Yasuo in Marvel - Chapter 7
“One last question, and please answer honestly: have you ever thought about using your extraordinary abilities to change your current living conditions?”
Coulson was curious. There were clear records indicating Yasuo’s poor living conditions. He had initially assumed Yasuo was a mutant, hence his low profile. But Yasuo claimed to be a normal human who had simply practiced swordsmanship and become a master swordsman. Coulson couldn’t believe that a young man with such abilities wouldn’t have some ulterior motives.
“Change? My skills as a master swordsman don’t help me change my life at all. Besides chopping stones and iron blocks, I can’t think of any other use,” Yasuo replied. He understood the underlying question but thought to himself that Coulson had no idea how dangerous this world was. Yasuo still wanted to live the American dream, standing atop the world’s wealth.
With the final question answered, Coulson signaled to Melinda that they could leave.
“Hey, are you just going to leave? Don’t you have anything else to discuss?” Yasuo quickly asked as they turned to leave.
This inquiry was not what Yasuo had expected. There was no file or form to fill out, no lengthy interrogation, no patriotic speeches—just a few simple questions. Yasuo felt like a beautiful woman had flirted with him, only to say she had to go home once he took off his pants.
“Yes, the assessment is over. Your evaluation went well. You can continue your current life, provided you control your, um, abilities,” Coulson said, somewhat awkwardly. The process should have been longer, but the protocol for mutants didn’t apply to a normal human. This contact felt abrupt and incomplete. Coulson wanted to report back and figure out if any additional steps were necessary.
Melinda, also on her first mission of this type, was happy to cooperate with Coulson. She looked forward to a relaxing vacation and transitioning to a desk job, starting a new phase of her life.
Hearing that the evaluation was over, Yasuo couldn’t hold back any longer. There was no point in hiding anymore. As the saying went, “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
“I wanted to say, I’m very powerful. Haven’t you considered letting me join you?” Yasuo quickly revealed his inner thoughts as they prepared to leave.
“You want to join S.H.I.E.L.D.?” Melinda was surprised, not expecting this twist at the end of their mission.
“Yes. You can see my business isn’t doing well, and I’m not a bad guy. I want to change my life. I’ve heard government jobs pay well,” Yasuo said, spreading his hands to show his willingness to join S.H.I.E.L.D.
Melinda was intrigued. Yasuo’s abilities were entirely controllable and could be valuable for special missions. Though she knew of some normal humans with extraordinary abilities, this was the first time someone had expressed a desire to join S.H.I.E.L.D.
“Sorry, Mr. Yasuo, thank you for your interest in S.H.I.E.L.D. But joining us isn’t as simple as filling out a form and stamping it. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s standards require rigorous vetting and extensive training. Loyalty and control are non-negotiable. However, I’ll report your situation and desire to join to my superiors. At the very least, we can help you apply for social assistance to improve your current conditions,” Coulson said, seeing Melinda’s interest and decisively rejecting Yasuo.
Yasuo was stunned by Coulson’s straightforward refusal. As he watched them leave, he silently cursed Coulson. Damn, in the movies, Coulson was a kind-hearted guy who was nice to everyone!
Through six months of experience, Yasuo realized that in this damned Marvel world, he couldn’t make significant waves. With black tech everywhere and superheroes popping up, he couldn’t even commit crimes without worrying about mutants or superheroes showing up. Though he had become a half-divine Yasuo, he was still just an ordinary existence in the Marvel world.
Even though he was exposed, he saw an opportunity to join S.H.I.E.L.D., only for his American dream of living a luxurious life to be shattered by Coulson’s refusal.
In the car, with Coulson driving this time, Melinda couldn’t help but voice her doubts. “Why did you refuse that young man’s request to join S.H.I.E.L.D.? That’s not like you.”
“Yes, he could be useful, but something feels off. He has hidden secrets. His demeanor doesn’t match his age. He wants to join S.H.I.E.L.D. just for the money, without any loyalty. That’s against our principles,” Coulson explained his feelings.
“Now that you mention it, it is odd. A regular person with great power living so low-key, struggling to eat ramen. Even if he wanted to destroy the world, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Melinda said, catching on to the critical point.
“And I didn’t reject him completely. I’ll report to Director Nick Fury, and it’s up to him to decide whether to accept him,” Coulson said calmly.
Yasuo never realized his mistakes were so glaring. Identical wounds exposed his abilities, and his low-profile life made S.H.I.E.L.D. suspect he had secrets. Yasuo admitted he had secrets, but they weren’t about destroying the world. He just wanted to find a stable job and change his life.
Reflecting later, Yasuo understood why Coulson rejected him. Before forming the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. had no other special talents besides Black Widow and Hawkeye. If S.H.I.E.L.D. casually recruited outsiders, there would be a flood of mutants and street heroes like Daredevil and Luke Cage. It wasn’t until Thor arrived on Earth and Fury sensed a greater threat that he considered forming the Avengers. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s first rule was loyalty.
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