Chapter 36: The Enemy is About to Arrive on the Battlefield
After injecting the last serum into the body of the soldier in front of him, Norbert Berkowitz sighed silently.
These people were all assets he had prepared to take over, but they were wasted by Schmidt.
"Doctor, are you okay?"
Keltes saw something was wrong with Norbert and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.
He waved his hand and rubbed his temples: "I'm fine, just a little tired."
You want to say that you are like this because of heartache?
"Then you go back and rest, and leave the rest to us."
"Yes, doctor, just go back and rest. Leave this place to us."
"Yes, we can take care of the rest."
...
Keltes' proposal was approved by most people, and a small number of people lowered their heads in silence to do their own thing. Only Joseph stared at Norbert's departing back with resentment and jealousy.
After leaving the laboratory, Norbert did not return to his residence but walked directly to the base club.
The club that used to be bustling with people, where you had to queue up to get in, had now turned into a prison, with only a few Hydra soldiers guarding the door.
"Doctor, why are you here?"
During this time, Schmidt was constantly moving, and the entire Hydra base was in a state of war readiness. The club had long been closed, and no one dared to come here.
"I'm here to settle a personal grudge."
Several Hydra soldiers looked at each other. They all knew the grudge between Keira and Norbert, but at this juncture~
"Doctor~this~"
"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you. I only need a few minutes."
"Okay then, doctor, you have five minutes. You better hurry up."
The Hydra soldiers did not want to offend Norbert. William was dead, Zora had rebelled, and now, except for Schmidt, Norbert had the highest status in the entire base.
Norbert nodded, borrowed a dagger from one of the soldiers, and walked expressionlessly into the place that once drove all the men in the base crazy.
The lights in the club were dim, and a group of half-dressed women were sitting on the sofa in groups. Only one woman in red was sitting leisurely in front of the bar, holding a wine glass without wine in her hand.
Seeing Norbert holding a dagger in his hand, the women who were a little ready to take action turned their heads to the woman sitting at the bar and looked at her hesitantly.
Reassuring them with her eyes, Keira put down her empty wine glass and walked over to Norbert with a charming smile.
"Doctor."
Norbert nodded, and the dagger in his hand plunged into Keira's heart like lightning.
"Ah~"
The sudden change made the women in the room scream.
The Hydra soldiers outside heard the noise and rushed in.
"Doctor~you~"
Norbert let go of the dagger and stood up, turned around, and walked out. It was not until he was almost at the door that an emotionless voice sounded: "Throw her into the forest to feed the wolves."
The leading Hydra soldier trembled and replied loudly: "Yes."
After dealing with Keira's matter, Norbert returned to his residence.
Zola was captured, and with how scared he was of death, he would definitely betray Schmidt.
With Zola's intelligence support, Captain America's Howling Commandos would surely come to their door soon.
The off-site "allies" are about to arrive on the battlefield, and it's time for me, the protagonist, to make a move.
Hydra can be destroyed, Schmidt can die, and it doesn't matter even if those Hydra soldiers die, but some things have been regarded as their own property by Norbert, and they cannot just take advantage of the Allies.
Three days later, at the Valkyrie Wings construction site.
Keltes was commanding Hydra soldiers to install a huge machine.
Schmidt had ordered all efforts to create the Valkyrie Wings. Norbert and the scientific researchers in the base had also been dismissed after completing the serum production.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Norbert put down what he was holding and walked towards Keltes.
"Keltes, how are things going?"
The sudden sound startled Keltes, and he almost screamed. He turned around and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Norbert next to him.
He cautiously looked around and saw that no one was paying attention. Then he whispered to Norbert, "Doctor, everyone is willing to listen to you, but I didn't dare to ask the others for fear of leaking the news."
Norbert nodded. He knew who Keltes was talking about: "You have done a good job. Tell them that after the construction of this aircraft is completed, everyone should try to stay in their rooms and wait for my news."
"I understand." Keltes looked a little excited.
After confirming the news with Keltes, Norbert made no other moves.
Now he just needed to wait.
Wait until the day Captain America arrives.
At first, he had originally planned to cooperate with Shaw both inside and outside. With Shaw's help, it would be easy to destroy Hydra.
Shaw was not just so positive because Norbert is a "mutant".
Now that the plot of Captain America 1 is advancing, wouldn't it be a waste to have a perfect tool like Rogers not used?
******
December 23, 1944.
The super fighter Valkyrie Wings had been built, and the Tesseract had been installed on the aircraft as its power source.
Schmidt had also finally announced his plan.
"Tomorrow, Hydra will become the master of the world."
"With the victory of the Valkyrie Wings, the enemy's weapons will be useless against us."
"For every plane they shoot down, there will be hundreds of planes raining down bullets on them."
"If they chop off one head, two new ones will take its place."
"Long live Hydra."
"Long live Hydra~"
Slogans like a tsunami echoed through the sky.
Standing behind Schmidt, looking at the crowd of troops shouting "Long live Hydra," especially the hundreds of silent Scorpion warriors at the front, Norbert was sweating for Captain America.
After the pre-war mobilization was completed, the huge war machine of Hydra began to operate at an extremely fast speed.
"Doctor, is everything ready?"
In the commander's office, Schmidt stood in front of the window and looked out at the snow-covered Alps.
"Commander, everything is ready."
"Very well, go and prepare. Tomorrow you will witness the victory of Hydra with me."
Bah, you don't believe me. You need to keep me with you so you can monitor me at all times.
Norbert would not believe Schmidt's lies.
However, this was just what he wanted.
"Yes, Commander."
Back in his laboratory, Eric had been waiting for a long time.
As soon as he entered the door, Norbert asked: "How are you preparing?"
Eric nodded: "Everything is ready, Doctor."
Norbert nodded slightly: "Remember to act according to the plan."
"Clear."
In the blink of an eye, it was the next day.
Early in the morning, Norbert arrived at the command office wearing a Hydra combat uniform.
"This suit suits you well, Doctor."
Schmidt admired Norbert sincerely when he saw him in combat uniform.
To be honest, Norbert's figure and appearance don't look like a scientific researcher.
"I also think this outfit suits me better." Norbert nodded in agreement.
As soon as he finished speaking, a Hydra soldier hurried in.
"Sir, an enemy is attacking us."
Norbert lowered his head and raised the corners of his mouth.
Captain, long time no see!
---
Chapter 37: I Am a Good Person
When he saw Rogers' familiar face and appearance, Norbert Berkowitz knew it was time to leave.
"Commander, I'm going to prepare first."
Schmidt nodded slightly, agreeing.
Turning around and walking out, Norbert kept staring at Rogers' face.
Rogers' eyes narrowed. He felt a little strange. Hydra and someone from the USA?
What's even more peculiar is that the way this man looked at him made him feel like he was being stripped naked.
When he passed by Rogers, Norbert had a meaningful smile on his face, which made Rogers even more uneasy.
After leaving Schmidt's command office, Norbert walked quickly towards the base.
It was quite inconvenient not to have a mobile phone during this time; the contact person had to be reached in person.
Walking straight to the door of his laboratory, Norbert knocked rhythmically a few times, then quickly ran away in the other direction.
He wasn't sure how long Rogers could delay Schmidt. He would be in big trouble if he missed the plane.
You know, the Tesseract is still up there.
After running all the way, as soon as he reached the underground airport where the Valkyrie Wings were parked, a piercing alarm sounded in the base.
"Ha, the timing is perfect."
Everyone at the airport was a little flustered, but Norbert was not in a hurry anymore and walked towards the super bomber with a relaxed expression on his face.
On the other side, Schmidt and Rogers' conversation had successfully delayed them. The Howling Commandos seized the opportunity and descended from the sky.
Tu tu tu tu ~
There was an uproar in the command room.
"Hey Captain, you might need this."
A bearded man picked up the captain's shield and threw it.
"Thank you."
Taking the shield, Rogers turned around and chased after him.
At the same time, the Howling Commandos, who had been ambushing outside the base, began their attack.
With loud shouts of battle, James and Victor took the lead and drew significant firepower.
"Ah~"
With a roar, Victor charged forward, braving the intense firepower of Hydra and crashing into the enemy's formation.
Not to be outdone, James quickened his pace and charged towards the enemy in front of him.
The powerful fighting ability of the two mutants was on full display. Wherever they went, there were broken limbs and scattered body parts, with flesh and blood flying everywhere. The Hydra formation crumbled under their assault, clearing a broad path for the Howling Commandos.
It confirmed what Schmidt had said.
The enemy's weapons had no effect on them.
Victor and James were like sharp blades, leaving behind mountains of corpses and seas of blood, piercing the enemy's heart.
The two sharp blades were only halted when they met a steel barrier.
James, who was a step behind Victor, saw a dark shadow flash before his eyes. A huge impact sent him flying three meters away.
"Victor, what's going on?"
Lifting Victor off him, James got up from the ground, feeling disgraced.
"Ugh~ Those idiots are here."
After spitting out blood, Victor stared ahead with disdain.
"Scorpion Warriors!" James' eyes widened in disbelief as he looked ahead, "So many?"
According to visual estimates, there were no fewer than a hundred Scorpion Warriors blocking the entrance to the base, each armed with a metal shield similar to Captain America's.
"Damn, where did so many fakes come from?"
The vanguard led by Colonel Phillips arrived at the same time and were also shocked by the sight.
"That damn dwarf lied to us," Victor roared angrily.
"No, it won't do him any good to lie to us."
Phillips had a different opinion, remembering someone Zola had mentioned.
"This should all be the work of Norbert."
"Norbert?" James looked at him puzzled.
"Norbert Berkowitz, Hydra's scientist second only to Zola, is also the creator of these Scorpion Warriors. According to Zola, he suspects that Norbert has replicated the perfect super serum," Carter explained to the colonel.
Victor smiled disdainfully: "The creator of these fools? Isn't he also a fool? I hope he can handle these idiots better."
Colonel Phillips was startled and warned sternly: "Victor, if you want to regain your freedom and meet this man named Norbert, you'd better capture him alive."
"Let's not discuss that now. We need to find a way inside. Captain and the others might not be able to hold out for long," Carter said impatiently.
Victor sneered: "How? I'll handle ten, James?"
Gritting his teeth, James said: "I'll handle ten as well."
With a chuckle, Victor turned to Phillips: "Then the rest is up to you."
Before he finished speaking, Victor kicked off his strong legs and rushed out like a gale.
James, fearing Victor wouldn't manage alone, turned to Phillips and said, "I'll leave the rest to you."
"Hey, wait!"
Carter stretched out his hand weakly and looked at Phillips.
"Uh, I'm responsible for one."
Phillips squirmed uneasily, avoiding Carter's gaze, and quickly said a sentence before running away.
Carter looked blankly at the Howling Commandos beside him, pointing at himself unconsciously.
"They mean… me…"
"One person…"
"Responsible…"
"They…"
He pointed at the imposing Scorpion Warriors on the opposite side.
The soldier quietly took a few steps back, then shouted, "Yes, that's what they said."
Boom~
Without waiting for Carter to react, the surrounding soldiers abruptly left, leaving Carter alone in the wind.
"Did you make a mistake?"
Carter almost went mad. He gritted his teeth and stared at the Scorpion Warriors opposite him: "Men, none of them are good."
Taking two deep breaths, Carter kept reassuring himself.
"You can do it, you can do it, don't let those men look down on you."
"Aren't there just over seventy Scorpion Warriors? And they're all men…"
"As long as they're men, is there anything a woman can't handle?"
"You can do it…"
He kept mumbling, but his body didn't move forward even an inch.
After dithering for a long time, Victor and James started fighting with the Scorpion Warriors, but she still couldn't move forward even half a step.
"It looks like you need help, ma'am."
A strange man's voice suddenly sounded in her ears. Carter was startled, and the gun in her hand was subconsciously pointed behind her. A strong hand firmly held her wrist.
"I don't mean any harm. I'm here to help you."
Before Carter could clearly see the person's face, she felt a large bag of items being stuffed into her arms. The strange man's voice sounded again.
"Dr. Norbert asked me to greet you on his behalf, Director Carter."
"Hey, you…"
Looking up, Carter could only see the faint red smoke remaining in the air.
If it weren't for the big black package in her arms, she would have suspected it was all an illusion.
"Dr. Norbert?"
Carter looked at the black package in her hand and frowned.
Boom~
The violent explosion jolted Carter awake, and James in the distance was blown five meters away by a bomb thrown by the Scorpion Warrior.
"Ah~"
The painful scream made Carter ignore everything else, and she subconsciously opened the black package in her arms.
"What is this?"
A bag full of pink test tubes, with a note inside.
Carter picked up the note and found instructions for use, with a signature in the lower right corner.
"A good man."
---
Chapter 38: Allied Forces Arrive on the Battlefield
Carter didn't care whether he was a good person or not. She only cared about whether this thing was useful to the Scorpion Warriors as mentioned above.
"Ah~"
"Come on!"
...
James and Victor can only hold down ten of them each, and the rest can only be dealt with by the Howling Commandos.
One side has advanced weapons and all are super soldiers. Although they do not have a numerical advantage, they are also assisted by ordinary Hydra soldiers.
One side's equipment is lagging behind. Although they are also elite warriors, there is still a significant gap compared to their opponents.
For a time, the battle situation became tense.
The Howling Commandos' overwhelming offensive was blocked, and Hydra even showed signs of counterattack.
"It seems that you still have to rely on women in critical times." Taking out a test tube and weighing it, Carter said sadly, "Men are indeed unreliable."
Drop~
Pressing a button on the test tube, Carter quickly rushed towards the Scorpion Warriors surrounding James.
Whoosh~ The test tube containing the pink reagent drew a perfect arc in the air and fell accurately at James' feet.
"Sheesh~"
Having been bombed just now, James subconsciously thought it was another grenade. Without even looking at it, he turned around and threw himself back.
Bang~
He expected to be blown away again, but instead of an explosion, pink smoke spurted out.
James sniffed and detected a strange fragrance.
"What is this? A scented bomb?"
Just as James was puzzled, the Scorpion Warrior who inhaled the pink smoke suddenly became extremely violent, and all his actions became erratic. One of them even threw the metal shield in his hand at a Scorpion Warrior beside him.
"What's going on?" James couldn't react in time.
"Don't just stand there, follow me quickly."
Carter hurried past James, threw a pink test tube to him, and took out another pink test tube herself.
Drop~ Press.
Whoosh~ Throw.
The previous scene repeated itself, and the Scorpion Warriors started attacking indiscriminately and crazily.
"James, don't just stand there, follow quickly. The Captain needs our help." Carter's shout came again.
Scratching his head, James followed Carter's lead and rushed towards the base gate.
Who cares, wouldn't it be nice to get rid of these fools?
Following the same pattern, the Scorpion Warriors blocking the Howling Commandos were quickly cleared away.
Although most of them were killed by their own people.
Inside the base, Captain America also faced the same problem.
After chasing Schmidt around a corner, Captain America was blocked by a Scorpion Warrior.
Fortunately, the internal passages in the base are narrow, and he only needs to deal with a maximum of three Scorpion Warriors at a time. With his hero's aura, one-on-three, although stressful, was not overwhelming.
But~
"Huhuhu~ Is this over?"
Breathing heavily, Rogers looked at the Scorpion Warriors swarming in again with a wry smile.
"Private, maybe this is what you wished for."
The sound came from nowhere, and then a pink object wrapped in wire flew out and fell to the ground in the passage.
Rogers could clearly see that there was a bright red timer tied to the wire. As soon as it hit the ground, the number on the timer returned to zero.
"I'm going~"
Without any time to think, Rogers raised his shield to his chest, preparing for the coming explosion.
Bang~
Pink smoke filled the passage, and then another bundle of pink objects flew out of the darkness and fell in front of him, but there was no timer on it.
"Soldier, you may need this."
Looking at the chaotic scene in the passage, Rogers shouted towards the passage.
"What is this?"
"Happy Tonic Pill."
"Uh~" Rogers choked, looked down at the things on the ground, and then tightened the shield in his hand, "I hope it can bring me happiness."
"Thank you."
Picking up something from the ground and shouting, Rogers rushed out with his shield in hand.
With what he had in hand, the Scorpion Warriors posed no threat to him at all.
He discovered that this thing could be used to deal with Scorpion Warriors~
"I'm really happy."
However, Rogers had lost track of Schmidt and wasted a lot of time trying to find Schmidt's whereabouts.
In the underground parking lot, Norbert Berkowitz walked to a pile of boxes, took out a pocket watch, and checked the time.
"Almost."
He threw away the pocket watch and opened one of the black boxes, revealing neat pink test tubes inside.
He took a grenade from his waist and pulled the pin with his index finger.
Da~
"Norbert, what are you doing?"
Norbert turned his head and said with a smile: "Hey, Schmidt, you came here really fast, it's a pity~"
"Late."
With a slight flick of his wrist, Norbert leaned over and dashed to the side.
Boom~
The power of a grenade posed no threat to people like Norbert and Schmidt.
The grenade wasn't meant for Schmidt either.
After several experiments, Norbert finally derived a Happy Tonic Pill specifically for the special version of the serum.
Except for those given away, this is all his inventory.
Along with the explosion, a pink mushroom cloud slowly rose.
Schmidt stared at the figure in the distance, the murderous aura in his eyes almost turning into a sharp blade.
"Norbert, what do you want to do?"
When the Poisonous Scorpion Warriors inhaled the Happy Tonic Pills, their sensory nerves would be overwhelmed by neurotoxins, passing through all previous stages and entering the final stage.
Unconsciously, they would have no control over their actions and only know how to attack the enemy.
As a result, their bodies obeyed the wrong instructions and started attacking everything around them.
The moment Norbert detonated the Happy Tonic Pill, the underground parking lot fell into chaos.
After patting the dust off his body, Norbert laughed, tilted his head, and looked at Schmidt like he was an idiot.
"Why should I tell you?"
Schmidt was stunned.
Aren't villains supposed to talk a lot?
Wouldn't the villain most like to explain the reasons to the protagonist and then waste time being killed by the protagonist?
Why doesn't this villain play by the rules?
Seeing Schmidt in a daze, Norbert quietly stepped back.
He didn't have time to waste with Schmidt here. The Tesseract was still waiting for him to pick up, so Schmidt should be dealt with by Captain America.
Lifelong enemies would have to have a decisive battle or something no matter what.
"Want to run?"
Schmidt, who came back to his senses, saw Norbert trying to escape, so he took out his pocket energy gun and shot Norbert in the back.
The blue energy beam arrived almost in the blink of an eye.
Norbert was hit with almost no time to react. If it weren't for the effect of the self-healing factor, he might have simply disappeared like the other people who were hit.
"Damn it, it really hurts."
Turning over to avoid another energy beam attack, Norbert secretly cursed Rogers for being unreliable. He gave him a lot of Happy Pills, but he failed to keep up.
Is this a rhythm where he wants to replace Captain America and fight Schmidt?
He wouldn't do it.
It's just that sometimes things really don't allow people to make a choice.
Schmidt fired several shots in succession without hitting, and the energy in the pistol was depleted. He then threw it away and strode towards Norbert's hiding place, shouting angrily.
"Norbert, come out, you traitor. I will kill you with my own hands!"
"No~ Because of your betrayal, I will crush your limbs and throw you into the dark sewers to keep company with those filthy bedbugs."
"I..."
Just as Schmidt was about to reach Norbert's hiding place, a loud shout came from the door of the parking lot.
"Schmidt!"
Schmidt's red skull face was very eye-catching, and Rogers locked onto the target immediately.
His strong body was as fast as flying, and no one could stop him for a second along the way.
"Damn it."
Schmidt's expression changed, and he turned around, trying to run away.
"Hey, buddy, didn't you have a great time scolding me just now? It's my turn."
---
Chapter 39: The White Queen
Delayed by Norbert Berkowitz, Schmidt had lost the chance to escape.
Swinging a long steel rope, Rogers landed heavily in front of Schmidt like a god descending.
"Schmidt, you failed."
Norbert, standing to the side, took the opportunity to step back a few paces, winked at Schmidt, turned around, and ran towards the super bomber.
Schmidt stood expressionless, seemingly unaware of Norbert's departure, but looked at Rogers coldly.
"You've let loose a poisonous snake."
Rogers curled his lips: "Poisonous snake? To this world, you are that poisonous snake."
"Really? You will regret it later." Schmidt smiled coldly.
Before he finished speaking, a fist swung towards Rogers like lightning.
Rogers raised his shield to block.
Bang~
The battle between two destined enemies had officially begun.
At this time, Norbert had arrived at the aircraft's control cabin, his final goal.
Tesseract.
He was lying quietly on an instrument in the middle of the operating cabin.
Striding to the instrument, Norbert reached out and took the Tesseract off it, placed it into his carry-on bag, and then turned around and left the plane.
The underground parking lot had fallen into chaos. Schmidt and Rogers were fighting fiercely. Rogers seemed to be at a disadvantage.
Without paying any more attention to them, Norbert walked deeper into the base with his bag in hand.
Under the cover of a group of Hydra soldiers, Norbert quickly entered a secret passage, just passing by the Allied forces who had invaded the base.
What happened next had nothing to do with Norbert. Without the Tesseract, Schmidt had completely failed. Even if he could kill Rogers, it would be of no avail. His plane couldn't even fly.
I don't know how Marvel's plot would have developed in the future if Rogers hadn't been frozen for seventy years.
But this was no longer Norbert's concern.
Three days later.
An unknown town at the foot of the Alps.
This was the closest human gathering place to the Hydra base. Although the town was small, it had all the necessary amenities.
There was also a church in the center of the town. The time on the church bell tower had just struck 12 noon, and the simple and melodious bells echoed over the town.
In the distance, Norbert, who was wearing a black suit, and Keira, who was clad in a tight red leather jumpsuit, walked slowly.
Squeak~
Accompanied by the sound of the church door, the afternoon sun shone in through the door, and the solemn church seemed to be enveloped in a layer of sacred light.
They crossed the threshold. The three figures standing in front of the cross turned around when they heard the sound. The person standing in the middle saw the newcomers and greeted them with a hearty smile.
"It's really nice to see you again, my friend."
"Shaw, you're doing well."
Norbert also had a smile on his face, stretched out his arms, and strode towards Shaw.
Squeak~
A big man walking at the end closed the door, and the church fell into shadow again. Although the sun shone in from the window, it gave a cold feeling.
The excited Shaw and Norbert hugged each other. Shaw pointed to the red devil beside him and said, "Azazel, my right-hand man, I believe you've already met."
"Of course, Mr. Azazel helped me a lot this time." Norbert smiled and nodded to the red devil.
Azazel said politely: "It's my honor to be able to help the doctor."
"Haha, Norbert, you don't need to be polite. I will introduce you to another person."
Holding Norbert's shoulder, Shaw pointed at a sexy blonde next to him wearing white clothes.
"This is Emma, my partner. She helped a lot this time. You have to thank her."
"Emma Frost, nice to meet you, Dr. Berkowitz. Shaw has nothing but praise for you."
Dressed in white, the charming and sexy Emma extended a jade-like hand.
Norbert's eyes narrowed, and a trace of vigilance flashed in his heart.
The White Queen has telepathic abilities similar to Charles's, can detect other people's thoughts, and can also turn her body into diamonds, providing unparalleled defense.
It's just that she can't use these two mutant abilities at the same time.
The White Queen's abilities in the movie are severely weakened, and it's unclear whether the one in front of him is the movie version or the comic version.
But Norbert guessed it should be the movie version.
He remembered that when he watched "X-Men: First Class," he was deeply impressed by the stunning appearance of the White Queen.
The one in front of him looked almost exactly like the one in the movie, except that this one was younger, sexier, and more beautiful.
These thoughts seemed complicated, but in reality, to others, Norbert was just stunned for a moment, as if he was taken aback by the cold beauty before him.
Only Emma, a telepathic mutant, noticed Norbert's wariness towards her.
"Norbert, nice to meet you, beautiful lady."
He was wary of the White Queen in his heart, but on the surface, Norbert still smiled like a gentleman.
"Is that so?"
Just after shaking her delicate hand, Emma suddenly raised the corners of her mouth, which made Norbert's heart skip a beat.
Before he could react, Emma's eyes suddenly flashed with panic.
A vortex appeared out of thin air in front of Norbert's eyes, sucking him in in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, Norbert appeared in a white space.
Norbert was looking around blankly when Emma's slightly panicked voice suddenly came from behind him.
"What did you do to me? Let me out quickly."
At this time, a message appeared in Norbert's mind.
With a smirk on his face, Norbert slowly turned around with an evil grin.
"This sentence should obviously be me asking you, what do you want to do by invading my brain?"
Emma's expression changed, and frost quickly climbed onto her pretty face, making her seem to have turned into a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg.
"Really~ You have such an attitude. You make me want to let you go without any excuse." Norbert shook his head and stared at Emma with a frosty expression.
Emma stood there with a cold face: "What do you want me to do?"
"That depends on what you plan to do." Norbert smiled wickedly.
Norbert was very wary of the White Queen before, but now~
After digesting the information in his mind, Norbert felt as if he had been hit by a pie.
To put it simply, since the mutant gene was analyzed, Norbert's golden finger could make him immune to the influence of any psychic abilities, and at the same time, he could fight back.
Emma wanted to explore Norbert's thoughts but was pulled into the analysis space by Norbert's golden finger.
In this space, even if Charles came, he would have to lie down.
The power of analysis can analyze everything in the world, including energy of any nature.
Emma's telepathic ability cannot function as it should, so she can only be imprisoned here.
Life or death only depends on Norbert's thoughts.
"Then I wonder if it's okay as long as I satisfy you?"
Just like the snow melting and the spring breeze turning into rain, Emma approached with a shy face and a proud figure.
Her charming figure made it impossible to look away.
"Of course~ Then what do you want to do?" Norbert's eyes flashed with a hint of teasing.
"Of course~"
Walking up to Norbert, Emma smiled charmingly at him.
---
Little time had passed in real world
"Doctor, won't you introduce this lady to me?"
Seeing Norbert Berkowitz holding Emma's hand and staring at her, something strange flashed in Shaw's eyes. He turned to look at Keira, who was equally charming.
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
He let go of Emma's hand and said "sorry," but his eyes, filled with a teasing glint, betrayed no real remorse.
Biting her red lips lightly, Emma's eyes wandered, and there were subtle sweat stains on her face.
Staring at Norbert angrily, an unnatural smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Don't worry, I didn't expect the doctor to be so young."
"I just thought you were complimenting me." Winking at Emma, Norbert turned to look at Keira, who stood beside him with an indifferent expression, "Keira, my assistant."
Keira nodded to Shaw as a greeting, showing no intention of shaking hands.
Shaw didn't mind. He hadn't come here to reminisce with Norbert.
"Doctor, do you know where the item is? I can't wait. You don't know how much I need it."
Shaw appeared impatient.
Norbert smiled and looked at Keira beside him: "Lead the way."
Keira nodded and took the lead towards a side door of the church. Norbert smiled and made an inviting gesture towards Shaw.
Through the side door of the church, they entered a storage room. Keira searched the ground for a while, then pulled up sharply, revealing a dark hole.
They walked down the narrow passage for seven or eight minutes. When they emerged from the passage, a metal door appeared in front of them.
"This is Hydra's secret warehouse, and everyone in this town is Hydra."
As Keira explained, she reached out and slowly opened the metal door.
"It's so charming." Shaw laughed heartily.
"Congratulations, Shaw, you've become a billionaire." Norbert said with a smile.
Behind the metal gate, rows of gold bricks were neatly arranged on metal racks.
"Haha, doctor, I hope we have another chance to cooperate in the future."
Shaw was in high spirits. Having spent all his money to join the Hellfire Club, these gold bricks presented countless opportunities.
"Of course, we will have many opportunities for cooperation in the future." Norbert agreed with a smile.
The Hydra gold was the payment he had agreed upon for asking Shaw to take action.
After transferring the gold, they returned to the church.
"Doctor, are you really not going to join the Hellfire Club? This is an opportunity that no one else can ask for."
Norbert's rejection of Shaw's invitation was obviously unexpected.
Shaking his head, Norbert pointed to his face with regret: "Shaw, you know, even if I accepted your invitation, others wouldn't agree."
Shaw understood what Norbert meant and cursed angrily: "Those arrogant humans will one day pay the price for their arrogance."
"It's okay, Shaw, even if I can't join the Hellfire Club, we are still friends, right?" Norbert pretended to comfort him.
Surprisingly, Shaw's agreement was enthusiastic.
"Yes, we are friends. Those arrogant and ignorant humans will soon realize how foolish they really are."
Shaw's demeanor was haughty, like a king delivering a speech.
Norbert echoed: "Of course, because of you, they will soon realize how ridiculous their arrogance and ignorance is."
"Doctor, are you really not going to reconsider? I believe we still have a lot in common."
Seeing Shaw's regretful expression, as if wishing they could chat longer, Norbert felt a chill and quickly declined: "Shaw, I am a wanted criminal now. It's not appropriate for me to stay here for too long. We will contact you when we have time in the future."
Without waiting for Shaw's response, he turned and left the church, as if chased by a dog.
Shaw watched Norbert's retreating figure, shaking his head in disappointment.
Unseen by him, Emma next to him stared at Norbert's departing back with strange eyes.
After leaving the church, Norbert took Keira into an alley.
The town had been occupied by the Allied forces, and Hydra's presence there was almost entirely eradicated. The town was almost deserted, except for a few Allied troops coming and going.
Norbert and Keira navigated through the alley and entered a private house. The room showed signs of recent fighting. They went straight to the basement without lingering.
Similar to the church, the basement contained a secret passage, but this one was an escape route.
In the dark underground passage, only the echoes of Norbert and Keira's footsteps could be heard.
Suddenly, Norbert, who was walking ahead, asked: "That's the gold you worked so hard to find, and you're giving it away like this. Aren't you angry?"
"I am only responsible for completing your mission. As for what these things are used for, I don't need to know."
In the darkness, Keira's tone was very calm, as if she genuinely didn't care that the gold was being given away by Norbert.
There was a pause before Keira's voice resumed in the darkness.
"Doctor, there are some things that you don't need to tell me, and I can't know. What if one day..."
Keira didn't finish her sentence, but Norbert understood her meaning.
A flashback to the ability to recall everything one has seen in detail came to mind.
This was a double-edged sword. If used well, it would bring great benefits to Norbert. If not, his secrets could be exposed.
What happened to Ramon could happen again.
After considering it, Norbert nodded: "Okay, I understand."
******
By late April 1945, the Nazi had fallen.
A week later, the Axis announced its unconditional surrender.
With the Axis surrender, Hydra also disintegrated. The remaining forces, leaderless and disorganized, were quickly eradicated by the Allied Forces.
The Allies captured a large number of Hydra members, many of whom were scientists, which sowed the seeds for Hydra's future resurgence.
Despite the large number of captured Hydra members, many remained at large, prompting various countries to issue arrest warrants for the fugitives.
Among them was the only person wanted by all countries and listed as the world's most wanted criminal by major newspapers worldwide.
That person was Dr. Norbert Berkowitz, the former head of Hydra's scientific division and the only surviving "snakehead" of Hydra.
The newspapers detailed the inhumane deeds of this "snakehead."
"Cruel and terrifying mad scientist," accompanied by a photo of a dismembered experiment.
"Doctor Doom who studies weapons of mass destruction," the picture showing the super bomber "Valkyrie Wings" in the Hydra base.
What was even more outrageous was the accusation of "killing twenty mothers and daughters in front of their husbands."
Whatever Hydra had done or hadn't done, any dirt that could be thrown was thrown.
No one stood up to object.
In reality, only the governments knew that this so-called Hydra scientific division was a lie. Their real objective was the super serum formula held by the "snake head."
Although the Scorpion Warriors had existed for a short time, they had left a "deep" impression on the Allies.
No fear, no emotion.
Everything followed orders.
This was the perfect soldier, without exception.
However, no one in the Allies had ever seen this man.
The only person who had met Norbert was Captain America.
There was also a portrait restored from Captain America's memory.
Opinions varied on whether this person really existed, but only a few knew that not only did he exist, but he had never disappeared and was active in some corner of the world.
---
Chapter 41
"Boss, Miss Frost is here."
Perhaps out of embarrassment, the female secretary hurriedly turned and left the office after bringing in the guest.
"Doctor really has a wide range of hobbies, and this time he has quite a unique taste."
Emma said sarcastically as she looked at the tall figure in front of the window with his back turned to her.
"Haha~ No matter how good they are, I can't just set them aside like you, Emma~"
When it comes to being thick-skinned, Norbert Berkowitz can be truly relentless.
Emma rolled her eyes at Norbert and secretly harbored resentment. She had encountered thick-skinned individuals before, but never someone as brazen as him.
Verbal attacks were futile, and after a physical confrontation, she found herself unable to best him. Emma could only deepen her animosity towards Norbert in her heart.
The cold and elegant Emma did not cause Norbert to lose his composure. He was well aware that, despite her charming and lovely exterior, she harbored murderous intentions towards him.
How did Norbert know?
Because there is still an Emma in his mind.
Indeed, Emma had originally aimed to delve into Norbert's thoughts, but ended up being imprisoned in an analytical space.
Norbert didn't kill her or do anything particularly strange; he merely confined Emma's telekinesis.
He realized that as long as Emma was within a certain distance from him, he could sense some of her emotional changes through the "Emma" in the space.
For instance, just now, the hatred in Emma's heart intensified because she was unable to gain an advantage in their verbal exchange.
Furthermore, Norbert knew that Emma was not as loyal to Shaw as she appeared to be.
The exact reason was unknown, but it provided Norbert with some ideas.
In fact, not only could Norbert sense Emma's emotional changes, but Emma could also sense Norbert's emotional fluctuations, though her perception was less clear than his. As a powerful telepath, she might not yet have the ability to detect it fully.
Norbert's half-smiling eyes made Emma a bit uneasy, but she maintained her calm and composed demeanor.
"Stop talking nonsense. Shaw asked me to inform you that the next shipment will be doubled."
"Double?"
Norbert was taken aback momentarily, and then anger welled up within him.
Did they really think that the special edition serum was like apples, available in unlimited quantities?
He could only produce ten per month now.
This wasn't a matter of technology but of materials.
The special serum required neurotoxins from Amanita muscaria. Although not hard to find, these toxins are only available at specific times, and Norbert didn't have much in stock currently.
While Norbert could artificially synthesize this neurotoxin, it was extremely costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive.
He would not waste time on something like this if he intended to eliminate it.
So he spread his hands and simply refused: "No."
"Hey~ Shaw takes this transaction very seriously. If he knows you are rejecting him..."
The unfinished sentence was clearly a threat.
Norbert raised his eyebrows. He sensed that Emma was rather pleased.
"What? You want Shaw to take me out?"
Emma showed no embarrassment at her inner thoughts being revealed; instead, she looked somewhat triumphant.
"Shaw won't need to intervene. I only need to reveal your information. I'm sure many would be interested in you."
"Ha~" Norbert scoffed disdainfully and stepped closer to Emma, "Then I'll deal with you before the news gets out. How about that?"
Emma was startled, instinctively stepping back, and her entire form flashed into shimmering diamonds.
Norbert stopped and chuckled: "See, I frightened you."
He turned around and walked to the wine cabinet, took down a bottle of red wine, poured two glasses, and then walked back to Emma.
"Just convey my message to Shaw and tell him that the serum will be ten times the usual amount. If he wants more, the price will be ten times higher."
"Are you insane?"
Emma tilted her head, displaying an incredulous expression.
"Isn't this what you wanted to see?" Norbert raised his glass and drank the red wine, "This is what drinking should be."
"Vulgar."
Emma rolled her eyes at him, silently speculating about Norbert's intentions.
Sensing the change in Emma's mood, Norbert chuckled inwardly. He had no particular intention; the cost of artificially synthesizing the special serum was simply too high. How could he make a profit without raising the price?
As for doubling it tenfold, this was a warning to Shaw.
In ten years, Shaw's status in the Hellfire Club had skyrocketed, and he had become the Black King of the Hellfire Club.
Since ascending to the Black King position, Shaw had grown increasingly arrogant. Emma, who had initially invited him to join the Hellfire Club, had become his subordinate. She was now even more commanding towards her former associate Norbert, treating him almost as an underling.
While their past cooperation was a mere transaction, now Shaw issued orders to Norbert.
Due to his sensitive identity, Norbert had been operating from the shadows for the past decade, with many transactions conducted externally through Shaw.
He had no choice before, but the situation had changed.
Some people become so conceited they forget their place. It was time to bring them down.
Seeing Norbert's indifferent expression, Emma couldn't help but ask curiously: "Aren't you afraid Shaw will kill you?"
At this, Norbert smiled.
"Dear Miss Emma, do you underestimate Hydra and me?"
Emma snorted: "Fine, I'll relay your message. Anyway, it won't be me who suffers the consequences."
"Are you concerned about me?"
"Concerned about you?" Emma looked at Norbert in surprise, "I simply don't want to face death alongside you."
"We don't yet know who will live and who will die, so don't jump to conclusions too early." Norbert pointed out.
"You want to kill him?" Emma asked, surprised.
Norbert shrugged: "That's your suggestion, not mine."
Emma glared at Norbert and said fiercely: "Don't involve me in this."
"As long as you agree to my request, I'll let you leave immediately." Norbert said with a smile.
"Let's wait until you deal with Shaw."
Emma was silent for a moment, snorted, neither agreeing nor objecting, and then turned and walked towards the door.
"Wait a moment."
"I wonder what else the doctor wants?" Emma said impatiently.
Norbert smiled: "Nothing, I just want you to do me a favor and introduce your friend to me."
Emma's eyes widened, and she looked at Norbert in disbelief.
"You want to die?"
******
After Emma left, Norbert walked to the window again. Outside, Berlin had been reduced to a construction site.
Indeed, Norbert had been hiding in the capital for the past decade and had never left.
No one would have guessed that one of the world's most wanted criminals was hiding here.
Much had happened in ten years. Shaw had now become the Black King of the Hellfire Club, and Norbert was no longer the man he had been ten years ago.
"The beast is nearly unstoppable. It's time for king to face king."
---
Chapter 42: You Are Already Surrounded
An abandoned factory in the suburbs of New York.
This place had been deserted for a long time, with few visitors during the day. However, late that night, over a hundred heavily armed men gathered a kilometer away from the factory and quietly advanced toward it.
An old Ford sedan drove straight into the factory grounds, and Phillips emerged from the car, grumbling.
"I told you, Carter, why am I here? I've retired. This has nothing to do with me. I'm just an old man delivering messages. This is all your young folks' business. Don't involve me."
"An old man delivering messages for Hydra?" Carter, stepping out of the car, cast him a wry smile.
"I don't know about Hydra. I'm just doing a favor for an old friend's daughter," Phillips retorted sharply.
"Oh, do you think the judge will believe that?" Carter shot back.
Phillips glared at Carter, disbelief evident on his face. "Carter, you can't be this cruel, can you?"
Carter, holding his gun firmly, approached the factory cautiously. "As long as you help me capture that guy tonight, I won't know anything."
Phillips sighed.
This woman is so ruthless.
Yet, having already committed to this, there was no turning back. The only option now was to catch that guy.
The two of them made their way to the agreed-upon location.
Under the bright moonlight, two shadowy figures stood silently.
"You're here, Director Carter," a strange male voice called from the darkness.
"Are you Norbert Berkowitz? You don't look like the one in the portrait," Carter observed as she approached, her gun ready.
A frown appeared on Norbert's face as he and Emma exchanged glances.
That portrait...
To be honest, it not only looked different but was also rather unappealing.
"Director Carter, I see that you and the person beside you look similar," Norbert commented bluntly.
Carter's expression hardened. "I only speak my mind. Hydra, the world's most wanted criminal, appears here so brazenly. Aren't you worried about being hunted?"
"No, no, no! First, let me clarify that I am not Hydra," Norbert said, waving his hand with a look of helplessness. "As for the world's most wanted criminal... I believe you, Director Carter, know more about that than I do."
"I'm truly a good person," Norbert added with an earnest expression.
"Hmph, whether you're a good person or not is beside the point," Carter said coldly. "Stop with the nonsense. What's your purpose here tonight?"
"I have no ulterior motive. I just want to make a deal with you, Director Carter," Norbert said with a smile.
"A deal? I don't think there's anything we could trade."
Carter was unimpressed. Judging by the timing, the surrounding troops should have completed their encirclement. She wanted to capture this person now.
"Haha, don't dismiss it so quickly. I believe you'll be interested in my offer," Norbert said confidently.
"What is it?"
Phillips, standing by, asked with curiosity.
Carter's expression changed drastically. She was about to intervene when she was startled by Norbert's next words.
"The Scorpion Serum formula."
"What?"
Carter, and even Emma beside her, were stunned.
The poisonous Scorpion Serum was highly sought after by various organizations. If the formula were to surface, it would undoubtedly spark a bloody conflict.
Shaw had tried numerous times to obtain the formula from Norbert but had been repeatedly outwitted. Now, Norbert was offering it willingly, which seemed suspicious.
"Are you really willing to hand over the Scorpion Serum formula?"
"Of course."
"What do you want in return?"
Carter didn't believe Norbert would simply give away the formula. She couldn't guess his true motives.
"It's simple. I'm tired of hiding and want to live openly in the sun."
"I think you're well aware that I am not Hydra. I was merely coerced by Schmidt. As for being wanted..."
"I've given you the formula. Why can't you grant me a clean slate?"
Carter finally understood Norbert's purpose.
"You know that's impossible. Governments don't just erase wanted statuses."
"No, I think you've misunderstood, Director Carter." Norbert shook his head. "I'm not asking for the wanted status to be canceled or anything clarified. I just want to live openly in the sunlight. Norbert Berkowitz may be Hydra and one of the world's most wanted criminals, but that isn't me."
"And I, Norbert, am simply an ordinary businessman."
Phillips' eyes lit up. "Carter..."
"No," Carter rejected firmly. "No matter how you change your identity, you are still Hydra's Doctor Doom. That's a fact you can't change."
Norbert frowned, taken aback by Carter's stubbornness. He hadn't anticipated this woman would be so difficult to deal with.
The reason he had asked the Red Devil to assist earlier was to foster a good relationship, thinking it would ease things.
Yet, the woman turned against him and refused to acknowledge him.
As expected, women can be fickle no matter the world.
But continuing to be wanted would create too many complications in the future.
Suspended animation?
He considered it but ultimately dismissed the idea.
Faking death was easy, but it meant hiding in the shadows.
Although he could change his identity, it came with numerous risks.
In the future, there would be many superheroes. If his true identity were discovered, the resulting trouble would be immense.
Villains aren't merciful. If they discovered his true identity, the outcome would be dire.
In summary, the dangers of faking one's death or changing identity were too great. It was better to exchange the formula for an identity without future complications.
The crucial point was that Shaw was using this to control Norbert, trying to force him to hand over the Scorpion Serum formula.
Waiting passively wasn't Norbert's style.
Now that he had decided to act against Shaw, he needed to eliminate certain hidden dangers first.
The lesser of two evils.
Norbert feared the hidden consequences more than losing the Scorpion Serum formula.
The scene fell into silence. Noticing the murderous intent in Carter's eyes, Norbert suddenly had an idea.
"Director Carter, I apologize for Captain America's situation," Norbert said apologetically.
"Be quiet," Carter snapped sharply, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
Norbert realized it wasn't that his offer wasn't attractive, but that Carter had personal motives.
Although Captain America avoided his original fate due to Norbert's intervention, he still ended up with deeper regrets.
Things often take dramatic turns. Rogers avoided his fate but ended up with unresolved regrets.
During the early stages of his and Carter's involvement, Rogers had confronted Shaw while investigating the Scorpion Serum on the black market.
He tracked Shaw to the Hellfire Club, where he was eventually discovered by the Red Devil.
A super-soldier against a group of mutants...
The outcome was predictable...
In the end, Rogers was captured by the Red Devil, who returned badly injured.
It seemed Carter blamed herself for Rogers' fate.
Knowing the reason made it easier to handle the situation.
Just as Norbert was about to persuade her, countless black shadows suddenly emerged from all directions.
"Doctor Doom ~ Norbert Berkowitz, you are surrounded. I advise you to surrender immediately."
-------
Chapter 43 Norbert Berkowitz's Plan
"The momentum is quite significant," Norbert Berkowitz said with a smirk.
"You can't escape anymore," Carter said, her tone tinged with satisfaction. "If I don't trade with you, I can still obtain the formula, right, Doctor?"
"Your mind is truly twisted," Norbert Berkowitz sighed.
"What did you say?"
In a fit of anger, Carter aimed her gun at Norbert and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang~
Sparks flew as the bullet shot toward Norbert's right shoulder.
Confident in her shooting skills, Carter was not swayed by her anger; otherwise, this shot would have been aimed at Norbert's head.
However, reality surprised everyone.
"Looks like Director Carter's shooting skills aren't as good as I thought," Norbert Berkowitz taunted with a mocking expression.
Less than five centimeters from his shoulder, an orange-yellow bullet hovered in the air.
A mixture of embarrassment and rage crossed Carter's face as she repeatedly pulled the trigger, emptying the gun's chamber.
"This woman has a really terrible temper."
Ignoring the oncoming bullets, Norbert turned to Emma and complained.
Emma responded with a disapproving eye roll.
Given that she and Carter were of similar age, if Carter was considered an old woman, then she was nothing.
"I don't believe you can block them all and shoot."
Carter had lost her composure, now solely intent on making Norbert look bad. She ignored Phillips's attempts to stop her and continued shooting.
The abandoned factory was soon engulfed in a torrent of gunfire.
As the smoke cleared—
Phillips, his face pale, muttered in horror, "Is this still a human being?"
Carter was stunned, unable to believe her eyes, and froze in disbelief.
In fact, it was not just Carter who was astonished. Except for Norbert and Emma, everyone else was left gaping.
Surrounding Norbert, who stood at the center, were three layers of orange-yellow bullets, rotating slowly like star rings. Norbert and Emma in the center remained calm, with even a hint of a mocking smile on Norbert's face.
"Have you finished venting?" Norbert Berkowitz sneered. "Is it my turn now?"
Carter's expression shifted dramatically, but it was too late to stop him.
A low explosion followed, and a metal storm filled the sky, scattering in all directions with ensuing screams.
"No."
Carter's eyes were bloodshot, her silver teeth clenched, and a hint of scarlet dripped from her fingers.
"I will definitely kill you."
However, she could do nothing as an orange-yellow bullet hovered between her eyebrows. She could feel the cold metal and was surrounded by the orange-yellow bullets.
"Don't want to?"
Norbert Berkowitz scoffed coldly and walked slowly toward Carter.
"According to your logic, it's fine for you to shoot me, but not for me to fight back?"
"Is this your bandit logic?"
Carter remained silent, glaring at Norbert with murderous intent.
Norbert suddenly grinned evilly. "I enjoy seeing your expression of wanting to kill me but being unable to."
"You bastard."
"Hey, are you calling me names?" Norbert smiled disdainfully. "But I won't kill you. You're still useful to me. Remember this state, use it as motivation, and come seek revenge."
"Haha~"
With a long laugh, Norbert turned and walked toward Emma.
"By the way, I hope to see a report in the newspaper within a week about the withdrawal of my wanted order. Otherwise, I'll sell the formula for the poisonous scorpion serum to someone else. I think they'd be quite eager to make this deal with me."
"Director Carter, this is not just a deal; it's a threat."
With that, Norbert Berkowitz took Emma and left the abandoned factory without looking back.
It wasn't until Norbert and Emma had been gone for a long time that the bullets suspended in the air fell to the ground weakly.
"Hmph, you think you can cancel your arrest warrant? You're dreaming."
As soon as she was free, Carter's angry roar filled the air.
"Director Carter, I advise you to calm down. This is not a decision that a mere director like you can make. You'd better report to the higher-ups."
Phillips, who had a rare serious look on his face, said.
"He is Hydra! He's the one who caused Steve to disappear. You want me to make a deal with him? That is impossible." Carter said hysterically, her face full of madness.
However, Phillips remained unmoved and continued to stare at her seriously. "Carter, you are the director of the Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau. You cannot let personal feelings affect your work. I admit he's an irredeemable villain, but you need to consider the bigger picture. If the scorpion serum formula falls into the hands of the enemy, do you know what the consequences will be? Do you want to see war again?"
Carter was momentarily stunned, visions of corpses scattered across fields flashing in her mind, and she felt a sudden pang in her heart.
However, thinking of Steve's unknown whereabouts, Carter resolutely refused: "No, I will never compromise."
Phillips sighed. "Well, I will report to the World Security Council as the former director."
******
In a speeding car, Emma, the co-pilot, hesitated several times before finally asking the question on her mind.
"What is your plan? Why hand over the formula? Shaw could also help you remove the wanted order. Don't you know how dangerous it will be if Shaw finds out about this?"
"You finally asked. I thought you wouldn't." Norbert glanced at Emma with a smile in his eyes. "Are you concerned about me?"
"If you don't want to say, forget it," Emma replied coldly.
"How boring." Turning back, Norbert shrugged. "The purpose is just different."
Emma, being perceptive, immediately understood the crux of the matter.
Trading with Shaw was indeed just a transaction.
But Norbert's visit to the USA and delivering things proactively wasn't merely to cancel his wanted order.
"Aren't you afraid the woman won't agree? She looked like she wanted to tear you to pieces."
"Of course, she wouldn't agree."
Emma stared at Norbert in surprise, not expecting him to say that.
"Then you..."
"Haha, but someone will agree."
Emma's eyes lit up. "You mean Phillips? So, your target was him all along?"
"No, actually my target from the beginning was Carter. After all, she is now the director of the Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau. But I didn't expect her to blame me for Captain America's disappearance, so I had to temporarily shift my focus."
Norbert was secretly relieved that this detail was something he hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, Phillips was present today; otherwise, all previous efforts would have been wasted.
"Then why provoke her so much? Aren't you afraid she'll get in the way?"
Norbert's actions seemed illogical today, but Emma had a nagging feeling he had other motives.
"To provoke her?" Norbert smiled mysteriously and said nothing.
Regardless of their strength or capability, women are inherently emotional creatures. It's their nature.
A woman's emotions can overpower her reason.
If Carter didn't despise him deeply, how could he make her so focused on him?
Without her attention, how could he push Shaw into the spotlight without leaving a trace, capturing the attention of the World Security Council?
Without pushing Shaw to the forefront, how could he incite a conflict between humans and mutants?
If the world isn't in chaos, how can it rise?
How can a king versus king drama be exciting without some added spice?
"Are you really planning to hand over the formula? Are you willing to do so?" Emma's curiosity was evident.
Unexpectedly, Norbert burst out laughing. "What's the point of holding on to it? It's just waste."
Before Emma could respond, Norbert explained, "This formula is only effective for one year. It's essentially a disposable item, expensive to produce. No organization can afford such consumption, not even the country. Besides, it has a nemesis. Haven't you noticed that each time it's bought, it's from a different organization? And have the organizations that recently purchased a large number of Happy Dabu Pills ever bought serum before?"
Emma was stunned, reflecting on the recent buyers, and realized Norbert's words were accurate. She looked at him with newfound admiration.
He had deceived everyone, selling the serum with one hand, the pills with the other, and using the Hellfire Club as a pawn.
Shaw foolishly sought to seize the serum formula.
Unbeknownst to them, Norbert considered the formula a waste and was ready to discard it.
He could also make a lot of money by recycling waste. Emma had to admire his skill.
---