After repeating the process three or four times, Holm's forehead was damp with sweat.
He glanced nervously at Phil Coulson before explaining in a dry voice, "I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what's going on."
"Perhaps it is protecting itself," Coulson replied. "Even though its intelligence isn't particularly high, it may still have instincts that are hard to override."
Inside Holm's body, Venom was laughing eerily. "Hahaha, did you see the look on that guy's face? His smile is so stiff it's killing me!"
"He actually wants to collect samples from me? What an overestimation of his abilities! Tell him to watch out, or I might suddenly attack and chop off his head."
"Come to think of it, this guy's head smells pretty good... Can I eat it?"
Hearing this, Holm responded in his mind, somewhat exasperated. "Are you kidding me? Of course not!"
"Also, be serious and stop laughing. If you keep this up, how am I supposed to stay calm? What if you get caught?"
After Holm's internal reprimand, Venom reluctantly quieted down, though the eerie laughter continued faintly in the background.
Despite Venom's laughter ringing in his head, Holm appeared outwardly tense and anxious, showing no sign of what was happening inside him.
Finally, after repeated attempts, Phil Coulson sighed helplessly. "Since we can't collect a sample, we'll move on to the next step. I need a blood sample instead."
As he spoke, Coulson pulled out another needle-like instrument.
Holm wasn't particularly concerned about this. He had tried drawing his own blood before and knew there was nothing abnormal about it. His blood didn't reveal anything about Venom; at most, it would show his current physical condition and hormone levels. It felt more like a free health check-up than anything else.
Nodding, Holm placed his arm on the table, ready for Coulson to proceed.
Having already experienced failure earlier, Coulson was cautious. However, when the dark red blood steadily flowed into the container and filled it without incident, he finally relaxed.
"Alright, the blood sample is collected," Coulson said, visibly relieved. He glanced at Holm's arm, where the needle mark had disappeared almost instantly. "I must say, your healing ability is remarkable."
"It's impressive, yes, but it still hurts," Holm replied as he withdrew his arm.
After securing Holm's blood sample, Coulson went over their upcoming work arrangements. From now on, Holm and Daisy would be directly under his command. Coulson would issue their assignments himself, effectively forming a special team.
The overall workflow would remain similar to before, but the nature of their tasks would likely change significantly.
Additionally, Coulson assigned Holm the responsibility of overseeing Daisy's combat training.
Although Daisy excelled in computers and hacking, combat training was essential for any agent. Her skills didn't need to reach elite levels, but they had to surpass those of the average agent.
Neither Holm nor Daisy objected to the arrangement. It was their first directive from Coulson as their immediate superior, and raising objections was out of the question.
Daisy, however, was visibly thrilled by the task. She had long aspired to become a top-tier agent and was eager to develop her combat skills.
Seeing Daisy's enthusiasm, Holm refrained from dampening her spirits. He knew that once the actual training began, she would come to understand how grueling it was. For now, he let her enjoy her excitement.
"In addition," Coulson continued after outlining the training responsibilities, "your agent levels will also be updated accordingly."
He turned to Daisy first. "Daisy Johnson, promoted from Level 1 Agent to Level 6 Agent, with a confidentiality level of 9."
Then, looking at Holm, he added, "Holm Clint, promoted from Level 6 Agent to Level 7 Agent, with a confidentiality level of 9."
Coulson smiled at Holm and extended his hand. "Welcome to Level 7, Agent Clint."
Holm shook his hand firmly, responding sincerely, "Thank you very much. It's an honor."
Although Holm had anticipated the promotion, hearing it confirmed still filled him with a sense of accomplishment.
In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hierarchy, the jump from Level 6 to Level 7 marked a significant milestone. With it came access to a broader range of classified information and greater authority.
Advancing beyond Level 6 was no easy feat. Most agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. remained at Levels 3 or 4, with only a select few reaching Level 6 or higher. Attaining Level 7 meant Holm had crossed a significant barrier, earning a position of notable distinction.
However, what truly surprised him was his new confidentiality level. Typically, an agent's confidentiality level matched their rank. It was the first time Holm had encountered a scenario where an agent's confidentiality level exceeded their rank.
With a confidentiality level of 9, Holm's information was accessible only to agents at Level 9 or above. Those below that threshold could view only basic and largely meaningless details about him.
While this development intrigued him, Daisy's promotion was equally astonishing. Holm hadn't expected her agent level to jump from Level 1 all the way to Level 6.
This revelation also clarified a longstanding mystery for Holm. Previously, neither he nor Agent Grant Ward—who had been at Level 7—had been able to access Daisy's records. The information available to them had been minimal, revealing only the most superficial details.
Reflecting on this, Holm couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. It was almost comical to think that Daisy, while officially a Level 1 agent, had possessed a confidentiality level high enough to render her a complete enigma to her colleagues.
Even if he were to share this fact openly, most agents would likely dismiss it as a joke. After all, the idea of a Level 1 agent with a confidentiality level of 9 seemed utterly absurd.
With their promotions settled, Coulson moved on to the next steps. The team had a busy schedule ahead, and Holm couldn't afford to dwell too long on these revelations. Both he and Daisy were about to embark on a new chapter in their careers, with challenges that would push them to their limits.