"
Are you sure?" Skye asked Natasha. "But didn't you say you didn't want to get involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore?"
"That's right, but S.H.I.E.L.D. is finished, so there's nothing to worry about."
Natasha's explanation to Skye was that she was a retired S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She knew exactly what kind of lies to use on certain people.
Skye was very likely to have deeper interactions with them in the future. Lying with half-truths would prevent the good feelings built up from disappearing when the lies inevitably came crashing down.
"Do you know him?" Skye turned the laptop screen toward Natasha.
It showed a screenshot of a street scene, with Shen He and the others visible. Shen He's image was enlarged and circled.
"I know him, but I don't know him well. His security clearance is higher than mine." Natasha asked, "Is he related to the origins you're looking for?"
"I don't know." Skye shook her head, excitement on her face. "But he's connected to the battle that happened at S.H.I.E.L.D. last night!"
"…Why do you say that?" Natasha walked over and sat at the table.
"I looked into the board members of the Virtual Reality company." Skye worked on the computer, "Many people think it's Tony Stark's company, but that's wrong. Tony only owns ten percent of the shares. The other ninety percent belong to this Chinese man named Shen He. Then I checked his identity. What do you think I found?"
"He's with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Exactly!" Skye nodded. "His identity was all arranged by S.H.I.E.L.D. a few months ago. If S.H.I.E.L.D.'s departmental ranks hadn't been dissolved, it wouldn't have been so easy to find out. But, isn't that strange? He's from S.H.I.E.L.D., yet the company he owns has been constantly fighting against S.H.I.E.L.D., with legal accusations and media hype."
Skye's expression grew more and more excited; she felt like she might finally have a chance to find out about her origins.
"So?" Natasha looked at Skye thoughtfully.
This perceptiveness… this girl has the potential to be a great agent.
"The government announced that S.H.I.E.L.D. had suffered an information leak, leading to a surprise attack by the terrorist organization HYDRA." Skye pointed at the information on her computer. "But I think this should be an internal conflict within S.H.I.E.L.D. This person is likely the winning side. He might have the authority to look into my background."
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s public reveal explained to Skye why she couldn't find any information about her past.
Only this organization had the capability to completely erase a person's online presence.
To investigate further, she'd have to get in contact with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s higher-ups.
And Zero; she now suspected Zero was also a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Since you've made your decision," Natasha said, picking up her coat, "Let's go."
Natasha was one of the few who knew Fury was still alive.
Fury was hiding in a secret base, and his last mission to Natasha, besides getting close to Skye, was to keep an eye on Shen He's actions.
Shen He and the others strolled through the food street.
He was indeed quite happy, because he saw sides of these Servants that he hadn't seen in previous works of fiction.
For example, who would have thought Ryougi Shiki would start liking kittens?
This made him feel even more concretely that they were real people, not just characters who had lived in people's hearts in the past.
"When does Master plan to conduct the next summoning?" Saiki Kusuko walked beside Shen He.
Jeanne was pulling Violet, and Ryougi Shiki was walking in front of them. Jeanne was always the most enthusiastic.
"I'm waiting until I accumulate forty summoning stones." Shen He turned his head and looked at her.
"The last time I accumulated fifty, a new instance and a double event appeared. I'm wondering if a new instance or event will appear when I accumulate a hundred." Just simply drawing cards like this, even if he was lucky enough to draw a powerful Servant, if their personalities didn't match, their values didn't align, or if they were difficult to get along with, it would become somewhat troublesome.
So Shen He was actually looking forward to a specific Servant up banner; considering the high degree of replication in this system, it was entirely possible.
Besides, saving up stones for events was standard procedure.
"Eight days left," Saiki Kusuko noted the time.
"That's right, I'm still looking forward to it. Chaldea will continue to grow," Shen He responded with a smile.
Regardless of how many Servants were already by his side, the addition of new companions always filled him with anticipation.
"Master—"
At this moment, Jeanne, who was in front, stopped and beckoned to the two of them.
They had found a Chinese food stall selling mutton sandwiches. It seemed like their stomachs were bottomless pits. Even after eating all morning, their bellies were still flat, as if they could eat another whole afternoon's worth.
"After we finish eating this family, let's go prepare some ingredients and your swimsuits." Shen He walked a few steps forward. "The Luxury Cruise is ready. This afternoon, we'll take the cruise to a less crowded island to play."
"S-swimsuit?"
Jeanne's face flushed red all of a sudden. She realized that she had been getting shy lately, even her speech becoming broken.
"Y-yes, if we're going to the beach, a s-swimsuit is necessary. Umm, it's a little embarrassing, but I'll do my best."
"I don't know where you'll be working hard." Shen He gave a thumbs up. "But I'm really looking forward to it."
Shen He didn't hide his anticipation for Jeanne's swimsuit at all.
Violet would amaze everyone when she grew up, but for now, her charm was still a bit immature.
Ryougi Shiki was a typical androgynous beauty, exuding a neutral aura, and not particularly suited for swimsuits either.
As for Saiki Kusuko…
"I won't wear a Swimsuit," Saiki Kusuko warned Shen He first, "No amount of pudding will change my mind."
"I know," Shen He shrugged, "I'm not Toritsuka Reita."
"Also, someone's here, looking for you," Saiki Kusuko's voice entered his mind again.
Shen He dropped his smile and glanced in the direction Saiki had indicated. It was a woman sitting on a bench with a laptop, occasionally glancing their way.
Skye… the future Quake.
"And another person," Saiki Kusuko continued, "At the entrance of a hamburger shop forty meters away, it's Agent Natasha."
"Natasha?" Shen He didn't turn his gaze this time, "How did she and Quake get together?"
Forty meters was the initial range of Saiki Kusuko's telepathy. Natasha knew this, but she didn't know that Saiki's strength had far surpassed what it once was.
"Enemies?" Ryougi Shiki tucked her hand into her sleeve.
Her katana was stored in Shen He's system backpack, but she still concealed a dagger within her sleeve.
-----------------------
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