"Mei, there's a video here, just recorded recently. You should watch it first." As Coulson spoke, he handed Melinda a mobile phone.
Taking the phone, Melinda shot Coulson a suspicious glance before opening the only video saved on it.
In the video, a tall man in a black cloak and a young white man were seen. The youth was holding a middle-aged woman hostage, a knife pressed against her side.
The young man shouted something to the cloaked figure with a ferocious expression, but the cloaked man suddenly closed a seven- or eight-meter distance in an instant. With a light tap on the white youth's shoulder, the youth collapsed to the ground.
"This…" Melinda couldn't help but stare at Coulson, her eyes wide.
Coulson smiled and gestured for her to continue watching.
In the video, after the black-cloaked man incapacitated the youth, he began to search his pockets. He retrieved several items, paused for a moment, and then vanished in a puff of smoke with a loud "bang."
When Melinda finally saw what the cloaked man had taken from the youth, she couldn't help but exclaim, "I didn't expect…"
Coulson chuckled. "I didn't expect this cloaked man to be such a… neighborhood vigilante," he said with a smile.
Having watched this video countless times before Melinda, Coulson already knew what the man in the black cloak had taken.
That's right. It was a crumpled mess of loose change.
Melinda exchanged a look with Coulson, speechless.
"Maybe this street hero really is just low on cash, so…" Coulson shrugged with a smirk.
Melinda rolled her eyes helplessly. "Okay. No wonder this matter is classified as a level 5 priority. This cloaked man might be a mutant, but he doesn't exactly fit the usual profile."
As a seasoned SHIELD field agent, Melinda had encountered many strange phenomena beyond ordinary comprehension, and mutants were a prime example.
While mutants' powers varied greatly, the weaker ones could be handled by regular police officers. But those who were powerful and couldn't control their abilities posed a significant threat to ordinary people.
Melinda, having personally witnessed the devastation caused by mutants who cannot control their powers, understands that in a densely populated city—where the use of heavy, lethal weapons is restricted—mutants can essentially be seen as human bombs. Their abilities can be a threat that can't always be contained.
However, the power demonstrated by the man in the black cloak in the video didn't match what Melinda expected. This left her slightly confused, so she turned to Coulson for clarification.
"I don't know. We won't know for sure until we make contact with him," Coulson replied, glancing at Melinda with a concerned look.
"What's Director Fury's stance on this cloaked man, Patch Meiwes?" Melinda asked again, her voice steady but inquisitive.
After reviewing Patch's file and the video, Melinda had already connected the dots. This "sunny boy," as she put it, was undoubtedly the mysterious figure active in the Thirteenth Block for over four years—the same man they had been tracking.
"From what we can see in the video, this cloaked man appears to have at least two abilities: long-distance teleportation and some sort of stun effect," Coulson mused, pausing as he searched for the right term. "Let's call it that for now."
He furrowed his brow as he continued, "What's striking is that he seems to have complete control over his powers. I've reviewed the files, and the gang members who've crossed paths with him over the past four years are typically knocked out and dumped at the police station. There have been very few serious injuries or deaths associated with him."
"That's not necessarily reassuring," Melinda replied, her tone skeptical. "He could still possess other dangerous abilities we haven't seen yet."
Coulson nodded. "Exactly. That's why Director Fury has tasked us with investigating Patch Meiwes. We're to assess the potential threat he poses, then report back with our findings and determine the next steps."
"Understood. So, what's the next move?" Melinda asked, preparing for the mission ahead.
"Official action!" Coulson said, drawing his gun from his waist as he swung open the car door and jumped out.
After checking her equipment, Melinda followed suit, sliding out of the vehicle with practiced precision.
---
When they arrived at the dilapidated shack that Patch called home, Coulson and Melinda quickly got to work. Melinda attached a high-tech instrument to the wall and fiddled with the controls, her face tense as she monitored the readings.
"The heat detector shows no signs of life in the room," she said, glancing up at Coulson.
"Maybe Patch was already gone before we got here," Coulson speculated, crossing his arms.
"I checked nearby surveillance footage," Melinda countered. "There's no record of him leaving."
Coulson shrugged. "Guess his teleportation powers are more convenient than we thought."
Melinda's expression remained stoic. "I agree. It would certainly save time on commutes."
"And you could be first on the scene in case of an emergency," Coulson added, half-joking.
They both relaxed slightly, knowing that the lack of heat signatures meant Patch likely wasn't home.
"Should we breach the door now or wait a little longer?" Melinda asked after a moment, her attention back on the task at hand.
After all, their mission this time was to contact Patch Meiwes, but with him nowhere to be found, Melinda was left in a dilemma: Should she break into Patch's house to gather intel or just head back?
"Let's take a look inside! Who knows, there might be something useful!" Coulson grinned.
"Alright." Melinda agreed, but then added, "Kolson, step aside."
As she said this, Melinda took a few steps back, preparing to charge at the door like she was about to kick it in with full force.
"May, no need…" Coulson said with a chuckle, turning the doorknob effortlessly. "Seems like Mr. Patch Meiwes, the cloaked man, never considered someone might just walk in."
With a slight shrug, Coulson continued, "His door wasn't locked at all."
He turned the knob again and gave it a little twist for good measure.
"Uh…" Melinda's face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly stepped up beside him, forcing an awkward smile. "It's just... a professional habit, that's all."
Coulson shot her a knowing look, then casually pushed the door open.
A gust of chilly air rushed out from the room, making both of them shiver involuntarily.
But as they peered inside, the sight that greeted them left them both momentarily stunned.