Hydra’s Trail

Howard wanting to build a laboratory in the Savage Land was a good thing for Alex. The mutants’ experimental research capabilities desperately needed improvement, and with a genius engineer like Howard leading them, their technological level would certainly rise dramatically. The only pity was that Howard specialized in engineering and machinery and did not know much about biology.

With that in mind, Alex said, "Safe, absolutely safe. There’s nowhere safer in the world than here!" Seeing Howard’s eyes light up, Alex smiled and added, "I can agree to let you build a laboratory, but only you can—"

Before Alex could finish, Howard cut him off. "Of course it’ll just be me. I’m not used to having other people in my laboratory!"

"Let me finish, okay?" Alex rolled his eyes at Howard and continued, "I can set aside a laboratory for you at the school, entirely under your control."

Without giving Howard a chance to speak, Alex went on, "I only have one requirement: become a visiting professor at the school and teach our students when you have time."

Alex had heard Emma complain more than once that the school did not have enough teachers, and she had repeatedly tried to drag him in to make up the numbers. This was the perfect opportunity to add another teacher and keep Emma from nagging in his ear.

Howard hesitated for a long time. Pointing at the Floating Temple around them, filled with alien technology, he could not contain his excitement as he said with a slight tremor in his voice, "I can agree to your terms, but this place has to be open to me!"

"No problem, but any research results must be reported and shared immediately!" Alex had occupied the Floating Temple for quite some time, but due to a lack of genuine research talent, this alien technology had gone untouched. With Howard’s help, Alex naturally did not mind.

A few days later, an area of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters was sealed off as Howard’s private laboratory. Howard also emptied out his secret laboratory in New York, exhausting Alex for an entire day.

"Howard, why the hell did you hide so much stuff?!" Transporting people and moving things were not the same. Objects were dead weight; Alex had to lift them with his own Psionic Power before he could use Teleportation. After shuttling back and forth between New York and the Savage Land all day, carrying items weighing over a thousand pounds each time, Alex was so tired he was nearly cramping up.

Howard paid no attention to the exhausted Alex. He simply began inspecting everything that had been moved over, checking each box and every item with great care. "What do you know? These are all my treasures. Every single one of them could change the world!"

Alex had no time to listen to Howard’s nonsense. After resting for a while, he stood up, turned to look at Howard, who was still inspecting his things, shook his head, and called out, "Howard, don’t you dare go back on what you promised me!"

"Mm!" Howard was engrossed in counting his treasures, and he answered Alex absentmindedly. Then he quickly came to his senses and turned around. "Huh? What was that?"

"Teaching!" Alex was getting annoyed. He had already told Emma about this. If Howard dared to go back on his word, Alex would make him regret it!

Perhaps sensing the anger erupting from Alex, Howard did not dare brush him off any longer. He hurried over with a grin. "Isn’t it just teaching students? I remember! When do classes start?"

Seeing that Howard knew better, Alex let him off. But when he thought of Emma’s arrangements, he could not help giving a strange laugh. "It’s not much—two classes a week, two hours per class." Seeing Howard’s face darken, Alex continued, "Or four classes a week, one hour per class."

"What’s the difference?!" Howard glared furiously at Alex, but at this point he could hardly back out. He could only glare resentfully and agree. "Arrange it however you want! But let me make this clear: after class, no one is allowed to disturb me! And no one is allowed into my laboratory!"

"Don’t worry. No one will enter your laboratory!" Having settled Howard’s matter, Alex left in high spirits.

After leaving Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Alex thought for a moment and decided to find Nick Fury. Last time, Nick Fury had mentioned Bucky, but Carter’s sudden arrival had interrupted them. Alex still did not know the exact details.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, in Nick Fury’s office.

"Didn’t I tell you before that the fake Red Skull seized power and Strucker was driven into the science division?" After some joking around, Nick Fury finally got to the point. "We only learned this because of the chaos. It turns out Bucky had always been controlled by the science division, and he is still frozen by them now."

Seeing Alex frown in silence, Nick Fury chuckled and continued, "Oh, right. Hydra’s science division has officially split off and renamed itself AIM. Strucker is their leader."

Alex did not care whether it was Hydra or AIM. He only wanted news about Bucky. "Do you know where Bucky is now?"

"Sorry, we haven’t found him yet." Nick Fury shrugged, his face full of regret. "We only happened to see Bucky’s name in AIM’s database, which was how we learned he was with AIM. But we truly have no idea about his exact whereabouts!"

Alex could not help growing irritated. So many years had passed, yet there was still no news of Steve or Bucky. It infuriated him, and a trace of anger crept into his voice. "Strucker knows, right?" Now that Strucker was AIM’s leader, he should know Bucky’s situation well.

"I know what you want to do, but I’m telling you, it won’t work." Seeing Alex’s expression, Nick Fury shook his head with a bitter smile. "Those leaders have all become more wary now, especially after the mutants caused such a huge incident. They’re all guarding against mutants! You won’t get anything good out of going there!"

Nick Fury should not have said that. The moment he did, it instead piqued Alex’s interest. Without saying another word, Alex vanished.

Alex had left a Mind Mark on Strucker long ago. The Mind Mark allowed Alex to use Teleportation to reach Strucker’s side anytime, anywhere. But after teleporting this time, Alex was shocked to find himself over a vast sea. The ocean stretched endlessly in every direction. There was no sign of Strucker anywhere.

Alex’s heart suddenly sank. It seemed his good days in the Marvel Universe were coming to an end. Strucker had found a way to counter his Teleportation. Thinking of this, panic rose in Alex’s heart. He remembered his experiences in his previous life, when his Teleportation had been restricted and he had died miserably.

"No, I have to find a way to increase my strength." After witnessing Strucker’s capabilities, Alex could only choose to leave. At last, he began thinking about becoming stronger. "I need to strengthen my Teleportation, and I need to find a way to improve my Replication Ability too!"