Before the screams in Geneva had even completely subsided, cell towers around the world were overrun by some unseen virus.
Whether it's the giant screen in Times Square New York, that plays Coca-Cola ads 24/7, the neon screens flashing in Shibuya, Tokyo, or even the TV in your living room playing a soap opera.
There was no static, no noise.
In the center of the screen, only the menacing golden eagle emblem was slowly rotating.
"Zzz--"
The screen flickered.
It was a close-up of only the upper body.
Gustav Schmidt, " Doctor Shinigami," appeared in that white suit.
"Is this the civilization you're so proud of?"
"Politicians who only talk the talk, a bunch of useless paper agreements. You think you can keep the evolving beast in check with these? Your naiveté is laughable."
"Let me introduce myself. In this old world, some call me a madman, some call me a heretic. But I prefer another name— Gustav Schmidt."
Schmidt!
This surname was like a bombshell, exploding in the offices of countless intelligence agencies.
"That's right, it's that Schmidt."
Doctor Shinigami saw through the terror of those behind the screen.
"Did you think the Red Skull's will had vanished in the smoke of World War II? No, because of your weakness, because of your greed, it has sprouted."
"It mutated; it evolved into a more perfect form— Shocker!"
As for that one...
Doctor Shinigami was implying something.
"He is a ghost of the old era, and a pioneer of the new. United States call him Sergeant Barnes, Captain America's friend; the Soviet Union call him the Winter Soldier. And I gave him Rebirth."
"From this day forward, there will be only one order in the world, and that is Shocker."
"Disobedience is Shocker's enemy. And Shocker never leaves his enemies with a complete corpse."
The video abruptly ended.
Washington, D. C., Triskelion.
"Smack!"
The ashtray slammed onto the ground.
Alexander Pierce, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D.. and current minister of the World Security Council, has completely shattered his usual gentle and refined demeanor.
" Schmidt? Gustav Schmidt?!"
Pierce roared, spitting all over the face of the Agent Sitwell standing in front of the desk.
"What are you good for?! Huh? Is the intelligence department a pig farm?! How did this grown man, with such a sensitive surname like Schmidt, just pop out of nowhere?!"
Sitwell didn't even dare wipe the drool from his face. He pushed up his glasses, his voice trembling, "Sir... we checked the archives, there's no record of this person! Maybe it's an alias, someone trying to ride on Red Skull's coattails..."
"Shut up! What about this one? That's Barnes!"
Pierce pointed at the green monster in the still image, his finger almost poking into the screen.
"I searched for him for a whole month! I even turned up the Siberia permafrost upside down, but where was he? He's working as Watchdogs Shocker this damn Shocker!"
Pierce was absolutely furious.
It's not just because we lost a top assassin.
More importantly, it's because of a fear of losing control.
Hydra has a strict internal hierarchy, and he considers himself the current supreme leader, controlling the S.H.I.E.L.D..
Even that idiot Baron Strucker, even that pervert Whitehall, had to be respectful to him on the surface.
But now, suddenly a guy appears claiming to be a descendant of the Red Skull.
This isn't just a slap in the face; it's stealing the legitimate authority!
If those former Hydra lurking around the world see this live stream and actually believe that Red Skull's bloodline has returned, then what is Pierce?
A usurper's steward?
"Those old fogies from South America..."
Pierce suddenly calmed down, his eyes turning terrifyingly sinister.
He remembered.
The group of elders he exiled to South America to retire suddenly cut off all contact some time ago, and even emptied all the funds from their secret Switzerland bank accounts.
At the time, he thought these old fogies just wanted to abscond with the money and enjoy their last moments on some island. Plus, S.H.I.E.L.D.. was too busy to deal with them.
It seems these old dogs have found a new master.
"Great, very good."
Pierce, enraged, laughed and sat back down in the leather swivel chair that symbolized power.
"Check." Pierce sat back in his chair, straightened his tie, and said in a chilling tone, "Use all satellite access. Scan every inch of the Earth! I need to know where this Shocker base is."
"But sir... what if Director Fury finds out we're using the satellite without authorization..."
"Let him die!"
Pierce no longer concealed the murderous intent in his eyes.
"If we can't crush them before Shocker the waters, Hydra will destroy itself through Civil War! Then none of us will survive! Do you think Schmidt will let 'traitors' like us go?"
"Besides."
Pierce took an encrypted phone out of the drawer.
"Contact Crossbones. Have him assemble the special forces team, equip them with heavy weapons. Once they find the location, no need to ask for permission, launch a saturation attack."
He paused, his gaze falling on the green figure on the screen, and his eye twitched slightly.
"Leave no survivors. Including that damned Barnes. Since he can't be used by me, then destroy him. Don't let him become someone else's gun."
"Yes, sir!"
Sitwell shuddered, nodded hastily, and fled as if escaping.
The office door closed.
Pierce stared at the dead-eyed man on the screen, and at the golden eagle emblem.
"Evolution?"
Pierce sneered, cut a Cuban cigar from the cigar box, and bit it hard into his mouth.
"No matter who you are, if you dare to overturn my chessboard, I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs."
At that moment, the internal communicator on the table suddenly lit up with a red light.
It's Nick Fury's personal route.
Pierce took a deep breath, the ferocity on his face vanished, replaced by the worried look of an old man who was deeply concerned about world peace.
He picked up the microphone, his voice steady but weary. "Hello, Fury. Yes, I saw it. It's a disaster... it's horrific. Those innocent representatives..."
"We need to convene an emergency meeting of the council. This inhumane terrorism must be eradicated at all costs."
Pierce's face fell after hanging up the phone.
That Shocker has made such a huge commotion that it's attracted the attention of the whole world.
If we reveal our true colors at this point...
Damn it!
Pierce slammed his fist on the table.
He had a strong premonition.
This so-called " Shocker " will become the biggest nightmare of his life.