012. The Mysterious Man

Nick Fury sat in his office chair, glancing over a report in his hands. In front of him were Black Widow and Hawkeye, both standing at attention. Fury set the report down and looked up at them.

"This is the analysis report from the hair sample we took while he was asleep last night," Fury began. "The results are in. He's... just a regular human. Let me know what you think."

Despite his calm tone, Fury was surprised by the outcome. Ever since he first became aware of Jiang Chen, he had his suspicions—wondering if Jiang Chen was some kind of mutant. After all, there were stories of mutants with uncanny luck, and the things Jiang Chen had done certainly made him seem extraordinary.

But now? It seemed Jiang Chen was nothing more than an ordinary man, which only deepened Fury's confusion.

How can a regular person be this lucky? Fury thought to himself.

Sitting down on a nearby sofa, Black Widow stretched out and crossed her legs. "I have to admit, his luck is something else," she said. "If he's not an enemy, I don't see any harm in keeping him around S.H.I.E.L.D."

She paused for a moment, as if considering something. "No background, no traceable history, yet his psychological tactics are top-notch. He could make a great agent."

A small smile formed on her lips as she mused over the idea. Hawkeye, standing nearby, frowned.

"I never believed in luck," Hawkeye muttered, clearly unimpressed.

Black Widow glanced over at him, her smile fading slightly. "I didn't either, at first. But you have to admit—some people are just favored by the goddess of luck."

Hawkeye's frown deepened. It wasn't just her words—it was the fact that Black Widow, of all people, was so openly praising a man they barely knew. Someone who had no verifiable background, no traceable history, and had simply appeared out of nowhere. He didn't like it.

"Sounds like he's more of a mascot than an asset," Hawkeye said, his voice cold.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Black Widow's expression turned serious. "Agent Barton," she said sharply, "are you targeting him for a reason?"

Hawkeye shook his head, his tone still calm but firm. "I don't target anyone. I just think you're trusting him a bit too much, considering the circumstances."

Black Widow's eyes narrowed. "So, you're doubting my instincts as an agent?"

Hawkeye didn't hesitate. "Instincts should always come second to facts. And the facts show he's just a regular guy with a streak of luck."

Black Widow's expression hardened. "Luck is a kind of strength too," she shot back. "Have you ever seen a regular guy walk out of a firefight without a scratch?"

Hawkeye's face remained expressionless, though his eyes were filled with quiet disdain. "That's only because he hasn't faced my arrows yet."

The tension between the two was palpable, but Black Widow wasn't backing down. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, Agent Barton, are you seriously suggesting you see him as a threat?"

Before Hawkeye could respond, Fury, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

"Alright, enough," Fury said, standing up from his chair. "I agree with both of you. He may be a regular guy, but the fact that we can't find anything on him is suspicious. And the way he showed up out of nowhere? That makes me cautious."

Fury turned to Black Widow. "Natalie, if you're right and he's good with psychological tactics, then let's play a little game with him."

He then looked at Hawkeye, a hint of a challenge in his eyes. "Barton, go ahead. Show him what your arrows can do."

---

Jiang Chen woke up in a small, dimly lit room, feeling a strange sense of unease. He tried to sit up, only to notice that there was someone standing in front of him—Hawkeye, an arrow nocked and drawn, pointed directly at him.

Seriously? Jiang Chen thought. Why does this guy hate me so much?

He met Hawkeye's cold gaze, trying to remain calm. "Who are you?" Hawkeye asked, his voice flat, but with an edge of threat.

Jiang Chen frowned. Why does everyone keep asking me that?

"I've already told you. I'm Jiang Chen. Who else could I be?" he replied, clearly irritated.

It's not like I'm some sort of villain. I've never hurt anyone. I don't steal, don't kill. Heck, I didn't even cheat at the casino. All I did was win some money and somehow tick off Black Widow.

But here he was, staring down an arrow like he'd done something much worse.

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