you'll trust me a bit more."
"Sean!"
Fury glared with his one eye. Feeling like his tone just now was a bit too harsh, he lowered his voice slightly.
"Removing the monitors is our way of showing trust. Sending Romanoff over was truly just to better coordinate with your work."
Walking over to Sean's side and looking out the window with him, he continued, "After all, Coulson is a man, and there are always inconveniences in daily life. Besides, the new Agents aren't very trustworthy, which is why we sent her."
"She is very capable. Logically, she should have approached you by perfectly matching your preferences; such a major problem shouldn't have occurred."
After saying that, Fury looked at Sean with great confusion.
Sean coughed lightly and said with some embarrassment, "Indeed, she hit the mark perfectly, and her style is exactly my type. But because of that, it felt a little bit surreal, so I used my Super Hearing to take a listen."
"Super Hearing?"
Sean's expression was normal, not hiding anything at all. "Yeah, I can hear very faint sounds, like heartbeats. Her heartbeat was too steady, which didn't match her expression at all. So, to me, it looked very strange."
At this, Fury's brow furrowed, and he quickly asked, "Did this ability appear later?"
He needed to get this clear. If Sean's abilities were going to keep increasing, his evaluation would have to change.
Sean rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look. "Not exactly. My superpowers should just be the Physical Enhancement type. Before, I only tested strength and speed, without considering that my ears were actually enhanced too."
A sharp light flashed in Fury's eye as he asked, "Then could other places have been enhanced as well?"
Sean was taken aback and blurted out, "How did you know?"
Then he looked down.
Fury's face darkened further, not knowing how to keep up with Sean's train of thought. "I meant your eyes, nose, mouth, and the like."
Turning to look at Fury, Sean nodded. "You have a point. Let me try."
Then, Sean stared intently at him with both eyes, making Fury feel a bit uneasy.
It suddenly occurred to him that while it was unclear if Sean's eyes had other abilities, he definitely had Heat Vision!
But could he walk away at a time like this? Definitely not. He had just talked about trusting Sean; walking away now would only cause more friction.
To show his trust, Fury put his hands behind his back and faced Sean directly.
"Director, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should," Sean asked with some hesitation.
"Speak freely."
"Are you... not wearing underwear?"
Fury's face remained unmoved, but his one eye betrayed endless information: Are you freaking kidding me?
"What kind of ability is this now?"
Sean grinned. "X-ray Vision. I found that if I concentrate my gaze, I can see through things."
"Is that so."
Fury secretly tugged at his pants with his hand behind his back and said calmly, "I am. Black."
Sean nodded as if enlightened. "Oh~ I see. It seems I need to practice this ability more."
Fury also nodded and calmly led Sean out of the room. "Indeed, your abilities still need to be developed. We can test them again when you have time."
"Sure, I don't mind."
"By the way, let Coulson take you to see Natasha. You two should have a chat to clear up the misunderstanding."
"Alright."
Fury walked Sean to the door, and after a few more words, Coulson led Sean to find Natasha.
After returning to his room, Fury moved all his paper documents to a new hiding place and then quickly called Natasha to meet Sean. He couldn't let him wander around too much; this X-ray Vision thing was indeed a bit terrifying.
Before they had walked very far with Coulson, they saw Natasha walking toward them. This time, she didn't even pretend it was a chance encounter, but said very sincerely:
"The Director said you were here and asked me to come see you."
Then she gave a look, and Coulson tactfully walked away.
Leading Sean to the balcony, the night breeze kept blowing through her hair, allowing a faint fragrance to surround Sean from all sides. Natasha leaned her hands on the railing and turned her head to ask:
"I saw in your file that you really like the scent of Balloon Flowers. How is mine?"
Sean chuckled. This woman was truly impressive; she could pinpoint a man's preferences at any time and quickly transform herself into the type he liked.
Knowing that Sean disliked deception, she no longer hid unimportant details and instead took the initiative to reveal them.
Fortunately, she didn't have Mystique's ability; otherwise, Sean wouldn't have been able to withstand it.
"Then do you know the Flower Language of the Balloon Flower?"
Sean turned his head to look at her and said with a smile, "Sincerity."
Natasha also let out a soft laugh, looking up at the sky. "I'm an Agent. If I remained sincere, I would have died long ago."
"Natasha Romanoff. That is my real name. I'm sorry for deceiving you before, but I hope you understand that it was my mission."
Seeing her reach out a hand, Sean also reached out and shook it. "Sean Brooke."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, her hand not letting go. "Is that your real name? From what I know, sometimes you don't use your real name either."
According to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files, although Sean hadn't used many aliases, his track record was quite impressive.
Sean didn't feel embarrassed and replied easily, "I've never hidden it from people who matter."
"Me too."
Gradually, neither of them spoke. Natasha used this time to recall Sean's file.
The file said Sean liked women and was a bit of a playboy; there was no doubt about that.
However, with his looks, anyone would think it was perfectly reasonable and find no fault with it.
Hmph, if I looked like him, I'd be even more of a player!
But regarding Sean's nature, she also felt he wasn't bad, a sentiment she shared with Fury.
After all, judging from Sean's life experiences, he was truly a good person and also very lucky.
No petty theft, no smoking or drinking, no harassment... oh, usually it was him being harassed.
Those first two points alone would be hard to achieve even for a child from a stable family, let alone an orphan.
So, did Sean never have moments when he wanted to do something bad?
He did, and quite often, which was exactly why he was lucky.