Chapter 30

It has to be acknowledged that the United States leads the world in both technology and military advancements, especially in the development of cutting-edge military equipment like drones and transport aircraft.

This highlights the immense value of technical blueprints for such equipment. With these schematics, even nations with moderate resources can potentially replicate or understand the technology, gaining access to crucial innovations.

These blueprints contain core technologies, and once fully understood, they can close the gap between nations and the U.S. in terms of military capability.

As a result, the U.S. keeps an extremely tight lid on its technology. Any potential leaks are met with swift action, involving intelligence agencies or even the military.

Those responsible for such betrayals face severe consequences, often labeled as treason.

The U.S. will never allow another country to rival its dominance in technological and military fields, which is why these secrets are so valuable.

Natasha wasn't exaggerating when she mentioned the value of such information; in fact, she may have even understated it. Leon understood this perfectly.

He glanced at Natasha, and she caught his meaning. She shrugged, "If you want to sell, I can definitely make it happen. But for security, I'll need some help."

"Who do you have in mind?" Leon asked.

"Wanda and Pietro. Wanda's abilities can read and even rewrite memories, which will help us maintain the utmost confidentiality."

"They will be contributing to this trip of yours, then," Leon nodded, confident in Natasha's expertise.

As for the unique properties of adamantium, it's incredibly dense, offering both extreme hardness and penetrative power.

While it may not be ideal for weaponry, its true value lies in its replicability.

Thanks to Natasha's download of the formula onto a USB drive, they now had access to it. In simple terms, they'd never run out of adamantium, and if they needed quick cash, they could sell it to the highest bidders.

This trip had been highly rewarding, and Leon was in a great mood. After the mission, he felt so good that he helped himself to a few extra bowls during the meal.

The group had gained two new members: Yuriko and Clarice. With Wanda present, there was no doubt about Yuriko's loyalty, but a conversation with the young girl, Clarice, revealed a surprise that thrilled Leon even more.

Clarice's ability was teleportation.

She possessed an energy that could distort space and create teleportation portals. After connecting the dots between her name and her ability, Leon realized who she was—future Blink. This revelation made him incredibly happy.

Blink's powers were formidable. Though Leon only knew a little about her, he remembered that when fully developed, her abilities could allow her to teleport across vast distances, even between Earth and the moon.

Even if her combat power wasn't the highest, her support abilities were invaluable.

Leon's heart softened towards the girl, and during the meal, he kept serving her vegetables, a gesture that made Clarice both happy and moved. She had been an orphan all her life and had never experienced such warmth and kindness.

During dinner, Leon asked Wanda and Pietro to help Natasha sell the technical blueprints and make some money. Without hesitation, they agreed.

Though the outside world was filled with chaos, inside the cozy wooden cabin, there was a sense of warmth and harmony. The group spent the night together, safe from the wind and snow.

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.

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The next day, Leon and the group were preparing to return to the Ural Mountains. Of course, the young girl, Clarice, had been provided with a fake passport and identity, ensuring that boarding the plane wouldn't be an issue.

As they waited at the Canadian airport, something strange happened. The people walking around suddenly froze in place. It was as if time itself had stopped.

Leon, sitting calmly in a chair, didn't panic. He immediately noticed the old man in a wheelchair in front of him. Glancing around, he realized that this was no ordinary occurrence. The man had used his psychic abilities to construct an illusory world for this conversation.

However, this wasn't an invasion of his mind. Leon, who had mastered both Haki and advanced breathing techniques, was highly attuned to even the slightest disruptions. If he wanted to, he could easily break free from this illusion.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Leon. Please forgive me for using this method," said the old man.

Leon wasn't surprised that the man knew his name. After all, Sergei had mentioned it back at the base. What did surprise him was how quickly the man had found him—within less than a day.

"Professor X," Leon acknowledged with a slight nod, his tone cool.

The professor, unfazed by Leon's attitude, smiled gently. "Thank you very much for your help in saving me and those innocent children."

"I accept your thanks," Leon replied, cutting to the point without wasting time. He met the old man's gaze directly and continued, "Saving you was incidental. Our real goal was to eliminate that trash and rescue those people. But given the value of the information on this USB drive, I'd like to propose a deal."

The professor's expression remained calm. "Please, tell me your conditions, Mr. Leon."

"I need your help to build a stealth aircraft," Leon stated bluntly. "One that can evade radar and military satellites so I can travel the world without being tracked."

Although he had Blink on his side, the girl was still young and her teleportation abilities weren't fully developed yet. He needed something more immediate—a plane capable of avoiding detection.

Leon was confident in Beast's inventive skills, and the professor, after a few moments of thought, nodded. "It may take some time."

"Is one year enough?" Leon asked.

"Of course, that's sufficient."

"Good. You can have your people retrieve the USB drive."

"Thank you very much," the professor replied, his tone warm. "If you need anything else, feel free to reach out. We'll do our best to assist."

Whoosh!

The illusion shattered in an instant, and the world around Leon resumed its normal flow. The crowd at the airport continued bustling as if nothing had happened. Only Sergei and a few others, more attuned to their Haki senses, noticed the subtle shift in Leon's demeanor.

Ignoring their questioning glances, Leon turned his head slightly. Not far away, a woman with burgundy hair was watching him.

As the boarding announcement echoed through the airport, Leon stood up and motioned for everyone to follow, leaving the woman behind without a second glance.

But on his seat, a USB flash drive remained, quietly waiting.