Under the ruins, Steve and Natasha departed. The S.H.I.E.L.D. strike team that came to search found nothing and could only announce their withdrawal.
Steve escaped with Natasha, and they left Washington. Compared to the ease and comfort of their last departure, they were obviously much heavier this time. After learning that HYDRA still existed, they didn't even know who to turn to for support.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was no longer reliable; they needed outside help.
"I know someone, maybe we can go there."
After Steve said this, he noticed Natasha was preoccupied and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just..." Natasha's mind churned with Zola's final words, "Tell me, who could kill him?"
"John?" Steve knew who she was talking about. Wiping the dust from his face, he also pondered, "The dreamless one, what is that?"
Zola's words were questionable. Having witnessed John's power, Steve deeply doubted whether anyone could kill him.
"I'm more concerned about why Zola knows John," Natasha looked up. "They shouldn't have any connection. John is a wizard."
"Maybe the wizards also have networks," Steve frowned. "His father is Watson Wick. It's not impossible for Zola to pay attention to him."
Although Steve's reasoning made sense, Natasha's concerns weren't diminished at all. She really couldn't understand why John, someone who attended a magic school, would be mentioned by name by Zola.
More importantly, Zola said the entire Wick family was a threat. Ariana was attacked. The Wick couple was assassinated. But the one targeting John had never shown up.
Whether it was Kingpin or Killian, their target was never John, but Watson Wick and his assets and influence. John was just someone who got actively involved. Why?
Zola was confident, and HYDRA had already planned different murders at different times. When exactly would the third time be?
"Knock knock."
A knock sounded at the door. Their temporary host, Steve's jogging partner Sam, walked in. He had returned from his morning run to encounter these two, who had been high-spirited the day before yesterday but were now disheveled today.
Sam obviously wouldn't be HYDRA. But looking at two Avengers who had torn apart aliens in New York with their bare hands, he sincerely asked, "You guys eat normal food, right?"
Now wasn't the time to worry about John's issues. Natasha pulled her thoughts back. They had a more pressing matter. What was HYDRA's plan? Who were the HYDRA agents?
The missile fired at them had already pointed to the biggest one. Alexander Pierce—only he could launch a highly destructive missile domestically. And this HYDRA agent was sitting in the world's most secure building.
Direct assault wasn't wise. They weren't Thor and Hulk; they couldn't just blow up the building and drag people out. So they'd change direction. Alexander's helper.
They focused on the only official who had been on the Lemurian Star at the time: Jasper Sitwell. Yes, that bald guy with glasses.
"So the question is, how do Washington's most wanted fugitives kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. official?" Steve frowned.
Having two fugitives capture a S.H.I.E.L.D. official on the street wasn't easy.
"No need for kidnapping."
Sam knew it was his time to step up. He walked forward confidently and placed a file on the table. As an ace pilot, he volunteered himself. Come on, working with Captain America was super cool. Ace pilot requesting deployment!
After seeing the materials, even the battle-hardened agent Natasha was impressed by this resume. Sam crossed his arms, trying hard to suppress his smile.
Steve looked at the materials, still somewhat hesitant.
Sam shrugged, "Captain America asking for my help is enough."
Steve finally agreed. He let Sam participate in this battle against HYDRA that spanned seventy years.
MOSS was blocked. John had MOSS retain part of the network. He put away his phone, and Martha was brought back to the manor.
Having never entered such a large manor, Martha opened her mouth wide and asked with an uncontrolled expression, "Is this Downton Abbey?"
"If they filmed here, then yes."
John waved his hand, and the blooming flowers parted. Vines wound around the manor buildings, with roses growing in large patches. The moonlight gradually faded.
Martha looked around the manor here and there. She tentatively touched a vine, which gently rubbed against her palm. Martha laughed, but then her laughter turned into cries for help. The vines tied her up completely and hung her upside down.
John had the vines release her, and Martha didn't dare touch anything randomly anymore, obediently following behind John.
Instead of going to the main hall, John led her into the garden laboratory. The lifelike dragon sculpture made Martha's heart race with fear. She carefully walked inside, wondering what the crystal cover in the middle was for.
Standing next to the dragon statue, she heard a series of mournful wails.
"What is that?"
Martha hurriedly moved away, pointing there with a pale face.
"Oh? There are still Dementors left here?"
John said in surprise, "It seems they've recovered quite a bit after all these years of rest and recuperation."
He waved his hand and said casually to the frightened Martha, "Just some Dementors that suck out souls and devour happiness. Don't mind them."
Suck out souls? Devour happiness? Do you want to listen to what you're saying?
Martha didn't think these had anything to do with being harmless.
"Take off your coat and lie down."
John pointed his wand, and a bed appeared. Rolling up his sleeves, John somewhat clumsily picked up a syringe.
"What are you going to do?" Although she asked this, Martha's body honestly lay down.
John raised an eyebrow and said, "You carry a vampire curse, but vampire curses are somewhat different."
He tapped the magic-inhibiting blood he had brought back and said, "Since magic can't affect this thing, it also has a suppressive effect on curses."
"Wait, you're going to inject that blood into my body?" Martha couldn't sit still. She quickly said, "Different blood types can't be mixed together!"
"That's for humans," John said flatly. "You're a vampire now."
A needle pierced Martha's arm. John didn't inject too much. The blood entered Martha's body, and the vampire curse reacted as if facing a great enemy. Martha's body began to convulse, white foam coming from the corners of her mouth.
Using bandages to tie her up securely, John took out his pocket watch and looked at it.
"Reaction begins after three minutes."
Martha looked very bad. John opened his tool bag. He selected a silver scalpel from inside and cut open Martha's other arm. Blood flowed out.
"Not just a curse, but also a virus."
After analyzing the blood, the virus and curse maintained a delicate balance.