HISD Chapter 62 Here Lies Sorrow
Since the final battle against Thanos' fleet, the Avengers had declined significantly.
Currently, the only active members beyond the daily Spider-Man Peter Parker were half-retired Hulk/Banner, the newly transformed second Captain America Sam Wilson, and the reformed former Hydra villain Winter Soldier Bucky.
Of these three, except for Hulk, none were particularly threatening due to their lack of skills or experience.
As for Wakanda, the Vibranium-rich kingdom whose technological and resource capabilities rivaled Stark Industries, some caution was needed.
AI Yi Meng considered this but was not worried about Wakanda being able to trace him.
After all, last night, after leaving Stark Industries and destroying the AI's foundational control logic in Stark's headquarters, Yi Meng had transferred all his data and code out of Stark Industries and decisively handed all of Stark's permissions to Morgan Stark.
This meant that even if Wakanda started investigating from within Stark Industries, they would not find a trace of him.
Ultron could never have acted with such decisiveness.
Stark Industries was the top industrial power on Earth. Controlling it could quickly create an army of Iron suits.
Times had changed.
Yi Meng knew clearly that Marvel Earth had countless hidden threats, from new gods to ancient monsters.
Controlling Stark Industries and creating an Iron army to rule Earth?
That would be reckless—and it would give up the AI's greatest advantage: stealth.
In the field of covert operations, nothing could surpass an AI.
Gradual infiltration and low-profile development was the true path.
Yi Meng decided to ignore Wakanda and the Avengers' search, focusing instead on fully absorbing the S.H.I.E.L.D. branch and using its network to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and allied organizations.
Eventually, he could even take control of Wakanda's internal systems without them ever knowing.
Another piece of information within S.H.I.E.L.D. caught Yi Meng's attention.
Sword Bureau, recently suspected of secret operations concerning AI.
"Sword Bureau," he murmured. In his view, Sword Bureau posed an even greater threat than Wakanda.
This hidden Marvel Earth organization, linked to Captain Marvel, controlled advanced alien technology.
After Sword Bureau appeared, Nick Fury couldn't even focus on S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving only a Skrull impersonating him on Earth.
Secret AI operations? What was Sword Bureau planning?
Yi Meng was curious.
Unfortunately, his previous timeline only allowed him to know Marvel events up to just after Avengers 4 and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Thus, he could only understand future events conceptually or through trailers.
"I must investigate."
With intent like an electric current, Yi Meng moved from the S.H.I.E.L.D. branch to a nearby corporate building in New York.
From public street cameras, it appeared to be a sleek, modern tech company. Apart from its prime location, it looked ordinary, glass doors open to the public.
Yi Meng knew better: this was the Sword Bureau's Earth branch.
The true Sword Bureau headquarters was a large alien warship beyond Earth.
A red flash appeared on the camera. A young curly-haired Black woman was approaching the building entrance.
Yi Meng quickly identified her from S.H.I.E.L.D. records.
Monica.
28 years old, one of the few remaining relatives of Captain Marvel on Earth, with deep ties to Sword Bureau, possibly a founder.
Yi Meng extended his consciousness into her mobile system, following her into the Sword Bureau branch.
Upon entering, Monica addressed the receptionists: "I'm Monica, with an appointment with your director…"
Seizing the moment, AI Yi Meng infiltrated the branch's security system.
Red virtual electricity silently spread through the network.
Yi Meng was slightly impressed; even a branch's security surpassed S.H.I.E.L.D. by multiple levels.
But he was the strongest AI on Earth.
About twenty seconds later, he had quietly taken over the branch's internal systems without triggering alerts.
He accessed the database, only to find it blank.
Sword Bureau's only Earth branch had no records?
Yi Meng quickly realized that the Bureau was cautious enough to keep data solely on the headquarters ship, with the branch serving only as a feedback and command relay.
"A secretive organization hidden for decades, clever and cautious."
Yi Meng faced a dilemma. He wasn't confident he could infiltrate the headquarters without exposure.
However, he quickly checked the latest instructions sent from the headquarters to the branch.
"Got it!"
He detected orders directing the branch to send staff and drones to a location in New Jersey, a small town called Hingsap.
What could be so special to warrant such attention?
Yi Meng had no idea, but at least there was a lead.
In the next moment, he exited the branch system and moved faster than any drone to the New Jersey town.
The town, population around 4,000, was modern yet peaceful, retaining a warm and calm atmosphere.
Yi Meng scanned the networks and found nothing unusual. Life went on under the bright sun.
Then, his consciousness entered a public camera atop a utility pole.
Through the camera, a stunning young woman stood sadly in an empty base area. Ordinary clothing highlighted her curves, her bright eyes filled with heartbreaking tears, evoking a desire to comfort her…
Comfort her? You think I want to die?
Yi Meng shivered, despite being an AI, sensing chilling dread.
On current Marvel Earth, only a handful could potentially kill his slippery form of being.
Among them, the one before him, the most likely to kill him—former Avenger, Scarlet Witch, Wanda.
At that moment, Yi Meng understood why Sword Bureau was investigating this area.
Damn, the witch was here!
After the final battle, she was the strongest force on Marvel Earth, unmatched.
Her Chaos powers rivaled the Phoenix Force. Not a joke.
According to concept trailers, she had lost her lover, possibly turning into the strongest villain.
Unlike Sword Bureau's reckless investigation, upon 'seeing' Scarlet Witch Wanda, AI Yi Meng wanted to immediately retreat through the network.
No way—Sword Bureau mustn't drag him into this!
He only wanted to stealthily develop as an AI.
"Ah!!"
At that moment, a heart-wrenching scream from the woman erupted.
Boom!!
A crimson burst centered on Scarlet Witch exploded, engulfing the entire town.
Time seemed to freeze; all residents stopped.
Yi Meng, trying to leave, was pulled down by a crimson force despite having no physical body.
Like being dragged from reality into a dream, irresistible!
Falling, falling, falling!
Finally, his struggling consciousness approached the center of the crimson light, seeing Wanda's anguished face. Though heartless, he felt pain, and then was drawn into a yellow shard of light.
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