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*****
Arnim Zola was Alexander Pierce's man, having even provided the "Zola Algorithm" to perfect Project Insight. As luck would have it, Sitwell was also part of Pierce's inner circle.
Feini committed the coordinates Sitwell provided to memory. He didn't assign the agent any further tasks for the moment, instructing him to maintain his current cover and promising to initiate contact if a need arose.
After parting ways, Feini returned home with the USB drive to examine the intelligence Sitwell had compiled.
He had to admit, Sitwell was remarkably capable. The data was exhaustive: the layout of Whitehall's base, ongoing research projects, and the distribution of personnel. It even included a psychological profile of Whitehall himself, detailing his daily habits and quirks. Feini found the level of detail breathtaking.
As he finished reviewing the files, Feini fell into contemplation. Summer break was approaching. He planned to spend the remaining school days scouting the situation, then, once the holidays hit, he would take Skye along to make their move.
The plan was to secure Whitehall first, then use him as a lead to find Skye's father, and eventually, her mother.
In the midst of the reports, one research project caught Feini's eye: the Centipede Serum. More specifically, he was intrigued by the collaborating organization listed—AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics)—and its head, Aldrich Killian.
Feini recalled that this man was a personal enemy of Tony Stark. Over a decade ago, Tony had stood him up on a rooftop, leaving him in the cold all night. Consequently, after his research succeeded, Killian planned to plunge the world into chaos as revenge against Stark.
While Feini didn't feel it was his place to judge Tony's past behavior, Killian's ambition for world domination put them on naturally opposing sides.
Should I just deal with him while I'm at it? Feini mused.
Tony had provided plenty of miniature Arc Reactors to feed the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and Feini had been looking for a way to return the favor. Eliminating a dangerous rival seemed like a fitting gift. He decided to play it by ear—if the opportunity to take out Killian presented itself, he'd take it; if not, it wasn't a problem. He could always wait.
In truth, Feini had already significantly altered the course of the future. The Tesseract, which should have been taken back to Asgard, and the Scepter, which should have been "lost" to Hydra via S.H.I.E.L.D., were both in his possession.
Without the Scepter, Ultron would likely never be born, and Vision along with him. Even Loki's future might change; without the Tesseract as a catalyst, Thanos might never have a reason to track him down and kill him.
Having come this far, Feini no longer worried about "breaking" the timeline. Since the future was already outside his control, he might as well act according to his own will. As for whether this would rob Tony of necessary growth and hardship...
Hah. The nuclear missile was never even launched, Feini thought. Tony's original path of 'growth' was severed a long time ago.
After some further reflection, he tucked the USB drive away, planning to conduct a preliminary investigation in a couple of days. If the base proved too dangerous for Skye, he would simply handle the mission solo.
Time flew by, and June arrived in the blink of an eye.
Feini had been incredibly busy lately. By day, he was at school preparing for early graduation; by night, he was scouting the Hydra base. Simultaneously, he had to grind experience for his eighth draw, practice his skills, refine his breathing techniques, and study the Mirror Dimension.
He was so swamped that he desperately hoped his next draw would be a cloning technique—specifically, Naruto's Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. Being able to split into dozens or hundreds of himself would solve everything.
Fortunately, with the onset of June and the sweltering heat, school was finally winding down for summer. He would at least have some reprieve from his heavy academic load. Furthermore, vacation was always the season of restless energy for young men and women.
"Helsing, you've turned us down so many times. Surely you won't say no this time?"
Several girls from Feini's class looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. Had his face and physique not been so distracting, they wouldn't have bothered asking him repeatedly.
"I'm really sorry!"
Feini looked at them with genuine apology. While a part of him wanted to go out and relax, he had far too much on his plate to spare the time.
"Hmph! We're never inviting you again," one of the girls huffed, trying to see if a bit of pique would make him change his mind.
However, as they left the classroom, looking back every few steps, Feini remained unmoved. After all, if he graduated successfully, there wouldn't be a "next time."
"Why don't they ever invite me? I have plenty of free time!"
Billy watched the girls leave, his face full of envy. Ever since he learned Feini's true identity, his jealousy had vanished—the gap was simply too vast for petty competition.
"You should ask them," Feini rolled his eyes.
Deep down, he felt a twinge of regret. Every break he'd had since arriving in this world had been spent working; he hadn't even had time to hang out with a pretty girl. It just went to show that being a hero wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
Billy didn't ask, of course—he knew his limits. He was curious about Feini's summer plans, though. Glancing around to ensure they weren't overheard, he whispered, "What are you busy with this break? Going to slay another god?"
"Slay my foot!"
Feini looked at Billy, amused. He had told Billy his enemies were gods just to scare him into silence, and it seemed the boy had taken it to heart.
"Stop digging. It's for your own good," Feini interrupted as Billy opened his mouth to ask more. Knowing about Hydra would bring the boy nothing but trouble.
"Oh."
Billy didn't push further, but he offered a sincere parting thought: "Then... just be careful."
"I will. Have a good break yourself. And finish that game soon—I'm waiting for it!" Feini waved goodbye.
Returning home, Feini sought out Skye. He had thoroughly scouted Whitehall's main base by now. While security was tight, there was nothing that posed a significant threat to him. He was ready to let Skye join the operation.
However, there was one complication: while Feini knew it was a Hydra facility, on the surface, it was a S.H.I.E.L.D. base.
They would have to be discreet to avoid exposure. Of course, if they were found out, the worst-case scenario would be Nick Fury realizing Hydra was still active, potentially forcing a premature showdown.
After briefing Skye on his investigation and why they were targeting Whitehall, Skye's emotions flared. "So he's the one who turned my mother into... and made me an orphan?"
(End of Chapter)