A deadly silence fell over the safe house.
Chen Tian's plan was like a vast spiderweb, encompassing S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA, and the Red Room. Natasha was the spider walking on the silk, and around this web, there were nothing but storms. The slightest misstep would send her plummeting into an abyss of no return.
Melina's fingertips drummed unconsciously on the table, her gaze flitting between Natasha and Chen Tian. As the Red Room's tactical Commander, she knew better than anyone the danger of this plan—it wasn't a simple infiltration, but a gamble with lives and the future of the Red Room at stake.
Alexei's heavy breathing was particularly noticeable in the silence. The usually boisterous Red Giant now had a deep frown. He suddenly stood up, the metal chair legs scraping harshly against the floor.
"I object!" he shouted. "Nat is only fifteen! Even if she trains for a few more years, then you want her to be a double Agent? Damn it! Nero Sparta! No! Chen Tian! You tell me! How much psychological pressure will Nat have to endure?!"
Chen Tian didn't respond immediately. He simply sat back down, his hands clasped over his abdomen, his eyes slightly lowered.
He knew, of course he knew, but if he didn't do this, what would become of the Red Room's future? And how would the future timeline be handled?
Thinking of all this, his clasped hands slowly tightened. He was still too weak, too weak to break everything with his own power.
2B held Yelena, her silver-haired pupils flickering slightly. As a combat android, she shouldn't have emotions like "worry," but at this moment, her core processor showed abnormal fluctuations—this was the first time she experienced a feeling similar to "unease."
When Natasha and Yelena were in Ohio, 2B had been with them. Asking Natasha to bear such immense pressure made 2B feel a pang of reluctance.
Everyone's gaze focused on Natasha.
The red-haired girl sat quietly, her emerald eyes downcast, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Her fingers gently traced the edge of the table.
(Am I scared?)
(Yes, how could I not be scared?)
(Chen Tian's plan is ruthless, but once it succeeds, the Red Room will become the largest Agent organization under Chen Tian.)
(No, it will be the strongest secret organization in the entire World.)
(But, can I accomplish it?)
(I can! Because I chose to accept Agent training precisely to help Chen Tian and Melina, so, I can.)
When she looked up, there was no longer any hesitation in her eyes.
"I accept."
Her voice was very soft.
Melina suddenly stood up: "Nat! You don't have to… accept…"
"I can do it." Natasha looked directly into Chen Tian's face. "Isn't it just acting? The Red Room taught me—'Lies are more lethal than bullets.'"
Natasha stood up. "I can become the 'Black Widow who defected' as Chen Tian said."
"But," Natasha took a deep breath, "this plan still has a weakness."
The air in the safe house seemed to freeze.
Natasha's words were like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's heart.
"I want to undergo brainwashing different from the 'Puppet Protocol.'" Her voice began to tremble as she slowly lowered her head. "It's… that kind… of brainwashing that replaces memories."
Her voice was soft, yet it was like a sharp dagger, piercing through everyone's psychological defenses.
Melina's face instantly turned pale, her lips trembling: "Nat… do you know what you're saying?"
Alexei slammed his fist on the table, a piece of the wooden surface shattering beneath his palm: "No! Absolutely not!"
Yelena, in 2B's arms, seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere. Her small hands tightly clutched 2B's clothes: "Yorha big sister… what is brainwashing?"
Chen Tian's pupils constricted slightly. He slowly stood up. "Nat, you know what that means."
"I know." Natasha looked up, her emerald eyes gleaming with determination. "It means I will forget everything I once shared with you all."
"But only then will S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lie detector believe that I am truly a 'controlled Avenger.'"
Melina rushed to Natasha, gripping her shoulders tightly with both hands: "Are you crazy? The side effects of the brainwashing program are irreversible! Even if we release the control later, your memories might be permanently damaged!"
Natasha felt her adoptive mother's trembling hands, but a faint smile played on her lips: "Melina, you taught me that the most perfect lie is one that even you yourself believe."
"But, remember this."
Natasha still smiled, "Remember to embed my mission deep in my memories. I don't want to forget you all and also forget our 'blood bag mission.'"
The room fell into a terrifying silence, broken only by the faint hum of the ventilation system.
Chen Tian's gaze swept over Natasha's face, trying to find any trace of wavering. But the girl's eyes were as resolute as ever, just like the little girl in 1995 who was determined to become an Agent.
"Are you sure?" His voice was so low it was almost inaudible.
Natasha took a deep breath: "I only have one condition."
"Speak."
"Before the program starts…" Her gaze swept over everyone in the room. "I hope… we can spend this time together well."
2B suddenly spoke: "Master, perhaps there is another solution." She also didn't want Natasha to become like that. "I can develop a neural interference device that simulates brainwashing, making Nat exhibit symptoms of being controlled while retaining core memories."
Chen Tian shook his head: "The risk is too great. S.H.I.E.L.D. has the most advanced brainwave scanning technology. Simulated signals are easily detected."
The Shadow of White appeared silently in the corner: "Sharingan's genjutsu can achieve perfect simulation."
"But it cannot be maintained long-term." Chen Tian rejected the suggestion. "Nat needs to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. for several years. Genjutsu always carries the risk of failing."
Amidst the arguments, Natasha suddenly laughed.
It was a smile with a hint of childishness, yet exceptionally mature.
"See, that's why it has to be me." She said softly, "Because only a true 'Black Widow' can deceive everyone."
Yelena suddenly broke free from 2B's embrace and rushed to Natasha: "I don't want my big sister to forget me!"
Natasha knelt down and hugged the little girl tightly: "Silly girl, I will remember, I definitely will."
Her gaze went over Yelena's shoulder and met Chen Tian's eyes.
In that moment, Chen Tian saw what flickered in her eyes—
It wasn't fear, nor hesitation.
But a trust that was almost devout.
"Alright." Chen Tian finally nodded, his voice hoarse, "But we will develop a memory trigger mechanism."
He walked to the holographic projection table and pulled up a complex neural map: "We'll embed a 'key' in your deepest subconscious. When you hear a specific frequency, it will activate your true memories."
Melina still held Natasha's hand tightly: "At least… at least wait three years before executing it."
"No." Natasha shook her head. "It will be on the day the 'Sky Red Room' is completed."
She stood up, her red hair dancing like flames under the light: "Before that, I will become the Red Room's most perfect weapon."
"And after that…"
A cunning arc curved on her lips:
"I will become S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA's perfect fuse."
— — — —
After the meeting, the lights in the safe house seemed dimmer than usual.
Melina was the first to leave, her back as stiff as a steel plate, her footsteps heavier than usual. Alexei chased after her, the metal door slamming shut behind him.
2B watched Natasha tidy the stray hairs around the little girl's temples, then suddenly spoke: "Master, I can optimize the memory trigger algorithm."
"Do it, 2B. Make sure that Natasha won't be harmed by my," Chen Tian paused, "my plan."
White's Shadow flickered in and out of view in the shadows, the red glow of the Sharingan flashing briefly: "Are you sure you want her to go this far?"
Chen Tian didn't answer. His gaze passed through the translucent data streams, landing on Natasha, who was teasing Yelena. The red-haired girl smiled, her eyes curving, as if the person who had just decided to undergo memory erasure wasn't her.
(Is she really not afraid?)
(Or is it that…)
(She already knows how to hide fear behind a smile?)
— — — —
Moscow at night. The night wind here was much colder than in other cities. Natasha sat on the edge of the rooftop, looking at the brightly lit city.
"Can't sleep?" Chen Tian sat down beside Natasha.
"I'm thinking about my 'memory key.'" Natasha turned to Chen Tian, a smile in her eyes.
"Do you think I'm cruel?" Chen Tian looked into the distance.
"Yes, very cruel, but I think I understand you a little." Natasha also looked into the distance, following Chen Tian's gaze.
"Because of that guy from Kathmandu, you disappear from time to time, but as the Red Room's chief Commander, you have to consider the Red Room's future, especially whether the Red Room can withstand a joint attack from S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA after you suddenly disappear."
"So, you had to make a long-term plan, send out an Agent like me, to survive in the cracks while also growing stronger."
Natasha's smile blossomed, "Hey, thinking about it that way, my role is still very important!"
Chen Tian didn't smile, because there was nothing to smile about.
"I'm sorry, Nat."
"This shouldn't have been something you had to bear. I rescued you from Dreykov's mire, but I personally pushed you into another one."
Natasha tilted her head, looking at Chen Tian. Natasha smiled and said, "My 'memory key.'"
"Let's use the sound of you smiling and calling me 'Nat.'"
Chen Tian's eyes widened. 'Let's use the sound of you smiling and calling me 'Nat.' This sentence directly completed the time loop.
[2009, Stark Industries Charity Gala.]
["I thought we were already well acquainted, Nat."]
["At least three minutes ago, you said you were going to 'educate' me."]
["Stop being glib!"]
["There's no record of you in our database. Tell me, who exactly are you?"]
[Chen Tian's lips curved into a smile: "Nat, before we continue this interesting interrogation—"]
In 2009, on the rooftop of the hotel hosting the Stark Industries gala, Chen Tian smiled, holding up his hands. In front of him, Natasha's eyes held vigilance. After she heard Chen Tian smilingly call her Nat, the hand holding her gun trembled slightly, an almost imperceptible movement.
Chen Tian relaxed his expression. With a smile, he looked into the distance again.
"Alright, we'll use that."
Natasha also smiled, looking into the distance.
In the distance, a birch tree stubbornly stretched its branches from a crack in the concrete, its tender green new leaves gently swaying in the night wind.
(Birch trees can grow stubbornly even at -30 to -40 degrees Celsius. They are pioneer species, meaning birch trees can grow quickly in burned areas or barren soil, creating a living environment for other plants.)
— — — —
The 'Sky Red Room' was originally an important research project of Dreykov's. Over the years, he had more or less been developing this project.
So.
After Chen Tian announced the 'Red Room's' full dormancy, all funds and resources were mobilized to continue developing this project.
In just two months, the 'Sky Red Room' was completely finished.
This meant that Natasha would also become the 'Black Widow' in Chen Tian's plan in the coming time.
The metal walls of the 'Sky Red Room's' core laboratory gleamed coldly. Natasha lay flat on the operating table, a spiderweb-like silver-white neural connection device covering her temples.
"Final confirmation." Melina's voice echoed in the sterile room. "Neural link completion 98%, memory encryption program ready."
Chen Tian stood in front of the observation window, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the reinforced glass: "Where's the emotional stabilizer?"
"Injected." 2B's fingers glided rapidly across the control panel. "But Master… do we really have no other choice?"
Natasha on the operating table suddenly opened her eyes, her emerald pupils like two deep pools under the shadowless lamp: "Yorha big sister, this is the path I chose myself."
Yelena's small face pressed against the observation window, her breath fogging the glass: "Big sister looks like a robot from a sci-fi movie…"
Alexei's large hand rested on his little daughter's shoulder. The usually gruff man's voice was hoarse now: "Nat, it's still not too late to change your mind."
Natasha gently shook her head, her red hair fanning out like blood on the pure white surgical pillow: "Begin."
Melina took a deep breath. The moment she pressed the start button, the laboratory's emergency lights suddenly turned dark red.
[Memory Multi-Layer Reconstruction Program Initiated]
[Countdown 30 minutes]
— — — — — —
One month later, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
Fury's single eye stared at the intelligence in his hand, his fingertips tapping a rapid rhythm on the desk.
The projection showed seven crime scenes in different locations—each victim was a S.H.I.E.L.D. informant, with the same knife wound on their throat.
"That's the seventh one." Fury's voice was hoarse. "Seven intelligence sources precisely eliminated within two weeks."
Coulson quickly scrolled through his tablet: "The way these victims died is very professional." He zoomed in on a photo. "These wounds, it's as if a machine did them."
"You know, these guys who provided us intelligence are not easy targets." Fury sneered. "Either they are politicians from a certain country, or they are major arms dealers."
The office door suddenly slid open. Barton walked in, bringing the night wind with him, his tactical suit still damp with rain: "You called me here this late just to look at murder scene photos?"
Fury threw the file onto the desk. "Clint, first hand over your current assignment."
His finger pointed at a blurry photo, a blurred red streak on it.
"Find this red-haired person."
------------------------
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