Our negotiations failed!"
In a dimly lit room, James McCullen, dressed in a suit, was whispering to someone on the phone in the corner.
"Your plan is too naive, Rex. Don't think your invention is the best. If it were, why have we continuously failed our bids?" James McCullen said with a displeased expression.
"My technology is naturally the most advanced. Think about the guards around you, Mr. McCullen. The Cobra Guard is enough to contend with any soldier in the world. Captain America is no match!" A furious male voice came from the other end of the phone, though his voice was quite hoarse, accompanied by a sound like a whirring fan.
"But the Titans haven't even given us a proper look. The representatives I sent to negotiate were even set up by them! These damn guys!"
"That's still your fault. Why was it a Frenchman? You know, from an American perspective, you Frenchmen are really pathetic. America won both World Wars!" The voice on the other end of the phone made no attempt to hide the smugness in his tone.
"America won?" James McCullen looked as if to say, 'Are you kidding me?'
"Many Americans think that way, my boss. Since 1949, Europe's resurgence has been provided by Americans, and what you're doing now is trying to break Americans' rice bowls. Moreover, Mr. McCullen, are you really just inviting that Fisher to Europe to discuss cooperation?"
"No, I want to become good brothers with him so he'll obediently hand over his company's assets to me. He's just the first step. There's also that Tony Stark!" McCullen said fiercely.
"That will be a magnificent sight!"
"Exactly! And it's all thanks to your nanobots!" McCullen's laughter was incredibly arrogant at this moment, as if he had already taken control of the entire world.
"Then I wish you success, Mr. McCullen!"
... "McCullen, an arrogant idiot!"
James McCullen never imagined that his most trusted chief science officer would have such an evaluation of him after their phone call.
And what he never imagined even more was that after their communication ended, his most trusted science officer made another call.
"Officer Pierce! I have something to report to you!"
"Didn't I say not to call this number unless it's important? Is the line secure?" the man named Pierce said unhurriedly.
"Secure. This entire base is under my command. McCullen knows nothing about anything that happens here!"
"Good. What's so urgent that you've come to me?"
"James McCullen wants to organize an international arms dealer gathering, and then at the meeting, round up all those guys and control them with nanobots!"
"Uh, this plan, it's a bit interesting!" Pierce on the other end of the phone suddenly felt Rex's words piqued his interest slightly.
"So, in your opinion, is there any possibility of this plan succeeding?"
"Ordinary arms dealers shouldn't be a problem, but the top-tier ones, it's difficult. Their security teams are no pushovers!"
"Not even your Cobra Commando?"
"Cobra Commando, with all due respect, Officer Pierce, if you're hoping nanobots can create super soldiers like Captain America, you might as well hope he comes back to life to give you blood samples. Nanobots strengthen their bodies, but they can't strengthen their minds. Moreover, after donning thick exoskeleton armor, they're more like super cannon fodder!"
"Is there no way to improve it?"
"No, I still need more research. After all, in this field, I'm just getting started!"
"Alright. By the way, Rex, what do you think of the exoskeleton armor introduced by Titan Company?"
"Low cost, low technical content, but conducive to large-scale manufacturing!" Rex thought about Titan's production capacity he had once learned about, "If they were to arm the entire US military, Titan would only need eight months to complete all the orders!"
"So, we underestimated Titan Company before?"
"It can be said that Titan currently has a tendency to surpass Stark Industries. After all, Stark Industries has now closed its weapons research department, and Titan's boss, as far as I know, is very aggressive. His private army has been deployed to over twenty countries, and the total military scale is even stronger than some major European countries!"
"I understand. You continue your work. We still need James McCullen as a front for us. The organization will not forget your contributions!"
"I understand, hail Hydra!"
"Hail Hydra!"
Fisher himself never dreamed that because of an exoskeleton, he had already entered the sights of the notorious Hydra, and it was the most powerful branch operating within the American government: Alexander Pierce, former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and one of the high-ranking members of the World Security Council. This big shot can be said to have made great contributions to America. He fought in the Vietnam War in his early years and later served as the director of the CIA. Well, Nick Fury also served as the director of the CIA, which must be an internal rule of S.H.I.E.L.D.
This faction of Hydra, led by Pierce, was largely formed by converting local American forces. It included many US military generals, politicians, and business magnates. However, they usually maintained a clear distance from the American financial groups. Now, their interest in the technology Fisher possessed was mainly due to Tony Stark's Middle East show.
However, due to Fisher's identity, Pierce did not dare to forcibly seize his technology and could only try to recruit Fisher into his own camp.
But before pulling Fisher into the fray, Pierce felt it was necessary to carefully consider the opponent's strength.
Thinking of this, he immediately took out his satellite phone and called someone he really didn't want to see.
Sokovia. No one would have thought that this tiny, palm-sized country was the territory of Baron Strucker, another branch of Hydra. The relationship between Strucker and Alexander Pierce was not harmonious, but out of their shared affiliation with Hydra, they would still engage in some cooperation. A major reason Pierce called him was that Strucker still controlled most of Sokovia's government personnel. The intense internal armed conflicts in Sokovia were also largely due to Strucker's instigation, as it's easier to find cannon fodder and test subjects during times of chaos.
I'm home, first update. There will be another update before 12 o'clock. Starting today, I'm unemployed, boohoohoo.