Chapter 144 - 7

Chapter 44: Chaotic Situation

"Doctor, your arrest warrant has been withdrawn. This is the latest newspaper."

Keira's expression remained as cold and distant as ever, resembling a machine more than a person.

But this was her true state, particularly when she was alone with Norbert Berkowitz.

Even when surrounded by others, she maintained her charm and grace, embodying a captivating presence.

"Keira, can't you at least smile?"

"Doctor, the old Keira is gone, and the current Keira is merely your Medusa."

Keira was profoundly respectful to Norbert, who had given her a new lease on life.

"Alright, whatever you say."

Norbert wasn't adept at offering comfort, nor did he have any intention to. After all, who wouldn't want a subordinate who views themselves solely as a tool?

No matter the reason, he would never question his orders. As long as it was an order from him, it would be executed by any means necessary.

Although the warrant withdrawal was delayed and involved some negotiation, including the formula for Happy Tonic Pills, the outcome was relatively smooth, and Norbert was in a good mood.

However, while Norbert was pleased, others were not.

"How dare he~"

The intense murderous aura in Shaw's eyes was palpable.

The Red Devil stood silently, not daring to speak. Riptide fiddled with his little whirlwind in the corner, and Emma sat on the sofa, seemingly detached from the situation.

"Emma, do you know anything about this?"

Shaw's eyes, full of menace, were fixed on Emma's face, as if seeking answers there.

"What could I possibly know?" Emma replied, genuinely surprised.

Shaw was silent for a moment before turning his gaze to the Red Devil. "Azazel, go and bring him back. I need an explanation."

Bang~

A burst of red smoke erupted, and the Red Devil vanished before Shaw.

A few days later~

The Red Devil returned, but he was empty-handed.

"What? Missing?"

"Yes, when I arrived, there was no one there. I watched the location for several days, and no one showed up."

Even a fool could see that Norbert had anticipated this move.

But no one knew what Norbert was planning.

"Norbert~ It seems I underestimated you." Shaw's smile was cold, "Let's see how long you can keep this up."

"Emma."

Emma looked up.

"We need to find him."

Emma nodded, "Understood."

At the same time, Norbert arrived in Ania, a small country in Eastern Europe.

The small country borders Sokovia and was also in a state of turmoil.

But things were different now that Norbert was here.

"Kertes, how did everything go?"

Kertes, a man in his forties who was still in good health, respectfully replied, "Commander, everything is ready, just waiting for your order."

"Keira, let Medusa handle it. I don't want a substandard outcome."

"Hehe, Commander, the Medusa have been eager for a while."

Keira chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling. This made Kertes's mouth dry, but the thought of her methods sent a chill up his spine, extinguishing any desire he had.

After Keira left, Norbert turned to Kertes, "How is Eric?"

"This~" Kertes hesitated.

"What happened? Did he get into trouble again?" Norbert asked with curiosity.

"Not exactly." Kertes shook his head, sighed, and looked at Norbert anxiously, "He injured a group of soldiers and then disappeared."

"Missing?" Norbert was momentarily stunned, then laughed.

"Commander?"

Seeing the smile on Norbert's face, Kertes felt a wave of unease. This was unusual.

Everyone knew how much Norbert valued Eric.

Now, Eric had ignored Norbert's orders, injured soldiers, and vanished. Instead of being angry, Norbert was smiling.

This was unsettling.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

Without offering an explanation, Norbert dismissed Kertes.

Eric had been increasingly dissatisfied since learning about Norbert's cooperation with Shaw. He had sought revenge on Shaw multiple times, but Norbert had stopped him each time.

Despite Eric's significant abilities, he was still inexperienced and no match for Norbert, who had been enhanced by the ability serum.

Norbert had left Eric in Kertes's care, instructing him to learn from the experience.

Eric had been quiet for a while, but his temper had worsened during that time.

Without Norbert around, only Keira could offer him comfort.

Unfortunately, as the commander of Medusa, Keira couldn't monitor him around the clock, leading to his escape.

"The beast is out of the cage; it seems I need to accelerate my plans."

After contemplating this, Norbert took out a light red test tube from his pocket.

This was Emma's blood, with a clear purpose.

Turning around, he headed to his room to prepare for seclusion.

******

A month later, Ania quietly concluded its domestic turmoil. Simultaneously, Luska Industries entered into several cooperation agreements with Ania. The country almost completely handed over administrative control to Luska Industries.

Ania also began extensive industrial construction with Luska Industries' assistance.

However, Ania was still too young to make any significant impact.

The attention of almost all organizations and forces was diverted by the sudden disappearance of the poisonous scorpion serum.

"Shaw, you need to figure something out. Everyone is demanding that we deliver the serum now. You were responsible for finding it; you must be held accountable."

Facardo Pillay, a leading jeweler and a member of the Hellfire Club.

Though not one of the two top leaders of the Hellfire Club, he held considerable influence and had many supporters.

As soon as he voiced his concerns, other Hellfire Club members joined in attacking Shaw.

"Yes, Shaw must be held responsible."

"This will severely impact our club's reputation. After accepting payment but failing to deliver, who will trust us in the future?"

"Indeed, we should never have allowed him to use the club's name. He profited alone, and now his failure has hurt all of us."

"Shaw, you must provide us with an explanation today."

"Yes, an explanation is required."

...

Shaw sat in his seat with a grim expression. The oppressive atmosphere around him gradually silenced the criticisms, reducing their volume.

"An explanation?"

Shaw stood up with a faint smile and walked behind Facardo, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"I'll provide an explanation."

Click.

"Are you satisfied with this explanation?"

Standing over Facardo, Shaw offered everyone a chilling smile.

"Kill them."

As everything settled, Emma's figure appeared at the door.

"Shaw, you're going to get into serious trouble."

Emma entered the conference room with a worried expression.

"These people hold vast wealth but are weak and ineffective. It would be a waste to keep them alive. Without them, many others would be eager to join the Hellfire Club," Shaw said coldly. "They have already threatened me by not receiving the serum they paid for, and now they continue to threaten me."

If they didn't die, who would?

"Emma, I trust you'll have no trouble accepting their wealth."

_____

With the latest version of the ability serum injected into his body, Norbert Berkowitz felt the world suddenly become much clearer. At the same time, some noisy thoughts appeared in his mind, causing him to frown.

Fortunately, Norbert had a strong will and remarkable resilience. He managed to survive the most challenging stage and slowly gained control over the immense psychic perception abilities in his mind. As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Kertesz's face, twisted with excitement.

"Commander, you succeeded!"

"It's just a fluke," Norbert replied, smiling as he walked out of the experimental cabin.

"How can you not be excited? Commander, you're a genius. You solved a problem that we had spent ten years working on in just three months. How can I not be excited?" Kertesz's face turned pale with excitement. "You are undoubtedly the most brilliant scientist in the history of mankind. You have given humanity the power of gods. You are a god."

As he spoke, fanatical admiration appeared on Kertesz's face.

Not just him, but everyone in the lab shared this sentiment.

"Being one step ahead is genius, being two steps ahead is madness. But if you are too many steps ahead, then you are a god." Compared to Norbert, Kertesz felt as if he was gazing up at an endless mountain peak. The height of the mountain could not describe his admiration for Norbert.

Norbert was very satisfied with Kertesz's and the others' attitudes, but he was not as excited as they were. He knew his own situation best; it had not taken him just three months, but ten years.

"Kertesz, don't be too happy. The fusion of the three mutant genes has reached the limit of the serum's endurance. If we want to obtain more mutant gene abilities, we must optimize the serum to make it stronger."

Kertesz was stunned. "Even the commander himself..."

Norbert shook his head. "This is not a problem that can be solved in a short time. Let's put it aside for now. Focus on studying the plans I gave you and implement them as soon as possible. Also, notice that whoever produces research results first will be eligible to be injected with the ability serum."

Kertesz's eyes lit up and he smiled. "They will go crazy."

"You can't live without being crazy, and what I want is a lunatic," Norbert replied with a faint smile, turning and leaving the laboratory. As soon as he exited, loud cheers erupted inside.

Norbert smiled lightly, very satisfied with his decision. After the destruction of Hydra, the biggest beneficiary was not the Allied countries, but him. He took away all the gold hidden by Hydra. Although most of it was given to Shaw, he also got a substantial amount for himself.

Additionally, he emptied Hydra's scientific resources. Except for Zora, all the Allies were left fighting over some remaining scraps and dates. Moreover, he had backups of all of Hydra's technological reserves; not even a scrap had been missed. It could be said that, except for the equipment and personnel that were not as strong as before, Hydra, led by Norbert, was not lacking in anything else and was even stronger than when Schmidt was in charge.

After all, Hydra did not have the power serum at the time. If there was any difference between Norbert's Hydra and Schmidt's, it was that Norbert was more generous to Hydra's internal personnel and knew better how to mobilize the enthusiasm of his subordinates. In his previous life, Norbert had experienced many ups and downs, and besides his own strategies, he knew how to use people's hearts.

Schmidt's high-pressure rule worked in special times but could not last long. Human hearts are selfish and rebellious, and they are always the easiest to control and tame. Norbert took advantage of this and established a strict pyramid system in the Hydra he led, along with contribution points, completing the initial organizational structure.

There were only two departments established:

One was the Scientific Strategic Research Department, led by Kertesz, which was composed of scientists from the original Hydra Science Force, along with a small number of scientific researchers recruited from outside and trained over the years.

The other was the Intelligence Department led by Keira. Medusa was very special; she was only responsible for Norbert, and only Keira and Rave knew about its personnel. Even Kertesz had only met Keira briefly.

This was also Norbert's intention. The departments were not subordinate to each other and only obeyed his orders. He aimed to establish a centralized organization with highly concentrated power, like the ancient dynasties.

As the saying goes, people pursue profit. No one will follow you if there is no profit. In ancient times, emperors provided their subordinates with high salaries, titles, and positions. Norbert could not offer these, but he had something different—super serum.

There were different versions of the super serum. Everyone has something they are afraid of. Rich people fear death, poor people fear poverty, powerful people fear losing power, and ugly people fear ugliness. These are just minor obstacles. Norbert's golden finger could solve everything, provided you paid your loyalty and value.

The perfect version of the super serum could not be sold, so why should he not use it himself? Although Ania was a small country with a population of millions, it would take decades to build a super army of hundreds of thousands. By then, as long as Norbert was not foolish enough to become the enemy of the entire world, no one would dare to touch him easily.

After leaving the laboratory, Norbert returned to his room. This was just a temporary base with no messy secret rooms, but there were some hidden compartments. Norbert walked to the bed and pushed it open, retrieving a black suitcase from a hidden compartment behind the bed.

Opening the suitcase, the Tesseract, emitting a blue light, appeared before him.

"After ten years, it's time to do something about it."

Returning the bed to its original state, Norbert lay down, holding the Tesseract. While he was analyzing the Tesseract in his secret base, the outside world was in chaos due to his actions. As he expected, Carter did not give up the pursuit of Norbert despite the cancellation of his wanted order.

However, the current Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau was not like SHIELD in the future, and its intelligence methods were not as advanced and pervasive. The pursuit plan was problematic from the beginning. Norbert seemed to have disappeared from the world, and no clues could be found.

When direct investigation failed, Carter turned his attention to Phillips. In her view, how could a woman who didn't even know if she was Phillips' illegitimate daughter be in the same group as Norbert?

Phillips was in trouble, and his retirement life was completely disrupted by Carter. In desperation, Phillips could only take the initiative to contact Emma.

"Can that guy really predict the future?"

After receiving Phillips' letter, Emma thought again about the man who had left her a list of messes. Selling the poisonous scorpion serum formula and then simply disappearing from the world, Shaw was so overwhelmed that he had no time to think about anything else.

Because of his disappearance, the woman who hated him to the core wanted to trace his whereabouts through Phillips. Next, as long as the woman knew that Captain America was killed by the Red Devil, she would definitely pursue Shaw, leaving no time for him to be concerned about. Coupled with the "king" who had not appeared until now, Shaw was hesitant and had no time to pay attention to Norbert. That guy could sit back and enjoy a grand performance, waiting for the perfect moment to come in and clean up the mess.

Thinking hard, Emma realized that although she hadn't made many moves, she had been used by that guy unconsciously and had become part of his plan. No wonder he insisted on having her contact Phillips. The original reason was here.

"Damn bastard," Emma cursed angrily, then suddenly laughed. "What a pervert!"

---

"Director Carter, you see, it's not that I don't want to help. It's just that others don't have the time and are discussing important business."

Phillips tossed the letter aside and sighed heavily. Since getting involved in this mess, his retirement had been completely upended by Carter. Seeing her deflated now, Phillips felt a strange satisfaction.

Unexpectedly, Carter stood up immediately after reading the letter. "Let's go."

"Huh?" Phillips looked at her, puzzled. "Where are you going?"

"Europe," Carter replied, turning toward the door.

Phillips had numerous complaints swirling in his mind. He was getting older and wanted to spend his remaining years in peace, but Carter wasn't giving him that chance.

Emma had indeed been very busy recently. The Hellfire Club had been dismantled by Shaw, and she was now occupied with taking over the assets of its members. This needed to be done swiftly, so she was constantly on the move. To save time, she borrowed the Red Devil's transport from Shaw.

Although Emma's takeover of the members' assets was done discreetly, she did not make an effort to conceal her whereabouts. Carter easily spotted her. Two months later, in the lobby of a luxury hotel in London, Emma was confronted by two individuals as soon as she entered.

"Uncle Phillips, what a surprise! Why are you here?" Emma looked at Phillips in astonishment and embraced him warmly. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Emma, you're being too deliberate. You wouldn't have acted like this before," Phillips said with a bitter smile.

Emma remained unembarrassed, smiling gracefully, and turned her beautiful eyes toward Carter. "You must be Director Carter. What brings you here so urgently?"

"Where is Shaw?" Carter asked coldly. She had no fondness for Emma, who had connections with Shaw.

Emma smiled sweetly and said calmly, "I have no obligation to answer you, Director Carter."

"Beware of Hydra. You should understand that getting involved with them won't end well," Carter warned aggressively.

Emma shook her head. "You've misunderstood, Director Carter. Shaw is a businessman, not a Hydra operative."

"Regardless of what you say, tell me where Shaw is," Carter insisted, not wanting to argue further.

"Is this how you ask for help?" Emma narrowed her eyes with pride. "Have you forgotten how to ask for help in your long tenure as director?"

Leaving Carter with an unpleasant expression, Emma smiled apologetically at Phillips. "Uncle Phillips, I have other matters to attend to. I'll see you when I'm free."

Emma then brushed past Carter and left. As soon as Emma's figure disappeared, Carter regained her composure and asked uncertainly, "Phillips, do you think it's effective to alert the snake?"

"This is the best we can do right now. We'll have to try," Phillips replied.

Carter nodded, realizing they couldn't offer any bribes since Emma wasn't short of money. "Then have someone keep an eye on her. She must not be allowed to escape."

Carter had been monitoring Emma for over a week and had mostly figured out her schedule. Emma stayed at the hotel daily but frequently visited various locations and met with prominent businesspeople. Carter decided to take a risk and confront Emma directly, hoping to use her to locate Shaw's hiding place.

However, what Carter didn't know was that Emma didn't know Shaw's whereabouts either.

As soon as Emma returned to her room, a red mist filled the space, and the figure of the Red Devil materialized like a ghost.

Accustomed to the Red Devil's sudden appearances, Emma closed the door and walked over to the wine cabinet, pouring herself a glass of red wine.

"Why did that woman come to see you?" the Red Devil asked suspiciously.

"It's not something you need to worry about," Emma replied with annoyance. "That woman's lover is Captain America."

"Captain America?" The Red Devil's face grew dark. "Rogers left me with some unforgettable memories. I threw him into a crevice in the Arctic ice. Only Shaw knows about it. How could she know?"

"The North Pole?" Emma looked at the Red Devil in surprise, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Azazel, you're quite ruthless. If she knew you took her former lover to the North Pole, she would be seeking you out for a confrontation."

A cold expression crossed the Red Devil's face. "Then let her stay with her old friends."

"That's your problem. You handle it. I'm too busy to deal with her for you," Emma said, settling elegantly on the sofa with a faint smile.

"Fine, leave it to me." The Red Devil vanished in a puff of red smoke.

Emma was left alone, staring at the red wine in her glass with a faint smile. After a moment, she took a sip, savoring the taste.

Meanwhile, the Red Devil reappeared in the alley behind the hotel and was noticed by a homeless man who lived there.

The Red Devil smiled coldly at the homeless man. With a swift motion, the Red Devil's red tail pierced the man's throat, letting his body fall to the ground. The Red Devil then disappeared into the darkness, annoyed by the unwelcome attention.

Carter had no idea she had been targeted. She and Phillips stood in the alley across from the hotel, waiting for their backup to arrive.

"Carter, can't we get a room across the street? Do we have to wait here? My old body can't handle this," Phillips complained, hunched over and rubbing his hands together.

"Sorry, Phillips, the funds are limited, so we have to endure it," Carter said, looking at him apologetically.

Phillips rolled his eyes, knowing Carter well enough to understand her refusal to use public funds for personal comfort.

Carter, always selfless, used the resources of the Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau for public good, making it nearly impossible for her to spend public money on luxury accommodations.

As they waited, Carter's attention was drawn to a few people walking down the street. Her eyes lit up with recognition.

"Phillips, they're coming," she said.

As she turned, Phillips felt someone push him from behind, causing him to fall outward involuntarily. Just then, Phillips's warning reached Carter's ears.

"Be careful!"

A splash of red blood turned into red flowers, falling slowly through the air. Carter stared in shock at the scene unfolding before her.

He had a devilish face, red skin, and a long tail with a blade-sharp tip. If Carter had seen him in a normal context, she might have been curious. But seeing Phillips, who had been chatting and laughing with her moments ago, impaled by the sharp tail was beyond her comprehension. The sudden shift from normalcy to violence left her in shock, her grief overwhelming as she watched Phillips's twitching, pale body.

A spray of blood hit Carter's face, the warm, sticky sensation snapping her back to reality. She watched helplessly as Phillips succumbed to his injuries, his heart pierced, leaving him no chance of survival.

"Who are you? Why did you attack us?" Carter's voice was steady, but the shock and horror of the situation left her mind clear and focused. She was certain she had never seen this person before—if he could even be called human.

The Red Devil's devilish grin widened. "Why? You're Rogers' old friend, aren't you? I have quite the history with Rogers."

A flicker of recognition crossed Carter's mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it. The Red Devil's next words confirmed her suspicions. "Hehe, more than just an acquaintance. Rogers left me with particularly unforgettable memories. It's a pity he's likely dead, but it's satisfying to kill his old sweetheart."

"Rogers? Is he dead?" Carter's disbelief was palpable. Despite her shock, she felt a surge of complex emotions—happiness, anger, sadness, and confusion. The news of Rogers's potential survival was a bombshell, and she struggled to process it, tears streaming down her face.

"Who knows? Maybe he's still alive and well," the Red Devil said with a bloodthirsty smile.

The idea that Rogers might not be dead exploded in Carter's mind, bringing with it a maelstrom of emotions. Tears continued to fall as she was overwhelmed by the enormity of the revelation.

"Since you're so eager to see him, I'll send you to reunite with him," the Red Devil said coldly, his tail gleaming menacingly in the dark as it moved toward Carter's neck. But Carter, lost in her tumultuous thoughts, remained unmoving.

At that moment, two strong black figures leaped from behind Carter, cutting through the air. The Red Devil's expression changed drastically as he faced the emotionless eyes of the Scorpion Warriors. Even the Red Devil, used to killing, felt a shiver of fear.

"Scorpion Warriors," the Red Devil exclaimed in shock. He was familiar with these beings—relentless killing machines that spared no distinction between their life and death. The Red Devil knew he needed to escape or face a grim fate.

In a flash of red mist, the Red Devil and the two Scorpion Warriors vanished, escaping into the night. Carter's men arrived just in time to witness the aftermath.

"Director, are you alright?" one of Carter's men asked urgently.

Carter, still reeling from the shock, looked down at Phillips's lifeless body. After a long pause, she said quietly, "I want all the information on that person."

Despite her calm tone, her men felt an immense pressure, their clothes drenched in cold sweat. "Yes, Chief," they replied.

Carter stood up slowly, her face composed. "Take Phillips home."

As Carter's mind churned with thoughts of the Red Devil, she realized she had forgotten about Shaw entirely. Her primary reason for chasing Shaw was to find Rogers. Now that there was a potential lead on Rogers's whereabouts but Phillips was dead, she was left with more questions than answers.

Meanwhile, Nobert, the former Hydra remnant and the world's most wanted criminal, remained oblivious to Carter's current predicament. If he knew, he might only have sighed silently, reflecting on how the villain's excessive talking often led to their downfall.

In the middle of the night, Emma was jolted awake by a muffled thud. She moved carefully toward the door, her luxurious bed glimmering in the dim light.

Opening the door, she found a red figure curled up on the ground, moaning in pain.

"Azazel?" Emma said in surprise, recognizing the Red Devil in his pitiful state. His clothes were in tatters, and his body was covered in severe wounds, with blood staining the carpet.

"Hey, Azazel, you're not going to die, are you?" Emma said, covering her nose and standing a meter away in disgust.

"Ahem, cough, cough. I can't die from this minor injury," the Red Devil said weakly as he struggled to stand.

"Minor injury? Do you know how expensive this carpet is? Your little mess will cost me a lot," Emma snapped angrily.

"Just give it to you when I'm back," the Red Devil said indifferently. As a Hellfire Club member, he didn't care about the financial cost.

"How did this happen? You didn't manage to deal with an ordinary woman?" Emma asked, sitting on the nearby sofa.

"Ordinary woman? Have you ever seen an ordinary woman protected by a group of Scorpion Warriors?" the Red Devil replied.

Emma smirked. "So, you haven't even managed to kill a woman?"

"Why don't you try it? You're tough enough, and those guys can't do anything to you," the Red Devil retorted.

Emma, annoyed, stood up and pointed at the Red Devil. "That's your mess. I'm not going to be your gunman. Take your trouble elsewhere."

With that, she turned and walked toward her bedroom. She stopped at the door and called back, "Remember to take the carpet with you when you leave. Don't cause me any more trouble."

Bang—

After closing the door, Emma's expression shifted to one of shock. Her plan had gone smoothly, leaving both Philips and Carter too preoccupied to pursue Shaw. With Shaw rarely appearing in public and few knowing his true identity, there was little to worry about.

"Azazel? Red Devil? Mutant?" Carter's serious eyes gleamed as she reviewed the information in her hands.

"What's your name?" she asked.

A young man in his twenties, dressed in military uniform, stood at attention and replied, "Lieutenant William Stryker, reporting for duty."

Dr. Norbert Berkowitz walked out of the room with a cheerful expression. When the Hydra soldiers guarding the door saw Norbert coming out, they immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"Commander."

"Tell Keltes to wait for me in the conference room. And see if Keira is there. If she is, inform her to come to the conference room as well," Norbert ordered thoughtfully.

"Yes, Commander."

As Norbert walked down the hallway, he arrived at the empty conference room.

Upon entering, Norbert was a bit surprised. What was once a long conference table had been replaced with a setting resembling a medieval royal palace. At the high pedestal near the door was a majestic and imposing stone throne. The throne itself resembled a giant coiled snake, with the armrests on either side formed by two lifelike snake heads. The eyes of the snake heads seemed to be alive, radiating a heart-stopping aura.

On the back of the throne were seven snake heads of different shapes—each representing a different demeanor: domineering, ferocious, cold, strange, evil, vicious, and arrogant.

The seat was exactly in the center, connected to the nine snake heads. Norbert was immediately drawn to the throne and strode towards it. As he touched the slightly cool surface, a vision appeared in his mind.

On the supreme throne, a majestic and domineering figure sat, surrounded by troops in uniform arranged in neat formations on the ground and in the sky. The chorus of "Long live Hydra" resounded like a mountain and a tsunami.

Slowly sitting on the throne, Norbert's eyes sparkled with ambition.

When Keltes walked into the conference room, he saw Norbert seated on the throne. For a moment, he felt as though he were witnessing the rise of an empire.

Norbert, waking from his reverie, saw Keltes at the door and rose from the throne. He was quite aware that he was not yet in a position to claim such grandeur. Hydra was still weak, arrogant, and complacent. To achieve great things, strength was essential, especially in the perilous Marvel Universe. With his current power, a Hellfire Club was more than enough to handle, let alone the impending X-Men.

The future challenges also included SHIELD, Avengers, superheroes, and supervillains.

Most importantly, the Director of the Universal Family Planning Office had been Norbert's ultimate goal for a long time.

"Keltes, how is the situation outside during this time?"

During his seclusion to analyze the Tesseract, Norbert had been almost completely isolated from the outside world and knew little about current events.

"Well," Keltes said, looking somewhat embarrassed, "Commander, I'm not very up-to-date on these matters. I've been focusing on studying those plans over the past few years. How about waiting for Keira to give you a report?"

Norbert was momentarily stunned but then smiled and said, "Let's wait for Keira. You can discuss your progress with me first."

"Yes, Commander."

As soon as he mentioned the professional field, Keltes became excited and began to present the research results of the past few years.

When Hydra was destroyed, Norbert had almost depleted all of Hydra's scientific and technological reserves. At the time, Hydra's technology was at least twenty years ahead of the rest of the world.

Although Norbert was a lowly figure in his previous life, the advantage of living in the internet age was that he had a broad understanding of many things, even if only superficially.

Norbert had watched many Marvel movies and was familiar with the eventual outcomes of various technologies. For example, he knew how radio communications would evolve, even if he did not understand the underlying principles.

Not to mention the advanced technologies seen in Marvel, especially those inherited by Iron Man. Norbert was very knowledgeable about these.

The principle was not crucial; what mattered was giving accurate direction.

One of the characteristics of the Marvel Universe is the presence of numerous geniuses, all of whom are at the forefront of their era. They may not compare to Howard Stark, but Norbert's golden finger could analyze all things. As long as he received a semi-finished product, he could use his analytical ability to understand the principles and then use his derivation skills to perfect it.

This is also the flaw of the golden finger—physical samples are required. Without them, even knowing what something looks like would not help in creating it.

Thus, Norbert's research department operated in a specific manner. The team created semi-finished products based on his ideas, which Norbert would then perfect using his golden finger. Afterward, these completed products were handed back for reverse engineering and industrialization.

This system allowed for efficient mass production of advanced technology, freeing Norbert from tedious research and helping his scientific team grow rapidly. Perhaps, in the future, his golden fingers would no longer be needed as his team could handle the innovations independently.

"Commander, we now have the ability to mass-produce various new materials. However, we are limited by current production capacity and have not yet conducted mass production experiments," Keltes said excitedly.

He and his team were deeply impressed with Norbert. Incredible advancements had become reality under their own eyes. Even if Norbert claimed the sun was artificial, they would believe it without question.

Norbert nodded, not showing much excitement. He was well aware of his own limitations. His ability to boast was unmatched, but—

The only worry he had was the scarcity of available talent.

While there were enough scientific personnel, other areas were lacking.

He needed leaders loyal to him and capable of governance, skilled business minds for Luska Industries, and competent military commanders, including lower-level ones.

These roles were crucial: stability, financial backing, and military power were all essential.

Norbert's vision for Hydra was not merely as a personal organization but as an empire, a hidden underground empire behind the scenes.

Realizing the magnitude of his tasks, Norbert understood that talent was the key to achieving his goals.

It all came down to one thing: people.

"Having Emma around would be ideal," he mused.

------------

Chapter 49: How Can You Light a Fire Without Adding More Fuel?

Dr. Norbert Berkowitz sat alone in the conference room, deep in thought. The sharp sound of high heels echoed behind him.

He turned around to see Keira, dressed in red—sexy, enchanting, but as cold as ice—approach him.

"Doctor."

"Yes." Norbert looked at Keira and smiled. "By the look on your face, I assume you have good news for me."

Keira didn't waste time with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Doctor, the Hellfire Club has been forced underground. Shaw's whereabouts are erratic, and our people haven't been able to find any useful information. However, our agents spotted Emma Frost in Las Vegas recently. Shaw is likely there now."

"The Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau has been targeting the Hellfire Club, suppressing them on all fronts. They've also established a secret department with the military. The information confidentiality of this department is extremely high. We don't have detailed information on it yet, but they seem to be investigating Mutants. Some of the Mutants we've been monitoring have mysteriously disappeared, and I suspect it's related to them."

Keira efficiently delivered the news Norbert had been waiting for.

"Can you reach Emma?" Norbert asked.

"No, they're very cautious around outsiders. Our agents there are ordinary people and can't get close. We only know they have a secret club in Las Vegas, but we don't know the exact location."

"It seems Shaw is starting to feel the pressure," Norbert said with a smile.

It was 1960. Although this Marvel world was a bit different from what he remembered, after Hydra's destruction, Norbert was certain that this was a fusion of the Marvel movies, not the comic book universe.

At this moment, Shaw was probably overwhelmed by Carter and preparing his next move.

Although Carter's combat power was limited, as the director of the Strategic Scientific Investigation Bureau and backed by the World Security Council, her influence was far beyond that of the Hellfire Club.

Moreover, she had a resilience that far exceeded that of ordinary people. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to maintain her position as director.

"Looks like we need to help stoke the fire a bit more."

After planning his next move in his mind, Norbert looked at Keira. "Is Medusa operational?"

"Not yet," Keira shook her head. "They're not trained enough, and any rash actions might ruin all our previous efforts."

Norbert thought it over and agreed. Adding fuel to the fire didn't necessarily require a large group—just one person with enough influence.

"Call Mista."

Mista was the president of Aniya, the nominal supreme ruler.

In reality, this guy had only been the leader of a local armed force before the turmoil in Aniya ended. He was unambitious, superstitious, greedy, and cowardly.

He lacked education and sometimes couldn't even read his speeches properly, but he was obedient enough to suddenly become the president of a country.

Upon hearing the commander's summons, Mista immediately left the crowd of women he was with and rushed over to greet Norbert.

Looking at the fawning, bearded man who seemed ready to grovel at his feet, Norbert frowned, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes.

If there were any better candidates, Norbert would never have let someone like this manage his operations in Aniya.

It seemed that not only business talents were in short supply, but also those for internal affairs.

"Mista, when you return, immediately appoint Keira as Aniya's diplomat and give her full diplomatic rights."

Norbert just wanted to send this unpleasant man away and didn't want to waste another word on him.

Mista knew his position well. He also knew that Norbert didn't want to see him, but he understood even better that his life was entirely in Norbert's hands. He had no choice but to respond respectfully, "Yes, Commander."

After Mista left, Norbert turned to Keira. "Withdraw all the Medusas. If they aren't qualified in the future, don't deploy them. Prepare yourself; this time, you'll go in person. We'll leave in a few days."

"Yes, Commander."

Keira never questioned Norbert's orders, even if they meant that years of her efforts would go to waste. She had no complaints.

Withdrawing the Medusas wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision for Norbert. He had been considering it for some time.

Keira had once been a nurse within Hydra. She had no professional intelligence training, and her methods were rather basic.

Previously, he hadn't had the time to address it and urgently needed intelligence, so he had let things slide.

Now, he planned to use this period to build his own intelligence agency and find a professional to train them.

As for the professional, he had already chosen someone—a true expert in the field.

Once Medusa was fully trained, the time lost would be negligible.

Within an hour, Keira's appointment was confirmed.

From this point on, Keira transformed into a serious diplomat.

A week later, Keira took a large number of so-called diplomats to the United States and began her mission.

At the same time, the order to withdraw the Medusas was sent out through various channels, and the Medusas stationed abroad began packing up, excited to head home.

Norbert quietly left Aniya. Apart from Kertesz, no one knew he had left, and no one knew where he had gone.

---

Keira's mission this time was to stir up the situation and let the flames burn higher. How exactly to do this was something Norbert hadn't specified.

But given the role Norbert had arranged for her, Keira knew where to focus her efforts.

Although Aniya was a small country, it was still a recognized nation, and her diplomatic status was highly useful.

Shortly after arriving in the United States, Keira managed to connect with several politicians. Who could resist a charming, mature, and sexy diplomat who understood men's hearts so well?

With the help of these politicians, Keira's reputation as a beautiful diplomat quickly spread through the upper echelons of society.

What's more, this diplomat not only had a widespread reputation but also brought wealth that no one could ignore.

" Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of asking you to dance?"

A handsome young blond man extended his hand to Keira, who was sitting on the sofa, a gentleman's smile on his face.

"Although I'm quite tired today, it's an honor to be invited by a gentleman."

Keira smiled as brightly as a flower and thought to herself, today's big fish was hooked.

Lonnie Milton, the only son of media tycoon Osman Milton, was a future media tycoon in the making.

Originally, Keira's target had been Osman himself.

Unfortunately, Osman was something of an anomaly among the upper class—clean, self-sufficient, and not one to be easily swayed by women.

It was rumored that he and his wife were very much in love, though no one had ever seen his wife, who was said to be seriously ill.

If not for the fact that he had a son, Lonnie, many would have questioned Osman's orientation.

Holding Keira's delicate hand, young Milton's heart raced, and he stared into her dark, deep, icy eyes with an infatuated smile on his face.

Keira leaned forward slightly, sensing the moment was right. Though she hadn't received professional training, she seemed born for this role, instinctively knowing how to play her part.

Her methods might have been simple, but they were the key to her success.

---

Chapter 50: Anger

In the dense forests of the Ural Mountains in western Siberia, a large area of Eastern European-style buildings made of red bricks lay hidden. The secluded, quiet forest was devoid of birds, creating an eerie atmosphere, as if it were a ghost forest. The red buildings appeared like haunted houses from a ghost story.

Rustle~

Dry leaves crunched underfoot, the sound cutting through the stillness. Dr. Norbert Berkowitz, dressed in black, walked through the dense forest with the ease of someone on vacation. He passed towering ancient trees, their massive trunks requiring several people to encircle them. A glimpse of red through the trees brought a smile to his face.

"It was really hard to find this place."

The Red Room is a secret agent training facility, where all the agents are female. The agents who successfully graduate from here are called Widows, as they undergo a gruesome graduation ceremony—each Widow has her uterus removed, stripping them of their womanhood and reducing them to cold, emotionless tools.

Among these agents, the most skilled would eventually become Black Widow, one of the deadliest spies in the world. Finding the Red Room's location wasn't too difficult for Dr. Norbert Berkowitz. The remnants of Hydra were not limited to a single location; they had infiltrated governments across the globe.

Using Hydra's unique communication methods, Dr. Berkowitz successfully contacted Hydra operatives who had infiltrated the Russia. He struck a deal with them using the Red Skull version of the super-soldier serum.

Dr. Berkowitz now possessed seven versions of the serum: the Red Skull version, Captain America version, Scorpion version, the Perfect version, and the Ability version, which came in three levels—one ability, two abilities, and three abilities.

Among all the Hydra operatives under Dr. Berkowitz, only he and Keira had been injected with the latest level three Ability serum. The level two serum remained unused, with only Keltes having taken the level one serum.

The perfect version of the serum had only been injected into personnel within his Scientific Research Department and Medusas, which Keira had originally brought from the Hydra Base Club.

In Dr. Berkowitz's grand plan, the most basic serum injection was the perfect version. The first three versions of the serum had significant flaws, rendering them failures in his eyes, ready to be sealed away and discarded.

Repurposing these failed versions didn't bother him. If an opportunity arose, he would gladly sell the Captain America version of the serum.

His visit to the Red Room was to collect the goods he had traded for—Ivan Dreykov and a group of instructors. (This timeline is based on the movie *Black Widow*, not the comics.)

At this time, Ivan Dreykov was not yet the General Dreykov who would later control the Red Room in the *Black Widow* movie but was merely one of the founders. The Red Room, during this period, was secretly controlled by Hydra. For Dreykov, who wasn't one of their own, his life held little value to them.

The transaction went smoothly, but Dr. Berkowitz had to retrieve the goods himself. Hydra operatives here would not provide any assistance.

"They're not delivering? Heh~ Then they can't blame me."

Gazing at the red building barely visible through the dense forest, Dr. Berkowitz sneered disdainfully and strode toward this feared and mysterious place.

"Doctor, welcome."

The Hydra operative who greeted Dr. Berkowitz curiously eyed the infamous Doctor Doom, who once made headlines across the world.

"Where is he?" Dr. Berkowitz asked, expressionless.

He didn't want to waste time here. There were many troublesome issues that required his attention. If it weren't for his prior experience as a leader, this mess would have driven him mad.

"This?" The operative hesitated before giving Dr. Berkowitz an awkward smile. "Doctor, you may need to go in person."

Dr. Berkowitz frowned slightly and coldly commanded, "Lead the way."

As he stepped into the Red Room, an uncomfortable feeling washed over Dr. Berkowitz. The passage was eerily quiet, oppressively so.

Passing by a large dance studio, he observed a group of young, beautiful girls wearing swan skirts, executing graceful dance moves under the direction of a cold-faced woman.

Yet, Dr. Berkowitz saw no youthful spirit on their faces, only numbness.

"They're just a bunch of soulless machines," Dr. Berkowitz sneered.

"What did you say, Doctor?" The Hydra operative leading the way turned back in confusion.

"Nothing," Dr. Berkowitz replied, shaking his head.

...

"What? You want me to abandon this place and help others train agents? That's impossible!" Dreykov roared at the officer standing before him.

"Dreykov, this is a deal. You can return after the training is completed," the officer said coldly.

"Return? This is my life's work, and you expect me to leave? You're dreaming!"

Dreykov sneered. Returning might be possible, but there was no guarantee he would still be in charge of the Red Room.

He had poured all his efforts into this place; it was impossible for him to give it up now.

Dreykov couldn't understand why his superiors would agree to such a ridiculous and unreasonable deal. Little did he know, this was not the decision of his superiors, but rather a deal between two Hydra remnants.

"Go tell them that unless there is a formal order, I will never abandon this place."

Dreykov, convinced this wasn't a decision from above, glared at the officer defiantly.

The officer sneered. "It's not up to you, Dreykov. The person making the deal will be here soon. You should pack your bags and prepare to leave."

"Dream on!"

Dreykov slammed his fist onto the table in anger.

At that moment, the office door opened, and an unfamiliar voice drifted in.

"Oh, who's dreaming?"

"Who are you? Who let you in? Get out," Dreykov yelled, enraged.

People these days had become increasingly disrespectful. Before leaving, they didn't take him seriously and let anyone in—especially someone like this... a foreigner.

Dr. Berkowitz raised an eyebrow. Since the fall of Hydra, it had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him this way—perhaps not since more than ten years ago.

Without a word, Dr. Berkowitz's eyes gleamed with a cold light, and he extended his hand.

Boom boom boom~

The sudden tremor startled everyone except Dr. Berkowitz, who wore a sneer on his face.

It was one thing for these Hydra remnants to underestimate him, but to neglect their business arrangements and still think they could mock him?

What was this?

Taking payment without delivering the service?

There was no need for pleasantries with such people.

Having overheard Dreykov's words outside the door, Dr. Berkowitz had no intention of speaking kindly.

The Red Room was not short on metal. As a Widow training base, weapons and equipment were abundant, and even the building itself was made of reinforced concrete.

Upon arrival, Dr. Berkowitz didn't bother with any fancy tricks. He expressed his dissatisfaction in the most direct and brutal way possible, unleashing the anger that had built up inside him.

Bang bang bang~

Sand and rocks flew as walls collapsed, and all metal objects in the vicinity were drawn toward the building.

Encounter someone? Metal doesn't discriminate.

Hit a wall? With enough force, nothing is indestructible.

Dr. Berkowitz let the inhabitants of the Red Room experience the true meaning of wrath of god..

-----------

Chapter 51: Pack and Take Away

Bang~

The steel bars embedded in the wall finally gave way, cracking apart like poisonous snakes awakening from hibernation, twisting and writhing in the air.

The loud crashing sounds continued, with various metal objects flying at high speed outside the door, smashing into the walls like cannonballs. The concrete, capable of withstanding heavy artillery fire, was now covered in dense spiderweb-like cracks.

"Doctor, what are you doing? Stop this at once!"

The Hydra officer was the first to react, yelling loudly.

"Stop?" Dr. Norbert Berkowitz sneered, as a small section of cracked steel bar suddenly shot through the air at high speed.

Puff~

"Ah~"

The officer screamed, clutching his shoulder, staring at Dr. Berkowitz in terror.

"Are you giving me orders now?"

Dr. Berkowitz approached the officer, looking down at him coldly.

Soldiers who had seen battle were different. Although fear gripped him, the officer still met Berkowitz's gaze without flinching.

"Doctor, this is just a deal. By acting against us, you're provoking the Hydra."

"Provocation?" Dr. Berkowitz sneered disdainfully. "So what?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the "venomous snake" twisting in the air seemed to scent its prey and struck down like lightning.

Puff, puff~

In the blink of an eye, the officer, who had displayed such military pride moments ago, was skewered. To his death, he never expected that Dr. Berkowitz would not hesitate to kill.

"Now, does anyone else have an opinion?" Berkowitz turned back to Dreykov, who was already trembling in fear. "If you have any complaints, feel free to voice them."

Dreykov shook his head like a rattle.

Opinions? Who needs opinions in a situation like this?

Faced with such a ruthless character, Dreykov knew that if he dared to speak, Dr. Berkowitz would kill him without a second thought.

Even though Dreykov was the founder of the Red Room and a man who had killed without blinking, he was now terrified of this man who was even more ruthless than himself.

Dr. Berkowitz nodded slightly, then turned and walked out the door.

"Very well, inform everyone that starting today, their boss has been replaced."

"Doctor~"

As soon as the Hydra agent greeted Berkowitz, a black shadow flashed by at high speed, and the agent collapsed mid-sentence.

"I don't appreciate people questioning my decisions."

Dreykov, utterly terrified by Berkowitz's ruthlessness, did not dare resist. He obediently followed Berkowitz's orders to inform the others.

The process of taking over the Red Room was not without challenges. For those who refused to cooperate, Dr. Berkowitz had no choice but to send them to meet their maker.

No, they wouldn't be going to heaven; hell was their only destination.

Three hours later~

"Commander, the disobedient ones have been dealt with."

Dreykov cautiously approached Dr. Berkowitz, bowing his head humbly.

"Is that all of them?"

Dr. Berkowitz sounded disappointed. He had expected the Red Room, given its reputation, to provide at least thousands of personnel. However, excluding the Hydra agents, there were fewer than a thousand instructors and students—only about two hundred were instructors, the rest were students.

Sensing Dr. Berkowitz's dissatisfaction, Dreykov quickly explained, "Commander, this is just one training base. There's only one batch of students at a time. The others are stationed elsewhere. I know where they all are."

"No need, these will suffice."

Dr. Berkowitz dismissed the idea. He didn't have time to waste here.

He stepped forward and looked at the over one hundred lifeless young women before him, all of them future widows. He cleared his throat softly.

It wasn't loud, but it was enough to catch everyone's attention.

"Girls, you don't need to know why. You just need to know that today you have a chance to choose your destiny."

"If any of you wish to leave, you may do so now."

"I promise you safe passage. If you choose to follow me, I also promise that you are no longer machines, but people—subjects of the Hydra Empire."

With just a few words, a glimmer of hope appeared in the eyes of these despairing young women. They glanced at each other in disbelief.

Dr. Berkowitz didn't stop their murmuring, but continued, "In ten minutes, I will leave and take you to your new home. If you do not board the vehicle, you are free to go."

After speaking, Dr. Berkowitz turned to Dreykov and the instructors, saying, "Get the vehicles ready. We leave in ten minutes."

Dr. Berkowitz's words were meant only for the students; he had no intention of sparing the instructors.

"Commander, if they try to leave, should we—"

After moving away from the students, Dreykov quietly approached Dr. Berkowitz for instructions, making a subtle throat-cutting gesture.

Dr. Berkowitz glanced at him coldly. "Are you teaching me how to do my job?"

Cold sweat drenched Dreykov's back. He realized he couldn't predict Dr. Berkowitz's thoughts at all.

Isn't this standard procedure?

Are we really going to let those students leave?

Yes, Dr. Berkowitz truly intended to let them go.

Though he wasn't a good man, with a flexible and often nonexistent moral compass, he had his ambitions.

If Dr. Berkowitz wanted to build his own Hydra empire, he couldn't just emulate those brainless villains.

History had shown that regimes built on cruelty and terror didn't last long.

With his cheat system, Dr. Berkowitz's life was destined to be long. The simplest thing he could do was obtain Thor's blood, analyze it, and live for thousands of years.

An empire couldn't survive for millennia solely through bloody means.

From the moment Dr. Berkowitz's ambition sprouted, he had already decided how he would lead Hydra in the future.

He would combine his plans with experience from fanfictions that he read in his past life.

A king within, a tyrant outside.

What he needed was absolute loyalty, not a group of ticking time bombs.

In his view, the Marvel villains who wanted to rule the world were laughable. They believed they could dominate with weapons of mass destruction or by inciting wars.

They were delusional.

They were nothing but rats in the gutter and mad dogs barking at the moon.

No wonder they were always defeated by so-called superheroes.

Dr. Berkowitz was not as brainless as they were.

He wanted to build an underground empire—an empire so feared that no one would dare challenge it.

If he needed a comparison, it would be~

Asgard.

Marvel's Asgard on Earth.

How much trouble had Loki caused on Earth? Did SHIELD or the Avengers ever come after him?

No.

Because once Loki caused trouble, Thor wouldn't allow it. If Thor didn't allow it, neither would Odin. If Odin didn't allow it, then Asgard wouldn't allow it. And if Asgard didn't allow it, the only outcome would be ~War!

In the same way, Dr. Berkowitz's goal was to build an empire like Asgard that everyone would fear.

So what if the Avengers come?

Let them try.

Ten minutes later, the convoy set off on time.

No one chose to leave—not because they doubted Dr. Berkowitz's word, but because they had nowhere else to go.

If they left, they would be nothing more than wandering souls lost in the wilderness.

Before departing, in full view of everyone, Dr. Berkowitz gave the Red Room a gentle shake.

Boom, boom~

The infamous Red Room collapsed into a pile of ruins.

---

Chapter 52: The Destined Result

After a long and dusty journey, Dr. Norbert Berkowitz and his party finally entered the territory of Ania two weeks later.

"Doctor, you're back."

As soon as Dr. Norbert got out of the car, he was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic women, all eagerly inquiring about his condition.

"Doctor, long time no see. We really missed you."

"It's sad you haven't come to us for so long."

"Let me take care of you tonight."

"Don't move, the doctor is mine tonight~"

"Step aside, he's mine~"

"How about~ we all go together?"

"That's a great idea, you're so smart~"

...

Dr. Norbert enjoyed the attention at first, but by the end, he was nearly frightened.

Damn~

You've all been injected with the Super Soldier Serum~

You really want to kill me~

"Ahem~ Alright, you all need to calm down."

Dr. Norbert coughed twice, trying to stop these playful women with a stern face.

Unexpectedly, these women weren't deterred at all and continued teasing him.

"Hehe, is the doctor still afraid?"

"I still remember the good old days. Doctor, you were so charming."

"Doctor, are you weak because of Keira? How about we replenish you~haha~"

...

Dr. Norbert smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had no way to deal with this group of mischievous women.

Looking back on the days when he was fooling around in the Hydra Club, Dr. Norbert couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

This group of women had allowed him to experience what it meant to enjoy life like a king.

It was only with their help that Keira was able to successfully find the gold hidden by Hydra.

If he had to distinguish between close friends and mere acquaintances, Keira and this group of women were his true confidants, while Keltes and the people from the Scientific Research Department were far less important.

Otherwise, Dr. Norbert would not have injected them all with the Super Soldier Serum.

Moreover, Dr. Norbert also planned that once the production of the Ability Serum increased, they would be the first batch to receive injections.

Because of their close relationship, these women often used various means to pester Dr. Norbert when Keira wasn't around.

"Alright, enough fooling around, let's get down to business."

With a serious expression, Dr. Norbert finally managed to calm the group down.

"Mia, have you seen those people?" He pointed to the group gathered in the red house in the distance, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Doctor, what's wrong? Didn't you bring those people back?" The sexy and enchanting Mia asked, confused.

"I'm not talking about those girls." Dr. Norbert shook his head. "As an intelligence agency, Medusa has been unprofessional. Those are the people I brought back to train you."

Mia lowered her head in embarrassment. They were good at pleasing men, but when it came to gathering intelligence, they were amateurs.

Medusa had been trying to improve over the years. Though they'd made some progress, without professional training, they made more mistakes.

When she thought about Dr. Norbert's previous order to withdraw all Medusas, Mia suddenly understood. It had all been for this.

"Doctor, are you saying we will all obey their orders in the future?" Mia asked, uncertain.

"Yes." Dr. Norbert nodded, speaking calmly. "You are the first batch of students. Half a year~ I'm only giving you half a year. When the time comes, let them die with dignity."

Mia's eyes gleamed with a cold light, and she smiled. "I understand. Don't worry, doctor. We'll make sure they're completely drained."

Dr. Norbert nodded and then led them towards Dreykov.

At this time, Dreykov didn't know that his fate was already sealed.

Although he was too frightened by Dr. Norbert's cruel methods to show any disobedience, he hated Dr. Norbert deeply for ruining his hard work.

Along the way, he also learned what Dr. Norbert needed from him.

As an experienced intelligence expert, Dreykov immediately realized this was his opportunity.

Just like the Red Room, which was apparently under soviet union's control but in fact belonged to Hydra, Dreykov planned to adopt Hydra's methods and try to take over.

But he didn't expect that Dr. Norbert had anticipated his moves, so he only assigned him to train the group of women he brought from Hydra.

As Dr. Norbert's absolute confidants, these women were not easily swayed by Dreykov's tactics.

Don't forget, they were Hydra too.

"Dreykov, they will be your first batch of students from now on. I'll find someone to manage the other girls, so you don't have to worry about them."

Dreykov had no objection to Dr. Norbert's arrangement, nor did he dare to object.

The handover was completed quickly, and more than a hundred future widows were taken away by Mia in a daze.

Dr. Norbert didn't need to worry about what happened next. With these women watching, Dreykov couldn't cause any trouble.

Now that Medusa's situation was settled, only his internal affairs manager and financial director positions remained to be filled.

Dr. Norbert's favorite candidate for financial director was Emma Frost.

Invited to join the Hellfire Club before Shaw, Emma's abilities were beyond doubt, making her the ideal leader of Luska Industries in Dr. Norbert's mind.

However, this woman had always been aloof, and Dr. Norbert didn't dare to let her control his finances until he could fully conquer her.

As for the Internal Affairs Manager, this gave Dr. Norbert a headache. He wasn't sure who to choose.

"Damn it, no matter what, let's get Emma on board first."

You have to take things one step at a time.

There are no shortcuts in the world, and having a Cheat System is a great blessing, giving Dr. Norbert the chance to reach the top.

But everything takes time. He hadn't accumulated enough yet and lacked a solid foundation.

But what Dr. Norbert lacked most was patience.

After arranging some other matters, Dr. Norbert immediately left Ania and flew to the other side of the ocean.

Patience is necessary, but who wouldn't want to speed things up a bit?

＊＊＊＊＊＊

New York.

Early in the morning, Lonnie dragged his weak legs out of bed in pain, clutching his waist.

After patting his face and trying to cheer up, Lonnie headed to the bathroom.

Looking at the sunken eye sockets and pale face in the mirror, he thought about how he had risked his life last night, using a box of blue pills for three hundred rounds to finally conquer that little woman. A proud smile appeared on Lonnie's face.

After getting dressed neatly, Lonnie also applied some makeup to make himself look more energetic, then returned to the bedroom.

"My dear, I have something to do at the company today. I'll leave first. Our company has a dinner party tonight. I'll send a car to pick you up."

"Hey~ Honey, are you leaving? Morning is the best time to exercise~"

Keira stretched out her jade-like arms and wrapped them around Lonnie's neck. Her sultry voice made him shiver and nearly made him pounce on her again.

But when he thought of Osman's angry face yesterday, Lonnie finally held back and smiled wickedly.

"Hey, honey, I'll treat you well when I'm done."

After saying that, Lonnie didn't dare to linger. He wished he could grow two more legs to run out the door, fearing that if he stayed, he'd never leave.

After Lonnie left, a chuckle suddenly echoed through the room.

Keira, dressed in red, was nowhere to be seen on the bed. She was sitting lazily on the chaise longue by the window, a sarcastic smile on her face.

---

Chapter 53

Two hours later, Keira walked into a luxurious manor, led by a gray-haired old housekeeper.

Her enchanting figure and captivating presence drew the attention of every man she passed.

*Click~*

The ornate door opened at the old butler's touch.

The spacious hall was magnificent, like a palace, with maids in various uniforms bustling through it.

As soon as Keira stepped inside, everyone seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement and hurriedly left the hall.

Across the hall was a lavish dining room. The long dining table, which could seat a dozen people, was laden with a sumptuous feast—each dish worth a small fortune.

And this was just breakfast for the owner of the manor.

As soon as Keira entered the dining room, a thin figure leaped from behind the door, wrapping his frail, wrinkled hands around Keira's slender waist.

"Ah, my dear, you're finally here. I've been dying to see you."

A dry, old voice whispered in Keira's ear.

The corner of Keira's mouth curled into a charming smile as she gently twisted her body and playfully said, "It's not my fault. Your son insisted on exercising this morning, so I couldn't come to keep you company earlier~"

"Ah, I scolded him hard yesterday and made him work overtime. He won't have any free time for a long while, so you can stay with me every day."

Osman's wrinkled face trembled with excitement, and his hand on Keira's waist began to explore up and down.

"Oh, let's close the door first. If someone sees us, especially Lonnie, it won't end well."

Keira smoothly slipped out of Osman's grasp like a loach, walked to the dining table with elegant steps, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Her face shifted to an indifferent expression as she rested her chin on her hand, watching Osman with interest.

Osman seemed oblivious, smiling grotesquely, and raised his hands in the air. Then he closed the door himself, frantically clawing at the air like a madman, occasionally letting out a sinister laugh.

Yes, the perverted old man in front of her was Lonnie Milton's father, media tycoon Osman Milton, and Keira's original target.

Who would have thought that Osman Milton, who was always regarded as a clean and respectable figure in high society, had such a twisted fetish?

A man who liked to share his girlfriend with his son.

Keira had heard Norbert Berkowitz talk about the chaos in the upper class, but this was a true eye-opener.

Their world was messier than she ever imagined.

Just a few days after Keira seduced Lonnie, she was brought here one night by armed men in black and introduced to the media tycoon, so highly regarded by the public.

Keira had also met the so-called woman that Osman loved deeply, Lonnie's mother.

A crazed old woman who was as terrified of Osman as a mouse is of a cat.

As Osman's face twisted into a crazed smile, Keira recalled the old woman's body, covered in trembling scars.

It reminded her of what Ramon had done to her.

Keira's indifferent gaze grew as cold and venomous as a snake discovering its prey.

In Osman's eyes, the stunning beauty before him, who made him so obsessed that he could hardly contain himself, suddenly seemed to flick her tongue like a snake.

In the blink of an eye, the alluring woman transformed into something terrifying. Her neck sprouted multiple heads, growing longer and longer.

These were not human heads but serpent heads.

In a moment of confusion, the beautiful woman before Osman became a monstrous creature with nine snake heads.

"Ah~"

Osman collapsed to the floor in horror, his lips trembling as he tried to speak, but no words came out.

Then, in a bizarre movement, Osman stood up and slammed his head against the marble dining table.

*Bang~*

Blood splattered as Osman screamed in agony.

But it seemed Osman wasn't satisfied yet. He attempted a backflip but, being too old, landed awkwardly, and with a sickening crunch, his hand was twisted in a grotesque posture.

Osman kept screaming, but he didn't stop his self-abuse.

He rushed to the dining table, grabbed a knife, and began slashing at himself wildly, screaming incoherently as he cut.

"Monster~ You monster~ I'll kill you~"

*Bang~*

The door to the dining room was kicked open by a group of men in black. The servants in the manor had heard the commotion and rushed over.

But as soon as they entered, they were horrified by the scene before them.

They saw Osman frantically stabbing himself with the knife.

*Puff~*

Blood spurted everywhere, and the old butler belatedly reacted, shouting, "Stop him quickly!"

A dozen men in black rushed forward, finally subduing the crazed Osman after a brutal struggle.

Oddly enough, they completely ignored Keira, who was calmly sitting at the dining table. After subduing Osman, the group carried him out of the dining room in a panic.

It wasn't until everyone had left that Keira slowly and elegantly walked out.

******

Lonnie stood solemnly at Osman's bedside, his father's breaths shallow and labored, signaling the end was near.

"Everyone leave. I want to be alone with my father for a while."

His heavy tone made it clear that Lonnie was too devastated to accept the reality. Only the old butler hesitated, looking worriedly between Lonnie and the dying Osman.

In the end, the old butler sighed softly, leaned close to Lonnie, and whispered, "Master, let him go. He doesn't have much time."

Lonnie didn't respond, but his trembling body seemed to be holding back something.

In the corner, Keira sipped a glass of crimson wine, watching the scene unfold with a smile, though her eyes were as cold as the Arctic.

That night, the famous media tycoon Osman Milton died suddenly of a heart attack, and his old butler also died mysteriously in his bed in a horrific manner.

Three days later, the funeral of the once-powerful media mogul was held quietly. Osman Milton's only son, Lonnie Milton, inherited all of his father's wealth.

However, only a week later, news broke that Lonnie Milton had suffered a mental breakdown due to the sudden events and was admitted to a hospital. A photo in the newspaper showed a frail, emaciated Lonnie Milton.

In less than a month, the Milton family had lost both of its leaders, throwing the Milton Group, one of the media industry giants, into turmoil.

At this moment, a company named Luska Industries emerged, grabbing everyone's attention.

A week later, Lonnie Milton was discharged from the hospital. Within half a month, he sold all his shares in the Milton Group to this mysterious Luska Industries.

Before anyone could react, Lonnie Milton and his enigmatic girlfriend vanished from the public eye, never to be seen again.

In less than a month, the Milton Group had undergone a massive upheaval, leading many to suspect a hidden conspiracy behind the death of Osman Milton.

But as quickly as the topic arose, it vanished, like a pebble dropped into the sea without a ripple.

Because everyone was shocked by the next big headline.

When Norbert Berkowitz arrived in the United States, he bought a copy of the *Daily Bugle* at the airport.

**Front page headline:**

"Mutants! The Deadliest Threat to Humanity!"

---

"Not bad, but not enough."

Dr. Norbert Berkowitz reviewed the newspapers filled with images and information he had asked Hydra to collect over the years. Though he was pleased with Keira's efficiency, he knew this alone wouldn't be enough to make humanity realize the threat posed by mutants.

In the movie, it was only after Magneto's failed assassination attempt on the president that the Sentinel Project, specifically targeting mutants, received strong support. Human society now recognized the existence of mutants, but they had yet to acknowledge that mutants were a substantial threat to humanity.

Only through this realization would humans dedicate their full effort to dealing with mutants.

Aniya's office in the United States had generously occupied an entire floor of a five-star hotel in Times Square as a temporary office location. In the luxurious room, Norbert Berkowitz stood by the window, quietly gazing at the vibrant lights of New York City at night.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Keira, dressed in red, quietly entered. She bowed her head and stood behind him.

"Things went very well," Norbert said, never stingy with praise for his subordinates' abilities.

"But it's still not enough. If Shaw isn't forced into the spotlight, the fire isn't burning bright enough."

"Yes, Doctor, I will handle it immediately," Keira responded, never questioning Norbert's orders.

"No need. Too much effort could be counterproductive. Negative news about mutants will naturally attract attention. We don't want public opinion to be one-sided. Only confrontation can be exciting and attract attention. A one-man show isn't easy to perform."

Norbert shook his head. He already had a plan to force Shaw into the spotlight.

"Leave the rest to me."

"Yes, Doctor."

---

**Strategic Scientific Investigation Agency.**

**Director's Office.**

Carter was furious, pacing back and forth while spitting out words.

"What's going on? How did these newspapers get their information?"

"Didn't you say that ordinary people cannot be made aware of the existence of mutants?"

"Stryker, are you an idiot? News about mutants leaked! How do you want me to explain this to the superiors? How did you let this happen?"

Stryker lowered his head, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes. As the person in charge of investigating mutants, this incident fell squarely on his shoulders.

Being ridiculed by Carter, who had long refused to allow him to intensify his efforts against mutants, Stryker couldn't defend himself. After all, 80% of the photos published in the newspapers came from the Bureau of Strategic Investigation. There was no way he could shirk this responsibility.

However, there was a hint of satisfaction in his heart. When it came to dealing with mutants, Stryker was an absolute hawk, but Carter's stance on mutants was more ambiguous. She had suppressed the Hellfire Club, which was controlled by mutants, yet she also employed mutants within her ranks.

Her actions and words were inconsistent, making her true stance unclear.

"Stryker, I'll give you three days to find the traitor who leaked this information. Otherwise, you'll have to explain yourself to the superiors."

It was a critical period in tracing Steve's whereabouts, and Carter didn't want this incident to interfere.

"Yes, Chief," Stryker responded, gritting his teeth with a gloomy expression.

---

**Las Vegas.**

"Hahaha~ I didn't expect there to be so many of our kind in the world."

In contrast to Carter's rage, Shaw was surprisingly excited.

"Emma, is there any way to find these people?"

As a staunch supporter of mutant supremacy, Shaw had an insatiable need for more mutants. Although the newspapers had published photos, they provided no further information.

"Shaw, you're being too simplistic." Emma poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "Mutants were suddenly exposed without any warning. Don't you find that strange?"

Shaw calmed down and considered the situation. It was indeed strange.

Suddenly, a possibility struck him.

"You mean~"

Emma nodded. "Yes, that woman has been the only one investigating us for years. She has so much detailed information about mutants. I believe she's the one who leaked this news. Now that these mutants have been discovered, I suspect~"

Shaw's face darkened as he realized the implications. Emma's words led his thoughts in a new direction.

With a chilling expression, Shaw spoke coldly, "She's declaring war on us."

"It seems so," Emma agreed coldly.

"Shaw, let me twist that woman's head off," the Red Devil said eagerly, standing up with a ferocious grin.

"And me," Riptide added, playing with a whirlwind in his hand expressionlessly.

"No, since that woman dared to make such a bold move, she must be fully prepared. I suspect that these exposed mutants have either been captured or killed by her." Despite his murderous intent, Shaw remained calm. "Although I don't know why she's not afraid of us confronting her, if we go now, we might walk right into her trap."

"Then what do you plan to do?" Emma asked.

After a moment of silence, Shaw smiled coldly.

"She wants war, so let's give her war."

He turned to Emma and instructed, "Emma, find out if those mutants have been captured by that woman. If so, locate where they're being held."

"Azazel, we need to have a talk with that guy. You and Riptide will bring him over without attracting attention."

"Hehe, you should have done this long ago, Shaw," the Red Devil said, flashing a bloodthirsty smile.

---

"Three days! Just three days~"

In a dark room where he couldn't see his own hands, Stryker sat slumped on his bed, muttering to himself.

Suddenly, Stryker let out a hysterical roar.

"I'm going to get that bastard. She wants me to take the fall so she can keep her position. You vicious old hag, I won't let you get away with this."

After venting for a while, Stryker sat back down, defeated. He had raged, but there was little he could do.

He wasn't the future Colonel Stryker yet; he was just a captain. Though he led the mutant investigation team, his actual power was far less than what people imagined.

Carter had given him only three days. Finding out who leaked the mutant information in that time frame would be impossible. Mutant information was classified as only a Level 5 secret in the Bureau of Strategic Investigation, known by too many people to effectively investigate.

He considered finding a scapegoat, but Carter was too shrewd to fall for that.

Carter, that old fox, was as sharp as a whip, and deceiving her was nearly impossible.

"No, no, I can't give up like this. There must be a way. There will be a way~"

Stryker kept repeating this to himself in the darkness, almost as if he were in a trance.

"I have an idea. I wonder if Captain Stryker wants to hear it."

In the darkness, a strange man's voice suddenly spoke.

"What's your solution?" Stryker asked instinctively.

--- 

Chapter 55: The Weapon X Program

"Who?"

When Stryker reacted, his entire body stiffened instantly, his hands and feet turning cold, and a look of horror filled his eyes.

Someone's laughter echoed from the darkness.

"Don't be nervous, Captain Stryker, I'm here to help you."

*Snap.*

An orange light suddenly flickered on, causing Stryker to close his eyes subconsciously. When he opened them again, he saw an imposing man with a commanding presence sitting at the desk in the room.

"Who are you?"

Stryker eyed the stranger warily, his right hand slowly moving toward his thigh without revealing any trace of his intent.

Norbert Berkowitz seemed oblivious to Stryker's cautious movements and spoke slowly, "If you pull that trigger and aim at me, you won't even have a chance to spend the rest of your life in prison."

Although the words were calm, they sent a chill down Stryker's spine. The man before him exuded an aura of danger, making Stryker feel like a poisonous snake was coiling around him, ready to strike at the slightest movement. He was paralyzed with fear, unable to move, as if any motion would result in the snake sinking its fangs into his neck.

"Who are you?" Stryker croaked, his voice dry.

Sweat trickled down from his brow into his eyes, but he didn't dare blink.

"Don't ask, just know that I can help you, Captain Stryker," Norbert said with a slight smile, and the oppressive feeling of being hunted suddenly vanished.

Stryker leaned forward, gasping for air, his terrified eyes flicking back and forth between Norbert's smiling face.

After Stryker calmed down a bit, Norbert finally asked, "How about it, Captain Stryker? Do you want to accept my help?"

Stryker's mind was still reeling, but he managed to recover enough to think clearly, even though his face still betrayed his fear.

"Why are you helping me? Why me?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Though Stryker didn't know the exact saying, he wasn't a fool. A stranger had appeared in his home offering help, and Stryker couldn't help but suspect there was a hidden motive. Until he understood what Norbert wanted from him, he was hesitant to agree.

"Because you're the one we need."

Norbert understood Stryker's concerns and began weaving a lie that would deceive Stryker for over a decade.

"We know you, Stryker, even better than you know yourself. We know what happened to you, and we're sorry about what happened to your wife. We also know what you're trying to do."

"Like you, we are victims who have suffered deeply. We hate mutants as much as you do."

"We want to eradicate mutants too, but unfortunately, some people betray everyone for their own interests. For various reasons, we can't come forward, so we're powerless."

"Until you came along, Captain Stryker."

"Our goals are the same—to rid the world of mutants."

"We can't step into the light, but you can. With our help, you won't have to bow down to anyone. You can start realizing your ideals openly."

"How about it? Do you want to join us in eradicating the mutants?"

Norbert stood up and walked over to Stryker, extending his right hand.

Stryker lowered his head, his eyes filled with murderous intent as his thoughts churned. Just when he thought his goal was slipping away, another path had appeared before him.

After only a moment of hesitation, Stryker raised his head, looked at Norbert with resolute eyes, and firmly shook his hand.

"What should I call you?" Stryker asked.

Norbert smiled. "Doctor. You can call me Doctor."

Stryker recognized that Norbert was unwilling to reveal his true identity, but he didn't care. As long as he could achieve his goals, the identity of the man offering help was irrelevant.

"Doctor, what should we do next?"

Norbert patted Stryker on the shoulder, a mysterious smile on his face.

"Don't worry, Stryker. You don't need to do anything right now. What you need most is a department that belongs solely to you."

Stryker was about to ask why, but Norbert merely told him to wait patiently.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. As the deadline given by Carter approached, Stryker had yet to hear from the Doctor.

Just when Stryker's anxiety was reaching its peak, Carter's secretary walked up to his desk and knocked.

"Stryker, the Director wants you to come over immediately."

What must come will always come.

Stryker took a deep breath to calm his nerves and stood up. "I'll be there right away."

In the director's office, Carter frowned as he stared at the documents in his hands, lost in thought.

At that moment, Stryker entered the office.

"Director."

Seeing Stryker's nervousness, Carter smirked to himself, all doubts in his mind evaporating. How could a small captain be worth so much trouble? It had to be a coincidence.

"Stryker, the higher-ups want to transfer you to a new department. This is the transfer order that just came down today. Go back, pack up, and report in as soon as possible."

"Ah—"

Stryker raised his head in shock, his mouth hanging open.

"What are you standing around for? Go pack your things!"

Carter angrily threw the transfer order at Stryker and immediately began ushering him out.

Stryker left, but Carter now had another headache to deal with.

Carter had planned to use Stryker as a scapegoat, but a change of orders had come at the worst possible time.

Stryker could still be blamed, even after his transfer, but someone had called Carter.

No one knew what was said during that call, but Stryker was no longer a viable scapegoat.

Now, Carter was left wondering who could help him catch the person who had leaked the information.

It wasn't until Stryker returned to his workstation that he realized this must have been the Doctor's doing.

Although he was surprised by the Doctor's influence, Stryker only paused for a moment before eagerly diving back into his work. He remembered what the Doctor had said.

A department that belongs to him, a plan that belongs to him.

The Weapon X program.

******

In a luxurious room, Norbert stood by the window, looking out at New York at night, while Keira stood beside him.

"Is everything taken care of?" Norbert asked.

"It's done. Stryker should be reporting in right now."

Norbert nodded, satisfied with Keira's work.

He hadn't expected that in just a few months, Keira would manage to influence people within the military. He had been surprised when Keira first reported her success to him.

However, with such frequent movements, Norbert was worried they might attract unwanted attention. Now that their goal was nearly accomplished, Keira wouldn't need to do much more. He turned and ordered, "Next, find out if there's a suitable candidate. It's time for Mystique to make a change."

"Yes," Keira replied succinctly, without any unnecessary words.

Norbert asked Keira a few more questions before she mentioned that a CIA agent was relentlessly pursuing her.

"Wait a minute—this guy sounds familiar."