Up until now, there were two law enforcement agencies that were logged in Locke's book.
Moreover, they belonged to the kind that was just one step away from being placed on the expedited termination list.
One was undoubtedly MI6 from London, whom he had just clashed with recently.
The other was S.H.I.E.L.D.
These two law enforcement agencies were infamous in Locke's book. If not for the fact that the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, and MI6's M had both been slaughtered by him, frankly speaking, these two agencies would probably cease to exist.
However...
Provoking him the first time required sacrificing the life of the director to exchange for his forgiveness, but if they dared to provoke him a second time, then sorry, it would not be so simple.
Fortunately.
Ever since Nick Fury and M called it a game over, neither S.H.I.E.L.D. nor MI6 had come to look for trouble in front of him again.
Although S.H.I.E.L.D. still hung around and showed up in front of him from time to time, the S.H.I.E.L.D. with Maria Hill running the house was no longer so condescending and overbearing.
To put it in understandable terms, it had become more down-to-earth.
Right now?
Locke frowned.
S.H.I.E.L.D. still maintained contact with the Dolan Church? That shouldn't be. Based on Locke's understanding of Maria Hill, she wouldn't go as far as to associate with this church and collude with them knowing that they persecuted witches.
This was a very simple deduction.
Maria Hill was a woman. Women naturally band together, and under conditions where their own interests were not involved, women would sympathize with other women, unless that woman was a psychopath.
Therefore...
Was this another damn complication left behind by that dead Director?
He truly was a bastard.
Good people don't live long, while absolute menaces stick around for a thousand years.
Without a doubt, the connection between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Dolan Church was definitely established during Nick Fury's tenure.
Given the fact that Nick Fury had completely offended the Howling Commandos during his time—the supernatural group left behind by Captain America and managed by Ms. Peggy Carter—it was highly apparent that Nick Fury had hooked up with the similarly radical Dolan Church, who felt that all witches deserved to die.
In a word.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Hearing Locke's words, Cordelia glanced at him, and then her right hand traced the emblem of a law enforcement agency in the air with magic to corroborate Locke's theory.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Looking at the shield icon condensing and slowly fading in the air—or rather, the icon of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division before it changed its name—Locke nodded. "Nick Fury's S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Nick Fury?"
Gwen snapped out of it and looked at Locke. "Wasn't this guy sued into prison by you, and then subsequently killed by the Peerless Assassin?"
Locke smiled and said, "It's possible the newly appointed director doesn't know what kind of entity this Dolan Church is yet. But, she should be about to find out."
As he spoke.
Locke glanced at his wristwatch, then raised his head to look at Cordelia. "However, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. still intends to shield the Dolan Church, it's useless. In the past, you didn't have anyone backing you up, but now that I've come, you have someone."
Cordelia shook her head and let out a laugh.
She still felt that force would make people submit, but it would never make them sincerely follow. Perhaps the Dark Sovereign could suppress things for a time, but once the Dark Sovereign left or briefly lost contact, the final outcome would only be far worse.
"I..."
"Ding-dong!"
Just as Cordelia was about to speak, a ding-dong sound from the doorbell outside carried over.
Cordelia closed her eyes slightly, perceiving a black Chevrolet SUV parked at the entrance.
Locke let out a laugh, looking at the thirty minutes that had just passed, and raised his head. "The timing is just right. The backing from the ordinary world that I found for you has arrived."
Very soon.
Locke looked at Mr. Nobody walking up from the first floor, followed by the husband-and-wife agent duo, Nash and Vanya Egorova, who stood behind him like left and right guardian protectors. He smilingly hugged Mr. Nobody.
"Your timing is quite precise."
Mr. Nobody shook his head and said, "You aren't official yet."
Locke said, "Then consider this a certificate of allegiance."
As he spoke.
Locke led Mr. Nobody into the dining room, and then introduced him to Cordelia. "Cordelia, let me introduce you. From the CIA, a senior special director who has his own garages, armies, and airfields, who listens to instructions but doesn't take orders blindly, Mr. Nobody. Or you can also call him Peppa."
It should be Peppa, right.
Locke turned his head to glance at Mr. Nobody, seemingly asking if he had misspoken.
The corner of Mr. Nobody's mouth twitched.
His name was Petty, not Peppa. Peppa was the name of a pink little pig.
However...
Hearing Locke's introduction, Cordelia was initially startled, but still stepped forward very politely. "Mr. Peppa."
"Pfft!"
Behind him, Agent Nash, who was wearing sunglasses, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Mr. Nobody turned his head to look at his trusted agent, mentally debating whether to throw Agent Nash into Guantanamo Bay to further his studies in interrogation techniques, while simultaneously shaking hands with Cordelia and listening to Locke's introduction.
Locke said with a smile, "This is Cordelia Goode, the headmistress of this witch academy. She loves peace, believes that witches can coexist peacefully with humans, and is the new generation's Supreme Witch who will make a glittering entrance the day after tomorrow."
Agent Nash, along with Agent Egorova, who had defected from the KGB for the sake of love, listened to Locke's introduction, looking toward Cordelia as well as Zoe and Madison not far away with slightly shocked gazes.
After all, Locke had spoken directly with Mr. Nobody on the phone.
They knew they were coming here, but as for why they came here, they were completely in the dark.
When making the phone call outside earlier, Locke had already conveyed his thoughts to Mr. Nobody.
But looking for allies and such was absolutely not something a trainee agent who hadn't even passed training should be doing, which was why Mr. Nobody had spoken about Locke in that manner just now.
But...
It was still that same saying.
Locke didn't care much about whether he joined the CIA or not; rather, it was Mr. Nobody who hoped Locke would join. Therefore, regardless of words, if it concerned witches, Mr. Nobody was very willing to form an alliance with the witch academy.
Moreover, the Supreme Witch—this title sounded exceptionally domineering just by listening to it!
Mr. Nobody smilingly shook hands with Cordelia. "The CIA is very willing to provide the things the witch school needs."
Cordelia opened her mouth.
It really was the CIA.
Cordelia possessed special sensory abilities. Upon confirming that the Mr. Nobody in front of her truly came from the CIA, she looked toward Locke feeling somewhat magical about the situation.
They had dealt with such agencies in the past.
But without exception, under the descriptions of the Dolan Church, almost all agencies stood on the side of the Dolan Church, which was exactly the reason why they chose to hide.
Locke spoke from the side, "Perhaps you can give S.H.I.E.L.D. a call. I heard that S.H.I.E.L.D. deployed a batch of elites from New York specifically to conduct trials by fire on witches, intending to level this place. By the way, have you been to Lake Pontchartrain? Tsk tsk, that scene is absolutely brutal. If I were a witch, I would fight humans to the bitter end."
Mr. Nobody nodded, looked toward Cordelia, and said in a deep voice, "Ms. Goode, speaking for myself personally, I understand the actions of that Dark Sovereign very well. Rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
Locke added from the side, "Perhaps you should make a phone call to ask right now!"
Mr. Nobody's brow twitched slightly.
If this sentence had been spoken by Agent Nash, let alone waiting for the next day, he would have already been arranged to go to Guantanamo Bay prison right now to further his interrogation skills.
But...
He is the child of an old friend, and besides, who told me to appreciate him so much.
Mr. Nobody smiled slightly and looked toward Locke. "You're right."
Having finished speaking.
Mr. Nobody turned his head to look at Nash. "Phone."
Very soon.
Mr. Nobody took the phone, dialed Maria Hill's private number directly, and then as the ringing tone sounded, Mr. Nobody thought about it and directly turned on the speakerphone.
If you don't do it, don't do it at all.
If you do it, do it to the absolute best.
"Ring ring ring!"
Inside a place called MacLaren's Bar in Manhattan, New York, Maria Hill was currently gathering with a few good friends, and looking at the ringing phone, she raised her eyebrows. "Oh, a phone call from the TV station."
As she spoke.
Maria Hill grabbed the phone and walked toward the entrance of the bar.
The call connected.
Maria Hill, who had already walked out of the bar, stood by the roadside holding the phone. "Nobody?"
Mr. Nobody raised his head and glanced at Cordelia. "Director Hill, I am currently in New Orleans."
"Oh."
Maria Hill was initially startled, then subsequently seemed to think of something. "Because of the Judgment Notice incident?"
"Yes."
"...Mr. Nobody intends to step in and investigate?"
Maria Hill turned her head to glance at the bar and let out a laugh. "If that's the case..."
Mr. Nobody shook his head. "No, Director Hill, do you know what the Dolan Church has been doing here?"
Maria Hill paused slightly. "I'll give you a call back in an hour."
"Good!"
Seeing the situation, Locke temporarily retired after achieving his goal and sat back in his own position, looking over at Fiona, who had been sitting in her seat without uttering a single word ever since Mr. Nobody arrived.
How should I deal with you?
Forget it.
Just perish.
Thinking in this manner in his heart, Locke directly handed down a death sentence to Fiona. If Fiona had intended to make a move against him, she would die, but Fiona had intended to make a move against Gwen just now. In that case...
Then she had to die even more.
He had promised George that as long as Gwen was by his side, he would absolutely never let Gwen be bullied.
Therefore.
An opportunity was clearly given to you, giving you a chance to spend your remaining years in peace and finish the rest of your life, yet you chose instead to rush over and ask me for a one-way ticket to hell.
Locke had originally told Cordelia about Fiona's matters ahead of time for the sake of Cordelia's face, thinking that although Cordelia didn't welcome Fiona, she wouldn't take Fiona's life either, leaving a silver lining of survival.
What a pity.
Just like all the people who opposed him, Fiona also failed to grasp this single silver lining of survival.