Boom! Boom!
Gunshots echoed behind the car. Sharon Carter shrank down as much as she could, then floored the accelerator to shake off the pursuers. A bullet struck one of the car's tires.
"They're coming," she muttered to herself, trying to stay calm. Just ten kilometers ahead was Kain Manor. Even Hydra wouldn't dare cause trouble there.
The conflict between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra was far more intense than Sharon had imagined, and the American government's involvement was critical.
While a few Hydra leaders had been captured, the rest were left to clash with S.H.I.E.L.D. — only to be hunted down by the military later. The low-level operatives were offered pardons and an escape route once apprehended.
Most lower-tier agents in both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra lacked true loyalty. Going up against the most powerful nation in the world? Ninety percent wouldn't even consider it—unless they were crazy enough to chase some idealistic dream.
But senior agents were harder to deal with. The Ross administration typically threw them into prison for treason first, then slowly evaluated them for usefulness.
People like Sharon Carter—considered "family" by S.H.I.E.L.D.—were marked for last. With her aunt Peggy Carter a legendary founding member of the organization, Sharon would not be forgotten.
"No! They're catching up! Simmons, prepare to abandon the car—be careful!"
Sharon's eyes widened as a massive snake-like creature slithered up the seaside road ahead. She gasped, yanked the steering wheel, and barely veered past the basilisk—but the car flipped and landed hard, no longer drivable.
Luckily, both Sharon and Gemma Simmons survived without major injuries, though they were briefly unconscious. Crawling out of the wreckage, they were stunned by the sight of the enormous serpent coiled along the coastal road. They instinctively shut their eyes.
"What the hell is that thing?" Sharon whispered.
She suddenly remembered the huge green snake she had encountered at Kain Manor before. It clicked—this beast had to be connected to Kain Pent. He knew they were coming. This creature had been sent to greet—or protect—him.
Hydra's pursuers soon arrived. At the sight of the basilisk, they panicked, trying to swerve away. But the monster showed no mercy. With a flick of its enormous tail, it crushed two of the cars flat and sent them flying off the cliff into the sea.
Once done, the basilisk slithered calmly down the cliffside, completely ignoring Sharon and Simmons.
"Come on, Simmons," Sharon said, helping her up. "He knows we're here."
The two began making their way toward Kain Manor.
"It's too dirty. Don't come in yet. Follow Isaac to get cleaned up first," Kain said the moment he saw them, his tone filled with disdain. He looked like a drifter himself but seemed completely disinterested in conversation.
Sharon Carter wasn't exactly loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D.—that much was clear from her actions. She had ambition, unlike the old-fashioned Captain America.
And she had talent. If she played her cards right, Kain was willing to give her a chance. He had been wondering who to appoint as deputy director of the Super Personnel Bureau. Now, Sharon Carter seemed like a strong candidate.
Without another word, he shut the door in her face.
Sharon blinked, confused. She wasn't even sure what he meant. Typical capitalist, she thought. Always prioritizing comfort over context.
"Ladies, please follow me," said a sudden voice behind them.
Startled, Sharon and Simmons spun around—only to see a sharply dressed dwarf-like creature, with eyes as large as fists and long, drooping ears. He didn't look human, and certainly didn't resemble anyone with ordinary dwarfism either.
Sharon asked nervously, "You—who are you?"
"Isaac is the master's housekeeper, and the only housekeeper here. The master trusts Isaac deeply. Now Isaac must follow the master's orders and take you to get cleaned up—otherwise, you'll dirty the master's residence."
Isaac explained with an exaggerated, almost comical gesture, then led them to another villa designated for guests. Though visitors were rare at Kain Manor, the guest villa had been built alongside the main residence for such occasions.
Inside a bathroom as large as a swimming pool, Sharon Carter looked around in disbelief—this felt like discovering a new world.
Still full of questions, she turned to Simmons and asked, "Simmons… what race do you think that little guy is? He's definitely not human, right? And this place—just look at the villa. The space inside and outside doesn't match. From outside, it looked like just a few hundred square meters, but now we're standing in a bathroom the size of a house."
"He's probably a superpowered being, Agent Carter. This must be some kind of advanced tech we've never seen before. It goes way beyond architectural limits. This kind of spatial manipulation could completely revolutionize science and technology... If only Fitz could see this…"
Simmons trailed off, her voice growing quiet, sadness creeping in at the mention of Fitz.
But Sharon had her doubts. Even if she wasn't a tech expert, she knew one thing: if technology like this really existed, the outside world would've caught wind of it by now.
Nothing in Kain Manor felt technological. The enormous snake, the dwarf-like butler, the medieval decor—it all pointed to something else.
Magic.
And considering what she'd heard from Pepper Potts—that Kain was a superpowered individual—it wasn't a stretch to think his abilities might be magical in nature.
Still, it was all speculation. Sharon hadn't come here to investigate—she came for help. While washing, she had already started planning various approaches, trying to think of the right words.
Once the two women finished bathing, they stepped out to find all their dirty clothes had been taken away. In their place were two new outfits and two small bottles of blue liquid.
Sharon picked one up, studied it, and muttered, "Healing potion?"
Without hesitation, she downed it in a single gulp.
"Agent Carter!" Simmons exclaimed. "You didn't even test it—what if it's dangerous?"
"It tastes good," Sharon said with a smirk. "Relax, Simmons. If he wanted to harm us, I doubt he'd use something like this."
Almost immediately, she felt its effects. She hadn't had any serious injuries, but plenty of bruises and aches. The potion worked quickly, making all the soreness fade and the bruises vanish.
"This is incredible. If only we could take one out and analyze the ingredients…"
Simmons was visibly impressed. She couldn't help but compare it to the Ponte Group's recovery potions—those were even more miraculous, capable of regenerating lost limbs.
Healing simple bruises must be nothing in comparison. The design of the bottle even had a medieval charm to it.
After changing into their new clothes, Simmons suddenly felt a little embarrassed—her outfit was a short skirt that revealed her long, pale legs.
Sharon, on the other hand, didn't mind at all. Her attire was even more revealing, accentuating her curves in a way that left little to the imagination. But Sharon wasn't bothered in the slightest.
They noticed a note left by Isaac, then made their way back to Kain's main residence.
This time, they observed more carefully. From the outside, they confirmed the villa's size—modest, unassuming.
But the moment they stepped inside, they were met with an interior that spanned hundreds of meters in width and soared ten meters high. It felt like stepping into an entirely different world.
Following the guide, Sharon and Simmons arrived at Kain's study. Upon entering, they were immediately struck by the sight of tens of thousands of ancient books, Kaido's dragon horn, and the ivory of the Ship King. Both women couldn't help but feel a twinge of awe.
"Why are you wearing those clothes?"
Kain's voice came from behind a bookcase. He stepped out and sat down in a chair, eyeing their outfits with mild surprise.
It didn't take him long to understand. The clothes clearly belonged to Betty. Isaac must have picked them from the unopened wardrobe, but unfortunately, those were the sexy outfits Kain had bought for Betty—definitely not meant for guests. Isaac had overstepped by handing them out.
"Sharon Carter," Kain said, his tone shifting to serious, "why have you come to see me?"
"To take refuge with you," Sharon replied instantly, without a moment's hesitation. "I don't want to be captured by Hydra. I've lost contact with S.H.I.E.L.D., and I don't want to end up in prison. You're the only one who can help me now—and I'm willing to pay for it."
Kain chuckled. "Of course. I'm a businessman, after all. And there's nothing I love more than making deals. If the price is right, I could even help you become President of the United States. But tell me, what do you have to offer right now?"
Sharon's expression turned firm. "Whatever you ask for, I'll provide. I believe you allowed us inside because you see we still have value left."
"You're not wrong," Kain replied, pleased. "Right now, nearly all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strongholds in the U.S. have been dismantled. Nick Fury has gone underground—he's only alive because there are still a few key Hydra agents who need his... attention. Otherwise, he'd already be joining his old pal, Steve Rogers."
At the mention of Captain America, Sharon's eyes flickered with emotion. He was someone she had admired deeply. But after everything that happened, she no longer felt worthy of being close to him.
Just then, a map of the United States appeared in front of them. It was marked in red, green, and blue. The red dots represented S.H.I.E.L.D., green for Hydra, and blue for the Super Personnel Bureau.
To Sharon's surprise, the Super Personnel Bureau's influence seemed just as extensive as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s had once been.
She instantly recognized many of the marked locations from her past missions. What truly shocked her, however, was the fact that this wasn't a digital projection—it was a physical map, hand-drawn by Kain.
"You've likely heard rumors about the Super Personnel Bureau," Kain said. "It's in a state of rebuilding—and it desperately needs a suitable deputy director. If I send you out... how long would it take you to eliminate all the red and green marks?"
Sharon took a deep breath, already suspecting this was where the conversation was headed. "Six months," she replied confidently. "I can guarantee that, within that time, only one color will remain on the map."
Kain smiled, clearly satisfied. "Then take this," he said, producing a strange accessory. "You'll become the Deputy Director of the Super Personnel Bureau starting today. But this is your only chance. If you betray me, you won't go to prison—you'll go straight to hell."
As he finished speaking, Sharon saw the strange accessory in his hand. Without hesitation, she took it and placed it around her neck.
To her surprise, the moment it touched her skin, it vanished. A second later, a glowing mark appeared on her chest in the same pattern as the accessory—almost as if it had fused into her body.
"I understand," she said calmly. "I'll prove my worth."
After Sharon Carter finished speaking, she walked forward slowly. Under Kain's surprised gaze, she took the initiative to pull down his pants. Although she had experienced this once before, Sharon was still a little shocked at the sight again.
"Simmons," she called in a low voice.
Despite her jerky movements, the reluctance in Sharon's eyes only seemed to pique Kain's interest. Everything else about her actions felt mechanical, like a poorly rehearsed performance.
Kain turned to Simmons, who was standing frozen with wide eyes, and said calmly, "Jemma Simmons, if you have nothing else to do, you should leave. Stay on the coast road—no one will chase you there."
But once she left the coast road, things would change. Someone would come after her. Sharon had already made that much clear.
Simmons stood there, torn in anguish. She had been helpless while imprisoned, but now—if she stayed out of jail—she might still be able to help Fitz from the outside. And if no one found out... especially Fitz...
Taking a deep breath, Simmons stepped forward slowly, imitating Sharon. It was awkward and uncertain, as if the two were competing over something they didn't really want, but felt they had to fight for anyway.
Meanwhile...
"What is this? A book?"
Lucy frowned with disappointment as she unearthed an old tome hidden deep underground. Judging by how well it had been buried, she had expected something much more valuable.
"Wait—hold on," said Joe, his tone rising with excitement as he got a good look at it. "I think I've seen this book before. Someone's offering a reward for it. Let me check how much…"
He quickly opened his laptop and pulled up a listing on a website. "Five hundred million dollars!? God—if we turn this in, we could change our lives!"
Lucy leaned over his shoulder. "Five hundred million? For a dusty old book? That can't be right. And look—there are two books here. Are you sure they're the same?"
Joe pointed to the symbol on the cover. "The marking matches. It's got to be the one. Why don't we just ask them? If it's what they're looking for, we can get the money."
Eli, standing nearby, spoke up. "I've seen this book too. It's… strange. When I opened it, I couldn't understand the writing or the symbols, but something about it kept drawing me in. I couldn't stop flipping through it."
He hesitated, then added firmly, "This book's dangerous. It's definitely what those people are after. We should just sell it and be done with it."
Despite Eli's warning, Lucy looked down at the book with a hint of regret. "Just hand it over like that? If someone's offering five hundred million, it probably means the book's worth even more. Shouldn't we at least study it first?"
…
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