The empty orphanage was silent, devoid of its former clamor. In the hall, Xia Zuo held a loaded pistol and sat calmly on a bench, fearless in the face of danger. He was waiting, waiting for the enemy to arrive.
Screech!!
After a long while, sharp screeches of brakes rang out around the orphanage. Ten dedicated transport vehicles stopped, and a fully armed squad emerged from each one. The soldiers then surrounded the entire orphanage so tightly that no one could slip through, but none rushed inside immediately. They were waiting for orders from above.
"Ten vehicles, more than twenty soldiers in each. In other words, more than two hundred enemies in total."
Standing behind a window, Xia Zuo watched the situation outside the orphanage impassively, assessing the enemy. Just as he was doing so, the communicator in the hand of a Black man at the head of the armed squads, who looked like an officer, suddenly rang.
"Sir, all soldiers are in position," the Black officer said into his communicator.
"I only want that boy with the two different-colored eyes. Do whatever you like with the others." Whitehall's icy voice came through the communicator.
Hydra's men had arrived a step ahead of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Although Natasha had already been preparing to set out with her team when Whitehall received the intelligence, he had his own methods. Having the spies within S.H.I.E.L.D. exert a little influence to delay its team for a while was no trouble at all for Whitehall. That was how his men had reached the orphanage before S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, Whitehall had not come-or rather, Whitehall had not come to the orphanage!
Although Whitehall deeply resented Xia Zuo, the sight of John Garrett fighting like a madman, utterly deranged, had still left a shadow over him!
Whitehall was extremely wary of that power to control people's minds. After all, Hydra itself had a similar method of brainwashing. There was no way he would come to the front line in person, so he chose instead to watch everything from a building near the orphanage.
In fact, large-scale deployments of Hydra's forces and such ostentatious operations had become exceedingly rare since the end of the last world war.
After all, this was an age of peace, and Hydra was an evil force. The United States would not permit Hydra to act so openly. Under normal circumstances, Hydra lay low, quietly accumulating strength and waiting for the opportunity to rise.
But this time, Whitehall had truly been enraged. For the first time since regaining his youth, he had felt death so close. To someone who considered himself a wise man, this was a grave humiliation. He had to make Xia Zuo pay, even if it meant exposing and sacrificing a squad.
Besides, he attached no importance whatsoever to these low-ranking Hydra personnel. If they died, they died. It was no great matter. At most, he would recruit some new blood later.
As for the consequences of this operation, he felt that he should be able to resolve the matter by discarding a few pawns. Thus, Whitehall had no reservations at all.
In truth, this was Whitehall's true nature-or rather, he had always been this sort of person, protecting his interests at any cost.
"Everyone, move out!"
Upon receiving Whitehall's order, the Black officer immediately waved his hand, and all the soldiers rushed into the orphanage.
"It's begun. Let the orphanage grounds be drenched in blood!"
Inside the orphanage, Xia Zuo, who had been watching the situation outside, knew the instant the soldiers moved. His palm immediately pressed a button, and a neon light on the orphanage's sign lit up!
That was right. It was merely a neon light, not some concealed weapon. The slight difference was that a mirror hung from this neon light, and that mirror played an enormous role!
Human thought had a certain habitual tendency: people would involuntarily look toward a sudden change. The moment a neon light lit up, everyone would instinctively look in its direction!
That was precisely what happened now. At that moment, all the soldiers reflexively looked toward the light. As they looked at the neon light, the mirror tied beneath it reflected a pair of eyes glowing fluorescent red!
Within those eyes, an inverted V symbol resembling an eagle spreading its wings instantly lit up!
All the soldiers running in through the main gate froze at once, standing motionless. No one noticed that a red ring had appeared in their eyes!
Geass's first ability: Absolute Command activated!
Contract established!
"Only a quarter of the soldiers? But that's enough!"
Xia Zuo murmured to himself. This use of Geass had only brought the soldiers charging through the main gate under his control. After all, light traveled in straight lines, and the mirror could only face one direction. But this was already enough, because these soldiers accounted for roughly a quarter of the total.
To prevent Xia Zuo from escaping, Whitehall had ordered the soldiers to surround the entire orphanage and charge in from every direction. Some came through the back gate, while others even climbed over the walls on the left and right. Thus, Xia Zuo could not control them all at once, but this was already enough for him.
"Kill every soldier inside the orphanage except me, until you die!"
The Geass symbols in his eyes flashed, and all the soldiers who had charged through the main gate moved at once. Each raised his firearm, aimed at his comrades, and pulled the trigger without expression!
Rat-tat-tat!
Gunfire erupted instantly, without any warning, cutting down their comrades who had crossed the yard and were about to rush into the building!
At that instant, screams rang out one after another, but the soldiers who had entered through the main gate remained expressionless. At this moment, there was only one thought in their minds!
Carry out Xia Zuo's order and kill the remaining soldiers!
Blood flowed from the slain soldiers, slowly staining the orphanage grounds crimson!
P.S. The stats aren't looking very good. Please add this to your favorites, send flowers, and cast rating votes. I'm asking for all kinds of support. Thank you!