{Welcome, Please Support me on my patreon and read upto 50+ advanced chapters and 5 advanced chapters in every two days.
https://patreon.com/Oreski }
Steve no longer insisted on Shen He's help.
He knew it was useless to persuade someone who saw the entire picture yet remained committed to their chosen path.
Still, he believed Shen He had his reasons—ones likely rooted in truths Steve hadn't yet uncovered.
Later that night, Coulson personally delivered a detailed update.
"We've lost track of Jiaying," he said, hands folded solemnly. "All evidence suggests she's gone underground with remnants of Hydra. This oversight falls squarely on me. I'll do everything in my power to bring her in. Black Bolt has agreed to deploy Inhuman scouts to assist."
It was indeed Coulson's mistake. Seeing Skye reunite with her mother—believing in the affection and familial bond—he'd chosen to trust Jiaying's apparent forgiveness.
But the truth struck hard.
"You're always too willing to believe the best in people, Coulson," Shen He remarked, fingers rhythmically tapping the table. "But hatred... it's an irrational force. Who would have thought that someone torn from her child by Hydra's cruelty would later ally with them—just to fuel her vengeance?"
Jiaying had long since abandoned her original enemies. Hatred had consumed her to the point that ordinary humans, rather than Hydra, became her priority targets.
This unsettling truth only diminished Shen He's hopes of containing Misaka Mikoto Alter.
He wanted to protect the Misaka sisters, not weaponize them. Yet if they were forced into war, the resulting wrath could mirror Joan of Arc's crusade—vengeance wrapped in divine fire, punishing those who corrupted innocence.
"To free someone devoured by hatred," Shen He muttered, "defeating her might be the only mercy."
"Understood, sir!" Coulson answered swiftly, thinking Shen He meant Jiaying.
Shen He didn't correct him. After a pause, he said, "I know you care deeply about Skye. She does have admirable qualities—but she's also reckless, hypersensitive, fiercely independent, and..."
"Bold," Coulson completed the thought.
"Exactly." Shen He rose, stretching out his long-dormant muscles. "It's no wonder she was turned away by so many foster homes. Adopting a feral cat comes with scratches."
"But now she has you, sir," Coulson replied with a half-smile. "And I believe Chaldea—under your guidance—can be her true home. Ours too."
"…I like that," Shen He grinned. "Seems like high-ranking agents have to be good at flattery. Still, I'm going home now—so you should get some rest too."
He glanced at his watch. It was past midnight. No lover waited in bed, but solitude on a soft mattress still held its own appeal.
Coulson nodded and exited, and Shen He returned to his quarters.
He had barely dozed off when a familiar mental ping jolted him awake—a summoning request.
A slave under his contract was requesting transfer to his world through an active link.
"Enemy at the gates," came a strained voice. "It's Academy City's people. Not Misaka Alter, but… she's involved. One of hers was deployed."
"…Now?" Shen He snapped upright. "Understood. I'm coming."
It wasn't entirely unexpected. During recent days, Misaka sisters had been observed lingering around Kamijou Touma's residence.
Along with them, groups of Level 0 thugs, school security drones, and even magical scrying probes appeared. It was clear that multiple factions had zeroed in on their location—it was only a matter of time.
Shen He knocked once before barging into Jeanne's room.
"There's movement on the Demon-Restricted Side. I'm heading out. Wake the others—I'll call for you soon."
"Got it!"
Jeanne, already wrapped in a blanket as he approached, still peeked out through her tousled hair in modest sleepwear—casting a few curious glances his way.
But the situation was urgent.
Shen He vanished into the transfer gate solo, while Qi Mu Nanxiong initiated the summoning on the other end.
The moment Shen He materialized, he saw blood—Accelerator (Yifang Tongxing), with a battered face, leaned against a street lamp. Misaka Mikoto stood beside him. The location was close to Kamijou Touma's apartment, not within it.
"What happened?" Shen He asked, scanning the area.
"I'm not sure," Misaka Mikoto replied, bewildered. "I stepped out for a snack and saw someone beating up this guy—so I saved him. It was easy."
Though initially startled, she quickly realized the attacker—despite being strong enough to harm Accelerator—bolted the moment he recognized her. That prideful smugness flared again: I'm super strong after all.
"This isn't the time for boasting!" Accelerator groaned, pushing himself upright. "Kihara's dogs are here—Hound Dogs. And someone else intercepted Kamijou. It wasn't Misaka Alter, but definitely one of her agents."
The one who ambushed Accelerator was Kihara Gensei, the twisted scientist obsessed with studying vector control. Powerless himself, Gensei had designed tech specifically to counter Accelerator's ability.
The fact that there were no thunderclaps or high-intensity electromagnetic pulses meant Misaka Alter hadn't arrived in person—only her lieutenants had.
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion rocked the nearby skyline, firelight illuminating the night sky.
The blast originated from Kamijou Touma's apartment.
"You should've said that first!" Misaka Mikoto's eyes crackled with electricity. She readied to dash forward but Shen He caught her wrist.
"Don't rush in. Kamijou has Kanzaki and the Flame-Woven God with him. They won't go down easily."
Even as Shen He spoke, shadows emerged from the surrounding rooftops.
"Kihara's presence complicates things," Shen He said. "Joan, take Violet and capture him. As the Hound leader, he's loaded with intel."
He paused, then nodded firmly.
"The rest of you—come with me. We're heading to support Kamijou. If they're bold enough to strike here… then we strike back."
IMPORTANT UPDATE –
I WILL BE POSTING 1 CHAPTER HERE ON WEBNOVEL EVERY DAY...
I WILL BE POSTING 5 ADVANCE CHAPTERS EVERY TWO DAYS ON PATREON, JOIN MY PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE EARLY ACCESS.
🔗 JOIN NOW: patreon.com/Oreski
PS: I HAVE UPLOADED 50+ ADVANCED CHAPTERS ON PATREON ALREADY—DON'T MISS OUT ON THE ADVENTURE.