Chapter 159 Vibranium dealer, Ulysses Klaue

In the information about Ulysses Klaue and Wakanda, Chen Mo noticed a specially marked file.

Opening the file, a photo of a black man with fierce eyes appeared before Chen Mo.

Eric Killmonger, a top mercenary, worked with Ulysses Klaue to steal and rob vibranium across the globe.

After graduating from MIT, he joined the Navy SEALs and went to Afghanistan, where he killed people wantonly, as if playing a video game, earning him the moniker "killer".

He was also a member of the United States Joint Special Operations Command. He was a formidable warrior with exceptional fighting skills, peak physical conditioning, and an astute tactical mind.

Eric Killmonger's identity extended beyond this. His real name was N'Jadaka, and his father, N'Jobu, was the younger brother of the current Wakanda King T'Chaka.

When N'Jobu was young, he was sent to the United States as a spy to carry out an assassination mission.

During his mission in the United States, he fell in love with a woman and had a son with her.

Subsequently, he settled down in the United States and lived with his wife and child in a black neighborhood slum.

There, he witnessed the oppression and discrimination faced by his black compatriots in the United States, the majority of whom lived at the bottom of society, enduring hardship.

The radical N'Jobu desired to arm them with vibranium weapons, lead them to overthrow all nations, and establish Wakanda's global dominance.

Knowing that his brother, King T'Chaka, would not support his ambitions, he sought out Ulysses Klaue, divulged the secrets of Wakanda and vibranium, assisted him in infiltrating Wakanda, and helped him steal a significant amount of vibranium.

However, unbeknownst to N'Jobu, his most trusted confidant, James, whose real name was Zuri, was actually a Wakandan spy. He had been dispatched by King T'Chaka to monitor the execution of N'Jobu's mission.

Ultimately, N'Jobu's plan was exposed. When T'Chaka arrived in person and took him back to Wakanda to be judged by the Council of Elders, N'Jobu attempted to shoot and kill Zuri for his betrayal but was killed by T'Chaka.

Afterward, T'Chaka did not bring N'Jobu's wife and child back to Wakanda, abandoning them in the slums of the United States.

From the notes left by his father N'Jobu, Eric Killmonger learned about his life and understood N'Jobu's beliefs and past actions.

N'Jobu had documented many aspects of Wakanda and the Black Panther in his notes. Eric then deduced from the leopard claw wound depicted on N'Jobu's chest that it was Black Panther T'Chaka who had killed his father!

For T'Chaka, who had killed his father and abandoned them – orphans and a widow – in the slums without care, leaving them to fend for themselves, Eric's heart seethed with hatred, and he constantly sought revenge.

Through relentless effort, Eric Killmonger transformed from a fatherless child in the slums into a highly educated, exceptionally intelligent, and powerful warrior, eventually aligning himself with Wakanda's greatest enemy, Ulysses Klaue.

But what truly surprised Chen Mo was that Eric Killmonger was actually a Hydra spy!

It transpired that Hydra had discovered Wakanda's existence long ago and had conducted comprehensive monitoring and investigation, also uncovering the true identity of N'Jobu and his collaboration with Ulysses Klaue.

However, before Hydra could take further action, T'Chaka had suddenly arrived on Wakanda's advanced spacecraft and inadvertently killed N'Jobu while saving Zuri.

Consequently, Hydra simply recruited the abandoned Eric Killmonger into their ranks, training him from a young age, shaping him into a warrior loyal to Hydra.

In the movie, Eric Killmonger seized the throne from T'Challa, becoming the new king of Wakanda, and consumed the heart-shaped herb to gain formidable power.

Witnessing this, Chen Mo conceived certain ideas, while also harboring a slight concern that the heart-shaped herb might negate the effects of brainwashing, restore Killmonger's original consciousness, and lead to his betrayal of Hydra.

Therefore, Chen Mo summoned Old Albert, and Albert's words dispelled Chen Mo's doubts.

"No."

Albert shook his head and said definitively.

"Eric Killmonger has been trained by Hydra since childhood. Our influence on him is subtle and deeply ingrained. It wasn't a simple brainwashing to alter his original consciousness; rather, it was a complete cultivation and shaping by us."

At this point, Albert looked at Chen Mo.

"Loyalty to Hydra has penetrated his very soul. No matter how powerful he becomes, this will not change."

Chen Mo felt completely reassured after hearing Albert's explanation.

Seeing Chen Mo's relief, Albert elaborated on the brainwashing methods currently employed by Hydra.

Since brainwashing or training methods like the one used on Eric Killmonger from childhood required significant time and resources, only individuals selected from a young age, possessing exceptional talents, and being groomed as core Hydra members were eligible for it.

They would initially be deployed to various parts of the world to perform tasks as spies and intelligence operatives. After accumulating certain merits, completing complex and rigorous inspections, proving their abilities, and demonstrating absolute loyalty to Hydra, they would be permitted to enter the top-secret base and officially become core Hydra members.

Here, they would be enhanced with super-soldier serum, and then, depending on the specific situation, they would either remain in the top-secret base or return to the outside to continue performing more confidential and crucial tasks.

At the opportune moment, they would be recalled to the base, cryogenically frozen, and transformed into Winter Soldiers!

Eric Killmonger was currently in the probationary period, but his probation was nearing completion. He had demonstrated perfect performance in all aspects – loyalty, strength, wisdom, and exceptional ability to handle situations. Soon, he would qualify to enter the top-secret base and undergo strengthening.

In addition, Crossbones Brock Rumlow was also in this stage and performing equally well.

However, one of them had joined the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.) and become the captain of a special forces unit, essentially a law enforcement officer, while the other had aligned himself with the arms dealer, assisting him in stealing and robbing vibranium weapons – a mercenary who had killed countless individuals and was a bandit.

There were many individuals like them within Hydra's ranks. They were embedded in governments, organizations, and even gangs worldwide, operating under various identities. While providing Hydra with a wealth of critical intelligence, they also undertook their own distinct tasks.

Currently, they could only be considered Hydra's recruits. In the future, they would become the backbone of Hydra.

In addition to the foolproof brainwashing method of cultivating individuals like Eric Killmonger and Brock Rumlow from childhood, Hydra also possessed simpler and more direct brainwashing techniques.

Through specialized equipment and hypnosis, a target could be brainwashed in a short period, but this method had obvious drawbacks. Post-brainwashing, their mental state would be compromised, hindering their ability to complete complex tasks. They could only be utilized as soldiers.

This reminded Chen Mo of the Winter Soldier in the movie.

After being brainwashed, he became somewhat unconscious, only knowing to execute tasks according to orders. He lacked a sense of self, and his previous memories and emotions were erased.

However, this brainwashing method was not secure. Just like the Winter Soldier, when subjected to sufficiently strong stimuli, there was a high likelihood of his original memories and mind resurfacing, breaking free from control, necessitating regular re-brainwashing to maintain his conditioned state.

Of course, Hydra was also actively researching more efficient and stable brainwashing methods, capable of conditioning a target in a shorter timeframe with lasting effects. The ultimate goal was to retain the brainwashed subject's memory and cognitive abilities, enabling them to complete more complex tasks rather than simply becoming killing machines.

Eric Killmonger's loyalty was not in question, so Chen Mo's idea could be implemented.

Later that day, Eric Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue had just successfully snatched a weapon crafted from ancient vibranium from a small museum.

Eric Killmonger, driving away from the scene, was interrupted by the sudden ringing of his cell phone in his pocket.

Eric retrieved his phone while driving, and the incoming call number displayed on the screen caused his eyes to narrow.

He glanced at Ulysses Klaue beside him. At this moment, Klaue was absorbed in the joy of acquiring another large piece of precious vibranium and paid little attention to Eric's ringing phone.

Observing this, Eric Killmonger feigned indifference and answered the call.

A low and cold voice, devoid of emotion, reached Eric's ears from the receiver, inaudible to Ulysses Klaue beside him.

"Target, Ulysses Klaue, mission, kill!"

The voice on the phone hung up immediately after speaking. Eric Killmonger continued to drive the car and returned the phone to his pocket. He appeared unfazed, but his eyes turned cold as he looked at the road ahead, a trace of murderous intent flickering within them.

Ulysses Klaue, sitting next to him, noticed nothing unusual. He was still happily toying with the vibranium weapon he had just obtained, calculating its potential selling price.

Eric Killmonger drove at lightning speed and soon arrived at their temporary hideout, stopping in front of a remote warehouse.

"We are going to get rich!"

"Let's celebrate!"

Ulysses Klaue turned his head and grinned at Eric, then opened the car door and got out, walking towards the warehouse with the vibranium weapon.

Eric Killmonger exited the car behind him, but did not follow Klaue to the warehouse. Instead, he slowly drew the pistol from the holster on his waist and pointed it at Ulysses Klaue's back.

"Bang!"