MD-Chapter 285 Taking Leave to Save the World!

You can read ahead up to 70 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395

"I have two tasks for you!"

In the midst of a tricky situation, as soon as the call connected, Arthur got straight to the point:

"First, there's an abandoned military camp in New Jersey— Camp Lehigh. It's currently not under private ownership. I need you to organize a trustworthy team to access the underground supercomputer there and extract its data. The process might be very dangerous, so you'll need Parker's help."

"Understood."

Harry responded with a calmness that hinted at some untapped spy potential. It was as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

"Second, draft a plan to purchase the site. But don't rush— drag the process out deliberately."

Arthur elaborated.

Harry's tone perked up with excitement:

"An abandoned military camp with something important inside. I secretly get people to extract the contents, while outwardly making moves to purchase the location to draw their attention?"

"That's the idea," Arthur confirmed.

"So, the first team's mission is crucial, and they must be cautious. You have about ten hours to organize your people. I'll visit you tonight and transport them there."

"Understood," Harry replied. "At midnight?"

"Yes, midnight."

After ending the call, Arthur thought for a moment, his gaze lingering on Tony's name in the communicator. But he decided not to call.

Just as he was about to leave, a young agent approached him.

"Captain!"

Arthur immediately realized the agent was addressing him.

With a friendly demeanor, Arthur leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Hail Hydra."

"Hail Hydra," The young agent instinctively replied, though confusion lingered on his face.

"But... weren't we told not to say that inside SHIELD?"

"Oh, I forgot," Arthur replied, completely unapologetic.

Before the agent could process this, a massive fist smashed into his head.

Two punches later, the young man collapsed without a sound. Arthur swiftly stored him in his Disassemble Space and casually adjusted his attire before returning to the office as though nothing had happened.

Time and again, it had been proven that Hydra agents were formidable.

But it was also evident that no fortress was impregnable— collapse often started from within.

While elite agents like Victor, Rumlow, and even Bucky could remain tight-lipped about any secrets, the same couldn't be said for a twenty-something rookie. And even if one could keep quiet, could every peer of theirs do the same?

Arthur doubted it.

The slightest crack in their ranks could cause the entire dam to burst.

"Everyone's psychological endurance is different. Sometimes, death isn't the scariest thing. Mustering the courage to die isn't that hard—living takes far more bravery."

Arthur took a deep breath, adjusted his demeanor to perfectly mimic Rumlow, and effortlessly mingled with his colleagues.

However, by afternoon, the young agent's disappearance became a hot topic.

Arthur's entire team of agents convened for an impromptu meeting.

During the discussion, Arthur discovered something shocking—the entire team consisted of Hydra operatives!

They speculated that the missing agent had likely received an urgent directive from the organization. They even questioned Arthur to confirm this theory, as the missing agent had last been seen with him.

Although Arthur had been standing in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras, the timeline and other footage showed the two of them together just before the disappearance.

Naturally, this led them to believe Arthur had passed on a mission order, prompting the agent to leave immediately.

At this moment, Arthur had no choice but to nod and say: "Hmm, yes, exactly!"

The team members collectively breathed a sigh of relief. One of them said, "I've already tampered with the relevant surveillance footage, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Arthur nodded in satisfaction. "Good job. This time was a special case. Otherwise, I'd have handled it by the usual rules."

Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.

Once the group dispersed, Arthur wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.

It wasn't difficult to fool SHIELD; the real challenge lay in deceiving these secretive Hydra operatives.

Simply put, it was an issue of information asymmetry.

Arthur knew everything SHIELD knew about Rumlow. But when it came to what Hydra knew about Rumlow, Arthur was completely in the dark. This lack of knowledge made maintaining his cover far more difficult.

He could only take it step by step, improvising as he went. For now, it seemed like he'd barely managed to muddle through.

"But my time is running out."

The self-destructing document had revealed a lot to Arthur. Beyond Hydra's plans for him and their possession of some mysterious files, Arthur had also deduced that Victor was likely the leader of the so-called "Replacement Plan." His talent for brainwashing people made him a perfect fit for the role.

The most critical point? Seven days.

In seven days, the Rumlow identity would no longer be usable.

Seven days later, he would have to go and "Capture" Arthur. If he wanted to stage a ploy during this event, he'd need to learn the art of shadow cloning— otherwise, there was no way he could play both roles simultaneously.

It wasn't like this was a movie, where he could just edit himself into the same frame.

Thus, seven days later, Rumlow would have to "disappear." If Arthur chose to make himself disappear instead, where would he go? Would Hydra take him in? Who would bring him there? Rumlow? But Rumlow is Arthur!

This created a paradox, a loop that would lead to the collapse of his entire plan if not resolved.

"So this is a race against time," Arthur muttered, reflecting on his predicament as he stood atop the OsCorp Industry.

Every time he visited, he'd take a moment to enjoy the view from the rooftop before heading to Harry's office.

At this moment, the office was bustling with people.

A group of lab-coated individuals, including one elderly person and several younger ones, filled the room. Some were sitting, others standing, and a few looked groggy from staying up late.

Arthur's sudden appearance startled everyone, especially those half-asleep. Their drowsiness vanished instantly.

"You're here. Let me introduce you to everyone," Harry said, standing up.

Arthur waved his hand. "No need. I trust you."

Harry gasped sharply in excitement, though why he was so thrilled was unclear.

Arthur, on the other hand, had already spotted someone familiar in the crowd— Peter Parker.

"The kid probably took time off to be here, huh?" Arthur thought, a wry smile forming on his face. He couldn't help but recall the scene of Peter carrying his backpack home to do homework after a fight with the Lizard.

Now, taking a day off to help save the world seemed entirely in line with Peter's typical day-to-day antics.

(End of Chapter)