"No, that's impossible!"
The thought had barely surfaced before Raina immediately rejected it. It was just too hard to believe.
Before coming here, she had already studied Raymond's file. She knew he had only been recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. because of the "Tahiti Project" and that, at most, he was just a technical expert. A mind, not a mover.
Beyond that, she had conducted a thorough investigation on him, digging into every stage of his life from childhood to the present.
She was certain—Raymond had no powerful background, no real influence in S.H.I.E.L.D.
Could someone like him, dragged accidentally into the supernatural world, really know anything about the Clairvoyant?
She just couldn't believe it.
"He's bluffing. That has to be it," Raina tried to convince herself.
"Miss Raina?"
Raymond, seeing her silent for so long, gave her a half-smile and called her back to the present.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she steadied herself before continuing, "Dr Raymond, if I were in your shoes, I'd take the deal. You have no idea who you're dealing with—"
"Oh? Was that a threat?" Raymond raised an eyebrow.
"Just a friendly warning," Raina replied smoothly, her composure restored. "I'm only a woman, after all—I wouldn't hurt you. But I can't speak for the people behind me. If they find out you're being uncooperative… well, who knows what might happen?"
"You mean, if I refuse your little offer, they'll try to kill me?"
"I can't say. But I'd advise you to think carefully. They may not take your life… but sometimes, living is worse than dying."
"Are you finished?"
"…Excuse me?"
"If you're done, you can leave. I've got a session in the hospital gym. Let's continue this charming conversation another time."
Without waiting for a response, Raymond stood and headed for the door.
"Dr Raymond, are you really going to bring this trouble upon yourself?"
"No need to see me out."
He walked off without a glance, waving a hand casually over his shoulder.
"You—!"
Watching him disappear without a backward glance, Raina was left stunned. Her composure shattered. She was furious.
This was the first time anyone had played her like that—especially a man.
She'd been handpicked by the Clairvoyant's agents precisely because of her skills in dealing with people, particularly men.
She could easily turn lecherous men into lovesick puppies, hanging onto her every word.
This kind of mission—manipulation, persuasion, recruitment—was her specialty.
After researching Raymond's background, she had assumed this would be a guaranteed success.
By all appearances, he was the typical academic—quiet, cerebral, the kind of man easily led by a woman like her.
But the outcome was the exact opposite.
In every exchange, Raymond had been in control. He had dominated her from start to finish.
She had been on the defensive the entire time.
Something was wrong…
"Is he gay or something?" she fumed inwardly.
"Miss? Finished already?" asked the staff member she'd previously sent out, stepping back in with a hopeful smile.
"Hmph."
She didn't even look at him. With a sharp exhale and an icy glare, Raina turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving the poor man staring after her, baffled.
—
Raymond, for his part, had no intention of visiting the gym. That had been a convenient excuse.
As he walked down the corridor, he turned his attention to the real issue: what would come next.
"Fury deleted everything related to the Tahiti Project. If Hydra wants more, they'll have to come after the handful of people who were fully involved."
"And between Fury, Coulson, and me… I'm clearly the softest target. If they've approached me once, they won't give up after a single 'no'."
"Judging from what the flower girl said, next time they'll play rough."
"Well, isn't that just perfect."
A small smile curled at the corner of his lips.
Provoking Raina had been part of the plan from the start. Once he had pieced everything together, Raymond had made the decision: force Hydra to act.
He was counting on Fury. A manipulator like him wouldn't let a key asset go undefended. If things got loud enough, Fury would notice—and likely take steps to extract him from this hospital.
Which suited him just fine.
Compared to David, a walking apocalypse, or the Shadow King, that crafty old mutt, Hydra was a minor nuisance.
Even if the System of Myriad Personalities couldn't help him much against David or the Shadow King, it was more than enough to deal with Hydra's average agents.
Even their pet project, the "Centipede" super soldiers, were no real threat to someone like Claw.
That's why Raymond had never taken Hydra too seriously.
If Hydra had already succeeded in toppling S.H.I.E.L.D. and had access to mass destruction weapons, he might've hesitated.
But for now? Emmm...
And as for why he hadn't accepted the deal and used them to escape?
Please.
Being a traitor wasn't such a simple thing.
If he crossed S.H.I.E.L.D., he wouldn't just burn a bridge—he'd ignite a war.
And who's to say Hydra wouldn't double-cross him? Take the intel and bury him for good?
Hydra was a snake pit. Full of rats and cutthroats. Someone could easily decide they didn't like how much he'd been paid and come for his head.
Sure, Raymond could defend himself—he could even kill them first—but then he'd have both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra on his back.
That was not a winning position.
So, after weighing the risks, he'd made his choice: provoke Raina and sever ties. Burn the bridge before they tried to walk across it.
Now, it was just a matter of time before Hydra made its next move.