In the sewer, Su Ming moved toward the target location, while at the same time, other forces were making their own deployments.
After losing contact with the Roaring Assault Team, the SSR urgently met with the United Kingdom, and a special department in the UK dispatched a special squad to Paris, now on their way.
Far away in New York, the Torchbearer felt that dealing with urban disputes as a daily duty was not enough. He needed more righteous and meaningful actions to make up for his previous mistakes, so on the advice of an accountant, he was flying to the European battlefield.
Leviathan called for a halt; their beautiful agent in Paris reported the situation here, and they decided to make some preparations.
The Hand Union, Ten Commandments, Hellfire, and other forces have made some strategic adjustments, more or less, in the shadows.
..............
In a pitch-black room, there was only a round table and a single lamp, casting a bright white circular light on the tabletop, making everything else around less visible.
There were ten chairs around the round table, most occupied, with only one left empty.
In the darkness, the appearances of these people were unclear; only their military uniforms could be seen, along with the octopus skull emblems on their chests.
At the moment, these people just sat quietly by the table, not speaking.
Finally, a voice broke the silence in the darkness.
"It seems Stryker won't be coming. Let's begin."
"Sizzle, he hates you to death, why would he bother to talk nonsense with you? His new Hydra is now expanding and growing in the Far East. By the time he returns, one of us may be gone forever..."
Another voice spoke, making clear the reason for Stryker's absence and mocking the previous speaker.
The first speaker remained unangered, his voice still calm, "Let him try. Our topic now is something else, a major decision concerning Hydra's future development."
Another person in the darkness raised a hand, seemingly adjusting the glasses on his face, "Oh? Are you planning to give up the Cosmic Rubik's Cube? Research the so-called gene?"
"Cough..." A sharp voice sounded, "Gentlemen, and ladies, the X Gene indeed has great potential, but its value cannot possibly compare to my research! We already possess endless power in our hands, why still worry about the dirt on the ground?"
"Oh? Are you looking down on my research? Would you like to experience the gene-mutating toxic gas?" said the so-called lady, her words a gentle reply.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us first set aside the disputes, and listen to Red Skull's thoughts." A deep voice resonated in the darkness, from whose military uniform's chest only numerous tentacle-like things could be seen swaying slowly.
A pair of blue hands were placed on the table by their owner, who spoke while leaning back in his chair with ease, "Hive is right. Red Skull, what do you intend to say?"
Red Skull moved closer to the light, and his skinless face gradually became illuminated, the overhead lighting casting his expression into an eerie look.
"Our great Supreme Leader recently intends to take action against Hydra. I suggest Hydra withdraw from Germany and lie low once again."
"Sssong..." A sound similar to a cow's call echoed in the darkness, yet it seemed to convey laughter, "Come on, Red Skull, your ambitions are too obvious. The Supreme Leader just intends to eliminate you, don't involve us Hydra. You are merely the titular representative of Hydra. Do you want us to vote to abolish your position now?"
"I oppose. At this time, we can only depend on the Supreme Leader; he is the hope of Germany." Another voice spoke up, clearly a supporter of the Supreme Leader.
Red Skull slammed the table but hit only empty air. In his rage, he somewhat forgot that this was Hive's Mind Network and not a real conference room.
He exhaled forcefully through his nostrils, straightening his military uniform, "Zemo, is this your decision?"
"Yes, I am Hydra, but I am also a German. Germany above all." Zemo chillingly declared his stance and said no more.
He made his attitude clear; he and his followers would continue to depend on the Supreme Leader. He was not keen on being dragged into the Mind Network by Hive for a meeting while he still needed to catch Captain America.
"I also do not support going to war with the Supreme Leader, which would only give our enemies an opportune moment. However, my research here in Southeast Asia is not yet complete. You can consider me nonexistent, abstaining." Dr. Whitehall, who had previously adjusted his glasses, also declared abstention.
A middle-aged man with a stubbly beard revealed the tip of his beard under the light, "Faust abstains. I am an intelligence agent, and my current identity is very important, so I have no interest in your affairs."
"Ophelia, opposed." Lady Hydra declared her opposition. At the moment, she was in South America researching new rainforest poisonous snakes. The situation in Europe had nothing to do with her, but she preferred the future described by the Supreme Leader.
"Kraken, opposed." A somewhat brainless Kraken also opposed, having recently gotten close to U Demon, who looked down upon Hydra and only collaborated with the Supreme Leader.
"Countess, abstain. Little Skeleton, you understand, we spies have these matters... You know." Another woman's voice sounded, but she spoke fluent English.
"₥₦₧₪₫€" Hive spouted strange language, but through his psychic ability, everyone knew he likewise abstained. He was currently in outer space, with no stance issue to concern him.
"I... I support Schmidt." Dr. Zola, in truth, wanted to abstain, but remembering Red Skull's presence in reality, he hesitantly voiced his support.
"Hehe, Heine supports Red Skull because I like blue, and he likes red. I think our ideas are quite aligned." Surprising everyone, Blue Gloves supported Red Skull, and even though no faces were visible, one could sense all eyes turning to him in amazement.
Blue Gloves, known as the tenth head of Hydra, had always been solitary and never expressed opinions. Yet now, he stood with Red Skull, supporting a war against the Supreme Leader.
It was quite incomprehensible indeed....
However, his vote held no sway.
The current situation was that Zemo, Viper, and Kraken opposed turning against the Supreme Leader, while Red Skull, Zola, and Blue Gloves supported the confrontation. All others, including absent Stryker, abstained, resulting in a tie. The proposal was considered a failure due to too many abstentions.
"Tsk... a waste of time." Zemo's image vanished from the chair, having directly severed Hive's mental connection.
Others departed one after another, leaving only Red Skull, Dr. Zola, and Heine in the dark room.
"Short-sighted fools, can't they see I am the one who can lead Hydra to glory? I know what they're thinking, they want to bring back Stryker, they also want to get rid of me! Scum!"
"Uh, it seems things are becoming a bit irreversible now. Haha, I'll take my leave then." Heine's hologram stood up and gradually disappeared into the darkness, "But Schmidt, when you have a plan, let's have a chat. Long live Hydra..."
With that, the entire room fell into silence, with everyone gone.