Yes.
The caller was none other than Anna.
Anna of HYDRA.
After exchanging greetings, Anna's voice came from the other end of the phone, with an apologetic tone: "Sorry, I just received the message, Hawk. Please believe us, we have no intention of being your enemy, you know that."
Hawk chuckled, and just as he was about to speak, he glanced at Victoria Hand and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent nearby who were listening intently, and did not speak immediately, but looked towards Commander Hand.
"Since you're all right here, I'll be leaving first."
"You're welcome."
After Hawk finished speaking, without waiting for Victoria Hand's reaction, he turned and disappeared into the underground Base of the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. Operations Command Center.
By the time he reappeared, he was already in the sky.
Hawk slowly floated towards New Amsterdam Hospital while talking to Anna, who was still on the phone.
"John Garrett is not one of yours."
"No."
"Then whose is he?"
"Arnim Zola."
Anna on the other end of the phone, without any hesitation, blurted out Dr. Zola's name, and then said amidst a cacophony of shouts on the other end: "Because New York City is close to New Jersey, that area has always been Dr. Zola's sphere of influence."
As expected.
Hawk thought to himself.
Just then.
A few gunshots rang out from Anna's side.
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you now?"
"Island Nation."
As Anna spoke, accompanied by another series of shrieks and then several crisp gunshots: "I've been transferred to the Island Nation. Remember?"
A scene had already formed in Hawk's mind.
Anna, who usually faced him with a smile, was now like a ruthless queen in a black leather outfit, standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling window in the Island Nation, with a group of defiant S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from the Island Nation being executed one by one behind her.
Anna shot each one of them.
This scene—
It was beautiful.
After Anna finished speaking, she seemed to remember something else: "Oh, by the way, Hawk, I went to New York City a few days ago, but you didn't seem to be there, and your phone couldn't be reached. I originally planned to wait for you to come back in New York City, but, you know, I had to rush back."
Hawk also remembered his half-month appointment with Anna.
He subconsciously patted his forehead.
"Sorry, something came up and I had to go out for a trip."
"It's okay. When I'm done with things in the Island Nation, I'll go to New York City again."
"Alright."
Hawk said with a smile: "You don't necessarily have to wait until you're done. If the situation isn't right, just come to New York City to find me."
He never looked at factions when making friends.
Sharon was his friend.
Anna was also his friend, and compared to Sharon, Anna was more like an old friend who understood him well.
So…
If Sharon died, her soul would go to his Underworld. If Anna died, her soul would also do the same.
However, if he could save Sharon's life, he could naturally save Anna's life too.
Anna also heard the unspoken meaning in Hawk's words.
But she seemed to have misunderstood.
"Hawk, this matter has nothing to do with us. Mr. Pierce also scolded Dr. Zola as soon as he learned about it."
"Oh, and then?"
"Dr. Zola said he would find a way to solve it himself."
"Heh."
Hawk laughed directly at the words.
Dr. Zola did find a way to solve it himself, which was to let John Garrett take all the blame to get away with it.
Too bad…
He wasn't an idiot.
Hawk thought to himself, then said to Anna on the phone: "John Garrett is just a small fry. I was just thinking if the mastermind behind this would be Alexander Pierce."
Anna's voice was urgent.
"Absolutely not. Mr. Pierce immediately kicked him out of the Triskelion Headquarters when he found out he had defected to Dr. Zola."
"I know, Commander Victoria Hand of S.H.I.E.L.D. New York also said the same thing just now."
Hawk said so, then changed the subject: "But, no matter who John Garrett has behind him, it's HYDRA, so I was just thinking of simply making an example of your entire HYDRA if no one stood up to claim responsibility."
How does that saying go?
To right a wrong, one must overcorrect.
Better to kill ten thousand innocent than to let one guilty escape.
So he really thought that just now. Since HYDRA chose to test him, they had to pay the price.
A mere unknown, even unheard-of John Garrett thought he could quell his anger.
What kind of beautiful dream was that?
"But now, Anna, you are my friend."
"I can give you face and not spread my anger."
"It's just…"
"Are you really planning to use the favor I owe you to make me back off?"
Hawk asked Anna seriously and sternly.
Anna's answer was without hesitation.
"Yes."
"Alright!"
Hawk chuckled, not mincing words, and gave a definite answer: "I promise you, I will not spread my anger to your and Alexander Pierce's branch."
Anna on the other end of the phone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you."
"Since I've agreed to you, shouldn't you give me something in return, Anna? I came here with a belly full of Fire. Can you understand how I feel when I finally come back from outside and see three HYDRA Agents trying to break into my house?"
"I understand."
"Good that you understand. So, find a way to help me vent my anger on that Yasukuni Shrine in the Island Nation."
Hawk said with a smile, stating his request: "I need to see video footage of the Shrine engulfed in Fire within two hours. Once I see it, I will, as before, stay out of it and not care who among you and S.H.I.E.L.D. will achieve the final victory. How about that?"
Anger does not disappear; it only shifts.
After all, Zola is intangible; even if killed, Hawk would not feel any pleasure.
But he definitely had to be killed.
It's just that this anger still needed to be transferred to something tangible.
Anna happened to be in the Island Nation.
So, let it be the Yasukuni Shrine.
Anna was first stunned by the words, then, after realizing, she nodded in agreement without any hesitation: "No problem, I will arrange for people to do this right now. Within two hours, you will see the scene of the raging Fire. I guarantee it."
Hawk hummed.
"There's one last thing. I originally planned to ask for your help when you came to New York this time, but since we're talking now, I might as well say it all at once."
"…You speak."
"Mind Stone!"
After destroying Wakanda in Africa at that time, Hawk originally thought of bringing up this matter half a month later, when Anna returned to New York City.
As a result…
He went to Skull Island. Although in his opinion, he only went for two days, due to the flow of time, seventeen days had passed outside.
And as soon as he came out, he encountered HYDRA's renewed struggle.
So, Hawk had no doubt when Anna said she went back to the Island Nation to preside over HYDRA's struggle there because she couldn't wait for him.
First, Anna was a HYDRA Agent, and second, she was his friend.
HYDRA was work.
Friends were personal connections.
Hawk was not the kind of person who would get angry if Anna didn't wait for him in New York City.
He originally planned to call Anna the day after tomorrow.
Since Anna called now, he might as well just say it all at once, lest he forget again the day after tomorrow.
Anna on the other end of the phone paused slightly after hearing Hawk mention the Mind Stone.
But quickly recovered.
"Mind Stone?"
"Yes."
Hawk didn't play any guessing games and said directly: "I know the Mind Stone is with you. I need to use it for something, but don't worry, I'm not asking you to give it to me for free, just to borrow it. If you're worried, I can go and use it on-site and leave when I'm done."
This time, Anna didn't agree without hesitation, but thought for a moment, and her tone was not so certain: "I don't want to lie to you, Hawk, I can't make the decision on this matter, but I will report it."
Hawk was not surprised by this either.
"Alright, that's these two matters. Nothing else."
"Okay, I'll arrange it."
"Mhm, hung up."
Hawk listened to Anna's assurance, didn't waste any more words, said a word, and then directly hung up the phone.
After all, everyone was very busy.
He was busy taking Gwen home first, then going to New Jersey to find Zola and pull the power switch of Zola's electronic person.
Anna should be even busier.
She not only had to deal with the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the Island Nation but also had to find a way to burn down that Shrine.
So…
Catching up could wait for a while.
While thinking, Hawk looked at New Amsterdam Hospital, which had already appeared below, and with a thought, his figure disappeared into the air.
At the same time.
Alexander Pierce, far away in his detached Villa on the outskirts of Washington D.C., picked up another phone and called Ophelia Sarkissian, known as Madame Viper within the organization, who was far away in the Island Nation.
The call connected quickly.
A female voice, hinting at seduction and languor with a touch of danger, came from the other end of the phone.
"Good morning, Pierce."
"Ophelia, do me a favor."
Alexander Pierce took a deep breath, then said in a deep voice: "Burn down the Yasukuni Shrine within two hours."
Ophelia Sarkissian, Madame Viper of HYDRA, who was currently lying languidly and alluringly on her bed, blinked and sat up.
"Why?"
"Damn Zola."
Alexander Pierce cursed, then explained how Zola, due to some program error, had tried to test Hawk, and ended up being caught red-handed by Hawk.
Ophelia laughed immediately.
"Pierce, I told you long ago, what intelligent life? It's just a broken computer program, and an outdated one tied to a bunch of obsolete electronic equipment that can't even be moved. And yet you all listen to his words implicitly."
"Stop talking nonsense, I need time now. Just drag it out until the Insight Helicarriers are airborne. Burn down the Yasukuni Shrine within two hours, any problem?"
"Alright."
Ophelia chuckled and nodded: "No problem, I'll have someone do it right away. But, Pierce, remember, you owe me a favor."
Pierce breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, I remember."
"Hang up first."
"Okay."
"…"
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