The Strategy of Countess Valentina!

At the airport, Sharon Carter and May sat together, venting their frustrations about their current circumstances.

Since joining this blasted Foundation, their lives had taken a downturn, growing worse day by day.

"You're the lucky one, May," Sharon Carter muttered with envy. "You get to work as a clerk at the Foundation."

Being a clerk was far better than being a field agent. There was no life-threatening danger on the frontlines, no exposure to the elements, and access to information was far more convenient.

As they chatted, Ethan approached with a smile.

"Chatting, huh? Mind if I join?" he asked with a grin. Sharon Carter shot him an exasperated look but said nothing. As a top-tier agent, Sharon actually admired Ethan's thick skin. He worked her like a mule and still managed to face her with a smile. His audacity was unbelievable!

Meanwhile, at a Hydra secret base...

"Are you sure he's heading to Australia?" Pierce asked excitedly after receiving the latest report from his subordinates.

"Tell Countess Valentina, the plan to have the serpent rescue the hero is a go!" Pierce whispered into the microphone.

After days of research, Hydra had discovered that the president of the Foundation, Ethan, was a known womanizer—or at least that was how he appeared on the surface. He had an apparent weakness for beauty, and they were planning to exploit that.

Take Skye, for instance. She had been nothing more than a homeless girl, but after catching Ethan's eye, she became one of the Foundation's top executives in less than a week. That kind of rise in status had made even Coulson, the ever-loyal agent, green with envy.

Pierce admitted he was a little jealous too.

Given Ethan's personality flaw, Hydra had devised a plan: the classic "damsel in distress" scenario. They'd send the Winter Soldier to hunt down the Foundation president, and at the critical moment, Countess Valentina would swoop in to save him.

The goal was to win Ethan's trust and gratitude. Eventually, through Valentina, Hydra could control the president of the Foundation. Even if full control wasn't possible, they could at least plant a spy at the top of the Foundation.

If the plan succeeded, Hydra would be the true victor. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Foundation would become mere pawns in their hands. And who knew—perhaps even the powerful entities contained by the Foundation would soon belong to Hydra.

Grinning at the thought, Pierce's face scrunched up like a wrinkled flower.

Back at the airport...

Sharon Carter, still focused on her mission, casually asked, "Are you sure we won't have any issues when we get to China? Does the Foundation have a base there?"

May, sitting next to her, shook her head subtly. Sharon's attempt to gather intelligence was too obvious. Ethan might be young, but he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't reveal any secrets so easily, right?

"The Foundation doesn't have a base in Australia," Ethan replied casually. "There's a force over there that's just as terrifying as the Foundation. To avoid unnecessary conflict, we haven't expanded into that region."

May was stunned.

"That simple?" she murmured, astonished that Ethan had actually answered the question.

As the president of a powerful organization that rivaled S.H.I.E.L.D., shouldn't he be more tight-lipped?

Sharon and May exchanged shocked glances. Australia had a force comparable to the Foundation? What organization could it be? Sharon remembered a recent joke circulating within S.H.I.E.L.D. about a cult demanding an aircraft carrier. Could that be the same force?

May realized things weren't as simple as they seemed.

Just as May was about to probe further, the plane they were on suddenly shook violently.

"We're under attack!" the captain's trembling voice shouted from the cockpit. "We need to make an emergency landing!"

The plane shuddered again, and alarms blared throughout the cabin.

"Everyone! The plane is about to explode! Grab parachutes and jump!" the co-pilot yelled, handing three parachutes to a pale Sharon Carter.

"How could this happen? Our flight was supposed to be secret!" Sharon fumed, her mind racing to identify the flaw in their plan.

May's expression darkened as well.

Ethan, meanwhile, began to wonder who would dare come after him so boldly. Did they think the nukes the Foundation possessed were just for show?

"Quick, jump! We'll follow you!" Sharon shouted, handing Ethan a parachute.

In their eyes, Ethan might be a superhuman capable of summoning plants, but beyond that, he had no particularly impressive abilities. If it came to an actual fight, even a single bullet could take him down. Sharon and May both understood that, among the three of them, Ethan was the weakest link.

Reluctantly, Ethan donned the parachute and jumped.

The trio managed to land safely, with no signs of pursuing enemies in the sky. Ethan couldn't help but smirk—this attack was getting more interesting by the minute.

"Are you alright?" Sharon asked anxiously after removing her own parachute.

Ethan nodded, gazing up at the distant plane. Something about this attack felt strange, as if the enemy wasn't trying to kill him, but rather wanted to force him off the plane.

"We need to move quickly before more enemies arrive!" May urged.

And so they ran. Sharon and May flanked Ethan, each supporting one of his arms as they fled.

Ethan's eye twitched. These two women were severely hampering his escape speed. His legs weren't injured! Why were they treating him like some helpless invalid?

After about an hour of exhausting running, the trio found themselves in front of a grand medieval castle. The massive structure covered over 2,000 square meters, its walls radiating a sense of ancient history.

"Let's hide here and hope the owner is friendly," Sharon gasped, eyeing the castle with wariness.

"I'll knock," Sharon volunteered, leaving Ethan behind as she approached the castle's entrance.

A moment later, an elderly butler answered the door, flanked by several towering bodyguards. Judging by their demeanor, Sharon surmised these guards were likely former special forces soldiers.

"May I ask what brings you to Countess Valentina's castle?" the butler asked, his voice polite but wary.

Sharon, ever the quick liar, replied smoothly, "Our car broke down nearby, and we were hoping to stay for the night."

"I'll need to check with the Countess," the butler replied, glancing back at the guards before retreating into the castle.

Moments later, the butler returned. "The Countess has agreed to take you in. Please, follow me."

As they entered the magnificent castle, Sharon quipped to Ethan, "The fallen president of the Foundation, meeting a noble Countess—doesn't that sound romantic?"

"A hero saved by a noblewoman, now that's a thrilling tale!" May joined in with a teasing grin.

Ethan rolled his eyes at the two women. It was fortunate they spoke quietly, or their disrespectful remarks might have caused trouble in someone else's territory. But still, something about this situation felt too coincidental.

Countess Valentina watched from a window as the group approached, a smile playing on her lips. She was a stunning woman with striking blue eyes, her black hair streaked with elegant white highlights. Despite being in her forties, her beauty rivaled that of the infamous Black Widow.

"An ancient Foundation led by a young man—what a tragic story," Valentina mused, puffing on her cigarette as she descended to the castle's grand hall.

"Welcome, travelers. I am Valentina Allegra de Fontaine," she greeted them with a sly smile.

Ethan smiled wryly, barely catching her long name. "Thank you, Countess Valentina. You are as beautiful as you are kind."

Valentina eyed Ethan playfully, her gaze suggesting she had grander plans in store for him.