Chapter 29: You can go, I don't kill women…
The HYDRA Base is located deep within the Western Greater Caucasus Mountains.
Rewind half an hour ago…
Baron Strucker, escorted by Base Chief Jilade and numerous Hydra Soldiers, strode quickly towards the helipad, where a helicopter had been waiting for a long time.
Originally, he had intended to wait there for the final capture results.
However, Dr. Fritz suddenly called midway, saying that the Living Dead Project had made significant progress, which forced Baron Strucker to change his itinerary at the last minute.
Before boarding, Baron Strucker specifically called Jilade over and instructed him:
"If this capture operation is obstructed, or if communication is lost for more than an hour, then immediately evacuate this Base with your men."
"I have a bad feeling… if the operation fails, Experiment Subject No. 380 will very likely find this Base!!"
However.
Although Jilade solemnly agreed in person.
In reality, he didn't take the other party's words seriously at all.
What a joke, how could this operation possibly fail?
What could that kid, who had only gained superpowers a few days ago, use to fight against a hunt by 6 Mutants?
His life?!
And even if the capture failed, there's no need to evacuate the Base, right?
Even the guys from S.H.I.E.L.D. can't find this place, so how could that kid possibly find it?
Is it necessary to make such a big fuss?
Jilade thought this way partly out of disdain for Karl.
On the other hand, it was because he had painstakingly managed this Base for over a decade, so how could he just abandon it?
The most crucial point was.
If he left here, how could he continue to be the Base Chief?
Thus, after Baron Strucker left the Base.
He reverted to his usual demeanor, like an uncrowned king.
While letting his little secretary perform her talents of blowing, pulling, playing, and singing under the table, he waited for the results of the capture.
Time passed by little by little.
Even when the capture team had been out of contact for nearly 2 hours, he didn't realize that danger was imminent.
Finally, just before the Sun was about to set.
On the yellowish horizon, a ball of light, like a golden meteor, sped towards them.
Carrying immense and terrifying power, it heavily smashed into the Base.
Boom…!!!
The huge impact was like a nuclear explosion.
The turbulent energy stirred up swept in all directions like a raging flood.
Buildings near the center collapsed with a crash.
Dozens of helicopters on the helipad instantly exploded.
Soldiers on duty in nearby guard posts, as well as those scattered on the training ground undergoing drills, directly burst into crimson blood mist, vanishing in the chaotic flow.
The ground of the entire Base trembled violently.
"Enemy attack, enemy attack…"
After a brief moment of shock, someone finally sounded the alarm.
However.
When teams of fully armed Hydra Soldiers rushed out of the passage.
What greeted them was a pair of deathly eyes shimmering with destructive light!!
[Detected collectible souls, Warp soul count +1, +1, +1…]
"It's over, it's all over now…"
Watching the extremely bloody slaughter scene on the screen, Jilade was instantly distraught.
He deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping limply into his chair.
He never expected that Baron Strucker's words would come true.
This damned Experiment Subject No. 380 really found this Base.
… … … …
… …
Crash…!!!
A soft sound of shattering glass suddenly came from above the Base building, along with a man's desperate wail.
Bang…!!!
Jilade slammed heavily onto the ground headfirst.
His fractured and deformed skull, along with his neck, was instantly crushed into his chest cavity.
And in the office from which he was thrown.
Karl was sitting grandly on the sofa, frowning and deep in thought.
"Sir… Sir, your whiskey."
The little secretary, still shaken, tried to steady her trembling hands as she placed the glass in front of Karl, cautiously probing:
"Excuse me, can I leave now? If you need service, I can help you…"
"You can go, I don't kill women!"
Karl said without lifting his head.
The little secretary immediately felt as if she had been granted a great pardon.
However, when she turned around, a look of resolute venom flashed across her previously pitiful face.
Heh heh, confident men are just like this, always soft-hearted towards women!
Doesn't he know that Hydra's warriors, regardless of gender, are all fearless of death?
But since this guy's strength is already so great that ordinary attacks can't harm him in the slightest.
Then now, there's only one choice: to perish together with him!
As long as the armory beneath the Base is detonated.
The massive amount of ammunition stored inside is enough to instantly reduce the entire Base to ashes.
I refuse to believe that under an explosion of that TNT equivalent, this guy can remain unharmed?!
This powerful enemy threatening the organization, let me end him today…
Hail HYDRA!!!
However.
Just as the woman had barely stepped one foot out of the office door.
A laser beam suddenly flashed behind her, directly splitting her body in half.
[Detected collectible souls, Warp soul count +1]
"Heh heh, women…"
Karl's lips curled into a cold smile, not taking this small interlude to heart.
Instead, he continued to frown and ponder the previous question.
"Was Baron Strucker's departure really just a coincidence?"
Previously, Karl had already used his Mind Perception ability to retrieve the scene of Baron Strucker's departure from Jilade's memory.
Although it seemed normal.
What truly bothered him was the conversation the other party had before leaving.
Was it a mere coincidence?
Or did someone warn Baron Strucker during that phone call?
Karl thought about it and still felt that the former was more likely.
Because judging from the time, this call was made half an hour before the battle began.
This basically ruled out the possibility of someone tipping him off.
Unless the other party possessed precognitive superpowers…
But during his search through Jilade's memory, Karl did not find the existence of such Mutants or superpowered individuals.
Of course!
It's also possible that this guy's rank was too low to know about the existence of these people.
However, under normal circumstances, if Baron Strucker had known the outcome in advance, he would most likely have ordered his subordinates to urgently evacuate the personnel and important supplies from this Base before leaving.
After all, the fall of every Base is an extremely significant loss for Hydra.
It's impossible not to feel the pain.
"Alright, you got away this time!"
Although he failed to eliminate Baron Strucker as he wished.
Karl believed that with this painful lesson, Hydra would not dare to target him again for a short period.
Moreover, as long as Zemo's United Nations meeting could proceed smoothly.
Then, whether it was S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers, they would both be sure to keep a close eye on Hydra's movements.
Let them fight among themselves first!!!