Containment Item-307: Carnivorous Ivy!

Ethan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he opened the SCP containment map. 

"SCP-307 is located in the Middle East? Isn't that just a desert?" 

He stared at the coordinates displayed on the screen, feeling a mix of confusion and anticipation. SCP-307 was a plant—albeit an unusual one—but why would it materialize in such an arid environment? 

The distance to the Middle East from his current location was considerable. 

"Well, I planned to leave tomorrow, but it seems I need to accelerate the timeline." 

With this thought in mind, Ethan called for Natasha. 

Upon her arrival, he issued a direct order: "Get Coulson to arrange a flight to the Middle East—ASAP. We need to head out." 

"Understood, Boss!" Natasha replied, her expression as impassive as ever. 

As she left, Ethan pondered the potential implications of their trip. Had the smuggler somehow transported the nuclear warhead to the Middle East? But that seemed impossible; how could anyone move such a significant item right under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s nose? In the agency's reports, the smuggler had always been a regular guy. 

Despite her concerns, Natasha dutifully relayed Ethan's orders to Coulson, who had just left the villa minutes earlier. 

"Are you serious? Now?" Coulson replied, frustration evident in his voice. "We just discussed waiting until tomorrow!" 

"Of course, I'll get it arranged," he sighed, knowing this operation was finally reaching its conclusion. 

After the call, Coulson couldn't help but mutter a curse under his breath. "Not that I mind, but still…" 

When he reported back to S.H.I.E.L.D., the notorious Hill, known for her icy demeanor, quickly put together a plan. 

Ethan, meanwhile, was ready to take on the challenge, his mind racing with possibilities. 

Less than half an hour later, he and Coulson arrived at the nearest airport. 

As they stepped outside, Coulson voiced his concerns. "Boss, the plane is ready, but are you sure just the two of us should go? What if things go south? What if it's a setup?" 

Ethan dismissed his worries with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry! I have my people set up over there. Besides, didn't we say we were going to trade for the warhead?" 

Coulson felt a chill run down his spine at Ethan's confident demeanor. 

"Is it really possible?" he wondered. "Am I being read like a book?" 

Despite his misgivings, he pushed those thoughts aside and reassured himself that it was just his imagination. 

But then a more pressing thought crossed his mind. What if Ethan had indeed set something up in the Middle East without their knowledge? How could he have bypassed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence? 

Realization dawned on him, causing his expression to harden. 

The three of them shared silent glances, the weight of unspoken apprehension hanging in the air. This young man seemed to have deeper connections and resources than anyone could have anticipated. 

Once aboard the plane, the atmosphere grew tense. 

Before this trip, Ethan had been seen as a mostly benign figure, an innocent heir who, according to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence, hadn't interfered with the smuggling operations until now. But with each passing moment, their perception of him began to shift, clouded by suspicion and uncertainty. 

Was this seemingly naive young man truly as innocent as the reports suggested? 

... 

After a brief nap on the plane, they finally landed in the Middle East. The clock read 8 PM as they stepped out into the dimly lit airport. 

"What's the plan now, Boss?" Coulson asked, feigning ignorance while subtly probing for information. 

"Wait for my contacts," Ethan replied, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the darkening sky. 

As soon as the words left his lips, six military Humvees drove up, stopping just before him. 

"President Walker, 6547 reporting for duty!" The vehicle's door swung open to reveal a heavily armed, muscular middle-aged man. 

Upon seeing the imposing figure, Melinda instinctively placed her hand on her weapon, while Natasha subtly shifted to a more advantageous position, ready for anything. 

Coulson evaluated 6547, his internal alarm bells ringing. "This man is at least top-tier special forces." 

Ethan nodded and climbed into the lead Humvee. "Let's head to the base." 

As the two women moved to follow him, 6547 stepped in front, blocking their path. "You two will take the vehicle behind." 

Melinda and Natasha exchanged glances, their irritation palpable. 

As they prepared to assert their authority, Ethan's voice drifted from the car. "Listen to 6547." 

A tense silence filled the air as they processed Ethan's unexpected command. 

Their plans to keep a close watch on him were rapidly unraveling, replaced by a growing unease. What other surprises was Ethan hiding? 

Once everyone was seated, the Humvees roared to life and sped off into the night. 

As they drove toward the base, Ethan's mind was already racing with thoughts about how to leverage this unexpected alliance and the power of the SCP system he now commanded. His enemies would soon learn that he was far from the ordinary heir they believed him to be.