The coffee shop door was pushed open. A breeze blew in, making the wind chimes ring with a crisp and pleasant sound.
"Hello."
Arriving at the coffee shop counter, Natasha Romanoff looked at the staff and asked with a smile, "I saw the job posting. Is the waiter position still available?"
"Yes, but you'll need to speak with the boss over there!"
Hearing that Natasha was there to apply for the waiter job, the staff member smiled and pointed towards Su Che, who was sitting by the window.
"Okay, thank you!"
Smiling at the staff member (Selena), Natasha Romanoff walked towards Su Che's table.
"It seems you have someone coming to see about the job. I won't keep you then."
Hearing the conversation at the counter, Pepper turned to Su Che and said, "It works out; I need to go back and organize some materials. Things will start getting busy again once Tony gets back the day after tomorrow!"
"See you."
Hearing Pepper's words, Su Che nodded.
"See you later, Mr. Superman!"
Waving at Su Che, Pepper smiled and got up to leave.
Meanwhile, inside S.H.I.E.L.D.!
"Nick, I've found the information you wanted."
Handing a USB drive to Nick Fury, Maria Hill said seriously, "This person is really strange. I can't find any trace of this 'Su Che' from before half a month ago."
"Whether it's flight records, property deeds, cars, etc., nothing shows up."
"Even life records from before half a month ago are nonexistent."
"It's as if he just appeared in this world out of thin air half a month ago."
Listening to Hill's words, Nick Fury nodded to show he understood. "Archive this file after I've reviewed it. Security level... Level 10! Furthermore, no one is permitted to access it except for me!"
Nick Fury himself was a Level 10 agent within S.H.I.E.L.D. A Level 10 file meant the highest level of confidentiality.
Apart from S.H.I.E.L.D. Level 10 agents, anyone else was prohibited from viewing it.
So, besides Nick Fury, who was he guarding against?
"You mean the Secretary-General might be problematic?" (Referring to Alexander Pierce)
Facing Nick Fury's order, Maria Hill frowned slightly. "Do you need me to communicate with the World Security Council?"
(Maria Hill was initially sent by the World Security Council to oversee Nick Fury's work. Later, she gradually sided more with Fury, even helping him hide secrets from the Council at times, which is why Fury trusted her more and more, even taking her to the lunar base later.)
"No need to communicate with the World Security Council for now. Proceed as if nothing is wrong."
"As for the Secretary-General... I don't suspect Pierce, nor do I suspect him lightly."
"It's just that some things are better kept from everyone's eyes."
"Understood."
Hearing Nick Fury's words, Maria Hill nodded.
Although she knew Nick Fury was likely being evasive, she still chose to trust him.
And although he knew that she knew he wasn't being entirely truthful...
But wasn't that what partnership was about?
Some things couldn't be explained clearly.
More importantly, Nick Fury genuinely didn't want to suspect Alexander Pierce.
On one hand, Pierce had recommended him for Director.
On the other hand, as the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the current Secretary-General (the liaison with the World Security Council on the surface), suspecting him could easily cause significant turmoil within S.H.I.E.L.D. if handled poorly.
This was no joking matter.
Watching Hill turn and leave, Nick Fury tapped his watch lightly. The next moment, a USB port emerged from the watch.
He connected the drive, and a holographic projection displaying information about Su Che appeared before Nick Fury.
Looking at Su Che's handsome image and details on the projection, Nick Fury focused on the point of Su Che's first appearance.
The information was extremely detailed, even including records of property purchases, coffee shop transactions, and daily cash withdrawals or card swipes.
"He truly appeared out of thin air. All traces and records of life before are completely blank."
"But where did his money come from? If he really is from a parallel world, could bank deposits from that world be used in this one?"
After reviewing the information Hill had gathered overnight, which showed no source for the funds "parallel world" visitor Su Che used, Nick Fury pondered for a moment before beginning to scrutinize every minute detail in the information.
Nick Fury, who was inherently suspicious of everything, even though he (or his counterpart) had once held the highest trust level among the three diary holders, still wanted to analyze anything he could from this information.
It didn't matter if it was completely true or not; what mattered most to Nick Fury was what Su Che could potentially bring to this world.
Inside the Blossom Woods Cafe.
"Absolutely no problem. Actually, like the other two waiters, I'd prefer to work part-time."
Sitting opposite Su Che, Natasha Romanoff said with a charming smile.
Simultaneously, she was constantly evaluating the young man in front of her from the bottom of her heart.
The more she assessed him, the more surprised Natasha became.
Although the Su Che before her seemed very young on the surface, the sense of world-weariness inadvertently revealed between his brows couldn't be hidden.
His whole persona exuded a trace of mystery, like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
This included a maturity that didn't match his age, and just moments ago, upon seeing her,
Natasha had easily caught the inadvertent flash of "sadness and nostalgia" in his eyes.
Clearly, the young man before her definitely had many stories.