Two paths, two completely different choices.
On the surface, neither seemed special. But because of their different implications, Lu Yi had prepared very different ways to toy with Skye.
The first path was to rely on Lu Yi's power.
Just as Skye had suspected, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Once she used Lu Yi's influence, her entire life would effectively be sold to him.
The second path was to rely on her own strength.
This path appeared to offer freedom, but in reality, it was far more twisted.
It meant that Skye would have to work desperately to rise through the ranks of S.H.I.E.L.D., becoming a high-level agent—and perhaps even the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. one day.
But Skye was Lu Yi's maid!
Which meant that all her efforts would ultimately benefit Lu Yi, just like a wedding dress sewn for someone else to wear. The massive organization of S.H.I.E.L.D. might only fall into Lu Yi's hands in the distant future.
Wasn't that even more terrifying?
Lu Yi wasn't fishing for ordinary fish—he was fishing for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s great white shark.
To him, controlling S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future might not be such a bad idea.
"My relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't very good right now. Helping you find your parents would be easy. But if I introduce you directly, they'll definitely be suspicious of you."
"So?" Skye asked.
"So, I'll hand you over to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"What's the difference?" she asked.
"Of course there's a difference. One way is for me to help you get a position as an agent. The other is to send you there using a special excuse."
If Skye wanted to join S.H.I.E.L.D., she would have to completely sever her ties with Lu Yi. Only then could she be officially accepted.
"So what excuse are you planning to use?"
"He had ulterior motives and impersonated a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent!"
"..."
Brother, when have I ever had ulterior motives? Well, except for impersonating a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
After a moment of silence, Skye said, "Isn't that excuse a little too far-fetched?"
"It's fine. S.H.I.E.L.D. won't care. You just need to tell them about everything you've experienced here. Besides, I've gotten bored of you, so I sent you to S.H.I.E.L.D. Simple."
What a perfect excuse. Truly perfect.
After something like this, her reputation would be completely ruined. S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't suspect her at all—she would only be seen as Lu Yi's maid.
"Isn't there another excuse?"
"No. I already told S.H.I.E.L.D. this one."
"You… you planned this from the beginning!"
How could Skye not realize she had been tricked? From the very start, Lu Yi had arranged everything, waiting for her to step into his carefully laid trap.
"That's right. Unfortunately, you still don't know—S.H.I.E.L.D. is already here."
"What?"
Skye instinctively turned toward the door. A middle-aged man with a receding hairline was walking toward them. He was probably the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Lu Yi mentioned.
"Coulson, is she really that important to S.H.I.E.L.D.? Why did you come in person?" Lu Yi raised an eyebrow and asked meaningfully.
"I don't actually know. Director Fury personally ordered me to come."
Coulson was still confused. He couldn't understand why the woman standing before him, dressed in a maid outfit, deserved this level of attention.
Even considering Lu Yi's involvement, it shouldn't require his personal presence—yet he had been repeatedly instructed to minimize harm to her and ensure her safety.
It seemed that Nick Fury was even more concerned about her.
Fury had even ordered Coulson to temporarily suspend the investigation into Hydra to handle this personally.
When Coulson tried to ask why, the only answer he received was that his clearance level wasn't high enough.
Although Coulson had already gained Fury's trust and reached Level 8 clearance, he still had no right to know Skye's secrets, which shocked him.
"I'm done talking. Take her away," Lu Yi said coldly.
Coulson didn't question it. He walked over to Skye and escorted her outside. Everything went unusually smoothly.
Leaving Lu Yi's house.
"I'm finally out..." Skye looked at the bright sky outside and let out a deep sigh.
"It's not that simple. Even now, you're still under Lu Yi's control. You still haven't gained true freedom..." Coulson hesitated, then stopped.
"And..." he continued, looking at her seriously, "Miss, you're under arrest."
"Huh?"
Skye barely had time to react before she was taken into custody.
Still, Coulson gave Nick Fury some face. He didn't handcuff her. Instead, he personally escorted her onto a nearby fighter jet.
Skye was completely confused.
"What's going on?" she asked as she boarded the aircraft.
Everything had changed too fast. Just moments ago, they were speaking calmly, and now she had become a prisoner.
"Although I was ordered to rescue you, Director Fury also said that you were impersonating a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. That charge still stands, so you must accept S.H.I.E.L.D.'s handling," Coulson explained.
"..."
Coulson led her to a room and gestured for her to go inside.
What choice did Skye have?
She couldn't defeat Coulson. Sighing, she walked in, feeling like she had boarded a pirate ship with no way to escape.
Given Skye's special status, Coulson didn't humiliate or interrogate her. Instead, she was confined in the room and treated well.
This was nearly impossible for ordinary people. Most would have been sprayed with pepper spray, tortured, or injected with truth serum. S.H.I.E.L.D. never showed courtesy during interrogations.
In other words, Skye must possess Level 10 clearance equal to Nick Fury and Natasha. Otherwise, things would never have unfolded this way.
This also proved just how important Skye truly was.