"Call."
A few seconds later, Lynn's nose twitched.
A subtle fragrance filled the air.
He spun around in his executive chair.
Someone had appeared in the Shadow of the office without anyone noticing.
A slender figure leaned casually against the bookshelf, like a black cat grooming its fur in the moonlight.
Elegant, languid, yet fraught with danger.
The tight black leather outfit outlined every inch of her body's curves breathtakingly.
The cat ear headgear on her head didn't look funny at all; instead, it added a touch of wild allure to her.
She showed no confusion or fear after being summoned.
Those green eyes hidden beneath the mask were scrutinizing Lynn and every escape route and potential weapon in the office with great interest.
That look in his eyes was like that of a thief assessing the value of a work of art while simultaneously calculating the success rate of killing the collector.
"The new boss?"
Selena Kayle spoke up.
"He doesn't look like any of the bloated, fat generals and bankers I've ever met."
She licked her lips and moved silently from the Shadow to Lynn's desk, her slender fingers tracing the surface of the expensive mahogany table.
"I should thank you. I was just being chased by that madman in the Black Mask. If it weren't for you, I'd be meeting God right now."
Selene stared intently at Lynn, observing his every micro-expression.
She was puzzled as to how she had gotten here. Her wounds and the tears in her clothes had been completely healed, and her physical strength had returned to its peak, which was beyond human capability.
Judging from the floor-to-ceiling window behind the man, this is definitely not a place he is familiar with.
"So, you went to all this trouble to bring me here, but which vault do you want me to open? The Federal Reserve? Or Fort Knox?"
Lynn didn't know what Selene was thinking, but he smiled.
He liked this wildness.
This woman is very smart.
While tamed cats are certainly cute, only Wildcat with sharp claws can catch the most cunning prey in the dark jungle.
"Treasury?"
Lynn leaned back in his chair and shook his head.
"No, that's too unchallenging."
He took a photograph from the drawer and gently pushed it to the edge of the table.
The photo shows a woman with a heroic and spirited appearance.
With a resolute gaze and dressed in military uniform, she was none other than Peggy Carter, an elite agent of the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
Selena's gaze fell on the photo, and she raised an eyebrow.
" Peggy Carter, a key figure in the Strategic Scientific Reserve, and one of the Allies elite agents."
"I want you to steal something from her without alerting anyone."
"Oh?"
Selena's interest was piqued.
"What is it? Her sidearm? Or confidential documents hidden in her underwear?"
Lynn held up one finger and shook it gently.
"No."
"I want you to steal the photo of Steve Rogers that she always carried with her, the one from before he enlisted in the army."
"..."
A brief silence fell over the office.
Selena thought she had misheard.
What?
A photograph?
What kind of task is this?
She, Selena Kayle, Gotham City's Catwoman, the most elegant thief in the night, really went to steal a tattered photograph?
This is an insult to her profession!
Lynn saw through her thoughts and took a document from the drawer, pushing it towards her.
Read this before you decide.
Selena picked up the document with suspicion and quickly began to skim through it.
Peggy Carter's life, achievements, fighting techniques, psychological profile...
The more I looked at her, the less contempt she seemed to show.
Until she saw the last line, the description of the photograph. "... the item was considered a spiritual possession by Peggy Carter, kept in a silver pendant box that she always wore close to her body, and never parted from it."
He was testing her abilities in the most direct way.
Who is Peggy Carter?
The ace of the Strategic Scientific Reserve!
A woman who has worked her way up on the battlefield and the intelligence front, with an abnormally high level of vigilance!
Steal a precious personal item from this kind of person, something she would always keep close to her body, and do so without being discovered...
This level of difficulty... is interesting!
This tests not only stealth and thieving skills, but also a comprehensive challenge to one's psychology, observation, and adaptability!
Once she understood this, Selena's unhappiness vanished.
"Can't it be done?"
Lynn added just in time.
"Oh."
Selena smiled, her cat-like eyes narrowing into slits.
"You underestimate me?"
She extended a finger, gently hooked the photo, and pulled it closer to her.
"Make a deal."
"But..."
She leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Lynn, her breath sweet as orchids.
"I've done it, but you have to grant me one request."
Lynn looked at her with great interest. "Tell me about it."
I'll choose my own payment.
This was her counterattack, and also her gamble.
She wanted to use this method to gain the upper hand in this game dominated by Lynn.
Looking into her green eyes so close to his own, Lynn suddenly realized that this "thief" sent by the system was much more interesting than he had imagined.
He likes deals that involve claws and fangs.
"Can."
He nodded without the slightest hesitation.
His decisiveness surprised Selena for a moment.
She had expected to have to say a lot more, and was even prepared for the negotiations to break down.
She couldn't see through the man in front of her.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you."
Lynn raised his glass.
Selena picked up another untouched wine glass from the table and gently clinked it against his.
"Bite."
A crisp sound signaled the conclusion of a contract.
She downed the whiskey in her glass in one gulp, her movements swift and decisive.
"Wait for my good news, boss."
She put down her glass and smiled at Lynn.
Allies Western Front Command.
On the map, the Hydra symbol is being devoured piece by piece by the blue arrows representing the Allies.
Peggy Carter was dressed in a crisp military uniform, her brown hair neatly pinned up at the back of her head.
Her finger traced a clean line across the map, pointing to a Hydra stronghold.
"Our final assault will begin in forty-eight hours."
" Captain Rogers Steve Rogers will lead his Howling Commandos as the first assault force to tear through the enemy lines from the front."
" Soldier Boy and Human Torch will provide suppressive fire from both flanks and destroy their heavy weapons positions."
Her instructions were clear, decisive, and without the slightest hesitation.
The surrounding generals nodded in agreement, and no one raised any objections.
Steve's return was like a shot in the arm.
The balance of victory was then firmly in their hands.
The atmosphere at the meeting was more relaxed than ever before.
Peggy returned to her tent, finally letting down her guard and pretense.
She collapsed wearily onto the cot, the sharp edge of a commander fading, and the tenderness of a woman slowly emerging.
She took off the pendant from her neck and gently rubbed it with her thumb.
With a "click," the locket was opened.
Inside was a black and white photograph that had yellowed slightly.
The photo shows a ridiculously thin young man trying to puff out his chest and appear stronger.
That was Steve Rogers before he enlisted in the army.
He was the first man in her memory.
Looking at the photo, Peggy smiled gently.
She placed the locket beside her pillow, got up, picked up the basin of water, and prepared to wash off the dust and gunpowder from her body.
A towel brushed across my face, wiping away my weariness. Outside the tent, the soldiers' boisterous celebrations of victory filled the air; everything seemed so normal.
As she sat back down on the edge of the bed, preparing to put the pendant back around her neck, she suddenly stopped.
She picked up the silver locket; it was empty.
The photo she treasured so much is gone!
impossible!
She left the bed to wash her face in less than a minute!
Her heart began to race, but her years as a secret agent forced her to remain calm.
Peggy began quickly checking all her belongings.
The pistol that was placed under the pillow is still there.
The classified operational plan, locked in the file box, remained intact.
Every single banknote in my wallet was there.
Nothing of value has been touched.
The other party has only one goal from the very beginning.
It was that worthless photo, yet one that held immense significance for her!
This is not robbery.
This is infiltration.
It's a demonstration.
Someone, right under the nose of this top agent, silently stole one of her most personal belongings from a heavily guarded Allies Supreme Command headquarters!
Who is it?
Hydra?
What is the purpose?
Is it to provoke?
Or is it to convey a certain message?