Symbiotic Agent

Facing Nathan Landis's intense gaze, Holm stepped away from his chair, then slowly squatted down in front of him.

"Even though you disgusted me just now, I still appreciate you sharing such a compelling story," Holm said calmly. "I understand why you're doing this, but do you think there's a chance I hadn't already thought about these things before I came here to kill you?"

"Stop pretending to be desperate and unhinged. I know it's just an act."

As Holm spoke with a slight smile, the crazed expression on Nathan's face faltered, then froze entirely.

"You're trying to make me second-guess my decision," Holm continued, "to make me fear that I'll be dealt with eventually. You think if I want to stay alive, my best option is to keep you alive as leverage, as a bargaining chip if Grant Ward decides to come after me."

After a pause, Holm added, "I'm guessing you have a backup of what you showed me."

Holm rose to his feet, looking down at Nathan with a cool, steady gaze. "Drop the fantasy, Landis. You're dead today."

He smirked. "I know Grant Ward has his sights on me. But it doesn't matter, because I'll take care of him first."

Nathan's face went cold as the reality set in. He had thought he had a fair chance at survival. It seemed logical—neither of them would want to create unnecessary animosity. A backup plan was expected, just in case. But Holm was immune to such schemes. He wasn't interested in negotiation or compromise.

"Oh, Ward probably didn't expect things to end like this," Nathan muttered, his tone now resigned. "He'd never think you could outmanoeuvre him. Ha…"

His face softened, no longer crazed but calm, his acceptance tinged with resignation.

Ignoring the remnants of Nathan's recent mess, Holm grasped him by the belt, hoisting him onto the chair and securing him with a rope he'd prepared in advance. Originally, he'd intended to use Venom's tentacles to handle this task, given that Nathan was doomed, so secrecy wasn't a concern. But Venom found Nathan repellent, so Holm stuck to traditional methods.

"All right, Mr. Landis," Holm said, preparing a syringe. He injected it into Nathan's neck. "Now, tell me where the rest of your backups are hidden."

Nathan didn't resist, his body slack, accepting his fate. As the drug took effect, his vision dimmed, his consciousness slipping away.

"I hope you get him…" Nathan managed to whisper, his voice fading. "I'll be waiting for him… in hell."

With a last, shallow breath, Nathan's body went limp.

Half an hour later, Holm lifted the metallic object, now coated in grime, and placed it in a plastic evidence bag, battling his own nausea. He then retrieved a body bag, fitting Nathan's lifeless form inside, head twisted backward, and zipped it shut. He planned to take the bag to the bay at night; the fish and shrimp would appreciate a warm meal.

Nathan's disappearance went largely unnoticed. The only fallout was a mild inconvenience to his factory, where he had been one of the few workers able to repair machines. The manager was dismayed but soon found relief when a polite, foreign worker arrived, skilled in machine repairs.

...….

"You handled this job well. It'll be useful for your future advancement," Grant Ward remarked, hanging up the phone after watching a surveillance clip showing Holm placing stones in the body bag. The footage captured Nathan's neck, twisted 180 degrees, clearly visible.

Upon hearing Ward's praise, Holm straightened in his seat, his face a blend of excitement and apprehension. He appeared eager for the "advancement" Ward had alluded to, though tinged with caution.

Ward scrutinised Holm's expression, then picked up a bag from his side and examined its contents. The transparent bag held the metallic object, slick with vomit and mucus, which made Ward's brows furrow.

"Couldn't you have cleaned it up before putting it in here?"

Holm lowered his head, clearly uncomfortable. "Apologies, sir. That was careless of me."

"Forget it," Ward said, easing his frown as he set the bag back down. "It's a minor issue."

With the debrief complete, Holm's secret mission was technically finished. Although Ward had given him three days, Holm completed it within two, leaving him with an extra day before the start of Daisy's investigation into the Lizardman incident.

As they continued discussing his recent missions, Ward abruptly shifted the topic to Daisy.

"Have you noticed anything unusual about your partner?" Ward asked.

Holm shook his head. "Same as always—she's a complete novice with little field experience. But it's clear she has close connections with SHIELD's upper management."

Ward leaned back, deep in thought. "Strange. The way Coulson spoke to her over the phone—it was a tone I've only heard him use with a select few."

Holm seized the moment. "Do you want me to try tricking her into revealing something? I doubt she'd suspect a thing."

But Ward shook his head, "No. Don't overstep. She's inexperienced, which makes her a wild card. I'm not sure how many people are watching her, and any move out of line could draw attention. Just interact with her normally, nothing more. Don't get complacent because she seems harmless."

Ward paused, his gaze hardening. "Losing mental focus is the easiest mistake for even seasoned agents, and it's a mistake that can cost lives."

"I understand," Holm replied, nodding. He lowered his gaze, hiding the glint of resolve in his eyes.

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