Chapter 22:
Ten Minutes LaterS.H.I.E.L.D. HeadquartersSecret Conference Room
Natasha, Coulson, and Hawkeye were urgently discussing action plans. The data sent by Origin was so massive it was suffocating.
The extent of Hydra's infiltration far exceeded imagination—even the World Security Council had their shadows inside.
Suddenly, the air in the conference room twisted slightly.
The three instantly drew their guns and spun around—only to see Yang Jian already standing in the center of the room, holding a silver-white metal case.
Hawkeye's pupils contracted. "You… how did you get in?"
"Standard procedure." Yang Jian casually placed the case on the conference table.
"Don't be nervous. I brought you some equipment."
The case opened automatically, revealing hundreds of neatly arranged button-sized devices inside.
"Skrull detectors." Yang Jian explained.
"They automatically alarm within thirty meters. Green light means normal; red light means the target is a Skrull. They also auto-locate."
Coulson cautiously picked one up and examined it closely: "Can this be guaranteed accurate?"
"I added a bit of magic." Yang Jian said calmly.
"More reliable than your DNA tests."
Natasha quickly distributed the detectors to the other two. Just as she prepared to deploy, Yang Jian pulled out three vials glowing with dark golden light.
"And these—your favorite thing."
The three stared at the serums; their breathing unconsciously quickened.
"Genetic enhancement serum." Yang Jian's voice was calm.
"After injection, strength reaches hundred-ton level, with high-speed regeneration and extended lifespan."
These three vials retained only human enhancement capabilities—no flame control.
Hawkeye's Adam's apple bobbed: "What's the price?"
"From now on, you follow my orders only." Yang Jian scanned the three.
"You can still back out now."
The three exchanged glances. Natasha stepped forward first, grabbing a vial without hesitation and beginning the injection.
"Ugh!"
She dropped to one knee. Her muscles tensed; dark golden patterns spread beneath her skin like veins.
Seconds later, she snapped her head up. A flash of golden light passed through her pupils.
"This feeling… unbelievable."
She casually grabbed the pistol at her waist. With a squeeze of five fingers, the high-grade steel gun was instantly crushed into a metal pancake.
Without hesitation, she looked at Yang Jian, her voice carrying unprecedented awe.
"Boss."
Hawkeye and Coulson exchanged a look and simultaneously grabbed the remaining two vials.
Five Minutes Later
One wall of the conference room had become rubble—this was the result of Coulson testing his punch strength.
Hawkeye discovered his dynamic vision had increased dozens of times; he could even track bullet trajectories.
"Cleanup operation begins now." Yang Jian ordered.
"Hydra's list has already been exposed across the entire web. The World Security Council will soon be too busy with their own problems."
He snapped his fingers. Origin's voice came from the conference room speakers.
"Sir, I have taken control of 87% of global media platforms. Hydra evidence is now looping on broadcast. Three of the five World Security Council members have just submitted resignation letters."
The three were stunned for a moment. Yang Jian smiled.
"Artificial intelligence. Don't be surprised."
Natasha flexed her wrist: "Looks like we need to hurry."
"Remember—after cleanup is complete, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be reborn." Yang Jian gave his final command.
Before his words finished, his body vanished from the spot.
The three were silent for a moment. Almost in unison, they looked at the box of detectors on the table.
"I suddenly feel a little sorry for Hydra." Hawkeye suddenly laughed, feeling like he'd never fought such a wealthy battle before.
Coulson put on a detector, revealing a rare cold smile. "Let's get to work."
New YorkTimes Square
The giant electronic billboards suddenly flickered. The commercial ads switched to a blood-red Hydra logo.
"Hydra has never been destroyed."
A deep male voice accompanied sinister background music. Then, encrypted files rolled down like a waterfall.
Secret government meetings, military base arms deals, even lists of agents hiding in ordinary communities.
Everything was laid bare in public view.
The crowd in the square erupted instantly.
"Fuck!!" An office worker screamed at his phone.
"My boss is Hydra?!"
The girl next to him turned pale: "God! The manager of my apartment is on the list too!"
Panic spread like a virus.
The news of Hydra's revival quickly swept the globe. Every social media platform went crazy.
CNN Emergency News Live
In the anchor's earpiece, the director screamed. Anderson Cooper forced himself to stay calm in front of the camera.
"We are currently experiencing an unprecedented cyber intrusion. Just received confirmation that multiple institutions—including the White House and Pentagon—have verified parts of the files as authentic."
The screen suddenly cut to a video: a World Security Council member shaking hands with a Hydra agent.
"This is impossible!" A certain country's president slammed the table in a hastily arranged press conference.
"We eradicated these bastards long ago!"
Public anger was completely ignited.
On the streets of London, protesters waving signs reading "YOU LIED TO US" stormed city hall.
In Moscow's Red Square, crowds shouted for the military to explain. Tokyo's stock market circuit-breaked from panic selling.
Dark Web
[Anonymous]: I knew something was off with my pizza shop boss! The way he slices pepperoni is way too professional!
[Anonymous]: Line 4876 on the list is my teacher—no wonder she always forced us to learn German!
[Anonymous]: Just saw a high-level exec get grabbed—his face lit up red like a Christmas tree.
Is My Neighbor's Dog Hydra? OP: The dog looks fine, but it howls exactly at 3 AM every day—like it's sending signals.
Reply 1: Suggest checking the doghouse for a secret radio transmitter Reply 2: My grandma suddenly spoke German. The whole family is interrogating her in the basement right now.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. HeadquartersSeveral Hours Later
Smoke had not yet cleared. S.H.I.E.L.D. had once again fallen into chaos.
Bullet holes remained in corridor walls; blood that hadn't been fully cleaned seeped into floor cracks.
The once pristine glass curtain walls were now covered in spiderweb cracks—as if shattered by some massive force.
Natasha Romanoff walked down the hallway in combat boots, heels clicking with cold echoes.
Her left arm held a stack of files; her right hand casually carried a deformed pistol.
It was the tool she had just used to "persuade" the former logistics chief to cooperate with the investigation.
"Target No. 47 confirmed deceased." A voice came through her earpiece, accompanied by painful groans in the background.
"West Wing cleared."
"Copy."
Natasha pushed open the command center doors. Coulson stood at the holographic sandbox.
"Casualty report?" she asked.
"Twelve light injuries on our side. Zero fatalities." Coulson's finger swept across the projection; red Hydra markers were disappearing at visible speed.
"Enemy: 283 killed, 41 captured—including 5 Skrull impostors."
Natasha gave a light laugh and tossed the files onto the table: "More parasites in Finance than expected. Pierce alone embezzled 1.8 billion USD."
"He won't get to spend it now." Coulson pulled up a surveillance clip.
Former Director Alexander Pierce, attempting to flee, was pinned to a helicopter door by one of Hawkeye's arrows. His body plunged into the East River with the out-of-control aircraft.
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