Successful Plan

Over the next few days, Ivan secretly watched Dr. Erskine. Despite Erskine's efforts to focus on his experiment, distractions occasionally got the best of him. Ivan suspected he had made contact with American spies. Meanwhile, Ivan started preparing his plan, and Erskine's defection seemed like the perfect time to act.

Presently, the base's top three figures—Ivan, Erskine, and Red Skull—maintained a facade of unity, but secretly harbored their agendas.

Although Red Skull appeared to trust Ivan and Erskine, he had planted a bug in their laboratory, hinting at doubts about their loyalty. Ivan even glimpsed a hint of hostility in Red Skull's eyes, not directed at him but squarely at Erskine. It seemed that Red Skull remained dissatisfied with Erskine due to a previous accident during superhuman serum testing.

Red Skull pondered Erskine's necessity. Ivan feared that after a second round of superhuman serum, Erskine might meet his end.

On the surface, Ivan appeared devoted to aiding Red Skull, but in reality, he was using him as a means to an end. Ivan coveted the superhuman serum, whether for personal use, trade, or negotiation. He knew many individuals would express interest in it.

Concerning whether Red Skull would betray him, Ivan had little worry. Unlike Dr. Erskine, Ivan didn't consider himself subordinate to Red Skull. Their relationship was fabricated by Hitler and was only a secondary arrangement. Both held equal status, leading Ivan to address Red Skull as "Mr. Schmidt," not the common "leader."

However, all of this was contingent on Ivan not crossing Red Skull's moral boundaries. If Ivan committed a grievous act that violated those limits, Red Skull might feel compelled to eliminate him, even if it meant offending Hitler. For example, Ivan was currently working on the vital component for the Superhuman Serum, the phalanx. If this secret were discovered, Ivan would face immediate danger.

Erskine, the third party in this intrigue, seemed the least scheming. Yet, given his recent disillusionment, their relationships grew increasingly complex.

As the three of them engaged in this covert power struggle, the ultimate victor and the one to have the last laugh depended on their cunning.

Ivan had spent the entire day laboring in the laboratory and felt exhausted. After having breakfast and dinner, he returned to his bedroom to rest.

In the dead of night, Ivan abruptly opened his eyes. He sensed movement from the cells in the box containing the mysterious phalanx. Swiftly, he extended his mental awareness. What he "saw" surprised him—there was a man in a Hydra uniform approaching, but Ivan could tell from his demeanor that he wasn't a Hydra member.

This intruder was likely an enemy who had infiltrated the base, accompanied by several soldiers armed with guns and concealed knives. They swiftly dispatched the guards by gesturing, using their knives to silence them.

Ivan realized they were targeting him, which made sense given his two years of aiding Germany in developing advanced weapons, causing substantial trouble for the Allies. However, Ivan wasn't overly concerned about the phalanx; his immediate priority was ensuring his safety.

He focused his mental powers, alerting the Red Devil, "Azazel, wake up. We're under attack."

The Red Devil, Ivan's bodyguard, jolted awake and instantly sprang into action. Fully dressed, he moved swiftly to Ivan's room.

Ivan pressed a finger to his lips, signaling silence. He touched the Red Devil's head, transmitting the situation and a response plan through mental power.

The Red Devil understood, retrieving two pistols from under a table and quietly opening the door, ready for action.

Ivan positioned himself near a red button on the wall. When the intruders approached, he pressed it, triggering a loud alarm.

Simultaneously, the Red Devil opened the door, pistols at the ready. He swiftly engaged the intruders.

The enemy, startled by the alarm, hesitated momentarily, resulting in a few falling to the Red Devil's unexpected assault. The rest reacted quickly, no longer attempting stealth. They drew their guns and fired at the Red Devil.

While Ivan didn't directly engage, he continued assisting the Red Devil by pinpointing enemy locations with his mental powers. The Red Devil, coupled with his familiarity with the terrain, pressed the attack.

Although Ivan's side had the upper hand, the attackers were skilled and fearless. Two of them tried to close in under submachine gun cover, hurling bombs in the process. Thankfully, the Red Devil's swift reactions and precise aim caused the bombs to detonate harmlessly, injuring their comrades.

The alarm had plunged the entire Hydra base into chaos. Ivan and the Red Devil knew that the longer the skirmish continued, the better their chances, as this was their territory. The enemy had, at best, the element of surprise, and their gunfire had undoubtedly drawn attention. Soon, reinforcements would arrive.

The attackers, realizing this, launched several assaults, but Ivan and the Red Devil successfully repelled them, even injuring several in the process. The first wave of attackers had dwindled in numbers. As Hydra troops arrived, the enemy commander realized their mission had failed and ordered a retreat.

Observing this, Ivan had no intention of pursuing it. He continued to maintain their defensive position until Hydra troops arrived. Once both sides confirmed each other's identity, Ivan exited his room.

A Hydra team leader, relieved to see Ivan unharmed, assigned a squad to protect him. Then, they pursued the retreating enemy.

From those guarding him, Ivan learned that the enemy had attacked three crucial locations: his residence, the Red Skull's quarters, and the laboratory. This meticulously planned assault signaled the enemy's comprehensive knowledge and the use of multiple aircraft.

Considering the mysterious shift in the phalanges' position he had sensed earlier, Ivan suspected that the laboratory had been successfully breached, and the phalanges had been taken. However, this worked in his favor, providing him with an opportunity.

While these attacks were significant, Ivan believed that the true target was likely Dr. Erskine.

Sensing the phalanges' location now, Ivan discovered they were more than ten kilometers away, loaded onto an aircraft.

Ivan communicated a plan to the Red Devil and, in the pretense of fear and need for rest, retreated to his bedroom. He even brought the Red Devil along for added protection.

The Hydra members guarding Ivan had no objections, as long as Ivan remained within his room's confines.

Ivan and the Red Devil swiftly entered the room, shutting the door behind them, and sprang into action. The Red Devil extended his hand, creating an almost invisible opening in front of him. His entire arm disappeared into it, and when it reemerged, it held two gas masks and a small bottle filled with an unknown liquid.

Ivan and the Red Devil each donned a gas mask, and Ivan pressed his left hand onto the Red Devil's shoulder, transmitting the phalanges' location to the Red Devil's mind. Instantly, the Red Devil activated his power, and the two vanished within the room.

…

Kate, originally a distinguished American soldier, stood tall and robust. He had a lifelong passion for fitness and had made several battlefield contributions, yet promotions remained elusive due to stiff competition.

Later, Kate's valorous actions led to his selection for the U.S. special operations forces, making him a sharp weapon in the nation's arsenal. His current mission involved raiding a base.

This time, Kate's team was divided into four units, each assigned a distinct objective. Kate's team was tasked with infiltrating a laboratory and securing a specific item. They completed their mission.

Another team also accomplished its objective, leaving Kate elated at his comrades' safe return. However, the other two teams failed to return. Superior orders compelled them to board the plane first, guarding the item they had retrieved from the laboratory—Dr. Erskine.

Kate and his teammates stowed away the lab's acquisitions, settled onto the plane, and closed their eyes, reflecting on the mission. Suddenly, a feeling of impending danger gripped Kate. He snapped his eyes open and discovered two individuals, also clad in gas masks, materializing on the plane.

"Enemy attack" Kate shouted, leaping up swiftly and attempting to draw his weapon. However, one of the masked figures moved even faster, seizing Kate's gun hand and twisting it violently, causing excruciating pain. Kate involuntarily lurched forward, obstructed by the masked assailant.

Kate's teammates, too, reacted and aimed their firearms at the intruders. But upon seeing Kate in the line of fire, they hesitated, refraining from shooting.

This moment of hesitation sealed their fate, as Ivan shattered the small vial he held. Pale yellow gas billowed forth, quickly filling the plane's interior. Kate and his comrades felt dizzy and lost consciousness.

Ivan and the Red Devil located a secure box aboard the plane, entered the access code, and, upon opening it, discovered Ivan's coveted phalanx. They nodded with satisfaction, placed the phalanx inside, and had the Red Devil retrieve another box from his personal space to replace it. Ivan had never intended to use the original container, suspecting the Red Skull had rigged it with explosives on the box's walls. He had no desire to be blown up.

The mission proceeded without a hitch. At this point, the plane began to tremble, as the pilot had fallen unconscious, and it was flying unmanned. The Red Devil knew they couldn't linger. He removed a time bomb from his personal space, activated it, and tossed it onto the plane, then they both vanished.

Ten seconds later, the plane detonated mid-air. Ivan and the Red Devil had already returned to their previous room. From departure to return, only three minutes had passed. Who would have imagined that their plan would be executed so swiftly and successfully?

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Author's note

For every 5 review I will post 1 bonus chapters