Red Skull Reappears

When the train stopped, Alex first saw the endless blue water outside the window and asked with surprise, "Is this the Norwegian Sea?"

Neil chuckled and explained, "This is Lake Inari. We're still far from the Norwegian Sea!"

Alex wasn't embarrassed; he hadn't studied geography, so not knowing was normal. He laughed along and let it pass, though confusion still lingered in his mind.

Seeming to read Alex's thoughts, Neil explained, "Northern Finland doesn't connect to the sea—it's wrapped by Norway and the Soviet Union. To reach the ocean, you have to take a boat from Inari, cross Lake Inari, go down the Patsjoki River into the Barents Sea, and then circle around to the Norwegian Sea to get back to Britain."

After a brief pause, Neil frowned deeply and said with some worry, "The Patsjoki River flows through Norway. I'm afraid the Norwegians might come out to block us."

Alex's brow furrowed as well. Norway was now German-occupied territory, and its geographical position was extremely important. Little Mustache valued this piece of land especially, even propping up a puppet government to control it. Getting out through his territory seemed like it would be difficult!

"Actually, there's no need to worry too much. Finnmark is in northern Norway, and Quisling's control over this area is weak. It shouldn't be a problem." Seeing Alex's worried expression, Neil tried to console him. But this back-and-forth shift only made Alex more anxious.

To save space and avoid drawing too much attention, seventy thousand people were arranged on ten ships, a bit cramped. Still, no one complained. After enduring the brutal torture of Auschwitz, being able to escape alive was more than enough for them.

Seven ships formed a long line and sailed out of Inari Harbor, heading downstream on Lake Inari toward the Patsjoki River. Neil continued to accompany them along the way, bringing two thousand Finnish soldiers as guards on the ships. These two thousand would also serve as Finland's troops stationed with the Allies, in exchange for continued British and American military aid to Finland.

Unlike history, the Winter War was still ongoing at this point. With aid from Britain and America, Finland was far from running out of supplies. Finland had fully boarded the Allied war chariot and would no longer walk alongside Little Mustache.

When the ships left the Inari River and entered the Patsjoki River within Norwegian territory, Neil grew tense. Toby became nervous too. Two thousand Finnish soldiers and twenty thousand prisoner-of-war soldiers were spread across the ten ships, constantly on alert.

Alex also became cautious. His sixth sense told him again that danger was approaching. But the feeling came and went, leaving him unable to pinpoint it.

After most of a day's uneventful journey, just as the endless sea came into view, trouble struck.

A thick iron chain stretched across the mouth of the Patsjoki River, blocking the way out to sea. Seeing this, Alex's heart leaped—he knew trouble had found them.

"I'll deal with these chains!" Alex left a word, teleported onto the chain, and under the power of Metal Control, the arm-thick iron chain quickly fell into the Patsjoki River, clearing the channel again.

Just as Alex was about to return, he suddenly noticed countless bullets and shells flying out from the dense forests on both banks.

Alex's face changed drastically. The ten ships carrying seventy thousand people weren't warships—just ordinary merchant vessels. If they got hit, there would be no hope of reaching the sea!

Without a second thought, Alex rapidly spread his Psionic Power and immediately activated Metal Control, straining with all his might to block every bullet and shell. At the same time, he launched a counterattack, controlling some shells to fly back in the opposite direction.

After a series of explosions, the attacks from both banks quickly slowed. Alex continued to exert himself. Under his control, bullets seemed to grow eyes, weaving through the dense forest, killing one enemy after another.

In just a few moments, the gunfire from both banks fell completely silent. Alex instantly lost all strength and plunged headfirst into the rushing Patsjoki River below, vanishing from sight in an instant.

Metal Control wasn't Alex's own ability. He had copied it from Marx, like a password-protected file. Before cracking it, using it required Psionic Power to control. After a few minutes of consumption, his Psionic Power was drained, and once it was exhausted, Alex naturally passed out.

Seeing Alex fall into the river, Toby's face turned pale. Just as he was about to send people down to search, Neil shouted urgently, "Go! Move now! While they're silenced! If we're late, over seventy thousand people will die!"

Toby's face twisted with rage, and he roared, "You take them! I'm going to find Alex!" Without waiting for Neil's reply, he leaped into the turbulent river.

Shockingly, nearly a hundred people followed him into the icy, rushing water without a moment's hesitation.

Watching Toby disappear into the deep river, Neil clenched his fists and bellowed from the depths of his chest, "Go!"

On the bank of the Patsjoki River, beside an armored vehicle, a tall, slender German officer in a black leather trench coat held a pair of binoculars, a gleeful smile on his face. "Was that the Teleporter just now? I didn't expect he had other abilities. How surprising!"

"Find him. No matter what, find him. I want him alive, or I want his corpse!" The German officer lowered his binoculars, his smile deepening. But strangely, the sides of his face seemed slightly sunken, faintly revealing red skin beneath.

This man was none other than the Red Skull, once again wearing a human skin mask!

"But, sir, the Führer's orders are..." The confidential secretary beside the Red Skull stepped forward, a trace of worry on his face.

"Forget about those ships. Carry out my orders. Now!" The Red Skull's expression suddenly changed, his aura surging forth, pressing down on the trembling secretary.

After a moment, someone came to report: "Sir, the river current is too fast..."

Before the man could finish, the Red Skull grabbed him by the neck and lifted him slowly, saying harshly, "I don't need excuses. I just want the man. Find him now!" With that, the Red Skull twisted his hand, snapping the man's neck cleanly.

This display terrified all the German soldiers. Forgetting the icy cold of the river, they charged in like madmen, conducting a dragnet search. Finally, as dusk approached, they found Alex's "corpse" and also captured Toby and the hundred or so who had jumped in to search. The Red Skull's men were all highly skilled agents, easily handling soldiers like Toby.

"Sir, we have news." As a group of agents carried Alex's body over, the Red Skull was about to examine him when the confidential secretary approached again, his voice trembling. "In Vestfold County, Tønsberg."

Hearing this, the Red Skull spun around, abandoning the Teleporter for the moment. He grabbed the secretary tightly, his twisted face full of excitement. "Years! Finally, news!"

Just then, a group of agents carried Alex's body closer, followed by a line of dejected prisoners—Toby and the others.

Glancing at the unconscious Alex and then at Toby and the rest, the Red Skull thought for a moment and said, "Send them all back to the base and lock them up!" Pointing at Alex, he warned sternly, "Watch out for his teleportation. If he escapes, it'll be your heads!"

With that, the Red Skull climbed into the armored vehicle and rushed off toward Tønsberg, where the treasure he had pursued his whole life awaited. Compared to that treasure, Alex was utterly insignificant.