Chapter 154: Caught in the Net
Hovering in mid-air to maintain a safe distance from Luke Cage, Jessica's expression was grim.
She had come to Hell's Kitchen to work as a private detective precisely to escape her past identity as a Superhero.
Who would have thought that while she didn't want to look for trouble, trouble would come knocking on her door.
The appearance of the Thunderbolts had disrupted Jessica's plan to just lie low and waste away in Hell's Kitchen.
"Sorry, but I have no intention of joining you."
Jessica was somewhat relieved. The powers she'd gained from the radiation, besides Superman-like strength, included the ability to fly, which would help her temporarily escape her current predicament.
As she spoke, she controlled her body to ascend higher.
Luke Cage didn't seem to react to this. And according to the information on the Thunderbolts team members published on the Federal Government's Superhero Registration monitoring website...
...Luke Cage didn't have the ability to stop Jessica's flight.
At this thought, Jessica's expression relaxed slightly. She took a deep breath, and just as she was about to leave Hell's Kitchen in one go...
...her gaze inadvertently fell upon Luke Cage on the ground. He raised his head and gave a slight nod in her direction.
What's going on?
Seeing Luke Cage's gesture, Jessica subconsciously frowned. Her expression was first puzzled, but she quickly realized what was happening, and it turned to shock.
No, Luke Cage's nod was clearly not a sign of goodwill towards her.
It was meant for someone behind her!
The Thunderbolts hadn't sent Luke Cage alone.
"Damn it!"
Thinking this, Jessica whipped her head around to see what was behind her.
"Ah!"
However, in the next moment.
Accompanied by a piercing shriek, an invisible impact formed from an ultrasonic wave struck Jessica's petite body.
*Thud!*
Under the ultrasonic wave's attack, the unprepared Jessica was instantly knocked unconscious, her body hitting the ground hard with a dull thud.
"You're late."
Looking down at the motionless Jessica on the ground, Luke Cage turned and said to Songbird.
"The situation in Hell's Kitchen is a bit more complicated than I expected..."
Controlling her body to land gently nearby, Songbird dissipated the wings formed from sound wave energy on her back. She turned to size up Jessica, who had been knocked out by her ultrasonic wave. "So, this is the private detective. She's even more petite than in the photos."
"Don't underestimate the danger just because of her appearance."
Stepping forward and grabbing the unconscious Jessica with one hand, Luke Cage reminded her with a still-serious expression, "If she hadn't been careless this time, catching her wouldn't have been this easy."
Among the powers Jessica possessed, the ability to fly was the most troublesome.
After all, not many members of the Thunderbolts possessed that ability.
If Jessica had seized an opportunity, or had been a little more cautious, they might not have caught her so easily.
From this perspective, Jessica really couldn't be called a competent private detective.
No wonder that, despite having been in Hell's Kitchen for so long and possessing extraordinary power, she was still having a tough time.
Looking at the unresponsive Jessica in his hand, Luke Cage nodded to Songbird beside him.
*Swoosh—*
Just as the two had completed their mission and were about to leave.
Suddenly, a long arrow shot out from the darkness, striking the arm with which Luke Cage was holding Jessica.
*Boom!*
The moment the arrowhead touched Luke Cage, it erupted in a blinding white light. It was an arrow tipped with a special flashbang.
Blinded by the flash, Luke Cage cried out in pain and let go of Jessica.
Shielding his face with his arms, Luke Cage endured the stinging pain in his eyes while warning Songbird:
"Be careful, it's Hawkeye!"
Songbird, at his side, was also affected by the flash arrow, but not as severely as Luke Cage.
Squinting her eyes, she vaguely aimed in the direction the arrow had come from, opening her mouth to unleash an ultrasonic wave attack.
"Ah..."
However, before the ultrasonic energy could form in Songbird's mouth.
*Swoosh!*
Another arrow flew out from the darkness. Her sensitivity to sound waves allowed Songbird to immediately pinpoint the direction it came from.
Without a second thought, Songbird turned her head toward the arrow and opened her mouth, about to gather solid sound wave energy for an attack.
*Bang—*
But before the sound wave in Songbird's mouth could form an effective attack, the arrow in mid-air suddenly broke apart.
*Pfft!*
With a soft pop, a large amount of smoke burst from the arrowhead, instantly engulfing the unprepared Songbird.
"Ah... *cough, cough, cough*... Damn it, what is this..."
Enveloped in smoke, Songbird began to cough violently. The ultrasonic wave attack she was about to unleash was forced to a halt by her coughing.
Having neutralized both Luke Cage and Songbird with two specialized arrows.
Hawkeye, hidden in the darkness, didn't let his guard down. Standing his ground, he fired several more arrows in succession. They landed near Luke Cage and his partner, releasing a powerful electric current that knocked them both down.
After confirming that Luke Cage and Songbird were incapable of fighting back, Hawkeye finally stepped out from his hiding spot.
Looking at the Thunderbolts members subdued by the taser arrows he had shot, Hawkeye frowned and turned his gaze to Jessica at the side.
*Swoosh!*
He took a step, about to do something, when the familiar sound of something cutting through the air suddenly made his expression change drastically.
Almost instinctively, Clint bent his knees and dove to the side.
The instant after Hawkeye rolled away, a black arrow embedded itself right where he had just been standing.
The sharp arrowhead was buried completely in the ground, a testament to the arrow's danger. If Hawkeye had hesitated for even a fraction of a second, he would have been the one struck by that arrow.
A flicker of relief crossed Clint's face at the thought.
At the same time, he rolled over without hesitation, drew an arrow from his back, and aimed it in the direction the black arrow had come from. He drew his longbow, and with the vibration of the bowstring, an arrow instantly flew from his fingers, letting out a sharp whistle as it cut through the air.
After firing the arrow, Hawkeye's expression remained unchanged, his eyes fixed firmly on the arrow he had just loosed.
Then, under his watchful gaze.
A black arrow flew out and collided with the arrow Hawkeye had shot.
*Boom!*
The sharp tip of the black arrow triggered the explosive mechanism in Hawkeye's arrowhead, creating a fiery explosion in mid-air.
Thanks to 'Aiyo Tongku' for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.
(end of chapter)