Whenever a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent had direct contact with Evenson Richter, a report to Nick Fury had become standard procedure.
Anyone connected to a Level 10 clearance warranted that kind of attention.
The following morning, Melinda May stood in Fury’s office delivering her debrief.
"How did it go?" Fury asked from behind his desk.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Melinda replied. "Although he figured out we had agents watching him. He also managed to rattle half the surveillance team so badly they’re practically jumping at shadows."
Fury wasn’t surprised.
He’d never expected covert surveillance to remain unnoticed if Evenson truly possessed the abilities he suspected.
"Did you discover that yourself," he asked, "or did he tell you?"
"I noticed something was off with the surveillance agents first. He admitted afterward that he was responsible."
"So... he wanted us to know."
Fury leaned back in his chair.
The message couldn’t have been clearer.
It wasn’t an attack.
It was a warning.
I don’t mind cooperating with S.H.I.E.L.D., but don’t mistake cooperation for control.
"What else did he say?"
That was the part Fury cared about most.
Powerful people weren’t the problem.
Unpredictable powerful people were.
If Evenson couldn’t be reasoned with, Fury would have no choice but to treat him as a global security threat. Leaving someone capable of devastating supernatural power completely unchecked was like allowing a man to stroll through Times Square carrying a loaded rocket launcher. Maybe he’d never fire it.
Maybe he would.
"I asked him about the surveillance."
Melinda chose her words carefully.
"He said he understands why S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps an eye on people with supernatural abilities. He can tolerate remote observation, as long as his privacy is respected."
She hesitated.
"He also said..."
"What?"
"He said if anyone breaks into his house again to install surveillance equipment... S.H.I.E.L.D. should make sure the death benefits are paid on time."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Finally, Fury nodded.
"That’s a hard line... but not an unreasonable one."
He understood exactly where Evenson had drawn the boundary.
Remote surveillance was one thing.
Secret cameras inside someone’s bedroom, bathroom, and every private corner of their home were another entirely.
No mentally healthy person would tolerate that.
And according to everything S.H.I.E.L.D. had uncovered, Evenson’s record was remarkably clean.
Yes, he’d killed several gangsters.
But every case had been ruled self-defense, even if the amount of force he’d used remained... open to debate.
On the other hand, he’d also helped S.H.I.E.L.D.
He’d exposed Hydra’s existence long before anyone else.
He’d sent Habs to locate Tony Stark after the billionaire disappeared in Afghanistan.
Those weren’t small favors.
If anything, S.H.I.E.L.D. owed him.
Putting himself in Evenson’s place, Fury had to admit he’d probably react violently too if someone planted cameras throughout his home.
He might not kill anyone...
But he’d definitely break a few bones.
Of course, if Fury knew everything Evenson had done over the course of two lifetimes, he might have revised that opinion considerably.
"Leave things as they are," Fury decided. "Remote surveillance only. Just as he said, mutual respect."
He paused.
"Although... I don’t remember authorizing anyone to install equipment inside his house."
Melinda thought for a moment.
"They probably acted on their own. You emphasized how important the target was when assigning the mission. They may have interpreted that as permission to use every available method."
Fury sighed.
That actually sounded plausible.
He couldn’t tell ordinary agents why Evenson required Level 10 secrecy.
To make sure they took the assignment seriously, he’d simply stressed how dangerous and important the target was.
Apparently they’d interpreted that as, Treat him like the world’s most dangerous criminal.
An unfortunate misunderstanding.
"Replace the surveillance team," Fury ordered. "Anyone who’s become overly nervous gets rotated out. Tell the new agents to relax. Observe him normally."
"Understood, sir."
Although the assignment technically fell under field operations, Melinda had never objected to handling that kind of work. As long as she wasn’t being sent into combat, she accepted almost any mission without complaint.
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"There’s one more thing, sir..."
Before she could continue, a searing heat spread across the back of her hand.
Her expression froze.
The contract.
Evenson’s magic.
She recognized the warning instantly.
The reason she’d agreed so readily the previous night wasn’t simply ignorance of what a warlock’s power truly meant.
She’d intended to report everything to Fury afterward.
It would betray Evenson’s trust and likely destroy any chance of cooperation between them.
That didn’t matter.
She was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
Duty came first.
Except the contract had anticipated that choice.
Reveal the secret...
And the relevant memories would be erased.
Maybe more than the relevant memories.
Evenson had casually mentioned he wasn’t entirely confident in the spell’s precision.
That thought was somehow even more terrifying.
What exactly counts as "a little extra"?
Yesterday? Last month? Half my childhood?
She had absolutely no desire to find out.
"Is something wrong?" Fury asked, noticing her hesitation.
Melinda let out a slow breath.
"No."
She answered with complete honesty.
"I just really want to punch that guy."
Fury blinked.
"He mess with you again?"
"I want to slam him into the ground..."
Her jaw tightened.
"...and then kick him in the face."
Fury almost laughed.
He had no idea what Evenson had said this time, but judging by Melinda’s expression, it must have been spectacularly irritating.
Thinking back to Habs and his increasingly warped sense of humor after spending time around Evenson, Fury found the complaint surprisingly believable.
"Next time you get the chance," he said dryly, "throw in one kick for me."
Melinda nodded immediately.
"Gladly, sir."
At that very moment...
"Achoo!"
Evenson sneezed so hard the sound echoed through the shop.
He glanced at the fading contract mark on the back of his hand and smiled to himself.
"Someone’s talking behind my back."
The magical brand disappeared completely.
"Smart choice, Melinda."
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter