The next afternoon, right on ti as scheduled, a 1938 Bentley classic car arrived at the gates of the estate. It was none other than Lyndon Schneider's British vehicle of choice.
In this era, so-called luxury British cars weren't exactly valuable. For Lyndon, who had helped Josh amass enormous wealth over the past two months, it was a trivial expense.
However, much to Lyndon's surprise, the estate gates remained closed. Typically, whenever his car approached, the guards would promptly open the gates.
Confused, Lyndon instinctively honked twice.
Even so, no guards ca out to open the gates.
Just as Lyndon, sensing that sothing was amiss, prepared to step out and investigate, a side door next to the main gate swung open. Six of Josh's trusted bodyguards, including Vito and Brook, ca out and subtly surrounded the car. Following them were two robust maids.
"What's going on, Brook?" Lyndon asked in confusion as he lowered the car window.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Mr. Schneider. The boss has been expecting you. However, before you et him, you and the lady in your car will need to undergo a quick inspection," Brook replied.
"What? Are you joking? Since when do I need to be inspected to et the boss?" Lyndon exclaid, angered.
"This is the boss's order, Mr. Schneider. Please step out of the car along with the lady," Vito said bluntly, his hand already reaching for his holstered weapon.
"Madam, what do you think?" Lyndon, now cornered, helplessly turned to the woman seated in the back.
"Well, Mr. Kahn certainly is cautious. In that case, let's comply and get out of the car," a clear, lodious voice ca from the back seat.
Monts later, both the driver's and back doors opened. Lyndon climbed out obediently, while from the back seat stepped a tall, slender woman with golden hair, dressed in an elegant erald-green coat. Her features were exquisite.
She was Ophelia Sarkissian, the woman from "holand" that Lyndon had ntioned to Josh.
As Ophelia stepped out, her gaze first swept over the six n surrounding her before shifting toward the estate in the distance. She smiled alluringly at one of the mansion's windows.
anwhile, Josh, observing through binoculars from the window, felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her. A single title imdiately surfaced in his mind, Mada Hydra.
But then he frowned.
Did Mada Hydra appear in the Avengers movies?
Probably not. However, there had been a character by that title in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.—though Josh vaguely recalled that iteration was a digital persona created in a virtual world through the Darkhold. It wasn't the sa as the true Mada Hydra from the comics.
There was also a character in The Wolverine (X-n series) nad Viper, who seed to bear so resemblance to Mada Hydra.
But if this woman was that Viper, wouldn't it contradict Josh's earlier belief that mutants didn't exist in this world?
Josh, unfortunately, hadn't watched much of the Avengers franchise's spin-off content. If he had, he might have known that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series introduced a Mada Hydra—though even she bore no connection to the woman before him.
Despite these musings, Josh's instincts were right: this woman was indeed Mada Hydra—specifically, the first Mada Hydra, Ophelia Sarkissian.
anwhile, Brook had already taken out the "Insight" device and started scanning Lyndon.
Ophelia, who had been maintaining a polite smile since stepping out of the car, suddenly looked uneasy upon seeing the device.
Though she didn't know what it was, the mont Brook pulled it out, she sensed a faint trace of psychic energy emanating from it.
Could it be...?
Her suspicion was confird monts later when the device lit up with a red indicator. Without hesitation, all six bodyguards raised their guns, pointing them at Lyndon and Ophelia.
Lyndon instinctively turned to look at Ophelia, only to see her raising her hands in surrender.
Under normal circumstances, Ophelia had absolute confidence in her abilities. She was more than capable of handling any one of the six guards in a one-on-one confrontation.
But now, with all six keeping a cautious distance, weapons trained on her, and no cover nearby except the car, she decided against testing her luck.
As for using psychic control? She'd already tried. Apart from Lyndon, none of the six n nor the two maids behind them were affected.
Josh, observing from the mansion, sighed in relief.
Good thing he'd noticed sothing off about Lyndon and had taken precautions.
Otherwise, he might have fallen victim to this woman's sches.
"Don't shoot! I an no harm," Ophelia said helplessly, hands still raised.
"No harm? Controlling our friend doesn't count as harm?" Vito sneered.
Brook, anwhile, approached the unconscious Lyndon, injected him with an antidote, and carried him inside.
"I'll take Lyndon in for observation. You handle things here," Brook told Vito.
"No problem. You two—search this woman thoroughly. Don't miss a single spot: shoes, hair, undergarnts—everything," Vito instructed the maids.
The two robust maids nodded and stepped forward, ready to search Ophelia.
"You'd better not make any sudden moves, or we won't hesitate to fire," Vito warned as he saw Ophelia's expression darken.
Left with no choice, Ophelia gritted her teeth and allowed the maids to search her.
As for taking one of them hostage? That wasn't even an option. It was clear from Vito's deanor that he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice the maids if necessary.
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