Wang Ye glanced at Elton, the elderly man who had collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes rolling back and limbs twitching as if he were on the verge of foaming at the mouth.
Shaking his head helplessly, Wang Ye hoisted Elton onto his back and carried him upstairs to a bedroom to rest.
Once done, Wang Ye returned to the living room, picked up his glass, and leisurely took a sip of wine. As he lowered the glass, he noticed ripples spreading across the liquid and felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.
"They're here!"
On the main street of the small town, a massive, three-story-tall war tank roared as it rolled through, its tracks crushing the cobblestone road beneath it into shards.
The sheer weight of the tank caused nearby houses to quake violently, as though an earthquake were underway, leaving them precariously close to collapse.
The war tank rumbled through the town square and headed straight for the church. At that moment, a panicked figure darted out from a side alley near the church and rushed into the sanctuary, shouting breathlessly as they entered:
"Father Elton, they're here! We have to run! They're terrifying!"
But no response came.
Before the man could yell again, the rumbling and noise from outside abruptly ceased, plunging the surroundings into an eerie silence.
In the next instant, a thunderous explosion shattered the stillness. The church's towering, heavy wooden doors, along with the surrounding stone walls, crumbled in a deafening collapse, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
Caught too close to the entrance, the militia man was buried beneath the rubble, falling silent.
At this moment, Wang Ye, having heard the commotion, stepped out from a side room.
Before the dust could settle, a squad of fully armed soldiers marched into the church through the collapsed doorway, their synchronized footsteps echoing ominously.
Once inside, the soldiers efficiently divided up, securing the corners of the hall and taking up defensive positions. Their precise movements betrayed experience in home invasions.
A squad leader, flanked by three soldiers, approached the central stone sarcophagus in the hall. Following his command, the soldiers attempted to lift the sarcophagus lid but couldn't budge it an inch.
Meanwhile, Wang Ye, holding his wine glass, was completely ignored. He didn't mind, calmly sipping his drink as though nothing was happening.
At the same time, outside the church, a black six-wheeled extended SUV, exuding an imposing aura, came to a halt. The door opened, and a tall, menacing figure stepped out.
His military boots struck the stone road with a heavy, oppressive *clack, clack,* echoing through the air. His cold, rigidly chiseled face, resembling a painted image, bore eyes that radiated both cruelty and madness.
The officer strode into the church.
The soldiers saluted sharply at his approach. He nodded lightly before directing his gaze to Wang Ye, who continued to drink his wine unperturbed.
A trace of surprise flickered in the officer's eyes as he spoke in a low, measured tone. "You're much younger than I imagined."
Removing his hat and handing it to the soldier behind him, his face remained devoid of emotion.
"These past years, I've traversed the world, combed through ancient texts, and poured my heart into finding this place. I must commend you for keeping it hidden."
His lips curved into a faint smirk, paying no mind to Wang Ye's indifference as he walked toward the sarcophagus.
Gesturing for the soldiers to step aside, the officer placed his hands on the lid. Planting his feet firmly, he exerted immense force. The lid, which hadn't moved under the combined strength of three men, was effortlessly lifted.
As the ancient sarcophagus opened, a pungent stench wafted out. The officer waved his hand dismissively and peered inside.
The contents were not the expected treasures of gold and jewels but the tall, desiccated remains of what appeared to be a mummified skeleton — likely the legendary King Arthur. Upon the skeletal remains rested a single-handed longsword, while the bony hands clasped a transparent crystal cube tightly.
"So, you came prepared," the officer remarked.
He lifted the crystal cube, examining it briefly before casually letting it drop to the ground, shattering it into fragments. The soldiers looked on in shock.
"I've encountered many imitations before, but this one is particularly convincing."
"Of course, leaving the real artifact in plain sight would be unwise." Wang Ye downed the rest of his wine, setting the glass aside as he approached the mural of Yggdrasil on the wall.
The officer made no move to stop him, confident that no young man could challenge his dozen armed soldiers.
Standing before the mural, Wang Ye scrutinized it, his fingers pressing against the eyes of the serpent Nidhogg coiled at the tree's roots.
Click!
A hidden mechanism activated, and a small, ornate wooden box emerged from the wall.
Wang Ye retrieved the box and slowly opened it, revealing a brilliant blue light that illuminated his face in an eerie glow.
Inside lay the fabled artifact of Odin — the Tesseract.
The officer hastily approached, snatching the box from Wang Ye's hands. Staring at the artifact he had long desired, his face twisted with maniacal glee.
"How amusing! While the Führer digs up deserts for relics, I've already found the true treasure!"
Wang Ye watched the elated officer, a smirk playing at his lips. "Schmidt, or should I call you Red Skull, you've got what you wanted. Now, I have a small request in return."
Schmidt, the notorious leader of Hydra, sneered. Drawing his pistol, he aimed it at Wang Ye.
"I don't negotiate, but I'll grant you something."
Bang! Bang!
Two shots rang out, and Schmidt smirked confidently, turning to leave — only to notice Wang Ye, unharmed, the bullets crumpled at his feet.
Wang Ye smiled wickedly. "If you won't give me what I want, I'll just take it myself."
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