Chapter 575

"Seriously, stop buying stuff like that. If you want armor, I can make something ten times better myself."

After the little incident with the exploding building, Evenson and Claire had continued walking home. Somehow, Evenson had circled the conversation right back to the armor.

Five hundred dollars.

Five hundred dollars for a suit of aluminum armor that was basically a glorified display piece.

To Evenson, that wasn’t entertainment. That was financial self-harm.

They were almost at the shop when Claire finally couldn’t take it anymore. She slapped a hand over her face.

"I finally understand why you were single for so long."

"Huh?"

"I know the armor is completely useless." Claire frowned at him. "But that’s not the point. I bought it because it was fun."

She gestured at herself.

"If I actually wanted practical armor, I could just ask the Ancient One to give me Sir Lancelot’s real armor from her collection, couldn’t I? So stop obsessing over the money. You’re making this boring."

Boring?

Evenson’s expression immediately fell.

I’m a practical person. Is that really such a terrible thing?

Then another thought occurred to him.

Wait. How much would Sir Lancelot’s armor actually sell for?

"Forget it," Claire said, suddenly becoming serious. "Didn’t you notice that someone’s been following us this whole time?"

"I noticed."

Evenson barely sounded interested.

"She’s just an ordinary person. She probably saw what happened earlier and got curious. I’ll shake her off later."

The girl had no unusual energy signature whatsoever, and her tracking technique was...

Well.

It wasn’t a technique.

She was terrible at following people. Anyone with even a little experience could spot her immediately. She clearly had no training.

Evenson therefore hadn’t paid much attention to her.

"By the way," he asked, "are you actually capable of getting Sir Lancelot’s armor?"

Claire rolled her eyes and shook her head.

She walked into the little shop before him.

Not long after, Evenson had settled behind the counter.

The girl who had followed them stood outside for a few seconds, peeking through the doorway before finally stepping inside. She wandered over to one of the shelves and pretended to browse, moving with exaggerated caution.

To someone without experience, she might have looked careful.

To someone who had spent years around S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, she looked like she was actively trying to make herself suspicious.

She had black hair and what looked like mixed ancestry, with delicate features that carried a hint of East Asian heritage. She wore a black vest over a gray sweater.

After pretending to browse for a while, she picked up a pendant and walked toward the counter.

She tried very hard to look casual.

The effort only made her look more nervous.

She placed the pendant on the counter and glanced around.

"Try to act natural. Pretend I’m here to buy—"

"Madam!"

Evenson suddenly lowered his voice into the solemn tone of a fortune teller.

"I see darkness gathering around your brow. Your eyes wander, your spirit is unsettled. Within the next few days, disaster is certain to find you!"

"...What?"

The girl froze.

For several seconds, she simply stared at him, completely forgetting what she had intended to say.

Evenson continued with a grave expression.

"I shouldn’t reveal what fate has hidden, but you are one in ten thousand. I was destined to warn you, even if it means defying heaven itself."

He picked up the pendant.

"You are clearly protected by divine powers. Fate has brought you to my humble shop, where you have conveniently selected this sacred talisman, personally blessed by a holy father, a lama, a great master, and several other highly qualified religious professionals."

Claire had to bite the inside of her cheek.

Evenson held the pendant out with complete seriousness.

"Wear it, and you shall turn misfortune into fortune, disaster into prosperity, and certain doom into a mildly inconvenient Tuesday."

The girl sat completely motionless.

Her eyes were wide.

Her mouth hung open.

Five or six seconds passed before her brain finally rebooted.

"I’m not actually here to buy anything. I’m here to—"

"Hmph."

Evenson cut her off again.

"This establishment serves customers. If you have no intention of making a purchase, I’m afraid I cannot assist you."

He stood.

Hobbs immediately trotted over and stuck his face toward the door, looking remarkably like a furry bouncer.

The girl blinked twice.

Then sighed.

"Fine. I’ll buy it. How much?"

Evenson immediately sat back down.

His expression transformed from profound spiritual wisdom to enthusiastic customer service.

"One hundred dollars. Thank you for your patronage!"

You obviously came here for something. If you’re going to be this easy to fool, I’d be an idiot not to take advantage of it.

"One hundred dollars?!"

The girl’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"The tag clearly says ten!"

She spun around toward the shelf.

The price tag had indeed said ten dollars moments ago.

Now there was an extra zero.

Claire emerged from behind the shelf carrying a feather duster, smiling innocently.

I love watching him lie through his teeth with a completely straight face.

The girl stared at the price tag.

Then at Evenson.

Then back at the price tag.

Finally, she gritted her teeth.

"Fine. One hundred."

Considering why she’d come here, the importance of her mission, and the fact that this man had technically saved her life once before, she decided to let it go.

She reached into her handbag and pulled out a messy handful of crumpled bills and coins.

Five-dollar bills.

Ten-dollar bills.

Loose change.

She counted everything carefully until she had exactly one hundred dollars, then reluctantly placed the money on the counter.

Evenson looked down at the pile.

The poor kid really wasn’t carrying much.

For the briefest moment, he felt a little guilty.

He sighed.

Then reached forward...

...and swept every dollar into his drawer.

She’s so easy to scam that if I leave this money with her, someone else will just take it eventually. Better that I keep it safe.

He smiled as though he’d just performed a public service.

"Transaction complete. And naturally, a successful transaction means we’ve established a little trust. So, what brings you here?"

The girl immediately stopped looking like she’d just been robbed.

Finally. We’re getting to the point.

She’d probably be eating bread in the back of a truck for the next two weeks after spending that much.

"We should be careful," she said quietly. "Someone might be listening."

Evenson rolled his eyes.

"I don’t even know who I’m talking to yet."

"My name is Skye."

The girl smiled and introduced herself.

"And you’re a superhuman."

"Ah."

So that was what this was about.

The name was interesting, though.

"I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else," Evenson said. "I’m just the owner of this little shop."

"You haven’t fooled me."

Skye shook her head.

"I don’t mistake the people who save my life."

"Save your life?"

Evenson genuinely looked confused.

"Have I met you before?"

As far as he remembered, this was their first meeting.

"Three months ago. Outside the Chinese theater in New York."

Skye pulled out her phone and played a video.

"You were there."

The footage showed the plaza.

Then the explosion.

One of the Ultimate Beings had detonated in the middle of the square, sending a violent shock wave through the surrounding area.

Evenson had raised a barrier and stopped it.

Skye had been inside the restaurant nearby.

"Without that barrier," she said, "I’d have ended up in the hospital."

Evenson watched the footage carefully.

It only showed his back.

"That’s hardly proof that it was me."

"Listen."

Skye leaned closer.

Claire immediately slid into the seat beside Evenson, planting herself there with the unmistakable body language of someone claiming territory.

Skye ignored her completely.

"You’re in danger."

Evenson’s expression changed.

He immediately put on a cautious look.

"What kind of danger?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D."

The name landed with all the impact of a brick through a window.

Evenson knew the organization very well.

Far too well.

"What shield?"

He blinked innocently.

"Snake Shield? Something like that?"

"Agents. Government agents."

Skye lowered her voice.

"They’re terrifying people in black suits who specifically hunt people like you. They already knew about the Battle of New York before it happened. And while everyone else was still trying to understand what had happened, they were already cleaning everything up."

Her expression tightened.

"How long do you think it’ll take before they clean you up too?"

Evenson and Claire exchanged a look.

Both of them struggled not to laugh.

"So..." Evenson said, carefully maintaining his serious expression. "What exactly do you think I should do?"

"You need to step into the public eye."

Skye’s voice was firm.

"Tell everyone you’re a hero. Once you’re famous, they won’t be able to make you disappear quietly anymore."

"But I’m really just an ordinary person."

Evenson shook his head.

"An ordinary businessman."

He was having far too much fun with this.

"A businessman is supposed to have revenue," Skye said.

She picked up the talisman she’d just purchased and examined it.

"But you? The hundred dollars you just scammed out of me might be your entire monthly income."

That’s not true!

Evenson almost protested.

How could that possibly be my monthly income?

Then he reconsidered.

That’s my income for the last three months.

The accusation had hit dangerously close to home.

"However badly I’m doing," he said with a sigh, "I’m probably still doing a little better than you are right now."

He stood.

"So instead of worrying about me, maybe you should think about how you’re going to improve your own situation."

Skye seemed to understand that the conversation was over.

She immediately pulled a handwritten business card from her bag and shoved it into Evenson’s hand.

"You’ll need my help eventually."

She turned toward the door.

"When that happens, call the number on that card."

Then she paused.

"Remember. The tide has risen."

With that, Skye walked out.

Evenson looked down at the handwritten card.

Handwritten.

He clicked his tongue.

Mine are at least printed.

He examined the name written across the top.

Tide.

He frowned.

That organization...

Where had he heard that name before?

Evenson stood there staring at the card for several seconds.

Claire noticed.

"What?" she teased. "Interested in the girl?"

"Don’t start."

Evenson didn’t even turn around.

"How could I possibly be interested in her? She’s so fla—"

He stopped.

His eyes widened.

"Wait."

He remembered.

"Tide."

He finally recalled where he’d heard the name.

Evenson immediately grabbed his phone and dialed a number.

The call connected.

"Melinda? It’s me."

His voice was suddenly cheerful.

"I heard S.H.I.E.L.D. has been investigating an organization called Tide."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Well, funny story. I happen to have information about one of their important members."

A pause.

Evenson’s grin widened.

"Hold on. Didn’t S.H.I.E.L.D. put a bounty on them?"

He glanced toward the door through which Skye had just disappeared.

"So, tell me... how much is she worth?"

You said I don’t make any money?

Evenson smiled.

Fine.

Now I’ll show you how I make money.

...