Ascension Seton Medical Center, Austin, Texas.
A dozen bodyguards guarded the entrance to a high-end private ward. Even the doctors going in and out were searched thoroughly.
Coulson glanced at Kai, shrugged, and stepped forward to show his S.H.I.E.L.D. ID.
Inside the ward, Kolok Moses lay wrapped in thick gauze. His arms and legs were encased in plaster, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed.
Though he had been transferred out of intensive care, his condition was still serious.
"Hello, Mr. Moses," Coulson began politely. "I'm Agent Phil Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. We're here to investigate the attack on you."
Coulson and Kai approached the bedside—but Moses didn't even look at them.
He closed his eyes and muttered, "You should leave. I'm lucky enough to still be alive. There's nothing more I can tell you."
He had no intention of cooperating.
Once, Kolok Moses had been filled with hatred and thoughts of revenge after being torn apart by that thing.
But when he learned that an elite joint team of state and county police had been completely wiped out while investigating the case, all his courage vanished.
As one of Austin's wealthiest businessmen, Moses understood perfectly well who he could afford to provoke—and who he couldn't.
That monster hadn't just attacked him; it had spoken.
He'd heard it snarl, "This is the price for rejecting our kindness."
And when neither the military nor the FBI made a move—and even the local congressman urged him to "rest and recover"—he understood what that really meant.
Some powers were too dangerous to touch.
So when S.H.I.E.L.D. showed up, Moses simply wanted no part of it.
All his bodyguards had been slaughtered. He had no desire to die next.
Coulson sighed and pulled up a chair.
"Mr. Moses, I understand how you feel," he said calmly. "After something like that, anyone would be terrified. But you're safe now. S.H.I.E.L.D. will protect you."
He gestured toward Kai, who was sitting lazily in the chair beside him.
"You see this young man? He's Flash, one of the superheroes who helped save the world in the Battle of New York."
At that, Moses opened his eyes slightly, recognizing the name.
Coulson smiled, leaning forward. "Mr. Moses, I'm truly sorry for what happened to you. But as long as that creature is still out there, you—and your family—will never be safe. That's why we're here. Flash will personally ensure that monster is destroyed."
He met Moses's gaze. "You want revenge. You want protection. Work with us—and we can give you both."
Moses hesitated.
Coulson pressed gently. "Think about your family, your reputation, your peace of mind. You've seen what this monster can do. With Kai here, we can stop it."
After a long silence, Moses finally said, "I'll… think about it. But I need to rest. Please leave for now."
Coulson smiled faintly and rose from his chair. "Of course, Mr. Moses. We'll let you recover. But I hope you'll reconsider."
He nodded to Kai, and the two men left the room.
Inside the car, on the way back to base.
Coulson drove in silence for a while, then said, "You could see it—he's still scared, but he's thinking about it. We'll have to talk to him again soon."
Kai yawned and leaned back in his seat. "What a hassle…"
Coulson chuckled. "That's the job. Sometimes you have to deal with people multiple times to get through to them. As long as it works in the end, it's worth it."
He glanced at Kai. "By the way, what did you think of his injuries?"
Kai replied, "Severe. Multiple lacerations and fractures, all four limbs broken. But none of the wounds were fatal. The only reason he nearly died was massive blood loss."
"Exactly," Coulson said, smiling faintly. "Fitz analyzed the combat footage. That creature—the one we're calling the Orc—had a striking force of at least five tons. Its claws could tear through a helicopter's hull like paper. And bullets don't even slow it down."
He glanced over again. "So tell me, Kai—do you really think that kind of monster would fail to kill someone like Kolok Moses just because a few bodyguards stood in the way?"
Kai frowned slightly.
"Many of those cops in the video were ex–Navy SEALs," Coulson continued. "They were trained and armed, and the Orc tore through them like nothing. Moses's men wouldn't have lasted seconds. So if he's still alive…"
"Then the monster didn't want to kill him," Kai finished.
"Exactly. It was a warning."
Kai rubbed his chin. "So Moses was telling the truth. He refused 'their kindness,' and they punished him for it."
He leaned back again. "Man, what a pain. Wouldn't it be faster to just give him some Veritaserum or something?"
[Borsalino Roleplay +0.1%!]
[System Notification: Borsalino template progress has reached 40%. Armament Haki awakened!]
A golden ripple pulsed faintly across Kai's hand as the car sped down the highway.
Coulson didn't notice—but Kai could feel it. A new kind of power awakening under his skin, dark and heavy like iron.
Armament Haki — unlocked.