I'm so sorry, the doctor ordered a lot of tests today.
My dad suffered a stroke and needs someone to stay by his side.
I pushed him around for a whole day of checkups, and we didn't finally have a break until after 7 p. m.
If it weren't for the doctor's break at noon, and me squeezing in a little time to write, I almost would have missed today's update.
Here's a 6000-word chapter as compensation; I hope you enjoy reading it.
As traffic in Washington, D. C., slowly recovers and pedestrians return to the streets, what appears to be a peaceful and orderly urban routine is actually a tightly woven net of manhunts.
Since the explosion at the Wheaton underground base in New Jersey, S.H.I.E.L.D..'s highest-level wanted notice has officially taken effect. The faces of Steve, Natasha, Hill, and Coulson have been entered into all city surveillance systems. Plainclothes agents are everywhere, and every main road, every commercial building, and every traffic checkpoint is being thoroughly searched and targeted.
As the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.. and a core member of Hydra's top leadership, Pierce was well aware of the perilous situation. At this crucial juncture as Project Insight was nearing its conclusion, he completely severed all outings and social activities. His daily routine was rigid and fixed, strictly maintaining a two-point line of routine. During the day, he stayed at headquarters to oversee the final stages of Project Insight, and as night fell, he would return directly to his private residence, escorted by a private car in a closed loop, heavily guarded, with no blind spots in security, leaving no room for outsiders to intervene, infiltrate, or launch a sneak attack.
The impenetrable defenses and flawless route left the four with absolutely no opportunity to get close and strike. A direct attack would be tantamount to walking into a trap, while a sneak attack was impossible. Sticking to Pierce's main line would only lead to a complete stalemate and a missed chance to turn the tide.
"If we can't crack the main storyline, we have to find a secondary breakthrough point."
Coulson tapped his phone screen, bringing up the encrypted file. A sharp, professional-looking agent ID photo popped up on the page, with the name Jasper Sitwell listed below.
" Sitwell, Pierce's most trusted and closest subordinate, should also be a key figure Hydra has planted in the mid-level of S.H.I.E.L.D.." Coulson's eyes were grave as he quickly reviewed the intelligence. " Pierce knew almost everything about Project Insight —terminal debugging, algorithm input, satellite linkage—he participated in every core process, and the inside information he possesses is enough for us to understand everything."
More importantly, compared to Pierce, who is extremely cautious and whose security is unsolvable, Sitwell's schedule is regular and controllable. He travels to and from headquarters every day, coordinates with field staff, and checks equipment. He has a lot of time to go out and commute alone, making him the only controllable and surmountable target at present.
With the established goals set, everyone quickly divided the tasks without any delay.
Coulson pushed the newly compiled schedule in front of Sam, his fingertips quickly marking key points. " Sitwell will be going out alone today to check the city's satellite signal base stations, and then he'll be passing through the business district surrounding the White House. This is his only solo trip today."
"I need you to leave ahead of time, take a detour and infiltrate the vicinity of the target location, check for ambushes along the way, and send us a coded signal after confirming there are no suspicious circumstances."
Sam's expression was calm, the relaxation he had shown during his rest had long since faded, and his eyes were full of competence and sharpness. He nodded in response, "Understood."
Without hesitation, he quickly packed up the flight wing, checked the equipment, and after confirming that there were no malfunctions, he quietly pushed open the door and left. Under the cover of the residential alleys, he sneaked into the core area of Washington, D. C., and prepared to make arrangements in advance.
After Sam set off, Steve and his three companions followed closely behind, officially entering this city rife with danger.
This was the first time the four had faced the perilous streets of Washington since being wanted across the entire network. The entire city's network had long been under the complete control of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The streets appeared as bustling as ever, with pedestrians hurrying by and cars flowing endlessly, but countless eyes were fixed on every passerby in the shadows, and numerous surveillance cameras were operating at high speed. Every inch of air was filled with a tense atmosphere of hunting.
The four remained highly focused throughout, working in perfect harmony and bringing their infiltration techniques to their fullest potential.
Countless close calls, countless near misses, every step teetering on the edge of exposure, holding their breath the entire time, daring not to make the slightest mistake. After a long and agonizing stealth journey, the four finally made it through the layers of security without incident, arriving at the foot of a high-rise office building next to the White House.
This building is extremely tall, with a wide and unobstructed view, no blind spots in surveillance, and a perfect panoramic view of the entire commercial district, making it an excellent ambush and observation point. The four of them quickly climbed to the top via the safety passage, pushed open the iron gate to the rooftop, and stepped into the empty and deserted rooftop.
The wind was fierce high above, howling past my ears. The entire city was laid out before me, and the traffic and people below looked as tiny as ants. The bustling metropolis stretched out quietly before my eyes, but hidden dangers were everywhere.
The four quickly took their positions, each fulfilling their duties. Steve stood in the center of the rooftop, quietly waiting for the target to appear. Natasha and Hill concealed themselves behind pillars on either side of the rooftop, blocking all escape routes. Coulson took out a small, sophisticated laser pointer and adjusted the equipment. Sam took out Hill's phone, which had been altered and disguised to resemble Pierce's private line, and waited quietly for the right moment.
When the time was right, Sam pressed the dial button.
The moment the call connected, Sitwell's respectful and cautious voice came through the receiver. "Sir."
Sam didn't bother to disguise his voice and said directly, "Agent Sitwell, enjoyed your lunch? I heard the crab cakes at that restaurant you went to were quite good."
Before Sitwell could ask, Sam continued, "Go to the rooftop of that high-rise office building up ahead. The owner of the phone is waiting for you. Look at your chest. You'd better do as I say."
At the same time, a thin red laser beam shot out precisely from the edge of the rooftop, piercing through a hundred meters of air, and steadily locked onto the center of Sitwell's chest, who had just parked and was alone on the street below. The spot of light was small but conspicuous, and its accuracy was impeccable.
Sitwell froze on the street, instantly noticing an unusual light on his chest. His keen intuition, honed by years of working in high-risk positions, immediately put him on alert. He looked around but found nothing amiss. Furthermore, the call came from his superior, Pierce's, private number, instantly suppressing any remaining doubts.
He dared not hesitate or ask any more questions. Under the silent deterrence and guidance of the laser beams, he suppressed his doubts and quickly left the parking area, heading towards the rooftop of the office building.
Throughout the entire process, he was filled with confusion, wondering why Pierce would summon him in such a secretive and bizarre way, and why he would be sent alone to the deserted rooftop. However, his professional ethics as a top-notch staff officer prevented him from disobeying his superior's orders, so he could only follow the directions and go straight to the top floor.
The heavy iron door to the rooftop was slowly pushed open, and a cold wind from high above instantly rushed into the corridor. Sitwell stepped onto the rooftop, and the moment he stepped out of the iron door, his blood froze.
Steve Rogers stood quietly, his posture upright and composed, his eyes fixed on him, devoid of any extra emotion, only exuding a cold and oppressive aura.
In an instant, all the doubts and strange occurrences connected, and Sitwell instantly realized that he had stepped into a trap.
In the instant his pupils contracted, his whole body tensed instinctively. He whirled around, trying to slam the iron gate shut, lock the passage, and flee for help.
But in the next instant, two figures blocked all escape routes.
On either side of the rooftop, Natasha and Hill slowly emerged, one on the left and one on the right, completely sealing off the iron gate exit. Their cold, sharp gazes were fixed on him, giving him no room to resist.
There was no way out in front or behind, and enemies on all sides.
In a mere second, Sitwell completely gave up resistance, his tense body slowly relaxing. He knew the fighting strength of these four men, and he also knew the dire Extremis they were in; any struggle would be futile, and there was no possibility of breaking through.
Steve slowly stepped forward, closing in step by step. A powerful sense of oppression enveloped him, forcing Sitwell to the edge of the rooftop railing, his back pressed tightly against the cold, hard metal railing, with nowhere left to retreat.
The biting wind at high altitude lifted the hem of his clothes, and the feeling of weightlessness from a hundred meters in the air washed over him, causing a sense of panic to creep into his heart.
Even when trapped in Extremis, Sitwell remained resolute, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a sense of certainty and composure.
He knows Steve Rogers too well.
Captain America is a man of principle, a man of integrity, and a man of justice. He has lived an upright and honest life and has never resorted to insidious methods of interrogation, much less coerced or harmed his colleagues. In his view, as long as he keeps his mouth shut and remains silent, the other party will have no way to extract information from him and will eventually be forced to let him go.
" Rogers, your pressure tactics are useless." Sitwell straightened his back, his tone firm and resolute. "I know you. You would never use underhanded methods to extract a confession, much less harm me before things are clear. Whatever you want to ask, I have nothing to say."
He clenched his teeth, his attitude resolute, refusing to utter a single word about Hydra or the Project Insight, despite Steve's oppressive gaze and intimidating aura.
Steve frowned slightly, his expression serious. He was indeed unwilling to resort to extreme measures, and faced with Sitwell, who was unyielding and determined to meet his bottom line, he was at a loss for what to do.
Just then, a clear, cold female voice slowly rang out.
Natasha stepped forward slowly, gently patted Steve's shoulder, and said calmly, "Captain, leave this kind of thing to the professionals."
Steve stepped aside slightly, tacitly yielding. He knew that gentle principles and the principles of justice were never of any use against these lurking, secretive Hydra agents.
Upon hearing this, Sitwell's pupils dilated sharply, his confident composure shattered instantly, and disbelief, astonishment, and fear welled up in his eyes.
He stared intently at Natasha, not having a chance to beg for mercy, explain, or negotiate, or even to realize what she was about to do.
Natasha's eyes suddenly turned cold. Without uttering a single word, her movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation.
She lowered her waist slightly, exerted her strength swiftly and powerfully, and delivered a precise and heavy kick, slamming it into Sitwell's chest.
Bang!
A dull thud suddenly rang out.
Sitwell instantly lost his balance, flew backward, flipped over the rooftop railing, and plummeted to the ground a hundred meters below.
"Ah--!"
The extreme feeling of weightlessness instantly swept over his body, and the sudden fall caused Sitwell to collapse instantly. His shrill and desperate scream pierced the sky and echoed throughout the entire building.
The wind howled in his ears, the scenery on the ground zoomed in rapidly, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped him. At this moment, the high-ranking and meticulous Hydra agent completely shed all pretense, leaving only the extreme fear and bewilderment of facing death.
Plunging rapidly from a height of 100 meters, the wind howls, the body falls rapidly, getting closer and closer to the hard ground, twenty meters, ten meters... death is just around the corner.
Just a second before he was about to completely embrace the earth, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from the side of the building at high speed.
Buzz--
The mechanical wings suddenly whirred through the air as Sam, clad in flight wings, swooped down at top speed, precisely locking onto the falling Sitwell, and grabbed his belt tightly. The powerful lift instantly countered the downward momentum.
A hair's breadth away.
Sitwell, who had just been on the verge of death and experiencing a rapid fall, was instantly pulled back into the air and brought back to the rooftop along a stable flight path.
Thump!
Sam casually tossed the still-shaken Sitwell onto the rooftop.
At this moment, Sitwell felt weak all over, his limbs were numb, his face was as pale as paper, cold sweat soaked his entire body, and he was trembling uncontrollably. The terrifying experience of being high in the air and on the verge of death had completely shattered all his psychological defenses.
The fear of death was deeply rooted in his heart, and all his strength and confidence were gone.
Natasha slowly bent down, kneeling beside Sitwell. Her fingertips gently smoothed his collar, disheveled from the fall, and she looked down at the dazed Sitwell sprawled on the ground. A cool smile played on her lips as she softly asked, "Now, do you have something to say?"
Sitwell slumped onto the cold concrete floor, his body stiff and his face deathly pale. The "rapid fall" from a hundred meters in the air had completely shattered all his bravado and wishful thinking. The fear of death gripped his mind, and the certainty and arrogance in his eyes vanished, leaving only a bone-chilling panic.
Natasha leaned forward slightly, her cold gaze locking onto the other person, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
An absolute silence fell over the room, and all eyes were on Sitwell. Steve, Coulson, Hill, and Sam stood silently behind Natasha.
Sitwell's Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips trembled slightly; he had clearly broken down and was ready to reveal the truth.
But just as the interrogation was reaching its most tense moment, a sudden, crisp cell phone ring broke the deathly silence of the entire rooftop without warning.
Ding ding--
The ringing continued, its shrill sound particularly jarring on the empty, chilly rooftop, instantly interrupting Sitwell's impending speech and shattering the tense, serious atmosphere.
Everyone paused, their expressions varying.
Natasha's brows furrowed suddenly, a look of utter speechlessness and frustration flashing in her eyes. She reached into her combat uniform pocket and pulled out her personal cell phone. The screen lit up, displaying the caller ID: Lynn.
Calling at this time, at this crucial juncture, is truly outrageous.
Natasha raised her hand and gave the people beside her a helpless look, indicating to wait a moment. Then she pressed the answer button and turned on speakerphone so that everyone could hear the conversation. Her tone was obviously impatient and hurried, and she spoke very quickly.
" Lynn, what are you doing calling right now? I don't have time for small talk, I'm dealing with important business, very crucial business."
There was no tension or urgency on the other end of the phone; instead, a relaxed and cheerful voice came through, sounding exceptionally at ease, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere on the rooftop.
"What big thing are you busy with? You rushed to tell me that Fury was attacked and that something happened at S.H.I.E.L.D.., and then you completely disappeared for days. I thought you were done with your work, so I specifically asked when you were coming back. To be honest, eating barbecue doesn't taste as good without you by my side."
Lynn spoke in a lazy tone, looking like he was just idly slacking off and thinking about food and drink, completely unaware of the Extremis situation they were in, where everyone was on the verge of death and wanted by the authorities.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a familiar, teasing voice came through the receiver. Tony Stark's sarcastic remarks came through clearly, laced with mockery and defiance.
"What do you mean the barbecue doesn't taste as good without her? Lynn, you're really good at lying through your teeth. Who was it that tried to steal the last piece of Wagyu beef from me last night, and then tried to cheat when they couldn't get it? You have a terrible memory."
The two bantered and joked over the phone, just like they were on a talk show recording, relaxed and carefree.
On the rooftop, the five people fell silent, and the air grew increasingly awkward and heavy.
Natasha's temples throbbed, her patience completely exhausted. Her tone grew increasingly urgent and impatient, abruptly interrupting their casual conversation.
"I don't have time to listen to your stand-up comedy. I'm really busy. The four of us have been wanted by S.H.I.E.L.D.. for days now, being hunted and surrounded every day."
"Just say what you need to say, otherwise I'm hanging up now. I just arrested Sitwell and am about to interrogate him, I don't have time to waste."
The moment those words were spoken, the joking and laughing on the other end of the phone abruptly stopped.
Lynn, who had been relaxed and nonchalant just a moment ago, suddenly fell silent, and the receiver was completely still.
An eerie silence lasted for a long time.
Natasha assumed the other person already understood the seriousness of the situation and waited quietly for him to speak, but there was no response. She frowned, raised her hand to hang up immediately, not wanting to waste any precious time.
Just as his fingertip was about to touch the hang-up button, Lynn's voice finally rang out again, all his playful smile gone, his tone tinged with helplessness and disappointment, revealing utter speechlessness.
"You? You've captured Sitwell? And you're planning to interrogate him?"
His tone was calm, yet it precisely struck at everyone's astonishment, as if he had known all their actions and experiences from the very beginning.
Natasha frowned slightly, her mind filled with confusion, not understanding why he was reacting this way. The situation was urgent; she didn't have time to delve into his attitude and could only patiently respond quickly.
"Yes, we just caught Sitwell and are about to interrogate him. Are you okay? If not, I'm hanging up."
"What did I tell you before?"
Lynn's voice turned completely somber, filled with obvious helplessness and reproach, clearly carrying across the entire rooftop through the speakers, "I warned you all long ago to contact me immediately if anything happens. So, are all S.H.I.E.L.D.. agents single-minded? Coulson is like that, Fury is like that, and you're like that too?"
"Since I told you in advance to contact me if anything happened, and I even gave Coulson some information beforehand, it proves that I know everything and understand everything. If I'm not mistaken, we got bombed, right? I'm speechless. You guys were more willing to foolishly search for information, hide in the underground base, and take a missile hit, than one of you even thought to call me first?"
After those words, the five people on the rooftop were all taken aback, and an awkward atmosphere filled the air.
Only now did they belatedly realize that Lynn, from the very beginning, knew more about Hydra's schemes, Zola's secrets, and the truth Project Insight than anyone else. Meanwhile, their group had been like headless flies, constantly hitting walls, taking risks, and narrowly escaping death, suffering countless hardships for nothing.
Before anyone could respond, Lynn continued to explain, completely filling in the crucial information that everyone had missed.
" Zola is a complete screening algorithm."
"This algorithm is the ultimate filtering system specifically tailored for Project Insight. Its sole purpose is to filter and eliminate targets for Project Insight."
" The Zola Algorithm captures everyone's past experiences, behavioral patterns, personality traits, and future potential. Through big data analysis and prediction, it accurately identifies all those who may pose a future threat to Hydra's rule."
"Simply put, all of modern human data, files, and behavioral records are like a completely encrypted book that ordinary people simply cannot understand. The Zola Algorithm is the key to decrypt it."
"It is responsible for predicting everyone's life and identifying all 'unstable factors' for Hydra, which means you. The core members of the dove faction who uphold justice, all those who refuse to compromise and are unwilling to be enslaved, are the targets of the Project Insight's elimination."
A clear and straightforward interpretation instantly connected all the clues.
On the rooftop, Steve, Natasha, Coulson, Hill, and Sam all remained silent, exchanging bewildered glances, their eyes filled with shock and realization.
All the previous doubts, confusions, and passivity were resolved at this moment.
No wonder Project Insight is so terrifying; no wonder Hydra is so confident that it can reshape the world order. They don't rely solely on military suppression, but on big data prediction to nip any possibility of resistance in the bud.
Lynn, on the other end of the phone, couldn't hear a sound from the other side and knew she had guessed everything. Her tone became increasingly helpless as she continued speaking.
"Now you know the truth about Zola, you know Hydra's ultimate plan, and you also know that once the Helicarrier takes off, everyone will be targeted and eliminated."
"With Steve's combat prowess, he's unstoppable in a one-on-one fight, but you are outnumbered, weaker, and wanted across the entire internet. You simply don't have the confidence to stop Project Insight head-on."
"So now you should be planning to either pry open Sitwell's mouth, find out the deployment of the Helicarrier, its central authority, and its launch time, and then either take the risk of infiltration or launch a direct assault to stop the entire plan?"
There was still no answer from the rooftop.
Because what Lynn said was exactly what they planned after they learned the inside story.
A few seconds of silence followed, Lynn was utterly exasperated. His voice, filled with a mix of frustration and exasperation, came through clearly through the speakerphone.
"Looks like I was right. My God, you can't be a loyal Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. without being a bit stubborn, right?"