Chapter 868 Do I dare to give it to SHIELD? Doubts about Grant Ward

Ah!

Frank cried out in pain and staggered back a few steps.

General Ika's mask fell off his face and was caught in the hand of a gasping Coulson.

"It's too hard to tear." Coulson smacked his lips, "It's like a piece of taffy that has been stuck to the floor for a long time."

"That's a funny way to describe it," Frank chuckled. "I felt like my face was covered with tape, and then it was all torn off at once."

Aaron took General Ika's mask and placed it on the table very casually, "Take off the mask. If everything is fine, you can leave."

Frank nodded with a complicated expression, then turned and left.

Coulson looked at his back thoughtfully, feeling that something was wrong. "The Punisher seems to be a little too respectful to you."

"If you help him find every enemy who killed his entire family, he will respect you just the same." Aaron said nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Coulson didn't think any more about it. "I know this may be a little difficult, but I have to find out the origins of Abe and this mask and confirm their threat."

"I knew this day would come sooner or later." Aaron picked up the dozing Abe and held him gently in his arms, "This little guy..."

"Wait, little guy?" Coulson interrupted in surprise, "Don't tell me you don't know how big it is?

The only creature larger than it that I have seen in all these years is the Chitauri's Leviathan. No, the Leviathan seems to be only a semi-mechanical life form."

"Don't make a fuss." Aaron said lightly, "Abe is only ten years old, just a young dragon that has not grown up yet."

Gulu!

Coulson swallowed.

He still had a clear idea of ​​what ten years old meant, but judging from the surveillance footage, Abe was at least fifty meters tall.

He didn't know much about mythical creatures, but he was a ten-year-old who had grown so big...

Are you kidding me? Even if you said it was hundreds of years old, I would barely accept it.

"Don't worry, Abe. It has been following me since it was an egg."

"Eggs?" Coulson's face twitched, and his expression was a little bit unbearable. "Excuse me, where did you find the dragon eggs? One? Or... a nest?"

This is a rather serious question. If it was a dragon egg, it would be fine. Abe might just be an isolated case.

But if it is one nest, it means that the mythical "dragon clan" may still be living on the earth, which may have a considerable impact on human society.

"What are you dreaming of? I would like to pick up a nest of dragon eggs, but unfortunately I don't have that kind of luck.

As for Abe..." Aaron pondered for a moment and said nonsense seriously, "It was given to me by my teacher. It is the last holy dragon on earth."

Coulson looked at the dragon in Aaron's arms suspiciously, "Are you sure it's the last one?

I mean, shouldn't it have a mom and a dad? Are they both dead?"

Why are there so many questions? How do you want me to edit them?

Aaron complained silently in his heart, but his expression did not change at all, "I don't know about that, but my teacher will definitely not lie to me."

"I have been raising Abei since he was born. Although he looks cute, his IQ is no less than that of humans.

And it only listens to me, and people with ulterior motives can’t fool it.”

Colson: ...

I feel like I'm being implied. Is it SHIELD that's talking about ulterior motives?

But there is really no need for that. If Abe was a naive young dragon, the director could really shamelessly poach him, but this is a fucking behemoth, and he might be sent away by an accidental sneeze.

"Is there any difference between a holy dragon and other dragons?"

"It can grow or shrink freely. As for the rest... I can't tell you. This is Abei's secret." Aaron said with an unfathomable smile, "But one thing is certain, the holy dragon is more powerful than ordinary dragons."

"Well... this is still guessable." Coulson laughed dryly, "What about this mask?"

“Legend has it that there are ten ghost masks in total, and each mask houses a ghost general.

Once the mask is put on, the physical fitness will be comprehensively improved, and one will also have the ability to summon a corresponding ghost army. However, after putting on the mask, the heart will be slowly eroded by the darkness from the mask, which will eventually completely engulf the wearer's mind, turning them into a complete devil. Summoning a ghost army will accelerate the speed of erosion.

This process can be fast or slow, but it is irreversible. Even a righteous man like Steve Rogers will gradually be swallowed by the darkness.

But luckily, there are special ways to take off the mask once you put it on.”

"Is it the same potion as before?"

"Yes and no." Aaron shrugged noncommittally. "There are ten ghost masks in total, and each one requires a corresponding potion to be removed."

"Is there any way to restrain it?" Coulson murmured, silently lowering the danger assessment of the Ghost Mask by a level and instead raising its cost-effectiveness by a level.

As long as you can take off the mask in time, there is no risk. Putting on the mask can enhance your physical fitness and summon ghost troops...a definite benefit!

“Aaron, this is an Ika mask that can summon those dark warriors.

What are the other nine? Where are they? How do I remove them?"

"Want to find?" Aaron looked at him with a smile.

"These masks are very dangerous. If they fall into the hands of someone with ulterior motives..."

"Forget it!" Aaron gave him a disdainful look, "I'm embarrassed to point it out to you."

Coulson blinked and smiled awkwardly but politely: "I admit that I have some ideas about the ghost mask, but I have no ulterior motives. S.H.I.E.L.D. can..."

At this point, Coulson seemed to have thought of something and his voice stopped abruptly.

"Speak up! Why don't you say anything? What can SHIELD do?" Aaron laughed teasingly, "I dare to give the Ghost Mask to SHIELD, but does SHIELD dare to accept it?"

Coulson remained silent, speechless for a moment.

If it were in the past, he would nod confidently. What was there to be afraid of?

But now... I really don't dare! There are still a lot of Hydras hiding inside S.H.I.E.L.D. If I bring the ghost mask back, it will be a serious act of aiding the enemy.

Moreover, the effectiveness of the ghost mask does not need to be tested at all. It can be clearly seen once it is put on, and it can be directly converted into combat power.

"To tell you the truth, six of the ten ghost masks are in my hands."

"Sixth officer?" Coulson was horrified, his pupils full of disbelief. "Are you... sure you are not teasing me?"

"Agent Coulson, please don't be so startled, okay?

I've lived for twenty years after all. Shouldn't it be natural for me to find six ghost masks?

In addition to the Ika mask, the Niga mask, the Lazo mask, the Bart mask, the Samo mask, and the Resu mask are all in the secret room behind me."

"Don't make it sound so easy!

Wait, you put dangerous things behind this wall? Isn't that a little reckless?"

Aaron smiled without saying anything, just raised Abe's dragon claw and waved it at Coulson.

"Uh..." Coulson suddenly understood something, and his expression became extremely unnatural, "Isn't this a bit too extravagant?"

Normal people would just raise a dog to guard the gate, the rich and powerful could raise tigers and leopards, the lawless could raise an army, but putting a giant dragon to guard the gate... you really know how to have fun!

"I worked so hard to raise it, and a considerable portion of my earnings goes toward its food expenses. If it only eats and doesn't work, I'll be losing a lot of money!

What's more, it is guarding Gaius's treasure house, so it has a heavy responsibility!

Those who can't beat Abe will be killed one by one, and those who can beat Abe will not look down on the ghost mask. "

Coulson nodded blankly, speechless.

With such a giant dragon around, Gaius's treasure house is much safer than SHIELD, which is parasitized by Hydra.

"Any more questions, Agent Coulson?"

Coulson shook his head, then nodded, "There's something else I want to ask you for help with."

"Please say."

"Director Fury wants to order another batch of the Omnipotent Potion."

"That's no problem, but... the amount of medicine I allocate to SHIELD every month has never been less. Why did he suddenly come up with this idea?"

"This is prepared for a veteran of SHIELD." Coulson thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth. "Once the director decides to eliminate Hydra from within SHIELD, civil unrest is inevitable. At that time, we will need a person of sufficient weight to calm the situation."

"Oh! I see." Aaron nodded suddenly, then raised three fingers, "Three times the price."

“That’s… no problem.

If you still have Phoenix Tears here, maybe you can..."

"No, Phoenix's tears are extremely valuable and are not for sale."

"Five hundred million." Coulson offered directly, "This price is not low. The Almighty Potion is enough. The Phoenix Tears are just insurance."

"It's not about money."

Coulson pursed his lips and said in a deep voice: "Six hundred million, this is the highest price I can offer. If it doesn't work, then..."

"Deal." Aaron said immediately, then took a glass bottle from the shelf behind him and placed it on the table, "Six hundred million, five hundred and ninety million will be put on my card, and I want the remaining ten million to be paid in cash."

Hearing this, Coulson was stunned for a while, "Didn't you say this isn't about money?"

"It's really not about money, but who made me short of money!" Aaron spread his hands bluntly, "Do you think it costs nothing to raise a dragon?"

"Uh... makes sense." Coulson carefully put away a bottle of Phoenix Tears. "In addition to the potion, there is another thing... This thing is giving me a headache."

"For the sake of this big deal we just made, I don't mind listening."

"I suspect there might be something wrong with Ward."

"What?" Aaron's pupils slightly dilated, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily raised an arc, "Is this the Ward I understand?"

"Grant Ward, operations specialist on Coulson's team."

"Hahaha!" Aaron couldn't help laughing, "This is so funny, Coulson.

One of the people you trust the most is actually a Hydra. You must inform me the day you meet in battle, so that I can be happy."

Coulson's mouth twitched slightly, "It's just a suspicion, I can't be sure yet."

“There must be a limit to self-deception!

If you hadn't confirmed Ward's identity, you would never have mentioned this to me." Aaron looked at him meaningfully, "Why did you suspect him?"

"Agent John Garrett, Fury confirmed his identity as a Hydra after several investigations, and Ward was brought into S.H.I.E.L.D. by him, and he is actually his life mentor.

There is a tradition of old agents training new agents in the talent training model of SHIELD. Ward is an agent apprentice trained by Hydra who is no less capable than him. I...

I wanted to trust him so badly, but I had a responsibility to the team."

"Well said." Aaron clapped his hands, "Then there will be no problem with the other members of your team?"

"May will be fine, she's Fury's, one level higher than me.

Fitz and Simmons will not be a problem either. They are top talents in the academy, and even their parents' information is recorded in the files. Hydra will not choose them.

As for Skye... do you think she could be Hydra?"

"So there's only one Grant Ward left?"

Coulson nodded with hesitation. "Ward is definitely worthy of suspicion, but considering the image he has in the minds of the team members... unless I have sufficient evidence, it is not a good idea to act rashly."

"How hypocritical." Aaron curled his lips. "This just proves that Grant Ward is a successful spy. His superb acting skills and emotional investment make you unwilling to believe that he is a spy."

“That’s why it’s dangerous.”

"Let's get back to the topic! What do you want me to do for you?"

"If civil unrest breaks out, I will subdue Agent Ward..."

"You can't beat him." Aaron said bluntly, "I know this hurts, but it's the truth."

"I don't know yet that I already suspect him. If we catch him by surprise, there is still a great chance that we can subdue him. Agent May will also help."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Aaron asked puzzledly. Everything has been arranged, you can't just invite him to watch the show, right?

"Interrogate him." Coulson said bluntly, "I need you to interrogate Ward in front of other people. This way, they can see what kind of person he is and no longer have any fluke mentality."

“Can’t you do this?

Yes, you really can't do it, he knows you too well." Aaron laughed, "Especially your players are still too young, each of them has rich emotions, and they don't know what the evil of human heart is.

Ward knows the weaknesses of each of you, so it's possible that you were fooled by him."

"I hope I'm overthinking it." Coulson laughed at himself, "But... you can't bet on this. Just in case, I thought of asking you for help."

"Well... you know me. I don't want to waste time on this kind of crap."

"It's just a small favor. Technically you're half a member of my team."

"That's just what you think."

"I can advance your compensation. It's within my authority."

"Coulson, I'm suddenly a little envious of your team. They have such a gentle leader like you." Aaron looked at him in surprise. "I feel embarrassed to refuse you now."