Chapter 10: Natasha Specifically Requests Lynn
Seeing George Stacy place himself firmly in front of him…
A current of warmth rose in Lynn's heart.
'This guy might be a cranky asshole every morning when he picks me up…'
'But when it comes to protecting his own, George Stacy is number one in the Manhattan precinct.'
Hearing the hard-line stance from both Jennifer and George…
The SHIELD agent looked slightly helpless.
It was true. Even though SHIELD headquarters was in the US, its jurisdiction in various cities was not only lower than the FBI's, but it often couldn't even compete with state or county police.
It couldn't be helped. SHIELD and the FBI had even clashed over cases in the past.
In the end, the World Security Council had to step in to mediate.
"Mr. Stacy, I think you've misunderstood."
The agent looked at George and explained, "We aren't taking Mr. Hall for interrogation. We want to ask him to cooperate with us on the investigation into Ronak and Professor Robertson."
"Our superior looked into Mr. Lynn Hall's file and found he has incredibly keen observation skills when it comes to cases."
"And this case involves a supernatural event. Mr. Hall is one of the primary detectives, so our superior wanted to invite him to investigate with us."
Just then, the Manhattan precinct's commissioner walked in. "Lynn, you go with these SHIELD agents. Cooperate with their investigation."
"Don't worry, you've got the Manhattan precinct backing you, so you can be confident."
"Also, once this is wrapped up, your bonus from us won't be small. As for SHIELD… if they don't give you a bonus, I'll file a complaint myself!"
Hearing his commissioner, the SHIELD agent gave a strained smile.
'Is he really asking for a bonus?'
'He's clearly sending a message, telling SHIELD that the Manhattan precinct isn't afraid of them.'
'Sigh. Why did Agent Natasha have to specifically request this Detective Lynn Hall to join the investigation?'
'Oh well. Can't be helped when you're just a-run-of-the-mill agent.'
'Whatever Agent Natasha Romanoff says, you just have to obey.'
"Alright, fine."
Since the commissioner himself had spoken, Lynn held out his arms and let Jennifer thoughtfully help him into his trench coat. "I am just a little bit curious, so I guess I'll check it out."
***
Leaving the precinct, Lynn got into the black SHIELD Chevrolet.
He suddenly thought of Nick Fury's kitted-out ride. "Hey, man. Are all your SHIELD cars modified?"
"Like, weapon systems, bullet-and-bomb-proof, maybe even magnetic levitation for vertical takeoff?"
"Hm?"
The agent driving heard Lynn's wild theory and just laughed, shaking his head. "How is that possible? This is just a normal car. It is bulletproof, though."
"Guess your clearance level isn't high enough."
Lynn knew for a fact that Coulson's precious antique car, Lola, could fly.
The car drove all the way to the suburbs, where a modest villa was already cordoned off by SHIELD personnel.
Leaning against a car, Natasha, in a leather jacket, was talking with Steve Rogers, who was holding his shield.
When she saw Lynn get out of the car, Natasha smiled. "The man I asked for is here."
Steve Rogers didn't understand why Natasha had insisted on bringing a regular detective into this investigation.
But he had a vague impression of Lynn.
He remembered seeing this young man, Lynn, leading the case with the suitcase and the body when he was running by the Hudson River.
"Hey, Detective Lynn."
Natasha walked up to Lynn and held out her hand with a smile. "I'm Natasha Romanoff. SHIELD agent. I'm the one who requested you."
"Hello, Agent Romanoff. Or maybe I should call you 'bartender'?"
"Oh? You remember me?"
"Of course."
Lynn looked at Natasha, a playful glint in his eye. "When I see a beautiful woman once, I never forget her — I have a photographic memory for beautiful women I've met."
"Especially that night. You were wearing a red dress. You really stood out."
Lynn's compliments made Natasha chuckle.
Nearby, Steve Rogers walked over, shield in hand.
Hearing their conversation, Steve looked at Natasha, surprised. "Bartender?"
"It's nothing. Just one of my hobbies. Before the Battle of New York, I was a bartender at a Manhattan bar to de-stress. I met Detective Lynn there."
"Unfortunately, after the Battle of New York, I have to wear an electronic mask."
Just as they were talking, a violent crash suddenly came from the Chevrolet across from them.
Hearing the sound, Natasha instinctively snapped into a combat stance, and Steve Rogers raised his shield, ready for a fight.
Natasha glanced at Lynn and saw him instinctively draw his gun.
Only then did she relax her stance. "That must be Ronak. He's locked in the Chevy."
Seeing the car was now visibly dented, Steve said, "That is definitely not normal human strength."
"Uh… did you guys bring brains?"
Holstering his gun, Lynn asked, "I remember when George sent the report, he specifically noted that you should prepare some pork or lamb brains for Mr. Ronak, to prevent him from... rampaging."
"Of course we did. Although, I find this a little…"
Steve seemed unsure how to describe it, pausing for a few seconds before having someone bring out the prepared pork brains.
The second the basin of brains hit the ground, the door of the bullet-and-bomb-proof Chevrolet was blown clean off its hinges.
"Hungry… brains… hungry…"
Ronak, his eyes red, charged out of the car. The protrusion on his forehead seemed to be squirming.
Steve was just about to charge in and stop him, but Natasha held him back.
Sure enough, the moment Ronak saw the brains on the ground, he pounced like a wild dog, burying his face in the basin and tearing at them.
The sight made the other SHIELD agents nearby grimace in disgust.
Lynn, however, quietly activated his death-vision, his eyes turning a faint gold.
'Just as I thought.'
He could see them. The octopus and eel-like spirits were swarming around Ronak.
Only after Ronak had devoured every last piece of brain, and his sanity slowly returned...
Did the translucent eels vanish.
"Oh God... what am I doing?"
The moment his mind cleared, Ronak fell to his knees and began to dry-heave.
But strangely, not a single bit of the brains he had just eaten came back up.
This was clearly another abnormality, defying all biological laws.
Seeing this, Natasha gave Steve a look, and then walked over.
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