C185(1)

"Director Fury, I need a data analysis team—preferably experts in computing, biological research, and psychological analysis."

After returning home, Sharon Carter requested additional support from Nick Fury. 

On her flight earlier, she had overheard something about super soldiers, but the source had been tight-lipped. Now, she needed more logistical teams to investigate further.

On the other end of the line, Nick Fury asked, "Did you find anything?"

"Some useful leads."

Sharon pulled up the relevant reports as she spoke. "The Pent Group doesn't just have military backing. While their biopharmaceutical company is profitable, its revenue alone wouldn't be enough to acquire Berlek Mining and New Delhi Metallurgy. Someone has been facilitating these deals behind the scenes. The mergers have already gone through, and we're ready to send in a team to investigate."

A quick glance at the news confirmed her suspicions—despite the scale of the acquisitions, there had been barely any media coverage. 

"Someone is deliberately suppressing information about the Pent Group," she continued. "A deal of this size, and there wasn't even a press conference. If they really have access to super soldier serum, then their Biological Research Center and Pent Manor are our best leads."

Nick Fury's voice came through the line. "Track down everything you can. I'll have Coulson put together a specialist team to assist you. Whoever you need, you'll get them."

The increasing number of super soldier squads within the U.S. military had drawn S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention. 

Mass-producing super soldiers required highly advanced technology—technology that now seemed to be in private hands.

What concerned S.H.I.E.L.D. even more was that beyond working with the military, the Pent Group had also developed a regenerative agent—a substance with partial effects of the super soldier serum.

Despite extensive internal analysis, S.H.I.E.L.D. had too few materials and samples to make progress. 

Other than confirming the regenerative agent's ability to rapidly heal human tissue, they had little to show for their investigations.

And unknowns were dangerous.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. fully understood the true strength and influence behind the Pent Group, maybe the organization wouldn't be as concerned. 

But until then, they had to uncover every secret that might pose a threat to Earth and humanity.

Sharon pressed on. "Director Fury, we should also send another agent to infiltrate Betty Ross's network. She's the key to all of this. But she's been in Sokovia for two months on a charity mission—"

"Coulson will contact you soon," Fury interrupted.

And with that, he ended the call.

Sharon exhaled, staring at her screen.

Fury hadn't given a straight answer, but she could guess what it meant. He had already sent someone.

The hierarchy within S.H.I.E.L.D. was highly compartmentalized—even internally.

Field agents working undercover rarely knew who their colleagues were, even if they were on the same mission.

And while Sharon was a Level 5 agent, she was still a rookie in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s upper ranks.

For now, she could only wait.

Only an eighth-level agent is considered a top-secret operative in S.H.I.E.L.D., granting them access to all classified information up to level seven.

"Alright, give it some time..."

Sharon Carter clicked her tongue in frustration. Gathering intelligence was proving to be far more difficult than she expected. 

The opportunity to meet Kain Pent was extremely rare. Even after spending months alongside Betty Ross, she had only managed to see him once—and that was only because she had subtly encouraged Betty to send a plane to pick him up.

Meanwhile, after handing over new weapon technology, Vanko and his son had begun research and development. 

The construction of the underground Hive was now entirely in the hands of the Red Queen, whose superior planning abilities allowed her to efficiently coordinate a workforce of 100,000 without issue.

Currently, Vanko and his son were focused on upgrading Umbrella's weapons. Standard soldiers would soon be equipped with advanced personal firearms, while super soldiers would receive customized gear designed to maximize their unique abilities.

At present, Umbrella had only five known super soldiers operating publicly—but in the shadows, there were 21 more. 

However, Kain had decided to halt further super soldier production, as the biomechanical warriors proved to be stronger, cheaper, and more obedient.

After returning from Sokovia, Betty Ross had also brought back the Maximoff twins.

Since it was already late when they arrived in New York, Betty took them directly to Pent Manor in Brook Forest.

When she entered, she immediately stepped forward to hug Kain and said in a low voice, "It was too late to arrange anything else, so I brought them straight here."

"I see," Kain replied.

He then turned his attention to Pietro and Wanda, offering a calm yet inviting smile. "Sit down, both of you. I know you have a lot of questions, but the fact that you're here suggests you're open to joining me. I'll do my best to answer whatever you need to know."

The twins exchanged a glance before Pietro spoke up first.

"Mr. Pent, why did you seek us out?"

"Because your abilities hold incredible research value," Kain replied without hesitation.

He leaned forward slightly. "Pietro Maximoff—your maximum recorded sprint speed is 100 meters in 3 seconds, making you faster than Captain America, even after he was enhanced with the super soldier serum. Wanda Maximoff—you possess telekinetic abilities strong enough to lift heavy objects, as well as the ability to influence minds. Fortunately, you showed restraint and didn't attack Betty along the way, which tells me you have control over your powers."

…

patreon.com/Vks_sh