Deep beneath the city, inside the hidden core of Vanderbuilt Technologies, the air was silent except for the faint hum of machines. On the sixth underground floor, four enormous holographic screens floated in midair, glowing with shifting images. They replayed everything that had happened above ground—the assassinations, the explosions, the destruction of entire criminal networks—all captured from drone cameras, Modia Units, and satellite feeds. It looked less like a real event and more like a high-budget thriller film created for one man.
That man was Levi, seated lazily on a black leather sofa, holding a cup of steaming coffee. Behind him stood Izzy, her slim fingers gently pressing into his shoulders, massaging them with quiet precision. Levi hardly seemed to notice. His eyes were fully absorbed in the chaos displayed on the holographic screens.
On one screen, Henry and Dax tore through the criminal empire once ruled by the infamous Kingpin. They executed Kingpin cleanly and wiped out every subordinate, leaving no loose ends behind. On another screen, Thunder and Death, the elite operatives under Levi's command, carried out their mission flawlessly. The Blackwater Mercenary Headquarters exploded into flames, collapsing under the force of timed charges, ammo detonations, and Modia assault support. Bodies littered the ruined base, flames spread through shattered walls, and smoke curled into the night sky.
"Very good," Levi murmured, a soft smile forming. Izzy paused her massage for a moment, but Levi waved a hand casually. "Look at them. They all performed perfectly."
He already knew what he wanted next. These four weren't just assassins—they were the seed of something larger. Levi intended to expand them into a permanent underground force. A shadow organization. A weapon he could direct anywhere, anytime. Assassinations, sabotage, disappearances—anything that required dirty hands Levi could not risk staining personally as the president of Vanderbuilt Technologies.
But that was only the first purpose.
The second was far more profitable.
Chaos brings fear. Fear brings demand. Demand brings profit.
The moment New York spiraled into deeper chaos, the public and authorities would scramble for protection. And what company conveniently sold the most advanced protection units on the planet?
Vanderbuilt Technologies.
Manufacturers of Modia Units—police-type, security-type, medical-type. Machines designed to keep order in an increasingly unstable world.
"Exactly as planned," Levi whispered. "The more chaos, the more the city will need us."
It was a strategy perfected long ago by certain powerful industrialists—create the problem, then sell the solution. Levi followed the same model with a cold, efficient precision.
Three organizations had taken part in the earlier assassination attempts. Two were already annihilated. Only one remained.
HYDRA.
Strangely, Levi had not ordered a single operative to attack HYDRA's bases directly. And it wasn't because he couldn't. In fact, with his intelligence network—and especially with the digital abilities of Vanderbuilt—he had already located several HYDRA hiding spots. Thunder of Destruction had even destroyed some of their minor facilities.
But HYDRA was different. HYDRA was not meant to be destroyed.
HYDRA was meant to be used.
HYDRA was a tool. A seed waiting for Levi to cultivate into something far greater.
Before he could think deeper, the familiar voice of his mysterious internal system echoed:
[Congratulations. Your world points have reached 1,000,000.]
[You may now purchase a Low-Level World Heritage Card.]
[Proceed?]
"Yes," Levi answered instantly.
He knew why the numbers had jumped so dramatically. Killing Kingpin wasn't just killing a crime boss—it was altering the destiny of several Marvel heroes. Spider-Man, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage—Kingpin was a major enemy of all of them. Remove him, and the world timeline twisted like a snake changing direction. Every twist fed Levi more points.
But the system wasn't done.
[Critical Hit Triggered.]
[Reward Doubled.]
[Low-Level World Heritage Cards ×2 acquired.]
Levi laughed softly in delight as two glowing cards materialized before him, floating gently like feathers made of light. He tapped the first card.
[World Heritage Obtained: Kamen Rider No. 1]
The card shattered into radiant particles and pierced into Levi's forehead, dumping years of knowledge into his mind. Kawas, cybernetic enhancements, combat methods, human-modification blueprints—all the foundational technology from the world of the first Kamen Rider flooded him.
Levi absorbed it all in silence.
Then he whispered, "Interesting."
Kamen Rider No.1's villain organization—Shocker—was essentially a Nazi offshoot that specialized in turning humans into enhanced biological warriors. HYDRA… was almost the same thing.
A single idea struck Levi with crystal clarity:
"What if I turn HYDRA into Shocker?"
They already had the secrecy, the ideology, the network. Levi would simply give them the one thing they lacked—advanced human transformation technology. The best part? He wouldn't need to waste time doing experiments himself. HYDRA would handle all the dangerous, unethical work.
He snapped his fingers sharply.
"Yaz."
Izzy stepped forward immediately. "Yes, Mr. President?"
"Find the Winter Soldier," Levi said. "Move him to the third-floor underground lab."
The Winter Soldier—HYDRA's most prized creation—was the perfect test subject.
Minutes later, the elevator doors opened on the third underground floor. The air smelled of disinfectant and cold metal. This was not part of Vanderbuilt Technologies' official structure. This was Ziya Research, the forbidden sector that handled black experiments.
It was here that Levi had once attempted a terrifying process:
Artificial Chip Brain Implantation.
It was a secret technology derived from Modia research—a way to implant an artificial intelligence chip into a human brain. If awakened, the chip would override the host's personality entirely, turning the person into a perfect, obedient puppet.
Previous tests had all failed. Some subjects died instantly; others retained their personality, rendering the whole point useless. Eventually, Levi sealed the project away.
But today, the experiment was going to be revived.
Levi and Izzy stood behind a reinforced glass wall as the Winter Soldier lay strapped to the operating table. Four doctor-type Modia Units approached silently, activating surgical tools.
Levi raised his hand.
"Begin."
Bright surgical lights illuminated the room. Drills whirred to life. As sparks flew and metal bit into enhanced bone, Levi leaned forward, eyes shining with fascination. This was only the beginning. If this succeeded, then HYDRA's greatest asset would become his, modified from the inside out.
A smile slowly crept onto Levi's face.
"Soon… HYDRA won't even know it's working for me."
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