Natasha and May hesitated, unwilling to let Beichen out of their sight.
However, they had no choice.
Now they had to follow Beichen because the situation had silently reversed.
Here, the one in charge was no longer them but Beichen.
Beichen's current display of power was enough to make the S.H.I.E.L.D. trio apprehensive and temporarily obedient.
As the car started, Beichen asked curiously, "6547, how is Containment Item-307?"
"Reporting, President!"
"We have identified and temporarily restrained Containment Item-307 but haven't officially started the containment process. The headquarters sent the containment tools, and you can begin once you arrive."
Beichen nodded.
Containment Item-307, the Carnivorous Ivy, is a plant-like vine that paralyzes warm-blooded animals and dissolves their internal organs, muscles, and blood.
To contain it successfully, remote-controlled robots must be used.
Using manpower would be feeding the plant.
The more people sent, the more deaths, and the wilder the plant's growth.
Though a plant, Containment Item-307 lacks most plant weaknesses. Known herbicides are ineffective.
Containment Item-307 is highly resistant to fire, with its only weakness being it won't attack cold-blooded creatures and is vulnerable to extreme cold.
Most terrifyingly, it has plant advantages like easy survival and regeneration.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. trio in the back had mixed feelings.
Natasha, sitting in the Humvee's back seat, discreetly observed the C-grade armed members in the front seats.
She was shocked to find they didn't look human, their appearances eerily similar.
"Bioweapons!"
A chilling thought crossed Natasha's mind.
Before joining S.H.I.E.L.D., her Red Room organization trained agents to bioweapon standards.
Natasha detested turning people into bioweapons.
But soon, she noticed something else.
The drivers weren't trained humans but clones.
As the vehicle reached the destination, the conflicted S.H.I.E.L.D. trio got out.
"You noticed too?"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. trio greeted each other after getting out of the car.
"Yeah!"
Coulson nodded, looking serious.
"Clones! Those soldiers are clones. Their appearance and physique are identical."
Coulson said gravely, "Our mission has changed. This young man, Beichen, is hiding deeper darkness and secrets."
"Stop talking, he's coming over," May, who had been observing Beichen and the others, quickly reminded.
"Let's go, I'll take you to the base! Follow me," Beichen invited the S.H.I.E.L.D. trio with a smile.
After another 20-minute walk, they finally arrived at their destination.
"This..."
Coulson was dumbfounded at the sight of the military base.
In this remote Middle Eastern area, such an advanced military base existed? Even the U.S. bases in the Middle East might not be this advanced.
How did they build such a massive military base in such a remote location?
Realizing things were beyond his expectations, Coulson glanced nervously at Beichen.
Then he discreetly studied the military base's layout.
It was a military base with both above-ground and underground sections. The above-ground part was a one-story flat building, about 4,000 square meters. As for the underground...
Not having seen it yet, Coulson decided to reserve judgment.
"Something's off!"
Natasha, experienced in combat, walked to Coulson's side, looking seriously at a nearby valley.
Pointing at the valley, Natasha said, "Don't you think this base's location is odd? This place isn't suitable for a base. That valley over there would be better."
Natasha's words drew the attention of the other two, who looked at the valley.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. trio didn't doubt the builders' skills.
On the contrary.
Building a military base in such a barren place already proved the architects' capabilities.
So why the apparent mistake?
There could be only one reason!
The valley must be hiding a bigger secret or other factors forced the architects to build the base outside the valley.