MUP: Chapter 68. Provocation

"One portion of 'Golden Ratio Steamed Dumplings'."

New York, in front of the Stark Industries building, there was a conspicuous flow of people near a red food truck.

Phil was in the queue, dressed as a diner, but his eyes naturally glanced over to the Stark Building in front of him.

"It looks like Tony Stark isn't in the office today."

He saw that today, Pepper Potts, Tony's personal secretary, came alone to Stark Industries.

Phil mentally judged in his mind, withdrew his gaze, and looked back at the food truck in front of him.

The aroma of the steamed dumplings wafted over to him, causing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to gulp silently.

In theory, as a professionally trained agent, he shouldn't be swayed by food... unless it was delicious.

Apparently, the cuisine sold by this food truck was the kind of cuisine that even a professional agent like Phil couldn't ignore.

After receiving the steamed dumplings, Phil took one look at the food truck owner, who looked like he 'had a story' in front of him. His professional habits from being an agent made him subconsciously speak up. He spoke in a familiar tone, "Sir, it looks like you just recently came to New York. "

The rolling pin in [Shell]'s hands paused. Facing Phil's question, he made an indifferent expression and asked back, "So?"

[Shell]'s response aroused Phil's interest. He couldn't help saying, "Nothing. I just thought that, with your cooking skills, a food truck doesn't seem like it should have been your first choice."

"The world of cooking is not as simple as you might think."

To that, [Shell] didn't respond positively. He lowered his head and whispered in just the right tone.

"Why is that?"

Blinking, Phil couldn't help asking.

"Hey, man..." However, before the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent could make any further inquiry, the fat bald man behind him couldn't help but start complaining, "Can't you see the line behind you? Hurry up, other people are waiting."

Turning his head and glancing at the disgruntled crowd behind him, Agent Coulson had to give up pursuing the matter any further.

After all, he still had a mission, so he couldn't have any problems here.

"Sorry."

Moving away from the food truck, Phil turned his head to look at the burly man in the truck.

With his experience as an agent, he had a hunch that the other party was hiding some kind of secret that nobody knew about.

[Reputation points from Phil Coulson +40]

'Of course, there are secrets. Even if there aren't any, I'll make you think there are. '

In the antique shop, looking at the reputation points jumping up in the data panel, Ryan thought so.

　　...

"Have you ever been sober?"

Meeting up again after the battle at the port, Ryan's expression was rather subtle when he saw Jessica. In Jessica's mind, Ryan had nothing to do with Ah Xing.

The other party was drunk at the moment, and she didn't notice the strange look on Ryan's face.

"I'd rather be drunk all the time."

Gulping down the bottle of wine in her hand, Jessica's mood remained low, "At least this way I won't remember those annoying things."

"What's the matter?"

As a member of the team and the protagonist of the port battle, naturally, Ryan knew what Jessica was talking about. However, in order to avoid getting exposed, he still pretended that he didn't know and asked, "What's really going on?"

Under the influence of alcohol, Jessica didn't conceal anything about the port battle, directly revealing, "We fell into the Hand's trap, and someone died because of it."

"We had no choice but to watch him go down, and it's all because of me. Shit! If I hadn't been so stupid to fall into that trap, maybe... he wouldn't have to save me. None of this would have happened ..."

For this reason, Jessica went to the guy who revealed the information to her and beat him up so badly that he would basically need 3 to 5 years of rehabilitation to be able to walk again.

But so what? Ah Xing wouldn't come back to life because of that.

[Reputation points from Jessica Jones +110]

Looking at the points on the panel with his eyebrows raised, Ryan didn't expect that his own actions would cause Jessica to feel this sad.

Looking at this petite figure gulping down some more wine, Ryan felt a little guilty in his heart.

However, guilt was guilt. The most important part was the points. Ryan wouldn't reveal himself for the sake of guilt, exposing the fact that he was Ah Xing.

Having restrained his emotions, Ryan continued to play his role as a third party and one of the Brotherhood's contact points.

"I'm sorry about that, Jessica. However, I'm telling you now. Death isn't the end of everything. In the eyes of the Brotherhood, death is the beginning, representing hope and the belief in salvation. I think the one who saved you also has a common belief with the Brotherhood. That's why he fought beside you."

"A common belief? "

Putting down the bottle of wine in her hand, Jessica murmured and repeated the words.

In the antique shop, as the words kept ringing out, Jessica's formerly confused expression grew soberer and soberer. Grabbing her messy hair, she looked up and stared at Ryan, "Can the Brotherhood help us defeat the Hand? "

Ryan raised an eyebrow as he heard her words.

Jessica's proposal was somewhat unexpected, but for Ryan, it was exactly what he wanted.

Before that, Ryan was thinking about how he should appear in front of the Defenders again after Ah Xing's exit.

Although he was excited, on the surface, Ryan still maintained the calmness of someone who was a contact of the Brotherhood.

"As I've said before, the Brotherhood won't easily launch another attack on the Hand without a surefire plan."

"Isn't the Brotherhood a force of justice? Killing one to save the many? Why won't you guys attack again? Maybe that's just an excuse! The so-called Brotherhood are just a bunch of people in hiding, scared of the Hand."

Jessica's tone was very aggressive, and it was obviously meant to irritate Ryan.

Therefore, Ryan also made a thoughtful expression and nodded his head in silence.

"I understand. I'll pass your words on to the Brotherhood."

"But I can't guarantee the outcome."

"That would be enough. Thanks."

Jessica thanked him softly while the corners of her lips slightly rose.