The Hour of Execution! Thanks for the Tips

As Red Hood’s execution drew nearer, Hydra’s forces gathered in New Babylon. They strictly followed Red Skull’s deployment plan, turning New Babylon into an impregnable fortress.

At the same time, on the day of the execution, all of New Babylon was placed under martial law. Countless Hydra soldiers clad in green military uniforms emerged to control every major transportation route throughout the city.

In secret, Tobias also worked with the local gangs to continuously gather intelligence on other forces across the land. Whether it was Doctor Doom or Hulk Banner, Red Skull did not want anyone interfering with his grand performance this time.

Messages and reports were transmitted to the White House through signal satellites. After Doctor Arnim Zola sorted and verified them, they were continuously placed before Red Skull.

Since Hydra’s founding, this was its most comprehensive mobilization aside from the old war. Even when facing counterattacks from other criminals, Red Skull had never staged anything on such a scale. It was clear that he was truly getting serious this time.

A new world that had never been observed, a group of superheroes from another dimension—after more than forty years of silence, this was a grand war worthy of Red Skull abandoning everything to face. No wonder he valued this execution so highly.

The battle plan on the surface had already been finalized. The execution site was set at New Times Square in New Babylon, an area almost entirely occupied by fully armed Hydra elites and forbidden to all outsiders.

Every one of these Hydra elites was capable of taking on a hundred enemies alone. Though their fighting skills and physical abilities could not compare to someone like Captain America, they were still formidable opponents not to be underestimated.

Their instructor was none other than Taskmaster, a battle-hardened supervillain who had repeatedly suppressed the Avengers head-on.

Though Taskmaster had been worn down by time and could no longer fight as fiercely as he once had, his combat experience was an incomparably precious treasure. Just like Crossbones, the villain he had trained, none of the students he had produced could be taken lightly.

Beyond their powerful close-quarters combat skills, Red Skull had also ordered his military laboratories to equip them with a large number of high-tech weapons. Technology once available only to superheroes and supervillains could now be mass-produced within Hydra.

It could be said that with this force alone, Hydra could raze any city on Earth, aside from opponents whose individual strength was on an entirely different level.

And these people were merely the first line of defense Red Skull had prepared!

Rather than stopping heroes who might come to storm the execution ground, they were more there to maintain order outside the battlefield.

The Hydra elite forces formed a human wall around the entirety of Times Square, keeping all outsiders beyond the perimeter. Whether they were spectators who had come for the excitement or opportunists hoping to profit from the chaos, none of them could come within half a step of the battlefield.

With this move, Red Skull had completely crushed any mercenaries’ hopes of fishing in troubled waters. At the same time, he knew these people would be unable to stop infiltrating Hulk Gang members and mutants.

But he could use these soldiers to filter out those who could truly break through and pose a threat to this execution.

The main purpose of their actions was to form a massive net, invite the enemy into the trap, contain everyone who rushed in within the encirclement, and then wipe them all out.

After entering the execution grounds, there was still roughly a kilometer to go before reaching the true execution site—Red Hood’s execution platform. Within that vast area, Red Skull’s second line of defense consisted of several trump cards he had carefully selected.

After Bullseye and the Winter Soldier, two masters of assassination, had died and defected respectively, these people were the strongest subordinates remaining in Red Skull’s hands.

To ensure the aerial battlefield would not be breached, Red Skull had also assembled countless armed helicopters, drones, and surface-to-air anti-aircraft guns. All of them were under the complete control of the artificial intelligence, Doctor Arnim Zola.

After being stripped of his "humanity," Doctor Arnim Zola had completely become a mindless intelligent machine. This made him several times more dangerous. Now, Doctor Arnim Zola had become the core of Hydra’s network, capable of monitoring every arrangement across the battlefield in real time and altering tactics at any moment.

Finally, atop the execution platform, Red Skull had reserved this most important position for himself. He was like an emperor seated upon a throne, and like a marshal guarding his nation.

As the judge of this execution, he would personally take the stage and face the heroes from another world.

Red Skull had waited forty years for this battle. He would not permit any unforeseen changes.

The time reached eight fifty. There was little time left before Red Hood’s execution.

The atmosphere throughout New Babylon became extraordinarily eerie. Most people did not dare speak or even breathe loudly, afraid of drawing unwanted attention. In that atmosphere, even the air seemed to grow thick and viscous.

Everyone watching the execution had gathered outside New Times Square. With solemn expressions, they silently fixed their eyes on the execution platform and quietly waited as time ticked away.

Because they were so far away, it was difficult for them to see the execution platform clearly. But Red Skull had thoughtfully focused all the giant screens surrounding New Times Square on the platform.

At the same time, with Doctor Arnim Zola’s help, signal stations across the world could receive live footage from here. Red Skull had done this for one reason only: he wanted the world to once again experience the oppression of Hydra’s rule through this war.

Everyone knew how important this execution was. At the same time, they anticipated the appearance of those heroes from another world, because their arrival would completely change Earth’s future landscape. There was no doubt about that.

Before long, Jason Todd, codenamed Red Hood, was escorted by two Hydra soldiers and accompanied by Taskmaster, the executioner. Step by step, he climbed onto the execution platform and arrived at the very center of the cameras.

Hammerfall City, Tonyia’s Auto Repair Shop.

"Oh my God…" Ultron Eight stood blankly in front of the television. Even now, he had not recovered from the news of visitors from another world. "This is a shock to the world of physics. It would be great if the Fantastic Four were here. I mean, if this is real."

"…Meaningless. It’s all meaningless." Tonia was still repairing a car nearby. Without even turning her head, she acted as if the images on television held no appeal for her at all.

"Mr. Barton should be there, I think. He’s a hero. He won’t just stand by and watch Red Skull carry out an execution." Ultron Eight muttered to himself.

"Heh."

Tonia gave a cold laugh, her expression shifting unpredictably. After a long while, she silently let out a sigh.

"If he’s smart enough, he won’t go there to die."

A thousand miles away, Bishop Shelter.

Silver-haired Kate Bishop had stationed herself before the television early in the morning. Beside her stood a young, beautiful female archer. She was the captain of the Hawkeye Guard personally trained by Kate Bishop, as well as the shelter’s second strongest fighter after her.

"So this is Batman’s adopted son, Red Hood, who came back from the dead."

"Who is Red Hood, Mayor Bishop?" the young archer asked curiously.

"A hero from another world." Kate Bishop stared deeply at Red Hood’s face on the television screen. For a moment, countless familiar figures surfaced before her eyes, and fragments of memory rose from the depths of her heart.

"A hero from another world, like Sister Lance?" the young woman asked again.

But this time, Kate Bishop did not answer. Kate was immersed in endless memories, her heart filled with a complicated tangle of emotions.

Within Hulk Gang territory, Logan Farm.

After working all morning, Wolverine Logan returned to the house. He silently nodded to his wife as a greeting, then prepared to drink some hot water to warm himself.

But when he entered the living room, he was surprised to find his children sitting neatly on the sofa, their eyes fixed tightly on the television as they watched something.

"I told you not to stare at the television all the time. It’s bad for your eyes," Logan said softly, his deep, hoarse voice gentle.

Hearing Logan’s voice, his children immediately came to their senses. They sprang up and ran to his side, grabbing his large hand as they spoke.

"Dad, look! Red Skull is going to execute a superhero from another world!"

"What?" Logan froze at the words, then quickly understood.

He had seen Red Skull’s earlier declaration, but he had not cared. Ever since that day, Wolverine no longer existed. Now, he was merely an ordinary farmer, doing his best to sever himself from his past. Just as he had said, Wolverine was dead.

"Damn it. I really should’ve sold the television."

At the border of Red Skull’s territory, in Blood Nest, formerly Osborn City.

Blood Baron John sat quietly in the shadows, watching the live footage transmitted by Hydra on the giant screen. His face was filled with gloom.

Beside him, a stunning woman in a black evening gown, her snow-white back exposed, walked over gracefully. A bewitching smile curled across her face as she revealed sharp teeth and spoke softly.

"Baron, the intelligence station we built for Hydra has been completed. The weapons workshop that agreed to cooperate with Hydra has also nearly finished its conversion. What should we do next?"

"No rush, no rush." Blood Baron waved his hand. His eyes seemed to drift toward the raven tattoo on his arm before his dark expression turned back to the giant screen.

Following Blood Baron’s gaze, the exquisite beauty was quickly drawn to the footage of the execution site. She pursed her lips, poured Blood Baron a glass of fresh blood, and smiled.

"This should be the execution site in New Babylon. Time truly passes quickly. Baron, do you think those ‘superheroes’ from another world will really appear?"

At those words, Blood Baron could not help but shudder. He then licked his lips and sneered. "They will appear. They definitely will."

"Then do you think they can defeat Red Skull?" the beauty asked, blinking.

"It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses. The harder they fight, the better." Blood Baron spoke casually. "Pass the order down. Tell our people to get ready and keep a close watch on every move those Hydra soldiers make. I want to know all their movements."

"Understood." The beautiful vampire smiled sweetly. "Then what about our cooperation with Hydra?"

"Cooperation… We’ll talk after they win this battle." Blood Baron curled his lip.

"What if they lose?"

"Lose?"

Blood Baron’s eyes narrowed into slits.

"Then I don’t want a single Hydra soldier remaining on my territory!"

At the same time, New Babylon.

Most Hydra soldiers had reached their assigned positions. They stood ready and alert, holding their breath as they faced an unknown challenge.

"The Führer seems to place great importance on this operation. I haven’t seen him this excited in a long time." At the outskirts of New Babylon, an older Hydra soldier gripped his Laser Gun tightly and sighed faintly.

"This is my first time taking part in such an important battle. It’s hard to imagine who our enemies are. I heard they’re a few superheroes, but… those heroes shouldn’t be enough to make the Führer take this so seriously, should they?" The young soldier beside him sounded somewhat careless.

"Don’t underestimate them!"

The older Hydra soldier frowned at that, his expression darkening as he lectured him.

"Have you forgotten Baron Zemo’s fate? None of those old fellows who survived the old war are easy to deal with. What’s more, we’re facing heroes from another world. We know nothing about them, and we don’t know what abilities they possess."

"Hmph, I don’t think they’re all that impressive. We may not have any intelligence on them, but by the same token, they don’t know how formidable we are either, do they?"

The young soldier was unconcerned, still wearing a lax expression. But in the next instant, his throat seemed to be choked by something, and he could no longer make a sound.

A sweet, bloody liquid surged from his throat. The young soldier continuously spat blood as he slowly lowered his head, only to discover that a sharp blade tip had somehow pierced through his abdomen.

"Enemy—!"

The older Hydra soldier across from him reacted quickly. The moment the young soldier was attacked, he raised his Laser Gun. At the same time, he tried to speak, intending to report the enemy assault through his communicator.

But unfortunately, the attacker gave him no time to act. Before he could do anything, a tri-bladed dagger nailed his neck to the wall.

The microphone-style communicator on his ear had already had its signal blocked. No one noticed his voice at all.

Before the old soldier died, the only image he saw was that of a one-eyed old man in a jacket.

Along with his cruel smile and the eye glowing with scarlet light.