Hawk stood behind the desk, looking at the photo in his hand, then at the woman who seemed to have walked out of that photo entering through the door.
Lady Viper Ophelia Sargsyan was also looking at Hawk, who unknowingly appeared in her office and was standing behind her desk holding the photo of her and Anna.
The moment their eyes met.
At that moment, Ophelia felt as if she were inside a strange cosmos while looking into Hawk's deep blue eyes, which seemed to contain countless twinkling stars.
Loneliness.
Coldness.
And biting chills.
But she quickly composed herself.
Without betraying any emotion, she closed the door to her office and stood still, facing Hawk's gaze.
Hawk first looked at the woman in the photo with Anna, then at the woman before him, withdrew his gaze, and put the photo back in place.
"Your name!"
"…Ophelia."
Ophelia initially froze, then hurriedly responded, her voice no longer carried the allure and seduction it had during the earlier call with Alexander, but rather sounded calm, even reassuring.
After putting the photo back in its original place, Hawk listened to Ophelia's introduction, raised an eyebrow, his hands in his pockets, looked again at Ophelia standing at the door with a straight posture, as if confirming something.
"Lady Viper?"
"…Yes."
Ophelia nodded again in response.
Hawk chuckled.
Named Ophelia.
And Hydra.
With long green hair like a bamboo leaf green, only Lady Viper—also known as Lady Hydra—who was rumored to toy with the famous mutant Wolverine Logan could perfectly match these three key details.
Indeed.
He guessed right.
However, there are no mutants in this world, so no Wolverine Logan; anyway, mutants don't exist in this Main Cosmos.
But this Ophelia in front of him...
Is indeed a mutant, or more accurately, an Inhuman.
Hawk glanced at Ophelia and instantly sensed the unique energy fluctuations hidden beneath Ophelia's deep green uniform.
It is said that Lady Viper is poisonous, a single kiss could turn the steel-hearted Wolverine Logan into a weak shrimp.
He wonders if it's true.
Hawk curiously thought.
But that's not his purpose here.
Hawk's gaze returned to the photo, now placed back on the desk.
"What's your relationship with Anna?"
"Friends."
Standing at the door, Ophelia seemed to remember something, looked at Hawk, and added.
"Very good friends."
"Is that so?"
Hawk, upon hearing this, looked at Ophelia, then at the smile squeezed out on her face, chuckled: "I will confirm this, you better not be lying."
With that.
He took the role of the host, behaving as if he was the owner of the place, while Ophelia standing at the door was the guest he invited, pointing to the sofa located in front of the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the supposedly most expensive place in all of Asia.
"Sit!"
"…Thank you."
Ophelia breathed a sigh of relief, thanked him, and, like a guest, though a somewhat uneasy guest, walked to the sofa, gathered her skirt, and sat facing Hawk, properly seated.
Hawk also walked over, but did not sit on the sofa; instead, he went to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the place below, supposedly the most expensive in all of Asia.
Sitting on the sofa, Ophelia did not dare to move.
Hawk's voice was ethereal.
"When I came here, I thought of just punching this place into a wasteland like Wakanda."
"A vast expanse of white, it looks very clean."
"However…"
While speaking, Hawk turned around and sat on the opposite sofa facing Ophelia: "After landing, I saw a large fire that calmed my anger somewhat, and I also saw the photo of you with Anna, so I would only ask you one question, was it you impersonating Anna for the call?"
Anna is not in Japan.
This was something he discovered the moment he landed in Japan when his Sixth Sense instantly expanded, covering the main island of Japan.
This is why he would call Sharon to inquire about the location of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch in Japan.
But at the time, he could not be sure.
What if Anna just left the main island, went somewhere else?
But now…
When Ophelia entered the office and he noticed his own suddenly stiff body, he completely confirmed.
When at New York S.H.I.E.L.D, the Anna talking to him was not the real Anna.
Then comes the question.
Where is Anna?
Surely it can't be said that the Anna who spoke to him at New York S.H.I.E.L.D was fake, and last time outside Wakanda who talked to him, claiming she had been promoted and moved to Japan was also fake?
If that's really the case.
Ha.
Hydra still wants to struggle again.
Struggle your damn leg.
Listening to Hawk's question, feeling his infinite killing intent, Ophelia shuddered and quickly shook her head.
"It wasn't me, Mr. Phoenix."
"Is that so?"
Hawk's eyes were profound, staring straight at Ophelia: "Then who burned the Jingguo Toilet; don't tell me Anna called you to ask for help."
"No."
"It's Alexander Pierce."
Ophelia didn't hesitate, instantly betraying Alexander Pierce, who had called a few hours ago for help.
Even though Alexander Pierce had promised her a favor.
But...
With death looming, what good is a favor?
Ophelia knew the only reason she was still alive was not because Hawk didn't want to kill her, but simply because there was a photo of her and Anna on her desk.
This was the sole reason she could still talk to Hawk.
But if she chose to hide the truth?
Ophelia had no doubt that the next second, the entire Ginza would turn into a vast, empty land, just as Hawk had mentioned.
Hawk listened to the name Ophelia mentioned, showing no expression on his face.
"Alexander Pierce?"
"Yes."
Ophelia nodded quickly and without holding back, recounted the conversation she had with Alexander Pierce a few hours ago on the phone.
Hawk, after confirming that the Anna he had spoken to at New York S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't the real Anna, had his first suspect as Alexander Pierce.
Ophelia's testimony only reinforced this suspicion.
It's just that...
"The last time outside Wakanda, Alexander Pierce contacted Anna, who told me she was in Japan handling business there."
"No."
Ophelia shook her head decisively and told Hawk, "Japan is my territory. Anna is my friend, so she's welcome to come play, but she's Alexander Pierce's subordinate. He and I just have a cooperative relationship."
Hawk laughed.
But to Ophelia, the smile was eerie, as if Hawk was about to devour someone.
However, Hawk quickly calmed the rage that rose within him after Ophelia's words and looked at her.
"What about Anna then?"
"I don't know."
Ophelia honestly said, "Anna and I haven't been in touch for a long time."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you say you were good friends with Anna? Aren't you curious why you haven't contacted her in so long?"
"I asked."
"And then..."
"Alexander said Anna was on a mission, so I didn't pursue it further. After all, Alexander and I are just partners."
"Really?"
Hawk, hearing this, looked at Ophelia, who didn't seem to be lying, and nodded thoughtfully, "When was the last time you contacted Anna?"
Ophelia frowned, facing Hawk's gaze, and seriously recalled before looking at him again.
"Mid-July last year."
"July?"
"Yes."
Hawk remembered when he asked Anna to keep an eye on when Thor's girlfriend Jane Foster arrived in London City.
Right.
He realized it was after that in London City when he couldn't reach Anna by phone.
So, since July last year, has Anna been missing or imprisoned?
Hawk pondered.
The reason he was sure Anna wasn't dead was simple.
He hadn't seen Anna's soul in the Netherworld.
Don't forget.
Hawk had an agreement with Mephisto that his friends' souls wouldn't end up in Hell but in his Netherworld.
So...
Missing or imprisoned, which is it?
Hawk's mind whirled with thoughts.
The next second.
He sneered.
Why think so much? Just ask Alexander Pierce directly.
After all, just one phrase.
Hydra's second chance effort.
Completely obliterated!
Hawk thought, then got up from the couch, ready to head over to Washington to lend a hand.
However...
As he was about to leave, he noticed Ophelia quickly getting up to follow him upon seeing him rise.
Hawk stopped, turned around, and once again fixed his gaze on Ophelia.
"You better truly be Anna's friend."
"I swear."
Ophelia vowed earnestly.
Upon hearing this, Hawk stared at Ophelia for a few seconds before pulling back his gaze.
"Then you better pray that when I find Anna, her answer matches yours."
"Otherwise, you'll die a death worse than Alexander Pierce!"
With that.
Hawk's figure vanished from the office, and when he reappeared, he was high above the clouds. Accompanied by a sonic boom cloud, he transformed into a streak of light heading towards Washington.
...