In their subsequent conversations, Coulson finally managed to uncover part of the truth from Leon after persistent questioning.
"This stuff requires a lot of talent."
If you're not meant to learn it, you simply won't.
"After all, not everyone is a genius like me."
(Referring to cheating.)
"Mastering both magic and combat is impossible for most people!"
(Referring to cheating.)
"I learned transfiguration in just five seconds!"
(Referring to cheating.)
"And I learned flight just as quickly."
Definitely cheating.
Coulson didn't refute Leon, mainly because he had no idea whether Leon was telling the truth or not.
If he were telling the truth, this seemingly deranged Dr. List had a way of acting and speaking that gave off a distinct vibe of being untrustworthy from the start!
What's personal charm, you ask?
Well, this is it.
But if it was a lie…
Leon undeniably possessed those abilities, and no one knew how he'd learned them. Perhaps he really did pick them up just like he said.
On top of that, Leon hadn't prohibited S.H.I.E.L.D. from researching those things themselves, acting with an open, confident demeanor.
Coulson believed he'd made his hints clear, yet Leon still insisted.
Do whatever you want, but those who can't learn it still won't.
That was the truest meaning in Leon's words.
After finalizing their collaboration details and aligning their perspectives, they exchanged contact information as a formality.
Well, mostly because Leon didn't have a phone or a phone number. So, he simply took one from S.H.I.E.L.D.
By this point, Leon had also realized that S.H.I.E.L.D. likely knew his true identity, but both sides tactfully avoided the topic.
From Leon's standpoint, it was naturally upsetting. But from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s perspective, it was a necessary move.
Since they were now partners, both sides would pretend they were unaware of what they both knew.
…
The next day.
Still at night—after all, walking around in broad daylight wearing this outfit and a mask was bound to attract attention.
Leon pushed open the door and walked into Hannibal's place...
"Next time I see Coulson, I'm definitely making him change this store's name!"
Scratching his slightly itchy neck, Leon greeted the technician at the door.
"Your traps look pretty solid!"
Leaving the confused technician behind, Leon stepped into the "classroom."
…
This was a space S.H.I.E.L.D. had specially prepared for Leon, modified to his requirements for teaching skills. The room was large enough, spacious enough, and tall enough.
There wasn't much special about the room. Just some tables, chairs, workout equipment, and a single blackboard.
That was Leon's quirky touch.
There wasn't a rear door with glass, though, which was a disappointment! Leon had hoped to recreate the classic scene of a headteacher peeking through the back window, but the lack of the right setup meant his plan failed.
He pulled out the teaching materials he had prepared (bought at a bookstore), his pointer (a small tree branch from his downstairs neighbor), and slipped on a pair of round sunglasses reminiscent of the famous blind musician Ah Bing.
Thus, looking like someone in the late stages of insanity, Leon walked into the classroom.
The first thing he saw, unsurprisingly, was the surveillance cameras. Other than that, nothing differed from his requests.
As for the students, there weren't as many as Leon had expected—less than ten, in fact.
However, Leon recognized several familiar faces among them.
The students were all sitting neatly at their desks. Seeing strong men like Hawkeye and Crossbones sitting gloomily on the chairs, Leon nearly burst out laughing.
Indeed, I should've insisted more on that uniform policy back then!
Besides these two field agents, there were a few other familiar faces.
Agent Bobbi Morse.
Wonder if she's grown any…
Ahem! Ahem!!
And this—this is Sharon Carter!
She's Agent Carter's niece, or something like that. Though she's an office worker, her physical condition is pretty much on par with field agents. She even used to monitor Captain America, and it seems she nearly monitored him all the way to the bed…
Thinking of Captain America and Peggy Carter's story…
Wow... what a winner in life, Cap!
On top of that, Leon noticed one particularly interesting person.
The Hydra agent, Sitwell.
Although Crossbones was also a Hydra member, Leon wasn't interested in him.
He's just a brute. Leon never worried about those types of opponents.
Could he possibly be more reckless than me?
But this bespectacled bald guy, Sitwell, appeared in *Captain America*, *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.*, and *The Avengers* series, always posing as some elite professional, but actually, he's an undercover agent.
Though timid and unlucky, Sitwell somehow stayed loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D.! Yet, this super loyal guy was secretly a Hydra agent all along!
Oscar-worthy acting!
…
While Leon observed the people in the room, they were also observing him.
Due to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strict hierarchy, information on Leon, classified at level nine by Fury, was mostly unknown to those present. They'd only received a sudden notice, then gone through a series of tests before being told they'd be learning from a mysterious figure.
Before arriving, Coulson, the leader of this operation (codenamed "Apprentice"), shared some details about this "Dr. List."
In summary: basically nothing.
All they knew was that he was a strange man.
How strange? Coulson was very vague.
Upon entering the room, everyone felt a sense of unease...
Are we... back in school?
They hadn't waited long before hearing the unmistakably "sneaky" footsteps from outside the door.
This guy's stealth skills don't seem very good.
Is he trying to secretly observe us?
Then Leon walked in, carrying a book and a stick.
…
After a brief exchange of glances, Leon looked at the eight people in the room and had already determined who had the talent and who definitely wouldn't learn anything.
For this, he could be sure!
Clearing his throat, Leon stood in front of the podium and said in a loud voice, "Hello, students. I'm your new teacher, transferred from the passionate school of life, and I'll be responsible for your physical health lessons!"
"Thanks to my excellent teaching abilities, in the first round of the Hua Taishi Estate Couplet Competition, my students, Hua Wen and Hua Wu, won the first and second-place participation awards and all other prizes. That's why your boss has hired me at a high salary to be your new teacher."
"You can call me ***!"
Lifting the edge of his mask, Leon took a sip of wine and knocked on the podium with his stick, "Class is in session!"
…
"Why is no one saying 'Hello, teacher!'?"
Yup, transfer students are always troublemakers...
Up on the podium, Leon boldly activated his title ability!
**[Fear Origin]: +20 Intimidation against intelligent lifeforms.**
Crossbones, who had been looking bored, suddenly felt like he wasn't facing a human but an indescribable beast!
Years of experience and instinct told him that this person seemed like a predator, ready to swallow him whole!
Crash!
Sitwell, in the back row, fell off his chair.
Leon withdrew the skill.
Looking flustered, Sitwell hurriedly straightened his chair and sat up properly, like a true elementary school student.
Everyone else put away their scornful attitudes, though Agent Bobbi Morse silently felt wronged, thinking she'd been caught in the crossfire.
Leon knocked on the podium twice more and said, "Class is in session!"
"Good afternoon, teacher!"
Now this felt more like it!
Pretending not to notice Hawkeye and Crossbones' flushed faces, Leon picked up a book and read aloud, "Ah Bing's high school grades were less than ideal... wait, wrong book!"
Glancing at the other two books, Leon finally understood why the bookstore owner had given him that strange look.
I've been wronged!
Feeling wronged, Leon put the books away, planning to review them later with a critical eye.
"My knowledge has gotten all mixed up!"
---
*Author's note:* I actually got my first tip! This is the first time! It means this chapter was really good! Hahaha! Thanks to the magician of dreams!
(End of Chapter)