78 Griffin Security Agency

"What's Griffin? Never heard of it."

Natasha looked puzzled.

"Anyway, let's get out of here first."

After dealing with what appeared to be an unfinished prototype of an unmanned combat suit.

Bucky and Natasha followed Kagura Hitomi as they exited Hammer Industries' research facility.

"You sure got here fast, Hitomi," Natasha remarked.

"How's Tony Stark doing?"

"He should be fine by now," Kagura replied smugly.

"Heh, heh! I have my own special methods for negotiations and travel."

"Well, as long as Iron Man is safe, that's what matters." Natasha nodded, then glanced back toward the man that Kagura had cut down earlier.

"So, who was that guy?"

She couldn't shake the thought of his identity, especially after how easily Kagura had disposed of him.

"On my way here, I ran a quick voiceprint and network data comparison."

"He's just a small fry. The FBI is probably knocking on his door as we speak," Kagura said casually.

"He's not exactly an important figure. Hydra isn't that careless—if they were, they'd have been wiped out long ago."

"Huh. He sure seemed to know a lot, though." Natasha shrugged.

"I thought he'd be more valuable."

The three of them boarded a camouflaged Halo transport aircraft hidden in the wastelands nearby.

"Take us back to Rhode Island Industries HQ," Kagura instructed as she stepped onto the aircraft.

"Cortana, you're in charge of navigation."

"Command acknowledged, Master," Cortana responded.

With that, the Halo transport fired up its engines and, under Cortana's automatic navigation, swiftly disappeared into the night.

"Alright, Hitomi, can we start the Q&A session now?"

Seated in the aircraft cabin, Natasha Romanoff looked at Kagura with curiosity written all over her face.

"What do you want to ask, Sister?" Kagura asked with a smile, sitting across from her.

"Plenty." Natasha thought for a moment before listing them out.

"Bucky Barnes, Flashblade, and most importantly—you. Where do you even get all these strange gadgets?"

"Flashblade—meaning my operational budget and equipment—are all provided by Rhodes Island Industries," Kagura explained.

"Same goes for Barnes-san. We both belong to an organization under Rhode Island Industries."

"An organization? Like S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"Wait… you mean that Griffin something?"

"Griffin Security Agency," Kagura confirmed.

"Yes, you could think of it as something similar to S.H.I.E.L.D., but with a more specialized purpose."

For a while now, Kagura had been pondering what kind of superhero organization she truly wanted to build.

Should it be like the Avengers—assembled as needed, serving as a deterrent to enemies?

Or should it be more like S.H.I.E.L.D.—deeply embedded in the world's infrastructure, working in the shadows to maintain order?

With Rhode Island Industries' resources, she had the power to create almost any kind of organization she desired.

But was her vision truly what the world needed?

Since she had become part of this world.

Shouldn't her so-called "superhero organization" be something that genuinely contributed to it, rather than simply indulging her own interests?

Maybe what mattered wasn't what she wanted to do but what needed to be done.

"So then, what exactly is Griffin Security Agency's mission?"

Natasha leaned forward slightly. "And why are you inviting me? You do realize I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, right?"

"Let's answer the first question first." Kagura smiled.

"We already have the Avengers Initiative, and we have S.H.I.E.L.D. "

"On the surface, everything seems to be running smoothly. The world looks like it doesn't need anything else. But after careful thought, I realized I wanted to do something more."

"Sister, have you ever heard of a 'watchdog'?"

"Watchdog?" Natasha tilted her head. "We're not talking about an actual fluffy mutt, are we?"

"Of course not." Kagura chuckled.

"In microcontroller systems, there's a special type of chip called a watchdog timer.

"Its job is to monitor the system. If the main system crashes or freezes for any reason, the watchdog steps in to correct it."

"Sounds a lot like what S.H.I.E.L.D. does."

"No, S.H.I.E.L.D. is inside the system. So is the Avengers Initiative." Hitomi's eyes gleamed.

"But what I want to create is an organization outside the system. A group that doesn't officially exist."

"That's the core idea behind Griffin Security Agency."

"We are the unseen guardians, the dark side of the moon—the organization that only surfaces when the world isn't functioning properly."

"We are this world's watchdog timer."

"I see…" Natasha nodded slowly.

"That's an interesting concept. But why are you telling me all this?"

"Didn't I already say? I want you to join us, siter Natasha!"

Kagura flashed an innocent, almost mischievous smile. "Pretty please?"

"You do realize I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, right? A spy?"

Natasha's expression turned serious.

"Even if I don't join you, Fury might already know about this conversation."

"No, he doesn't. And you won't tell him." Kagura's tone was calm, confident.

"I trust you, sister Natasha. I can feel it. You won't do anything that would hurt us."

"You…" Natasha sighed, shaking her head.

"I've told you before—you trust people too easily. I don't even trust myself, so why do you trust me?"

"Call it a girl's intuition!" Kagura stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Now then, what's your answer?"

"Before that, I have one more question," Natasha said.

"How many people are in Griffin right now?"

"Two." Kagura responded with complete confidence.

"Technically, Griffin hasn't been officially established yet."

"Right now, it's just Flashblade and White Wolf. If Black Widow were to join, that would be a fantastic addition."

"…I see. I'll think about it." Natasha nodded.

"I agree with your ideals, Hitomi, but I don't think I have the right reasons or the right timing to join just yet."

"I won't tell anyone about Griffin, but I need time to decide."

"That's more than enough for me, sister" Kagura smiled warmly.

"I'm glad we understand each other."

"…Your little organization isn't just going to be the three of us, is it?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Who else do you have in mind?"

"Oh, I have plans." Kagura grinned.

"There's a genius playboy, someone in desperate need of Rhodes Island Industries' tech to enhance his abilities, and a kind-hearted person who's terrified of hurting those around him."

"…Tell me you're not just picking names off the Avengers Initiative list."

Natasha had a pretty good idea who Kagura was referring to.

"Nooo, of course not!" Kagura waved her hands dramatically.

"I would never steal Director Fury's recruits. These are just plans! Plans, I swear!"

Natasha sighed, shaking her head. "You really are a handful."