C 35

Phil Coulson?

Anton was taken aback, staring at the slightly bald man in front of him. He thought to himself that while they may not look alike, there was a certain commonality in their appearance. Perhaps men who love to laugh share the same weaknesses. 

Phil, on the other hand, seemed a bit unnerved, as if he could sense the scrutiny in Anton's gaze, which felt pointed and unfriendly.

"I am here because of yesterday's events," Phil said, his voice steady despite Anton's demeanor.

He continued, "Please come with me. On behalf of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, I want to talk to you."

"How do you want to talk?" Anton replied, crossing his arms with a dismissive attitude.

"Your companion is already waiting for you in the meeting room," Coulson stated, unfazed by Anton's flippancy.

"Let's go then," Anton said, raising an eyebrow and gesturing for Phil to lead the way.

Hotel Meeting Room

Eddie, Annie, and Lewis had arrived first, sitting at the conference table under the watchful gaze of members of the Security Bureau, or S.H.I.E.L.D. Eddie looked around, surprise etched on his face. 

There was no need for Venom to remind him that these agents, having undergone special training, had an unshakeable demeanor.

He recalled their self-introduction: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division.

This was an official department! The events at the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday were likely the reason for their presence. 

The clash of two monsters and Batman joining the fray was sensational enough to alert such a significant agency. If this kind of incident didn't warrant their attention, one might wonder what purpose the agency served.

"Anton," Eddie said a few minutes later as they saw Anton slowly entering, looking somewhat sleepy-eyed, with Phil Coulson beside him.

"Go ahead, Coulson. What do you want?" Anton nodded to Eddie and the others, signaling them to calm down before pulling out a chair, adopting an air of casual defiance.

"Hello, this is Phil Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, and I am in charge of this conversation."

Coulson introduced himself to Eddie and the others, then continued, "We understand the ins and outs of what happened yesterday. Carlton Drake is very guilty, and we will impose the most severe punishment on him. Don't even think about him leaving prison again."

"You don't need to emphasize that. With or without you, Drake will stay in jail for life," Anton replied confidently, a smile on his lips that did not quite reach his eyes.

"The relevant departments always show up after the fact. You came to us today because you want to ask us questions about the symbiote, right? You should go to the Life Foundation for that."

"There are reasons for this," Phil said calmly, unfazed by Anton's challenge. He glanced at Eddie and Anton. "After all, among the people present, there is only one symbiote host in the world for now."

Eddie frowned slightly, processing Phil's words. "What do you mean?"

"This world is not as peaceful as you both imagine. Our agency has made significant contributions to maintaining order," Coulson explained. "You might think we arrived too late, but in reality, this has been more of a test."

"A test for Eddie and me?" Anton asked, intrigued.

"Yes, you passed the test. Therefore, we hope that you both can become special consultants for the Security Bureau to assist us in resolving related incidents," Phil continued. "In return, we will handle the finalization of this incident and address any troubles in the future."

"What if we don't agree? You won't deal with it, will you?" Anton challenged.

"No, we will still address it," Phil replied, maintaining his polite demeanor. "The door of the Security Bureau is always open for you."

Anton smirked slightly, "I hope to see some sincerity before you say that."

"In fact, we have shown sincerity," Phil countered, producing a document from his briefcase.

"We have asked Oscorp to apologize to Mr. Brock and ensure that he will not be harassed in the future. Furthermore, regarding the shares of the Life Foundation, Norman Osborn has promised to transfer 10% to the Jameson family."

Phil handed a check to Eddie. "Mr. Brock, this is part of Oscorp's apology."

Eddie took it, his eyes widening as he saw the number of zeros on the check. Ten million dollars! This was not just a token of goodwill; it signified the value of the 10% stake in the Life Foundation. 

Eddie knew full well that this was just a fraction of the billions of dollars involved in the deal.

"It looks sincere indeed," Anton remarked, also surprised, as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He then politely declined, "Well, regarding the Security Bureau's invitation, I will consider it carefully with Eddie."

Although S.H.I.E.L.D. seemed powerful, Anton knew it was also a complex web of troubles. He wasn't foolish enough to jump into such a pit. At least, until the Hydra situation was resolved, he wouldn't consider S.H.I.E.L.D. a safe place. 

For now, keeping the lines of communication open, as Phil suggested, was the best course of action.

"Then don't let me bother you any further!" Phil replied, understanding the implication. He smiled slightly, handed over a business card with his contact information, and waved goodbye. "If you need anything in the future, you can contact me at any time."

"Sure thing," Anton nodded.

"By the way!" Before Phil left, he turned to Annie and Dan, who had been quietly observing the proceedings. "Miss Weying and Mr. Lewis, here is a non-disclosure agreement that you need to sign."

"Uh…" Annie and Dan exchanged glances, momentarily confused since they hadn't anticipated any involvement. Nevertheless, they complied and signed the agreement.

A few minutes later, Phil and the others departed, leaving Anton and the group sitting in the meeting room.

Eddie continued to gaze at the check, grinning widely, nearly unable to contain his joy. He never expected to strike such a lucrative deal, akin to hitting the jackpot.

"Don't laugh!" Anton rolled his eyes. "Now that things are settled, it's time for you to think about returning to normal life!"

"What?" Eddie blinked in disbelief. "I'm a multimillionaire! You want me to go back to work?"

Anton shot him a serious look. "Your position as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle has been waiting for you. You don't want to leave me hanging, do you?"

"A few days off isn't too much, right?" Eddie asked tentatively.

"Three days!" Anton declared decisively. "After three days, you will report back to New York."

"No problem." Eddie agreed, albeit reluctantly. The recent events had opened up new worlds for him, and taking a break would help him adjust, avoiding too much stress and a subsequent mental breakdown.

After a moment of silence, Eddie recalled the man from the relevant department named "Phil." "Phil?" he pondered. "Did we forget someone?"

An Apartment Somewhere in San Francisco

Phil Urich was bouncing around his apartment, watching internet videos about the "Monster Wars of the Golden Gate Bridge."

Since the news broke, he had sent emails to both Anton and Eddie, but neither had responded.

Phil felt a twinge of disappointment, believing that the two were busy dealing with their newfound issues.

Unbeknownst to him, his two bosses had spent the night in a nightclub, completely forgetting about the subordinate left behind in San Francisco.

….

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