"Science Division or Communications Division?"
Upon hearing Director Weaver's question, Ray narrowed his eyes slightly and didn't answer right away.
No one had mentioned this to him before. Neither Director Fury nor Hill seemed to be aware that joining S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy would involve this kind of decision. Even the original owner of Ray's body had no memory of such a requirement, making this question truly unexpected.
Still, he didn't take long to decide.
Moments later, he responded calmly.
"Apologies, Ms Weaver. I don't want to join either of those divisions."
"Hmm?"
Director Weaver clearly hadn't expected such a response. She furrowed her brow. "Dr Raymond, are you saying you'd rather join the Covert Ops Division? Psychology certainly has its applications there, but it lacks academic depth. Personally, I wouldn't recommend—"
"No, no. You've misunderstood, Ms Weaver. I said I wasn't interested in the Science or Communications Divisions, but I never said I wanted to join Covert Ops." Ray cut her off.
"Then... you mean to say—you want to join the Operations Division?" Weaver asked, stunned.
She wasn't the only one. Even Hill, who had been quietly observing until now, stared at Ray with a flicker of confusion.
Director Weaver didn't know Ray's real situation. As far as she knew, he had simply been abroad for a time and had recently returned—this was the official explanation Fury had given for Ray's recent disappearance.
To outsiders, that excuse sufficed.
But Hill knew the truth: Ray hadn't been abroad, but secretly admitted to Clockwork Psychiatric Hospital due to schizophrenia, undergoing confidential treatment.
Up until now, Ray had seemed entirely normal. As a renowned psychologist himself, he had assured her he was fully recovered, and Hill had believed him.
So had Fury and May, it seemed.
But this unexpected move made Hill wonder if he was relapsing. Otherwise, why on earth would he want to join the Operations Division?
Hill hadn't studied at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy—she had been placed in the agency by the World Security Council. Still, as Deputy Director, she understood the basics.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy had four main divisions:
Science Division, which trained technological experts and where most of the agency's scientists originated.
Communications Division, which produced intelligence and information specialists.
Covert Ops Division, which trained elite spies.
Operations Division, which developed front-line combat agents.
Science and Communications were both non-combat divisions, focused on research and analysis.
Covert Ops and Operations were the opposite—combat-oriented.
Covert Ops specialised in espionage. While the Operations Division offered similar courses, it couldn't compete in that domain.
The Operations Division was, simply put, designed to produce elite fighters.
Most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s physically capable field agents graduated from there—May included.
From Director Weaver's perspective, Ray was an academic figure, a respected expert in psychology. Even if he joined S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy full-time, it seemed logical he'd choose one of the research-heavy divisions.
Even if, somehow, he opted for Covert Ops instead, it wouldn't have seemed entirely unreasonable—psychology is a required subject in that division, after all.
A good spy needs more than stealth and improvisation; understanding human nature is vital.
In fact, Covert Ops might rely on psychology even more than the other two divisions.
But the Operations Division?
That had absolutely no connection to psychology.
Training focused on hand-to-hand combat, firearms proficiency, endurance, survival skills, and vehicle operation—not psychology.
Perhaps one or two students might take it as an elective out of personal interest, but they would be exceedingly rare.
It's impossible for any normal person to master every field. Only true prodigies could attempt such a thing.
That's why Director Weaver had never even considered the possibility Ray would choose the Operations Division.
Even Hill, who didn't know the academy as intimately, found the decision bizarre—and began to wonder if Ray might be experiencing a mental lapse.
So one could only imagine how shocked Director Weaver must have been.
That said, Ray had expected these reactions.
Smiling calmly, he said, "No need to be so surprised, Ms Weaver. I have my reasons."
"I'm listening," she replied, gesturing for him to continue.
"If I'm not mistaken, students at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy can take elective courses in divisions other than their own, correct?"
"That's right," Weaver confirmed with a nod.
"Then, by joining the Operations Division, I won't be preventing students from other divisions from enrolling in my classes, will I?"
"Well, that's technically true," Weaver conceded, "but Dr Raymond, you must understand—most students in Operations won't be particularly interested in your subject."
She continued sincerely, "Even though cross-division electives are allowed, they require more time and scheduling effort. It's not convenient."
"Of course, I'm sure many students from other divisions would seek out your courses even if you were based in Operations—but I fail to see the value in such an arrangement. With all due respect, I don't believe it's a rational choice."
"No offence intended, but I do hope you'll reconsider."
As she said this, she glanced toward Hill, silently hoping she might step in and help talk Ray out of it.