Chapter 28: The Lich King said, "We Hydras are truly remarkable!"

“Mr. Tony Stark, I am Agent Coulson from the Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Division. Could you tell me who that person is?”

In the top-floor room of Stark Industries, having waited for Tony to appear for quite some time alongside Pepper, Agent Coulson stepped forward as soon as he saw him.

From the moment he received the information to Tony’s return to the company, SHIELD’s remarkable efficiency had handled all his relevant data. As Coulson spoke, he kept his attention fixed on the man standing behind Tony—Vikarn.

“Uh... he is…” Irritated at being interrupted while about to embrace Pepper, Tony glanced at his secretary. “He said… which division?”

“Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Division,” Coulson repeated the name of his organization.

“That name is seriously cool. Okay, please—”

“Tony,” Pepper, knowing full well what her boss intended to say, cast him a meaningful look.

Her meaning was clear. The man was an official representative; some ceremonial courtesy was necessary. Be polite, or consequences would follow.

Pepper’s attitude prompted Tony to retract his initial urge to tell Coulson off. Instead, he extended his hand in a formal gesture.

“All right, Agent Coulson, from whatever division, what brings you here?”

“Mr. Stark, who is the man behind you?”

“According to our intelligence, he may be connected to your kidnapping. Why is he here now?” Coulson directed his gaze to Vikarn.

“Oh, he’s my friend! His name is…” Suddenly realizing he didn’t actually know the man’s name, Tony turned awkwardly toward Vikarn, who was chatting with Rhodey.

“Hey, super cowboy, what’s your code name again?”

“Cataclysm, the endless surge of disaster!” Vikarn replied. Rhodey’s eyes widened in surprise, as did Happy’s.

“Hey, man, his code name is seriously cool—it reminds me of my high school days, forming the football team, when everyone wanted the coolest code name.” Happy patted Rhodey’s shoulder at Vikarn’s words.

Rhodey nodded enthusiastically, “Just like I still wish I were a superhero giant man.”

Coulson: “…”

Vikarn had announced his name, but he hadn’t quite gotten what he wanted.

“Yes, you can call him the endlessly surging Cataclysm Cowboy.”

“Tony, you’re past the age for adolescent antics!” Pepper, unfamiliar with Vikarn and skeptical of Tony’s claim of friendship, raised an eyebrow. Aside from Rhodey and Happy, Tony had no other friends she knew of.

“Uh, I met him in Afghanistan. He’s a super cowboy, just as you imagine—loves riding horses, can even send them soaring into the sky. See the armor he’s wearing? He’s got some fighting skills too. Escaping from the terrorists this time was thanks to him.” Tony explained, hoping Pepper wouldn’t misunderstand.

Pepper held a newspaper whose headline featured a photo of Tony and Vikarn together. Tony’s answer left both Coulson and her surprised.

Previously, they’d assumed Vikarn had kidnapped Tony, but now Tony claimed he’d been rescued by him.

They had thought the man was connected to the mastermind behind the abduction; unexpectedly, he’d become Tony’s friend. The turn of events was bizarre, but since Tony himself said so, they had no grounds to question it.

Coulson was bewildered but deeply impressed.

Yet what concerned him wasn’t this. If this armored man had saved Tony, how did one explain the American soldiers in the footage? And those monsters?

“But according to my intelligence, this ‘super cowboy’ doesn’t quite match your description,” Coulson said, handing over a video file and pointing at the ghouls inside. He then looked to Vikarn, “Perhaps you could tell me what this is about.”

“Hey, Mr. Black Suit, he’s my friend. If you want to investigate, you should follow legal procedures, not approach things like this. Happy, get the lawyer’s letter ready.” Tony was not pleased with Coulson’s attitude.

“Relax, my friend. Some things must be revealed to these people; it will save us a lot of trouble.” Vikarn replied, then pulled out a spider card and handed it to Coulson.

“What is this?” Coulson was familiar with the card in his hand but pretended not to know.

“Since you’re asking so sincerely, I’ll generously tell you. You know the eight-legged spider? Like Hydra!”

“Hydra?” Coulson’s expression was perfect; though he knew what Hydra was, he feigned ignorance.

“This was recovered from those monsters who were once soldiers. Old friends from Afghanistan. The organization is called the Eight-Legged Spider—worshippers of a spider demon, an evil group like Hydra.”

“Happy, I knew there’d be drama today—look, here it is!” Rhodey and Happy, each holding a slice of pizza, became onlookers savoring the spectacle.

“What’s the connection between the Eight-Legged Spider and Hydra?” Coulson asked the most crucial question.

“If you want a connection, it’s probably just different code names under the same organization. Like under a dragon, Hydra is snakes, Eight-Legged Spider is spiders, Seven Wolves are wolves, Six Walnuts… and the Three-Headed Hellhound, each representing a branch of the organization.”

“Six Walnuts?”

“I don’t quite understand, Cowboy Boy—what code name is that?” Rhodey, the questioner, voiced his confusion as the others looked to Vikarn.

“Guys, you should have a bit of sympathy for the elders of the fifth century BC—they only had these fairly decent symbols. But shouldn’t you be more concerned about how the terrorists managed to pinpoint Tony’s location so accurately? Either someone inside betrayed his information, or the military sold out Stark.”

Vikarn continued to follow his rhetorical strategy as instructed by Roald.

Coulson felt numb.

So Hydra really has nine branches?

It had begun as an ancient mysterious institution; now the military was involved. He sensed the net around Tony was growing wider and tighter.

More importantly, this revelation implied that the Hydra they’d spent so much effort guarding against was just one branch among many evil groups.

It left him unsettled, as if he’d punched into cotton.

They’d spent tremendous effort to find the final boss, only to discover there was a bigger boss behind. And after that, even greater bosses?

More critically, Tony’s kidnapping was linked to internal issues at Stark Industries and the military!

Receiving vital information, Coulson wasted no time in returning to Trident Headquarters to report the latest developments to his superior, Nick Fury.

Returning from the research lab in the Air Command, Nick Fury listened to Coulson’s report and felt the situation was spiraling ever further beyond his expectations. The evil Hydra wasn’t just one head; eight more, even worse, lurked behind it?

From the Three-Headed Hellhound code name alone, it was clear—these were mythic monsters. The smaller the number, the more powerful. So what was the dragon?

Or was this planet preparing for a cleansing, unleashing all the villains at once for a clean sweep? Perhaps a human supplement, genetic evolution, and a world rebuilt?

Investigate Stark Industries, infiltrate the military, observe closely.

Be cautious!

On the other side, Alexander Pierce, upon hearing this news, wore an expression of complex emotion and deep satisfaction.

So Hydra wasn’t fighting alone—eight more evil allies supported them from behind.

Aid our allies, share intelligence, divert attention.

Time to act!