American Comics: Tales of Cultivator

Chapter 185: 8000 Character Chapter

Former Secretary of State Francis Underwood, in accordance with the Federation Constitution, succeeded as the forty-sixth President of the Federation.

After taking office, he immediately convened the heads of various federal departments and launched counter-terrorism operations worldwide.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) seemed to act like a mad dog, searching for suspicious targets all over the world, especially in some small countries. Once a target was labeled suspicious, Special Forces were immediately deployed, and sometimes even attack helicopters were sent to carpet bomb with rockets.

Facing the bloodied White Eagle, eager to find a target to vent its anger on, even the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council didn't want to poke the bear at this time.

Those small countries, facing the World Police's tyranny, could only suffer in silence, as their strength was inferior.

Not just abroad,

Within the Federation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), NSA, DHS, S.H.I.E.L.D., and seventeen other intelligence departments formed a special investigation team, under the command of the newly appointed Director of the Secret Service, Colonel Kane, to investigate the terrorist attack incident.

This previously unknown Colonel Kane acted decisively. Armed with an arrest warrant personally signed by the President, he arrested over a dozen government officials and military generals involved in the case.

Just as senior government officials were feeling insecure, Director Kane turned his attention to the Federation's Underworld.

According to the integrated analysis of data intelligence from the seventeen federal intelligence departments, the reason these terrorists were able to openly enter the Federation was because some gang organizations were providing them cover and assistance.

They even helped them smuggle.

Director Kane specifically sought out New York Congressman Mr. Tang Song, who understood gang organizations. With his help, the federal police, military, and special forces jointly mobilized, dismantling nearly seventy percent of the gang members in fifty states of the Federation.

Under the banner of counter-terrorism following the assassination of the former President, the connections of these gang members became useless. As a result, the Federation's prisons were quickly filled.

Within the senior ranks of the Federal Government, there were some who suggested that Kane was abusing his power. However, less than three days after this official voiced his suspicion, the special investigation team captured the organizer of the terrorist attack incident.

One of Hydra's snakeheads, Cobra Commander, was captured, and a nanite bomb that had not been used in time was also seized.

Although this Cobra Commander was beaten into a vegetative state due to violently resisting arrest,

After evaluation by several trace evidence experts from the Federation, the seized nanite bomb was determined to be the same type of weapon used by the terrorists at the Blair House during the incident.

To be safe, the White House specifically invited the former President of Stark Industries, Iron Man—Mr. Tony Stark.

Under his evaluation, the core program running on this nanite bomb had the exact same core logic as the nanite bombs used during the terrorist attack.

Following this, the Federal Government specifically held a White House press conference to announce the investigation results of the incident.

The federal government official who questioned Kane was also suspended and investigated for allegedly obstructing the judicial investigation and being suspected of having ties to terrorists.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with Boss Tang. Due to his bravery and patriotism displayed at the Blair Hotel, President Francis intended to have Boss Tang run for the position of senator.

In the ancient and elegant reception hall of Tang Manor, incense burned in the tea room, and the scent of sandalwood drifted throughout.

In a corner of the tea room, a beautiful woman in Hanfu played the guzheng.

Beside the tea table, an Oriental beauty tea master, with slender hands, brewed tea.

In the purple clay teapot was premium Longjing tea costing 2000 US dollars per ounce, and the tea cups were filled with fragrant tea.

Tang Song played with the white jade bead bracelet in his hand, looking at the middle-aged man in a military uniform sitting across from him.

Decken Marvin, a federal major general, and also the person in charge of military procurement for the Federal Department of Defense.

He had come, naturally, because of the Department of Defense's armament procurement. Tang Industries had recently been nominated by the Department of Defense to become a major federal defense contractor. Just a few days ago, this honor belonged to Hammer Industries, but it was recently acquired by Tang Industries.

This contract then fell to Tang Industries. Of course, there were many dissenting opinions. Many large arms companies had their own supporters within the Department of Defense.

However, those who raised objections were quickly taken away for investigation for their involvement in the Blair House terrorist attack incident.

In this situation, the dissenting voices within the Department of Defense seemed to have been silenced.

Of course, Boss Tang was also pragmatic. He wouldn't monopolize the benefits. Including Secretary of Defense Raman, and the Major General Marvin sitting opposite him now, their relatives were anonymous shareholders of Tang Industries.

"Mr. Tang, Congress has passed the proposal to increase the military budget this time. The annual military expenditure has increased by twenty billion. Your Tang Industries has taken the lion's share."

Decken Marvin picked up his tea cup. He wasn't quite used to this kind of Oriental tea; it didn't have brown sugar, but it did have a fragrant aroma.

Before coming, he had researched Tang Song's profile, including Kane's identity as the President of Tang Security Company before becoming the Director of the Secret Service.

This Mr. Tang was clearly the new President's White Glove. However, even the President himself couldn't eat alone.

In the Federation, the President's power was not as great as imagined, but due to this terrorist attack, Francis, the former Secretary of State, raised the level of domestic alert in the Federation.

He suddenly raised the Federation's status to a wartime level, which is why his authority seemed so great.

After all, the Federation had lost a president and so many important figures. Due to public opinion pressure, even Congress and both houses had to make way for counter-terrorism.

This was also the reason Tang Industries was able to successfully obtain the Department of Defense orders. Otherwise, an ethnic Chinese person would clearly not have much of an advantage when the Federal Department of Defense chose a cooperation partner.

However, this ethnic Chinese person was clearly a smart person who understood sharing the benefits. Marvin thought of the shares his wife held, and he suddenly felt that the tea was good.

"Everyone is contributing to the development of the Federation. By the way, General Marvin, I heard that because of the assassination of the King of Wakanda this time, the Department of Defense plans to place a five billion US dollars arms order to support the East African Battlefield?"

Tang Song held the tea cup. The slightly bitter tea entered his lips, bringing a hint of sweetness.

"Yes, that's the plan. Currently, it's just a draft plan. This plan still needs to be approved by the White House and Congress."

"After all, we still need to see Wakanda's reaction to the assassination of their King."

Decken Marvin was not surprised by Tang Song's well-informed intelligence. After all, the owner of the White House stood behind him.

"Mr. Tang is interested in this arms order?"

"I will find a method to facilitate the passage of this proposal,"

Tang Song put down his tea cup. "Of course, according to the rules, I will add ten percent to the standard of other arms companies, but I want this arms order."

Tang Song extended his hand, and the Hanfu beauty beside him handed him a trimmed cigar.

The so-called rules were naturally the portion that arms companies shared with various departments of the Department of Defense.

Decken Marvin's face showed a satisfied smile. "Then I congratulate Mr. Tang in advance on winning the bid."

Decken Marvin stood up and extended his hand to Boss Tang.

......

"How is the poaching of those senior engineers from Stark Industries going?" In the ancient and elegant reception hall, Tang Song stood by the window, watching Marvin's departing figure, and turned to ask Lane.

"One-third of the engineers from the original weapons manufacturing department have been poached by us. This is thanks to your identity as a major shareholder."

"Get Tang Industries into the production phase as soon as possible..."

Boss Tang didn't care about the quality of the military weapons from the Department of Defense.

However, as the scale of his organization grew, the armament within the organization also became a top priority.

Relying on buying left too many traces, and the quality was too unstable, just like Hammer Industries' products, which were more like a joke in the Marvel Universe.

"Ex-Wife Missile? Haha..."

Thinking of Hammer Industries' joke, Tang Song chuckled twice. "What is Wakanda's reaction? Have you found out?"

"Wakanda has blocked the information externally, but there is information that Wakanda's intelligence department is tracking down the killer of their King."

"What about that unlucky gunman caught by the Secret Service? I think his name is John Wick."

"Kane locked him up in the Secret Service's secret prison," Lane said.

"But according to the information from Kane, John Wick doesn't know the employer's information."

"Notify the Continental Hotel side in the name of the High Table that they can appropriately release information about the employer of this assassination incident, so that Wakanda's intelligence organization can follow this lead..."

A cunning smile appeared on Tang Song's lips.

Hiring someone to kill, it was undoubtedly Hydra's doing. Even if the Wakandans investigated and found the employer, what did it have to do with him?

If Wakanda and Hydra didn't fight, how could he benefit from the conflict?

Moreover, whether it was Wakanda or Hydra, if they didn't fight, how could their vigorous energy be consumed?

An exhausted viper was obviously more beneficial to Tang Song than one hiding in the dark, not knowing when he might be bitten.

Lane stood behind Tang Song, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Boss, there's one more thing. Kane's Secret Service is too efficient. The territory vacated in the entire Federation's Underworld is too large now, and our manpower is severely insufficient."

Tang Song thought for a moment: "Grab as much as you can. For the rest, it's the old rule: find a few suitable agents. After all, even when we're involved in the underworld, we have to abide by the federal anti-monopoly law."

Tang Song made a joke and continued, "A tall tree catches the wind. We are now legitimate businessmen..."

"I understand, Boss," Lane nodded.

"Oh, right, that fried chicken vendor from before. Since he gave his pledge of allegiance, send him to South Korea for plastic surgery and a change of identity," Tang Song remembered something and waved his hand.

"Yes, Boss."

Lane saw that Tang Song had nothing else and went out to get busy. Tang Song, amidst the lingering sound of the guzheng, sipped his tea. He took out a file from under the desk and opened it.

"Number 4513, Freddy's Hat, Steel Claws,

Nightmare invades children's dreams, torturing children to death...

Danger Level: B."

"Number 3314, Evil God Scarecrow

Sacrificing five people can bless the land within fifty miles with a bountiful harvest

Danger Level: C.

........."

This file was obtained by Kane using his identity as the head of the special investigation team. It contained containment objects from some secret federal departments. To some extent, this was also the Federation's hidden strength, and there were quite a few good things inside.

There were a few items that Tang Song himself wanted to get his hands on.

.........…

"Clang, clang, clang"

The cabin of the private jet flying at high altitude slowly opened, and the deadly cold wind poured into the cabin.

Natasha Romanoff and Matt Murdock, carrying parachute packs, rushed out at an extremely fast speed the moment the cabin opened.

They jumped into the air, spread their limbs, and quickly disappeared into the clouds.

For a top action expert like Natasha Romanoff, this kind of airborne operation was quite routine.

And Matt Murdock, the Daredevil, goes without saying.

"This is the dinner you mentioned."

Matt Murdock asked Natasha Romanoff through the communicator.

"How is it? Tastes good, right?"

Natasha Romanoff laughed: "After we're done, I'll treat you to Mick's Bar."

The two, wingsuit flying, quickly saw the brightly lit Dalton Hotel under the night sky.

This was a secret base of Hydra that the Mind Reader had found in Crossbones' memory—

It was said that a personnel list of Hydra members hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D. might be hidden inside.

Nick Fury had originally planned to assign this task to Black Widow and Hawkeye working together. Unfortunately, Hawkeye was currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment, and Nick Fury didn't have many people he could trust, so he could only ask Natasha Romanoff for help from her ex-boyfriend.

After all, Natasha Romanoff's ex-boyfriends included quite a few powerful figures.

......

On the other side, Nick Fury, carrying the USB drive given by T'Challa, went directly to the World Security Council.

Alexander Pierce looked at Nick Fury sitting in front of him with doubt.

At his signal, Nick Fury inserted the USB drive into his office computer.

"What is this? A supernatural event?"

Looking at the photos, Alexander Pierce asked, somewhat puzzled.

Nick Fury explained, "This is intelligence I obtained through some channels from Wakanda, a photo of a mysterious person who invaded Wakanda. I suspect they are related to Agent Blunt's disappearance."

Alexander Pierce's heart trembled. He dragged the mouse with his right hand, clicked on the photo twice, and enlarged it to the maximum.

"What other information did your secret channels find?"

Pierce copied the photo, saved it to his computer, password-protected it, then pulled out the USB drive and returned it to Nick Fury.

"Wakanda implements an isolationist policy externally. We only got some peripheral information. The Wakandans are offering a high reward for the person in the photo, who seems to be related to the assassination of their King."

Nick Fury spoke while observing Pierce's look, but Alexander Pierce appeared as usual.

"Fury, what support does the Security Council need to give you?"

Pierce looked at Nick Fury, a bitter smile appearing on his face at the appropriate moment. "Let's be clear, due to the escalation of the Wakanda incident, the Security Council's funds are also running low now."

"What?"

Alexander Pierce was discussing the next quarter's financial allocation for S.H.I.E.L.D. with Nick Fury.

Alexander Pierce's dedicated line suddenly rang. He casually picked it up, listening to the voice on the phone.

Listening to the report on the phone, he cast a sharp gaze, like an eagle, towards the one-eyed black person in front of him.

Nick Fury met Alexander Pierce's gaze, his face full of doubt.

"What happened, Pierce?"

Alexander Pierce withdrew his suspicious gaze and snorted coldly:

"Someone invaded the Dalton Hotel."

The Dalton Hotel was the official hotel of the World Security Council and also one of Pierce's secret strongholds.

......

In less than 10 minutes, several helicopters roared into the night sky over Manhattan.

Under Alexander Pierce's command, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents sealed off the street blocks near the World Security Council almost completely.

They also activated special detection equipment.

These were life detectors similar to sonar. Even if the infiltrator could use invisibility, they wouldn't be able to escape under this invisible sonic lock.

And at the end of his "vision," the bridgehead of the Hudson River had been cordoned off by soldiers.

"Swish"

A black retractable blind cane popped out, held in Matt Murdock's hand.

If he could, he didn't want to injure anyone, but under the pressure of self-preservation, he might have to start a bloody escape.

......

"There are life forms active in the forest 1370 meters near the bridge. Suspected target. Get ready."

Several modified sonar detectors mounted under the helicopters quickly locked onto the target. In the night sky of Manhattan, a Serpent S.H.I.E.L.D. field Cobra Commander, wearing a communicator, shouted to the agents waiting in the nearby helicopters:

"Attention, agents. This target is very important."

Those participating in the action were excellent field agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the elites under Alexander Pierce's control.

These agents communicated with sign language in a very professional manner, and then, under the command of the Cobra Commander in the helicopter, they surrounded Matt Murdock's position from several directions.

Like a pack of wolves entering a hunting state, under the command of the alpha wolf, they began to round up prey.

Every agent participating in the action, including the Cobra Commander directing the action, did not believe that the intruder could escape under such circumstances.

But he overlooked one thing.

The night belonged to Matt Murdock's turf.

That accident more than ten years ago, while leaving Matt Murdock blind and suffering greatly, also gave him some very valuable things.

For example, supernatural perception.

From the moment those agents surrounded him, their actions could be sensed by Matt Murdock, who had heightened his attention to the extreme in the darkness.

He tapped the ground with his cane. The earth vibrated slightly, like an invisible radar. In Matt Murdock's perception, the position of each agent approaching him was under his control.

He ran towards the east direction without hesitation.

Murdock's sudden movement was immediately detected by the Cobra Commander directing the operation from above. In the sonar map before him, the light spot representing Murdock was moving towards the east.

And that direction was the largest shortfall just as the encirclement of his agents was about to form.

"He noticed. Fuck."

The Cobra Commander cursed. He immediately realized that his estimation of the intruder was wrong.

"This guy likely possesses some kind of super senses."

"Team 1, move forward quickly. Team 2, move clockwise. Everyone else, head east. Hurry."

The Cobra Commander issued new orders through the communicator. On the sonar map before him, 20 light spots also began to move rapidly.

What pleased the Cobra Commander was that, according to the speed of the well-trained agents, they should be able to intercept the intruder before he broke through the encirclement.

But the information the Cobra Commander could see on the sonar map, Matt Murdock could also "see" with his supernatural perception.

He ran rapidly, panting, his brain still working at high speed, calculating the position of the 5 agents rapidly approaching from the side. Just as they were about to meet, Matt Murdock suddenly stopped and quickly turned.

This change in action was too sudden for the Cobra Commander to even notify his team members. The next moment, 5 agents holding firearms ran up to Matt Murdock. Their infrared detectors clearly outlined Matt Murdock's moving figure in the darkness. The heat emitted by his body was displayed very clearly on the infrared detector.

But just as the leading agent raised his gun, Matt Murdock raised something towards him.

It was a high-powered flashlight that could be bought anywhere on the street. In the darkness, it was like a light sword stabbing towards the agent wearing night vision goggles.

The dazzling radiance made the agent instinctively turn his head away. This well-trained agent almost instinctively defended himself, but the blind cane swung by Matt Murdock from the darkness was clearly faster. Before the agent could block, it landed heavily on his face.

"Crack"

The head-mounted infrared detector made a low collision sound. The attack on his eyes made the agent stagger backward.

And the rifle in his hand was grabbed by Matt Murdock. He snatched the gun and pulled the trigger towards the agents in front of him.

"Bang, bang, bang"

Bullets sprayed from the muzzle, hitting the bodies of three agents. The three agents trembled and fell to the ground.

At the same time, Matt Murdock's abdomen, legs, and shoulder, were also constantly hit by flying bullets.

Matt Murdock endured the pain that could instantly incapacitate an ordinary person, rolling on the ground. He barely needed to aim. In between rolls, he pulled the trigger towards the figures in the darkness before him.

"Bang, bang"

The remaining two agents were accurately hit in the torso by the flying bullets. Two bullets precisely struck their chests. This sharp counterattack caused them to fall almost simultaneously.

Another benefit of having super senses was that when Matt Murdock held a firearm, he didn't need to rely on his eyes to aim at all.

"I hope Natasha Romanoff can escape."

Matt Murdock slung the rifle behind his back, holding his blind cane, and limped towards the darkness...

......…

"The investigation into this matter is clear. It was a third-rate organization called Cobra. They occupied a base left by Red Skull in the Arctic and stole Hydra's name."

In an ancient castle in England, Hydra's virtual meeting was held once again.

The person presiding over the meeting was naturally Alexander Pierce, this Hydra head.

Hearing the investigation results, many of Hydra's snakeheads found it troublesome.

They had been hiding for so many years, only to be exposed by a terrorist attack launched by a third-rate organization, and they couldn't even clarify.

It's not like they could hold a press conference specifically to tell the media that the first wave of terrorists was Cobra, and the second wave was their Hydra people.

"This matter can only wait for the storm to pass slowly..."

"Although there have been some ripples, the King of Wakanda is dead as planned. What we need to do is downplay the influence of Hydra's appearance and gradually push out the Cobra Organization. Since they say they are Hydra, then we might as well let them become Hydra."

The several Hydra heads participating in this Hydra meeting reached a consensus on this matter.

Alexander Pierce mentioned something.

"Your secret base was invaded,"

"You suspect the invaders are Nick Fury's people?"

In Hydra's round table meeting, Baron Strucker's virtual projection had a solemn tone.

Nick Fury was not an easy person to deal with. If he really noticed something, it would be a big trouble.

Alexander Pierce was uncharacteristically restless: "The timing of the invaders' infiltration into the Dalton Hotel was too coincidental, and nothing was lost from the hotel."

"The Dalton Hotel is just a place you use for meeting guests, and it doesn't store any important information."

The speaker was a well-dressed middle-aged man in a Milan-colored suit, who crossed his hands and said thoughtfully, "Unless they were looking for certain clues."

Alexander Pierce was stunned for a moment, thought carefully for a while, and answered almost word for word:

"I suspect Crossbones fell into Nick Fury's hands..."

The several Hydra heads from Wakanda exchanged glances. Crossbones was a mid-to-high-level member of Hydra and knew quite a bit about Hydra's matters. If he really fell into Nick Fury's hands, it would be a big trouble for them.

The man in the suit tapped the table twice with his finger. The dull sound quieted the meeting room. He said in a deep voice, "Then, we must first figure out the identity of the invaders and see if they are related to Nick Fury?"

Baron Zemo looked at Alexander Pierce, waiting for his reply.

Helmut Zemo, the son of the first Baron Zemo, Heinrich, and the 13th head of the Zemo Family/Clan.

Having been immersed in his father's ideology of world domination since childhood, he believed that the Zemo Family/Clan should rule the world.

He studied science with his father from a young age. Later, his father left home to seek revenge for his disfigurement.

After his father's death, Helmut Zemo inherited the name Baron Zemo for revenge.

He was an extremely cautious person. He knew deeply that the reason Hydra was powerful was because it was hidden in the dark. Once exposed to sunlight, it would definitely become a target of public criticism.

And clearly, someone had targeted them. This was not good information.

Pierce mumbled a few words:

"No information about the invaders was found, but based on figure comparison from the surveillance footage, one of them looks very much like Black Widow."

Black Widow Natasha, Nick Fury's person.

The entire virtual meeting room suddenly fell silent. Pairs of extremely questioning gazes looked at Alexander Pierce.

They needed an explanation. Hydra's loose organizational structure determined that they had no true leader. Even Alexander Pierce's identity as a Hydra head was only because he could bring great convenience and benefits to this loose Federation.

And once Pierce harmed their interests, the several Hydra heads wouldn't mind dividing and devouring Pierce.

Cut off one head, two more grow. Hydra can do without anyone, right?

Alexander Pierce slowly stood up, looking at everyone present:

"It was my decision to promote Nick Fury back then, but over the years, his wisdom has indeed solved many troubles for us,"

"Since he has noticed something, keeping him is no longer useful. Therefore, I propose that after the storm of the Blair House incident passes, we eliminate Nick Fury."

"Seconded," Baron Strucker was the first to extend his hand and agree: "Nick Fury is a very shrewd person, even called the King of Agents in the Underworld.

Facing him, if we want to execute our subsequent plan, we must consider all aspects. It's better to just eliminate him."

The meeting room was silent. After a long time, voices sounded one after another:

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

......

After finishing the virtual meeting, Alexander Pierce sat in his office chair and pressed the communication bell on the side of the desk.

Soon, a senior agent wearing a S.H.I.E.L.D. badge walked in.

"Go and find out all of Black Widow's recent actions and the last place she appeared."

"Yes, Officer." The senior agent took the order and was about to leave to execute it.

"Wait."

Alexander Pierce suddenly stopped him and asked, "How is the training of that little panther going?"

"We have performed deep hypnosis on him using the same method as the Winter Soldier, but according to your instructions, we are currently optimizing and adjusting it," the senior agent replied.

Alexander Pierce waved his hand and said, "The Winter Soldier's hypnosis method only produced a few thugs. If this little panther is trained well, what we will get is a country."

"A high-tech nation whose strength is not inferior to any country in the world. That will be our Hydra base."

Alexander Pierce described the beautiful scene to the senior agent.

"Hail Hydra. I need you to train this little panther as quickly as possible, preferably into a qualified hunting dog."

"Hail Hydra. Yes, Officer."

......

(8000 character chapter, thank you to the several big brothers for the rewards. I will work hard to write, try to update more, strive not to take leave, not to break updates, 8000 characters daily, thank you all.

Now I come back from work and just write. Chat software, video websites, games are all uninstalled. Life is just work and writing. I don't even dare to eat barbecue, afraid of drinking, if I get drunk I can't write. A story of hardship.)

(end of chapter)