Carl and Hawkeye's clash happened in a blink.
『Narration』: Coulson had no time to react. He had just opened his mouth to stop Hawkeye,
But suddenly, Hawkeye collapsed mysteriously.
Just as Coulson was about to check what had happened,
A blinding red light flashed beside him.
The beam struck Hawkeye directly.
『Narration』: Coulson stood frozen in place.
He had read Superman comics. He had investigated Carl's background.
So he instantly recognized what that red light was,
[Heat Vision].
『Narration』: It was one of Superman's powers. A terrifyingly high-temperature beam.
If someone was hit by it… then Clint,
As expected.
Moments later, the red beam faded.
And where Hawkeye once stood… there was nothing.
As if Hawkeye had never even been there.
『Narration』: Superman had killed Clint. He had killed a senior SHIELD agent!
Which meant,
This Superman would become SHIELD's enemy.
With Nick Fury's personality, there was no doubt.
He would see Superman as a threat.
『Narration』: Coulson truly didn't want to see that outcome.
He had once hoped,
To invite Superman to join the superhero initiative.
But that hope was now gone.
『Narration』: Zhao Helen was just as shocked watching the scene unfold.
Though Carl had told her about it…
Seeing it with her own eyes still stunned her.
She had known Carl for over a decade.
And she was sure,
He never had powers like this before.
『Narration』: It was all real. Almost unbelievable.
As for Hawkeye's death?
Zhao Helen wasn't particularly affected.
『Narration』: A normal girl might've been scared if her boyfriend suddenly revealed destructive superpowers.
But not her.
Geniuses and ordinary people saw the world differently.
『Narration』: She didn't panic at the sight of death. Nor did she blame Carl.
After all, they'd known each other for more than ten years.
She had seen clearly,
It was the other guy who attacked first.
So what was there to say?
『Zhao Helen』: You expect Carl to just stand there and not fight back?
『Narration』: That wasn't her way of thinking.
Besides, Hawkeye's body had been vaporized.
There wasn't even a gory mess.
So she didn't overthink it.
『Carl』: "Tch. I told you he came here to be a joke."
『Carl』: "SHIELD should have my file."
『Carl』: "And yet they still dared to attack me. Hah."
『Narration』: Coulson instinctively turned toward Carl upon hearing his voice.
But the polite man from earlier was gone.
Now,
Coulson wore a deeply conflicted expression.
『Coulson』: "Mister Superman, you…"
『Narration』: For a moment, he didn't know what to do.
Should he pull out his gun? Attack?
Forget it. Coulson wasn't that foolish.
『Narration』: He knew himself well.
Even if he fought Hawkeye, he'd probably lose.
And now Hawkeye was dead.
He definitely wasn't Superman's match.
『Narration』: If he made a move, he'd only anger the other side.
And likely end up the same, no body left to bury.
But acting like nothing happened?
Continuing to admire Superman like before?
Coulson couldn't do that either.
『Narration』: He was known for having a good temper in SHIELD.
He had many friends.
Even though he and Hawkeye weren't that close…
They had worked together for a long time.
Not best friends, but not strangers either.
『Narration』: So he still felt sadness.
And now… he truly didn't know what to do.
『Carl』: "Coulson, do you want to fight me too?"
『Coulson』: (bitterly smiling) "I'm no match for Superman."
『Coulson』: "Honestly, I couldn't even beat Clint."
『Narration』: Carl saw Coulson's reaction and understood he didn't intend to fight.
『Carl』: "In that case, return to SHIELD."
『Carl』: "I have things to do. I'm leaving."
『Coulson』: "Alright…" (nodding numbly)
『Narration』: Carl didn't say another word.
He opened the car door.
Zhao Helen got in first, then Carl followed.
With a smooth engine hum, the Bugatti Chiron drove away.
...
『Coulson』: (watching the car fade into the distance) "Sigh… he really left."
『Coulson』: "Now what do I do?"
『Narration』: He had come here with a plan.
Be sincere. Try to recruit Superman into the Avengers initiative.
Even if he didn't join,
At least leave a good impression.
But in the end?
They barely exchanged a few words.
That wasn't a problem. These things took time.
Then Hawkeye somehow picked a fight.
And died.
No remains left behind.
『Narration』: Coulson now had no idea how to report this to Nick Fury.
He didn't even need to guess,
Nick would explode.
Then officially label Superman as SHIELD's enemy.
After all, Superman had just killed a senior SHIELD agent.
『Narration』: Coulson didn't want that outcome.
But he had no choice.
He would have to report truthfully.
『Coulson』: (sighing) "What a waste…"
『Narration』: The dream of recruiting Superman was dead.
He turned toward his car, preparing to report in person.
Then he noticed nearby pedestrians.
And remembered,
『Coulson』: "Crap!"
『Narration』: He suddenly realized something terrible.
Carl and Hawkeye's fight…
Wasn't hidden at all.
Which meant,
Every civilian nearby had seen it.
And this was an airport!
『Narration』: New York City, a global megacity, had some of the busiest airports in the world.
This particular international airport had huge foot traffic.
Statistically, over 100 million passengers passed through annually.
There were tons of people around.
Which meant,
Many had witnessed Superman fight Hawkeye.
『Narration』: This wasn't good.
Public speculation would explode.
Someone probably recorded it and uploaded the footage already.
Just like when Superman defeated Abomination.
That incident was still being discussed online.
And now, another killing?
This wasn't going to end well.
『Narration』: The more he thought, the more anxious Coulson became.
Should he tell the public it was a movie scene?
That's what they said last time.
But Tony Stark had exposed that lie.
Plus, Superman hadn't hidden his identity.
No way the public would believe it.
What now?
『Narration』: Coulson was getting more and more nervous.
He had no idea what to do.
Then suddenly, he froze.
『Narration』: Because something didn't add up.
There were plenty of people around.
Many even walked past him.
But very few looked frightened.
Almost no one showed panic or even curiosity…