Hawk actually didn't take long to arrive in Japan.
By 1:30 in the afternoon local time, he had landed on the street where the Jingguo Toilet is located.
He didn't seek out Anna immediately, instead, he blended into the crowd as a bystander, watching the still-burning Jingguo Toilet from afar.
At this moment, the toilet had already been cordoned off by the local police force.
However…
Through the blockade, you could still see the toilet, once considered a spiritual symbol of Japan, now engulfed in unstoppable flames.
The cries of the onlookers were more chaotic and loud.
Some short people were particularly animated, kneeling by the police line, appearing distressed and wailing as if their own mother had died.
Even though firefighters had arrived to help extinguish the blaze, it was widely known that Japan's buildings were primarily wooden and extremely flammable.
So…
Even after firefighters struggled valiantly for three and a half hours to salvage it, once they extinguished the fire completely, the once magnificent Jingguo Toilet had turned into a smoldering ruin.
After confirming the complete incineration of the toilet, with nothing salvaged from inside, the short people gathered outside the police line were thoroughly disheartened.
The cries of grief, akin to the loss of a mother, echoed around.
Some became so agitated that they stood up and shouted loudly, then proceeded to perform a public demonstration of what it means to disembowel oneself.
And then…
He lay on the ground, in pain, crying out piteously.
Standing amidst the distant crowd, watching the scene, Hawk felt a sense of pleasure.
However…
The show was over; it was time to get down to business.
Hawk thought to himself and then borrowed a phone from a bowlegged girl beside him and dialed Sharon Carter.
Because during the spectacle, he suddenly remembered something very important.
He had no idea where the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch in Japan was located.
Although Hydra had started their second struggle, posing a threat to the entire world.
But that wasn't entirely true.
This time, Hydra's struggle was primarily confined within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself, not spilling out.
Just like New York City.
If Sharon hadn't evaded Hydra's pursuit and fled to Palm Street, Gwen probably wouldn't have known what was happening, just like other civilians.
The same applied elsewhere.
Secrecy leads to success!
The new generation Hydra leader, Alexander Pierce, understood this well.
The key to Hydra's success this time lay in the three Insight Mother Ships equipped with the Zola Algorithm. Once they were airborne, the Hydra members infiltrated into various sectors of the Federation would commence their efforts.
By then—
With the Insight Mother Ships airborne, Hydra members in various sectors would reveal themselves and collaborate, and seizing S.H.I.E.L.D would be nothing compared to their goal of overtaking the Federation.
So, although this Hydra endeavor seemed significant, in reality, disregarding the S.H.I.E.L.D. System, the outside world remained oblivious to the events unfolding at that moment.
The same was true in Japan.
But it didn't matter.
He didn't know where the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch in Japan was, but someone did.
At that moment, Sharon Carter, currently following Captain America to the Washington battlefield, saw the incoming call from an unfamiliar number and considered hanging up, but upon realizing it was a Japan number and seemingly recalling something, she quickly answered.
"Hawk?"
"Yes, where's the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch in Japan."
"Uh..."
Hearing the question from Hawk on the other end, Sharon was slightly taken aback, and after providing the address of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch in Japan, she asked, "You didn't know the location then went to Japan?"
Hawk shrugged, "Things were urgent; I only remembered after landing."
Sharon acknowledged and then had a sudden thought, "By the way, Hawk, Captain America just went looking for you, he wants to invite you…"
Hawk interrupted, "You guys go first. If I'm going, you'll know. Also, don't call this number; it's a borrowed phone."
After speaking, Hawk hung up the call directly.
He knew what Sharon wanted to ask.
Invite him to join in Washington D.C. for the grand event.
But…
If he guessed wrong and agreed to Sharon, wouldn't he be breaking his word?
That wouldn't do.
Integrity is what defines a man, so he cut Sharon off, not intending to give her a definitive answer right away.
He'd wait until he saw Anna.
So—
After hanging up, Hawk returned the phone to the bowlegged girl who looked at him with a starstruck gaze, thanked her, and then vanished from her sight.
He was there to handle business, not flirt.
The most important point.
He, Hawk, stays true to his principles!
As Hawk received the precise coordinates for the S.H.I.E.L.D Branch in Japan, Sharon, who had driven from New York City and was now less than ten kilometers from the Three Feathers Headquarters in Washington D.C., also hung up the call.
Seeing Sharon hang up, Natasha, who was beside her, immediately inquired.
"What did Hawk say?"
"He said for us to go ahead first."
Sharon relayed Hawk's response, then looked at Natasha, "Hawk's attitude is a bit peculiar."
Initially, when Hawk returned quickly, Sharon, sensing the lethal intent emanating from him, was convinced that this time, Hydra would meet the same fate as in Wakanda when attempting to cross Hawk.
And indeed, it seemed that way.
Hawk was initially targeting the annihilation of Hydra.
But then...
When Hawk returned from New York S.H.I.E.L.D, he informed her, "From now on, it's up to you guys."
Sharon didn't think much of it, assuming Hawk was amused, and indeed, didn't really want to get involved in their conflict with Hydra.
But now...
You go ahead.
This response was quite flexible, and to Sharon, it felt like Hawk was choosing between going or not going.
Sharon frowned.
"I feel Hawk's change in attitude must be due to something we don't know."
"..."
Natasha listened to Sharon's words, seemed to realize something, and looked at Sharon: "I think I know why."
Sharon looked at Natasha.
"What?"
"This originally belongs to Level 7 classified information."
Natasha shrugged and looked at Sharon: "Your security clearance is only Level 6, so by rights I shouldn't be telling you, but at this point, it doesn't matter. To make a long story short, Hawk has a friend named Anna, who is suspected to be linked to Hydra."
Sharon's eyes widened and looked at Natasha.
"Is that true?"
"Previously suspected, but now largely confirmed."
Natasha shrugged: "Commander Hand said Hawk took a call before leaving New York S.H.I.E.L.D, and it was from someone named Anna. You just mentioned Hawk's attitude changed after he returned to the hospital, so it's likely because of this call."
Sharon frowned.
"And now he's going to Japan..."
"I don't know, but probably after Captain America and I left, Hawk discovered something else."
Natasha said based on the available information and then looked at Sharon: "But this is actually a good thing."
Sharon raised an eyebrow and looked at Natasha.
"How so?"
"Best-case scenario, Hawk will help us."
"Worst-case scenario was originally that Hawk would help Hydra, but Hawk already told you he would only stand by."
Natasha smiled and said: "So this is actually good news for us because you wouldn't want to see Hawk helping Hydra either."
Sharon listened to Natasha's explanation, with a dawning expression.
Natasha then said: "Actually, this shows that Hawk still leans towards a neutral and orderly camp."
Sharon subconsciously nodded.
Indeed.
Because if he were in a chaotic and disorderly camp, then Hawk would have to choose either S.H.I.E.L.D or Hydra.
But now Hawk's choice is neutral, yet leaning towards S.H.I.E.L.D.
This... is great.
It wasn't in vain that last Christmas I didn't celebrate, chasing after him to clean up his mess.
Sharon recalled the scenes from last Christmas and thought inwardly.
The next second...
She looked at Natasha with a serious expression: "Hopefully Hawk finds out that Hydra's Anna deceived him."
Natasha heard this and nodded in agreement.
She hopes so too, because then Hydra would be completely shattered.
If Hawk steps in...
Hydra would undoubtedly be doomed, and they wouldn't even need to rush to the Special Zone for battle.
Unfortunately, Hawk hasn't decided whether to step in yet.
So...
While the two women were talking, the voice of Commander Victoria Hand, who was in New York S.H.I.E.L.D Command Center providing them with information support for this action, came through their earpieces.
"Attention, the Security Council convoy is passing soon. Natasha, it's your turn, Sharon, prepare to support."
"Understood!"
"Received."
Sharon and Natasha stopped communicating, prepared their weapons, looking at the bridge leading to the Three Feathers Headquarters that had appeared in their view, took a deep breath, with a solemn expression.
"Ah-choo!"
"..."
In Japan, Hawk, who was standing in the Japan S.H.I.E.L.D Commander's office, sneezed and subconsciously pinched his nose, then looked at a photograph on the desk and reached out to pick it up.
In sight.
The photograph depicted two women.
One of them was Anna.
The other had long hair in a striking emerald green resembling bamboo leaves.
Who is this?
Hawk wondered curiously, then turned his head towards the office door, sensing the footsteps outside.
The next second.
The door opened.
Lady Viper Ophelia walked in.
Eyes met!
...