By the time Russell and Jasper had wrapped up the better part of their conversation, Dr.
Wilson walked into the conference room.
Dr.
Wilson now wore a relaxed expression, devoid of his earlier panic, once again looking every bit the confident top biologist.
“I’ve tallied the personnel and supplies in the base.
Take a look,” Dr.
Wilson said, handing a tablet to Russell.
Taking the tablet, Russell skimmed through it quickly.
Not understanding much about specialized equipment and pharmaceuticals, Russell bypassed those sections and focused on what he cared about most: personnel and funds.
Research Personnel: 59 remaining.
Security Soldiers: 32 remaining.
Research Funds: Just over $30 million USD.
“These funds are a bit low,” Russell remarked.
To an ordinary person, thirty-plus million dollars was a massive fortune, but for a research laboratory, it was pitifully meager.
“Most of our research materials and equipment were delivered directly from headquarters, so the operating funds kept on-site were never large.
This money was only meant to cover day-to-day expenses.
Whenever we needed specialized materials, we applied directly to HQ.”
As a top biologist who had led numerous high-end research projects, Dr.
Wilson knew all too well that these funds were far too scant for serious research.
Research burned through cash, and insufficient funding was a fatal blow to any project.
“Is there a way to transfer these funds from the base’s account to a private one without Hydra finding out?” Russell asked quietly as he passed the tablet to Jasper, sitting across from him.
“It can be done, but it’ll take some time,” Jasper replied.
Russell was a fighter and Wilson was a biologist; a matter like this could only be handled by a professional agent like Jasper.
“I’ll leave it in your hands then.”
Since Jasper said he had a way, Russell stopped worrying about it.
He stood up and turned to Dr.
Wilson.
“Doctor, inform everyone still alive to gather in the base lobby.
I’ll be there shortly.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
With that, Russell left the reception room alone.
When Russell had handed the tablet to Jasper, Dr.
Wilson had realized Jasper was now one of them.
The doctor was also curious as to how Russell had managed to turn a high-ranking Hydra operative like Jasper.
Leaving the reception room, Russell didn’t go anywhere else.
He returned to the room he had lived in for over a month, washed up quickly, and changed into a clean black uniform.
Since he was about to recruit new members, he needed to present a proper appearance.
After dressing, Russell studied himself in the mirror, suddenly struck by a strange sense of surrealism.
A little over a month ago, he had been a third-rate programmer and game designer.
And now, he was a genetically modified superhuman who had undergone a full regimen of Hydra agent training.
Even more amusing, he was now about to poach Hydra’s personnel and turn them into his own people.
“Life really is fucking unpredictable,” he muttered with a laugh.
Adjusting his collar one last time, Russell left his room and walked toward the base lobby.
On his way, whether by coincidence or design, he ran into Alan and Hathaway not long after stepping out.
Like Russell, Alan and Hathaway had changed into clean black uniforms, and like him, they had ripped off the Hydra insignia.
Neither Alan nor Hathaway spoke.
They simply fell in behind him in silence as the three walked together toward the lobby.
The lobby wasn’t particularly large, but it could easily accommodate seventy or eighty people.
Dr.
Wilson was already there, though Jasper was absent.
Jasper would be returning to Hydra headquarters as a spy, so appearing here would have been unwise.
Apart from Russell and Dr.
Wilson, everyone else assumed Jasper had already left the base to return to Hydra HQ.
“Hello, everyone.
Although most of you probably know me by now, allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Russell.”
“As for what my identity is… Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
well, that depends on the choice you make next.”
With that, Russell nodded to Dr.
Wilson.
Receiving the cue, Dr.
Wilson motioned to his assistants, who distributed the documents in their hands to the researchers and soldiers below.
“What you hold in your hands are your background files.”
“They contain your personal information, family details, social backgrounds, and so on.
Dr.
Wilson downloaded all of this directly from Hydra HQ’s database.”
Looking at the papers, the researchers and soldiers didn’t react strongly.
They had known about this when joining Hydra, so seeing the files didn’t cause much of an emotional stir.
“Not long ago, in the training grounds, I killed the mutated security director, Jack.”
“I can tell you clearly right now: I didn’t kill Jack to protect this base.
I did it strictly to settle a personal score between us.”
“Because this base holds no meaning for me.
And next, I am leaving it completely.”
“To be exact, I am leaving Hydra!”
When Russell uttered that final line, the crowd below instantly erupted into unrest.
Russell certainly wasn’t the only one who wanted to leave Hydra.
But to proclaim it so openly and decisively in plain view of everyone—he was probably the only one who dared.
Ignoring the whispering and murmuring below, Russell continued in a calm tone, “Of course, you can view this as betrayal or whatever else you like.
That is your prerogative.”
“I asked the doctor to gather you here simply to ask: is there anyone among you who wants to leave with me?”
“As of now, three people have decided to come with me: Dr.
Wilson, Alan, and Hathaway.”
“If you are willing to leave Hydra with me, you are more than welcome.
And I can guarantee that if you follow me, whatever Hydra paid you, I will double it!”
Watching the lobby through the surveillance monitor in the reception room, Jasper couldn’t help but frown.
He had expected Russell to employ some brilliant recruitment strategy, so he was shocked to see him resort to the most cliché financial incentive imaginable—and one that seemed completely backed by air.