Silence stretched for a long time on the other end of the line.
Just as William thought Coulson was going to back out of this damnable deal, his placid voice came through the phone.
"Your request is, in principle, approved. However, transporting the 'asset' requires the highest level of security protocol, and we need time to prepare. Also, your island currently does not meet the containment conditions."
"Then make it meet them."
William's reply was simple and blunt.
"Aren't you S.H.I.E.L.D. agents supposed to be omnipotent? Get it done for me. Water, electricity, internet, security systems—I want the full top-tier package."
"We will send an engineering team to the island for evaluation. Pleasure working with you, Rodriguez Consultant."
The call ended.
William collapsed onto the sofa, feeling as if he had just signed a devil's contract. He traded Abomination for an island, which sounded like a good deal, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, like trading a bottle of cola for an active volcano… A week later, North Brother Island seemed to be on triple-speed fast-forward.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s engineering team worked with an efficiency that would bring tears of joy to capitalists.
Giant transport helicopters, like diligent iron dragonflies, flew back and forth day and night, air-dropping crates of equipment gleaming with futuristic technology and specialized building materials onto the island.
The decaying skin of the abandoned pharmaceutical factory was peeled away, revealing a re-shaping steel skeleton, and a bustling super construction site rose from the ground.
Although it looked terrifying here.
But under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s carpet-like search and demolition, no accidents occurred.
William Rodriguez, as the "Party A Representative and Chief Supervisor" of this construction site.
He was currently sprawled out on a beach chair, wearing a brand-new white hard hat that looked out of place in the surroundings.
He even had his legs crossed and was sipping a cup of freshly ground coffee, reportedly air-shipped from Colombia.
"Hey! You there! Yes, don't look away, you, the brawny guy in the gray vest!"
William shouted at a construction worker operating a high-energy laser welding torch:
"Is the weld on that super-alloy steel plate a bit crooked? Don't you know this will seriously affect the entire building's anti-strike feng shui? What if my client isn't comfortable living here? Will he complain about you or me?"
The engineer, whose arm was thicker than William's thigh, stopped working, turned his head, and looked at him with an expression that said, "If you bark again, I'll shove this welding torch in your mouth."
William was unmoved.
He even pushed his non-existent glasses up his nose with a serious air:
"Don't look at me like that, I'm Party A. Customer experience comes first, understand? My first client is about to move in, and I must ensure he lives comfortably and has fun."
The construction worker's mouth twitched violently, and he ultimately chose to vent all his anger on that steel plate; the laser's power seemed to have been cranked up a few notches.
There was no reasoning with this Party A, who clearly got the job through connections.
Not far away.
Tandy leaned against a pile of building materials, arms crossed, with an expression of "I can't even look."
"Can't you be more serious? They all look like they want to throw you into a cement mixer."
"How is this not serious?"
William took a sip of coffee, righteous.
"This is scientific pressure-based management. See, with my wise supervision, hasn't their work enthusiasm instantly soared?"
Tandy rolled her eyes.
Beside her, Tyrone sat quietly.
He had found a relatively clean corner and was engrossed in an old comic book, oblivious to the surrounding noise.
These past few days, the two of them were like William's two little sidekicks, brought to the island every day to "supervise."
Tandy, who had been prickly at first, now only grumbled verbally.
This foul-mouthed boss would remember to order takeout for them, though he always complained that Manhattan's delivery fee was more expensive than the pizza.
He would buy Tyrone the latest comics.
He even paid to replace the screen of Tandy's phone, which was shattered like a spiderweb, with a new one.
His reason was: "Severe screen cracks seriously affect the morale and corporate image of our company's grassroots employees."
This feeling was very peculiar.
Like a stray cat that had wandered for a long time, suddenly picked up and brought home.
Although it would always bare its teeth at the dried fish offered by its new Master, it would secretly lick it clean.
"Hey, William."
Tandy kicked the leg of his beach chair.
"Please call me Director Rodriguez, thank you."
"…That giant iron cage in the middle of the factory, who is it for?"
Tandy pointed to the massive containment unit, made of some dark alloy, being reinforced by countless robotic arms.
The specifications of that thing seemed more than enough to hold a Godzilla.
William's expression became a little nuanced.
"It's for a… client with a rather bad temper. A high-net-worth individual who requires long-term emotional management and asset restructuring."
"Speak like a normal person."
"A tough guy who could tear this island apart."
Tandy stopped talking.
She felt that William's "risk management" and the definition she found in the dictionary might have a species barrier between them.
Just then, a woman in a black leather jacket, with messy hair but a powerful aura, walked over.
It was Jessica Jones.
She didn't even look at Tandy and Tyrone, walking directly to William and slapping a document next to his coffee cup.
"Your mess."
Her tone was as blunt as ever.
William picked up the document; it was the legal paperwork for his official adoption of Tandy and Tyrone through Stark Industries' channels, covered with various official seals.
"Efficient, Detective Jones."
William smiled:
"Interested in switching to my company? Double salary, full benefits."
"And look at your punchable face every day?"
Jessica scoffed.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself and would repeatedly rub it on the ground."
After she finished speaking, she unceremoniously picked up William's coffee cup and took a big gulp.
Then she bent down and whispered something into William's ear, in a voice only they could hear.
William's expression instantly became extremely strange.
After Jessica left, Tandy jumped in front of William, staring intently at him.
"Who is she?"
Tandy's tone carried a hint of wariness she hadn't even noticed herself.
"Another client with a bad temper."
William rubbed his forehead, feeling that his client base was hurtling in a very dangerous direction.
In the evening, the three of them returned to Manhattan on old boatman Maurice's boat.
For this, William refused S.H.I.E.L.D.'s pickup.
His reason was that the two children wanted to hear the old boatman's horror stories.
Maurice was already numb to the massive changes on the island; only his hand trembled more violently each time he took the wad of cash from William.
Back at the apartment, William had just kicked off his mud-stained leather shoes when he was yanked backward by an immense force, slammed heavily against the door.
Jessica Jones was already waiting in his home, he didn't know when she arrived.
She had clearly just showered, wearing only one of William's white shirts loosely, her wet hair emitting the scent of shampoo, the shirt's hem barely covering her critical areas.
"Your island looks good, plenty of space."
She braced one hand on the doorframe next to William's ear, completing the classic "door slam," looking down at him.
"The rent is also very expensive, so my service fee will also increase."
William was a little breathless from the heat emanating from her.
"Oh? Well, that depends on whether your service is worth the price."
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