The Plea for Help
According to intelligence analysis, Doom was spotted in a city very close to the border of Latovinia, but Doom, unfamiliar with the terrain, would certainly not be able to find the correct route on his own, so he could only seek help from local people responsible for smuggling.
The higher-ups considered razing the city to the ground, but the negative impact would be too great. Even if the threat of Doom was eliminated, the blame for the crimes against humanity would still fall on them.
The only way to launch an attack is when Doom is far from the city, as the complex terrain will make the operation easier.
In less than ten minutes, an action plan based on this clue was printed out by the intelligence analysis department. Since it involved themselves, several high-ranking officials in the United States showed unprecedented efficiency in their actions, sending the action plan to the commander of that military base. One of the high-ranking officials even made a private phone call to give some instructions.
The implication wasn't too explicit, but it was clear from both overt and covert perspectives. "If you handle this well, you might not get the five million dollars, but a promotion is definitely possible. Several high-ranking officials and bigwigs have jointly recommended you; you won't be able to avoid it."
Upon hearing this, the base commander immediately perked up and summoned a capable subordinate. "Go find some local people involved in shady businesses, like smuggling, the black market, and illegal immigration, and ask them if anyone has seen Doom recently."
The soldier straightened his back and declared righteously that he was an upright soldier and knew nothing of such crooked ways.
The base commander's face darkened, and he roared, "You don't recognize them? Why is it that your men's military equipment wears out the fastest? Isn't it because you used the guise of scrapping to exchange old for new for free, selling 80% new military supplies through black market dealers? Otherwise, where would you get the money to entertain me on holidays and birthdays? Now, I order you to find all those connected to Doom before midnight and find out Doom route back to Latovinia. Otherwise, you can expect to face a military court for trafficking military supplies!"
Threatened, this trusted lieutenant immediately changed into civilian clothes and rushed to the city. He found the black market merchant he had been dealing with, and after going through three intermediaries, he found the smuggler that Doom had contacted.
Human traffickers sometimes also engage in human trafficking. They are ruthless and have several tough guys under them. They certainly don't lack weapons for self-defense, such as guns.
But that depends on who it is. He definitely can't afford to offend the United States troops stationed there, especially since his trusted lieutenant had a gun to his head and told him everything about the smuggling route and schedule he had arranged for Doom.
Upon receiving the intelligence, the base commander immediately made tactical arrangements—with the backing of a higher-ranking officer, he could command far more than the small-scale operations he had previously been able to organize.
Meanwhile, back at his temporary residence, Doom suddenly felt a strange palpitation. This wasn't the first time he had experienced this feeling; it was his innate talent for avoiding danger, the reason he escaped the wave of vampire extermination.
"Where exactly did the problem go wrong?!"
Doom ate his bread in one hand and water in the other, pondering the situation. He couldn't pinpoint where things had gone wrong. Now, only one step remained before he could return to Latovinia. At this crucial moment, even knowing the dangers, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and try. He had already given his all to get this far.
Not knowing how long it would take to return to Latovinia, Doom could only eat something to conserve his energy.
Considering that he still had to walk a distance, after having eaten and drunk his fill, Doom began packing his luggage. He could leave behind all the unnecessary items, and the things he could take with him could fit in a backpack at most.
While rummaging through his suitcase, Doom found a brand-new suit, a high-end, handmade custom-made item, neatly packed in a plastic bag, flawless except for a few slight wrinkles.
Although it was just a relatively ordinary suit from Doom's previous hedonistic lifestyle, it was a hope he left for himself. After returning to Latovinia, he would appear before the public wearing this favorite suit.
As Doom carefully folded his suit and put it into his backpack, he felt something in his coat pocket: a SHOCKER card. The card was simple; the front featured a Shocker eagle symbol holding the Earth, and the back had the title "Doctor Death" and a phone number.
Seeing the business card, Doom's thoughts drifted back to more than a year ago, when he wore this very outfit to complete his deal with Doctor Death. He then kept the outfit and casually packed it into his suitcase during his escape.
Remembering how Doctor Death recruited him, Doom realized that the strange man had foreseen the end of vampires and the fate of a nobody like him who depended on the vampire forces.
That lingering premonition of danger made Doom dial the number on the form as if possessed. Since it was just a trial, Doom didn't even add the area code, but even so, the call went through.
Doom said eagerly, "Doctor Death, I am Doom, Victor Doom, the one who represented Mr. Victor in your deal with me at the docks. You gave me your business card, saying you admired me and wanted me to work for you."
After receiving confirmation from the other party, Doom felt relieved, but then he felt a dangerous threat again:
"Doctor Death, I'm more than willing to serve you... Please save me!"
After a brief exchange, Doom received a positive response from Doctor Death, who accepted him. The sense of danger vanished instantly. After sending his address to the doctor, Doom lay down on the bed for a short rest to prepare for the journey ahead.
Doctor Death instructed Doom to continue according to his own plan, and that Doctor Death would arrive as soon as possible to formally induct Doom into the SHOCKER organization.
After hanging up the phone, Wei Xiuming immediately contacted Zheng Xian, borrowed an upgraded Destroyer Armor from him, and applied for a flight route through the Divine Spear Bureau's channels.
The previous Destroyer Armor was assembled by the Skrulls Kalis, and its design concept and basic technology were very different from Earth's civilization. The technicians of the Divine Spear Bureau. had a great difficulty in studying it. Based on this situation, Wei Xiuming designed an upgrade plan.
By combining the alien technology that the Divine Spear Bureau. had analyzed with Earth technology, they researched and manufactured a series of Destroyer Armor, and gradually reduced production costs and difficulties, striving to deploy them on a large scale as soon as possible.
Borrowing a set from Zheng Xian now is something Wei Xiuming could do, especially after the geological structural force detection device indirectly saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
Wei Xiuming donned his armor and took to the air, his anti-gravity jet engine activating at full power, flying towards the coordinates Doom had sent him within the permitted flight path.