Black Widow gracefully stepped forward, extending her right hand with a charming smile: "Hello, Mr. Logan, I'm Natasha, an Agent from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. There's no need to be so wary; we mean no harm."
"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, your organization's name is certainly long." Wolverine raised an eyebrow, not shaking her hand. He had never heard of this government agency and didn't believe they meant no harm.
He and Professor X had been fugitives for thirty-five years, and last night Goku had transformed into a giant ape, wiping out an entire modern military unit.
No government agency, if they knew the truth, would ever let them go.
"I also think the name is long. You can also call us S.H.I.E.L.D.. We are a global security organization, supported and recognized by most countries.
We primarily deal with major events and supernatural occurrences that threaten the entire Earth."
Black Widow wasn't surprised by Wolverine's wariness and hostility; instead, she first introduced S.H.I.E.L.D. in a relaxed tone, emphasizing the legitimacy of their identity.
Then she got to the point: "After the Westchester incident thirty-five years ago, we had already been monitoring you and Professor X.
This includes your constant changes in location, evading the CIA's tracking, and your eventual settlement on the Mexico border.
We know all of this.
Mr. Logan, haven't you noticed that your lives became stable after you settled in that factory?"
"Was it your doing?" Wolverine now realized something was amiss. Indeed, ever since they settled in the factory, they had never been found by the CIA again.
He had thought the CIA believed them dead, which was why they had reduced the intensity of their pursuit.
"That's right, it's because S.H.I.E.L.D. helped facilitate communication that the CIA canceled their pursuit of you."
Seeing Wolverine's expression soften slightly, Black Widow continued: "Our Director greatly appreciates the contributions Professor X and the X-Men have made to the security of the entire Earth.
That's why we've never disturbed your lives, and we even spent a large amount of money developing medication that can alleviate the Professor's episodes."
"That wasn't medicine for Alzheimer's!" Wolverine instantly understood Black Widow's meaning.
When he first took the Professor on the run, he could only go to extremely remote places because the Professor would have episodes every so often.
It wasn't until he accidentally found a special medicine that could treat Alzheimer's.
As long as the Professor took the medicine on time, he wouldn't have episodes, which allowed them to have a stable settlement.
He had also tried other brands of Alzheimer's medication, but none worked; only that brand's special medicine could prevent the Professor from losing control.
Now it seemed that it wasn't a special medicine for Alzheimer's at all, but rather a drug specifically developed by S.H.I.E.L.D. for the Professor.
"Medicine for Alzheimer's couldn't help a Professor with such powerful psychic abilities." Black Widow nodded: "Jack, the one who always sold you the medicine, is an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Alright, no wonder... Never mind, at least I should thank you for providing the Professor with that special medicine."
At this point, most of the wariness on Wolverine's face had disappeared. He believed that the beautiful S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent in front of him wasn't lying.
However, having lived for nearly two hundred years and knowing the nature of human governments, he believed her, but he hadn't fully let down his guard.
Because S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help might not be entirely out of good intentions; there might be other unknown motives.
One must always maintain a basic level of vigilance towards human governments.
Completely trusting a human government would sooner or later lead to becoming an experimental subject on a dissection table, being dissected, modified, and torn apart.
While most people in a department might be good, it's impossible for all of them to be good.
"Thank you for bringing Goku back. I'll treat you to a meal sometime when I'm free." This time, Wolverine extended his hand voluntarily, but his words didn't convey much intimacy.
Instead, he wanted these S.H.I.E.L.D. people to leave quickly after the handshake.
"Protecting every innocent human is our responsibility and duty." Black Widow extended her hand and clasped Wolverine's, saying with a half-joking tone: "Isn't it rather ungentlemanly of you, Mr. Logan, to keep such a beautiful woman standing outside on the street talking to you?"
She understood the unspoken meaning Wolverine was conveying but had no intention of leaving just yet.
Because her mission was to bring back Professor X, Wolverine, Caliban, Gabrielle, and Goku, as well as all the mutant children.
"If we were at the factory, I'd invite you in for a drink, but this is just a hotel." Wolverine refused again upon hearing this.
Thirty-five years ago, faced with such a sexy and beautiful woman, he would have long since taken her into a hotel room, making her understand how enduring and powerful he was with his healing ability.
But now, his heart had long since died, and his body was old; women no longer held any interest for him.
"Alright, actually, I'm here on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. to discuss some matters with you, concerning the disappearance of mutants and the truth of the Westchester incident thirty-five years ago." Black Widow, seeing Wolverine still unmoved, immediately threw out her trump card.
Sure enough, Wolverine's expression changed.
"You know the truth of what happened back then?" The Westchester incident was a knot in the Professor's heart, and in his own; he had always felt that things weren't that simple.
However, given his and the Professor's situation, they were powerless to investigate the truth.
"Yes, it's related to the Facility that was hunting you down. We just raided that Facility and only then uncovered the truth." Black Widow nodded.
"Okay, you can come in with me, but the others must all stay outside." Wolverine's expression shifted, and he turned to walk into the hotel.
"No problem." Black Widow shrugged, gave instructions to the other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, and followed Wolverine into the hotel.
Meanwhile, inside the hotel room, Goku had finally found his Power Pole.
Professor X also learned from Goku about everything that had happened from the time he woke up this morning until now.
He understood that the people who brought Goku over were definitely not ordinary police; they were either after them or after the giant ape that Goku had transformed into.
Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to know that the giant ape was Goku.
"Goku, do you still remember transforming into a giant ape last night?"
"What giant ape?" Goku slung the Power Pole over his back, a confused look on his face.
Professor X, seeing this, already had a guess. He asked Gabrielle to search online for the most popular giant ape video currently.
"You weren't asleep when you fought Magneto yesterday; you transformed into him..." Professor X recounted everything Wolverine had seen last night.
The fact that Goku transformed into a giant ape absolutely couldn't be known by the people downstairs, who were seemingly police but actually from some unknown special government department.
So he had to tell Goku the truth and then coordinate their story to prevent any slip-ups later.
Although this truth might be a bit cruel for Goku...