The eradication of the Skrull settlement in North America marked a phase-one victory in the secret war. What followed was a continent-wide hunt for Skrull activity across Eurasia. This wasn't a balanced conflict; the Eternal City deployed overwhelming war machines, executed strict counterintelligence measures, and pushed both surveillance satellites and orbital stations to full capacity—for one purpose only: execution and annihilation. In Victoria Hand's original plan, launching a direct assault on the North American Skrull enclave had been highly discouraged, because it would alert Skrulls embedded in other nations, especially those already infiltrating government hierarchies and financial empires.
In the U.S., there's a famous conspiracy theory: that politicians and corporate elites are all lizard people—green-skinned, cold-blooded creatures. The origins of this theory are untraceable and absurd, but it wasn't entirely without foundation. Years ago, a Skrull who had infiltrated the upper echelons of government was spotted dropping its disguise. That individual vanished from the public eye under the cover of a convenient office sex scandal and retreated to the North American Skrull settlement.
From there, the urban legend began—twisted and exaggerated as it passed from mouth to mouth.
In some ways, the lizard people conspiracy wasn't entirely false. Skrulls did have reptilian DNA; calling them lizards wasn't inaccurate. The reason the theory ended up on the same level as Flat Earth and "Finland isn't real" was simply due to the usual embellishment, the conflation of lizard people with ideas like the Deep State, and the cumulative effects of years of public misinformation. The real truth had long since drowned in the endless ocean of disinformation.
Others might still wonder about the mysterious wildfire in Southern California, but any Skrull on Earth—regardless of contact with their own kind—would understand instantly just from seeing the news. It signaled one thing: a terrestrial power had discovered them and was carrying out a well-planned, large-scale extermination. Those Skrulls disguised as government officials or corporate executives would now mobilize all resources to uncover the perpetrators, even using their media assets to circulate fabricated wildfire investigation reports.
They were now the creatures most desperate for the truth—and the Eternal City's baited hook was waiting.
"I'm heading to Washington for a meeting, so I'll keep this short. Thank you, Diana, but there's no need to take my coat off—I won't be staying long." After dinner, an unexpected guest arrived at the witch's apartment. Stephanie entered under escort from the Sisterhood and immediately saw the witch and the sorcerer lounging on the living room sofa watching television. The warmth hit her like a wave—she could even smell the witch's perfume.
It made her nervous.
She wore a pristine white women's suit, looking sharp and composed. Holding a folder high in her hand like she had a vice grip on her enemy's throat, she was clearly excited.
"Military-industrial firms, pharmaceutical companies, banks—the families behind them are all interconnected through mutual holdings and intermarriages. They form an incredibly stable symbiotic network. If you wanted to track the Skrulls in Europe by following those who are pushing the State Department, the military, and intelligence agencies to investigate the California wildfires, it would take an enormous amount of time to untangle their connections. But—"
"I like the word 'but.' Everything that comes before it is bullshit."
"—I understand their rules. So the Malick family found a lead—a person who should have no reason to be interested in the wildfires but is. That lead took us to Saudi Arabia. We don't have agents in the Middle East, so we had to conduct our tracking online. It might just be coincidence, or simple investment concern, but we have reason to believe a Skrull has infiltrated the Saudi royal family and regularly travels between the Arabian Peninsula and Washington. I'll be meeting this suspect at a shale gas investment conference. I need two plainclothes bodyguards, my lord."
Stephanie was smart. She didn't deploy Malick family forces or abuse her authority to mobilize Eternal City's military assets. Instead, she requested Solomon's personal authorization for a protective detail. Constantine gave her a long look, internally raising his assessment level of her once again.
"Granted. The Sisterhood will be deployed," Solomon replied without needing to lift his head from the couch. Wearing his power armor, Constantine Basil shrugged—Stephanie clearly bore serious responsibilities. Solomon turned his head and added toward the entryway where Stephanie stood, "You'll also have one Black Armored Interrogator and one assassin. If the Interrogator confirms the target is a Skrull, the assassin will infiltrate whichever private jet that random Saudi prince is using. If needed, we'll capture him mid-air."
"You're planning to hijack a prince?" Stephanie looked startled. "I was just planning to question him."
"Yes. Hijack him right off the jet. The assault transport will rendezvous in the air. If he's a Skrull in disguise, we have to act. There are probably more princes on that peninsula than dogs—one plane crash won't cause a diplomatic crisis. And it's not like those parasites contribute anything to humanity except carbon emissions. Whether they try to run or respond with countermeasures, we'll be able to trace the funding chain. That'll give us more leads. Just remember—you're my aide now. Your life isn't entirely yours anymore. Wear the brooch I gave you. I suspect they'll come prepared and avoid direct confrontation."
Stephanie left in a hurry, taking the two Sisterhood operatives from the adjacent room to board the assault transport. The Black Armored Interrogator had already arrived in New York via teleportation. Her car would later pick him up at a safehouse. The assassin's location was top secret—Stephanie only knew that one had been activated. While entering the White House would involve rigorous security checks that powered armor couldn't pass, even unarmed Sisterhood cyborgs in pencil skirts could take down multiple armed adult males. Stephanie's safety was very well covered.
"She's so pleased with herself," Bayonetta murmured while playing with Solomon's fingers, a dangerous smile curling her lips. Jeanne pulled her fork out of her cake, ready to stab Solomon in the thigh at any moment. Even the Cheshire Cat leapt down from the couch and darted into another room, as if it couldn't bear to stay in the living room for another second.
"A brooch, huh? A gift?"
Constantine slipped out of the apartment and closed the door behind him. The servos in his power armor's vibranium-alloy joints didn't make a sound. Sometimes he wondered if the design choice for ultra-silent servos wasn't about stealth and assassination at all—but about not disturbing the monarch's home life. He had to admit, he liked seeing the monarch at home. Only here did Solomon seem to possess the emotions a human should.
He had no concerns about his monarch's safety. Things like this happened every day.
"Just precaution. Eternal City is short on personnel, and HYDRA is an important ally."
"Relax, I'm not that pushy. But do you even remember the last time you gave us a gift, hmm?" Bayonetta's grip was surprisingly strong—even his magically enhanced body couldn't take it. Light red finger marks slowly appeared on Solomon's palm.
"Choose your next words carefully, little boy. Your answer determines where you'll be sleeping tonight."
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