Hydra??

"Are you sure that's what he said? Anyone who would say something like that, and that organization, should have been wiped out many years ago." After standing there in shock for a long time, Coulson finally said this in disbelief.

"Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place." This was the motto and creed of Hydra, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sworn enemy. The histories of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra could both be traced back to Ancient Egypt, though they became widely known during World War II.

Hydra was a secret unit created by the Nazi Red Skull, John Schmidt, but he later betrayed them and intended to use the power of the Cosmic Cube to claim the entire world for himself. To stop him, the Allied powers established the Strategic Scientific Reserve and created the Super Soldier Captain America. In the end, Captain America defeated Red Skull and foiled Hydra's plot, but paid for it with his life. Still, they had won. Their leader was dead, and the remaining members had either died during the war, surrendered and gone on to serve S.H.I.E.L.D., or been locked in special prisons until their deaths. Thus, as far as Coulson knew, Hydra had been completely eradicated.

"Eradicated? Perhaps. But that's what he said." Evenson spoke with calm composure.

"Do you know what that phrase means?" Melinda asked. Hydra had been destroyed sixty years ago, while Evenson was only in his twenties. She could not be sure whether he truly understood the special significance of those words.

"Look at me. A blond-haired, blue-eyed German. Back then, I could have been considered part of the master race. And a certain Führer's obsession with Magic was common knowledge. Do you think I wouldn't know?" Evenson said.

"Someone in your family once served the Nazis or Hydra." Hitler's obsession with Magic was known to everyone. A pure-blooded German who genuinely possessed magical power would surely have been highly valued. Coulson had no choice but to suspect that one of Evenson's ancestors had joined one side or the other.

"Of course not. I can swear that not a single Sorcerer ever served them," Evenson said firmly. Of course not. There was only one Sorcerer in this world: him.

"Perhaps it was merely the ravings of a dying man, but I hope you can keep this confidential for now. Do you understand, Mr. Richter?" Coulson had no time to investigate whether any of Evenson's ancestors had served Hydra or the Nazis. If he said no, then no it was. Besides, what difference would it make if they had? S.H.I.E.L.D. had recruited a group of Hydra scientists before. The most important thing now was to report this to Director Fury immediately and determine whether it had been the dying nonsense of a small-time thug, or whether Hydra had truly risen from the ashes.

As for whether someone had really come looking for Evenson? Of course not. But that did not stop him from saying so, did it?

"They're finally gone." Evenson glanced at Hubbs on the floor. The hellhound indicated that the two agents had left nothing behind. Left what behind? Bugs, cameras, and things like that, of course.

Evenson immediately let out a long breath and collapsed onto the table. Damn it, he had finally talked them into leaving. Was that easy? Making up that much on the spot, he could practically write a novel and make money from it. "Sarah, pour me a glass of water."

At that moment, his demons returned from the back. The succubus obediently brought over a glass of water. "Boss, do you really plan to teach them Warlock magic?"

Evenson took the glass and drank a sip. "No. I have no such plans. At least, not for now."

"Oh, I understand. You're using the truth to deceive them, aren't you? What a cunning boss." Worthy of being an evil succubus, Sarah immediately understood Evenson's meaning.

Evenson knew that if S.H.I.E.L.D. truly became interested in Magic, they would never give up because of a few words he had said to Melinda and Coulson. Rather than wait for them to force him, it would be better to first create an image of honesty and mislead them into believing that he was willing to teach them, but that the talent requirements were extremely high. When S.H.I.E.L.D. really found someone suitable, whether they succeeded or failed would still be up to him. That was what it meant to say it could not be done—and even if it could, it still could not.

"That's good. Too many Sorcerers in one world wouldn't be a good thing. Who knows when someone might suddenly open a Dark Portal?" Sarah said with a sigh of relief.

Evenson looked at her in surprise. "Come on, be professional, will you? You're a demon, for crying out loud. Do you have any respect for your own race?"

Sarah tilted her head dismissively. "Tch. I really don't see what's so great about the Burning Legion. Everywhere they go, they burn, kill, and loot. They don't even spare beautiful women. Boss, beautiful women are a rare resource, and they're just wasting them like that."

"Since you know beautiful women are a rare resource, could you please straighten out your preferences already and stop competing with me?" What an ancient oddity. His succubus was actually a lesbian.

"Hehe, if you really need it, Boss, I can reluctantly..." Sarah said seductively, sticking out her tongue and licking the corner of her lips.

"Heh." Evenson remained unmoved, because he knew this oddball succubus was joking. In truth, she detested any intimate behavior from male creatures. Of course, as her master, Evenson received special treatment, but that did not mean he could cross her final boundary.

"All right, I have something for you to do." After downing the entire glass of water in one gulp, Evenson spoke to his demons.

"Sarah, you know the Deadlock Gang's situation, right?" Evenson asked.

"I know it inside out. Give those horny dogs two drinks, and they'll tell you what underwear they wore as kids." Sarah spoke with contempt. With a succubus's abilities, extracting information from ordinary people was far too easy.

"Girl, when have I ever been horny?" Hubbs the hellhound suddenly cut in just as Evenson was about to continue assigning tasks.

"Lie still!" Evenson and Sarah roared at the same time.

"Dumen, dismiss." Evenson spoke. Without a word, the Voidwalker vanished with a bang, leaving behind only two large bracelets.

Evenson picked up the bracelets and handed them to Sarah. "Tonight, take Dumen out with you. Remember, turn invisible the moment you leave. Then kill a few members of the Deadlock Gang for me. The targets should be somewhere between low-ranking and mid-ranking members. Seven or eight will do."

"Understood. I guarantee the mission will be completed." Sarah accepted the bracelets and gave her assurance.

"Remember, do it without a sound. I don't want any witnesses, and I don't want cameras to capture your silhouette. It must be absolutely covert," Evenson reminded her again.

"Yes, Boss." The succubus promised again, but then raised a question. "What about the bodies?"

"Aren't you taking Dumen with you? Stuff them into his stomach." In theory, Voidwalkers did not need to eat anything, but they could also eat anything, provided it was weaker than them. Any matter would be broken down into shadow energy inside their bodies. It was this very trait that had earned a powerful Void Lord named Diemensius the title Devourer of Worlds.

"What about me?" Tyler grew anxious. Hearing that there would be killing but no part for him made the warlike Demon Guard extremely unhappy.

Evenson thought for a moment. "Go break the legs of that guy who supplies me. Damn it, I told him to make counterfeits, not defective products. A jade Buddha that fades in color? If he can't find fake jade, can't he just smash up a beer bottle?"

Thus, Tyler was deeply outraged by such consumer fraud and gladly set off.

P.S. The bonus chapter is here. Please shower me with rewards.