011. S.H.I.E.L.D.

Black Widow stepped out of the car and surveyed the damage. The vehicle was in rough shape—the body badly dented from the impact, and the fuel tank nearly empty.

So that's why the car stopped—it ran out of gas, she thought, frowning.

If, in the past, she could have written off Jiang Chen's luck as mere coincidence—a series of flukes—this time, it felt different. Winning money might be cheating. Unlocking a combination could be dumb luck. The missed bullets could be because the enemy had poor aim.

But this? This was something else.

One coincidence is chance, two is luck, but more than that? It's something real.

Her doubts about Jiang Chen slowly shifted. She began to believe there was something more to him.

A small smile crept onto her face as she approached him. "What's your name?" she asked, her voice light.

Jiang Chen, noticing her approach, furrowed his brow before answering, "Jiang Chen."

Black Widow's smile widened slightly, as she repeated his name softly.

Just then, a rough voice interrupted them.

"Excuse me. Thought I'd step in for a moment."

Jiang Chen turned to see a tall man approaching, wearing an eyepatch over his left eye. Next to him, a man with a quiver full of arrows strapped to his back.

Nick Fury and Hawkeye, Jiang Chen guessed immediately.

Nick Fury stopped in front of him, giving Black Widow a teasing look.

"I heard you lost five million betting," Fury said, smirking.

Black Widow sighed, shaking her head, clearly not wanting to revisit the subject.

Fury chuckled before turning his attention to Jiang Chen. "So, are you here to collect on that debt?"

It was late, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. building was mostly dark, save for the faint glow of a patrol light. Jiang Chen had always imagined Nick Fury to be an imposing figure. But when the man smiled, flashing his brilliant white teeth, Jiang Chen couldn't help but notice just how... distinct those teeth were. At least I can see him clearly in the dark, he thought.

Jiang Chen nodded politely. "Director Fury."

Fury's eyebrow shot up, clearly surprised that Jiang Chen knew his name.

How does this guy know so much? Fury wondered, though he figured S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance likely had something to do with it. The curiosity surrounding Jiang Chen's uncanny luck had intrigued him, especially after Black Widow's losses.

"Funny story," Fury said, slinging an arm over Jiang Chen's shoulder and leading him forward. "Last time I won some money off of her, she roughed me up. How'd you manage to win and not get punched?"

Black Widow, walking beside them, gave Fury a withering look. "I don't hit my boss," she said dryly. "I like getting paid."

Fury chuckled. "Well, I guess I should be grateful I'm still around then."

Still smiling, Fury glanced at Jiang Chen. "I like you, kid. So, how about you crash here for the night? Could be worse places to sleep."

Hawkeye, who had been silent until now, chimed in from behind, his voice low and dry. "We might have to start saving money. Our mission budget's nearly gone."

Black Widow shot Hawkeye an annoyed look.

Fury smirked. "Maybe we'll start by cutting your salary."

Hawkeye gave a small shrug, his expression still unreadable, but Jiang Chen could feel the subtle tension. He's not exactly thrilled to see me, Jiang Chen thought, noticing the archer's unspoken hostility.

"Anyway," Fury said with a grin, "you'll stay here tonight. It's settled."

Jiang Chen hesitated for a moment. He'd only recently arrived in this world, and having a safe place to sleep wasn't something he was going to turn down. Besides, Black Widow still owed him that five million, and he wasn't one to forget debts—even if they were from someone like her.

She might look good, but that doesn't get her out of paying up, he mused.

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