Chapter 243 - 241 Baiting Enforcement, Justifiable Defense.
The Washington metropolitan area was most famous for its various private clubs.
Like some Veteran clubs, Navy, Army, and Air clubs, cigar clubs … either under the official name or under various high-sounding names.
Most of them were used for interpersonal communication in small circles, so the threshold for joining was very high. Unless you had a referrer or submitted an application, you wouldn't even be able to enter the main entrance.
In the final analysis, the reason why clubs were popular was that the upper class of the United States advocated elite culture.
They copied all the private clubs and aristocratic salons in 17th century Europe.
Through the form of clubs, the elites from different circles are gathered together.
And with the high-end consumption and lifestyle that only a few people could enjoy, most people were turned away.
For example, golf clubs, sailing clubs, and so on.
These have strict requirements on income, occupation, and consumption levels.
"Just stop here."
Luke snapped his fingers, and the black car slowly slowed down and stopped in the bustling area.
This was a bar street in the metropolitan area, where many jazz groups had gathered, and many famous singers came from.
'A bar?'
Fury looked outside and wondered.
The dignified Lieutenant General and Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, how could he come out to visit a bar?!
'The nightlife has just begun. They might be coming out soon. '
Luke's eyes flickered as he thought silently.
There were several interesting streets in Washington D.C.
Pennsylvania Avenue, for example, was a regular site for demonstrations by various civic organizations and unions.
If people wanted to go on strike or cause trouble, they would definitely start from this street.
Because Pennsylvania Avenue was an important commuter route, it provided direct access to the White House and the Capitol.
In addition, there was K Street, a famous 'Lobbying Street' in later generations.
A large number of think tanks, public relations firms, and international headquarters were located there.
The likes of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund had made their homes here.
If Wall Street in New York was the international financial center, then K Street in Washington, D.C., was the international political center.
Every presidential election was a competition between the public relations firms here and the capitalist groups behind it.
"It's really lively."
Luke got out of the car. This intoxicating street was called 'U Street'.
The most popular bars in the metropolitan area, as well as the most popular bands, were all here.
He glanced over at random and could see a long line.
Basically, they were sexy girls in costumes and young guys wearing colorful wigs and looking like vampires.
"Are you a music enthusiast in private, Director Cavill?"
As the driver, Fury got out of the car voluntarily.
Generally speaking, he should also act as a bodyguard.
However, considering the strength of the Director, he wasn't certain of who was protecting who.
"Don't get me wrong, Agent Fury, we are going to the club on the other side."
Luke changed into a suit today instead of wearing his regular military uniform.
Paired with Nick Fury, who disappeared at night, almost invisibly, it's a bit of a common combination of a rich young man and a black bodyguard.
"Red Wine Club?"
Fury glanced at the bright billboard, which was painted with a goblet outlined with colorful lights, and there was a 'No Entry' sign at the door.
"Fury, as I said before, I hope you can have strong mental fortitude. Because tonight, you will see… the real world."
Luke fiddled with his hair a few times, made a small curl, and then took out a pair of glasses from his pocket.
[Clark Kent's Glasses], a reward from the mutant camp mission.
As long as he wore it, he could turn himself into a tall, handsome and bright reporter.
It's a disguise item!
"Director … Cavill?"
Fury stared at Luke, whose image had changed drastically, with a shocked gaze.
A gentle, bright man replaced the originally slightly stern young face!
"This is just a trivial camouflage technique."
Fortunately, Luke's voice was still the same and hadn't changed much.
"It's a big change!"
It took Fury, who was shocked, a few seconds to calm down.
With such superb camouflage skills, he still said it was 'trivial'. Director Cavill was really modest.
He didn't wear makeup at all. Just putting on the pair of glasses, and the whole person's appearance and temperament changed.
"Let's go in, Fury."
Luke swaggered and went in.
Then, no surprise, he was stopped.
"This is a private club. We don't entertain any guests and non-members."
The sturdy bodyguard stopped the intruder, but he was quite polite.
Maybe he saw Luke's expensive custom-made suit and his entourage that followed -- these days, the bigger the show, and it was either a con man or a rich man.
"I was recommended by Mr. John Stillman."
Luke leaned forward with his Metropolis reporter's face on and lowered his voice.
At the same time, he also took out his membership card from his pocket and handed it to the security guard in a smooth motion.
'Director Cavill really made thorough preparations. '
Fury breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that after Luke was stopped, he would take off his glasses and forcibly break-in.
At that time, the scene would be extremely bloody.
Among the legendary experiences of Superman, there were many amazing stories of killing all the guards in the enemy camp and completing ambushes.
Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Nick Fury had thought so.
"I heard there was a wine tasting tonight?"
Luke skillfully used his fingers to tuck a few banknotes into the pocket of the security guard.
"That's right. Held by Mr. Gitano, several guests were invited."
After checking the membership card, the security guard let Luke in.
The members of this wine club were all-powerful people from Washington, and they paid special attention to confidentiality and personal information.
Luke could name John Stillman, the White House Chief of Staff.
With the membership card in hand, it was enough to gain the trust of the security guard.
"Still the same place, the second floor?"
Luke glanced at it 'unintentionally', and seemed to be quite familiar with the architectural layout, and directly pointed out the place where 'they usually meet'.
"Of course. As always."
The security guard nodded.
"I need to bring him in. Shouldn't it be a problem, right?"
Luke beckoned to Fury, but the bodyguard didn't stop him, just reminding --
"The entourage must wait in the reception room and can't participate in the party."
Entering the main entrance and going up the side stairs, Luke looked at the environment casually. The decoration was the typical Gothic-esthetic.
Complicated and exaggerated decoration lines, vivid colors, and delicate feeling.
It was exactly what vampires liked best.
"Agent Fury, don't be afraid of anything you see later."
Luke walked through the corridor, stepped on the soft carpet, and walked towards a thick door.
"Director, I have been on the battlefield and worked as an agent. No matter what happens, I won't be afraid!"
Nick Fury showed a brave side. He thought he was also someone who had seen exaggerated scenes.
Flesh and blood-filled trenches on the battlefield, steel tanks armed with machine guns, or bombers whistling above the head…
To survive in such a dangerous environment was in itself a matter of courage and luck.
Bang!
Luke pushed open the door gently.
The 'wine tasting' that had already started was revealed to the two of them.
A girl's body that had lost its vitality was placed naked on the long table.
There was a bloody line on her wrist, and the red liquid that had lost its warmth dripped into a goblet from the wound.
Her abdomen and chest seemed to be cut open by a doctor with a precise technique and a sharp scalpel, and a few small silver bowls filled with the blood were inside.
The people who sat around the long table -- the distinguished members of the wine club, were well dressed and talked with grace.
But everyone's mouth was stained with a trace of blood.
"See, this is the so-called 'the devil is a gentleman.' "
Luke shrugged helplessly. If he came half an hour earlier, he might be able to save the innocent girl.
Unfortunately, when he appeared outside the club's door, the other party's fresh body had already turned cold.
"Is this so-called wine tasting a vampire's way of naming such vile and inhumane things?"
Luke's sudden appearance turned the hall quiet.
Those people looked at the intrusive man with strange eyes.
"Who are you?"
The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table asked.
The members in the wine club were very secretive, and it would be impossible for outsiders to appear here, passing the security guards.
"My name is Clark Kent. I'm the number one reporter for the Daily Bugle, a fighter for justice, ready to expose your ugly face!"
Luke opened his mouth, letting the Familiar Clan sitting in a circle, as well as Nick Fury at the back, listen to it in a daze.
"Another fool who can't see the situation clearly."
The middle-aged man waved his hand, pressed the bell on the table, and called the security guards downstairs.
He thought it was a government agent or a secret investigator.
What big waves could a small reporter expose?
The middle-aged man didn't bother to do it himself, so he called the security guards to deal with it.
Looking at Luke standing at the door and Nick Fury following behind him, he said, "Put this reporter in the trunk. I think he's young enough for the 'red wine' we could taste tomorrow."
"As for the black man, throw it into a bucket, add cement and throw it in the river."
(Translator: Yeah… No… I'm not translating the 'N' word. Not now, not ever. Even if Author really used that word. -- And yes, the Author used 'it' to refer to Fury in this sentence.)
The middle-aged man grinned, and two sharp teeth could vaguely be seen.
"Vampires engage in racism? You have no future, and it's politically incorrect."
Luke didn't expect vampires in North America to be so picky that they looked down on blacks so far that they wouldn't even suck their blood.
The middle-aged man ignored the little reporter's words, and a group of five big security guards aggressively came up the stairs.
The muzzle of their guns were aimed at Luke and Nick Fury. The security guard who was guarding the door panicked and said, "Sorry, Mr. Gitano!
"He said he knew Mr. John Stillman and had his membership card, so I let him in!"
The middle-aged man named Gitano glared coldly at the other man, pretending to be generous, and said, "People make mistakes. It's not a big deal. However, you should know how to make up for your mistakes."
"These two men interrupted the wine tasting, ruining everyone's excitement and missing the most appropriate time to taste this fine red wine."
"So, get rid of that black man and send the other one to the freezer."
The security guard nodded his head repeatedly and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Because of the silencer, the bullets fired from the muzzle didn't make a popping sound.
The next second, there was no scene of Nick Fury falling to the ground.
"Very well."
Luke calmly spread his palm, and the shriveled bullet fell to the ground.
"This constitutes as an attack on an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., shooting of an innocent person, and an attempt to harm a Military Lieutenant General by unlawfully detaining him and posing a serious threat to his life."
"So, this would count as self-defense."
…
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