Infiltration and Arrest

At noon the next day, Hydra and S.W.O.R.D. exchanged hostages at sea. Both sides had made extensive preparations—Hydra wanted to rescue Wanda and Pietro smoothly, while S.W.O.R.D., besides wanting to rescue Firefighter Hero, also intended to follow the trail back to Hydra’s base.

In the end, Baron Strucker proved more skilled. Using the Inhumans’ special abilities, he rescued Wanda and Pietro while cutting off all traces, leaving S.W.O.R.D. unable to track them.

Of course, S.W.O.R.D. had not come away empty-handed. They had successfully rescued Firefighter Hero.

For safety’s sake, Piri did not send Wanda and Pietro directly back to Sokovia. He made several stops along the way and conducted thorough examinations on them. Only after confirming that they had no trackers did he bring them back to the base.

Inside the base, Baron Strucker looked relieved when he saw Wanda and Pietro return safely. "Excellent. We finally got you back."

Pietro—who was actually Wang Bert—said gratefully, "Baron, thank you."

Baron Strucker said, "No need to thank me. I’ve always treated you as my children."

Wang Bert’s mouth twitched. Was he taking advantage of me?

At that moment, Baron Strucker noticed something was off about Wanda. He asked, "Wanda, did something happen? Why do you seem so down?"

"They told me a lot of things. They also said Hydra is the real villain."

Wanda put on an uncertain expression—this was what the S.W.O.R.D. experts had designed. After so many days, Wanda could not possibly have remained completely unchanged. That would not fit her character.

Baron Strucker was not angry. He said, "Those hypocrites are best at twisting black into white. S.W.O.R.D. is nothing more than America’s tool for exploiting the entire world."

Wang Bert added, "Exactly, sis. I told you long ago that they can’t be trusted."

Wanda shook her head. "I didn’t believe them."

Baron Strucker asked, "You didn’t tell them about us, did you?"

"Of course not. It’s just, it’s just…"

Wanda became a little agitated but did not know how to explain herself. Baron Strucker shook his head and did not pay it much mind. Wanda was still young; he could simply brainwash her again.

"By the way, Baron."

Wang Bert said from the side, "That incredibly powerful guy used some kind of qi to seal my body. I can’t use my abilities right now."

Wanda added, "My abilities have been sealed too."

"Qi? This Eastern power is extremely mysterious. We know almost nothing about it."

Baron Strucker said, "But don’t worry. With the Mind Scepter, we’ll eventually break whatever this qi is."

"That’s good."

Wanda and Wang Bert nodded together. Wang Bert had made up this lie partly to make things seem more believable, and partly to get close to the Mind Scepter.

In this battle, the greatest variable was the Mind Scepter. Everything else was manageable.

Baron Strucker smiled. "Get some rest first. Oh, and remember to watch TV this afternoon. There’ll be a good show."

Wang Bert asked excitedly, "A good show? Is S.W.O.R.D. going to be in trouble?"

Baron Strucker said, "No, something even better. Iron Man will be in trouble."

That afternoon, the candidate held another press conference. Hydra did not even need to do anything; a huge number of reporters came rushing over.

The previous press conference had greatly boosted their sales and ratings. At this stage, the candidate was still very popular.

Even bad publicity was publicity. Audiences loved watching this idiot make a fool of himself, which was why the advisers had originally suggested that the candidate play the clown.

One reporter asked with a smile, "Mr. Candidate, are you planning to tell us the truth again this time?"

Quite a few reporters laughed. The candidate said proudly, "That’s right. This time, I’ll continue telling you the truth. No more nonsense. Look at the evidence."

With that, the candidate gestured for everyone to look at the screen. Then, a great deal of evidence appeared one by one: the corpse of a hundred-meter giant snake, a demon’s head, an angel’s feather, and all sorts of records related to demons and angels—these records came from churches and S.H.I.E.L.D.

The reporters took photos while remaining half-convinced. The evidence looked quite real, but they were only photographs, which meant there was a good chance they had been fabricated.

"Many people call me an idiot, but I’m not. I’m just an honest child exposing the emperor for having no clothes."

The candidate rambled on beside the screen. With so much evidence and Hydra’s support, he absolutely would not lose again this time.

One reporter asked maliciously, "Mr. Candidate, do you have any more evidence? For example, a living Vampire?"

The reporters burst into laughter. The candidate said irritably, "Of course I do. This time, I’ve brought you an angel. A real angel."

"An angel?"

Everyone cried out in surprise. The previous reporter asked again, "Do angels’ wings fall off? Mr. Candidate, did you check?"

"Of course I checked. This time, there definitely won’t be any problems."

The candidate snapped. The reporter sneered. "Looks like they were glued on much more firmly this time."

Everyone laughed again. The candidate gritted his teeth, too annoyed to say more, and had his bodyguards bring out the Reincarnated Angel.

It was worth mentioning that aside from the "loyal" adviser, everyone around the candidate had been replaced by Hydra. There definitely would not be another switcheroo like last time.

Soon, the Reincarnated Angel was brought out. Seeing the pair of radiant wings filled with a holy aura, everyone could not help crying out in surprise. Could that idiot really have been telling the truth?

The owner of those wings was a somewhat ugly, tattooed brute. He was delighted by all the attention and immediately spread his arms, preparing to bestow holy light upon the reporters and shout a few slogans.

Just then, several agents pushed through the reporters and entered. Skye, who was leading them, held up a tablet toward the white angel. "Ibu Alis, you are suspected of illegal possession of weapons and violent assault. Come with us."

Displayed on the tablet was a wanted notice.

The reporters were stunned. An angel was a wanted criminal? Wasn’t that a little ridiculous? The candidate shouted in dissatisfaction, "Who are you? How dare you arrest an angel?"

Skye took out her identification and said, "S.W.O.R.D. agent. He is not an ordinary person, so we’re taking over this case. Ibu Alis, come with us. Do not resist, or don’t blame us for getting rough."

Naturally, the white angel was not going to obediently leave with Skye. He shouted, "How dare you desecrate an angel? Desecrate God?"

As he shouted, holy light blazed around the white angel. Skye snorted coldly and abruptly charged in front of him. Her rapidly vibrating right hand instantly shattered the holy light around him, then she slammed her palm into his chest.

A powerful force of vibration erupted within the white angel’s body. He immediately coughed up a huge mouthful of blood mixed with pieces of internal organs, while all his clothes were blasted apart.

"So-called angels are nothing special."

Seeing that the white angel still wanted to resist, Skye kicked him to the ground. She then grabbed one of his light wings, raised her right hand, and chopped down with violent vibrations, instantly severing the wing.

Aah! The white angel let out a miserable scream. The holy light and wings on his body rapidly vanished, including the half-wing in Skye’s hand.

"Why did it disappear again?"

The candidate was dumbfounded. This angel was far too weak. He had been knocked down in just two moves?

Skye shouted coldly, "Cuff him."

Several agents immediately stepped forward and used anti-magic handcuffs to restrain the severely wounded white angel. Then, they dragged him away as they followed Skye outside.

"That agent is amazing—and she’s so beautiful."

The reporters came to their senses and began taking photos of Skye and the arrested white angel. At the same time, they repeatedly asked, "Is he really an angel? Also, why did S.W.O.R.D. happen to show up here at such a perfect time?"

Seeing the reporters blocking the way, Skye stopped and said, "I don’t know whether he’s an angel, but anyone on Earth must obey Earth’s laws. Otherwise, S.W.O.R.D. will definitely bring them to justice."

"Badass."

Quite a few reporters whistled. This kind of S.W.O.R.D. was exactly to their liking.

Skye did not waste any more time. With a casual wave of her hand, she swept the reporters aside and led everyone away.

As they watched Skye’s departing back, several reporters’ eyes flickered. That agent had not denied the existence of angels and demons.

Director Steve had promised that S.W.O.R.D. would not lie. Not denying something often meant it was true. This was huge news.

Unlike the excited reporters, the candidate’s face was now filled with embarrassment and indignation. S.W.O.R.D. had clearly come to slap him in the face this time—and it had been a hard slap.

"Damn S.W.O.R.D. Once I become president, I’ll shut you all down."

The candidate gritted his teeth and shouted, "I have another great truth to tell you."

Once the reporters’ attention had returned to him, the candidate continued, "Iron Man Tony Stark’s unborn son is the reincarnation of Hell’s Demon King, Mephisto. That’s right, the same Mephisto who invaded New York. He will destroy our world."

"What?"

All the reporters were dumbfounded. One reporter could not help asking, "Mr. Candidate, are you sure you don’t need to get checked at a mental hospital?"

The reporters burst into laughter. Hell’s Demon King reincarnated as Iron Man’s son—who would believe that? "It’s absolutely true! God personally came to me in a dream and told me to eliminate Mephisto and protect this world."

The candidate shouted, spittle flying everywhere. The reporters sneered repeatedly. God came to you in a dream? Were you sure you had not mistaken him for someone else? The only one who would come to you in a dream was Satan, because demons loved idiots most.

At the Hydra base, Wang Bert, in his Quicksilver disguise, watched the television and asked Baron Strucker in confusion, "Baron, what’s the point of this? No one believes him."

"The reporters don’t believe him because they don’t know the truth about the world. Those who do know the truth will believe him."

Baron Strucker smiled. "Iron Man’s good days have only just begun. Those people will not allow the world to be destroyed. Even with Blood God protecting him, Iron Man will face endless trouble."

"Great. The more miserable Iron Man is, the better."

Wang Bert said excitedly. Wanda secretly rolled her eyes. She knew Wang Bert was not acting—he genuinely wanted to see Iron Man suffer.

"He will suffer terribly."

Baron Strucker smiled smugly. "This is only the beginning. Next, I’ll use Hydra’s resources to fully support that candidate and have him cause trouble for those Super Heroes on our behalf."

Wanda could not help asking, "Baron, isn’t this useless? And won’t it expose those resources to S.W.O.R.D.?"

"It doesn’t matter. This time, we’re guaranteed to win."

Baron Strucker said, "Once this matter has fermented for a while, I’ll add fuel to the fire and make the situation completely spiral out of control.

Next month is the election. By then, our new president will lead his supporters in tearing American society apart."

The plan is pretty good. Unfortunately, I already know about it in advance.

Wang Bert sneered inwardly and said, "I dream every day about Iron Man and America being in trouble."

"Your dream will come true very soon."

Baron Strucker smiled. Once the show was over, he stood and left, leaving only Wang Bert and Wanda in the room.

Wang Bert’s eyes flashed. Through his mind, he instructed the two tiny people hidden in his sleeve, "You can begin. Ant-Man, follow Wasp’s orders. Do not act on your own. This concerns the life and death of the entire Earth."

Ant-Man Scott Lang promised solemnly, "Don’t worry. I’m an official S.W.O.R.D. agent now. Nothing will go wrong."

Because of his contribution last time, Scott had officially become a full agent.

Yeah right.

Wang Bert grumbled inwardly. This guy had been completely unreliable in the movies, which was exactly why he had also sent Wasp on this mission.

"Leave it to us. We’ll investigate the Kree and find the Antimatter Bomb."

Wasp’s voice rang out. It was worth mentioning that she was not Hank Pym’s daughter, Hope. She was Peggy Carter.

That was right, that Carter. She had asked Hank Pym for the Wasp suit and become the new Wasp.

"Good. Kree technology is highly advanced, so be careful."

Wang Bert nodded and continued, "If you’re discovered and can’t escape, you’re allowed to surrender. I’ll come rescue you."

Ant-Man laughed. "I like that order. S.W.O.R.D. really has a human touch."

Wang Bert complained, "Shouldn’t you be passionately declaring that you’re not afraid of death right now? What’s with that relieved look, like you’ve wanted to surrender all along?"

Ant-Man said, "I still have a daughter to raise. How can I just die?"

"Looks like you’re a good father."

Wang Bert smiled. For an agent, that was highly unprofessional, but Wang Bert had always believed that people without feelings would never get good results from anything they did.

Wang Bert ordered, "Go."

"Okay."

Wasp answered and left through the crack beneath the door with Ant-Man, beginning their dangerous reconnaissance mission.

"Wanda, do you think the Mind Scepter can break the qi sealing our bodies?"

At that moment, Wang Bert suddenly sensed an invisible wave of Mind Energy enveloping him. His eyes flickered as he casually chatted with Wanda. Wanda had been a little nervous at first, but under Wang Bert’s guidance, she gradually calmed down.

That Mind Energy naturally belonged to Supergiant, who was probing them. She did not want anything to go wrong with the plan, and she was very interested in Wanda—her potential was limitless.

"I can’t enter their minds. What exactly is this ‘qi’?"

Supergiant was deeply puzzled. After thinking for a moment, she withdrew her Mind Energy. They would soon use the Mind Scepter anyway, and she could investigate them slowly then.