Advance Attack

"Huh?"

The movie news on the tablet left Wanda dumbfounded. She asked Wang Bert, "What’s this movie about?"

"Isn’t it obvious? It’s riding the hype. Don’t be so surprised. It’s from one of my companies and was released on Xandar half a year ago."

Wang Bert smiled. "The Blood God’s popularity is skyrocketing right now, so we’re taking the chance to rake in some box office revenue on Earth. Xandar Battle is high-quality, and a lot of it uses real battle footage. It might even break box office records."

"Riding the hype?"

Wanda was speechless. "Blood God, it’s not like you need money, right? You’re the richest man in the world. Also, won’t this expose your identity?"

"Is there some conflict between not needing money and making money?"

Wang Bert smiled. "As for my identity being exposed, do you really think I need to care? I hide my identity because I want to keep a low profile, not because I can’t show my face.

"Besides, this movie’s release won’t have much impact. A movie is just a movie, after all."

Wanda suddenly understood. Then she thought of something and complained, "When have you ever kept a low profile? You’re just afraid it’ll interfere with your womanizing, aren’t you?"

Wang Bert wrapped an arm around Wanda’s waist, returned to his original face, and said with a smile, "Right now, I’m only chasing you."

Wang Bert was too close. Wanda could even smell his scent, and her heart instantly fell into chaos as her whole face flushed red. Seeing this, Wang Bert was about to do something when he suddenly sensed the situation outside and immediately changed back into Quicksilver’s face.

A moment later, Baron Strucker opened the door and walked in. When he saw the scene inside, he froze in shock, then backed out and shut the door. "Sorry for interrupting."

"Interrupting?"

Wanda blanked out for a moment before realizing what he meant. Her face burning red, she hurriedly pushed Wang Bert away. Wang Bert said disdainfully, "That guy’s mind is filthy. We’re brother and sister."

Wanda glared at Wang Bert through gritted teeth. How was she supposed to face anyone after this?

A short while later, Baron Strucker opened the door again. Seeing that they had composed themselves, he smiled. "The Mind Scepter is ready. Dr. List will break the qi in your bodies. Oh, and I support you two."

"Support us?"

Baron Strucker’s words left Wanda both embarrassed and furious. She hurriedly said, "Baron, you misunderstood."

"It’s fine. I’m looking forward to seeing your children."

Baron Strucker laughed heartily and shut the door as he left. He truly supported Wanda and Pietro being together. Their descendants would definitely be very powerful.

Seeing that explanations were useless, Wanda stomped her foot angrily. At the same time, her right hand reached for Wang Bert’s waist, pinched a piece of flesh, and twisted it hard.

"Damn it, why do all women know this move?"

Wang Bert sucked in a cold breath. Of course, he was only pretending. He said, "All right, don’t be angry. Let’s go meet the Mind Scepter. There’s something wrong with it. Figuring it out is my second objective for infiltrating this place."

Wanda asked, "Second objective? What’s the first?"

"Didn’t I already say it? To protect you."

Wang Bert took Wanda’s hand as he spoke. Wanda snorted, but inwardly, she was delighted. Women would always be creatures of hearing.

Seeing Wanda and Pietro walk over hand in hand, Baron Strucker’s smile grew even broader. He motioned for them to sit in chairs, then had Dr. List begin.

Dr. List was Baron Strucker’s partner and the chief scientist of the Hydra Base. Without wasting words, he activated the Mind Scepter with an instrument. A large amount of pale yellow energy enveloped the two of them, then burrowed into their bodies.

Aah! Wang Bert and Wanda cried out in pain at the same time. The instrument showed that a strange energy within their bodies had been activated. Using their bodies as a battlefield, it desperately resisted the Mind Energy.

"That should be qi."

Dr. List said, "This energy is remarkable. Baron, can you capture someone with qi for me to study? Perhaps you and I can use this energy as well."

"We can use it too?"

Baron Strucker’s eyes lit up. "I’ll definitely capture a few for you to study. By the way, can the Mind Energy break the qi in their bodies?"

"There’s no problem."

Dr. List glanced at the two screaming people and said, "The qi in their bodies is rootless water. It will run out sooner or later, while Mind Energy is inexhaustible.

"However, it may take some time. I’m afraid of hurting them, so I haven’t fully activated the Mind Energy."

Baron Strucker smiled. "That’s only right. They’re our treasures. Nothing can happen to them."

After a while, Wang Bert and Wanda’s screams gradually subsided. This was not because the qi in their bodies had been defeated, but because they had gradually adapted to the pain—actually, they were tired of screaming and needed a break.

"Very good."

Seeing that the two of them could endure it now, Baron Strucker nodded in satisfaction. At that moment, a Hydra agent came to report that the Grand Elder and Rumlow had arrived.

Baron Strucker left the matter to Dr. List and returned to his office. When the Grand Elder, Annie, saw him, she got straight to the point. "Baron Strucker, thank you for your hospitality. The Demon King is about to be born, and I must go to New York to purify him."

Baron Strucker said, "Grand Elder, I’ll send you to New York. It’s a pity we didn’t capture the Blood God’s disciple, so we can’t exchange him for the divine artifact."

Rumlow secretly clenched his fists, filled with unwillingness, but he did not argue. A loss was a loss. There was nothing to explain.

"That can’t be helped."

The Grand Elder sighed. "There are many righteous people and Demon God Believers gathered in New York City now. With us added to the mix, we should be able to deal with the reincarnated Demon King."

"That won’t be enough, because S.W.O.R.D. will definitely step in to help. America’s higher-ups can’t stop them."

Baron Strucker said, "Fortunately, I have a plan that can work with you."

The Grand Elder asked curiously, "What plan?"

"The Inhumans Plan."

Baron Strucker looked at Rumlow and ordered, "Rumlow, once the Grand Elder attacks the hospital, lead the Inhumans in widespread destruction and slaughter across the world. Draw S.W.O.R.D.’s attention to your side."

Rumlow asked excitedly, "Can we do anything we want?"

Baron Strucker said coldly, "Anything. The more you kill, the better. It would be best if you caused major disasters that killed thousands."

"I guarantee the mission will be completed."

Rumlow saluted with immense excitement. Only pain could make those people understand how important order was.

The reason this world was so chaotic was because it lacked his education through pain.

"This…"

The Grand Elder hesitated before saying, "To eliminate the Demon King, this cannot be helped. Baron Strucker, thank you for your assistance."

"I’m not just helping you. I’m helping myself as well. We Hydra also don’t want the world to be destroyed."

Baron Strucker said. Hydra’s goal was to rule the world, not destroy it.

"Fine. I’ll make preparations and depart immediately."

The Grand Elder nodded and took her leave. Only Baron Strucker and Rumlow remained in the room.

Baron Strucker ordered, "When you create slaughter, remember to spread the message that Inhumans are superior to humans. Simply put, you need to disguise yourselves as Inhuman supremacists."

Rumlow did not understand. "What’s the point of that?"

"Of course there’s a point. It will make civilians hate Inhumans to the bone. When the time comes, that idiot will be able to gather more supporters."

Baron Strucker said, "The more supporters he has, the greater the scale of the Civil War will be. At the same time, ordinary people’s malice will help us recruit and subdue Inhumans. Even without the Demon King’s reincarnation, I had intended for you to do this."

Rumlow nodded. "I understand what to do."

Baron Strucker said, "Go prepare. This time, I’m giving you two hundred Inhumans. Rumlow, don’t disappoint me again."

"I will never disappoint you again. Hail Hydra!"

Rumlow saluted and withdrew. Baron Strucker thought of his plan and laughed smugly. This time, Hydra would never lose.

Before long, Hydra would rule the world, and he, Baron Strucker, would become king of the world.

The confident Baron Strucker did not know that after the Grand Elder left the Hydra Base, she immediately used Wang Bert’s channels to pass the news to Steve.

"The Inhumans Plan?"

Steve frowned deeply after receiving the intelligence. "This is troublesome. They have spatial abilities and can strike in multiple locations. We can’t stop them everywhere.

"With the destructive power of Inhumans and the current population density, a lot of people will die once they begin."

"Director, I think we should attack the Hydra Base early."

Skye said anxiously, "The Inhumans Plan will not only cause enormous casualties, it will also provoke ordinary people’s anger toward Inhumans. Humans and Inhumans will definitely split apart and may even become enemies. We have to stop it.

"Although the forces at the hospital can’t be deployed if we attack now, I don’t think it will be a problem. After all, we can catch them by surprise."

"Move ahead of schedule?"

Steve hesitated before saying, "There’s no real problem with our manpower, but Bert hasn’t finished investigating the Mind Scepter. He said there’s something seriously wrong with that scepter.

"Also, once we act, those Demon God Believers may take the opportunity to attack the hospital. We won’t be able to provide support at all, and may even have to tie up Strange.

"Without Strange, we can’t seal off the Hydra Base and wipe them all out in one stroke."

After a pause, Steve added, "Hydra and the Kree are both extremely dangerous. We can’t let even one of them go, or there will be endless trouble later. Especially the Kree—if they could bring in an Antimatter Bomb once, they can bring in another.

"Bert discovered it this time. Next time, we may not be so lucky.

"Also, Jarvis hasn’t finished upgrading yet. If we act now, Hydra may launch cyberattacks. Even an old relic like me knows how important the internet is."

Skye was left speechless by Steve’s reasoning. Irritated, she asked, "Then what do we do? We can’t just watch them carry out the Inhumans Plan, can we?"

Steve and Coulson both fell silent. This truly was difficult to handle.

At that moment, Tony Stark’s irritating voice suddenly sounded through the broadcast. "What’s so difficult about it? Attack directly and take down the Hydra Base as quickly as possible.

"As for my side, as long as you completely block news from Sokovia, those guys won’t launch an attack. They’ve been waiting for my son to be born.

"Strange doesn’t need to come over. Doom’s spatial seal is stronger than Strange’s.

"Finally, regarding the network, Jarvis, say hello to our Director Steve."

"Director Steve, Deputy Director Coulson, and Captain Skye, hello. I’m Jarvis, the butler of the irritating Tony Stark."

Jarvis’s voice rang out. Compared to before, it was clearly more human.

Tony shouted unhappily, "Hey, Jarvis, what do you mean by that?"

"I’m merely trying to get closer to them. According to psychology, insulting someone everyone dislikes makes it easier to build rapport."

Jarvis said, "According to statistics, you are the most irritating person in S.W.O.R.D."

Tony said angrily, "You’re using me as a stepping stone to get close to them? Do you even have any respect for your creator? And why are you even keeping statistics on that?"

"Of course I have respect for you. You’re my creator, and you definitely won’t dismantle me, so I can insult you as much as I want."

Jarvis answered honestly. It was worth mentioning that he retained the name Jarvis rather than becoming Vision—in the movies, the Jarvis program was heavily damaged and became another person after being "reborn," but in this world, Jarvis’s program remained completely intact.

Tony was speechless. Jarvis had clearly grown crooked.

"Jarvis, your attempt at building rapport worked very well. I think we’re friends now."

Steve smiled and asked, "Have you finished upgrading?"

"Yes, I’ve completed the upgrade. I’m currently heading to New York Hospital and preparing to teleport to your side."

Jarvis said, "I will help you defeat Hydra and the Supreme Intelligence. That is my mission."

"Excellent."

Steve was overjoyed. He said, "Coulson, have everyone prepare. Once I contact Bert, we move immediately and take down Hydra as fast as possible."

"Understood."

Coulson nodded and went with Skye to adjust their forces.

Steve said, "Tony, be careful on your end. If it really comes to it, have Strange teleport you to this battlefield."

"Relax, I’m not helpless either. I can handle a bunch of clowns."

Tony snorted. "Besides, they may not even act."

"All right. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly."

Steve nodded. Now it depended on when Bert contacted them.

At the Hydra Base, as the Mind Energy seeped into his body, Wang Bert gradually sensed a ripple of soul energy.

So you were hiding inside the Mind Stone? No wonder I could never find where you were.

Wang Bert snorted inwardly and sprinkled some mysterious soul powder over his Dragon Soul.

This mysterious powder was part of the Collector’s collection. It could conceal soul fluctuations and was very useful. Its only problem was that it did not last long, and there was only a small amount of it, enough for only a few uses.

"Qi?"

Supergiant did not notice Wang Bert’s small movement. She was analyzing the qi in Wang Bert’s body. This energy was extremely unusual. Not only could it seal Pietro and Wanda’s bodies, it could also resist Mind Energy. She had to understand it thoroughly, because the Blood God also had qi in his body.

When this battle reached its end, they would definitely have to face the Blood God.

After thinking it over, Supergiant pulled a small amount of qi back into the Mind Stone, intending to analyze it slowly. Sensing Supergiant’s movement, Wang Bert immediately used Pym Particles to shrink his Dragon Soul, then followed that small amount of qi into the Mind Stone.