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While Xia Zuo was familiarizing himself with the power of his Geass eye, Black Widow had already rushed to the bank next door where the incident had occurred.
"I'm late. What's the situation?"
A beautiful figure arrived swiftly outside the bank. It was Natasha, who had hurried over from the orphanage. By now, she had changed back into her usual practical attire: a skintight black leather outfit that made her look capable and dashing.
"Natasha, what were you doing just now? What took you so long?"
A man holding a bow and arrows gave Natasha a puzzled look, not understanding why Black Widow would arrive late. That wasn't her style.
"I ran into a brat, so I was delayed." Natasha secretly gritted her teeth, clearly remembering something unpleasant.
"All right, let's deal with things here first. There are ten robbers inside. According to our intelligence, these people should be peripheral members of Hydra!"
The muscular man gave Natasha a puzzled look, not quite understanding what she meant. But he said nothing more and instead turned the conversation to the bank robbery, briefing Black Widow on the current situation.
Hydra!
An extremely troublesome organization, and their organization's nemesis. That was also why they had been dispatched. If this had been an ordinary robbery, they wouldn't have needed to come at all. After all, they handled special cases, not some minor robbery.
"They never act without something to gain. What does this bank have that could tempt Hydra?"
Natasha frowned slightly and murmured to herself. From what she knew of Hydra, they would never do something like this without sufficient profit.
"We don't know yet," the man holding the bow and arrows said.
"Forget it. We'll find out once we take the robbers down." Natasha murmured and prepared to charge into the bank, but just then, another explosion rang out.
"Bad news, ma'am! The robbers blew a hole through the wall on the other side and rushed into the orphanage next door!"
"Damn it! They really were planning to use the orphanage's children as human shields!" Natasha's expression changed drastically. She cursed and instantly rushed toward the orphanage.
Earlier, she had gone undercover in the orphanage precisely to prevent the robbers from using its children to threaten them. She hadn't expected this group of robbers to pull a feint, appearing to flee in another direction only to choose the route through the orphanage after all. This made Natasha rather angry.
Meanwhile, the orphanage's hall was somewhat quiet. Worried by the sudden explosion, Matron Mary had sent all the children to hide in the orphanage's basement. But Xia Zuo still wanted to see exactly what had happened, so he quietly slipped out while Matron Mary wasn't looking.
"It's really intense over there. The gunfire hasn't stopped!"
Xia Zuo listened from the courtyard near the bank, feeling a little excited. Although he was somewhat afraid-he had never actually witnessed a gunfight-with the renowned Black Widow there, he believed nothing would go wrong. After all, she was a member of the Avengers, not someone petty crooks could afford to provoke. Xia Zuo had some confidence in that, so he stayed there at ease as a spectator.
Bang!
Just then, a tremendous blast rang out, and a hole was instantly blown through the wall nearest the bank. Xia Zuo's expression changed drastically. He immediately ducked into a room and watched the hole through a gap.
It seemed something unexpected had happened!
Ten masked robbers immediately emerged through the blasted opening. The sturdy man leading them was holding a parchment scroll that looked extremely old.
"Hahaha! I thought the elites of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division would be stronger than this. Turns out they're just a bunch of idiots we can run circles around!"
The sturdy man at the head laughed arrogantly. He had come up with this feint, and he was delighted to have made fools of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s people.
"Pfft, what a long name!"
The leader complained, and it was indeed true: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s predecessor was the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Plenty of people had complained about that lengthy name.
"How could those idiots possibly be a match for the boss?"
"Exactly, exactly."
The other robbers all flattered their leader, joining him in mocking Natasha and the others.
"All right, we're short on time. Next, we'll follow the original plan: take the brats in this orphanage hostage, then leave and report back. Getting this treasure back first is what matters most," the robber leader said calmly, giving his men their orders.
Faint light fell through the gap in the room onto Xia Zuo's young face, but his expression was extremely grave. He hadn't expected this turn of events!
Take the orphanage hostage? That was something Xia Zuo would not allow.
To be honest, Xia Zuo hadn't been here long, and he had little attachment to the orphanage. But he had always remembered Matron Mary's kindness toward him. No matter how indifferent he was to emotion, he couldn't ignore that motherly affection. And the orphanage was the fruit of Matron Mary's hard work. He would not let these robbers destroy it.
"Looks like I'll have to act. There'll have to be blood this time."
Xia Zuo murmured, a trace of coldness flashing across his young face. Clearly, he had already formed the intent to kill.
With that thought, Xia Zuo shifted his mind and slowly walked out into the courtyard.
"Who's there? Come out!"
The moment Xia Zuo moved, the robber leader heard the faint footsteps and immediately aimed his handgun toward the room.
"Me!"
A young voice rang out. At the same time, Xia Zuo slowly walked out and quietly regarded the ten men before him.
"So it's just a brat. I thought those S.H.I.E.L.D. people had caught up. Just right for a hostage." Seeing that it was a young child, all ten robbers let out a sigh of relief.
"Sometimes children can be very dangerous too."
Xia Zuo chuckled softly, calmly regarding the ten men before him. At that moment, his glasslike, unusual purple-and-gold eyes turned fluorescent red, and an inverted V-shaped symbol resembling an eagle spreading its wings instantly appeared.
"Sir, coming uninvited isn't a good thing. I hope this gentleman who looks like the captain can answer my questions." Xia Zuo looked at the sturdy man in the middle, a gleam flashing through his glowing pale-red eyes.
"Yes, sir. Please ask."
At that moment, the robber leader froze, staring blankly at Xia Zuo as he slowly uttered words that left everyone else dumbfounded. But no one saw the red ring that had appeared over his pupils.
Geass ability: Absolute Command!
Activate!