The base was nestled in the mountains, its ancient, vine-covered buildings painted in drab, natural camouflage. The thumping whir-whir-whir of a twin-rotor helicopter roared overhead, its blades beating the air. It approached one of the ancient structures, a tower of stone standing hundreds of meters high. As the aircraft neared, a heavy grinding sound echoed as the vaulted roof slowly split open from the center, revealing a brightly-lit steel parking platform hidden inside.
A few minutes later, the helicopter touched down with a lurch. The metal hatch was pulled open, and Hydra soldiers in dark green heavy armor quickly jumped out, their boots clanging on the metal floor. They stood straight-backed, forming ranks.
Right in front of them, a beautiful woman with long, pale yellowish-green hair stepped forward, her heels clicking on the steel. She wore an elegant, form-fitting green dress with a matching windbreaker draped loosely over her shoulders. Her skin was perfectly fair, her expression cold and impassive as she glanced at the soldiers. She waved a slender, pale hand, her long, dark-green nails glinting in the platform lights.
The next moment, the silent Hydra soldiers immediately snapped to attention, lined up, saluted, and shouted with fanaticism, "Hail Hydra! Long live Lady Viper!"
Hearing the strong, determined voices, the stern expression on the woman's face eased, just slightly. She waved her slender hand again. The soldiers immediately turned as one and ran down the stairs from the platform, their heavy footsteps echoing as they joined the tense, orderly preparations deep in the base.
"Madam, this is the last batch of Hydra Agents to be recalled," a bald man wearing gold-rimmed glasses said, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He scurried to keep up as Madam Hydra walked, complaining in a pinched voice, "Do you know how much the organization will pay for this? How many connections and vital interests will be lost?"
"Profits? Connections?" Madam Hydra's hoarse voice held a trace of predatory charm, but her turn was lethally sharp. She stopped, and he almost ran into her. She stared at the man with dark green, snake-like eyes. Faint blue veins pulsed on her fair cheeks, skin so delicate that not a single pore could be seen.
"The Mount Fuji base was completely destroyed, and we received no news in advance," she hissed, her voice dropping. "Not even from the spies we planted. Are you telling me about connections now?"
"The aircraft that was to be delivered to Baron Strucker is completely scrapped. The production line of mini-tanks will be difficult to restart. The design blueprint will definitely be leaked. And you are asking me about profits?"
"Now, who is ignoring the interests of the organization? We were attacked and lost an important base. Idiot. Once we show the slightest flaw, whether it is the headless S.H.I.E.L.D, the ever-watchful S.P.E.A.R, or even low-level thug, they will all pounce and bite us."
As she spoke, a powerful, cold aura rose from Madam Hydra. She advanced step by step, and the bald man in gold-rimmed glasses had to step back hurriedly, his shoes scuffing on the platform.
She closed the distance to only twenty centimeters, her face inches from his. It was so close it seemed intimate. The man could smell her heavy, attractive fragrance, and his wandering, terrified eyes accidentally caught a glimpse of her fair skin. He showed no sign of interest, only fear. He tried his best to keep his limbs away from Madam Hydra, not daring to let even his sleeve brush her. Anyone familiar with Lady Viper knew... she was 'venomous'. This did not just refer to her vicious heart. It also had a very physical meaning.
"Madam. Madam. Listen to me..." The bald man's fingertips tremblingly pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, which were about to fall off his sweaty nose. He kept swallowing, his throat dry, saying nervously, "Having lost so many interests, and even given up the plan to infiltrate Asian countries and fight the S.P.E.A.R, the Supreme Council of Hydra will definitely impeach you. The Hydra Supreme will also be dissatisfied with you."
"Hydra Supreme?" Hearing his defense, a trace of pure disdain appeared on Madam Hydra's fair cheeks. Her hoarse, charming voice sounded again. "An alien bug that needs human flesh and blood to fill its needs at any time, a creature that dares not even step out of its room... dares to call himself Supreme? Does the Red Skull, whom Baron Strucker regards as a lifelong idol, know?"
Her voice was dangerously quiet. "Have you ever seen Alexander give those damn old-school factions any respect?"
"Then, please tell me, dear... I, Madam Hydra, who has never been at a disadvantage against the S.P.E.A.R and who controls many economic lifelines in Asia, why must I listen to any orders from that damn Hydra Supreme?"
Madam Hydra's dark green snake eyes exuded an aggressive, wild nature. Cold sweat dripped from the bald man's forehead as he stepped back again. Finally, his back hit the cold metal railing at the edge of the parking platform. He could no longer retreat.
The bald man in the gold-rimmed glasses trembled all over. In an almost tearful, aggrieved tone, he stammered, "Madam, Madam Hydra... The Supreme... the Supreme has shared alien technology with you, far exceeding that of Earth."
"Aha, you reminded me." A sneer appeared on Madam Hydra's face as she opened her rosy lips. "If our enemy attacks again, I want to see what use this 'big toy' that has cost me so much money is."
Her fair legs moved gracefully as she stepped forward. Her curvy, delicate body pressed against the bald man's slightly bulging belly. Even through the layers of clothes, her subtle, deliberate friction caused an instant, terrified reaction from him.
"Madam... Madam, spare me, I was wrong!" The bald man, assaulted by a mix of extreme, conflicting emotions, seemed to have a mental breakdown. His face flushed a deep red, his breathing grew ragged and heavy, and tears of pure fear flowed from the corners of his eyes.
But Madam Hydra only looked seductive, her snake-eyes half-lidded. She raised his chin with the sharp tip of her long nail. "Dear, don't talk... kiss me."
The next second, their lips touched. The bald man's eyes flew wide, a mixture of seduction and mortal fear breaking out in their depths.
When Madam Hydra, her eyes instantly cold, pulled back, the man's skin was already turning a sick, festering green and purple. She stepped away gracefully as he stumbled backward, his hands clawing at his throat. He fell heavily onto the metal floor with a final thud and lost all sound.
"Heh. What a waste." Madam Hydra raised her slender eyebrows, smiling contemptuously at the corpse. "You can't even bear a small reward from me. The talent in Hydra is really getting worse and a worse." She raised her little finger, its long, dark-green nail gently touching her own rosy, and perfectly unharmed, lips.
At that moment, a shrill, piercing intrusion alarm suddenly sounded!
"Enemy invasion! All members prepare for battle!"
"Hail Hydra!"
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