Chapter 87

Facing Colonel Rhodes's gun, the woman turned around, revealing a stunning face full of exotic charm. Her beauty was both mature and captivating, yet she carried an opposite sense of purity. The combination of the two gave her an indescribable allure.

Her green eyes sparkled like gems, filled with emotion, and just looking at them made the air feel warmer. Rhodes swore that any man would be instantly captivated by the woman in front of him.

He found himself momentarily stunned, a dangerous lapse for a soldier. Thankfully, he quickly regained his composure, suppressing the heat rising within him. Tightening his grip on the pistol, he aimed it directly between her eyes.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Rhodes demanded.

This was a military camp. Even though there weren't many soldiers outside, it wasn't the kind of place an ordinary person could just walk into.

"Nice to meet you, Colonel Rhodes," the woman said with a soft smile, her red lips curving upwards. She didn't seem fazed by the gun at all. Instead, she spoke in a low, almost teasing voice, "We are not enemies, and I don't think the thing in your hand poses any threat to me."

"Yeah?" Rhodes replied, maintaining a calm and dismissive demeanor, though in reality, sweat was beginning to bead on his forehead. He was starting to realize that this woman might not be bluffing. Despite her beauty, there was something about her that felt monstrously dangerous—like she wore the skin of a human, but hid the ferocity of a beast underneath.

Just looking into her striking green eyes filled him with an inexplicable fear. It was unsettling, and for the first time in a long while, Colonel Rhodes felt his fighting spirit waver.

It was terrifying.

"The reason I'm here is the same as yours," the woman said calmly, showing no aggression. "And I appreciate your help."

She didn't make any hostile moves. Instead, she simply turned and walked out of the camp. Rhodes kept his gun trained on her, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't muster the courage to pull the trigger.

Just before leaving, the woman spoke one last time.

"Oh, by the way, Colonel Rhodes, I hope you won't mind if I borrow one of your cars."

The woman's graceful figure vanished completely into the blinding white light outside. It wasn't until Rhodes heard the familiar crackling of the military vehicle's engine starting up, followed by the sound fading into the distance, that he fully relaxed. His body, which had been tense with adrenaline, suddenly felt like it had just come out of a sauna—his forehead dripping with sweat, and his back soaked with cold perspiration. He breathed heavily, his eyes wide with the fear of having just narrowly escaped something terrifying.

"Damn that woman," Rhodes muttered under his breath, incredulous. No one had ever shaken him like that—not since his childhood, and certainly not since joining the military.

There had been no hostile stance, no harsh tone or threatening glare. In fact, everything about her—her posture, her gaze, her words—had been so calm, even gentle. And yet, that calmness made him feel as if death itself had been staring him in the face.

It had shaken him to his core, left him trembling and afraid.

Rhodes had a gut feeling that, just as the woman hinted, his trusted weapon would have been useless against her. If she had wanted to kill him, he realized, he wouldn't have had the courage to resist.

"This is insane. What the hell did I just encounter?" Rhodes muttered as he walked out of the camp, still overwhelmed by shock and fear.

When he stepped outside, a wave of confusion crossed his face. Soldiers were patrolling and organizing equipment as usual, completely oblivious to the fact that the woman had just driven off in one of their vehicles.

Rhodes stood there, stunned.

In the desert, a military open-top Humvee sped across the sand, kicking up clouds of yellow dust behind it. Natasha, dressed in a gray suit and short vest, was at the wheel. One hand gripped the steering wheel while the other rested casually on the door. Sunglasses perched on her face completed her look as she spoke while driving.

"That map will save us a lot of time," Natasha said. "With my knowledge and Haki, I'll be able to locate the remaining area easily. Don't worry, my current range of awareness is far broader than you think. You'll be ready to back me up when needed."

Yelena's enthusiastic voice echoed through the headset. Natasha smirked, her red lips curling slightly as she glanced up at the blazing sun in the sky. Despite the intense heat, Natasha didn't react to the harsh rays of the desert sun.

After receiving the super-soldier serum, her strength had increased tenfold. According to Leon, the serum had not only enhanced her physical abilities but had also helped her transcend the limits of human genetics.

In two words: evolution.

The most noticeable effect was not just the improvement in her physical abilities but also her adaptability. Her body now adjusted itself automatically to harsh environments. Even in the scorching 40-degree heat, she didn't feel the burn of the sun's rays or the discomfort of ultraviolet exposure.

Beyond that, her intelligence and Haki had also been significantly enhanced.

Maybe she had a natural talent in this area. Aside from Wanda, her Haki was far stronger than anyone else's, and she could use its power to suppress her own aura, even affecting the vision, hearing, and other senses of those around her.

That's how she was able to walk into the military camp, drive off in the Humvee, and yet the soldiers acted like they hadn't even seen her.

Her Observation Haki allowed her to sense the presence of others, detect objects outside her field of vision, and gauge their location and numbers. The range varied from person to person, but Natasha's Haki could spread over more than ten kilometers. She was like a walking, human radar.

The Middle East was vast, and while Rhodes had spent months searching large areas, her abilities saved her a lot of trouble.

As she drove, Natasha extended her Haki, scanning the surroundings.

"Forty-five degrees, thirteen kilometers to the east—peaceful, a settlement with calm energy," she muttered. "Sixty degrees, twelve kilometers to the west—also peaceful. Thirty degrees, eight kilometers to the south—fewer people, agitated atmosphere, small armed forces."

"Hmm?" Natasha's senses suddenly picked up on something. A large group of people. Their aura was cruel and bloodthirsty, like wild dogs. But what caught her attention most was the presence of two distinct auras, one of which felt heavily suppressed.

Natasha's eyes lit up. "Yelena, I think I've found it."

"Finally? I'll be right there," Yelena replied.