Hawk appeared in the tent, his gaze falling upon and scrutinizing Alexander Pierce before him.
His hair was gray, but meticulously groomed.
His face appeared wise, yet his eyes were gentle.
A sharply dressed man in a dark suit, completed by a pair of glasses, giving the first impression of a politician with a gentle demeanor and sincere attitude.
But…
It was all an illusion.
Because beneath this gentle facade lay a ruthless and unyielding core leader of Hydra, who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Here's a joke.
The Federation Council's chief is one of Hydra's core leaders.
But this has nothing to do with why Hawk suddenly came here.
No.
It does matter.
He came here because on his way back, he suddenly remembered something, prompting him to seek out Hydra leader Alexander Pierce, not the Council chief Alexander Pierce.
Alexander eyed Hawk, who had appeared abruptly before him, quickly disconnecting the communication as he rose from his seat, walked past the desk, and approached Hawk, offering his right hand with a warm, gentlemanly smile.
"Mr. Phoenix."
"Councilor Pierce."
Hawk also smiled, reaching out to shake hands with Alexander, then wasted no time in stating his purpose.
"Has Anna's vacation not ended yet?"
"Anna?"
Hearing the name, Alexander Pierce felt a jolt in his heart, but as a seasoned politician and a core leader of Hydra who had risen to his current position on the Federation Council, he was adept in managing his expressions.
Repeating Anna's name instinctively, a slight look of confusion appeared on his face.
Hawk didn't mind Alexander's expression.
Walls have ears, after all.
He didn't expect Alexander Pierce to readily admit he was a core leader of Hydra just upon hearing the name.
Hawk wasn't here to expose Alexander's true identity.
As previously mentioned.
He had his own affairs to handle and didn't care much about the feud between Hydra and the world; even if Hydra took over the world, it wouldn't affect him much.
Hawk came for his friend Anna.
Recently, as he thought of her, he made a few calls to Anna, but although the calls went through, no one answered.
Hawk pondered this while withdrawing his right hand and looking at Alexander.
"Yes, Anna, my friend, who works at your company. By the way, does your company offer such long annual leave? It's been almost half a year, and Anna hasn't returned to work yet?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Alexander Pierce met Hawk's eyes without immediately responding, instead saying to wait a moment. He then walked to the tent entrance, called in his assistant, instructed them to stand guard at the door, and not let anyone in. Then he returned to the tent, facing Hawk with a look of surprise and perplexity.
"Anna finished her annual leave long ago, sometime around last Christmas she's been working in Japan. Didn't Anna tell you?"
"Japan?"
Hawk raised an eyebrow, looking at Alexander and shaking his head.
"No."
"Shit, I'm really sorry. How about I arrange..."
"I don't want that."
Listening to Alexander's words, Hawk interrupted, looking at Alexander he said: "My friend is Anna, not anyone else."
Alexander opened his mouth.
Hawk smiled slightly.
"Since you said Anna is in Japan, can you give her a call?"
"Of course."
Upon hearing Hawk's request, Alexander agreed without hesitation, turning to fetch the phone on the table.
Hawk stood calmly, fully attentive as Alexander picked up the phone and dialed a number.
Soon.
The call was answered.
Hawk heard a voice speaking Japanese over the line: "Moshi Moshi..."
Alexander directly inquired about Anna.
However, his tone during this call was a bit deeper compared to the earlier gentle tone.
But this was normal; the switch of identities required a change in tone as well.
Hawk's suspicions lessened a bit.
After a while, following Alexander's conversation and accompanied by the footsteps of the woman on the other end, Anna's voice emerged from the call: "Sir?"
Alexander then passed the phone to Hawk.
Hawk took the phone.
"Anna."
"Hawk?"
Anna's voice came through the phone with much surprise and a hint of confusion.
Hawk audibly smiled.
"Are you in Japan now?"
"Yes, I've been promoted, managing a base here, all thanks to you."
"Me?"
"Yes, didn't you say I should talk to the boss about getting a promotion and raise?"
"Just remembered."
Listening to this, Hawk recalled mentioning that, he looked at Alexander and smiled, saying, "Thank you."
Alexander maintained a gentle expression, waving his hand.
```
Hawk then inquired about Anna's business.
"But why did you suddenly transfer to Japan without telling me, and why couldn't I reach you by phone?"
"I came here temporarily, didn't bring anything with me, and the phone, it's impossible not to get through. Huh, that's weird, I did send an email to tell you I changed my number. Didn't you see the email?"
"Email?"
"Yes, I sent it around the days just before Christmas."
"..."
Hawk didn't speak, pulled out his phone, and opened his email to search around the Christmas period last year.
In sight.
An unknown email surrounded by sales emails.
Furthermore, the email had already been read.
Hawk opened it and glanced at the timestamp; it indeed was during last Christmas.
But he had no memory of that email at all.
"Hiss!"
"Was I busy going to Texas to find the Four Creators at that time, and just glanced at it, then forgot?"
Hawk looked at the email, his thoughts churning.
Just then.
Anna's voice came through the phone: "Did you find it? I remember sending you an email during that Christmas, worried that I might disturb your celebration, so I sent an email."
Hawk returned to his senses, put away his phone, listening to Anna's words, and chuckled.
"We're friends, Anna, you can call me anytime."
"Alright, my fault."
Anna admitted without hesitation: "I still have some things here, if you don't mind, I'd like to go to New York in half a month and invite you for afternoon tea as my apology."
Hawk laughed: "Alright, I'll remember this cup of afternoon tea."
Anna laughed in response, then shifted the topic to the present: "By the way, Hawk, is there anything you needed from me? I'm in Japan now, but I can recommend a..."
Hawk interrupted: "No need, it's not urgent, we can talk when you come to New York City in half a month."
The Mind Gemstone is different from the Reality Gemstone.
Simply put.
When acquiring the Reality Gemstone, timing was essential; if missed, and Malekith took it, even if Thor defeated Malekith according to the original plot, the Reality Gemstone would likely not end up with him.
Even if the Reality Gemstone were given to the Collector according to the original plot, he wouldn't have the power to ask the Collector for it.
So...
The window for acquiring the Reality Gemstone was limited, and he could only get it during that time.
But the Mind Gemstone is different.
It's not time-sensitive, whether now or half a month later, it doesn't matter.
Moreover!
Honestly, he does miss his good friend Anna, whom he hasn't seen in a while.
Next month's reunion in New York City would be great.
After all, at first, he wondered if something had happened to Anna and she was dead.
But then he thought it couldn't be.
Because Anna hadn't reported to his Netherworld.
Don't forget, Hawk has an agreement with Mephisto that anyone he knows, who praises his name, won't enter Hell but the Netherworld.
So...
If Anna had died, with her identity as Hawk's friend, she would be directly transported to the Netherworld Pure Land.
But Anna hasn't appeared in the Netherworld, indicating she's not dead.
Yet he couldn't contact Anna previously, so he thought while in New York City, Sharon told him Alexander Pierce was hosting negotiation work in Wakanda, and went straight to inquire why Anna wasn't answering his calls.
Anna on the other end of the call, hearing about Hawk's appointment next month, didn't hesitate either.
"Alright, see you in New York City in fifteen days."
"Okay, I won't disturb you anymore, go ahead."
"Okay..."
Hawk then hung up and returned the phone to Alexander.
Alexander accepted the phone with a consistently gentle expression.
Hawk thanked him once more.
"Thank you, sorry for the bother."
"No worries, I'm glad Anna is your friend."
"Won't disturb you anymore, I'm leaving now."
"Take care."
Alexander heard this and didn't say anything further.
The setting wasn't appropriate.
Hawk didn't mind either.
He came over just to check on Anna with Alexander; now that it's been sorted, it's time to head home.
In the next moment.
Hawk's figure instantly disappeared, reappearing high in the sky, then accompanied by the sonic boom cloud emerging, transformed into a red light, heading towards New York City.
Standing outside the tent, Alexander Pierce watched the disappearing red light on the horizon, then turned back and re-entered the tent.
In just a moment of stepping in and out.
His expression became utterly gloomy.
Face as dark as –
Frightening!
...