Chapter 22: The Standard of Cats
S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion headquarters.
Coulson and Melinda approached the director's office with serious expressions. Although this mission posed no danger, they maintained the necessary seriousness when facing a Level 7 assignment due to their professional ethics.
"Come in."
Upon hearing permission, Coulson and Melinda exchanged glances and walked in, closing the door behind them.
"Director, we're here to report on the mission."
After closing the door, Coulson and Melinda walked up to the desk of Director Nick Fury. Coulson placed a well-organized document on the table.
Although typically there was no need to personally report to the director even for Level 7 missions, this mission was different and had an eerie aura surrounding it.
Furthermore, it was a mission personally arranged by the director himself.
"What have you gained?"
Coulson and Melinda were surprised to see the director, who was generally stern and serious, rarely smiling or laughing in front of them or any other agents...
But now he was smiling!
Coulson couldn't help but rub his eyes. Although Nick Fury did smile from time to time, even during his younger days he was basically a goofball. But given his current position and status, he would often display a smile tinged with sarcasm.
However, with his seasoned eye as a Level 6 agent, Coulson was a hundred percent sure that the director was genuinely happy and smiling.
Even before reading the mission analysis, just knowing that they were back made the director very happy...
Coulson was touched for a second, but then he realized—
This was absolutely impossible.
The director was laughing because of the content of the mission.
Melinda wore a perplexed expression as well. She glanced at Coulson discreetly and found that his expression mirrored hers—
If the mission target was a woman, well, even if it was a man, there was nothing unacceptable about it.
But they both knew that the true mission target was the orange cat named "Goose."
Was the director really concerned about someone's cat?
Sigh... the more they thought about it, the scarier it became!
The expressions of the two individuals lost in their wild thoughts evidently did not escape the gaze of the one-eyed Nick Fury.
He twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and coughed lightly.
"As exceptional agents, zoning out during a mission report makes me question your professionalism."
"Ah, apologies, Director."
Only then did the two of them realize that they hadn't answered the director's question.
"While the plant shop seemed unremarkable, we did uncover several suspicious points."
Coulson looked at Melinda, who nodded slightly, and she took out a USB drive.
"Director, this contains the video footage."
Nick Fury nodded, and Melinda inserted the USB drive into a port on his desk. She picked up a remote control and pressed a few buttons, and the display on the wall started playing the video from the moment they entered until they left the Emerald Dream Plant Shop.
"The store clerk is quite interesting."
After watching the video, Nick Fury's expression subtly changed as he glanced at the expressionless faces of Coulson and Melinda.
"Leaving aside the effectiveness of that potion, Melinda, you were right. Goose did have a reaction when she heard my name."
A pleased expression appeared on his stern face.
"It's truly heartwarming that the little one remembers me."
"Are you saying that you know that cat?"
Melinda nodded with understanding.
"Perhaps it was once yours? But I believe you're not the type to abuse your authority, otherwise, the threshold for Level 7 missions would be too low."
It's not just too low, it's a joke.
However, both Melinda and Coulson were aware of the peculiar behavior of the interesting store clerk at the end of the mission.
Sure enough, Director Fury revealed the familiar smirk they knew so well. He pointed to the paused frame on the screen, which showed Melinda about to pet the cat:
"Initially, I was indeed overjoyed by your safe return."
Fury stood up and placed his hands in the pockets of his black leather coat. He walked slowly to the front of the screen.
"Agents, what made you think that it must be a cat?"
He pointed to the adorable Goose on the screen.
"Is it because it looks like a cat, meows like a cat, eats cat food, exhibits all the behaviors of a cat, and perhaps even has a cat collar?"
"Director, if it meets the criteria you just mentioned..."
Coulson moved his lips and decided to express his own viewpoint.
"Then it truly is a cat."
"..."
Fury shook his head noncommittally.
"Fine, but how long does it usually take for scratches from a cat to heal?"
"It shouldn't take long, maybe... one or two weeks?"
Coulson was unsure because he preferred dogs.
"Close enough, but Coulson," Fury pointed to his black eyepatch, "do you remember when I lost this eye?"
"You once said it was the cost of the last time you put your trust in someone. If I'm not mistaken, it was in 1995."
Coulson glanced at the surprised Melinda and shrugged.
"We were both low-ranking agents back then."
"So, the reality isn't as significant as the director claims."
Melinda pondered as she pinched her chin.
"Are those three scars... caused by the orange cat?"
At this point, given the situation, Melinda, as a Level 7 agent, naturally thought of the truth that seemed absurd but was likely the truth...
"I can't believe I've been taking your words as motivation for my entire career as an agent."
Coulson covered his forehead.
"You're right, Melinda. Reality is even more absurd than novels and movies."
"Hey, you two!"
Nick Fury stood with his hands on his hips, his face didn't reveal the slight blush.
"That's not the point. The point is that this scar, after thirteen years, hasn't faded in the slightest. I've tried every means!"
"Goose is no ordinary orange cat!"
He cleared his throat and looked satisfied as he watched his two subordinates regain their seriousness.
"It's a cosmic entity, a Tesseract-chomper. Let's put it this way, Melinda. With Goose's current expression and considering what happened back then..."
He glanced at the screen again, where Goose's expression was eerily similar to that of himself thirteen years ago when he foolishly reached out his hand.
"The scar is nothing compared to what it can do. It can easily destroy an elite armed force."
"The danger rating of the Tesseract-chomper is 'extremely high.' And within this rating system, an average agent's rating..."
As if recalling an unforgettable past, Nick Fury's lips twitched.
"Poses no danger."
Melinda breathed a sigh of relief. So, she had just narrowly escaped death?
A cosmic entity? Tesseract-chomper?
Keeping something so dangerous as a pet, it truly was a Level 7 mission!
"And based on the clerk's reaction, it seems that he knows about Goose's special nature. Not only is he not afraid, but he can also give commands to Goose..."
Nick Fury narrowed his lone eye and turned to Coulson.
"What have you discovered in the latest investigation on the store owner, Oaks Woods?"
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