At the summit of a hill on the outskirts of Budapest, Captain America and Tony Stark stood side by side, gazing into the distance at the ruins of Baron Strucker's castle, which had been bombed into rubble. Tony was still trying to maintain a lighthearted front. "We did it, Cap. Hank plans to use Pym Particles combined with some other agents to fill in the entire underground city. It'll prevent Budapest from sinking in the future. A massive number of Hydra high-rankers have been arrested, and Ultron has pulled a mountain of data from their computers. We just have to follow the list and pick them up."
"This certainly isn't all of them, Tony." Steve looked at the distant ruins, feeling an inexplicable sense of irritability rising within him. "One could even say Hydra hasn't lost at all. They've simply discarded what was expendable to make us believe we've won."
"We all know Hydra hasn't been completely rounded up. Arnim Zola escaped, and the Serpent Society is in the wind. Their weapon expansion projects and modified assassins were taken with them." Tony looked at the Captain. "But their secrets have been laid bare. Their origin—Thor says it's some forgotten ancient god; their intelligence—they have no secrets left to keep from Ultron; their bases of operation—every single one of their strongholds has been exposed. Without question, victory is ours."
"We captured Hydra's supreme leader, Strucker. A terrifying Hydra officer born in 1922 who has been active since your era. Their time is running out."
The Captain looked at the castle ruins in the distance and eventually shook his head.
"Give it a week at most, Tony, and you'll realize the war isn't over."
"We've merely exposed the enemy to the sunlight and sounded the bugle. But remember, the end of a war is never decided by just one side."
In a chain of islands in the Pacific, there was an island that did not exist on any map. Ships sailing nearby would involuntarily veer away; whether in memory or in digital data, the island remained "unrecorded."
This island was the true headquarters of Hydra.
"Good evening, Gorgon, or perhaps good afternoon." Baron Zemo arrived at the Hydra Island docks and saw the man waiting there, clad in Japanese Sengoku-period samurai armor. "How is your Hand performing?"
"Operating normally. Ever since Wilson Fisk went to prison, The Hand has been gradually infiltrating New York. We have already clashed with that group of clowns calling themselves the Defenders. Their leader is an excellent martial artist, but not enough. He will become the leader of The Hand; he will become the 'Black Sky'."
Zemo was in no mood for a long-winded lecture on The Hand. During World War II, due to the German-Japanese alliance, Hydra had made contact in Japan with an organization then known as "Snakeroot," which worshipped a certain evil Elder God. Out of a desire to expand influence in Japan, Zemo had gone there, defeated the leader of Snakeroot, and merged the entire organization into Hydra.
After Japan's defeat, this organization existed as a Yakuza syndicate while secretly training its own armed forces—which later became The Hand.
They had always yearned for their master to descend upon the world and create a "Shadowland." Truthfully, Zemo didn't know what that was, but if it was useful, he would use it.
"Very well. What is the status of Hydra in Japan?"
"There is a young man named Kenichiro Harada whom I find quite interesting. His father is a Japanese crime lord of significant strength. Kenichiro is his father's only son, yet because he is a mutant, he is despised by his father. His ignorant father believes himself a samurai and views his son's superpowers as impure. Foolish, truly."
Zemo listened to Gorgon's rambling until he finally reached the conclusion: "If Hydra is willing to help him seize control of his family and imprison his father, he is willing to pledge his loyalty to Hydra."
"We don't need just any random stray. What is his ability?"
"He generates an energy similar to tachyon particles. It can easily destroy the interatomic forces between atoms, causing material structures to disintegrate. This allows him to destroy any metal product."
"Any metal?"
"We tested it with Adamantium and Vibranium. All of them."
Zemo finally broke into a smile.
"Excellent. Keep an eye on him. After all, Hydra is about to receive a flood of bad news very soon. Only those willing to join at a time like this are worth evaluating."
Gorgon nodded and followed. Zemo walked all the way toward the central Great Hall. "That idiot Strucker has been captured. I have my own plans. Have you all decided who is in charge?"
Gorgon froze for a moment. Hydra adopted a decentralized management style to ensure that if one head died, someone could immediately take over. This multi-hub approach allowed Hydra to cut off one head so two more could grow, but it also created conflict: which head do you listen to?
In truth, if Zemo weren't so disinterested in Hydra's internal squabbles, he was the most qualified and senior person to take the position. His subordinates would follow him as Strucker's did; discord and friction would be suppressed.
But Zemo had no desire to deal with these people. He was currently only focused on how to kill Captain America and eliminate his colorful friends. As for Hydra? He wished them well.
"Regarding that, the High Council has already convened. Regardless of your stance, please listen to our report this time before deciding."
"I'm listening."
Zemo pushed open the castle doors. The lord's throne in the center of the hall was empty. Below it sat a massive round table designed in the shape of the Hydra emblem. Zemo brushed a microscopic parasite off his shoulder and sat upon the throne, looking down at the members of the Hydra High Council.
"Zola, report the losses. Dr. Faustus, can the multinational corporations controlled by Hydra remain unaffected? Hive, I want you to expand Hydra's intelligence resources again using your specialty: parasitism. Start immediately in the NATO countries where Hydra was supposedly uprooted. Nick Fury will no longer trust S.H.I.E.L.D.; this is our opportunity."
"Gorgon, you remain in charge of Japan. Kraken, you take charge of the NGOs; we need some leverage in public opinion. Alexander Pierce will handle the various governments and the World Security Council."
"If you haven't selected a leader yet, Madame Hydra, you take the seat." Zemo looked finally at this group of troublesome individuals. "As long as you preside over the affairs of Hydra Island, no one will feel slighted."
Everyone looked at Zemo in surprise. Madame Hydra asked bluntly, "Then what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to settle things with the Avengers."
There is no need to memorize all these names; just remember that Hydra still has many people left.
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