Not Even Dogs Would Be Superheroes

Over the past few days.

Through the partially decrypted secret files left behind by [Hydra].

Carl had gained a deeper understanding of Sokovia's current situation.

On the surface, Sokovia had originally been nothing more than a small European country with a population of fewer than 500,000, perpetually shrouded in civil war.

But before the civil war broke out, the country had been neither poor nor backward. On the contrary, it had been absurdly wealthy!

Moreover, among the few European nations that still practiced a [constitutional monarchy], it was the only "pocket-sized nation" to successfully join the ranks of [developed economies].

Sokovia possessed extraordinarily abundant oil reserves.

Its proven oil reserves alone had already reached nearly 2.8 billion tons, ranking fifteenth among the world's oil-rich nations.

Its gross domestic product was as high as 69 billion dollars!!

In this country, the king was the head of state, the highest judicial authority, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and supreme spiritual leader, wielding unshakable absolute power!

And key sectors including oil, technology, education, healthcare, and transportation.

Were almost entirely controlled by a company called the [Sokovia Holding Group].

The king held 99.67% of the company's shares, while the remaining 0.33% was distributed among the rest of the royal family, the nobility, and high-ranking Cabinet officials.

Although no one had ever calculated the company's market value.

Its total assets absolutely exceeded one trillion dollars.

It was truly wealthy enough to rival a nation!

Besides that, the [Sokovia Holding Group] also possessed a well-equipped armed security force.

With roughly six hundred members.

Most of them were retired soldiers from the country, mercenaries, and a small number of former special forces personnel hired at high salaries from around the world.

It was no exaggeration to say that whoever controlled this company with royal backing controlled Sokovia's lifeblood—and the entire nation!

However.

A man's only crime was possessing jade...

What had once been oil resources that benefited both the nation and its people.

Had ultimately become the source of chaos that plunged the entire country into turmoil!!

After Baron Strucker set his sights on Sokovia.

He first secretly funded the rebellion of the opposition faction, the [Monthly Liberators].

Then, under the banner of the [Security Council Peacekeeping Force], he successfully established a presence there.

From that moment on, this once peaceful and prosperous country fell into endless war.

The original king and members of the royal family were also killed one after another in Hydra's subsequent assassinations.

Baron Strucker took the opportunity to collude with high-ranking Cabinet officials and other oligarchs.

Seizing control of vital resources such as oil and mining areas.

He became the hidden hand behind the [Sokovia Holding Group].

And turned it into one of the key sources of secret funding for the [Hydra European Division]!

Right now, if Carl could take control of this company, it would mean possessing nation-rivaling wealth, technology, and manpower.

At the same time, she could save herself enormous amounts of time and effort in building her own power.

It was practically skipping several lifetimes' worth of detours!!!

Even if she had to face Hydra head-on in the future, she would have a few more cards to play!

Rather than tuck her tail and flee to the perilous New York to start from scratch.

She might as well stay in Sokovia, grow bigger and stronger, and forge a glorious future!!!

Then she could take the opportunity to raise the [Dimensional Strength] of the [Warp] to above Lv3.

That way, before long, she could live carefree as a decadent, pleasure-seeking king!

Once she got tired of playing around.

She could simply "retire" back into the [Warp] and continue being a dimensional demon god.

This life plan was practically perfect!!!

996, 007, overtime being a blessing, becoming a mortgage slave, sucking up to clients, respecting supervisors... all of it could get the hell out of her way!

As for superheroes...

Ptooey!

Who the hell would even be a superhero? Not even a dog would do it?!!

However, Carl also understood that roads had to be walked one step at a time, and meals eaten one bite at a time.

So the first step of the plan she made for herself was to seize control of the [Sokovia Holding Group] before Hydra's next wave of attacks arrived.

With her current strength, ending Sokovia's civil war through force would be as easy as turning over her hand.

All that remained was figuring out how to "persuade" the directors who publicly controlled the company.

But for Carl, who possessed [Mind Control], that would be equally simple!

Because as long as your fist was hard enough, any problem could be solved with ease.

But before officially putting the plan into action.

Carl intended to speak with someone first...

A talent worth personally recruiting!!!

Outside the city.

At a private manor.

In the living room, Carl sat across from a middle-aged man with a straight posture and neat short hair.

The middle-aged man wore an expensive suit and exuded a refined, profound air, giving people the impression of a cultured gentleman.

But if anyone were truly deceived by his appearance, they were destined for a terrible time.

Because his name was Helmut Zemo!

He was the former head of Sokovia's intelligence department, held the rank of colonel, and commanded a secret assassination squad known as the [Echo Scorpion]!

And he also held the title of baron...

That was right.

This man was Baron Zemo from the movie [Captain America 3], who sought revenge for his innocent family's deaths and, all by himself, played the entire [Avengers] like puppets.

He ultimately drove them into an internal split, causing Captain America and Iron Man to turn against each other completely and become bitter enemies!!!

He had methods, strategy, execution, decisive action, ruthless cruelty, the ability to see into people's hearts, and the willingness to do anything to achieve his goals.

In this bizarre world where "the poor relied on mutation while the rich relied on technology."

Zemo had relied solely on his own strength to accomplish what other villains far more powerful than him had never managed to do!

That point alone was enough to prove his value.

And that was precisely why Carl had appeared here!

If she wanted to grow bigger and stronger, she needed top-tier talent like this under her command!!

At this moment.

The two silently sized each other up.

However.

Compared with Carl's calm composure.

There was clearly more wariness and hostility on Zemo's face.

As the former head of the intelligence department, Zemo obviously knew many things ordinary people did not.

Among them was the incident that had occurred at the mountaintop base a few days earlier.

So he knew very well who Carl was.

And what this young woman had done over the past few days!

Precisely because of that.

He had not wanted contact with someone so dangerous, lest he bring unnecessary trouble upon himself and his family!

The reason Zemo had allowed Carl through the door was that among the volunteers Carl had released from the base earlier was his old father, who had been cast out of the new interest group, lost all his privileges, and become bitter and resentful...

After all, turning a benefactor away at the door would bring retribution!!!

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