As a secret agent, Coulson had long since mastered the art of knowing what to say, what not to say, and when to say it.
Like today.
After meeting Shi Xiaolei, he didn't reveal too much information, nor did he mention the help he had provided behind the scenes. He merely offered a few words of caution not to act recklessly, and promised that 'no one would bother your daily life again.' Then, he simply said his goodbyes and disappeared from Shi Xiaolei's sight.
"Sir, are you sure this is alright?"
"Eighty percent, I'd say. Based on my observations, he's the type who responds better to a gentle approach. So, I believe it's best to be mild-mannered when dealing with him. Being too forceful could very well backfire."
"Alright, you're the team leader, so you call the shots."
"Keep monitoring, and report any anomalies to me immediately. Hmm, lower the alert level to three and reassign the extra personnel to Stark's side."
"Yes."
It had only been a few days since Tony Stark was rescued, and due to his declaration of 'closing Stark Industries' weapons division,' the vast Stark Industries was in turmoil.
They hadn't yet found out who wanted to assassinate Tony Stark, and if the assailant were to strike again while Stark Industries was unstable... Considering Stark was the owner of this colossal enterprise, his safety was paramount. Any mishap could potentially alter the nation's economic, military, and even political landscape, so Coulson naturally had to focus more attention on him.
As for Shi Xiaolei's side.
In Coulson's view, even if Shi Xiaolei caused some trouble, it would never trigger a large-scale chain reaction like an incident involving Stark. Furthermore, after meeting him, Coulson had a more direct understanding of his personality and believed he wasn't one to actively seek trouble. Coulson felt there was no need to invest as much manpower as before and continue to highly monitor him.
On the other side.
After seeing off Coulson and his subordinates, Shi Xiaolei sat in the shop, lost in thought.
The limited information provided by the other party made it impossible to determine when he entered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, nor did he know if Hydra, hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D., had noticed his existence. Because of these unknowns, Shi Xiaolei's mind was filled with jumbled thoughts, completely unable to sort things out.
"I'm back."
Hearing the commotion from the back door, Shi Xiaolei awoke from his reverie.
He turned to see 2B, who had already changed her clothes. Remembering that he wasn't alone, and had her and Kanna by his side, Shi Xiaolei's eyes brightened, and his thoughts suddenly cleared.
Although his own strength was still far from the panel's upper limit, currently only equivalent to having completed the normal difficulty, 2B and Kanna, as companions he exchanged from the 'System,' appeared in this world in their full-power state.
How strong was a full-power 2B? She had every weapon that needed to be collected in the game, had mastered all the skills that needed to be unlocked, and even had the auxiliary terminal that she hadn't taken out yet—that is, the POD from the game that could provide support and came with an 'infinite bullets' buff, as well as the transforming fighter jet she piloted during aerial combat. It's no exaggeration to say that even Tony Stark at the time of "Iron Man 3" might not have been her match in a single encounter.
As for a full-power Kanna, there's even less to say.
Don't let the little girl's height of less than a meter and utterly adorable appearance fool you; in reality, she's a giant dragon who has lived for over 14,000 years. Moreover, from the original settings of "Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid," Kanna should be a character who, in some sense, can be called a 'god,' like the feathered serpent god Lucoa and the evil dragon Fafnir.
In terms of combat power, she's at least on the level of Thor after he activated his lightning powers with one eye blinded in "Thor: Ragnarok"... If we consider her performance in the anime, where a single dragon's breath easily ripped through the earth during a 'spar' with the dragon girl Tohru,
she could even rival Surtur, the fire giant resurrected from the Eternal Flame.
What was S.H.I.E.L.D., what was Hydra, in front of the 'True Yametee' Kanna, what could they amount to?
Looking at 2B, who had a gentle smile and was as obedient as an ideal younger sister, and then thinking of the incredibly cute and popular Kanna, who was currently at school, Shi Xiaolei's worries melted away like thin snow under the warm sun, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
He got up and went behind 2B, helping her tie her apron. Shi Xiaolei smiled and asked, "Was the trip smooth? Kanna wasn't unhappy, was she?"
"No." She shook her head, her pure white hair gently swaying. A faint, warm smile appeared on 2B's lips: "When I dropped her off at the school gate, she met two little girls she's very close to. Kanna was very happy and even shared two lollipops with them."
"Is that so? She's actually learned to share candy with friends..." Shi Xiaolei chuckled happily: "It seems Kanna is doing quite well at school."
"Mhm." 2B nodded, her hands and feet nimble as she began to get busy: "When we parted, Kanna also told me that she wants to invite her classmates to the shop to play on the weekend."
"Is that so? Then I'll have to prepare well." Putting on arm guards and gloves, he began to process the ingredients 2B had cleaned. While chopping vegetables, Shi Xiaolei asked, "Sylvia, what do you think about cake?"
"Kanna will definitely be very happy." 2B nodded in agreement, and reminded him, "Also, we need to prepare more pudding."
"Of course, Kanna loves my pudding the most." Recalling Kanna's blissful expression when eating pudding, Shi Xiaolei smiled, filled with a sense of accomplishment.
The small, humble restaurant had been open for almost two months.
Although there was a period at the beginning with few customers due to the less-than-ideal environment, as Shi Xiaolei's cooking gradually gained recognition from diners, the business slowly improved. Two months later, Shi Xiaolei's small shop had, with its advantages of being both affordable and delicious, become a favorite spot for office workers in the nearby buildings.
A rush at noon, another in the afternoon, almost a hundred customers were served every day.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. As the business continued, Shi Xiaolei had already forgotten his previous profession on Earth and truly became a qualified chef. And 2B, who was originally a combat-specific intelligent robot, also mastered various service skills, transforming into an impeccable waitress.
Indeed, in just over an hour, the two of them had processed all the ingredients and completed the preparations for opening.
Checking the time, it was almost half past ten. Shi Xiaolei washed his hands and smiled as he called out to 2B, "Sylvia, go flip the sign outside. We can open for business now."
"Alright."