The moment Lin Xuan’s words fell, several figures silently glided out from the shadows deeper in the alley, like melting ice.
Their movements were fluid and agile, each step landing with absolute stability.
They took up positions that were scattered yet subtly formed a mutually supporting formation, exuding a cold, assembly-line-like efficiency for killing.
Their aura was completely different from the loud-mouthed, bluffing thugs from before.
Their gazes, sharp as knives, locked onto Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan observed them, his eyes discreetly sweeping over their waists and underarms.
The hard outlines concealed beneath their ordinary casual clothes, the highly coordinated tactical teamwork in their movements, and that familiar coldness deep in their eyes…
*This feeling… there’s no mistake.*
*These are Hydra’s elite agents.*
*It seems Councilman Stern’s identity is far more complex than that of the hypocritical politician he presents to the public.*
A deeper sneer curled Lin Xuan’s lips.
With unconcealed provocation, he spoke again.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly through the narrow alley.
“What? Did Stern really send you small fry to die?”
“Where’s Bucky? Did that metal-armed giant not come?”
“I thought I’d get to trade a few more blows with him. I’m not planning on running away this time.”
As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
The lead Hydra agent’s icy expression, which he had maintained the entire time, instantly cracked.
His pupils shrank sharply as a jolt of disbelief and horror surged through his body.
The target… not only had he accurately called out Councilman Stern’s name, but he also knew their identities as Hydra!
Even more terrifying… he knew of the Winter Soldier’s existence?!
And from his tone… it seemed he had even fought the Winter Soldier before?!
This… this was too far from the image of the “suddenly emerged young scientist who mastered core technology” in the intel!
The intel was fatally flawed!
After a brief shock, their deep-seated professional training forced them to suppress their churning emotions.
A fierce glint flashed in the lead agent’s eyes as he exchanged a resolute glance with his companions.
The mission must be completed!
No matter what trump cards the target held or what background he had, they had to take him down today!
And bring him back!
“Move!”
A low command.
Five Hydra agents shot forward like arrows released from a bow.
They moved without a moment’s hesitation, their coordination flawless.
Two feinted from the front, one struck from the flank, another circled behind, and the fifth raised his hand, seemingly preparing to deploy a restraint or sedative device.
It was a textbook special ops assault—efficient, precise, and lethal.
The cold glint of daggers, the whistling rush of batons, and even the crackle of tasers converged on Lin Xuan’s vital points from all angles.
The alleyway erupted into a chaotic melee. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Faced with an assault far more professional than Hammer’s earlier thugs, Lin Xuan didn’t even flinch.
The strength, speed, and neural reflexes granted by the Super Soldier Serum were fully unleashed.
His figure flickered like a ghost in the narrow space.
*Thud!*
The agent on his left thrust a dagger toward his heart.
Lin Xuan parried it with a flick of his wrist, the sheer force numbing the agent’s arm and nearly disarming him.
Simultaneously, Lin Xuan’s right elbow struck backward like lightning, slamming into the agent’s floating ribs.
“Ugh!” The agent groaned, his body involuntarily doubling over.
Before he could recover, Lin Xuan’s knee smashed into his jaw.
*Crack!*
With the crisp sound of breaking bone, the agent collapsed.
A baton swung from the front, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle as it aimed for Lin Xuan’s head.
Without even looking up, Lin Xuan’s left arm muscles bulged as he blocked the strike dead.
*Clang!*
The baton rebounded high into the air from the force of the impact.
Lin Xuan’s right hand shot out in one fluid motion.
His fingers hooked like talons, locking onto the agent’s wrist with pinpoint accuracy.
He twisted it violently.
*Crack!*
The wrist twisted at an unnatural angle, and the baton clattered to the floor.
Immediately, Lin Xuan delivered a clean, powerful straight punch to the agent’s face.
His nose collapsed, and blood sprayed.
The agent met the same fate as his comrade.
Another agent had circled around, creeping up behind Lin Xuan to ambush him with a stun baton.
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Lin Xuan spun around with a vicious whip kick.
The kick whistled through the air, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, and slammed into the agent’s side.
*Thud!*
The heavy impact echoed through the air.
Seeing the situation turn dire, the last agent tried to retreat and create distance.
But Lin Xuan was faster.
He pushed off the ground with his toes, launching himself forward like a cannonball, closing the gap in an instant.
Before the agent could even process the horror, Lin Xuan’s palm had already clamped down on his gun-wielding wrist.
He squeezed gently.
“Agh!”
A scream tore through the air as the pistol fell helplessly to the ground.
Lin Xuan’s other hand formed a blade, striking the agent lightly on the side of his neck.
The last agent’s eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
The entire encounter had lasted barely a dozen seconds.
Five well-trained, highly coordinated Hydra elite agents had been utterly dismantled like cutting melons and vegetables, without even forcing Lin Xuan to reveal his true strength.
Lin Xuan stood his ground, gently rotating his wrist, his breathing not the slightest bit labored.
He even had the leisure to nudge the leg of an unconscious agent at his feet.
“Tsk. A bit stronger than the last four, but only by a little.”
Right on cue, the system’s notification chimed in his mind.
[Defeated Hydra Elite Agent x5, gained +10 Technology Points.]
[Current Technology Points: 40.]
Lin Xuan clapped his hands together, brushing off non-existent dust.
He surveyed the scene: a chaotic mix of Hammer’s thugs and Hydra agents, either groaning in pain or unconscious on the ground.
It was quite a sight.
Just then—
*Whoosh—BOOM!*
With the familiar roar of repulsors piercing the air, a red-and-gold figure descended from the sky!
The thrusters’ blast kicked up dust and trash bags from the ground.
Tony Stark, clad in his flashy Mark IV Iron Man armor, landed steadily at the alley’s entrance.
With a *clack*, the faceplate slid open, revealing Tony’s face and his sunglasses.
He had rushed over to help, worried Lin Xuan couldn’t handle it alone.
But the moment he landed, he was met with the scene before him.
Lin Xuan stood unscathed in the center, surrounded by a sea of bodies on the ground.
Tony raised an eyebrow in surprise and whistled.
“Wow! Finished already?”
“I thought I’d catch up in time to help you beat a few of these idiots… You’re faster than I am.”
He strode forward, his armor emitting a faint mechanical whir.
His gaze swept over the fallen men’s attire and gear, lingering on the “professionals” who stood out from the rest.
The casual expression on Tony’s face gradually faded, replaced by a sharp, piercing intensity.
He knelt down, inspecting the gear of one of the unconscious agents and spotting their hidden tattoos.
“Wait… these guys…”
“Their gear, their tactics… Damn it, is this Hydra?”
Tony shot to his feet, his gaze fixed on Lin Xuan, his voice laced with grim seriousness.
Lin Xuan nodded.
“Looks like our Councilman Stern isn’t as clean as he pretends to be.”
As they spoke, the system’s notification chimed in Lin Xuan’s mind.
[Side Quest: The Mastermind — Completed!]
[Reward: +50 Technology Points.]
[Current Technology Points: 90.]
*A fifty percent bonus!* Lin Xuan’s heart leaped.
Tony and Lin Xuan locked eyes, both seeing a flicker of grim understanding in the other’s gaze.
A member of Congress… a Hydra agent.
That fool Hammer getting involved—there was no doubt Stern, or rather Hydra, was pulling the strings from the shadows.
(End of Chapter)