Chapter 54: A Shot to Kill

**

"It seems we must protect Stark now," Coulson said with determination.

Link replied, "So does that mean I no longer need to keep an eye on him? You just need to protect Stark, and when he makes a move, you can catch him."

"I don't have time to tail him all day, especially with my girlfriend still unaware of my job as a spy."

"Alright, you don't need to follow Stane anymore. I'll assign people to protect Stark," Coulson agreed, feeling that they had already grasped the key points. Link's analysis made sense, but he still needed to report to the Director.

Link also thought this should suffice. After all, Stane, without the Iron Monger suit, was just a regular person, and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. should be able to handle him.

After hanging up the call, Link returned to the villa. That night, in the pool, they experimented with some new athletic activities. The water resistance allowed them to exert even more effort, and they even tried it underwater.

With no immediate missions to carry out, Link continued using S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sports car, taking Jessica on a tour of Los Angeles. It was both of their first times in the city, so naturally, they wanted to explore.

Particularly in Hollywood, Link had no interest in investing in the film industry, knowing full well that it wasn't a game for ordinary people. No matter how good a movie's box office performance, they could always make it look like a loss, so Link wasn't interested at all.

However, there were plenty of beautiful women in the area, though Link was content to merely look. Jessica was the only woman he truly needed. They had a lot of fun, and just like that, two weeks flew by.

One night, as they watched the news, a gold-and-red Iron Man suit appeared on the screen. Iron Man had made his debut, going to Yinsen's hometown and wiping out a group of terrorists.

Link knew that Stane was likely about to make his move. Once Stane was caught, Link could finally take Jessica back to New York.

...

"Link, something's gone wrong!" Coulson's call came in one evening.

Curious, Link asked, "What happened?"

"Stane has the arc reactor from Stark," Coulson revealed. "We need you at Stark Industries' factory right now."

"...How is that possible?" Link was baffled.

"No time for questions! Just get here!" Coulson's voice was chaotic, then the call abruptly ended.

Frustrated, Link quickly got up and informed Jessica before heading to the storage room. He retrieved a long case, hurriedly drove away from the villa, and roared out of Beverly Hills in the sports car, pushing the vehicle to its limits.

As he neared the factory, he heard intense explosions in the distance. He didn't drive straight to the site but instead eyed the nearby buildings and headed toward a skyscraper.

After parking, he grabbed the case and entered the building, flashing his credentials, which morphed into an FBI badge.

Approaching a security guard, he barked, "FBI! I need access to the rooftop, now!"

The guard hesitated for a second before nodding at the sight of the badge, then led Link to an elevator. With a key, he locked the elevator and sent them straight to the top.

Once on the rooftop, Link opened the case, assembling a sniper rifle as he took position at the edge of the building, aiming at the two iron giants in the distance.

He still couldn't understand how Stane had managed to slip past S.H.I.E.L.D. and take Stark's arc reactor, but that wasn't his concern right now. He didn't plan on revealing his superpowers either. For now, he would just wait and see if the villain would die from his own arrogance.

The security guard, standing behind him, gawked at the distant battle between the two iron suits, instinctively shrinking back in fear. Link didn't bother sending him away since it wasn't necessary.

Adjusting the scope, Link patiently waited. He didn't need to worry about wind speed, temperature, or humidity—he could envelop the bullet with his biokinetic field, ensuring its precision.

Finally, the two suits landed on the factory roof. Stark must have done something, as Stane's suit opened up, exposing half his body. **Bang!**

Link instantly pulled the trigger!

At that exact moment, Stane was gloating. "I've never been a fan of these things, but I have to admit, I love this suit..."

Tony Stark, lying atop the arc reactor, looked up at Stane—only for Stane's head to explode suddenly.

Stark recoiled in shock. "OMG!"

Link holstered his rifle and pulled out his phone. "Coulson, Stane's down. Later, you need to tell me how you guys let him take the reactor."

"Will do. Talk soon," Coulson replied before hanging up. This was now a golden opportunity to approach Stark.

Link packed up his sniper rifle, glanced at the security guard, and said, "You did well. Now, let's head down."

"And don't tell anyone about this. Just wait for Stark Industries' press conference."

"Y-yes, sir. No problem," the security guard stammered, his eyes filled with admiration. A single, perfect shot from that distance—it had to be the work of an elite FBI agent.

Link got back to his car, turned it around, and headed home.

...

"Darling, what's inside that case?" Jessica, ever the sharp detective, had been growing suspicious. Especially after tonight.

When Link had hurried out with something, she turned on the TV, and the iron suit battle was all over the news—a huge event in Los Angeles. The local news channels wouldn't miss the chance to cover it.

The number of helicopters at the scene was massive, and they were broadcasting live. Jessica couldn't help but feel uneasy about Link's sudden departure.

"It's a sniper rifle," Link said bluntly, opening the case. "I'm a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."

He showed her his credentials, which left Jessica momentarily at a loss for words. "I wasn't suspecting you of anything..."

She tried to explain, but Link smiled, reassuring her. "You were going to find out eventually. You've always had a knack for digging into things."

"I was a cop before, but S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited me during that poker game in Las Vegas. They've been keeping an eye on Stark."

"When they recruited me, I figured it was a good idea. It's more exciting than a regular job, but I don't want to expose my... special talents."

Link then briefly explained what S.H.I.E.L.D. was and why he joined, concluding, "Being with them helps me understand this world while keeping our secrets safe."

"Of course, if anyone ever threatens us, I'll deal with them."

Relieved, Jessica hugged him, pressing her head against his chest. "I'll train harder too. I won't let myself become your weakness."

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(End of Chapter)