Grant Ward's obvious threat elicited only a calm smile from Eren, who casually added, "Oh, and I almost forgot to mention—the hundred thousand dollars is after tax."
Coulson: "…"
Grant Ward: "…"
As the largest and most heavy-handed law enforcement agency in the Federation, the Federal Tax Bureau was infamous for its aggressive taxation. That hundred thousand dollars would lose at least twenty thousand to taxes.
Eren's cheeky remark effectively increased S.H.I.E.L.D.'s costs even further.
Ward's face darkened, and he opened his mouth to retort, but Coulson quickly raised a hand to stop him. The last thing he wanted was for this shrewd kid to raise the price even more.
"Fine," Coulson said, taking a deep breath. "You've got a deal. Now, tell us what you know."
"No problem." Eren shrugged. "From what I know, the situation at the Morningstar Bar is caused by a forbidden item. Seal that item, and the bar will return to normal."
"Forbidden item?" Coulson's brow furrowed. "What exactly is it? What does it do, and how do we seal it?"
"Forbidden items are relics left behind by demons—taboos of the world. Each one has unique abilities. The forbidden item in the Morningstar Bar is sound-based. It can hypnotize, pollute, and control living beings within a certain range through its music. Find the source of the music, and you'll find the item."
Relics of demons? Coulson had never heard of such things before.
Though skeptical, he couldn't deny that Eren's description aligned with their earlier suspicions. Ward's near-hypnotic experience had already pointed to the bar's music being the key to its strangeness.
For now, Eren's information seemed credible.
Eren then added gravely, "As for sealing it, I suggest you deploy a bomber to carpet-bomb the Morningstar Bar. Destroy the item physically—fast, safe, and effective."
The forbidden item Moonlight DJ, as described by the Scales of Fate, wasn't particularly powerful. Eren wasn't sure if such a method would work, but if it did, it might open new possibilities for dealing with similar items in the future.
Of course, he also knew Coulson would never go for such a plan.
Predictably, Coulson immediately dismissed the suggestion. "Not a chance."
This wasn't some chaotic Middle Eastern warzone—it was New York, one of the most developed cities in the Federation. Using a bomber here would lead to a public outcry that could destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. overnight.
Eren simply shrugged. "In that case, we wait."
"Wait? For what?"
"The moon. Moonlight is key to sealing this item. Until then, you'd best lock down the area and disperse the crowd. The more people enter the bar, the stronger the forbidden item becomes."
The notion that the forbidden item grew stronger with more people caused Coulson's expression to tighten. "I understand. I'll ensure the area is cleared. But why wait for moonlight? Why can't we act now?"
Coulson glanced up at the overcast New York sky. It was only midday—there were still hours to go before the moon appeared. Was he really supposed to just sit around and wait?
As night fell and the moon rose, S.H.I.E.L.D. had surrounded the Morningstar Bar with a massive tarp, concealing it entirely. This not only prevented news from leaking and causing panic but also provided cover for the next phase of their operation.
Even the surrounding buildings had been evacuated under the pretext of a gas leak.
Inside a surveillance van parked near the bar, Coulson sat before a desk piled with detailed reports. On top of the stack was a file bearing Eren's name and a photograph.
During the hours they'd been waiting, Coulson had thoroughly investigated Eren's background.
According to the file, Eren had been an unremarkable high school student. None of this matched the confident and enigmatic figure he'd encountered today.
The file also revealed that Eren had recently clashed with the Water Ghost Gang, which owned the Morningstar Bar. Two days ago, the gang had kidnapped Eren and the daughter of the NYPD commissioner. Somehow, the two had escaped, triggering a crackdown on the gang by both the police and City Hall (with Pepper Potts exerting influence).
Was Eren here to get revenge on the gang?
Wait… why had the gang kidnapped him in the first place? Could the strange events at the Morningstar Bar be connected to Eren?
If so, the entire situation might have a very different explanation.
Coulson closed the file and stepped out of the van. It was time to speak with Eren again.
Meanwhile, Eren had returned to the bar after a brief trip to Chinatown, where he'd bought some snacks and eaten a burger and fries.
The moment they met, Coulson got straight to the point. "What's the next step?"
"In thirty minutes, at midnight, the forbidden item will reach its peak power—and also its most vulnerable state. That's when you can try to retrieve it and seal it."
"How do we seal it?" Coulson asked.
Eren spread his hands and shrugged. "That's up to you. Sealing dangerous forbidden items wasn't part of our original deal."
Before Coulson could react, Eren continued with a sly grin, "But, as a personal favor to you, I can help seal it. In return, you'll owe me a favor."
Coulson hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
(End of Chapter)
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