"Let's go, let's look at something else."
Fred took the bag Steve handed him and, leading his satisfied younger sister, continued walking toward the next shop.
The two passed through the bustling commercial district and arrived at a relatively open, high-end pedestrian street.
Just as Stefanie was about to enter a boutique, she suddenly stopped.
Not far away, a group of gorgeously dressed, fashionable young men and women, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen years old, were gathered, laughing and chatting, with several loud supercars parked nearby.
The moment she saw the group, Stefanie subconsciously frowned. Without a second thought, she grabbed Steve's hand and prepared to turn and leave.
"Brother, let's go that way."
Steve keenly sensed his sister's unusual behavior. He stopped, glanced at the group following Stefanie's gaze, and asked calmly.
"What's wrong? Were you bullied?"
He mused internally that since Stefanie was new to D.C, unfamiliar with the place, and didn't know anyone, she couldn't possibly hate anyone. The only people who could elicit such annoyance were likely those she had recently met at her new school.
Thinking this, Steve did not move. Instead, he stood rooted to the spot, awaiting his sister's reply. As her brother, and considering his current status, he would absolutely not allow anyone to let his sister suffer injustice right under his nose.
Seeing that her brother hadn't moved, Stefanie could only sigh helplessly and explain.
"It's actually nothing major. It's just one person who, relying on his family's money, tried to target me when I first transferred. But later, the principal seemed to warn him, so he didn't dare do anything else."
She paused, a trace of disgust appearing on her face.
"But later, he heard from somewhere that my backing was very powerful—maybe he misunderstood something—and he started desperately pursuing me, constantly pestering me."
"I've clearly refused him many times and told him not to bother me, but he still sticks to me like a piece of plaster."
Hearing this, Steve frowned slightly.
The other party probably didn't know his true identity or current specific position, as someone of that level wouldn't even be able to access the second level of The Fortress.
He guessed it was just some arrogant rich bastard who coveted his sister's beauty and, upon hearing she had some background, developed a desire for conquest.
Steve's expression was indifferent. He immediately gave Fred a look, and his tone was flat yet laced with coldness.
"Fred, have someone check who this person belongs to. How dare they stalk my sister."
"Understood."
Fred understood instantly, immediately beckoned an accompanying plainclothes special agent, and gave a few low-voiced instructions.
The special agent nodded and quickly stepped aside to begin verification through the internal network.
"Let's go, no need to pay them any mind."
After giving the instructions, Steve turned, ready to leave with Stefanie.
He had finally managed to get a day off, and his sister was also on vacation; such ant-like figures weren't worth wasting their precious time on.
However, the tree desires stillness, but the wind keeps blowing.
In the circle of idlers, a sharp-eyed follower suddenly pointed at Steve and his sister's retreating figures and shouted to the youth covered in designer brands in the center.
"Hey? Darren sir, look quickly, isn't that the transfer student you've been chasing, Stefanie?"
"Hmm?"
The young man called Darren immediately turned his head upon hearing this.
When he saw Stefanie's face, which seemed even more exquisite and beautiful than it had been at school, his eyes immediately lit up.
Immediately afterward, his gaze fell upon the tall and straight young man beside Stefanie, and a trace of jealousy and gloom flashed in his eyes.
"Who is that? How dare he stand so close to my Stefanie?"
Darren straightened his collar, thinking this was a great chance to show off his strength and devotion in front of his friends. Without another word, he immediately led his group and strode toward them, shouting.
"Stefanie love! What a coincidence."
However, before he had taken more than a few steps, two figures blocked his path without warning.
It was the two plainclothes special agents responsible for the outer perimeter security: Shaggy and S-Cube(Scoob).
Fred had given the order strictly forbidding this group from disturbing the Director and Miss.
The two men were expressionless. They immediately raised their hands to block Darren's way and said coldly.
"Step back. This is not a place you are allowed to approach."
Darren, having been blocked, immediately felt he had lost face in front of his friends and angrily cursed out of humiliation.
"What are you two monkeys? How dare you block me? Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is..."
"What? Didn't your mother tell you?!"
Shaggy coldly interrupted him, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"No matter who you are, your status is not enough for us to pay attention. Get lost."
"You!"
Darren's face turned red with anger.
At this moment, a rather effeminate-looking follower beside Darren's eyes darted around. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Darren, and pretended to mediate.
"Darren sir, forget it, forget it. Look, those two have an extraordinary presence. Their family background must be complicated. If your uncle finds out you provoked someone you shouldn't have, I'm afraid..."
These words sounded like mediation, but they were actually adding fuel to the fire.
Darren was already someone who cared deeply about face, and hearing talk of his family finding out only intensified his rebellious streak.
He had just wanted to show off in front of his love Stefanie; how could he back down now?
He suddenly remembered that he had brought over twenty bodyguards with him today.
"Afraid of what?! In this small corner of D.C, is there anyone my family can't afford to provoke?"
Darren pointed at Shaggy and S-Cube and roared at the bodyguards behind him.
"What are you standing around for? Am I paying you to do nothing? Attack! Cripple these two bastards for me."
*Whoosh!*
Hearing the command, the twenty-odd burly men following him immediately rubbed their fists and palms and surrounded Shaggy and S-Cube.
Behind them, Steve heard the commotion, stopped, and turned to look.
"Director, let's leave first."
Fred glanced at the situation and said in a low voice.
"I'll call the other brothers to help Shaggy and the others, so we can finish this quickly."
"No need."
Steve waved his hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the two surrounded men, and spoke faintly.
"Let's see how strong they really are after drinking the complete serum. To deal with this rabble, two people are enough."
'That's true."
Fred nodded. He also wanted to see how the seven-fold physical constitution boost performed in actual combat.
Stefanie was also intrigued. Although she knew the serum her brother gave them was powerful, she had never witnessed its effect in real combat.
She tugged on Steve's sleeve, her beautiful green eyes fixed intently on the scene.
Over there, Darren noticed Stefanie's gaze and became even more hyped up, shouting viciously.
"Attack! Don't let either of them walk out of here standing up."
Facing the twenty-odd aggressive bodyguards, Shaggy and S-Cube exchanged a look. There was no fear in their eyes; instead, a light of excitement shone through.