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Chapter 33: Coulson Pays a Visit
🕑 Added 2023-08-28 05:26:07 +0000 UTCCharles's Office-
At this moment, after giving some instructions to Umino Iruka, Charles Doyle was getting ready to leave.
Suddenly, the bell on the door rang, and a middle-aged man in a suit with a faint smile on his face entered the office.
Both Charles and Iruka shifted their gazes towards the newcomer.
Seeing the man's face clearly, Charles's pupils slightly contracted, and he thought to himself, "Why would an agent from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division come looking for me?"
He remembered the massacre outside the Continental Hotel, which Winston had sealed off and cut off nearby surveillance footage on the same day.
Moreover, given his demonstrated capabilities, it shouldn't warrant someone to come in person, especially not this man known as the "nice guy," Phil Coulson, from SHIELD.
Coulson walked all the way to the front desk of the office.
After glancing at Charles and then at Iruka, he finally approached Charles Doyle. He spoke slowly, "Mr. Charles Doyle, there are some matters that need to be discussed with you."
"I am Phil Coulson, an agent of the FBI. Here's my identification."
As he spoke, Coulson took out an FBI identification card from his pocket and showed it to Charles.
Seeing the FBI identification card, Charles couldn't help but feel speechless. It seemed that no matter what department they were from, they always used the FBI to conceal their identities.
Charles remained composed, his expression calm. He said, "Mr. Agent from the FBI, may I ask what business you have with me?"
Coulson looked at the lobby and smiled. "Mr. Charles Doyle, I don't think it would be appropriate to discuss matters here."
Charles shrugged, indicating that he had no objection, and then said, "We have a meeting room. Let's go there."
"Iruka, bring me a glass of Black Jack," Charles said as he looked towards Coulson. "And you, Agent, would you like something?"
"Coffee, please. Thank you."
Following Charles, Coulson entered the conference room and sat down. Iruka promptly brought the beverages and closed the room's door behind him as he left.
Taking a sip of the whisky in his glass, Charles looked at Coulson and said, "Go ahead and tell me what you need. Normally, your department wouldn't have any business with me."
Coulson stirred the coffee in his cup with a small spoon and then spoke slowly, "Mr. Charles Doyle, I'd like to meet a child here named Rock Lee. May I?"
Upon hearing Coulson mention Rock Lee's name, Charles knew that SHIELD wasn't here for him but rather for Lee.
However, he didn't know the reason why Lee had drawn the attention of SHIELD.
Looking at Coulson, Charles spoke calmly, "Mr. Coulson, Rock Lee is just a child. I'm not sure what could make an agent pay a visit for him."
"I am Rock Lee's guardian. You can communicate with me. I believe federal law wouldn't allow a conversation to happen between a child and an agent without involving their guardian."
Hearing Charles allude to federal law, Coulson knew that the man before him wasn't just a simple hitman.
"Mr. Charles, I'm sure I don't need to say who you are and what your background is."
"Rock Lee's identity has issues, and based on your circumstances, you can't become his guardian."
"Rock Lee is just a child. He shouldn't be involved in such a life. He needs a peaceful and healthy environment."
Listening to Coulson's words, Charles didn't immediately respond. He picked up the glass of Black Jack from the table, took a sip, and then stared at him.
Seeing Charles remain silent, Coulson continued, "Mr. Charles, we've done some research on your background before coming here. You were adopted by someone yourself, and that's how you ended up on your current path."
"If, and I emphasize if, you hadn't met that couple back then, your life might not be what it is today."
"Now, Rock Lee is like you back then. I hope you can entrust him to us, to the government, to give him a healthy and happy environment to grow up in."
Listening to Coulson's words, Charles couldn't help but find it amusing.
SHIELD has certainly done their homework thoroughly, even finding information about his adoption. They seemed to want him to empathize and hand Rock Lee over to them for a better life.
Charles looked at Coulson with a serious expression and said, "Why have you targeted Rock Lee? Is FBI supposed to deal with children's matters?"
"Do you want Rock Lee to become an agent? An operative? Or something like you?"
After Charles fired off three questions, Coulson lifted his coffee and took a sip. Then he continued, "Mr. Charles, we're just here to discuss matters with you for now."
"But you should understand that if the FBI wants to, your guardian status can be revoked at any time. This includes your agency here and even yourself. We have the authority and capability to shut down your agency and detain you."
"However, we're here to communicate at the moment, so please understand that I've come with good intentions. So, Mr. Charles Doyle, can you allow me to meet this child named Rock Lee now?"
Although Coulson was a "nice guy," it depended on whom he was dealing with. Given Charles's profession as an assassin, the fact that they didn't immediately arrest him was already a sign of his leniency.
Hearing Coulson's words, Charles internally found it ironic. SHIELD was still up to their usual antics.
Charles's expression changed, and he slammed the table, his anger flaring. "Coulson, are you threatening me?"
"Threatening a law-abiding citizen who pays their taxes on time. Whether you believe it or not, based on what you just said, I can sue you with the help of a lawyer."
The smile on Coulson's face vanished as he looked deeply at Charles and said slowly, "Charles Doyle, you should know that I'm not joking!"
Looking at the man before him, Charles's anger still evident on his face, he said, "What can you achieve by meeting him?"
"Rock Lee won't leave with you."
Coulson lightly tapped his coffee cup with a spoon and slowly said, "Mr. Charles, that's a separate matter. Right now, I want to meet this child named Rock Lee. Is there a problem with that?"
"Do I need to show you a subpoena and a search warrant?"
Looking at Coulson before him, Charles couldn't help but realize that the image of the kind-hearted man from the movies didn't align with the reality. Movies were movies, and reality was reality.
The question is, do you really have the capability to take Rock Lee away?
As long as he wanted, he could recall Rock Lee to the system space from anywhere. He just needed to remove Rock Lee's character card from the battle slot.
He was curious to see what Coulson, this seasoned agent, could get from Rock Lee. After all, he held the initiative all along.
