Half an hour earlier.
Outside the bunker, Android 16 stood alone on standby, using his "Biological Radar" to monitor his employer's condition in real time.
A beautiful female attendant stepped forward, walking straight toward Android 16.
At first glance, she looked no different from the other staff members on duty.
Yet her gaze—intentional or otherwise—kept lingering on Android 16's body.
Her name was Natasha Romanoff.
Codename: Black Widow.
An elite female operative from S.H.I.E.L.D.
Earlier that afternoon, she had received an emergency mission.
Without alerting Justin Hammer, she was to eliminate his bodyguard—and then apprehend Hammer himself.
To carry out this plan, she had infiltrated the venue through special channels, disguising herself as an ordinary attendant.
From the moment she arrived, she had been searching for an opportunity—any opportunity—to get close to Android 16.
Small talk.
The simplest method.
And often, the most effective.
As always, Natasha intended to rely on her greatest weapon—her beauty.
"Big guy," she said with a teasing smile,
"standing here all alone… don't you feel cold?"
"How about… having a cup of tea with me?"
Black Widow's smile was sultry, ambiguous, irresistibly seductive.
No man could resist her charm.
Unless
The man wasn't a man at all.
With both hands clasped behind her back, a miniature high-voltage shock device slid silently out from her sleeve and into her palm.
Hearing the sound of her voice, Android 16 turned his head and looked directly at her.
In a world where the average combat rating barely reached "5,"
this woman—whose combat rating registered at a full "10"—radiated danger from head to toe.
Especially considering that she was carrying a high-energy weapon.
She had come prepared.
Android 16 smiled gently and turned toward her.
He preferred to resolve trouble—
Peacefully.
But in the next instant, the female attendant suddenly accelerated!
The shock device hidden in her hand was hurled decisively toward Android 16's face!
The moment it made contact—
She slammed the activation switch.
Blue-white lightning erupted violently!
At such close range, the sudden discharge of immense energy would have been enough to burn out a normal human's brain.
Her killing intent was unmistakable.
But Android 16 was a machine.
His skin was made of biomimetic materials.
Bulletproof.
Fireproof.
The high-temperature electric shock felt no different from a mild itch.
Seeing Android 16 standing motionless—seemingly riddled with openings from head to toe
Black Widow seized the moment.
She launched her follow-up attack without hesitation!
Raising her razor-sharp high heel, she drove a powerful kick straight toward Android 16's groin!
One of the most vulnerable points of the male body
A strike there would almost certainly incapacitate any opponent!
But the very next second
She froze.
A sharp metallic clang rang out from Android 16's body.
Before she could even process what had happened, an overwhelming force snapped shut around her neck
Lifting her clean off the ground.
Android 16's smile vanished.
His gaze turned cold and mechanical as he stared at the woman suspended before him.
The aura he now released was far more terrifying than Android 18's.
Natasha swiftly drew a poison-coated dagger from her waist and slashed at Android 16's arm!
But the blade—
Couldn't even scratch the surface.
It was total domination.
"Ma'am," Android 16 said calmly,
"please state your purpose. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety."
His eyes locked onto Black Widow's facial data.
Through the virtual network, he began searching for detailed information on this individual.
But false records.
Multiple aliases.
Contradictory identities.
For the first time, Android 16 hesitated.
He could not determine this human woman's true identity.
"Tch… what kind of monster are you…?"
Natasha gave a bitter smile and dropped her dagger.
She raised both hands in surrender, signaling compliance.
At the final moments of her life, she wanted answers.
The miniature Bluetooth device hidden behind her ear remained connected to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal network.
Nick Fury's elite operatives would know what to do next.
"Android 16," he said evenly,
"is the name given to me by my Creator."
"I am a fully autonomous humanoid artificial intelligence."
"Currently assigned as Justin Hammer's bodyguard."
His tone was flat.
Emotionless.
Yet
The instant the words "Android 16" left his mouth
Natasha's body began trembling uncontrollably.
Even the man listening in from the other end
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. himself
Felt his scalp go numb.
Earlier that day
The monster that had destroyed a military base in mere seconds
The being that had brutally slaughtered General Ross
Was designated Android 18.
Android 16.
Android 18.
The connection was impossible to ignore.
Even more terrifying
Both monsters had mentioned the same figure.
A mysterious being known only as—
The Creator.
Someone capable of producing weapons of mass destruction on this level
Who was he?
And what was he planning?
While Natasha was still reeling, the corner of Android 16's mouth lifted slightly.
Just moments ago, through her miniature Bluetooth device, he had already breached S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network defenses.
Within their database, he had located her full profile.
"Natasha Romanoff," he said calmly.
"Senior Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"May I interpret this… as an act of betrayal?"
The moment his words fell
Android 16 tightened his grip.
Natasha struggled violently, but before this monster—
She was as helpless as an infant.
Android 16 did not kill her.
Instead, he applied controlled pressure, cutting off oxygen—
Until she lost consciousness.
Until she was no longer a threat.
Afterward
Android 16 contacted the Creator through a special encrypted frequency.
The intercepted intelligence was uploaded directly to the server.
[Android 16: Boss, you have been placed on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s assassination list.]
[Android 16: Do you require me to eliminate potential threats?]
[Renjie: No. Focus on your assigned duties.]
[Renjie: And notify Hammer for me.]
[Renjie: I will arrive at the airport in four hours. He knows what to do.]