Three days of vacation passed in a flash.
When Kai arrived at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base where Coulson's team operated, everyone was already there.
"Good morning, Kai!"
"Morning, Melinda."
"Morning."
After exchanging greetings, Kai went straight to his office. He opened his drawer, took out some tea leaves, and brewed himself a cup before sitting down with the day's newspaper.
Knowing Kai's preferences, Coulson had arranged for the latest papers to be delivered to him daily—especially gossip and entertainment columns.
Not only that, whenever a new PSP game or console hit the market, Coulson made sure it reached Kai's desk.
These little luxuries were all reimbursable, and since it wasn't his money, Coulson never saw a reason to hold back. The rest of the team didn't mind either.
After New Jersey, everyone understood just how crucial Kai's role was—his presence kept them alive.
Even Melinda, stoic as she was, would occasionally bring snacks for him.
Sitting back with his tea, reading the sports section, Kai looked perfectly at ease in his "relaxed" job.
Borsalino Role Performance +0.1%
Hearing the system prompt, he set down the paper with a satisfied grin, then picked up a tabloid with the bold headline:
"Iron Man Tony Stark's Private Life Exposed! Actress Claims It Only Lasts Three Minutes!"
Kai chuckled and flipped it open, reading with far too much interest.
About ten minutes later, Coulson walked in carrying a folder.
"Kai, how was your three-day vacation?"
Coulson sat across from him, pouring himself a cup of tea without waiting for an invitation. He had grown used to joining Kai for a cup during work hours.
"Not bad," Kai said, shrugging. "Apart from dealing with that Hydra neighbor trying to treat me to lunch, it was pretty peaceful."
Coulson chuckled, taking a sip. "Glad to hear it. But while you were away, we got some reports."
He slid the folder across the desk. "There have been several homicides in Austin, Texas. We may need to head there for investigation."
Kai groaned. "Man, I just got back to work and already another business trip? And homicide cases? Isn't that the state police's job? Why are we getting dragged into this?"
"If this were an ordinary homicide, of course not," Coulson said with a patient smile. "But this time, it was a S.H.I.E.L.D. field agent who sent the request."
Kai frowned, opening the folder.
Coulson went on, "Even the local S.H.I.E.L.D. agents couldn't handle it—they specifically asked for help from us."
Kai flipped through the files. The photos of the mutilated corpses and the attached autopsy reports were grisly.
"These wounds…" Kai murmured. "Looks like they were bitten by a wild animal."
"Exactly," Coulson replied. "According to the reports, all the victims were mauled by something resembling a 'beast.' But their backgrounds vary—some were teachers, others homeless, even a few wealthy businessmen."
"The police found traces on surveillance footage, so they formed a joint task force—state and county police, heavily armed, even brought in attack helicopters."
Coulson inserted a USB drive into the computer and played a video.
"This is bodycam footage from that task force," he explained.
The footage showed an armed helicopter hovering above a suburban warehouse. Twelve tactical officers advanced, tossing tear gas inside before preparing to breach.
Then—something burst through the doors with a deafening roar.
It was a humanoid monster.
Over two meters tall, its body was covered in coarse hair and bulging muscle. Its claws were sharp as knives, spikes jutted from the backs of its hands, and its mouth was filled with fangs.
It looked like something between a man and a nightmare.
When the team opened fire, the bullets barely made it flinch.
Instead, the creature went berserk—ripping one soldier apart with its claws before charging the rest. The feed filled with screams, frantic shouts for backup, and gunfire.
The final seconds of footage showed the monster leaping dozens of meters into the air, grabbing the attack helicopter—and yanking it down. The screen went white in the explosion.
As the video ended, Coulson set down his cup.
"When I first saw that," he said, "I thought of the Hulk… or Abomination."
Kai nodded slowly. "Not as strong, maybe. But still a serious threat."
"Exactly. After the entire task force was wiped out, the local S.H.I.E.L.D. agents tried to track it—but all they found were two more victims."
Coulson handed him another report.
"Krok Moses," he said. "One of Austin's wealthiest men. He survived an attack thanks to his bodyguards, though he was badly injured."
"Before losing consciousness, he told agents something interesting."
Kai looked up. "What's that?"
Coulson leaned back, voice low.
"He said the monster spoke. Not much—but enough for him to hear it stammer something about how rejecting a certain organization's offer was 'the biggest mistake of his life.'"
Kai frowned, tapping the report thoughtfully.
A monster that kills like a beast… but thinks and talks like a man.
Something told him this was going to be a long trip.