"After receiving the video, we immediately analyzed the visible facial areas of the masked terrorists. Using a newly developed recognition system, we infiltrated the entire surveillance network across Afghanistan."
"Public cameras, private systems—everything. Even mobile phones, laptops, tablets. As long as a device is connected to the internet, we can capture its data."
"Two days ago, we identified several suspects in footage from a local restaurant in this town. The facial similarity scores exceeded eighty-five percent. Even without additional evidence, that alone would be enough to detain them."
On top of a sand dune, Black Widow was connecting a laptop to a monocular telescope.
The vehicle was parked behind the dune, covered with a yellow desert-camouflage tarp.
From Qin Xiao's position, the distant town was nothing more than a black dot on the horizon. But once Black Widow completed the connection, everything changed.
Qin Xiao noticed that everyone entering or leaving the town was automatically captured by the telescope's autofocus.
The images were transmitted directly to the computer, where the software analyzed and identified each face in real time.
"So we're just going to sit here and stare at a computer?" Qin Xiao asked, wiping sweat from his forehead. The desert heat under the blazing sun was truly unbearable.
"If someone matches the profile, the system will trigger an alarm automatically," Black Widow replied.
She stood up and stretched.
The movement perfectly displayed her devilish figure—especially when paired with her angelic face and that strange blend of purity and temptation.
"I should've gone to Chinatown and bought some herbal cooling tea," Qin Xiao muttered, swallowing hard.
Black Widow noticed his gaze and smiled faintly.
"Hurry up and set up the tent. I'll deploy a few small devices to secure the area. If we're unlucky, we might be stuck here for a whole week."
Because of border restrictions, they couldn't enter the area in force.
The two of them had to locate the target in secret, confirm enemy numbers and weapons, and—most importantly—determine Tony Stark's exact location.
Only then could they decide on the next step.
It might have taken a week… but just as Qin Xiao finished setting up the tent, the computer sounded an alert.
"Lucky break?" he muttered.
He rushed to the laptop in three quick steps. Though he wasn't very familiar with the software, one thing was obvious.
A close-up image showed an off-road vehicle carrying four people.
The eyebrow-and-eye match rates of the two in front were 87% and 89%.
Even an idiot could tell.
"It's them. Let's move," Qin Xiao said decisively.
The telescope remained locked onto the target. Qin Xiao adjusted the tracking three times.
They got into the car and followed at a distance.
They drove west, bouncing across the desert for nearly three hours.
Only then did the vehicle finally reach its nest.
Qin Xiao was incredibly lucky to have Black Widow with him. Tracking a vehicle in the desert wasn't something just anyone could do—too close and you'd be spotted, too far and you'd lose them.
Tire tracks disappeared quickly beneath the shifting sand.
On top of that, Qin Xiao had a natural tendency to get lost. Even with GPS, leaving him alone in the desert would be a bad idea.
He might end up finding love before finding the road.
After hiking on foot and observing through binoculars, the off-road vehicle finally stopped behind another sand dune.
The two of them lay prone on the dune and raised their binoculars.
The terrorists had chosen their location well—near the border junction of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.(The Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn't strictly match real-world geography. Anyone who understands geography shouldn't nitpick.)
Geographically, it was closer to Pakistan, deep within uninhabited desert.
They had somehow discovered a stretch of sloping dunes mixed with gravel-covered hills.
Several caves had been carved into the hillside, facing a fractured sand slope in the center.
What lay before them resembled a small canyon.
From ground level at a distance, it was completely invisible.
Only from a higher vantage point could it be seen clearly.
No wonder so many people had failed to find Tony Stark.
Finding the location was only the beginning.
Over the next three days, Black Widow showed Qin Xiao what true professionalism really meant.
Based on vehicle movement and supply transport, they estimated the base housed 70 to 80 people.
The terrorists regularly transported water, food, and materials into the caves.
It was reasonable to conclude that hostages were being held there—and that one of them was almost certainly Tony Stark, since weapons were likely being manufactured inside.
What impressed Qin Xiao the most was her ability to lie atop a sand dune for almost an entire day, observing the camp through binoculars without moving.
She would dig a shallow pit in the sand, cover herself with a camouflage cloak to avoid sunburn, and refrain from drinking water all day—minimizing the need to relieve herself.
After all, this was the desert.
Compared to the brief flashback scenes in the movies, this gave Qin Xiao a far more visceral understanding of how brutal her training must have been.
For better observation, they set up a small tent on the reverse side of the dune.
Even at night, despite the distance from the terrorist camp, they dared not light a fire.
The moon was bright tonight.
Bathed in moonlight, Qin Xiao found himself gazing at Black Widow's delicate features.
For reasons he couldn't explain, a trace of sadness welled up inside him.
She was only twenty-four years old.
"If you were given a chance to change your life," he said quietly, "I mean… to completely change your normal way of living—would you take it?"
Opportunities to spend every night alone with such a stunning woman were rare. Qin Xiao usually teased her without thinking, but tonight his words were unusually serious.
Black Widow froze for a moment, then smiled.
"No. That's impossible for me," she said softly."I've done many wrong things in the past. Truly, many. For me now, this feels more like redemption. I'm grateful to have this chance."
Her smile carried traces of guilt, a hint of shame, and a deep, unspoken bitterness.
Qin Xiao's expression turned serious.
"That wasn't your fault, Natasha. Remember this—You're a sharp blade, not the executioner.The one at fault is the person who wields the blade. A weapon itself has no sin."
It was the first time Qin Xiao had called her Natasha, and the first time he had spoken to her with such sincerity.
Natasha remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Thank you."
"We'll prepare for action tonight," she added."Go get some rest. Conserve your strength. Reinforcements will arrive soon. You can keep watch."
With that, Natasha turned and walked into the tent.
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