The End of Chaos and the Reward

The sound of the Turret turning was especially clear in the silence after the explosions.

The barrel of the 30mm Autocannon slowly moved through the smoke, aiming not at Blood Axe, nor at Fletcher—but at the crates filled with chemical reagents deep inside the warehouse. The armored vehicle's headlights pierced the swirling dust, casting two ghastly beams through the warehouse like searchlights of judgment.

"Drop your weapons."

The voice came from the armored vehicle's loudspeaker, cold, mechanical, and carrying unquestionable authority.

"All personnel, drop your weapons, put your hands on your heads, and kneel where you are. I repeat, this is an order from the Special Operations Unit directly under Headquarters. Those who resist will be eliminated on the spot."

Lin Xiao's ears were still ringing.

He lay prone on the ground, gripping three vials tightly in his left hand while his right hand pressed against Su Ying's back. Her body was taut beneath him like a fully drawn bow, but her fingers had already loosened around the dagger—she understood that the situation had changed.

Directly under Headquarters.

The weight of those words was heavier than the shelling just now.

Fletcher was the first to react. He threw away the pistol in his hand—not set it down, but hurled it straight onto the floor with a sharp clatter. Then he raised both hands and slowly, with impeccable precision, dropped to both knees and clasped his hands over his head.

"Do it!" he roared at his men.

The eleven soldiers looked at one another, but none dared disobey. Weapons hit the floor one after another, metal striking concrete in a chorus of clanging. Everyone knelt down like a row of wheat suddenly cut down.

Blood Axe was still standing.

He held his AK-74U, his gas mask turned toward the armored vehicle. The loudspeaker was still repeating its command, but he did not move.

"Captain Petrov." The voice from the armored vehicle changed, replaced by a steadier, older male voice. "Drop your weapon. This is your final chance."

Blood Axe's breathing came through the mask's speaker, heavy as a bellows.

Then he laughed.

"Headquarters?" His voice dripped with mockery. "Which Headquarters? Berlin Headquarters? New York Headquarters? Or... Dr. Zola's 'digital headquarters'?"

Silence fell inside the armored vehicle.

Three seconds.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

"Drop your weapon." The older voice sounded again, but this time it carried a barely perceptible killing intent.

Blood Axe slowly, excruciatingly slowly, turned the muzzle of his AK-74U toward the ground. But he did not kneel. Instead, he bent down and gently placed the rifle at his feet—his every movement full of ceremonial provocation.

"Satisfied?" He straightened and spread his hands. "Now can you tell me which important figure has graced us with their presence and used an autocannon to blow up their own warehouse?"

The rear hatch of the armored vehicle opened.

Six fully armed soldiers filed out. Their equipment was completely different from the Hydra soldiers at the base—black heavy body armor, full-coverage tactical helmets, and dark ballistic-glass visors that concealed their faces. Their weapons were not AKs either, but German-made HK416s fitted with holographic sights and tactical flashlights.

They quickly spread out and occupied every key tactical position in the warehouse. Their movements were crisp and efficient, without a trace of waste, like six precision killing machines.

The last person to emerge from the armored vehicle was a man around fifty.

He wore the standard officer's uniform of Hydra Headquarters—dark gray, perfectly tailored, with a colonel's insignia on his shoulders. He wore no helmet. His gray-white hair was combed meticulously, and gold-rimmed glasses rested on his face. Behind those lenses were pale blue eyes, like an ice lake in a Siberian winter.

He carried a folder and walked into the warehouse at an unhurried pace. His boots crunched over shattered glass and chunks of concrete.

"Major Fletcher." He looked first at Fletcher, kneeling on the ground. His voice was calm. "Stand up. Have your men stand as well."

Fletcher rose and dusted off his knees. His face looked terrible, but not from humiliation—it was fear. Lin Xiao could see it. The kind of fear that came from the marrow.

"Colonel Wolfgang." Fletcher's voice was slightly dry. "I didn't know you would come personally..."

"Of course you didn't." Colonel Wolfgang cut him off, turning his gaze to Blood Axe. "Captain Petrov, your question just now was interesting. Which Headquarters? I can answer that—it is the 'real' Headquarters. An order personally signed by Dr. Zola."

He withdrew a sheet of paper from the folder and held it up.

The Hydra emblem was printed on the paper, and beneath it was a complex digital signature—Dr. Zola's unique encrypted marker, recognized by every officer in the base.

"Given the multiple security incidents that have recently occurred at this base, as well as the extreme danger posed by Red Snow Project derivative sample RS-7," Colonel Wolfgang read from the document, his voice echoing through the empty warehouse, "Headquarters has decided that the Special Operations Unit directly under Headquarters will assume control over all related materials, personnel, and subsequent disposal authority. Major Fletcher, the original base commander, will assist with the investigation. Captain Petrov, former leader of the Blood Axe squad..."

He paused, his gaze settling on Blood Axe.

"...is hereby arrested on suspicion of launching an unauthorized operation and attempting to conduct illegal transactions with external forces."

Before he had even finished speaking, two black-clad soldiers moved.

They were astonishingly fast, crossing the distance to Blood Axe in three steps. Blood Axe tried to resist—Lin Xiao saw his muscles tense—but one soldier had already driven the butt of his rifle into Blood Axe's abdomen.

A dull impact.

Blood Axe grunted and doubled over. The other soldier seized his arm, used a standard restraining maneuver to twist it behind his back, then cuffed his wrists. The entire process took less than five seconds.

"You..." Blood Axe raised his head. Behind the lenses of his gas mask, his eyes were bloodshot. "You have no evidence!"

"Evidence?" Colonel Wolfgang closed the folder. "Captain, in Hydra, when Headquarters needs evidence, evidence naturally appears. Take him away."

The two soldiers hauled Blood Axe toward the armored vehicle. He struggled, but it was useless. He was dragged across the warehouse floor, his boots leaving two trails behind him. As he passed Lin Xiao, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

Behind the lenses of the gas mask, those eyes stared fixedly at the vials in Lin Xiao's hand.

Then he smiled.

"Kid." His voice was low enough that only Lin Xiao could hear it. "You think you've won? Just wait... this is only the beginning."

The soldiers dragged him away.

Outside the warehouse, the armored vehicle's engine roared to life and carried Blood Axe and four soldiers away. The remaining two black-clad soldiers stayed in the warehouse, standing behind Colonel Wolfgang like two black statues.

Colonel Wolfgang's gaze finally turned toward Lin Xiao.

His eyes first fell on the vials in Lin Xiao's hand, lingering there for three seconds before shifting to his face. Those ice-blue eyes scanned every detail of Lin Xiao like a scanner through the lenses of his gold-rimmed glasses.

"You are Lin Xiao," he said. It was not a question, but a statement.

"Yes, sir." Lin Xiao stood, though he still held the vials tightly. Su Ying also rose, standing half a step beside him with her body slightly inclined forward—a posture ready for battle at any moment.

Colonel Wolfgang noticed the detail, and the corner of his mouth curled slightly upward.

"Relax, ma'am," he said. "If I wanted to kill you, the autocannon would not have only hit the entrance just now."

He walked toward Lin Xiao, his footsteps very soft. He stopped two meters away and extended a hand.

"Give me the samples."

Lin Xiao did not move.

"Sir," he said, keeping his voice as steady as possible, "the stability of these samples has been compromised. According to A.I.M.'s report, improper transfer could lead to..."

"I know what the report says," Colonel Wolfgang interrupted. "I also know that if these samples are stored above 25 degrees Celsius for more than forty-eight hours, there is an eighty-seven percent chance of spontaneous detonation. I also know that you used that information to threaten Captain Petrov just now."

He paused, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses.

"A very clever strategy. But Headquarters has taken over now. Professional containers and temperature-controlled transport equipment are already on the way. Give me the samples. That is an order."

Lin Xiao's mind raced.

Handing over the samples meant losing his most important bargaining chip. But refusing meant defying an order from Headquarters—in Hydra, the consequences of defying Headquarters were usually worse than death.

He glanced at Su Ying.

Su Ying gave a slight nod—the signal to hand them over. She had read the situation clearly: Headquarters' intervention had changed the rules of the game. Defiance was meaningless.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath and handed over the three vials.

Colonel Wolfgang accepted them with extreme care. He did not grasp them with his bare hands. Instead, he took a pair of specialized shockproof gloves from his pocket, put them on, and only then received the vials. He lifted one and examined it under the warehouse lights.

The blue liquid flowed slowly inside the glass tube, with more bubbles on the surface than before.

"They really have become unstable," he murmured. Then he passed all three vials to one of the soldiers behind him. "Put them in the specialized container. Transfer them immediately when the transport arrives."

The soldier took the vials and turned toward the armored vehicle.

Only then did Colonel Wolfgang look back at Lin Xiao, his gaze now carrying a hint of appraisal.

"You saved these samples," he said. "You also saved the lives of half the people in this warehouse. If Petrov had forcibly taken the samples away and they had exploded on the road... the consequences would have been unimaginable."

He turned to Fletcher.

"Major, your people performed well. Especially this..." He looked at the document in his hand. "Private Second Class Lin Xiao. And the woman beside him... Su Ying, former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. As well as the intelligence officer hiding in the passageway."

Wolf heard his name and nearly jumped. He was supporting Anna Koch, his face deathly pale.

Colonel Wolfgang walked to the entrance of the passageway and examined Anna Koch's injuries. The female researcher had already fallen unconscious. The bandage over her left shoulder was soaked through with blood, and her breathing was weak.

"She needs immediate treatment," Colonel Wolfgang said. He then waved to the other soldier. "Take all the wounded to the medical room. Prioritize this researcher. She is a key A.I.M. technical specialist and possesses crucial data."

Two soldiers stepped forward, carefully lifted Anna Koch, and carried her outside the warehouse. Wolf wanted to follow, but Colonel Wolfgang stopped him.

"You stay," he said. "You two as well."

He meant Lin Xiao and Su Ying.

Only five people remained in the warehouse: Colonel Wolfgang, Fletcher, Lin Xiao, Su Ying, and Wolf. Along with the two black-clad soldiers standing like statues.

Colonel Wolfgang walked to the center of the warehouse, where a table had been overturned by the shelling. He righted it, drew several more sheets from his folder, and spread them across the tabletop.

"Major Fletcher," he said, his voice returning to that icy calm, "given that the original captain of the Third Operations Squad was killed in the attack just now, the squad's command position is now vacant. Based on your performance in this incident, as well as Headquarters' personnel deployment considerations..."

He raised his head and looked at Lin Xiao.

"Private Second Class Lin Xiao, effective immediately, you will serve as acting captain of the Third Operations Squad. Your rank is promoted to corporal."

Lin Xiao froze.

Not with delight, but vigilance.

The promotion had come too suddenly, too easily. In Hydra, there were no free lunches, and promotions did not simply fall from the sky.

"Sir." Fletcher spoke, his voice carrying a trace of barely noticeable tension. "Lin Xiao has performed exceptionally, but he has not been with the organization for long. His seniority..."

"Seniority is unimportant," Colonel Wolfgang interrupted. "Ability is what matters. In a situation like that, he remained calm, assessed the circumstances, used every bargaining chip at his disposal to maneuver, and protected important materials—such ability is worth more than ten years of seniority."

He looked at Lin Xiao.

"Do you have any objections, Corporal?"

Lin Xiao stood at attention. "No, sir."

"Good." Colonel Wolfgang nodded, then looked at Su Ying. "Ms. Su Ying, given the combat proficiency you displayed during this operation and the assistance you provided Corporal Lin Xiao, Headquarters has decided to formally admit you as an external member of Hydra and assign you to the Third Operations Squad."

Su Ying's expression did not change, but Lin Xiao saw her clenched fist loosen.

"Wolf." Colonel Wolfgang finally turned to the trembling intelligence officer. "Your surveillance equipment played a role at a critical moment and provided accurate coordinates for Major Fletcher's reinforcements. Starting today, you are officially transferred to the Third Operations Squad as intelligence support."

Wolf opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely nodded.

Colonel Wolfgang closed the folder.

"The appointments take effect immediately. After the Third Operations Squad is reorganized, your foremost task will be assisting Headquarters in investigating the whereabouts of the Red Snow Project derivative samples and tracking down the remnants of A.I.M.'s radical faction. Major Fletcher will relay the specific mission details to you."

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the three.

"Remember, this promotion is not a reward. It is a responsibility. Headquarters is watching you. Dr. Zola is watching you. Do not disappoint him."

With that, he turned and headed toward the armored vehicle. The two black-clad soldiers followed behind him like two shadows.

Outside the warehouse, the armored vehicle's engine started again and carried Colonel Wolfgang away. Only Fletcher, Lin Xiao, Su Ying, and Wolf remained amid the wreckage strewn across the warehouse.

Fletcher let out a long breath.

He walked over to Lin Xiao and patted him on the shoulder. The gesture was forceful and carried a complicated emotion.

"Congratulations," he said, though there was no smile on his face. "You're a squad captain now. You have..." He looked at Su Ying and Wolf. "Two subordinates. It's a bit few, but better than none."

Lin Xiao looked into his eyes. "Sir, this promotion..."

"It was Headquarters' decision," Fletcher interrupted. "And mine as well. You saved my life, and you saved those samples—although those damned things nearly blew all of us up. But regardless, you proved your worth."

He turned and headed out of the warehouse.

"Come with me. There are some things I need to tell you privately."

Lin Xiao looked at Su Ying. She gave a slight nod, telling him to follow. Wolf still stood where he was, staring at the corpses and bloodstains across the floor, his face still pale.

The three followed Fletcher out of the warehouse.

The sight outside was even more horrific.

The warehouse entrance had been completely blown apart by the autocannon, its steel twisted into grotesque shapes. Two destroyed jeeps stood near the doorway, still spewing black smoke. Seven or eight bodies lay on the ground. Some belonged to Blood Axe's people, some to Fletcher's people, and two were unlucky casualties caught in the autocannon fire.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

Fletcher did not stop. He headed straight for the base's main building. His office was on the second floor, its windows facing the training ground. The office door was made of heavy solid wood, with the Hydra emblem carved into it.

He pushed open the door, walked inside, then turned back to Lin Xiao.

"You come in alone," he said. "They wait outside."

Lin Xiao looked at Su Ying. She leaned against the corridor wall with her arms folded, her eyes fixed on the window—that was the posture of someone keeping watch. Wolf crouched in a corner, still trembling.

Lin Xiao entered the office, and Fletcher closed the door.

The office was not large, but it was tidy. One desk, two chairs, and a filing cabinet. A world map hung on the wall, marked with red ink at the locations of Hydra's various strongholds.

Fletcher did not sit. Instead, he walked to the window and looked out over the training ground.

"Lin," he said quietly, "you're a smart man. Smarter than Petrov, and smarter than most people in this base."

Lin Xiao said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"So you should understand that the promotion just now was not because you are particularly outstanding." Fletcher turned and looked Lin Xiao in the eyes. "It is because Headquarters needs someone to fill the power vacuum Petrov left behind. And I need someone to consolidate my influence in this region."

He walked behind the desk, sat down, and took a box of cigars from a drawer. He pulled one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Smoke spread through the office, carrying the rich scent of tobacco.

"Petrov has someone backing him," Fletcher said. "Not someone in this base, but someone higher up. He dared to launch the Red Snow operation and challenge Headquarters because someone was supporting him. Now he has been arrested, but the person behind him is still there."

He took another drag on the cigar.

"That person will not let this go. They will find a new proxy, or... come after you directly."

Lin Xiao finally spoke. "Why me?"

"Because you are the squad captain now." Fletcher smiled, his expression full of ridicule. "In Hydra, the higher your position, the more enemies you have. You took Petrov's place, so you inherited his enemies as well. Including the person backing him."

He flicked away the ash.

"But you do not need to worry too much. As long as you follow me and do your job well, I'll protect you. After all, you are someone I promoted. If something happens to you, I lose face too."

Lin Xiao understood.

This was not protection. It was binding. Fletcher had tied him to his own war chariot; they would share both glory and ruin.

"I understand, sir," Lin Xiao said.

"Good." Fletcher nodded, then lowered his voice. "There is something else you need to pay special attention to."

He stood, walked over to Lin Xiao, and lowered his voice even further.

"After the doctor wakes up, I think there are some things you should hear about those 'blue bottles.'"

Lin Xiao's heart jolted.

"What things?"

"We don't know yet," Fletcher said. "But before she lost consciousness, she kept muttering things like 'not samples,' 'they're bait,' and 'they're testing.' As for what exactly she meant, ask her yourself when she wakes up."

He patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder.

"Go. Take your people to the medical room and check on them. Remember, you are a squad captain now. Start learning how to manage your subordinates, gather intelligence, and... survive in the cracks."

Lin Xiao stood at attention. "Yes, sir."

He turned and walked toward the door.

The moment his hand closed around the doorknob, Fletcher's voice rang out again.

"By the way."

Lin Xiao turned back.

Fletcher sat behind his desk, cigar smoke blurring his face.

"Watch out for Blood Axe," he said. "That man... won't let this go so easily."