The Legendary Mechanic in Marvel Universe - Chapter 277
Chapter 277 Parkers
Taken aback by the abrupt appearance of Leo, Coulson glanced at Fury. But seeing no hint of surprise on Fury’s face, he smiled and extended his hand, “Greetings to you too, Mr. Erwin. I’m Phil, Phil Coulson.”
Then, he politely smiled at Leo before turning to Fury, “Sir, I’ll head out and start the car first. Please hurry.”
After speaking, Coulson turned and left. Leo watched as Coulson disappeared around the corner of the staircase, then turned to Fury and asked, “Coulson appears rather reliable! How long have you known him?”
As Fury lowered his head to change his shoes, he replied, “Around half a year. He’s only 23 years old and graduated from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy just last August before being assigned to Los Angeles as one of my Level 1 Agent. He hasn’t been promoted yet. But this kid is sharp and dedicated. He’s a promising asset and I really like him.”
With that, Fury finished changing his shoes and locked the door of the room with utmost care before joining Leo to leave. Leo didn’t say anything more and followed Fury out, watching him get into the car. He then saw the two of them off.
Phil Coulson, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury’s right-hand man before eventually becoming the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Originally named Phillip J. Coulson, he has been a big fan of superheroes since childhood and is Captain America’s biggest fan…
Standing by the roadside, Leo carefully recalled his memories of Coulson from his past life. Coulson was an exceptional individual with remarkable abilities and leadership skills, though slightly overshadowed by Nick Fury.
More importantly, Coulson was loyal and caring towards his friends, while Fury, on the other hand, was more independent and had a more aggressive approach, willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goals. And most importantly, he had a deep admiration for superheroes, particularly Captain America, and carried a superhero dream himself.
Considering this, both Leo’s heart-shaped herb and his future plan to ‘recruit Captain America in advance’ held an irresistible appeal to Coulson.
With these thoughts in mind, Leo smiled slightly and added a few more tasks for the future.
……
As time gradually passed by, the day for Leo and Peter to visit Nepal arrived.
Early in the morning, Peter grabbed a suitcase and accompanied by Mary Jane, took a taxi to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
After a layover flight, Peter and his wife, Mary Jane, arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, a day later.
Nepal is located in Asia, separated from China by the majestic Himalayas. Thus, the time difference is evident.
It took nearly 30 hours for the Parkers to reach Kathmandu. They finally found a hotel, collapsed into bed, and slept soundly until dawn.
Meanwhile, Leo had just departed from Erwin Research Center and ascended to an altitude of nearly 20,000 meters, crossing the Pacific Ocean and beelining to Kathmandu. Departing from New York and flying eastward to Nepal, his route followed a near-straight line, taking him across the beautiful country of China.
However, he only admired the scenic beauty of China from a height of ten thousand meters, without any plan of descending for a closer look. This version of China wasn’t the China Leo was familiar with. It was the Marvel Universe’s China. To him, it felt no different from any other city on Earth, devoid of the sense of home.
Soon, he flew over the skies of Kathmandu and descended, landing right next to the hotel where Peter was staying.
Removing Viper and stashing it into his belt, Leo adjusted his wristwatch to the local time, showing 9:02 AM.
Kathmandu, Nepal is a city with a strong religious atmosphere, filled with buildings adorned with religious motifs, especially in the year 1995 when technology hadn’t fully developed. Even the upper-class hotel where Peter was staying had distinct local architectural characteristics.
Intrigued, Leo stepped into the hotel and admired the unique decorations. Afterward, he dialed Peter’s personal phone in the hotel lobby.
Peter quickly received the call and along with Mary Jane, they made their way from their room to the lobby, where they met Leo. Mary Jane exuded the air of a professional waitress, swiftly leading Leo to the hotel’s dining area for breakfast.
Amidst the cheerful conversation, the three of them finished their meal and prepared to set out to find Otto.
As they exited the hotel, Peter scanned the broad street on both sides and inquired, “ Mr. Erwin, where are we going to meet Dr. Octavius? Are you familiar with the way?”
“I know the location. When Dr. Octavius returned from Nepal to attend your engagement party, I asked about the specific location.”
Leo smiled, but instead of leading the way, he looked at Mary Jane. “Before we go, I want to make sure. Mary Jane, how much do you know about Peter and me?”
Caught off guard by Leo’s sudden question, Mary Jane was stumped and sought Peter’s help with her eyes.
Peter’s face immediately lowered his head, like a guilty child, as he stumped over his words. “Well, um… She knows everything about me, so she also knows some things about you, Mr. Erwin. But please don’t blame her. It’s because of me because I…”
“Because your wife is strict, right? No, it’s because you’re a responsible and dependable man. I know all of that, Bucky told me,” Leo interjected without minding his blunt honesty, waving his hand dismissively. “I don’t mean to blame her. I just wanted to confirm how much she knows, so we won’t surprise her unnecessarily.”
Mary Jane had endured a grueling 30-hour journey to reach Kathmandu by plane, yet when she saw Leo early in the morning, she didn’t mention anything about the tiring trip. This itself raised several questions, prompting Leo to ask in the first place.
At this moment, Mary Jane hastily apologized, “I’m really sorry, Mr. Erwin. I was just concerned about Peter’s safety. That’s why I forced him to tell me. I didn’t mean to pry into your privacy or the affairs of your company.”
Waving his hand again, Leo reassured her, “As I said before, I don’t blame you. There’s no need to apologize. In fact, it’s good that you’re aware of it. It saves me and Peter from being awkward or accidentally scaring you during our work. If it were to affect your relationship as a couple, then it would be my fault. Besides, spouses shouldn’t hide such important secrets from each other. That would be disloyal.”
Leo made a lighthearted joke, skillfully diffusing the tension and awkwardness, and smiles returned to the faces of the Parkers.
Simultaneously, Peter felt a deeper sense of gratitude and trust toward Leo in his heart. Likewise, Mary Jane was also very grateful for Leo’s generosity. As a journalist, she often delved into the privacy of others but individuals like Leo, who displayed such magnanimity and consideration for others, were few and far between among the people she met.
“Alright, let’s get going. Public transport in Kathmandu is quite underdeveloped, and Mary Jane doesn’t have a suit. So, we’ll have to walk, which will take some time.” With that, Leo led the Parkers, walking to the right.