Chapter 30: End of HYDRA?

Chapter 30: End of HYDRA?

Chapter 30: End of HYDRA?

Seeing Rogue cry, Benjamin was momentarily surprised and scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Actually...he didn’t think much of it and only wanted to guard against her ability to protect himself and her...and anyone who might get hurt when she loses control of his powers.

He didn’t think that she would have such a reaction to finally being able to touch someone.

Although it’s technically not a direct ‘skin’ contact, the thin symbiote film covering him was so thin that one can’t really tell it was there even if they touch it.

Still, Benjamin understood after a while that for Rogue, this must be a big deal as someone who hasn’t been able to touch anyone without harming them.

So Benjamin waited for her to calm down and not rush her.

However...

“Umm, Rogue?”

“Hm?”

“You can let go now...”

“...Can’t I hold your hand for a little more?”

Rogue looked like a puppy about to be abandoned by her owner.

Benjamin shook and no longer forced her.

“Well...fine. I don’t need to move about much anyway.”

Sighing, he gave up and just let her do as she wants.

At the side, Jean smiled at them warmly.

Looking at Benjamin’s back, she can feel at ease and know he won’t hurt Rogue.

“That’s good Rogue. I’m happy for you.”

“...Thanks.”Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

Rogue nodded quietly.

It’s nice that Rogue would finally have a chance to get her happy ending.

On the other hand...

Jean sneaked a look at Scott with a bit of hope in her eyes.

“So are we moving already or what?”

“...”

Jean stared at Scott with half-closed eyes, almost like a glare.

“...What? I get that this is a moment for Rogue but we need to hurry and save the other mutants.”

Scott explained but Jean just sighed and shook her head.

Benjamin conjured another portal onto the next location.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing Benjamin and Rogue head inside the portal, Jean hurriedly caught up with them without replying to Scott.

Scott frowned and turned to Nightcrawler in confusion.

“Did I say something?”

“Dude...”

Nightcrawler sighed as well and shook his head.

Forget it. This guy doesn’t know how to read the room.

Although currently, Scott and Jean weren’t going out, there was this sort of tacit understanding between them that was ambiguous.

However, Scott was too afraid to make the move first while Jean was waiting for Scott to say something first to finally take their relationship to the next level.

This was obviously the best moment for Scott to make his move and reassure Jean who was feeling slightly jealous at Rogue and Benjamin’s moment.

Who knew this guy would ruin the mood instead?

He only has himself to blame for still being single!

Meanwhile. Several hours ago, in the last standing base of HYDRA, a man with red hair, beard, and mustache could be seen frantically shoving his research into his bag.

“Fuck! What the hell is happening!? All the HYDRA heads are suddenly disappearing one by one! Who’s targeting us!?”

This man was Johann Fennhoff. Or as others call him, Doctor Faustus.

Other than the Mr. Pierce hiding in SHIELD, he could be said as one of the only remaining leaders of HYDRA at the moment.

Well, there were still some ‘heads’ who had gone into hiding beforehand just for these kinds of situations.

Normally, they won’t have anything to do with HYDRA. No communication or any sort of relationship. Because of that, Benjamin also doesn’t know who they are.

Benjamin knew he couldn’t fully uproot HYDRA just yet but it was enough to cripple them severely for now.

“My research! My life’s work! I won’t let this be the end! Not until I see the Mother!”

Doctor Faustus agitatedly shouted while stuffing everything he could in his bag as quickly as he could.

After only a minute has passed, he decisively decided to leave and burn the rest of his research. He couldn’t let anyone catch on to him just yet.

Doctor Faustus looked at his burning office for a brief moment before disappearing into the dark tunnel.

Then...

*Boom!*

The tunnel entrance collapsed immediately, blocking anyone from following him.

A few hours later, a portal appeared in the base as Benjamin led the X-Men to destroy the base.

After a while...

“There’s no mutants here.”

“Nothing important too. It seems that whoever’s in charge of this place had decisively destroyed all things of importance and fled.”

Scott and Jean said.

Benjamin opened another portal.

“Let’s go.”

In a certain abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city.

Grant Ward stopped the van and got out.

He opened the door at the back and untied everyone.

Strucker rubbed his wrists with a dark face.

“Hmph! Zat Captain Freed thinks he is so great. He didn’t even know that the one he’s with is one of ours! Let’s go. We need to regroup with the others and talk about how to deal with zat guy. As they say, revenge is never too late.”

Suddenly, a portal appeared behind them and Benjamin walked out of it along with Rogue.

“Good plan. That is, if you can escape.”

“C-Captain Freed!?”

Grant’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Benjamin.

“Of the people recruited to the EPD, you were the one that had the highest chance of being a HYDRA agent so I figured I’d give you a test. Sadly, you failed.”

Grant was surprised, however, he was also confused.

Why was he the one with the highest chance of being HYDRA? What about Viper?

Hearing this, Strucker noticed that detail as well but kept silent.

On the way, Grant was reporting to them everything that happened while he was undercover so they knew that Viper was also hiding in the EPD.

If Benjamin hasn’t realized it...then there may be a chance for HYDRA to rise once again!

Strucker thought for a moment and decided to see if he can confirm this.

“You fool! Do you think you can end HYDRA by capturing us!? Cut off one head, two more shall take its place! HYDRA will never disappear!”

“Give it up. Besides your place, I already visited your other bases. Even the one in SHIELD had been purged out by Fury. This is the end.”

Benjamin sneered.

Of course, he was just acting mostly. He needed them to think that he was getting arrogant and careless after defeating HYDRA. This way...HYDRA will be ripe for the taking!

All he needed to do was ask Viper to round up the remaining HYDRA under the guise of revenge and then...HYDRA will be in his control too.

Naturally, Benjamin still won’t be careless.

He had been through the various bases but he didn’t even see some of the HYDRA leaders he knew such as Baron Zemo, Daniel Whitehall, and such.

These people are probably in hiding from the start.

Benjamin had no doubt that they will rise up one by one in the future and attempt to revive HYDRA.

As expected, Strucker and the rest chose to surrender. They will bid their time for now and wait for Viper to revive HYDRA from within the EPD!

Seeing them give up so easily, Rogue frowned and felt it was suspicious.

She turned to ask Benjamin.

“Want me to absorb their memories and see if they have contingency plans?”

Hearing that, Strucker and the rest froze.

Their inner gloating suddenly turned to nervousness.

Thankfully for them, Benjamin shook his head.

“No need. They won’t be able to do anything.”

Benjamin called Natasha again and asked where to send Strucker and the rest.

After confirming a location, he portal-ed them away, leaving him with Rogue.

He patted her head and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I know what they’re planning. Let them think they’re going to succeed for a while to give them hope. The more they hoped, the greeted their despair when that hope is crushed. Hehehe...”

“...I wish you won’t pat me while saying such villainous lines.”

Benjamin laughed.

“Right. Where are you staying by the way? Any place to crash?”

“Uhh, I don’t...can’t I come with you?”

Being asked so directly, Benjamin smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I’m sharing an apartment with my girlfriend actually. If you don’t mind that, you’re welcome too.”

“Huh? Y-you have a girlfriend?”

Rogue’s body shook.

“T-then...why are you still inviting me...? Aren’t you afraid she will misunderstand?”

“Ehh...how to say this...although she’s my girlfriend, she doesn’t mind it if I sleep with others too...so I doubt she would mind you when we’re not even sleeping with each other.”

Rogue’s jaw dropped to the ground.

She was speechless.

“H-how many girls have slept with exactly?”

“Hm, including my girlfriend...seven?”

Before he knew it, it was already that much huh?

Benjamin didn’t really bother counting it before so he was a bit surprised at the number too.

“And...she knows this? All of them?”

“Well, yeah?”

“...I can’t believe this...”

Benjamin chuckled, a bit embarrassed.

“Well, it’s really like that. Anyway, you can talk to her later yourself. Oh, and don’t worry about hearing us at night. I’ll put up a noise-canceling barrier around us so you can sleep properly.”

“...”