Seizing the opportunity of the time when Arkham Sanatorium was not receiving patients, Shiller applied for a renovation of the building used by the sanatorium. The reason for the renovation, rather than a transformation or rebuild, was because this building was classified as a historical and cultural preservation building.
The old bank had indeed been around for some years. Before Wall Street had become a bustling economic center, an ambitious banker moved his headquarters here.
Over years of wind and snow, the high rises of Wall Street were gradually erected amidst mornings and evenings, with increasing traffic and pedestrians. When the golden age arrived, this bank, like all the buildings, was radiating the glory of prosperity.
However, following the shift of the financial center and the gradual decline of Wall Street, this old bank also became increasingly outdated.
While Shiller loved these objects that hinted of the past, he couldn't accept, for example, that out of ten faucets here, nine produced no water, and the remaining one issued rusty water.
This renovation mainly focused on the internal water supply, electricity systems, and the wall and floor renovations and preservation. After the renovation, Shiller returned to his office; everything remained the same, but the core had changed. For instance, he could finally use high wattage light bulbs, and the sink in the restroom could finally be used.
Apart from this, many items were kept, such as the old telephone imbued with the style of the last century. Within the Kryptonite Dream Coins gift package, Shiller generously offered Strange a discount, and obtained the "A phone call to all realms" technology in return, with an additional function of magic-based anti-tracking.
In the office at dusk, Shiller stood in front of the desk by the door, speaking into the phone, "Yes, I am the Doctor."
"You don't need to oblige me. I guess you're likely trying to track my mobile signal through a strange machine, but I'm telling you, you're wasting your time."
"Don't cover up your embarrassment at this moment with a silly laugh. Look at your other screen and tell me what's displayed on it."
A cold voice came from the other side, "Don't think we can't find your address this way..."
"When you find my address, give me a call."
Having said this, Shiller hung up the phone but continued to stand in front of the desk. Two seconds later, the phone rang again.
"Hello, this is the Doctor." Shiller started with his unchanged opener. The person on the other side seemed to sigh slightly, saying, "Doctor, I admit, you are an impressive individual. I didn't expect that overly-conservative old fox Pierce could foster an extremist with such ambitions like you."
"That is the second funniest thing I have heard this year. Before you call me an extremist, could you perhaps change your German accent?"
The person on the other side did not want to follow Shiller's lead. He ignored Shiller's leading statement and changed the topic, "Doctor, do you know that by targeting important people in the same region, you've earned the dissatisfaction of the headquarters?"
"And what about it?"
"I ask that you cease your actions immediately, maintain silence, and wait for the investigation team from headquarters."
"You don't have the qualifications to investigate me." Shiller forthrightly refused the proposition from the other side. "I am only cleaning up some insatiable parasites for the organization."
The tone of the person on the other side hadn't changed, appearing unaffected by Shiller's attitude. He emotionlessly replied, "If you find any irregularities in their behavior, you need to report to the headquarters. Once approval is received, there will be designated inspectors to handle it..."
Shiller switched the phone to his other ear, saying, "Would you like to hear about their irregularities first?"
"...What?"
Shiller put down the phone, picked up a file from the bookshelf nearby, and said, "Evan Brown, former congressman, a senior officer at the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve member, the head of the National Tax Collection Department..."
"In addition, he is also one of us, responsible for all financial matters in the Hydra's New York State Division."
"What's his issue?"
"He's a member of KGB, and has been since the time of the Soviet Union."
There was silence on the other side.
Shiller turned another page, "Marbury Queto, I don't want to mention his experience, but I just can't understand how you dare to recruit someone who graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University."
"Sophia Smith, she has 25 treatment records in Moscow."
"Hans Todd, he spent holidays in St. Petersburg twelve times in a year."
"Dominic Johnson, he owns a Siberian Forest Cat..."
"Wait." The person on the other side finally couldn't bear it anymore, "Does even the cat count?"
"According to the inspection manual I read, any clues related to leftist tendency must be reported. The organization in New York State reported 67 suspect clues including cats and dogs in December 1977. Among these, 66 organization members' pets were identified as having Russian ancestry, and investigation results showed they were all dealt with."
Once again, silence from the other side.
"Both you and I know this is just their way of internal power struggles. Such an excuse is convenient." The person on the other end seemed to deal his cards, saying, "I know you want to eliminate those who obstruct your ascendance, but you've gone a bit too far this time. Losing so many key personnel at once could cause the organization to collapse."
"Well, did it collapse?"
The other side fell silent again.
"This is the funniest joke I have heard this year. I got rid of over 30 important Hydra figures in New York State, and then... nothing happened."
"The operation of the organization wasn't impacted in the slightest. On the contrary, after a 67% personnel loss, the whole of New York State's expenditure dropped by over 40%, yet work efficiency doubled."
The person on the other side had been quiet since the last time they spoke, finally, Shiller said: "I guess, when you called me, it must not have been with the approval of the headquarters."
"But just like you said, it is clear to us who is currently holding Hydra back. Those who have come through from the last century are still clinging to their set of rigid rules, but the times have already changed."
"They say to the new generation of people 'you're doing this wrong,' 'that's not right either,' 'you must follow us,' but the truth is, at no point in history have they ever succeeded."
"Their proudest achievement is killing Captain America, the symbol of American spirit, but you should have heard by now, Captain America is still alive. Not only that, there's also Spider Man, Iron Man, and they've established Hero Squad, giving us quite a headache."
"What do you propose?" the person on the other side asked.
"If you're in Germany, just mind your own business there and don't interfere with mine."
"Do you know Lady Hydra?" the person on the other side suddenly asked. Shiller paused for a moment and said: "Of course I do."
"You've stepped on her toes. She's likely going to give you some problems soon."
The tone on the other side became serious: "I don't know if you have dealt with things like this, but I have to tell you, Lady Hydra possesses a strength beyond human capability, not the physical kind like Captain America's, but a more mysterious magic power."
"Some say that she made a pact with a devil and through this contract gained immortality, the worst part is, she's adept in using poison."
"You better not assume that if we can't find you, then she can't hurt you. I'd advise you to be more cautious."
"There's no need for you to beat around the bush." Shiller cut him off, "At first, you wanted to find out my address because if you knew where I was, you could sell me out to Lady Hydra and in return, obtain a substantial reward."
"However, you discovered you couldn't find me, so you considered that I may have a chance of winning in my confrontation with Lady Hydra. You decided to hedge your bets, appeasing both her and me."
"If I'm not mistaken, you also have another phone at hand. It should be to your left, or above your left hand, the number has already been dialed and you're just waiting to make the call. The moment the screen in front of you shows my address, you will immediately call that number and relay the address to the person on the other end."
Shiller suddenly changed the topic, "Do you like Siberian Forest Cats?"
It was quiet on the other end for several seconds before he answered: "No."
"I quite like them, I find them very cute, if necessary, I can go and talk to some people who have similar interests."
Having said that, Shiller hung up the phone, but he didn't leave. After two seconds, the phone rang again. The person on the other end could no longer maintain his calm and collected tone, he said: "I strongly advise you not to do that. You're cutting off your nose to spite your face. Do you think they will let you off?"
"Will Lady Hydra let me off?"
The person on the other side was once again silent. Shiller's questions always prevented him from coming up with a response. After taking a deep breath, he said: "I will speak to Ophelia about this..."
Shiller responded calmly: "You can't speak to her, because she simply won't pay you any attention. You're just a wretched, pitiful beggar trying to scrounge some food from her."
"You can't give me any advice, nor do you have the right to do so. The outcome between us has nothing to do with you. Regardless of who wins, you will still be on the side being consumed."
"What you need to do now is put down the phone, turn off the screen, abandon those unattainable ambitions and ideas circling in your mind, retreat back into your dank, narrow nest and wait for your death."
After saying this, Shiller hung up the phone then walked back to his desk. After a while, he took out his phone and dialed The Sanctum. The operator there said politely: "Honorable guest Mr. Rodriguez, do I need to connect you to the Supreme Magician?"
"No need. I hope you could help me investigate a Hungarian. Her name is Ophelia, also known as Lady Hydra, or Viper. Who is her contract holder? Can we contact them now?"
"Can you provide some basic information about her? Finding the Demon God from the contract holders may be slightly difficult, you may need to wait for a while."
"It should be a Demon God related to destruction, annihilation, and darkness. In addition, she's immortal and skilled in making poison."
"Please hold."
After some pleasant hold music, the operator on the other side said, "Hello, we've found it. The contract of hers should be with the customer we just contacted, the Great Shadow Cision."
"You actually got a hold of Cision?"
"It's just a preliminary intention to cooperate. The specific matters are being handled by the Scarlet Witch, Wanda."
"Where is she now?"
"She's at the Andromeda Galaxy Sky Island and is expected to return in about a week."
"Help me to contact her, I have a deal to discuss."
"Alright, please hold."
After another round of hold music, a pleasing female voice came over: "Hello, this is Wanda."
Shiller said to the person on the other end of the line: "Hello Miss Wanda, this is Shiller Rodriguez, also the head of the Hydra's New York State Division."
"I have a deal I would like to discuss with you."