Hydra Reappears in the Jianghu (Fifth Update, 800 Monthly Votes Bonus Update, Seeking Full Subscription!!!)

Buzz!

An extremely imposing Kwon Fighter Jet appeared directly above the ammunition depot of the New Jersey military base, then landed steadily on the open ground in front of it.

Click, whirr!

The alert soldiers outside were transmitting the situation outside to the Army Captain underground, while a second lieutenant led a squad of soldiers to surround the Kwon Fighter Jet, aiming their weapons at it.

The hatch opened.

Victoria Hand, Natasha Romanov, and Clinton Barton emerged from the Kwon Fighter Jet.

"Halt!"

"S.H.I.E.L.D."

"…What the hell?"

The Army Second Lieutenant frowned upon hearing Commander Victoria Hand announce her affiliation, then an order to allow passage came through his earpiece from the Army Captain. Seeing this, the second lieutenant glanced at Victoria Hand and the other two, then directed his soldiers to lower their weapons.

Deep underground in the ammunition depot.

Tony Stark sat in the spot where the corpse had originally been, staring expressionlessly at the old computer that was being restarted.

At the same time, a question arose in Tony’s mind once more.

It was nothing else.

This computer console in front of him was produced by his Stark Industries. After all, Tony wouldn’t forget his own company’s logo. Without a doubt, this was probably another secret of his father, Howard Stark.

Soon.

A line of text appeared on the computer screen.

"Initiate system?"

"Initiate!"

Tony Stark typed, then pressed Enter. The massive mainframe, occupying two-thirds of the warehouse, began to hum with a sound like a mining operation.

Soon.

A voice emerged from the computer.

A male voice.

"Tony Stark, born May 29, 1970."

"Jack Mellen, born March 15, 1972."

"Sheridan Steven, born October 12, 1980."

"…"

Tony turned to look at Jack and the Army Captain behind him. The latter exchanged glances and nodded.

Jack frowned, "What is this? A recording?"

A human silhouette composed entirely of data appeared on the computer screen: "I am not a recording. I am Dr. Arnim Zola, Operations Director for the Department of Homeland Security, Jack Mellen."

Tony frowned slightly.

Arnim Zola?

That name sounded familiar. Who was it?

Just then.

Ms. Victoria Hand emerged from the elevator and said, "Arnim Zola, a Swiss scientist and the first genetic engineer, recruited by the Führer to fulfill his dream of a master race. Captured by Captain America, Steve Rogers, in 1945."

Tony and the other two turned to look.

Arnim Zola, who had parasitized himself into the computer, also revealed the birthdates of Ms. Victoria Hand, Natasha Romanov, and Clinton Barton.

Black Widow Natasha Romanov’s birthdate shocked Tony and the others.

Natasha Alianovna Romanov, born in 1928!

1928?

That must be a mistake.

Natasha, however, remained silent, only frowning, seemingly confirming her birth year in some way.

Victoria Hand looked at Tony Stark, who was staring at her, and then around the surroundings. "This is where our S.H.I.E.L.D. was born. Your father, Howard Stark, is also one of the founders of the current S.H.I.E.L.D., and previously, the Strategic Scientific Reserve."

Tony frowned, "Strategic Scientific Reserve?"

Ms. Victoria Hand did not intend to answer Tony’s question further, but instead looked directly at the electronic silhouette on the computer screen. "Dr. Zola, I recall you are already…"

"Dead?"

Dr. Zola, who had parasitized himself into the computer, directly stated, "Yes, physically, I am dead. In 1972, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Science could no longer save my body, but my consciousness had to be preserved. So, with Howard Stark’s help, I preserved myself within this two-million-unit database."

"My father?"

Tony said in a deep voice, "How is that possible?"

Victoria Hand said solemnly, "Operation Paperclip."

Operation Paperclip, also known as Operation Paperclip East-West, was a program during World War II where the Federation recruited scientists from the Third Reich. S.H.I.E.L.D. later recruited German scientists with strategic value.

But…

Victoria Hand stared blankly at the computer screen. "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s database has no record of you being alive, not like this."

Dr. Zola seemed to know but said nothing. "Yes, after I achieved immortality through my collaboration with Stark, Stark and Ms. Peggy kept it quiet to prevent leaks. I’ve been helping manage all the data here. By the way, Tony Stark, you should know about my existence."

Tony said gravely, "Are you the hacker who blacked out the satellites and military bases?"

Jarvis.

Although Tony wanted to say he personally created Jarvis, the inspiration came from a manuscript he found while sorting through Howard Stark’s belongings. That’s how he was able to create Jarvis.

Dr. Zola was also right in saying this, as the existence of that manuscript was enough to prove that Howard Stark had already conducted similar research.

Dr. Zola continued to answer everything.

"Yes, I attacked your network."

"Why?"

"Daniel Whitehall!"

"…Who is that?"

"Perhaps you’d be more familiar with his original name, Werner Reinhardt!"

"…"

Victoria Hand said gravely, "Werner Reinhardt was one of the leaders of Hydra. In 1945, Ms. Peggy Carter, along with Captain Rogers’ Howling Commandos, captured the then-fugitive Werner Reinhardt and sentenced him to life imprisonment. In the late 1980s, Werner Reinhardt fell gravely ill in prison. Former Director Alexander Pierce consulted the World Security Council, and Werner Reinhardt was granted special permission to seek medical treatment abroad. However, he died on the operating table."

Dr. Zola said, "Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place. Werner Reinhardt didn’t die of illness; he used that opportunity to escape."

Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place!

Hydra.

Hydra wasn’t destroyed and still existed?

Dr. Zola said, "After Werner Reinhardt escaped, he changed his name to Daniel Whitehall. For years, he’s been secretly hiding in Europe and the Federation, accumulating strength for Hydra to rise again."

Tony didn’t care about Hydra or not.

Tony only cared about one thing: "My parents’ car accident…"

Dr. Zola said, "Bucky Barnes was indeed recruited by Daniel Whitehall, but the assassination of Howard Stark and Maria Stark was a Red Room plan. With the help of Stark Industries, the Federation’s military power was about to surpass the Soviet Union’s, so they had to act. As for Bucky Barnes, Daniel Whitehall valued his talent, but he never expected that after that clone died, you would suddenly realize it wasn’t the real Bucky Barnes."

Victoria Hand stated, "Then you…"

Dr. Zola said again, "After this base was shut down, I was forgotten. But Daniel Whitehall wasn’t. He sent people here and controlled me, forcing me to work for him. If I didn’t comply, he would shut me down completely."

Tony and the others looked at the suicide victim nearby.

Clearly.

This corpse also seemed to corroborate Dr. Zola’s testimony.

"Where is Bucky Barnes now?"

"Where is Werner Reinhardt now?"

Tony glanced at Victoria Hand, who spoke at the same time as him.

Dr. Zola said, "A little over a month ago, Daniel Whitehall learned that Lake Edwin intended to reopen the case of the Howard Stark couple. So, to prevent him from being discovered, he devised a plan hoping to catch both Lake Edwin and Tony Stark in one fell swoop."

"The attack on Lake Edwin just now?"

"Yes."

Dr. Zola said, "To prevent interference from Lake Edwin’s friend, the assassin known as the Black King, Daniel Whitehall transferred one-third of his assets to the Black King. In exchange, the Black King would cancel his protection over Lake Edwin."

Tony seemed to recall something. "A month ago, the news about the Immortal Consortium’s merger in Europe… were those two groups Daniel Whitehall’s?"

Just then.

Not far away, a homeland agent who was inspecting the massive mainframe here opened a cover. Upon seeing something inside, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he stood up. "There’s a bomb!"

Tony and the others immediately turned to look.

Another homeland agent, who was also disassembling the casing, saw an additional bomb that had appeared, still counting down from one minute, and quickly reported it.

Everyone was shocked.

Shit.

This was also a trap.

Targeted at Tony Stark.

Jack quickly regained his composure, yelled at the homeland agents, then pulled Tony Stark over and hurried to take Tony Stark away.

The Army Captain and the three S.H.I.E.L.D. agents followed closely behind.

In the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed, Dr. Zola’s words continued, "If you want to find Werner Reinhardt, you need to hurry. His plan didn’t anticipate Lake Edwin being so tough. If you don’t catch him this time, then…"

The elevator doors closed.

Bzzzt!

Twenty seconds later.

The elevator doors opened.

Jack and Tony Stark rushed out of the elevator and quickly ran towards the armory exit, with everyone else following closely behind.

The moment Jack and Tony Stark ran out of the armory.

Boom!

The ground trembled instantly, and then, the ground beneath their feet felt like an earthquake during a volcanic eruption.

Rumble!

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