26 Child!

Natalia walked out of the room lightly, and after closing the door, seeing no one around, she groped for a while on the wall next to it. The general took out one of the bricks and retrieved numerous small toys. After equipping herself, she put the bricks back in their original places, leaving no visible seam.

Ivan, who had been secretly observing, felt a jump in his heart. He still didn't know when Natalia had hidden things there. After all, although Ivan was mentally strong, he had no interest in checking the wall for hidden items.

With her newly acquired equipment, Natalia gained more confidence and began to move stealthily.

Since the last time the base was sneakily attacked, the Red Skull had heightened vigilance. Patrols had increased, and every hour a team of Hydra members would pass by.

Natalia had received special agent training, making it easy for her to evade these patrol officers with her skills. She always used blind spots and gaps in their patrols to slip by unnoticed. This clever tactic kept her invisible.

Natalia continued her covert journey, sometimes leaping over walls, sometimes moving like a shadow. She soon arrived near the laboratory where Ivan was conducting research. Due to the Red Skull's emphasis on the superhuman serum, security around the laboratory was extremely tight. Four elite Hydra fighters stood guard at the door, their eyes scanning the surroundings.

Natalia knew that the next phase of her infiltration wouldn't be as easy. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and stepped out of her hiding place, heading toward the laboratory door step by step.

The guards at the door noticed Natalia's approach. They raised their guns and pointed them at her, shouting, "Who are you?"

"It's me, Natalia. Dr. Ivan requested my presence. He suddenly had an idea for his research but left his notebook in the lab. He asked me to retrieve it for him," Natalia calmly explained as she continued walking.

One of the guards recognized Natalia. After listening to her explanation, he slowly lowered his gun. However, at that moment, another guard had a sudden realization. His eyes narrowed, and he said, "Wait a minute"

Ivan had stressed the importance of security in the laboratory. Only authorized personnel were allowed in. He followed this rule strictly. If Ivan had indeed forgotten his notebook, he would retrieve it himself, no matter how late it was. He wouldn't send a woman to fetch it.

The guard was about to fire a warning shot, but it was too late. Natalia was within three steps of the door. She bent low, like a wild cat, and two thin needles shot out towards one guard. They groaned and fell. The other two guards reached for their guns, but Natalia was faster. She held a dagger in each hand and swiftly incapacitated them. The guards clutched their throats, unable to make a sound, and soon lost consciousness.

After dealing with the guards, Natalia breathed a sigh of relief. This gamble had been risky, and she wasn't entirely sure it would work, but fortunately, it had succeeded. She arranged the four unconscious guards against the wall to make it appear as though they were merely resting, and then she quietly entered the laboratory.

As Natalia made her way inside, Ivan approached and checked the guards. It was clear that two of them had been incapacitated by the poisoned needles, while the other two had been subdued.

"This woman is ruthless," Ivan thought.

"Those needles must have been coated with a deadly poison, and they're unable to speak due to their throats being sealed."

Ivan continued to watch Natalia's performance from the shadows. The female agent displayed a variety of skills, including blow darts, crossbows, poison needles, and drugs, dispatching guards one by one. After dealing with thirty guards, she finally reached her destination: the Superhuman Serum Production Room.

Natalia gazed at the six serums in an incubator, a satisfied smile on her face. Carefully, she placed the six serums into a small metal box. She then moved to another room, retrieved a test tube containing a light blue substance, and placed it in the same box, keeping it close to her body.

"It appears your objective was to acquire the superhuman serum all along," Ivan remarked suddenly.

"You weren't planted here by the Red Skull to monitor me, but rather you're a spy from another nation. However, Miss Natalia, you've taken all six serums, which is quite audacious. You've put me in a challenging position."

Natalia felt a cold sweat break out at the sudden statement. This was the Hydra base, and if she were discovered now, triggering the alarm, there would be no escape. She had to think quickly.

She turned to face Ivan and said, "Wait, you can't kill me. You'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Ivan chuckled, seemingly unimpressed by her words. "Your threat isn't very convincing," he replied. "Saying I can't kill you without reason doesn't hold much weight. You must have a reason. For example, you could claim to be my long-lost sister. So, are you here to make a choice? Do you want me to kill you, or...?"

"I'm not joking," Natalia interrupted.

"I'm pregnant."

A burst of laughter erupted from Ivan. He found her claim incredulous. "Your reason is quite something. It almost made me burst out laughing," he said.

However, Ivan had a unique ability; he could sense things with his mind. He focused on Natalia's abdomen and suddenly stopped laughing. He sensed the presence of a developing life, indicating that she was indeed pregnant, likely around three months along.

Ivan was left stunned, with only one thought in his mind: a child.

He was at a loss, unsure of what to do next. A child was not something he had anticipated. But as he stood there, contemplating, Natalia took advantage of the moment. A glint of steel flashed in her hand, and a throwing knife flew toward Ivan's throat. Simultaneously, she rolled away from his grasp.

Ivan was taken off guard but sensed the impending danger. He managed to twist his body, narrowly avoiding the knife, which embedded itself in his shoulder. Blood spurted from the wound as he staggered back. A few drops of blood splattered onto Natalia, but in her desperate escape, she paid them no heed. She dashed out of the laboratory before Ivan could react.

Ivan watched her retreat, torn between chasing her and letting her go. Two options played in his mind, but ultimately, he sighed and chose to let her escape.

He understood that if Natalia fell into the hands of the Red Skull, her fate would be sealed. He let her go, confident that she had contacts outside the base. If she were caught in this manner, she didn't deserve to be the future Black Widow.

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Author's note

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