If it was just an ordinary assassin organization that was wiped out, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't have any interest.
It's just a few dozen assassins who died, right?
It's no big deal!
Peaceful America, shootings every day!
This slogan wasn't shouted for nothing.
But the problem is, the Brotherhood is not just an ordinary assassin organization.
Although the Brotherhood's gun-fu isn't some particularly miraculous supernatural ability, for S.H.I.E.L.D., any existence that has mastered supernatural abilities is a key target of their attention.
Not to mention, those who have mastered supernatural abilities are a group of assassins.
A long time ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. had already noticed the Brotherhood.
It's not that S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn't thought about eliminating the Brotherhood as an unstable factor, but after a rigorous judgment and evaluation, they ultimately did not take action against the Brotherhood.
Killing is indeed a bad thing, but there are countless assassins in New York.
Leaving aside the issue of jurisdiction, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. really wanted to manage it, they couldn't handle it all.
The existence of assassin organizations is just like that of gangs.
Take down one, and another will pop up.
As long as the demand for contract killing still exists, the profession of assassin cannot disappear.
You know, assassins and prostitutes are the two oldest professions in the world.
No era can completely erase these two professions.
Because these two professions are not just professions, but also represent a certain human desire.
Desire will not disappear, and thus assassins and prostitutes will not disappear.
Although the Brotherhood's gun-fu is on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s watch list, this supernatural ability, which can be acquired through learning, has not been widely promoted by the Brotherhood.
Thus, after a rigorous evaluation, S.H.I.E.L.D. made the decision to only observe the Brotherhood and not interfere.
To take a step back, even if the authorities really wanted to eliminate the Brotherhood, that would be the New York Police Department's job.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is an official organization specifically for preventing and resolving major threats.
Even if the Brotherhood possesses gun-fu and is an assassin organization, it doesn't qualify as a major threat.
Brooklyn, S.H.I.E.L.D. New York Branch.
Director's Office.
Phil Coulson, whose hairline had severely receded, rubbed his temples somewhat helplessly.
He had already received the report about the Brotherhood yesterday.
But until now, he still hadn't decided whether or not to intervene in this matter.
From an official perspective, the New York Police Department is responsible for this case.
If S.H.I.E.L.D. intervenes, it would be a clear act of overstepping authority.
But not intervening feels a bit irresponsible.
The New York Police Department hasn't yet found out who wiped out the Brotherhood and created this horrifying tragedy.
As for S.H.I.E.L.D., less than two hours after receiving the news yesterday, they had already locked onto the suspect.
The Continental Hotel's ace assassin, the crazy Traveler, Russell Bradley!
Like the Brotherhood, Russell is also a key target of attention for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York Branch.
The Brotherhood is watched because they have gun-fu.
Russell is watched because he has a supernatural physique.
In terms of level of attention, Russell is two levels higher than the Brotherhood.
Although the Brotherhood isn't a good organization either, at most it's just an assassin organization with a bit of history that can also make bullets curve.
But Russell is different.
When S.H.I.E.L.D. first started paying attention to him, it was because he had gained a bit of fame in the assassin world, thus entering S.H.I.E.L.D.'s observation list.
At first, S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't pay too much attention to him.
It's not particularly strange in the assassin world for a hitman who has just entered the profession to quickly make a name for himself.
Although Russell's rise to fame in the assassin world was a bit fast, it was still considered normal.
It wasn't until the news of his supernatural physique spread that S.H.I.E.L.D. truly started to take him seriously.
Although S.H.I.E.L.D. did not bring him back for a detailed head-to-toe examination, through investigation, they confirmed that Russell possessed a supernatural physique.
From that time on, Russell's level on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s observation list was higher than that of the Brotherhood.
As the investigation deepened, S.H.I.E.L.D. roughly figured out his supernatural physique.
After comparison, S.H.I.E.L.D. reluctantly discovered that in terms of physical fitness, Russell was even stronger than their current figurehead, Captain America.
Captain America's physical functions have only reached the potential limit achievable by humans, equivalent to developing all of humanity's potential.
But Russell is different.
Although they didn't get specific data, the intelligence collected was enough to confirm that Russell had stronger physical functions than Captain America.
Captain America represents the limit of human physical functions, while Russell directly crossed that limit and reached a non-human level.
After confirming this point, Coulson had the idea of arresting and detaining Russell.
However, the arrest report he submitted was directly returned, and it was returned more than one time.
For this matter, he even made several special trips to the Triskelion headquarters and held several seminars on whether or not to arrest Russell.
The result was obvious: the outcome of the seminars was to only observe, not arrest.
Although Coulson didn't know what the higher-ups and experts who opposed arresting Russell were thinking, since headquarters had already made a decision, he could only act according to headquarters' requirements.
Under the covert observation of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York Branch, Russell completed the entire process of debuting, gaining fame, joining the Continental Hotel, and becoming the renowned "Traveler."
After looking at the report submitted yesterday and Russell's file from the past two years, Coulson thought for a few seconds and once again submitted a report to the Triskelion headquarters for the arrest and detention of Russell.
After doing all this, Coulson picked up the phone on his desk and contacted the secretary outside.
"Have Agent Melinda come to the office."
After speaking, Coulson hung up the phone.
The Continental Hotel.
Front desk.
After finishing the breakfast personally made by Diana, Russell drove to the Continental Hotel.
"Mr. Bradley, how may I be of service?"
Charon, in his sharp suit, said to Russell.
"Have you found the Punisher's whereabouts?"
Russell asked directly.
He didn't give Charon any more gold coins.
The gold coins that were due, he had already paid yesterday.
"Not yet, sir. If you want to know as soon as possible, you could consider choosing the expedited service."
Charon said with a smile.
Under normal circumstances, two gold coins would be enough to buy the Punisher's whereabouts.
Although Charon didn't say it explicitly, it was clear that the hotel's intelligence personnel had encountered some minor trouble.
Otherwise, Charon wouldn't have said something like choosing the expedited service.
You get what you pay for!
The High Table's gold coins are indeed very useful, but they are not omnipotent.
While temporary price increases are rare, that doesn't mean they won't happen.
"How much is the expedited fee?"
Charon didn't speak, extending four fingers.