MARVEL: THOSE YEARS I WAS UNDERCOVER IN S.H.I.E.LD

"You know what? The first time I ever went on a mission, my target was a real piece of work."

Grimclaw looked down condescendingly at the thief lying on the ground, clutching his legs and wailing in agony.

With a quiet chuckle, Grimclaw muttered, "I was young back then, still had a bit of that idealistic streak."

"So when I learned about the kind of scum this guy was, I made sure to avoid any immediately fatal shots… and instead, I rewarded him with a full twenty-four bullets."

"I thought he'd hold out for a while, but in less than ten minutes, he was dead."

As he spoke, a slow smile spread across Grimclaw's face. "I really hope you can break that record."

"So, do me a favor—hold on, will you?"

His voice was incredibly gentle, almost affectionate, as though he were speaking to something rare and precious.

Yet, the words themselves sent chills down the spine.

The eerie contrast made the two Aegis interrogators, Selena and Agent Aegis, shudder involuntarily.

Not to mention the thief, who continued to howl in pain, his face twisted in sheer terror.

"Devil… you're a devil! I swear, you're not human—!"

Bang!

Before he could finish, another gunshot rang out, and a bullet tore through his arm.

"Ahhh!"

As the thief screamed in fresh agony, Grimclaw clicked his tongue. "Ah, my bad. A misfire."

"But it's not a big deal. After all, this is Aegis. And I'm the one in charge here, so no one can tell me what to do."

"As for your so-called accusations—sorry, but we don't accept those. After all, this is Aegis, isn't it?"

Crouching down, Grimclaw reached out and lifted the thief's face, tilting his head slightly.

The man's face was streaked with sweat and tears, his breathing ragged.

With that same unnerving tenderness, Grimclaw continued, "Back then, I wasn't in charge of Aegis."

"I had just come out of the Eagle's Nest, and my superior at the time, Director Nick Fury, was keeping a close eye on me."

"After I pumped twenty-four bullets into that bastard, Fury really let me have it."

"But not for what I did."

A small chuckle.

"No, he scolded me because using twenty-four bullets was wasteful—he said a simple dagger would've been more efficient."

"Because, after all, the pain caused by a blade lasts much longer than a bullet wound."

With deliberate care, Grimclaw smoothed the thief's disheveled hair, adjusting it with unsettling gentleness.

Still smiling, he whispered, "So, do your best to endure, okay?"

"D-devil… the devil… I'll talk! I-I'll tell you everything…!"

Faced with that bright, almost angelic smile, the thief's entire body shook uncontrollably.

It was as if Grimclaw, with his warm and cheerful expression, was the very embodiment of the devil himself.

"Already giving in? How disappointing."

Grimclaw sighed, shaking his head as though truly regretful.

That single reaction sent a new wave of horror through the thief's body.

In a frantic rush to prevent another "misfire," he blurted out everything—where he had stashed the stolen goods, details about the black market, the locations of illegal transactions—anything and everything.

He spoke so fast that even Selena forgot to record it.

After verifying the information, Grimclaw stood up and turned to the two interrogators.

"Call the base doctor. Get him patched up."

"If he's lying, the game continues."

Selena and Agent Aegis instinctively snapped to attention, nodding rapidly.

As for the thief—when he heard that the "game" might continue, he was so terrified that he wailed in desperation.

"Everything I said is true! I swear! I swear it's all true!"

Grimclaw's eyes glimmered with amusement. "We'll find out soon enough."

Giving the trembling thief a playful wink, he turned and walked out of the interrogation room with Selena.

The moment they left, the thief's heart-wrenching sobs filled the air.

Hearing it, Grimclaw nodded in satisfaction.

Well, maybe this poor guy had just learned a valuable lesson.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the first step toward his redemption.

After all, what better way to teach someone morality than by setting an example yourself?

Ah, Grimclaw—you're such a kind soul.

Trailing behind him, clutching her report, Selena hesitated.

Then, unable to hold back any longer, she whispered, "Sir… isn't this a little excessive? If someone finds out—"

"Who would find out?"

Grimclaw flashed her a bright, carefree smile.

"Aegis doesn't answer to anyone. Rules? We don't have to care about those."

"That's what Director Fury taught me."

Selena stared at that cheerful, handsome face.

But no matter how hard she tried, all she could see was the chilling image of the interrogation room.

No—there had to be some explanation.

Surely, someone as warm and kind as Grimclaw… he couldn't be a cold-blooded monster.

Right?

Well, it must have been Director Fury's influence.

Yes.

That was the only explanation.

Handsome people can't possibly be villains!

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