"Young Master, we're just letting them go?"
Outside the villa, Shamila watched the armed soldiers load their dead onto a stealth jet. Her face was dark with displeasure as she whispered to Luca.
Luca shook his head calmly.
"What else can we do? They brought a stealth jet. Do you want me to shoot it down and then wait for a cruise missile to flatten my house?"
It was a helpless move. Even without the jet, Hydra had the resources to wipe him out. If Luca killed Strucker right here, a missile from some compromised US military base would be heading for Connecticut within minutes.
I'm still too weak.
Luca had acted tough, but it was a bluff.
In terms of deep resources, manpower, and political power, he was an ant compared to Hydra. Even just Strucker's branch was too much for him.
Tony Stark's Malibu mansion got blown up by a few helicopters, and he was Iron Man. Luca didn't have an Iron Legion.
"Besides, business is business. Does it matter who the partner is? This might be an opportunity."
Yes, Luca had agreed to Strucker's "cooperation."
But with a slight modification. He wouldn't just sell the Arbiter pistols for their experiment. Aurantius Group would establish a subsidiary in Sokovia to deal directly with the local government.
It seemed redundant since Strucker controlled the Sokovian government anyway, but it gave the Aurantius family a legitimate foothold in Sokovia.
Establishing an overseas base there isn't a bad idea.
But first, I need some insurance.
As Strucker's jet took off, Luca pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Hello? Tony."
"...Crazy brat! Who said I missed you?!"
"Listen, I have a business deal in Sokovia... Yeah, my mom's homeland. Some local partners. You interested in a piece of the action?"
"Hey, I'm trying to make you money here! What's with the attitude? Being the richest man means you're too good for profit?"
"Just you wait. When this deal goes through, you'll be calling me Daddy."
"Test the mech? Fine, fine. Wait until I finish upgrading the Boxer. I'll show you that 'Big is Beautiful'! Prepare to call me Daddy then."
"Alright, hanging up!"
Luca hung up, a satisfied smile on his face.
Okay. Reported to the authorities (Tony).
If things went south later, he had plausible deniability: See? I told Iron Man about it! I didn't know they were Hydra!
Ignoring Shamila's stunned look, Luca walked back into the house.
He still had one loose end to deal with.
The living room had been cleaned of bodies, but one tied-up figure remained in the corner.
Strucker had taken all his men, dead or alive, but he left Heinrich.
Heinrich's left eye socket was now an empty, bloody hole. He looked weak, defeated, stripped of hope.
Luca casually tossed a bloody mechanical eyeball in his hand.
---
[Kiroshi Optics "Oracle"]
Source: Cyberpunk 2077 (2/5)
Creator: Kiroshi Optics Lab
Status: Core Component (Electronic Cyber-Eye)
Synthesis Materials Needed: None.
Item Description: Implantable Cyberware. A core product of Kiroshi. Once successfully implanted, it scans the field of view to lock onto threatening enemies, highlighting traps, explosives, mechanical weapons, and other threats. Features 10x optical zoom.
Warning: This is just a mechanical eye. It requires a neural link chip and other implants to function. You can't just shove it into your socket and expect it to work.
---
Aside from the [Solar Skateboard] he made himself, this was the first time Luca had encountered a Core Component that required zero synthesis materials.
The system-enhanced version was similar to the one he gouged out of Heinrich's skull, but better. The original apparently had a remote self-destruct function.
Luca had no interest in replacing his own eye. And the functions overlapped with his [Tracking Glasses], which he could now mass-produce.
This was just tech reserve.
As for Heinrich?
Luca hadn't expected the man to be a double agent planted in Strucker's ranks by another Hydra faction.
When Luca pointed out the issue with Heinrich's left eye (the recording/transmission function), even Strucker was stunned.
Hydra wasn't unified. The factions spied on each other constantly.
Strucker was pissed. He realized his "secret" visit had been broadcast to his rivals (likely Pierce/Garrett from SHIELD-Hydra).
Luca didn't care if the deal was exposed. He was a "victim" of corporate deception, after all.
But Strucker would definitely settle the score with "The Clairvoyant" (Garrett) later.
"As for you... forget it. Longbow, take him somewhere and interrogate him."
Luca figured Strucker left Heinrich alive because he knew Luca wouldn't get anything useful out of him. Or maybe Strucker wanted Heinrich to spill Hydra secrets to Luca to drag him deeper into the mud?
Whatever. Standard procedure.
---
On the Jet.
Baron Strucker was fuming.
He had come to recruit Luca, not just partner with him. instead, he got humiliated by a teenager, lost a squad, and discovered a traitor in his ranks.
He needed a win.
He narrowed his eyes and called a subordinate.
"When we get back, send more men to investigate Captain America. Find out if he's really one of us! I have a use for him!"
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate ran off.
None of them noticed the tiny, black listening device stuck to the heel of Strucker's boot.