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The Phantom accelerated, weaving through traffic with unnatural precision. In the rearview camera, the two pursuing vehicles closed in fast, their windows rolling down as gun barrels protruded.
Muzzle flashes lit the night.
Bullets pinged off the Phantom's reinforced frame.
The car's robotic voice spoke calmly through the chaos:
"Permission to retaliate?"
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"Granted."
"Confirmed. Engaging."
Panels on the Phantom's rear bumper slid open with a soft mechanical hiss. A targeting HUD bloomed across the dashboard—tracking both hostile cars with surgical precision.
From the rear of the Phantom, two compact auto‑turret barrels extended and locked into place.
Beep… beep… BEEEP.
THUMP—THUMP.
Two smart‑rounds shot out, streaking through the night. Each bullet curved mid‑flight, adjusting trajectory like guided darts.
Both struck perfectly—smashing through the windshields and hitting each enemy driver square in the head.
The hostile cars jerked violently, engines still roaring as they lost control.
One flipped sideways.
The other veered hard into a divider.
Both crashed in explosive shudders of metal and glass.
Storm Shadow didn't even blink.
"Two down."
Coulson stared at the wreckage on the screen, baffled.
"How?! How did you take out two cars at over fifty meters… with just two rounds?"
Ethan smirked, tapping the dashboard lightly.
"Smart‑targeting system. I built it myself. It can lock onto a target like a missile—except my version uses compact micro‑missiles about the size of sniper bullets. Good, right?"
"That's not what I meant."
Coulson swallowed, glancing back at Ethan with a far more serious expression.
"I meant… how are you doing this so casually? Killing some one so casually?"
Ethan's face didn't move. His expression didn't waver.
"My mother taught me to kill."
Coulson froze.
Storm Shadow added quietly, "Everyone in the Arashikage clan knows how to kill."
Coulson looked between them, there was no smile on his face anymore.
"Is it… that easy for you two? To take a life?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No. It's not easy. But I knew they were after my life. I acted in self‑defense."
"You could've just shot their tires, or disabled the engine—something that didn't involve killing them," Coulson argued.
"I appreciate that you're thinking of me," Ethan replied calmly. "But it's fine. I know what I'm doing. I didn't kill them cold‑bloodedly… I retaliated only after they attacked."
"You're far too young for this," Coulson said quietly.
"I know. That's why my mother kept me away from her family," Ethan replied.
Coulson glanced at him again—this time not with anger, but with concern.
"Ethan… this isn't normal. Kids your age shouldn't talk about killing like it's homework."
Storm Shadow, arms crossed, spoke before Ethan could answer.
"He is Arashikage by blood. Whether he likes it or not, danger finds people like him."
"That doesn't make it right," Coulson shot back.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Look, I didn't ask for any of this. But if people are coming after my life, I'm not going to sit there and die just to avoid feeling guilty. I did what I had to."
Sarah leaned forward from her seat, voice softer than before.
"Ethan… did your mother really teach you those things?"
Ethan didn't hesitate as he replied.
"She taught me how to protect myself. That's all I'll say."
Storm Shadow nodded subtly, as if confirming something only he understood.
The car swerved sharply as Phantom executed an evasive maneuver.
"Warning," the robotic voice spoke, "unidentified vehicle approaching from the rear at high speed."
"Who are they?" Ethan asked, frowning. "I don't remember Mother mentioning them."
"My mother didn't have any enemies either," Ethan mumbled, then looked at Coulson. "Robert… don't tell me they're my father's enemies—or someone after the inheritance left by him?"
Before Coulson could reply, Storm Shadow's voice cut sharply:
"You better not lie. Or I will kill you right now. You are the most suspicious here," he said coldly.
Coulson held up his hands, calm but serious. "Yes… you're right. They are your father's enemies."
Ethan glanced at Storm Shadow.
"He's not lying," Storm Shadow confirmed.
Ethan muttered under his breath, "I knew it… billion-dollar inheritances don't just appear magically without any danger."
Coulson gave a wary smile.
"I'm still trying to figure out who they are," he said.
Ethan sighed. "So… you're not my mother's friend, but my father's?" he asked.
"Yes. I worked for him," Coulson nodded.
"Who was Ethan-sama's father?" Storm Shadow asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"He was… not someone great," Coulson said cautiously.
Storm Shadow frowned. "You are lying."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Robert… No, is Robert even your real name? And Sarah… you also work for him. He sent you to me. Who are you two really?"
He took out a gun from the side aiming at them.
"I also made it , guided bullet size missiles. It can blast a small hole in thick steel walls… choose your words carefully," Ethan said coldly, keeping his gun aimed on them.
Coulson and Sarah exchanged glances and sighed.
"We didn't want to hide it from you," Coulson said. "But your mother… she didn't want you to be involved in this kind of life."
"I'm an adult now. I can make my own decisions," Ethan replied, his voice calm, never lowering his gun.
"Your father… he was a high-level agent in SHIELD, and so are we," Coulson added.
Storm Shadow nodded. "He is telling the truth."
Ethan looked at them sharply. "Are you my enemies?"
"No. We are on your side," Coulson replied.
"He is not lying," Storm Shadow added, as Ethan slowly lowered his gun.
"Sorry," Ethan said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was just… agitated."
"It's okay. We understand," Sarah nodded. "My real name is Sharon Carter."
"Phil Coulson," Coulson added, giving a small smile.
Ethan tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "So… what is this SHIELD? I've never heard of it."
He was calm, though inwardly he was amused. Hehe… using the mayhem, I forced them to reveal the truth.
Coulson took a deep breath, glancing at Ethan before speaking carefully.
"SHIELD stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," he began. "It's… essentially a global intelligence and defense organization. We handle threats that normal agencies can't—terrorism, advanced technology, superpowered individuals, things that can't be contained by conventional means."