Natasha folded her arms, red lips parting with a hint of probing doubt.
"Oh? I'm curious—what could be more serious than a missing nuclear warhead?"
Felix shot her a glance and let out a cold snort.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
An invisible pressure rolled out; Natasha's eyes narrowed. The harmless-looking young man before her had, for a heartbeat, radiated the kind of presence that spelled danger.
Coulson stepped in to smooth things over.
"Of course not, sir. We're simply concerned… All right, we'll follow your lead."
He was packed with questions and gripes, but duty was duty.
He'd just have to see what medicine the new boss kept in his gourd.
More serious than a nuke?
He'd wait and see.
"You three can go for now," Felix waved. "May and Natasha stay. Get familiar with the villa."
Once the trio—and that smiling tiger Coulson—were out, Felix locked the door behind them.
He couldn't wait any longer. He called to the system in his mind and focused on the blinking Newbie Reward.
[Random Anomaly Summon Chance ×1]
Without hesitation, Felix used it.
[Initiating random summon…]
[Summon successful.]
[Anomaly: SCP-307, Carnivorous Ivy]
[Description: A woody vine resembling common English ivy. Predatory; actively hunts large animals, including humans. Rapid growth ensnares and crushes prey, then root-secreted digestive fluids dissolve and absorb.]
[Warning: Anomaly has gone out of control in a forest somewhere in North America. Host must contain it ASAP.]
Figures—an SCP.
Felix's heart pounded.
The system chimed again.
[First Summon detected. Pre-containment perks granted…]
[Congratulations. You received: Temporary Foundation Base ×1]
A detailed list unfolded before his eyes.
[Temporary Base Configuration]
Location: A secured, disguised site near the anomaly's area.
Personnel: D-Class ×500; MTF operators ×110 (well-equipped); researchers ×14; assorted logistics/admin. All personnel implanted with compliance chips—absolute loyalty.
Vehicles: Armed helicopters ×5; APCs ×20; off-road vehicles ×50.
Armory: Standard small arms; heavy weapons (anti-materiel rifles, grenade launchers, rocket systems, etc.); tactical mini-nuclear warheads ×3.
Special Reward: Worker-Ant engineering bots ×3 (remote-operable for hazardous ops and combat).
Felix froze.
Mouth open. No sound.
This… was insane.
Newbie perks? This was a turnkey private military outfit.
And those three mini-nukes…
He'd just been fretting over Coulson's "missing nuke," and the system handed him three?
His breath quickened.
He dragged his focus to the other crucial reward.
[Anomaly Locator Map]
With a thought, a 3D world map unfolded. A blinking red dot pulsed.
[SCP-307 "Carnivorous Ivy," Current Location: Middle East, Rub' al Khali Desert (Empty Quarter).]
A desert?
Felix frowned.
A plant-type anomaly in the Empty Quarter—the "Empty One-Fourth" of the earth, with almost no baseline conditions for life?
How was ivy surviving there?
Was the system messing with him?
Questions aside, he had a fix on the target. And "Middle East" instantly connected back to Coulson's nuke deal.
Whatever the link, he had to move fast.
First to contain SCP-307. Second to assume command of the Temporary Base—his real counterweight against S.H.I.E.L.D.
Decision made, Felix opened the door and addressed Natasha waiting outside.
"Tell Coulson to arrange a plane to the Middle East—fast."
A glint of understanding flashed in Natasha's eyes.
So soon?
Looked like the new boss had already staged the warhead delivery point.
She didn't press, just nodded crisply.
"Understood, sir."
…
Elsewhere, Coulson had just gotten into a car when Natasha's call came through.
"What? Middle East now?"
His tone climbed a notch.
This boss played by no rules. One minute, "table the warhead." The next, sprinting to the deal site?
What was he up to?
Annoyed but professional, Coulson executed.
"Turn around—private airfield," he told the driver, then dialed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s encrypted line.
"This is Coulson. Target has changed plans, departing for the Middle East—probable warhead transaction. Requesting instructions."
Deputy Director Maria Hill answered.
"Noted."
Cool, decisive.
"I'll deploy the Hawkeye strike team to tail you in a Quinjet. Once the transaction begins, we'll bag both buyer and seller."
"Copy." Coulson hung up.
Watching the scenery streak backward, he felt confident.
Everything was under S.H.I.E.L.D. control.
Half an hour later, at a private airfield on the outskirts of New York.
A Gulfstream G650 sat warmed and ready.
Felix arrived with Natasha and May, rejoining Coulson on the tarmac.
"Sir, the jet's ready," Coulson said, stepping up.
The four walked toward the stairs. At the foot, Coulson paused, adopting a worried tone.
"Sir, the Middle East is a snake pit—and this 'client' is notorious for going scorched earth. If they pull a double-cross, our manpower might—"
He was testing—probing Felix's hand, watching for cracks under pressure.
Felix stopped as well. He turned, meeting Coulson's eyes with a layered smile.
"Relax. I've already got people in place over there."
(End of Chapter)
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