After a long while, Coulson's voice came through again, dryly.
"The client will arrive punctually at 8 AM three days from now."
"Alright, awaiting your good news."
For the next two days, North Brother Island enjoyed a rare period of tranquility, completely its own.
S.H.I.E.L.D., surprisingly, had ceased its activities after the "Kitten Incident."
Coulson didn't call again.
Nor did any technical teams attempt to land on the island.
It was as if they had tacitly acknowledged that the island was no longer under their control.
William knew this was merely the calm before the storm.
Nick Fury, that old fox, was definitely not someone who would swallow a loss silently.
If he wasn't causing trouble now, he was either assessing the damage or brewing an even bigger scheme.
However, this gave William time to breathe and prepare.
He even got Maurice to set him up with a monthly package and thoughtfully bought a new boat.
At this moment, William was sprawled in his office on a newly purchased, ergonomic boss chair.
He was sipping Blue Mountain coffee, freshly brewed by Tandy, while handling his "business."
It was the latest update from his top Angel client.
Little Spider:
Mr. Counselor!
I succeeded!
I swung across the Queensboro Bridge!
It felt like flying!
Even though I ended up plummeting into a deli's pickle barrel due to a miscalculation, it felt absolutely amazing!
However… Uncle Ben seems to be getting suspicious about why I can eat an entire roasted chicken in one sitting… William smiled as he typed on the virtual keyboard.
Anonymous Online Guidance Counselor:
Control your energy consumption, Peter.
Imagine your metabolism as a V12 engine supercar.
Cruising around the city is fun, but the fuel consumption is astonishing.
Continue with high protein intake, eat more steak, and try not to crash into pickle barrels.
Also, I suggest you claim you're undergoing "high-intensity interval training." This can reasonably explain your appetite and occasional muscle strains.
After sending it, he took a satisfied sip of coffee.
Being a superhero's "personal Grandpa" indeed felt good, full of the joy of nurturing.
Putting down his phone, he opened the computer in front of him.
Regarding the new client who was about to "check in."
The Abomination's core risks were uncontrollable rage, extreme physical destructive power, and a continuous craving for gamma radiation.
How should he deal with him?
As he pondered, an encrypted message popped up on his communication terminal; the sender was S.H.I.E.L.D..
The content of the message was extremely brief.
Handover Time: Tomorrow at 10 AM sharp.
...The next day, 10 AM.
The weather above North Brother Island was heavily overcast.
Thick dark clouds pressed down on the sea, turning the entire World into a depressing gray.
A quinjet, several times larger than a "Black Hawk" helicopter, landed.
The rear hatch slowly opened, emitting a heavy hydraulic sound.
The first to descend was not Coulson, but a team of fully armed special forces operatives carrying firearms.
Their movements were uniform and precise.
They quickly took up defensive positions around the landing pad, their dark muzzles pointing in all directions, and subtly locking onto William and his two companions.
Then, Phil Coulson descended.
He wasn't wearing his signature suit today but had changed into a black tactical vest; the characteristic warm smile was gone from his face, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and weariness.
"Rodriguez, it's all yours."
As he spoke, a massive platform was slowly lifted out from the dark depths of the quinjet's cabin by several mechanical arms.
On the platform lay an indescribable "creature."
That was Emil Blonsky.
The monster — Abomination — completely transformed after being injected with the Super Soldier Serum and Bruce Banner's gamma blood.
His entire skin was a sickly, muddy yellowish-brown.
Muscles rippled, and veins, like ugly giant pythons, coiled across his body's surface.
Most horrifyingly, countless hideous, blade-like bone spurs grew from his spine and joints.
This made his body look like a living instrument of torture, filled with primal ferocity.
At this moment, Abomination seemed to be in a state of deep sedation.
His eyes were tightly closed, and his chest showed a faint rise and fall.
Tandy's face instantly turned pale; she involuntarily took half a step back, the light in her palms flickering violently, a sign of extreme tension and fear.
The darkness around Tyrone also grew denser, as if it would swallow him whole.
Only William remained standing, unmoving.
The smile on his face hadn't even changed in the slightest.
It was as if the monster before him, capable of easily tearing a tank to shreds, was truly just a distinguished client in need of "deep sleep assistance."
He met Coulson's gaze and took two steps forward.
Under the tense watch of all the special forces operatives.
From his suit's inner pocket, he pulled out a… ultra-thin, glowing blue digital signature pad.
William's voice was as calm as if he were signing for an ordinary delivery.
"The handover procedures still need to be completed. Please sign here, standard procedure. Asset transfer confirmation and limited liability waiver clause."
Coulson's mouth twitched violently.
He looked at the signature pad William handed over.
Then he looked at the humanoid beast suspended in mid-air.
For a moment, he didn't know what expression to use to face this insurance salesman whose thought processes were different from ordinary people.
Ultimately, he took the signature pad and scribbled his name on it with a tactical pen.
"He's currently injected with a large dose of high-concentration tranquilizer, theoretically capable of maintaining a dormant state for twelve hours."
Coulson said quickly as he signed:
"But his metabolism is extremely fast; no one can guarantee he won't wake up midway. Once he wakes… good luck."
"Don't worry."
William retrieved the signature pad, looked at the signature on it with satisfaction, and then put it back in his pocket.
He adjusted his tie and faced the massive monster bound to the platform by countless thick, energy-glowing alloy restraints.
"Since he's been delivered here, leave him to me."
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