“Coulson, come to my office!”
Nick Fury spoke to Coulson through S.H.I.E.L.D.’s internal network.
He then sat at his desk, staring at Ye Bai’s photo on the screen, his eyes flickering as he wondered what to do.
Soon, Agent Coulson arrived outside Nick Fury’s office, knocked, and entered.
“Director, what can I do for you?”
Coulson asked Nick Fury.
“Do you know this man?”
Nick Fury didn’t answer directly.
Instead, he asked Coulson a question.
Only then did Coulson notice Ye Bai on the screen.
“I do.
He’s currently the most famous young genius writer, a Chinese-American.”
“I’m a loyal fan of his.
My favorite works are The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“Director, is there something wrong with him?”
Coulson naturally knew Ye Bai.
He had a habit of reading.
What Coulson didn’t understand was why Nick Fury was asking him about Ye Bai.
Although Ye Bai’s fame was currently skyrocketing, in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s eyes, he was still just an ordinary person.
He was nothing more than a bestselling author, hardly someone worthy of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention.
“Go and make contact with him.
If possible, bring him over to our side.”
Nick Fury didn’t explain further.
There were many things he wouldn’t explain to Coulson.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Coulson.
Rather, he didn’t completely trust anyone.
“Understood, Director.
Maybe I can ask him for a signed set of his books.”
Coulson didn’t ask why either.
This was one of the main reasons he had become Nick Fury’s trusted subordinate.
Coulson never had unnecessary curiosity.
He only knew that when Nick Fury told him to do something, he did it.
“When you approach him, try to be as friendly as possible.
Don’t let things escalate into a conflict.”
Just as Coulson was about to leave, Nick Fury added another warning.
Coulson nodded with a smile before leaving.
····
Besides S.H.I.E.L.D., there was another group keeping an eye on Ye Bai and Hela.
More precisely, they were keeping an eye on Hela.
Odin sat upon his throne, his head lowered as he pondered something.
“Are you still thinking about Hela?”
Queen Frigga had arrived beside Odin at some point and asked him.
Only Odin and Frigga knew that Hela had broken free from her seal and escaped not long ago.
“Yes.
That child never stops giving me trouble.”
Odin didn’t deny it.
He never hid anything from Frigga, and Hela was no exception.
“Who do you think is responsible for Hela becoming like this?”
“Do you really have no idea?”
A hint of reproach flashed through Frigga’s eyes.
Although Hela was not her biological daughter, Frigga had raised her from childhood.
The bond between Hela and Frigga was far deeper than the bond between Hela and Odin.
Seeing what Hela had become, it was impossible for Frigga not to blame Odin.
But everything had already happened.
Even if Frigga blamed Odin, it wouldn’t change anything.
“It was my fault.
I failed to teach her properly.
She should have been the heir I was most proud of.”
“Sigh…
It’s too late for regrets now.”
“What worries me now is that Hela may pose a threat to Asgard.”
As Odin recalled the past, a trace of regret flashed through his eyes before quickly disappearing.
The mistake had already been made.
Regretting it further was meaningless.
It was better to think about how to make amends.
Odin knew that Hela would definitely return to Asgard.
The only question was whether her return would ultimately be a blessing or a disaster for Asgard.
No one could say for certain.
“I believe in that child, just as I believe in Thor and Loki.
They are all children of Asgard.”
Frigga smiled and comforted Odin.
She didn’t explain the specific reason because she had already foreseen fragments of the future.
She knew that Hela had changed.
She was no longer the cold Goddess of Death she had once been.
She had learned how to love and be loved.
As the Goddess of Magic and the most powerful witch in the Nine Realms, Frigga’s strength was clearly not as insignificant as the legends suggested.
In certain aspects, Frigga’s power was even greater than Odin’s.
····
The Nine Realms, Midgard.
After lunch, Ye Bai brought Hela to the swimming pool at the estate.
The two of them lay on lounge chairs, enjoying the sunlight.
Ye Bai was wearing only a pair of swim trunks, revealing his muscular build.
Hela was more conservative.
She wore a one-piece swimsuit, leaving only her arms and long, fair legs exposed.
Ye Bai had no idea what had happened at the estate.
Hela had erased every trace of the incident.
The only strange thing was that all the bodyguards had disappeared.
Had they gone somewhere to slack off?
It seemed he would have to replace them with another group of bodyguards.
The thought only crossed his mind briefly before Ye Bai’s attention returned to Hela.
Her exquisite features, fair skin, and long, graceful legs immediately caught his attention.
“Your gaze is making me feel threatened.
Turn around already.”
Hela complained coyly.
She knew exactly what was hidden in Ye Bai’s gaze.
Yet despite saying that, she didn’t actually do anything to stop him.
Instead, she subtly adjusted her position.
Ye Bai chuckled and didn’t take her words seriously.
After spending so much time together, he already knew Hela very well.
His wife was simply too tsundere.
She always said no with her mouth, while her actions told a completely different story.
“Wife, let me help you put on some sunscreen.
I don’t want your skin to get sunburned.”
Ye Bai said with ulterior motives, quickly putting his words into action.
Of course, this was merely an excuse.
Hela’s skin was already exceptionally resilient, and she never seemed to tan no matter how much sunlight she received.
Ye Bai couldn’t understand why and could only attribute it to her natural beauty.
As for the sunscreen, there wasn’t even any in Ye Bai’s house.
He simply wanted an excuse to get closer to her.
Hela naturally refused and immediately extended a leg to stop him, but Ye Bai caught it before she could pull away.
Looking at Hela’s bare foot as she struggled to pull it back, Ye Bai’s expression gradually became more intense.
Hela was very slender, and her ankles were delicate as well, making her look especially fragile.
For Ye Bai, who was already completely captivated by his wife, resisting her was becoming increasingly difficult.
“Wife, it’s getting late.
Let’s go inside and rest.”
Ye Bai leaned closer and spoke softly beside Hela’s ear.
Hela rolled her eyes at him.
What a blatant lie.
The sun was still shining brightly.
How could it possibly be getting late?
How could she not know what Ye Bai was thinking?
He simply wanted to get closer to her.
Still, Hela didn’t firmly refuse.
Under Ye Bai’s increasingly intense gaze, Hela eventually agreed.
“Not here.
Let’s go back to the room.”
Hela spoke softly.
If Ye Bai’s hearing hadn’t become much sharper, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hear her.