53
Chapter 53: The Darkened One eyed Egg Pushes the Boat
After half an hour passed,
Nick Fury felt numb.
The SHIELD agent beside him was equally stunned.
Under the influence of Veritaserum, Morgan had no room to lie. Whatever Nick Fury asked, Morgan answered truthfully, leaving Nick Fury feeling somewhat numb upon hearing the reasons for Morgan's defection.
The reason was simple.
Morgan accused Nick Fury of robbing her of her childhood, never giving her the choice to be anything other than a secret agent. She defected to reclaim a life she should have experienced as a teenager—going to school, falling in love, and making mistakes, rather than engaging in combat, killing, and infiltration.
Nick Fury found himself unexpectedly moved by Morgan's explanation.
After all...
This hit a blind spot in Nick Fury's understanding. Reassigning a promising agent to high school seemed ludicrous.
The SHIELD agent accompanying Nick Fury tentatively suggested, "Could it be because of adolescence? Teenagers are naturally rebellious."
Nick looked at the agent, considering his words. "Is that so?"
The agent shrugged, sharing a personal anecdote, "My daughter's the same. She gives me headaches. Recently, she's taken up with a guy covered in tattoos. I'm itching to shoot him."
Nick Fury's gaze turned towards the tattooed agent.
The agent hesitated briefly before explaining, "Director, the tattoos were part of my undercover assignment, personally assigned by you. I didn't exactly choose them."
Nick Fury nodded, recalling the details, then turned his attention back to Morgan. "So, you didn't defect to another organization?"
Morgan shook her head, tears flowing freely now. "I just wanted to experience life as a normal teenager. I wanted to go to school, make friends, maybe fall in love—normal things."
Moved by Morgan's tears, Nick Fury quickly interjected, "Don't cry, please. I can't stand women crying in front of me. Untie her, quickly."
The agent hastened to release Morgan from her restraints.
Nick Fury rubbed his temples.
Was this why his highly regarded Agent No. 83 chose to leave—a desire for a normal teenage life during a crucial developmental stage? Did Victoria Knox also defect during her teenage years for similar reasons?
Jesus Christ.
Why hadn't he considered this before?
Maybe he'd become too focused on their training and not enough on their emotional needs.
Truly...
Geniuses were different from ordinary people. Victoria and Morgan were exceptional agents, perhaps needing more than SHIELD could provide. Other agents at the base were likely satisfied with their lives, unlike Victoria and Morgan.
Nick Fury sighed, realizing the fault lay with him. He looked at Morgan, wiping away her tears, and assured her, "I won't pursue your defection."
Morgan looked up, surprised. "Really?"
Nick Fury nodded, considering SHIELD's current intelligence. "In fact, I can even arrange for you to continue your education."
Morgan blinked in disbelief.
The agent standing nearby, also from the base, couldn't help but feel slighted, "Sir, I..."
"Shut it!"
Nick snapped, glaring at the agent.
Turning back to Morgan, he continued, "Moreover, we've identified a suspect within your school recently."
Morgan furrowed her brow.
Nick Fury asked, "Do you know a student named Locke Broughton?"
As the head of SHIELD, the world's most enigmatic organization, they purportedly managed everything—though managing everything didn't always mean managing it well. Nonetheless, they maintained their passion.
Moreover...
SHIELD considered the world safer because of their efforts, despite the basis of this belief remaining uncertain.
Three years earlier, when Callum Lynch freed captives from the Temple Organization's base, SHIELD took notice, as did the legend of the Golden Apple.
However...
Despite SHIELD's efforts and repeated confrontations with Callum, their attempts at covert operations had failed. Consequently, Nick Fury redirected his attention towards other fraternities.
Including the New York Brotherhood.
After the New York Brotherhood fell and the Roman Brotherhood emerged, Nick Fury suspected a connection. SHIELD's research suggested more than one Golden Apple.
Thus, Nick Fury naturally focused on the true murderer within the New York Brotherhood—the unmatched assassin.
However...
Even SHIELD struggled to unearth additional information or leads, complicating efforts to identify or locate the unmatched assassin.
This, in part, led to Locke.
Big Data.
SHIELD's Big Data.
In short...
When Locke arrived in New York, so did the unmatched assassin.
Although many Texans relocated during this period, most had since returned. Conversely, the unmatched assassin remained active within New York City.
Or, rather...
With fewer numbers.
Coupled with the textile factory incident, Locke had been taken hostage. This significantly increased the likelihood of Locke's acquaintance with the unmatched assassin.
Thus...
SHIELD sought a means of contacting Locke, leading to the agent's encounter with Morgan while she traveled home with Liz.
Morgan frowned at Nick Fury's mention of Locke. "I know him. He's a student at Midtown High School, and quite the heartthrob."
Ignoring the latter remark, Nick Fury continued, "He's likely linked to the unmatched assassin."
"What?"
Morgan was familiar with the unmatched assassin, as detailed listings of named assassins were provided during her training. The unmatched assassin remained the most elusive—known only by name.
Yet...
Morgan shook her head. "That's impossible. Locke was once kidnapped by the unmatched assassin."
Nick Fury smirked. "But afterward, no one questioned whether he and the unmatched assassin were somehow connected. Don't forget, he emerged from that incident unscathed. I remember."
Glancing at Nick Fury, Morgan inquired, "What are you implying?"