Chapter 494: I Am Hydra (VIII)

Even Solomon himself could no longer remember when he first started plotting against S.H.I.E.L.D.

Perhaps it was when he saw the eagle-and-shield emblem in Da Vinci's manuscripts. Or maybe it was the first time he stepped into the ruins of the Eternal City and was struck by the grandeur of architecture imbued with the wisdom of countless sages. Perhaps it was when the Grandmaster handed him the Holy Sword, appointing him as the Earth Mother's emissary, the Lord of Earth, and the rightful ruler of humanity, igniting within him the determination to fulfill his mission at all costs.

At first, he had only planned to establish an organization to eliminate black magic creatures on Earth, allowing Kamar-Taj to better handle the pressures of extra-dimensional threats. But as time passed, his vision grew more complete. He gained a deeper understanding of the threats facing Earth and humanity as a whole, and from that understanding, a grand plan was born. All plans were young and had time to be refined, with plenty of room for adjustments and improvements—like the artificial intelligence Samaritan.

Solomon had originally intended to use the AI to control the Helicarriers. But now, he had a better option.

As Sam went off to speak with Steve Rogers, Solomon got up, preparing to leave.

Natasha Romanoff, using the excuse of needing some air, followed him outside. Of everyone present, no one felt the impending destruction of S.H.I.E.L.D. as deeply as she did. But she also knew she couldn't stop it. Maria Hill might have some idea of what Nick Fury had planned next, but Natasha knew nothing. All she knew was that her new home was about to be reduced to ruins—and she would be the one to cast the first handful of dirt onto its grave.

The weight of that realization was suffocating. Her mind drifted to the Avengers. That organization relied on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s legitimacy—if S.H.I.E.L.D. ceased to exist, what would become of the Avengers?

"What do you plan to do after all of this is over?" she asked, looking up at Solomon's face.

She remembered the first time she met him—he had looked like nothing more than a tall student. Now, he was taller than Captain Rogers himself, with the faint shadow of freshly shaven stubble on his lips and features that were gradually becoming more defined.

In the blink of an eye, he had grown up. Yet, those obsidian-like eyes of his had always flickered with layers of complex thoughts—thoughts Natasha could never quite grasp. It was as if the mystic's mind was an enormous supercomputer, and the emotions that showed through his gaze were nothing more than small, discarded files. She could almost hear the hard drive spinning.

Time truly flew.

"I don't mean going back to school or anything like that. You know what I mean."

"I plan to raise a few ostriches. Maybe some horses too, in Whitchurch-on-Thames," he said.

To those unfamiliar with him, it might have sounded like he was expressing a hopeful vision of his future.

"I spent a lot of money, but the renovations on the estate are moving too slowly. Everything costs money—but at least it's being well spent."

Solomon tried to picture Bayonetta and Jeanne dressed in equestrian attire, riding across the morning-lit fields. Or perhaps Pegasos galloping through the wooded terrain alongside the other horses. He squinted slightly, as if the reflection of the lush green grass was shining directly into his eyes.

"Every morning, I'll be able to ride through the pastures—either on horseback or on an ostrich. In the afternoon, I can take a boat down the Thames," he said. "Do you still have your ticket, Miss? That ticket allows you to depart from the manor's private dock."

The implication was clear—he was asking Natasha Romanoff if she wanted to be part of that life, away from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the political chaos that would follow. He had the means to ensure her escape from the mess. Congressional inquiries into her actions wouldn't be a problem for him. More than that, he needed her—to help him locate the hidden S.H.I.E.L.D. archives that Nick Fury had buried away.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collection didn't contain too many world-ending supernatural artifacts (those were kept in Kamar-Taj's sanctuaries), but it was still a major source of trouble. More importantly, Solomon had long suspected that Nick Fury knew the whereabouts of every Skrull on Earth. To exterminate those shapeshifting aliens, he needed to dig through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s records for clues.

Even during their recent deal—when Solomon had coaxed, deceived, and extorted Fury for information—the man had firmly denied ever using Skrulls to work for either S.H.I.E.L.D. or himself.

Natasha understood the underlying message, but she merely smiled without responding.

She already knew about the estate Solomon had purchased in Oxfordshire. But she wasn't Nick Fury—she had no interest in chasing down the sources of his unexplained wealth or his unusual connections. As a high-priority surveillance target, she was also aware that he had recently purchased massive amounts of pure silver, gold, and gemstones. But she didn't have the energy to ask why. That wasn't her mission.

"And what would your girlfriend think?" she teased, deliberately bringing up the witch.

As expected, Solomon's expression instantly turned conflicted. The female agent chuckled, patting him on the shoulder before turning back toward the base.

"You know how to reach me."

Solomon watched her go. The hesitation that had been on his face vanished in an instant.

"And I need you," he said in a deep voice. "I need you badly. You won't regret it."

Natasha Romanoff waved a hand over her shoulder, disappearing into the dimly lit corridor without looking back.

——————————————

Following a violent explosion, a massive breach appeared in what had once been a disguised, abandoned building. The reinforced concrete stood no chance against the might of the heavy cannon.

Another round fired. The colossal tank slammed against the earth like a hammer, shattering the asphalt road beneath it.

Vibranium could absorb kinetic energy—but only up to a limit. By redirecting the energy elsewhere, the metal could continue to absorb impacts. Shuri had designed a system that allowed the tank to release stored energy as a protective barrier, repelling nearby enemies when necessary.

As soon as the signal was given, Ora led five other power-armored androids into the collapsing structure, ignoring the risk. Their suits' air filtration systems kept the dust at bay, while their thermal imaging sensors illuminated every figure hiding in the swirling debris.

Even after the bombardment, there were still survivors inside the building. The shelling hadn't directly hit most of them—many casualties came from the structural collapse.

This was a Homeland Security base, currently leased out to a private intelligence contractor. In a country where everything could be bought for the right price, national security was no exception. If someone had enough money, even a system capable of monitoring an entire society's online activities could be run by private hands.

What Solomon wanted was here. The AI in the Eternal City had provided the coordinates—now, the Sisterhood was launching their assault.

As they blasted open a steel door, the distant sound of the tank's machine gun suddenly roared to life. An explosion followed. The massive war machine rolled over the rubble, moving to a new position.

Ora clicked her tongue—she had just received an update from the crew.

"Pick up the pace," she ordered through her helmet's comm system.

"We have company!"

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