Amba City was the city closest to the base and also served as the Ten Rings' main city.
By now, the city was nothing like it had once been.
Homes ravaged by war had been repaired, and the civilians had finally escaped the shadow of war and could live and work in peace.
Even the army was trained and managed according to the Chinese model, with a strong Chinese influence evident everywhere.
In the mayor's reception room, a middle-aged white man wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses lounged ostentatiously on a sofa.
He tilted his head back slightly, glancing at the well-equipped guards by the door with disdain all over his face.
Wenwu walked to the doorway and swept his gaze over the man in sunglasses. He instantly sensed that the man's life force fluctuations far exceeded those of ordinary people. He was an expert.
Not only that, he also detected another powerful presence hidden in the reception room. It belonged to someone who could turn invisible!
With two superpowered individuals appearing together, they were very likely mutants.
"You're the one the military sent? You wanted to see me, their leader?"
With his hands in his pockets, Wenwu walked forward without betraying anything and looked down at the man on the sofa.
"Mr. Wenwu, my name is William. Please, sit."
William did not answer directly. Instead, he acted as though he were the host, raising a hand to gesture for Wenwu to sit opposite him.
A trace of coldness flashed through Wenwu's eyes. This man dared to act so arrogantly in front of him.
"Tell me what you want. I don't have time to waste on you," he said coldly.
"Our organization thinks very highly of you and the Ten Rings, so we'd like to invite you to join us." William leaned forward slightly, his tone leaving little room for argument.
"Your organization? Heh... so you're not with the United States military."
Wenwu gave a contemptuous chuckle, mockery in his eyes. "You're with Hydra, aren't you?"
"You know about Hydra? And how did you know I'm with Hydra?"
William's pupils contracted slightly as he looked Wenwu up and down in surprise.
"Oh, I know all about you."
Wenwu scoffed, making no attempt to conceal the mockery in his voice.
Of course he knew about Hydra, even more than William did.
It was no ordinary armed terrorist organization. It had two roots: one was an ancient cult dating back five thousand years, awaiting the return of the Inhuman Hive.
The other was the technologically dominant branch established by Red Skull and Zola during World War II.
Zola's most ruthless move was to join S.H.I.E.L.D. voluntarily after his defeat and slowly infiltrate it over seventy years, turning the enemy's own organization into Hydra's protective umbrella.
By now, seventy to eighty percent of S.H.I.E.L.D. belonged to Hydra.
Its greatest threat lay not in its military strength, but in its omnipresent infiltrators. Cut off one leader, and other branches remained hidden in every corner of the world, continuing their operations.
They now had people in politics, business, and the military, and the forces under their control were immense!
William found the laughter unbearably grating, and his expression immediately darkened. "Since you know about Hydra, Mr. Wenwu, you should have some idea how terrifying we are. Yet you still dare to treat us with such contempt. Aren't you afraid of punishment?"
"Punishment? Oh, I'm so scared!"
Wenwu patted his chest theatrically, putting on a terrified expression.
Then his lips curled into a cold smile. "Mr. William, this is how I am. What can you do about it?"
"You-"
Seeing Wenwu's complete indifference, William looked furious.
He took a deep breath to force down his anger and said through gritted teeth, "Mr. Wenwu, I'm afraid you still don't understand Hydra's power. The slightest move from us could plunge the world into chaos. You'd better think about the consequences of offending us!"
"Now I'm curious. You want me to join you? How would that work?"
Wenwu stopped smiling and asked with a serious expression.
"Join Hydra, and we'll give you a seat as one of its heads. In exchange, hand over the armor technology you obtained from Tony Stark."
William raised his chin, looking as though he were offering charity.
"What technology of Tony Stark's? How could I possibly have that?"
"And is this how you recruit people?"
Wenwu looked at him as though he were an idiot. And these people called themselves Hydra!
They had not even bothered to find out who Wenwu was before daring to send some small fry to recruit him.
Did they take him for some ordinary local militant?
"It seems you still don't understand your situation, Mr. Wenwu," William sneered, his words carrying a double meaning.
"Oh? Let's hear it." Wenwu raised his eyebrows, putting on a curious expression.
"Your recent activities have drawn the attention of several countries. Senior officials in the United States federal government already suspect that you've obtained Tony Stark's energy and armor technology.
"Before long, the United States will impose sanctions on you. Only Hydra can save you." William spoke with certainty, trying to pressure him.
"No need to trouble yourselves over that!"
Wenwu waved a dismissive hand.
"And I'll say it again: I don't have any technology belonging to Tony Stark!"
Naturally, Wenwu would not be foolish enough to admit it. He still wanted to make the Ten Rings legitimate. He could not let them gain a reputation for stealing Tony Stark's property!
He was not surprised that various countries' forces would take notice, and he also believed Hydra did indeed have the ability to help him.
But standing here, who had Wenwu ever feared?
He had now consolidated his forces and commanded fifty to sixty thousand regular troops, with more than ten thousand additional auxiliary troops across Western Asia and Southeast Asia!
He also had a hundred suits of Iron Man Armor, all kinds of high-energy weapons, and dozens of super assassins under his command.
Moreover, his current strength rivaled a small nuclear weapon in human form. Whoever dared to take a bite out of him would have every tooth shattered!
He was no spineless bleeding heart like Professor X, nor was he an idiot like Magneto who cared only about spectacular moments.
Unfortunately, his people had not managed to buy a mushroom bomb lately. Otherwise, he really could have found an opportunity to set one off as a firework.
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! I'll just kill you and take over your forces!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a vicious look flashed across William's face.
Suddenly, everything changed!
A sharp gust rushed toward Wenwu's throat.
The invisible mutant had made his move.
However, the man's life force was so intense that, in Wenwu's eyes, being invisible made practically no difference.
Wenwu's right hand shot out like lightning and clamped tightly around the man's wrist.
At the same time, a faint light shone beneath the skin of his left fist. The five rings on his arm instantly erupted with brilliant golden energy as he threw a savage punch!
This punch carried nearly all of Wenwu's strength. He had no intention of holding back.
Spiritual power, thirty tons of physical strength, and the full might of the five rings. Such terrifying power was enough to pulverize a tank in an instant!
Boom!
The radiant fist slammed into the invisible mutant.
In that instant, before the man could even scream, his entire body burst into countless chunks of flesh and blood. Thick blood and shredded flesh coated the entire wall and floor.
Seeing his companion so easily blown apart, William froze in shock.
"What material is this blade made of? It's actually quite a bit heavier than steel!"
Wenwu held up the katana in his hand, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Only upon hearing Wenwu's voice did William snap back to his senses.
"You dared to kill him! You've made yourself Hydra's enemy to the death!" he roared hysterically, his eyes bloodshot.
He and the invisible man had once undergone Hydra's brutal experiments together. They were survivors who had crawled out of hell side by side.
As fellow mutants, the two had been extremely close in private. Now that his companion had died so horribly, how could he not be furious?
Yet deep fear mingled with that towering rage.
Although they had anticipated that Wenwu was powerful, they had not taken him seriously. Never had they imagined he would be this terrifying!