Chapter Fifty-Nine: Hello, May and Coulson

“By the way, how is the progress on the long-range gamma ray detection system?” After a brief silence, Coulson suddenly turned to Agent May with the question.

Ever since she had arrived in Moscow two days prior, May, together with the brilliant scientist Fitz, had been chiefly responsible for the development of this system. The most conspicuous anomaly on Ingram Street back then had been the abnormally high gamma ray readings.

This was why Coulson intended to start from this clue, constructing a practical and effective gamma ray detection system. If a sudden spike in gamma rays were detected somewhere, it could very well point toward the lair of the so-called Crimson Baron.

Thus, this system’s construction was far more critical than any other fundamental setups. Coulson had given Agent May and Fitz the utmost support in terms of technology, personnel, and resources.

For this operation in Moscow, the completion of this system would determine the mission’s ultimate success or failure.

May, upon hearing Coulson’s inquiry, responded without hesitation, summarizing succinctly, “Fitz has already written and refined the theoretical framework for long-range gamma ray detection. All that remains is to proceed step by step with the actual fabrication. However…”

She paused, then continued, “However, we’re still short on various materials and personnel. To achieve full coverage of Moscow, we’ll need at least another ten days.”

She fell silent, looking at Coulson.

She knew this timeline was something Coulson absolutely could not accept.

Surprisingly, Coulson showed no sign of dissatisfaction. He merely let out a quiet sigh, rubbed his brow, and said, with a trace of weariness, “Ten days it is… We simply don’t have enough people…”

“Yeah,” May echoed his sigh.

The truth was, this incident was so nebulous and elusive that every operational decision hinged upon May’s words alone. And, being in a foreign country, S.H.I.E.L.D. was unable to offer much direct assistance.

After all, there were simply too many places around the globe that required S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention, and their manpower was stretched thin. The technical staff and agents currently building the base and various systems were here only because Nick Fury trusted Coulson and May enough to approve the request.

If it had been any other agent, they would have been left to investigate alone—there would have been no question of constructing a temporary base.

Let’s just hope we make it in time… May thought to herself.

At that moment, the memory returned to her.

That slightly comical-looking fat man, hovering in the air with a blood-red radiance swirling around him, had worn an expression not unlike that of an arrogant deity.

His powers were just as godlike—one casual wave of his hand, and she, Agent May, had been tossed about like a toddler.

Never in all her years as an agent had she felt so utterly powerless.

She hadn’t even had a chance to fight back.

Even though nearly five days had passed, and all her wounds had been completely healed by that handsome and gentle superhuman from Ingram Street, the thought of facing such a monster again made her abdomen throb with phantom pain.

“It’s all right. This time, we’ve prepared a little surprise for him,” Coulson said, as if reading her mind, offering his habitual reassuring smile.

“Mm.” May nodded slightly.

Thinking of the finest and most advanced weaponry that had arrived with her two days before, the gloom in her heart lifted, replaced with a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly!

Fitz came rushing over, clutching a black laptop, his face urgent. He shot a glance at both Coulson and May, and said anxiously, “I think you two need to see this!”

Without another word, he spun the laptop around, showing them the screen.

Seeing Fitz’s agitation, both Coulson and May immediately straightened, their eyes locking onto the display with utmost seriousness.

On the screen were lines of incomprehensible graphs and a host of intimidating numbers.

The two veteran agents froze.

They couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

After a long moment, May cleared her throat and said blandly, “Fitz, explain.”

“Oh.” Fitz shot them a peculiar look.

If you couldn’t understand it, why didn’t you say so… He began his explanation:

“While I was calibrating the gamma ray detection system just now, I suddenly picked up a high-signal response…”

“What! 084 is on the move?” May broke in, her expression suddenly intense.

084 was S.H.I.E.L.D.’s universal code for unknown dangerous objects or individuals.

Coulson’s eyes widened as well, fixing on Fitz.

If he gave the slightest confirmation, Coulson would immediately mobilize every available combat agent to intercept the threat.

Fortunately, Fitz shook his head. “I double-checked, and it’s not a gamma ray signal.”

Coulson breathed a sigh of relief.

For the Crimson Baron to appear now, when even the basic facilities of the temporary base were unfinished, was the last thing he wanted.

“Then what is it?” Coulson asked.

“It’s a high-voltage electrical signal. I’m not sure why the gamma ray system picked it up, but it’s definitely an ultra-high-voltage electrical discharge—gone in a flash, like a lightning strike.”

“But there haven’t been any thunderstorms in Moscow lately, not even a single thundercloud. It doesn’t make sense. That’s why I came to you the moment I detected it.”

A lightning strike… ultra-high-voltage electrical signal…

Hearing this, May subconsciously touched her abdomen, and Coulson’s brows drew together once more.

The two of them instantly thought of the Crimson Baron.

“Let’s go! Take us there, now!”

Coulson urgently called for his team, grabbed weapons, and, fully armed and guided by Fitz, they headed out to the location of the mysterious high-voltage signal.

———

It was a derelict factory, standing alone on an empty plain where few people ever ventured. The factory walls, a dull earth-grey, were crumbling in places, bearing the marks of time.

As Coulson arrived, the agents behind him fanned out like locusts, swiftly encircling the entire factory and beginning a methodical search.

It wasn’t long before they discovered something amiss.

Staring at the scorched blackened wall, and the wide, jagged hole at its center—ragged as if torn by a giant hand—Coulson couldn’t help but recall the sight of May, gravely wounded, lying on the ground. The wound in her abdomen...

It looked exactly the same.

“Coulson, look!”

At May’s cry, Coulson hurried to her side, following her pointing finger—

!!!

His pupils shrank to pinpricks, and he froze on the spot.

There, scrawled in crooked letters, were the words:

“Hello, May and Coulson—Crimson Baron.”