A New Plan

The factory on the outskirts of Sokovia sat amid towering mountains. The country itself was surrounded by endless ranges, with a pleasant climate and beautiful scenery, untouched by cold currents. If its economy were developed enough and its infrastructure complete, it would have been an excellent vacation destination.

Sean watched Pietro stride excitedly through the doors of the medical room. Rumor had it that every worker who passed the physical examination and tests could receive a generous reward of no less than three thousand dollars. That was nearly half a year’s household expenses for an ordinary family. No wonder those selected were so thrilled; they might not earn that much even after working overtime at the factory for an entire year.

Sean did not care much about that. He was more interested in the factory’s true owner. Eastern Europe could be considered one of Hydra’s strongholds. A high-ranking figure named Baron Strucker had entrenched himself here, infiltrating every level of power and weaving an intricate network. In the original timeline, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch had both been among his proudest creations.

The Baron’s real name was Wolfgang von Strucker. Born in Bavaria, Germany, his father had been a key member of the Nazi Party during the last century. He later joined Hydra himself and gradually climbed into its upper ranks.

As he read the long string of information that surfaced in his mind, Sean’s lips curved slightly. He seemed to have quite an affinity with Hydra. During his last trip to Tokyo, Japan, he had encountered Viper and obtained the Progenitor Virus and ghouls. This time, he had run into Strucker. He wondered what good things the man would contribute.

After some time, Pietro emerged happily, clutching a pale yellow slip of paper about three inches wide and five inches long. He could take it to the accountant later to settle up and collect a handsome reward.

He gestured at Sean, urging him to get it over with quickly. This guy his sister had picked up looked tall and sturdy, with deep-set features and no hint of frailty. Passing the physical examination should not have been difficult for him.

The young man shrugged and strolled into the medical room. The spacious chamber was filled with all kinds of large instruments. After undergoing the standard physical examination, volunteers would be led into separate rooms and placed inside a machine resembling an MRI scanner. Blue light swept back and forth over them, followed by the final step of collecting blood samples.

The complicated process would take around twenty minutes. Sean naturally had no patience for it. A glint flashed in his eyes, and invisible ripples spread outward. Everyone present became like marionettes, abruptly freezing in place.

"Using mental stimulation to awaken the human body’s potential… This seems to coincide with Ajax’s method of creating Deadpool."

Sean searched through the memories of the doctor in charge. This primitive method of enhancement had an abysmally low success rate and required subjects with exceptional mental strength. Even after years of research, Baron Strucker had made no major breakthroughs.

In Sean’s eyes, it might not even compare to Viper’s Progenitor Virus. The only thing of value was probably the "perfect machine" Baron Strucker had created, one capable of granting others powers. To that end, he had even formed a special unit called Satan’s Claw.

The Baron’s proudest creation was a former boxer named Carl Creel. The machine had granted her the formidable ability to transform matter. Anything she touched could be converted through her body. This was likely one of Strucker’s few notable achievements.

"Sokovia, Latveria, Bucharest… Perhaps before long, my footsteps will cover all of Eastern Europe."

Sean chuckled softly. Thinking of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s eventual collapse and Hydra waiting to make its move, a plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Thanos had returned in defeat and suffered severe injuries. It would probably be a long time before he could make a comeback. Before then, the obstacles in Sean’s path were naturally S.H.I.E.L.D., controlled by Nick Fury, and the Hydra lurking in the shadows.

"Taking care of them all at once doesn’t sound bad." Sean made up his mind.

He would let these old enemies from the last century fight each other, then crush and wipe them out in one stroke when the time was right.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters beside the Potomac River, the Black director sneezed. He rubbed his nose, a trace of confusion crossing his single eye. With his physical condition, it should have been impossible for him to catch a cold.

Nick Fury had been suffering from headaches lately. Asgard’s sudden emergence had caused a worldwide sensation. S.H.I.E.L.D. could no longer suppress news of the supernatural, especially under the World Security Council’s constant pressure. He had no choice but to agree to share information and open part of the core database.

Fury had long vaguely sensed an undercurrent hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D., which was why he had imposed strict rank divisions and complex authority protocols. Yet under the World Security Council’s forceful orders, he could only comply. It was no different from inviting wolves into the house and trapping himself in his own cocoon.

Fury had no way to explain it. He could hardly say that a group of Nazi remnants had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. Besides, Asgard’s exposure brought both benefits and drawbacks. While surrendering some authority, he had also gained more funding and broader powers. It could be considered a blessing in disguise.

What truly kept Fury on guard, however, was the Sentry who had appeared in Asgard. Judging by the power the man had displayed, even if Bruce Banner transformed, he might not be a match for him. That level of destructive force had already exceeded S.H.I.E.L.D.’s ability to handle.

The Black director could not help considering whether he should put some effort into recruiting the Sentry, ideally using every possible means to make him willingly join the Avengers and become one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top combat assets.

This man, who could be called the most dangerous person on Earth, came and went without a trace. So far, he had only appeared a few times: he dealt with Venom and Sandman when they attacked Spider-Man, briefly fought Asgard’s Destroyer armor in a small town in New Mexico, and encountered Hulk in Brooklyn, New York.

As for the sensational battle in Asgard, it had made the Sentry’s name known throughout the world. He had become a Superhero more famous than Iron Man and the Fantastic Four, and countless people were curious about his true identity.

"Who exactly are you?" A sharp light flickered in Fury’s single eye.

He had listed finding the Sentry’s identity as his top priority, but for the moment, it had to be set aside. Who knew whether the man was even still on Earth? The next matter was reaching a partnership with Umbrella. He was very interested in Sean Sipes’s Mutant army and the Human Enhancement Serum.

Although he had previously had some unpleasant dealings with that New York genius, Fury believed Sean would not reject the goodwill S.H.I.E.L.D. was offering. As a veteran agent, swallowing one’s pride after being humiliated was merely a basic professional quality.

Nick Fury had already made several phone calls. Such eagerness in extending an olive branch had probably only ever been shown toward Tony Stark, which was enough to demonstrate his sincerity.

Yet unexpectedly, Sean Sipes had left New York long ago and gone on an expedition to the Arctic. According to the information gathered, he had indeed led a scientific expedition team into the Arctic Circle along the route of the Franklin expedition.

Both matters could only be put aside for now. Fury let out a long breath and stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the ever-flowing Potomac River as a shadow of worry settled over his heart.

The world was changing too quickly. The disputes and conflicts that had once existed between nations now showed signs of escalating into wars between planets and civilizations. When he had taken over as S.H.I.E.L.D. director from Alexander Pierce, he had been full of ambition, determined to build this special department into a vast global organization.

Later, its name had officially changed from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division to S.H.I.E.L.D., meaning a sturdy shield that protected the world and preserved peace.

"This world…"

Fury rarely allowed himself such sentiment. As a top agent who never easily gave his trust, he could only bury his loneliness deep inside. Even to trusted subordinates like Coulson and Natasha, he would never speak of it.

The mistakes he had made in the past, and the enormous crises they had caused, constantly reminded Fury that even secrets locked inside his mind were not necessarily absolutely safe.

The Black director touched his eyepatch. His blinded eye ached faintly, and a slight smile appeared on his dark face. He looked forward to the return of a certain hero, even if the world had already forgotten her.