In the S.H.I.E.L.D HQ, experiments with new weapons were underway. In the current phase, animals were used to test the effectiveness of the arms. While in ordinary circumstances such actions might arouse the ire of various animal rights activist groups, the current clandestine nature of S.H.I.E.L.D’s operations meant it could explore every avenue available to it.
"The results were excellent. We handed over these weapons to our best agents, and ordinary monsters should truly be manageable."
Smith looked at the results of the experiment with satisfaction, regardless of the robustness of the flesh and blood creatures. Once hit by these weapons, their flesh would collapse, turning into a pile of mush in an instant. These weapons could easily deal with not only human threats but even creatures like elephants and hippos with just a light pull of the trigger.
What made them even more appealing was that they were effective only against living organisms. They wouldn't even collide with walls.
Based on the research by scientists on the remnants of Deep Ones left in Tokyo, these weapons could deliver fatal blows to those monsters as well.
Although, apart from the Tokyo incident, the world had not yet experienced a biological apocalypse, nations had prepared various plans if similar incidents occurred. Such disasters, regardless of where they occurred, could be extremely deadly.
"Unfortunately, the cost of production is too high, and we can't deploy them on a large scale yet."
Smith shook his head again. Four weapons were still too few.
The expert from the Manhattan First Research Institute by his side sighed, "There's nothing we can do. At the moment, our industrial capacities aren’t robust enough to keep up with demand. We need a few more technological breakthroughs to upscale production."
"…However, elite exploration teams from various countries have been sent back to Antarctica once again. Hopefully, this time, we can find the spacecraft of those ancients hidden underground. Just bringing back a piece of wreckage from that spacecraft would be a cause for celebration"
While replicating the outer metal of a cosmic spacecraft from an alien civilization directly was impossible, in-depth research on the material could advance human society by leaps and bounds.
"When we sent experts for underground exploration last time, they were mostly historians and mythologists, lacking knowledge of engineering. That was a missed opportunity!"
The researcher lamented. Although a second batch of exploration teams had been organized to go to Antarctica, the underground of Antarctica was mysterious. Moreover, it had recently been the site of a great war between Norse gods. Finding any wreckage or spacecraft was highly uncertain, especially given the size of the continent.
"There's nothing we can do. Who knows if there are really aliens beneath Antarctica? Moreover, given the circumstances at the time, many people were facing life-threatening situations. Even if there were experts who knew what they were doing, their minds probably wouldn't have thought of taking those spacecraft fragments."
Smith consoled.
Indeed, when faced with a life-threatening situation, people wouldn't consider everything so thoroughly.
The researcher just shook his head, sighed a few times, and didn't say much.
"Thanks for the trouble of personally bringing these weapons. I have work to do now, so I'll be busy."
At this point, Smith received a message and said to the scientist beside him.
"You go ahead, Mr. Smith."
……
Back in his office, several S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel were already waiting for him.
"Director, this is the information we just received today. It's identical to the deaths that occurred some time ago."
One of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, wearing sunglasses, placed a stack of documents on Smith's desk.
"The initial victims were just homeless people in the Brooklyn area, and the incidents occurred in very remote locations. However, the two most recent cases involved residents with homes in the Brooklyn area, and the crime scenes have shifted into the city. This indicates that the suspect's audacity is growing."
"The victims this time, just like the previous ones, had all their blood sucked dry. Even their internal organs were dissolved by some unknown acidic substance and then absorbed. Every victim has turned into a completely dry corpse with strange hair growth."
"Especially in the recent two cases, we found signs of the bodies being gnawed. According to the analysis of the forensic team, these gnawed body parts were not eaten while the victims were alive but were consumed by the suspect after death."
Smith listened as the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent broke down the case. At this point, he had lost all his appetite.
"At first, we thought the perpetrator might be a vampire, given the similarity in the manner of death with blood being sucked. Nonetheless, the manner of deaths, especially recently, has been quite inelegant."
"...But the noble image associated with vampires is predominantly a fictitious creation. No one has ever seen a real one. Perhaps real vampires are these dirty bloodsucking monsters, or maybe they're something entirely different. However, in the recent two cases, the suspect even has a habit of eating corpses, which doesn't fit the template for vampiric impulses anymore."
Smith looked at the photos, rubbing his chin with his hand, muttering to himself.
"A ghoul!"
A detective spoke up.
"Yes, your idea has long been suspected by our experts. It seems that the creature causing these incidents in New York this time is a creature similar to a ghoul. Judging from the actions of this ghoul, it doesn't have high intelligence. We suspect that it's being controlled by someone behind the scenes."
Saying so, Smith picked up a remote control, pressed a button, and a screen played a video.
In the video, two blurry figures were entangled in an alley. Because the cameraman was a bit far from them, it wasn't clear what those two dark figures were. Soon, one of the figures bound upwards with a power exceeding human capability and left the alley.
This was the crime scene of one of the murders. At that time, someone in the distance happened to be filming with a smartphone, capturing this scene.
Unfortunately, the phone was an old model, and the footage wasn't too clear.
It was this footage that the person who filmed it sent to S.H.I.E.L.D., leading S.H.I.E.L.D. to confirm that this was a supernatural event and take over the case from the police and FBI.
"Whether the ghoul has intelligence or someone is manipulating it from behind, we need to find it. We can't let it act recklessly like this. The fact that the ghoul hides and commits crimes stealthily shows that its strength isn't formidable. At the very least, it doesn't dare to face the national law enforcement directly."
Smith affirmed.
Didn't you see those Titans and whatever, directly coming to destroy countries? Even the Deep Ones didn't care, sending their forces to attack Tokyo without any regard. Yet, this ghoul was hiding like this, indicating that it was far inferior to those god-like beings. It was a creature that humanity could definitely handle.
"I suspect that someone has obtained knowledge of the supernatural and created the ghoul. Since he or she can find these hidden places to commit crimes, it indicates that during the day, they must have conducted reconnaissance on these crime scenes. Check the footage from the surveillance cameras in the four weeks before the incidents to see if there are any suspicious individuals."
"...The weapons sent by the Manhattan First Research Institute arrived just in time, and this time we even have reinforcements who truly understand the supernatural."
Smith said mysteriously.
Before his subordinates could express their confusion, he explained, "...Do you remember what happened at the San Soliel School of Magic? We Americans also had several people studying there. They are now on vacation and about to return to America. This time, our S.H.I.E.L.D. agency will work together with the apprentice wizards to solve the case!"
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