Chapter 625

Coulson had successfully landed on the island, and Quinn’s speech was already drawing to a close.

He seemed eager to meet Evenson in private, so he kept the speech mercifully short.

There were essentially two messages.

First, Quinn’s cause was righteous, his ideals noble, and S.H.I.E.L.D. and organizations like it were nothing more than thugs and thieves who constantly interfered with them and stole their technology for their own benefit.

Second, he wanted to show off his latest discovery.

Gravitonium.

He openly declared that the material had limitless potential and could revolutionize the modern world.

Evenson, standing among the crowd, wasn’t particularly impressed.

Whatever gravitonium could actually do remained to be seen, but Quinn’s accusations against S.H.I.E.L.D. were simply unfair.

S.H.I.E.L.D. barely had enough people and resources to keep itself running. When exactly had they found the time to rob Quinn of anything?

If Quinn’s technology really had been stolen, Evenson was willing to bet S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn’t done it.

The speech ended.

Quinn shook hands with several shareholders and posed for photographs before finally slipping away from the crowd.

He personally led Evenson deeper into the estate, bringing him to a secluded room inside the mansion.

"Nice place."

Evenson looked around before walking out onto the balcony.

He took in the view.

"I’ll give you that. Malick’s estate in the States isn’t nearly this extravagant."

"Mr. Malick simply prefers to keep a low profile."

Quinn smiled.

"This was the former prime minister’s official residence. To be honest, I didn’t want to be so ostentatious either. But the underground facilities here are exceptionally useful, so I’ve decided to make do with it."

Evenson almost slapped him.

Make do?

Most people would kill for a mansion like this, and Quinn was calling it making do.

"Speaking of which," Quinn said, "you’ve actually visited Mr. Malick’s home?"

"Once."

Evenson answered casually.

"Stephanie and I had dinner there."

"Oh..."

Quinn blinked.

"You know Miss Malick as well?"

He was genuinely surprised.

Gideon Malick guarded his daughter fiercely. Ordinary people didn’t simply drop by his house, let alone sit down to dinner with Stephanie.

"We’re quite close."

Evenson grinned.

He tugged lightly at the jacket he’d been wearing.

"See this suit? She gave it to me."

Quinn’s eyebrows rose.

"She also lives at my place now."

Quinn went completely still.

That close?

No matter where you were in the world, a man and woman exchanging clothes was an intimate gesture. And the way Evenson had phrased that last part...

They were living together.

Quinn looked at him again.

The man was young, well-dressed, and obviously confident.

Could this be the legendary perfect son-in-law?

The possibility seemed increasingly obvious.

Leon Kennedy.

Quinn had never heard the name before, but Kennedy was a famous American surname.

Was this man somehow connected to the Kennedy family?

"Mr. Kennedy, you’re certainly impressive for someone so young."

Quinn’s tone became noticeably warmer.

"You’re too kind."

Evenson immediately returned the compliment.

"I still have a long way to go before I can match your reputation, Mr. Quinn."

"You’re very generous."

The mutual flattery flowed effortlessly.

Then Quinn decided it was time to discuss business.

After all, a man of Malick’s stature presumably valued his time.

Three months earlier, Malick had contacted Quinn about investing in a certain company. If they could settle that matter quickly, Quinn could spend the rest of the evening building a closer relationship with Malick’s representative.

"Three months ago, Mr. Malick approached me about investing in that company. I thought..."

"You thought what?"

Evenson’s eyelid twitched.

Three months ago?

An investment?

That had to be the deal he’d asked Malick to help arrange for Umbrella.

Evenson had practically traded away a piece of his soul to get Malick to call in the favor, and this was the result?

You found me this guy? Seriously?

Quinn noticed the slight irritation on his face and immediately wondered whether he’d said something wrong.

"I thought the proposal was very workable, so I’ve decided to accept it."

"Mr. Quinn."

Evenson waved a hand.

"You should understand that Mr. Malick only works with people whose backgrounds are clean."

The implication was obvious.

You’ve got half the world’s law enforcement breathing down your neck. Why are you trying to get involved with us?

Quinn froze.

Clean backgrounds?

What major international businessman actually had a clean background?

Still, Quinn wasn’t stupid.

He thought about the wording for a moment.

A "clean" record clearly didn’t mean doing nothing illegal. It meant doing illegal things without getting caught.

Then his eyes sharpened.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is investigating me?"

Evenson spread his hands with an expression that was almost amused.

"You’ve only figured that out now? Should I be impressed?"

Quinn was startled.

Being targeted by S.H.I.E.L.D. was certainly troublesome, but it wasn’t enough to frighten him.

He’d already expected to come into conflict with them sooner or later.

"I’m not worried."

He sounded completely confident.

"Once today is over, it won’t matter."

"Heh."

Evenson gave a cold laugh.

With that attitude, there probably won’t be an ’after today.’

He pulled out a cigarette and a lighter.

When he snapped the lighter open, the inside surface facing him lit up with a row of red indicators.

A second later, they turned green.

Fitz had prepared the device specifically for him.

A signal repeater.

It could relay the connection and help him hack the laser security grid surrounding the island.

Quinn mistook Evenson’s smile for skepticism.

He didn’t take offense.

"Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not bluffing."

His confidence returned.

"I’ve obtained a technology capable of changing the world. Once I release it, every government that wants access to it will have to come to me. At that point, what can S.H.I.E.L.D. possibly do?"

Evenson stared at him.

"Sometimes I genuinely wonder how people like you get this far."

He shook his head.

"Why bother fighting you for the technology? They can just arrest you, put you on trial, and lock you away. Then taking the technology becomes much easier."

Quinn’s expression changed.

That possibility had occurred to him before, but he’d deliberately avoided dwelling on it.

He knew better than to assume governments were benevolent.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. moved slowly and he managed to release the technology first, building enough international pressure around it, he might become untouchable.

But if they moved quickly...

The same governments he was counting on could become wolves circling a wounded animal.

They could seize him, take the technology, and divide the spoils among themselves.

Quinn narrowed his eyes.

"That... wouldn’t necessarily be the end of it."

He seemed to reach a decision.

"If everything goes smoothly, I can unveil the results today. I can disappear for a while after that. Once the world recognizes the value of my technology, no one will be able to touch me."

"Naive."

Evenson was just about to reveal who he really was.

Fitz had probably already cracked the island’s security network.

Then chaos erupted outside.

Five or six bodyguards rushed into the room.

And they were dragging someone with them.

Evenson saw the captive.

His expression went blank.

Skye.

I told you to stay where you were.

Why are you wandering around on your own?

Do you have any idea what happens to captured field agents?

"What is the meaning of this?"

Quinn was furious at the interruption.

Worse, the woman his guards had captured appeared to be Evenson’s companion.

That kind of treatment was exactly the sort of thing that could offend someone representing Malick.

Then Quinn’s thoughts caught on one word.

Companion.

His brow furrowed.

Something wasn’t adding up.

If Evenson really was the sort of prospective son-in-law he’d imagined, why had he brought another woman here?

Was Malick’s family really that... modern?

Quinn’s suspicion deepened when his guards reported that the woman had secretly infiltrated the building and had been skulking around without explanation.

Then his radio crackled.

Someone had breached the laser security system and entered the estate.

Quinn’s expression changed instantly.

He snatched Skye’s handbag away from one of the guards and dumped its contents onto the floor.

Among the scattered items was a compact powder case.

He opened it.

A row of green indicators lit up inside the mirror.

Quinn’s eyes widened.

Fitz hadn’t prepared just one repeater.

He’d made two.

One for Evenson.

One for Skye.

Quinn crushed the powder case between his hands until it split in two.

Understanding hit him all at once.

He’d been played.

He spun around and glared at Evenson.

"You two came here together!"

Of course they were working together!

"So that’s why I called you naive."

Evenson ignored Quinn’s fury and slowly stood.

"You kept saying S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn’t be able to reach you today."

He gestured toward Skye.

"Then how do you explain her?"

Quinn hesitated.

"What are you saying?"

Could they really not be working together?

No.

That was absurd.

"Isn’t she the woman you brought here?"

"Wasn’t she invited by you?"

Evenson stepped forward.

"But I knew from the moment we first met that one of us was from S.H.I.E.L.D., didn’t I?"

Skye’s eyes nearly rolled into her skull.

Yes, there was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent among us when we first met.

It was you, you shameless liar.

Quinn’s anger boiled over.

"You knew she was with S.H.I.E.L.D. and still brought her here!"

He pulled a pistol from one of his guards.

He didn’t point it at anyone yet, but the way he held it made his hostility toward Evenson perfectly clear.

"Because I needed to confirm something."

Evenson suddenly grabbed Skye by the throat and hauled her off the floor.

Quinn took a nervous step backward.

"What?"

"I needed to know whether she was investigating me..."

Evenson tightened his grip.

"...or investigating you."

Quinn stared between them.

"Then what are you going to do?"

His hand tightened around the pistol.

The hammer clicked back.

The message was unmistakable.

If you expect me to trust you, prove yourself.

Evenson’s expression hardened.

"Now I know exactly who she was investigating."

He looked at Skye with chilling intensity.

"So I think it’s time you learned your lesson."

He lifted her higher.

Then he walked straight toward the balcony.

Quinn watched, stunned.

Evenson threw Skye over the railing.

She disappeared from view.

Evenson didn’t even look down.

He simply turned and walked back inside.

Quinn slowly exhaled.

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent wouldn’t kill one of their own.

Not like that.

Not with such brutality.

That had to be proof.

Evenson could be trusted.

Then something occurred to him.

Quinn’s eyes widened.

He sprinted to the balcony.

His guards had no idea why their employer was suddenly running, but they hurried after him.

Quinn looked down.

The second-floor balcony.

The swimming pool directly below.

His face drained.

Wait.

We’re only on the second floor.

And the pool is right underneath us.

He spun around.

Evenson was gone.

...