"Are you sure you want to do this?" Skye asked, casting a skeptical glance at Natasha. "Didn't you say you didn't want to get involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore?"
"I did," Natasha replied with a shrug, slipping on her jacket. "But S.H.I.E.L.D. is effectively dead. So there's really nothing left to be bound to."
It wasn't just something she said for Skye's sake—it was also strategic. Natasha Romanoff was a master of calculated honesty. As a former top-level operative of S.H.I.E.L.D., she knew exactly what kind of lies were necessary for specific people.
In Skye's case, a blend of truth and fiction was the best tactic. There was a chance this young woman would cross paths with them again—deeper, more personal—and it wouldn't do to have all her trust shattered when the truth inevitably surfaced.
"So, do you know this guy?" Skye turned her laptop toward Natasha.
On the screen was a zoomed-in surveillance frame—capturing Shen He among a group of women, casually strolling through a New York street. His face was encircled in red.
"I know of him," Natasha said carefully. "But not well. His clearance level is above mine." Her gaze sharpened. "Is he tied to what you're looking for? Your origins?"
"I'm not sure," Skye admitted, though her eyes gleamed with excitement. "But I know he's connected to the incident at the S.H.I.E.L.D. data vault last night!"
"…What makes you think that?" Natasha raised an eyebrow and sat on the edge of the table, intrigued.
"I did some digging into the ownership of that virtual reality company," Skye began. "Everyone assumes it's a Stark project, right? But that's wrong. Tony only holds about ten percent of it."
She tapped a few keys, and detailed documents appeared.
"Ninety percent of the shares belong to a Chinese man named Shen He. When I ran a trace on him… guess what I found?"
"He has ties to S.H.I.E.L.D.," Natasha said flatly, already ahead of the game.
"Yes!" Skye exclaimed. "His entire identity was fabricated by S.H.I.E.L.D. months ago. And it was buried deep—so deep I almost missed it. If not for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collapse, there's no way I'd have gotten in. But doesn't that seem weird to you? He's one of them, yet his company has been clashing with S.H.I.E.L.D. on every front—legal warfare, media spin, you name it."
Her voice quickened. The pieces were coming together.
"He might be the key," she continued. "The government blamed the attack on an information leak—Hydra was the scapegoat—but I think it was a power struggle inside S.H.I.E.L.D. And Shen He came out on top. If he's got that kind of authority, he could access the redacted records about my birth."
She pointed again to the screen.
Skye's search for her past had always hit dead ends. Only S.H.I.E.L.D. had the means to erase someone from the digital world so thoroughly. She had long suspected someone at the highest levels had been hiding the truth.
And now, she suspected that person might be Zero—or that Zero was also a S.H.I.E.L.D. plant.
Natasha observed her quietly for a moment. This kind of intuition… this obsession… it reminded her of someone from her past. Skye had the makings of an excellent operative.
"If that's your decision…" Natasha picked up her coat. "Then let's go."
She didn't say it aloud, but Natasha was one of the few who knew that Nick Fury was still alive—recovering in a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. His final instruction to her had been twofold: keep Skye close, and monitor Shen He's every move.
---
Elsewhere, Shen He and his companions strolled through New York's largest underground food court.
He was truly content. Today wasn't about battles or hidden agendas—it was about joy. He took silent note of his companions' behavior, realizing that many of them were displaying quirks or preferences that hadn't shown in their original fantasy source material.
Take Shiki Ryougi, for instance—who would've thought she had a soft spot for kittens?
This made it feel more real than ever. They weren't just characters from stories anymore. They were people.
"When does Master plan to summon again?" Nanako Saiki walked beside him, her voice casual.
Ahead, Jeanne had taken Violet and Shi by the hand and was leading them enthusiastically through the maze of eateries. Jeanne always approached life with bright curiosity.
"I'm waiting until I've saved up forty summoning stones," Shen He replied. "Last time I had fifty, a special event triggered—a new dungeon and a double pull rate. I figure if I hit a hundred this time, I might unlock something new again."
Like any true gacha player, Shen He understood: high rarity didn't guarantee good synergy. A powerful servant with a conflicting worldview—or clashing personality—could still be a pain to deal with.
What he hoped for most was a featured rate-up banner. Given the high-fidelity mimicry of this "real-world" summoning system, it seemed plausible.
And besides, summoning was just part of the fun.
"There are eight days left until then," Nanako noted aloud, checking the system clock in her mind.
"Yep. Can't wait." Shen He smiled. "Chaldea's getting crowded, but more friends are always welcome."
"Master—!" Jeanne called from ahead, waving them over.
They had found a Chinese eatery specializing in lamb buns. Despite eating the entire morning, none of the girls looked even remotely full—like bottomless pits wrapped in supermodel bodies.
"We should grab lunch here," Shen He agreed, catching up with a spring in his step. "Then we'll pick up supplies and swimsuits. The cruise ship is ready—we're spending the afternoon on a quiet island."
"Sw-swimsuits?" Jeanne stammered, her cheeks turning rose-red.
She realized how self-conscious she'd become lately. The mere mention of a swimsuit made her fumble her words.
"Well, going to the beach, swimming, swimsuits… I-I guess it makes sense. It's a little embarrassing, but… I'll do my best."
"…I don't know what you're trying so hard for, but I support it." Shen He gave her a thumbs up.
He didn't hide his enthusiasm. Jeanne in a swimsuit? He was all in.
Violet, on the other hand, was still physically underdeveloped. Her charm was blooming, but not quite there yet.
Shi's beauty leaned androgynous and sleek—she'd look good in anything, but traditional swimwear didn't quite match her cool persona.
And then there was Nanako Saiki.
"I don't understand the concept of swimsuits," Nanako deadpanned. "Or how many puddings are appropriate for island trips."
"I know." Shen He chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not Koutarou Tatsumi."
Then, in a more serious tone, Nanako's voice entered his mind again.
"Someone is watching. She's targeting you."
Instantly, Shen He's easygoing demeanor shifted. He followed Nanako's telepathic cue with his eyes—just subtle enough.
On a nearby bench sat a young woman with a laptop. She kept glancing in their direction between screens.
Skye. The future Quake.
"There's another," Nanako continued telepathically. "Forty meters back—outside the burger joint. Agent Natasha Romanoff."
"…Natasha?" Shen He didn't turn. "Since when are they working together?"
Nanako's telepathic radius used to cap at thirty meters. Natasha had calculated for that. But Kusuo's power had evolved beyond expectations.
"Should we treat them as enemies?" Shi asked softly, her hand inching back toward her sleeve.
Her primary katana was stored in Shen He's system inventory—but she always kept a compact dagger hidden on her person.
Prepared for anything.