Catching up

After leaving Stryker's mutant team, Logan returned to Canada, his homeland.

Although the Howlett Family was long gone, Logan still had his strength.

He found work as a lumberjack, then gradually built himself a cabin from fine timber he had selected with his own hands.

Then he met a beautiful woman.

Logan had a warm, loving home.

Unfortunately, that woman had deceived him.

Her true identity was a mutant Stryker had sent to watch him, codenamed Silver Fox.

The happy life Logan had lived all these years was nothing but a cruel illusion.

He had been under Stryker's surveillance the entire time.

Likewise, Logan was also under Brad's surveillance. After all, Canada was now Hydra territory.

Over the years, Brad had read many stories about different Logans across the multiverse.

Without exception, those stories left Brad deeply moved.

How miserable. How could anyone suffer so much?

His entire life was a cycle of losing his memories, being used, and watching the people he loved die.

As for Silver Fox...

A flicker of surprise crossed Brad's slightly unfocused eyes.

Through the Weapon X Program, an ordinary Silver Fox had been granted the ability to slow her aging...

Silver Fox was born with the power of mind control...

Silver Fox joined the Central Intelligence Agency's black ops unit-X-Force...

Silver Foxes from different universes, each with different abilities, left Brad dazzled.

After escaping the Weapon X Program's control once again, Silver Fox regained her memories and became the leader of Hydra's Canadian branch...

Somewhat tired, Brad took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

Silver Fox was actually one of Hydra's future leaders?

And right here in the territory I currently controlled?

Interesting.

Brad carefully considered Silver Fox's strengths: she was skilled at espionage, formidable in her own right, long-lived, and good at reading people.

She also possessed mind control.

"I could consider recruiting her into Hydra."

Brad shook his head and put his round, gold-rimmed glasses back on. These days, they were more decorative than practical.

He instructed his subordinate to lower the car window, then sat quietly inside, watching the little cabin on the distant hillside. Logan was chopping firewood in the clearing outside, bare-chested.

Suddenly, Logan sensed someone watching him.

He looked up, then raised a hand to shade his eyes from the glaring sunlight.

Logan had excellent eyesight. He quickly recognized the man who stepped out of the sedan and walked toward him.

"Brad?"

Joy at seeing an old friend swiftly welled up inside Logan, but then his expression abruptly changed.

He remembered that Brad was apparently "still" working for Stryker.

He saw the seemingly expensive suit Brad was wearing and noticed the mysterious black sedan behind him.

There was also a faint metallic stink drifting through the air.

Logan's attitude turned cold, even a little hostile.

"What are you doing here? Did Stryker send you?!"

"Oh, no, no, no. I left that old bastard Stryker ages ago."

Brad raised both hands to show that he meant no harm.

Logan's expression softened a little, but his nose told him that something very dangerous was hidden inside that black sedan.

Seeing the look in Logan's eyes, Brad pointed bluntly at the car. "That's my bodyguard in there. He could take on ten of you, but I haven't asked him to get out."

"I'm just here to catch up, Logan. Just catching up."

Logan grinned. As he watched Brad walk up to him completely unguarded, he finally let go of his hostility.

"If you've come to visit an old friend empty-handed, we'll be doing our catching up outside."

Logan's meaning was clear.

"I brought some excellent cigars."

Of course Brad knew what Logan wanted.

"Then welcome, my friend. Come in. I'll break out the pine nut liquor for you."

Logan led Brad into the cabin.

Silver Fox noticed that her husband seemed particularly happy today.

She quickly brought out the rabbit meat and venison Logan had cured, then fetched some firewood from the backyard to prepare a lavish dinner.

Meanwhile, Logan cheerfully brought out his homemade pine nut liquor, along with two crudely carved wooden cups.

Cooking smoke curled upward.

Logan and Brad lounged on the sofa, each holding a cup.

"Give it a try."

Under Logan's eager gaze, Brad raised his cup and took a small sip.

Brad frowned. "That's too strong."

"Hahahaha! It's liquor for real men!"

Logan laughed heartily, making his point to Brad.

"So, where are you working these days?"

Logan took a generous swig.

"As you can see."

Brad brushed off his suit as though showing it off.

"I'm a corporate executive. I'm rich now!"

"Oh? Let me guess. Your company mainly deals in cutting-edge electronics, right?"

Logan waggled his eyebrows, alluding to Brad's mutant ability.

"Uh, that is part of the business."

Brad thought it over. Under his leadership, HYDRA in Canada had indeed taken a technological direction.

Hydra branches around the world wielded different kinds of power, depending on their leaders' preferences.

Magic, technology, curses, assassins, biotechnology, or weapons...

"Congratulations. Honestly, you should have left Stryker long ago."

Logan raised his cup and clinked it against Brad's.

They drank together, and Logan picked up the glass liquor bottle... Brad couldn't help wondering whether that bottle was the most expensive thing in the entire cabin.

"Speaking of which, how did you find me?"

Logan filled both their cups, then suddenly remembered something and asked Brad.

Brad seemed a little distracted. He stared blankly for a few seconds before looking at Logan.

"I... spent a long time working under Stryker."

"I learned a few things. Some very bad things."

"He's been watching everyone who left the team. Every single one."

Logan's expression grew strained, and he looked confused. "How could he possibly keep tabs on me? This place is so backward. Forget surveillance equipment-the most advanced thing here is a beat-up old car that should have been retired years ago."

The next moment, Silver Fox appeared in the kitchen doorway, carrying steamed salted venison.

Logan instinctively glanced at his wife. In mere moments, a succession of emotions swept across his face.

Disbelief, then suspicion, then pain.

"Oh, God. Don't tell me it's this?!"

"Calm down, Logan! Calm down!"

Brad pressed a hand against Logan's forearm. Logan clenched his fist hard, veins bulging.

"It's not that bad yet, Logan!"

Brad lit a cigar, then roughly shoved it into Logan's mouth.

Logan couldn't help taking a drag, and his expression eased a little.

"I'm here to help you."

Brad watched Logan settle down. Meanwhile, the oblivious Silver Fox placed the venison on the dining table, gave them a puzzled glance, then ducked back into the kitchen.

"Silver Fox's younger sister is also a mutant. Stryker has her locked up, so Silver Fox had no choice but to submit to him."

Recalling the story in his mind, Brad did his best to soothe Logan.

Suddenly, Brad seemed to sense something. He raised his hand and pointed toward the kitchen.

Silver Fox stood in the kitchen, the communicator in her hand no longer working.

She turned her head in alarm and saw Logan standing in the kitchen doorway, watching her.

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