Monaco, Monte Carlo Opera House.
A royal charity gala is being held here, its extravagance enough to put any monarch in history to shame.
The Crystal chandelier cast a soft glow on every meticulously sculpted face.
Well-dressed politicians and incredibly wealthy tycoons raise their glasses and converse in hushed tones, each word potentially influencing the next fluctuation in global markets.
Ada Wong stood in the middle of this ocean of power.
She wore a deep red, high-slit evening gown, her bare back flowing smoothly, like a perfect work of art.
Ada casually glanced at one illustrious face after another, finally settling on an elderly man with a tall, upright posture and a serious expression.
General Klaue von General Steiner, Deputy Supreme Commander of NATO Allied Command, was a Germany military officer known Europe for his iron fist and aversion to women.
The medals on his chest gleamed, each one representing a feat fought in blood and fire.
He stood there like a proud, solitary rock, unmoved by the surging waves of flattery around him.
Ada picked up a glass of champagne and walked with elegant steps toward the small circle where the general was.
She didn't interrupt their conversation, but as she passed the general, she paused for a moment, seemingly unintentionally, and whispered a sentence in fluent French.
" The Black Cross Medal of the Knights Templar —I never expected to see it in an unofficial setting. The history it carries is far heavier than that of most countries."
General Steiner's body language and eye movements shifted as he spoke with a France diplomat.
He subconsciously glanced down at the inconspicuous badge on his tie. It wasn't an official accessory, but a family heirloom, the history of which was known only to a very few.
A fleeting look of wariness crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by intense interest.
He politely ended his conversation with the diplomat and turned to walk towards the woman in the red dress who had given him this unexpected surprise.
"Madam, it seems you are quite knowledgeable about heraldry."
The general's voice was deep and powerful, carrying the rigor unique to soldiers.
"I'm just somewhat interested in history. Your Excellency, this badge of yours reminds me of Richard Strauss's opera ' The Woman Without a Shadow,' which is also filled with the pursuit and struggle for past glories."
General Steiner was somewhat surprised.
He had assumed the other party would take the opportunity to discuss military or political matters in order to build rapport.
But she effortlessly steered the conversation toward classical music, a personal hobby he kept hidden beneath his tough exterior.
"You... like Strauss too?"
"I prefer his later operas to his symphonic poems."
Ada's eyes revealed her appreciation for art.
"That compassion for the individual's fate within a grand narrative is something Wagner lacked."
For the next ten minutes, they did not discuss anything about NATO or military equipment.
From the acoustics of the Vienna State Opera to the classic version conducted by Karajan.
Ada's remarkable artistic talent gradually disarmed the iron-willed general.
As a waltz began to play, General Steiner did something that surprised everyone around him: he extended his hand to Ada.
"Beautiful lady, may I have the honor?"
"It is my honor, General."
The two glided onto the dance floor.
As they twirled and danced, Ada pressed her body intimately against the general.
Her fingertips brushed lightly across his broad back like feathers, every movement filled with ambiguous hints, making his battle-hardened heart beat faster.
Completely unaware, a transparent shard smaller than a fingernail had slipped silently from Ada's fingertip and quietly stuck to the case of his phone in his pocket.
The miniature data copier was activated and began wirelessly copying all the data on the phone at an astonishing speed.
Three minutes, the length of a dance piece.
Ada had to maintain her graceful dance steps and relaxed conversation while silently counting down the days.
To her, it was no different from defusing bombs in a trench.
The dance music ended, and the last note faded away.
Data transmission complete.
"Thank you very much, General. This is the most pleasant moment of my evening."
Ada stepped back slightly, maintaining a polite distance.
General Steiner also smiled, a rare sight on his face. He escorted Ada to the edge of the dance floor, about to say something.
Ada suddenly leaned close to his ear and breathed softly into his ear, her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.
"General, it seems your country is preparing a joint Europe anti-superpower force, a very... ambitious plan."
General Steiner's pupils suddenly contracted.
This plan was a top secret within NATO, and fewer than five people knew all the details!
He stared in horror at the woman before him.
Ada Wong merely smiled at him, then turned and gracefully departed. Her red skirt, like flowing blood, quickly disappeared into the elegantly dressed crowd, leaving General Steiner standing there, stunned as if struck by lightning.
In front of the bathroom mirror, Ada calmly removed her earrings.
The base of the earring is the data receiver that has already completed its mission.
While applying her lipstick, she sent a voice message to Lynn's private line via an encrypted channel.
"Boss, we've got the plan. Codenamed Shield of Prometheus, it aims to establish a rapid reaction force of superpowers, independent of Vought and controlled by various Europe countries."
"It's still in its early stages, with a shortage of funds and serious internal political divisions. My suggestion is: fund them to get the framework up and running. Then, we can turn it into Vought's security subcontractor in Europe."
This fatal elegance is Ada Wong's style of doing things.
They obtained top secrets without bloodshed and immediately turned potential threats into new business opportunities.
The Vought Tower.
Lynn Morris was looking out the window at the city lights.
His orange cat, " Goose," was fast asleep on his lap.
A message from Ada popped up on the tablet.
Using the enemy's sword to carve out territory for himself is exactly what Vought excels at.
His slender fingers tapped lightly on the screen, replying to a message.
"Approved. By the way, ask the public relations department if NATO is interested in purchasing a batch of New Guardians co-branded body armor. We can offer them a 20% discount."