Three Parties Focus on The Hand

A secret laboratory.

After listening to his subordinate’s report, Whitehall set down the scalpel and stood with his hands behind his back, thinking for several minutes.

The most important plan had yet to be completed. For now, they could not fall out with S.H.I.E.L.D., or it would alert the World Security Council. At that point, Pierce might not be able to fool those crafty old politicians.

Pierce, Garrett, Hillvert, and the others were doing everything they could to deal with Fury and Hill. None of the undercover agents could be touched. Hydra’s other heads each had their own plans. This operation had been personally planned by him and aided by The Clairvoyant.

Yet it had still failed.

Hawkeye’s sudden appearance had allowed Black Widow to survive. They had failed to seize even a single jar of wine transported from the Azeroth Specialties Shop.

Even Master Wang, whom they had thought would be easy to deal with, had displayed strength no less formidable than Black Widow’s. The seven elite agents sent after him were dead or alive, no one knew. They might have succeeded in killing themselves, or they might already have been captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. Either way, plenty of vital intelligence was bound to leak.

The appearance of the Kunlun Iron Fist and his astonishing performance in defeating Winter Soldier had made him realize the power of "qi." Combined with his investigation into the Darkhold, that was why he had set his sights on Master Wang and those medicinal wines.

Dissecting that immortal female Inhuman had granted him the same ability, but it had not given him combat power beyond that of an ordinary person.

He had wanted to study the medicinal wines and Master Wang’s body to gain the power of "qi." He had also wanted to obtain information about K’un-Lun from Master Wang. His ambitions had been enormous.

But now, he had failed—and alerted the enemy. S.H.I.E.L.D. would certainly keep a close watch on the Azeroth Specialties Shop and Master Wang.

For the time being, he could not touch Master Wang. The greater situation came first.

S.H.I.E.L.D. would certainly study those medicinal wines. Once they had any results, The Clairvoyant or Pierce would surely be able to get hold of them. But that would take time. He could not wait, nor was he willing to place his hopes on others, even if they were Hydra members too.

Whitehall flexed his hands.

There was more than one kung fu master in this world, and more than one path to becoming stronger than "qi."

Hydra’s intelligence network would only be more extensive than S.H.I.E.L.D.’s.

Regarding the relationship between The Hand and K’un-Lun, he, having lived for nearly ninety years, knew more than that Black director.

After thinking it over, Whitehall issued three orders in succession.

"Cancel the operation. Withdraw everyone. Kill anyone who might leak information. Leave no one alive."

"Investigate The Hand with all your strength. Find out the identities and whereabouts of the Five Fingers, and report at any time."

"Contact Pierce and Garrett through secret channels. I want an 084 Box that the Howling Commandos took from me… Tell them I must have what’s inside, no matter the cost!"

S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters.

Director’s office.

After hearing Natasha’s report, Egghead adjusted his eyepatch. "Azeroth Signature Essence Wine… What a terrible name. Agent Romanoff, keep one jar for yourself. Send the rest to the Science and Technology Division and assign the best technicians to study them."

Standing straight as a rod, Hill handed Egghead two résumés. "The Science and Technology Division is heavily burdened and cannot spare many people. I suggest transferring outstanding students who have not yet graduated from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. These two are quite good."

Egghead glanced over them. "Leo Fitz, specializing in mechanical engineering; Jemma Simmons, specializing in biochemistry. The most outstanding members in S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy’s history? Future backbones of the Science and Technology Division? Fine, let them assist the division. Didn’t that Master Wang want custom high-tech equipment? Give that to them too!"

"Yes, sir." Hill remained expressionless.

The director clearly attached great importance to the Essence Wine, while he was being rather perfunctory about Master Wang’s request.

No matter how talented two students who had not even graduated were, could they really be better than the scientists in the Science and Technology Division?

Still, the division was indeed busy and short on manpower. They really should not assign dedicated personnel to manufacture high-tech equipment for an outsider. The director’s decision was not wrong.

"Agent Romanoff, interrogate the Hydra agents yourself. See if you can pry their mouths open… I don’t trust anyone else."

Egghead fixed his single eye on Natasha. "Stay in contact with Master Wang and investigate The Hand. You and Agent Barton will handle it together… Provide assistance if necessary. You do not need to report to me."

Natasha hesitated. "Then Hydra…"

"Hydra is mine to deal with."

Egghead waved a hand, and Natasha turned to leave.

Seeing that Egghead had nothing further to say, Hill left as well.

Only one person remained in the entire office.

Egghead turned around and watched the shifting clouds outside the window, his mood grim.

Operation Paperclip had recruited a large number of enemy scientists back then, including some Hydra members.

In S.H.I.E.L.D.’s early days, there had been quite a few Hydra members within the organization, and some had held high positions.

Those people had served S.H.I.E.L.D. for decades.

Had they truly served S.H.I.E.L.D., rather than Hydra?

Over those decades, how many people had they secretly recruited?

In today’s S.H.I.E.L.D., how many people were truly his own?

Was S.H.I.E.L.D. still S.H.I.E.L.D., or was it Hydra?

To avoid triggering a full investigation by the World Security Council, and to reassure the United Nations and the governments of various countries, the investigation into Hydra could not be brought into the open.

Pierce was working hard to negotiate with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s council members and suppress the matter.

He could only personally command the covert operation.

He did not know who among his subordinates could be trusted.

Coulson?

Natasha?

Barton?

Hill?

Hillvert?

Garrett?

Even Pierce, his direct superior, might not be trustworthy.

Perhaps the only person he could trust was himself…

"We must establish the Avengers Initiative as soon as possible to deal with the growing number of threats, including the threat of Hydra!"

"Master Wang and the K’un-Lun he represents seem to be at odds with Hydra. Perhaps we can cooperate!"

Egghead thought for a moment, took out his communicator, and dialed.

Several seconds later, the call connected.

Egghead deliberated for a few seconds before speaking. "Master Wang, this is Nick Fury. I’ve already given you the information you wanted. I want to know Hydra’s origins and its current situation."

After a brief silence, Old Wang’s voice sounded from the other end.

"Hydra, the largest criminal organization in the world…"

"About fourteen hundred years ago, the Kree captured a Mayan warrior and used Terrigen Mist to conduct experiments, creating the first Inhuman, ‘Hive’…"

"’Hive’ possessed the ability to control the wills of other Inhumans. He was a natural-born leader…"

"Other Inhumans joined forces with humans to exile ‘Hive’ to another distant planet…"

"His worshippers founded Hydra with the goal of bringing ‘Hive’ back to rule Earth…"

"As time passed, Hydra developed countless branches, and its ideals diverged and evolved…"

"The Hydra of today is actually a branch created by Red Skull during World War II, following the ideals of Hydra throughout the ages. Its ultimate goal is to become the master of the entire world. It is not the orthodox lineage…"

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

"Hydra is everywhere."

Azeroth Specialties Shop.

After hanging up, Old Wang revealed a strange smile.

Egghead wanted to trade information on New York gangs and criminals for information on Hydra? Dream on!

In the end, Old Wang had only told Egghead about Hydra’s origins.

If he wanted more intelligence, he would have to trade intelligence or something good for it!

Old Wang rubbed his bloated stomach, full from eating.

During the half-hour call, Egghead had seemed to be trying, both directly and indirectly, to recruit him… the "Iron Fist" behind him into the Avengers Initiative. He had also wanted to cooperate deeply with K’un-Lun to fight Hydra together.

If I weren’t a fraud, I might really have agreed…

Wait…

Old Wang narrowed his eyes.

It was not impossible for him to become a true "Iron Fist" and obtain the power of the divine dragon Shou-Lao.

And it all had to start with The Hand.

"There are so many people in The Hand. Robbie might not be able to handle them alone!"

"Looks like I’ll have to take action myself!"

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