Hawk actually didn't take long to reach the island nation.
At 1:30 PM local time, he landed on the street where Jingguo Privy (Yasukuni Shrine) was located.
He didn't immediately go to find Anna, but instead blended into the crowd like a bystander, watching the still burning Jingguo Privy (Yasukuni Shrine) in the distance.
At this moment, the Privy had been cordoned off by local police.
However…
Through the cordon, one could still see the Privy, which was once considered the island nation's spiritual symbol, now ablaze with an unstoppable Fire.
The shouts of the Japanese around were a chaotic babble.
Some of the short people even knelt by the cordon with agitated expressions, filled with grief and indignation, crying to the heavens and earth, as if their own mother had died.
Although firefighters arrived to extinguish the Fire at the Privy, it is well-known that most buildings in the island nation are primarily made of wood, making them extremely flammable.
So…
Even though the firefighters struggled for three and a half hours to save it, after they finally put out the great Fire, the originally magnificent Jingguo Privy (Yasukuni Shrine) had been completely reduced to a charred ruin.
Upon confirming that the Privy was entirely incinerated, with nothing salvaged from inside, the short people gathered outside the cordon completely broke down.
Cries, as if their mothers had died, echoed in unison.
Some of the overly emotional short people even stood up, yelled something in a chaotic babble, and then performed what is known as seppuku right on the street.
Then…
He cried out in pain, screaming and wailing on the ground.
Standing further away in the observing crowd, Hawk felt a sense of great pleasure watching this scene.
However…
The show was over; it was time to get down to business.
Hawk thought to himself, then smiled and borrowed a phone from a bow-legged girl next to him, and called Sharon Carter.
Because he had suddenly remembered something very important while watching the show.
He didn't know where S.H.I.E.L.D.'s island nation branch was located.
Although HYDRA had now begun its second struggle, and the entire World faced danger.
But that was not entirely the case.
HYDRA's struggle this time was mainly concentrated within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself and had not spilled over.
Just like New York City.
If Sharon hadn't escaped HYDRA's pursuit and run into Palm Street, Gwen probably wouldn't have known what was happening, just like other civilians.
Other places were the same.
Matters are accomplished in secrecy!
Alexander Pierce, the new generation HYDRA leader responsible for this struggle, understood this well.
The key to HYDRA's success this time lay in the three Insight Motherships equipped with Zola's algorithm; once the Insight Motherships ascended, only then would the HYDRA members who had infiltrated various federal industries over the years join the struggle.
At that time—
With the Insight Motherships ascending and HYDRA members across various industries revealing themselves, working in concert, what was taking over S.H.I.E.L.D.? They, HYDRA, intended to take over the Federation.
So, despite how sensational HYDRA's struggle seemed this time, in reality, apart from the S.H.I.E.L.D. system, the outside World had no idea what was happening at that moment.
The island nation was the same.
But it didn't matter.
He didn't know where the island nation S.H.I.E.L.D. branch was, but someone did.
Sharon Carter, who was currently following Captain America to the Washington D.C. battlefield, looked at the unfamiliar incoming number and initially intended to hang up, but suddenly realized it was an island nation number, seemed to think of something, and quickly answered the phone.
"Hawk?"
"Yes, where is the island nation S.H.I.E.L.D. branch?"
"Uh…"
Sharon, hearing Hawk's question from the other end of the phone, paused slightly, then after giving the island nation S.H.I.E.L.D. address, said, "You didn't know S.H.I.E.L.D.'s island nation address, and you still went to the island nation?"
Hawk shrugged, "It was urgent; I only remembered after landing."
Sharon said, "Alright," then her eyes lit up, "Oh, right, Hawk, Captain America just looked for you; he wants to invite you…"
Hawk interrupted directly, "You go first; if I go, you'll know. By the way, don't call this number; I borrowed it from a passerby."
After saying that, Hawk hung up the phone directly.
He knew what Sharon wanted to say.
Inviting him to Washington D.C. to join the grand event.
But…
What if he guessed wrong, and then agreed to Sharon, wouldn't he have to break his promise?
This was unacceptable.
A man in this World values his word, so he directly interrupted Sharon, not intending to give her a definite answer right now.
He would talk to Anna first.
So—
After Hawk hung up the phone, he returned the phone to the bow-legged island nation girl next to him, who was looking at him with an expression that seemed to want to give herself to him, said thank you, and then, at the moment he turned, disappeared directly from the bow-legged girl's sight.
He was here to do business, not to pick up girls.
The most important point.
He, Hawk, had only one love in his life!
Just as Hawk obtained the specific coordinates of the island nation S.H.I.E.L.D., Sharon, who had already driven from New York City to Washington D.C. and was less than ten kilometers from the Triskelion headquarters, also hung up the phone.
Seeing Sharon hang up, Natasha, who was beside her, quickly asked,
"What did Hawk say?"
"He said for us to go first."
Sharon relayed Hawk's answer, then looked at Natasha, "Hawk's attitude is a bit strange."
Initially, when Hawk first returned, Sharon felt his overflowing killing intent and was certain that HYDRA, which dared to offend Hawk this time, would meet the same fate as Wakanda.
And it was indeed so.
Hawk initially intended to wipe out HYDRA.
But…
After Hawk returned from New York S.H.I.E.L.D., he told her, "The rest is up to you."
Sharon didn't think much of it, assuming Hawk was amused and didn't really want to get involved in their fight with HYDRA.
But now.
"You go first."
This answer was very flexible, and to Sharon, it felt like Hawk had chosen "or" in a multiple-choice question of going or not going.
Sharon frowned.
"I feel that Hawk's change in attitude must be due to something we don't know."
"…"
Natasha, hearing Sharon's words, seemed to think of something and looked at Sharon, "I think I know why."
Sharon looked at Natasha.
"What?"
"This was originally Level 7 classified information."
Natasha shrugged, looking at Sharon, "Your security clearance is only Level 6; strictly speaking, I shouldn't tell you, but at this point, it doesn't matter. Long story short, Hawk has a friend named Anna, who is suspected of being with HYDRA."
Sharon's eyes widened as she looked at Natasha.
"Really or fake?"
"Previously suspected, now largely confirmed."
Natasha shrugged, "Commander Hand said Hawk received a call before leaving New York S.H.I.E.L.D., and the name he called was Anna. You just said Hawk's attitude changed after returning to the hospital. If nothing else, it's because of that call."
Sharon frowned.
"Then he's going to the island nation now…"
"I don't know, but he must have discovered something else after Captain and I left," Natasha said, only able to deduce this much based on the available information, then looked at Sharon, "But this is good news."
Sharon raised an eyebrow, looking at Natasha.
"How so?!"
"In the best-case scenario, Hawk will help us."
"The worst-case scenario should have been Hawk helping HYDRA, but Hawk has already told you he will only stand by."
Natasha said with a smile, "So this is actually good news for us, after all, you wouldn't want to see Hawk help HYDRA, would you?"
Sharon's expression dawned as she listened to Natasha's explanation.
Natasha then said, "Actually, from this matter, you can see that Hawk still leans towards the Lawful Neutral alignment."
Sharon nodded subconsciously.
Indeed.
Because if he were of a chaotic alignment, Hawk would only choose either S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA.
But Hawk's current choice was neutral while leaning towards their S.H.I.E.L.D.
This… was great.
It wasn't for nothing that I spent last Christmas holiday not celebrating, following him around and cleaning up his messes.
Sharon thought back to last Christmas and thought to herself.
The next second.
She looked at Natasha, her expression serious, "I hope Hawk discovers that HYDRA's Anna lied to him."
Natasha heard this and also nodded in agreement.
She hoped so too, because if that happened, HYDRA would be completely blown apart.
Once Hawk entered the fray.
HYDRA would be 100% doomed; they wouldn't even need to rush to the D.C. battlefield so urgently.
Unfortunately, Hawk had not yet decided whether to get involved.
So…
As the two women were talking, the voice of Commander Victoria Hand, who was not present but was providing information support for their mission from the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. command center, came through their earpieces.
"Attention, the Security Council motorcade will pass soon. Natasha, it's your turn. Sharon, be ready to provide support."
"Understood!"
"Received."
Sharon and Natasha stopped talking, tidied their weapons, looked at the bridge leading to the Triskelion headquarters that had appeared in their sight, took a deep breath, and their expressions became serious.
"Achoo!"
"…"
Far away in the island nation, Hawk, who was now standing in the island nation S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander's office, sneezed, instinctively pinched his nose, then looked at a photograph placed on the desk in front of him, and reached out to pick it up.
Upon seeing it.
The photo showed two women.
One of them was Anna.
The other was a woman with long, vibrant green hair, very much like bamboo leaves.
Who was this?
Hawk wondered curiously, then feeling footsteps from outside, he turned his head towards the office door.
The next second.
The door opened.
Viper Madame Ophelia pushed the door open and walked in.
Their eyes met!
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