A retired reincarnator from a certain American film studio

"I……"

Zart seemed to have thought of something and waved his hand.

The secretary then turned and left the office.

Wait until the secretary walks past.

Zart wiped his face and looked at Luke: "Did I ruin your plans?"

Lu Ke looked at Zart thoughtfully: "No, in a way, he even helped me with something."

After all, Shang-Chi and that squinty-eyed Katie ran fast, which effectively eliminated the possibility of Xu Wenwu losing his temper inside the international airport.

Upon hearing this, Zart breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, went to the liquor cabinet, poured two glasses of bourbon, handed one to Luke, and took a sip: "At the time, I didn't really want to take this money, but since the higher-ups took it, it wouldn't be good if I didn't."

Lu Ke smiled and clinked glasses with Zart: "Be content. Getting licensing fees is always a good thing. Unlike me, I want to get them but don't even have the chance."

He already knew who made that call.

……

Chapter 315 Melinda May, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Knight (Second Update!)

When Luke was driving, he heard Earl mention that the authorized call came from the Department of Homeland Security's Los Angeles office, and he already had some suspicions.

If Earl had said the call came from Washington, he would still have thought that the squinty-eyed Katie might have been recruited as a spy by the Department of Homeland Security.

But if the call is from the Department of Homeland Security's Los Angeles office, that's a different story.

In a word.

Luke learned about the head of the Department of Homeland Security's Los Angeles office.

That is, Zart.

Zart is the kind of old guy who has no ambition and just wants to find a successor in his position and retire peacefully.

Nowadays, in Los Angeles, the FBI is basically the one putting in the most effort in cases involving espionage. The Department of Homeland Security doesn't even want to get involved, let alone actively recruit any spies.

Luke understood the secretary's explanation and guessed who the privileged person was who actually called the airport to let that squinty-eyed Katie through.

In the federal government, which other law enforcement agency would need to use someone else's name to conduct its business?

This was a multiple-choice question.

S.H.I.E.L.D.!

S.H.I.E.L.D. is known throughout the federal government for its ability to handle almost anything, and for being able to produce any identification document that best fits the jurisdiction of any case.

If it involves a shooting, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents can produce credentials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

If it involves national security, there is no doubt that they can produce National Security Agency (NSA) credentials.

If it's an espionage case, then it's the credentials of the Department of Homeland Security, where Zart is currently located, which is the DHS.

but……

This is not without cost.

Even though S.H.I.E.L.D. uses these agencies' credentials to handle cases, and the credit and honors go to those agencies, S.H.I.E.L.D. still needs to pay these law enforcement agencies a "license fee".

After all, you've been using my name to flaunt your identity in public. If nothing goes wrong, fine, but if something does, I'll be the one to take the blame.

obviously.

Just now, someone from S.H.I.E.L.D. called, pretending to be from the Department of Homeland Security, and called the airport, demanding that they grant that squinty-eyed Katie fast access.

only……

Luke took a sip of his drink and looked at Zart: "Who contacted you?"

Zart looked at Luke: "You don't know?"

Lu Ke laughed and said, "Didn't I just say that you at least have a licensing fee to collect?"

He wasn't just saying that.

Because he didn't receive the authorization fee from S.H.I.E.L.D.

In any case, since he took office, no S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel in Los Angeles have come to his office to pay their respects.

Luke looked at Earl: "Did we receive authorization fees from S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Earl shook his head.

"No."

"Look."

Luke shrugged and looked at Zart: "Obviously, someone as insignificant as me is probably beneath their notice."

Zart rolled his eyes at Luke: "You're just a nobody. I think he's afraid of you. After all, last time the director came, you set a trap and crippled him."

He was referring to Nick Fury's experience after returning from his last visit to Los Angeles.

After so much time has passed, it's become common knowledge throughout federal law enforcement that Nick Fury, now the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., has had almost all his authority taken over by Commander Maria Hill and has become a mere mascot.

and so.

Theoretically speaking, Zart's explanation is valid.

Anyway, there are so many federal law enforcement agencies on the West Coast, with so many licenses. You've crippled our chief, and we're still rushing to give you authorization fees. Who knows if you'll embarrass us in public again?

Despite his complaints, Zart still talked to Luke about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s contacts on the West Coast.

After all, in terms of relationships, the Federation's own son would definitely side with his own brother, not a half-brother.

Melinda May.

Zart directly named someone, saying to Luke, "She was transferred from Washington at the beginning of this year, and she's the one who's in charge of paying the licensing fees this year."

Luke raised an eyebrow: "Melinda May?"

That Aegis Iron Cavalry?

Zha nodded: "By the way, Luke, speaking of this woman, she seems to be of East Asian descent, just like you."

Luke snapped out of his reverie upon hearing this, looked at Zart, and smiled, "Not all people with yellow skin deserve to be like me."

He is a yellow-skinned, yellow-hearted person.

This Melinda May?

Ah.

They're just bananas (meaning they're unattractive to China).

Zart smiled and asked, "Do you need me to make a connection, or help you find out why?"

Lu Ke waved his hand: "No, thank you."

He only needed to know that it was S.H.I.E.L.D.

If nothing unexpected happens, S.H.I.E.L.D. is probably after Xu Wenwu.

Fortunately.

Lu Ke thought to himself.

He went to Yunnan this time intending to slay the dragon, and never thought of bringing Xu Wenwu along.

Well known.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is like a leech; once you're hooked, it's hard to get rid of.

If he brings Xu Wenwu along, he might also be targeted by S.H.I.E.L.D., and who knows what kind of damage S.H.I.E.L.D. might cause to his dragon-slaying plan once he gets there.

Wait a moment.

Surely no one from S.H.I.E.L.D. was there watching him meet with Xu Wenwu?

Lu Ke suddenly paused, stunned.

Just then, the phone rang.

The call was from Jack.

after awhile.

Luke hung up the phone and looked at Zart: "You don't need to call anymore, the other party has come looking for us."

Jack just called to ask when he would be back to the office because Natasha and Melinda May came to visit him.

Federal Building.

Luke had just returned to his office when Jack sneaked in, rubbing his hands together. The mountain-like man smiled shyly like a young wife.

"Hehe, boss."

"..."

Luke took off his coat and draped it over the chair. He looked up at Jack and frowned. "How's your relationship with Natasha lately?"

Jack looked embarrassed and couldn't help touching his nose: "Boss, Natalia and I are in a healthy relationship."

They've already started using affectionate nicknames, and they're still healthy?

Lu Ke chuckled and pulled out a chair to sit down: "By the way, when you went to Europe on your business trip this time, didn't Natasha come to see you?"

Jack nodded, then lowered his voice and said, "Boss, she did come to see me, but don't worry, she has no idea what Debbie and I were doing in Europe."

Lu Ke chuckled and said, "It's alright if you know."

He already has clues about the dragon, and a backup plan for the Surplice.

If Hydra didn't only offer the option to join and not leave, he would want to leave now too.

Lu Ke said this, and then changed the subject.

"Where are they?"

"Meeting room."

"Let them come."

"Okay."