Chapter 21: Shock Your Hear - Part 5

The interior of the ship had become a scene of chaos after a malfunction in the engine room. Amid the confusion, we—myself, Shocker, the executives and agents of A.I.M and the Life Foundation—managed to escape.

Because our numbers were large, we split between two boats.

One boat carried the executives and agents of A.I.M and the Life Foundation.

The other carried me, Shocker, and some of Fisk’s subordinates who had been on the ship.

Not all of Fisk’s men boarded this small boat.

Only those who were too deeply involved in wrongdoing to escape scrutiny if questioned.

The others acted like ordinary crew members, guiding passengers to safety and keeping up appearances.

Supported by Shocker, I was lowered onto the deck of the small boat and stared at the large passenger ship as smoke billowed from it.

...This isn’t going to fall on me, is it? I mean, sure, it was my attack that finally broke everything, but still...

『S-sorry. Shocker, you... saved me』

“Nah, don’t mention it. You’re someone I owe a lot to. Besides, that was incredible. Taking down the Avengers like that.”

『Didn’t defeat them. Just... ran』

I realized my voice was acting strangely. It cut out intermittently with static. Maybe the suit had sustained too much strain and was beginning to malfunction.

“H-hey. You okay?”

『I’m fine. Just the mask... broken』

I let out a sigh and tried to relax. Activating my healing factor, I repaired the injuries to my vital organs. All that was left was to heal my right arm, where the damage had reached the skin and bone.

...Now that the battle’s over and the adrenaline’s wearing off, the pain in my arm is starting to throb. It hurts.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

『By the way... didn’t you say you didn’t want to kill women and children? Why is that?』

“Huh? Oh... mind if I tell you a bit of a personal story?”

『I’ve got nothing but time』

Muttering something about how I wasn’t what he expected, Shocker began to speak.

He lost his parents at a young age. Needed money to support his little sister. When she got sick, he couldn’t save her because they had no money.

That’s when he became “Shocker.”

To take money from the rich who had turned their backs on him.

To deliver a “shock” to a rotten world.

That’s why killing people like his sister—women and children—goes against his principles. That’s what he told me.

『I see...』

“Yeah, I don’t talk about it much. But I figured you wouldn’t go blabbing. Still kinda embarrassing though.”

『...Embarrassing?』

“It’s kinda... sappy, you know?”

『Not at all. I would never laugh at your past. And if anyone does, just tell me. I’ll kill them for you, Shocker』

I meant it. Despite being a genius inventor, Shocker hadn’t been able to escape the trauma of his past.

No one had the right to laugh. I wouldn’t let anyone.

“Haha, coming from you, that doesn’t sound like a joke. ...Oh yeah. Don’t call me Shocker anymore. Call me Herman.”

That’s what he said—no, that’s what Herman Schultz said.

He removed his mask, revealing his face.

A man with sharp features and blonde hair. Though his hair, usually kept neat, was now drenched with sweat and completely disheveled.

『...I can’t show you my face, Herman』

“It’s fine. This is just my way of showing sincerity. You didn’t laugh at my life as Herman. You’re a good person. So I wanted you to know who I really am.”

『I see』

“Yeah. Thanks, Redcap. You saved me back there.”

Herman bowed his head slightly and smiled.

『No, I should be the one thanking you. If you... hadn’t been there, I... wouldn’t have won. Thank... you, Herman』

Suddenly, my voice modulator cut out.

The inorganic, mechanical tone transformed into the voice of a young girl.

The helmet’s functions must’ve completely failed. Fortunately, my vision wasn’t dependent on the system, so I could still see... but—

I looked at Herman.

...He looked utterly shocked.

“...Herman—no, Shocker. Keep this to yourself. Or else—”

“A-ah, of course. I’ll keep it secret. Obviously.”

Before I could finish my warning, Herman cut in.

His face... what was that expression? Sadness? Anger... pity?

It looked like he was trying to suppress a mix of complicated emotions.

“...I see. Sorry about that, Shocker.”

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry. For hearing your voice... And also, I’m not Shocker. I’m Herman. Just Herman is fine.”

“Are you sure?”

I didn’t exactly lie about my identity, but I had let him be misled.

Even so...

“If I say it’s fine, then it’s fine. Kids should just listen to what adults tell them.”

“Oh? Now that you know I’m younger, you’re treating me like a child? You’ve got some nerve.”

“Whoa—hey, my bad, my bad...”

Shocker let out a laugh, like it just slipped out.

He was a comrade who had walked through death by my side.

And I... felt just a little friendship toward him.

I laughed. He laughed.

For now, I just wanted to rest my wounded body and enjoy a quiet moment.

The morning sun began to rise over the horizon.

A helicopter arrived above the smoke-spewing ship.

No… calling it a helicopter might be too generous—it looked a bit too futuristic for that.

A single man descended.

A stern, dark-skinned man with a shaved head, wearing a black shirt and a black coat.

At a glance, he looked no different from a typical villain.

The eyepatch over his left eye only added to his menacing appearance.

However, the symbol on the aircraft he arrived in bore the silhouette of a bird of prey.

It was the emblem of the international peacekeeping organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D.

And then, an agent stepped forward in front of the man.

“Director Fury. Thank you for coming.”

“Likewise. You’ve done well.”

The dark-skinned man—Nick Fury—replied in kind.

Watching this exchange, I handed over Black Widow, Natasha, whom I had been carrying, to the medics aboard the chopper, then turned to face Fury.

“...I didn’t expect the Captain to let them slip away.”

“I may be a super-soldier, but I’m not perfect.”

I wasn’t trying to deflect blame.

But being overly trusted could be dangerous too.

I had learned that time and again during the war.

The man with the eyepatch standing before me—he was Nick Fury, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I happened to be at headquarters when Natasha’s request for backup came through, so I rushed to the scene… but it looked like Fury had arrived later.

“So… what happened? What’s the situation?”

Fury threw a few questions my way.

I answered them one by one.

“...Hmm. ‘Redcap,’ you say.”

“You know them, Fury?”

“Somewhat. They're something of an urban legend in New York.”

“Urban legend? That’s surprisingly vague for you, Fury.”

“Hmph. As you said, I’m not perfect either. Don’t assume I know everything.”

Fury snorted, clearly annoyed.

“So, Fury. What does this ‘urban legend’ entail?”

“Right. Supposedly, they’re an agent for the mafia that controls New York’s underworld. No matter the target, they always complete the kill. Man, woman, child—it makes no difference. That’s the kind of ruthless assassin they’re feared as.”

Fury answered while fiddling with the tablet in his hand.

“A red mask and black suit, just like the Captain described. Some even say the red is from soaking up all the blood they spill. Ridiculous, but that’s how the story goes.”

“A man, huh…”

I covered my mouth with my right hand.

During the fight, my shield had hit their right arm. Just for a moment, I saw the skin beneath.

The arm had been torn open right after that, soaked in blood… but I thought, just for that instant—it was a woman. Or maybe even a child. Or both.

“Fury, is there a possibility that this ‘Redcap’ is a woman?”

“Hm…? I see. You’re right, there’s no proof he’s a man… Unless, Captain, you know they’re a woman?”

“I’m not certain…”

I told Fury about the impression I got during our battle—from him… no, probably her.

“I see. Well, without further evidence, it’s just speculation… but her blood should still be at the scene, right? I’ll have the forensic team run tests. That should tell us whether she’s female.”

“That helps, Fury.”

“No problem. And if we analyze the blood further… we might even find the source of her superhuman abilities. Inhuman, mutant, genetically enhanced… depending on the results, we might have to call in the Avengers again.”

“Agreed. In that case, we’ll bring Stark in as well.”

I replied, though I didn’t think it would come to that.

Redcap was formidable, no doubt.

But her strength didn’t come from superpowers.

Her knife skills, hand-to-hand combat, and sense for striking at the perfect moment—

None of that is something you learn overnight.

It had to be the result of years of training.

Which meant…

If she really was a child…

“…Just how harsh must her life have been?”

“What’s wrong, Captain?”

“…It’s nothing.”

I believed in liberty, equality, and fraternity.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

Humans are not born free.

Nor are they born equal.

That’s exactly why I cherish those ideals—why I strive to live by them.

And so, the act of stripping them away, trampling them—

…is unforgivable.

I didn’t even know who they were yet, but I felt a rising anger toward the ones who had cornered her.

I had just finished an escort mission involving a deal between A.I.M and the Life Foundation.

After completing the assignment, I made my way to the basement where Tinkerer was waiting.

For repairs to my suit.

By the way, the mission was evaluated as “very good” by all involved parties.

Five-star reviews across the board.

Here’s why.

Despite the Avengers—specifically Captain America—intervening, there were no arrests, no casualties, and not even the transaction goods were lost. That alone earned praise from both A.I.M and the Life Foundation.

As for Fisk... well, the ship did get destroyed. Technically speaking, I was the one who destroyed it.

But in the end, A.I.M received advanced technology, and the Life Foundation walked away with significant funding. They made far more than originally planned.

Then there’s the organization, the Unseelie Court.

Captain America had previously crippled the Unseelie Court.

So this time, when the superhuman mercenary super agent created by the organization—Redcap—outmaneuvered Captain America, it was a huge win in their eyes.

Thanks to that, they funneled more funding into the operation, and now I could get my suit repaired without worrying about the cost.

I had removed the armored suit and was down to the inner layer—a bulletproof and stab-proof bodysuit.

Peeling the armor off my right arm had been agony; the plating had fused to my skin.

I somehow managed not to cry out, but the panicked look on Tinkerer's face had left a stronger impression than the pain.

Currently, my arm is splinted with a piece of wood and wrapped in bandages.

It’ll heal in a day or so, no big deal.

『Ah—this part's a total loss. No way to fix it.』

Tinkerer rolled the bloodied armor piece from my right arm across the floor.

“Is that so?”

I asked in my natural voice, since I wasn’t wearing my helmet.

『Yeah, based on the combat data, part of the right arm’s armor is missing. The rest I can work with. The left arm... the internal electronics are mostly fried, and the helmet too. But the right arm’s toast. I don’t have any vibranium. Can’t repair it the same way without that.』

Tinkerer groaned to himself, clearly annoyed.

“...In that case, could you equip the right arm with a weapon?”

『Huh? Oh—yeah, that’s doable... Wait. Yeah, actually, that might work.』

Tinkerer muttered to himself, then nodded in self-approval.

『Leave it to me. I’ll have the other parts done in three days. For the right arm... maybe five days since I’ll work on it in parallel. Let’s call it seven days total, just to be safe. Come back in a week. I’ll unveil the upgrades then.』

As he spoke, the purple glow on the right side of his face display blinked.

Was that... supposed to be a wink?

Gross...

『Oh, right! Hey—how was the dress I gave you?』

The dress... the one I wore when I boarded the ship?

“How was it...? I guess... it wasn’t bad.”

『Really? That’s great to hear!』

Tinkerer responded more cheerfully than he had all day. I narrowed my eyes at him.

...That dress was a bit revealing.

Oh.

“Ah, but. I left it behind on the ship during the escape.”

『Huh!? ...Well, I guess that can’t be helped. Can’t put a price on staying alive, right? Say... should I make you another one? This time for private use, maybe something more—』

“No. I’m not wearing it, so it’s unnecessary.”

I shut him down immediately, but Tinkerer groaned in protest.

He really seems dead set on dressing me up... Why?