Faced with the harassment and assassination tactics of the Lickers, the HYDRA Assassins began to suffer severe physical and mental torment.
The leader of the HYDRA Assassins was no longer across from them; the battle in the corridor had already caused him to suffer severe dehydration.
The only saving grace was that the corridors of this top-tier hotel were not the type to be tucked away in a corner. This allowed both the Lickers and the HYDRA Assassins to fight with their maximum capabilities.
Inside the entire hotel, countless bodies of ordinary people lay on the ground.
However, the long-awaited rescue never materialized, which inevitably led to suspicion of foul play, especially since Ivan Vanko had been sprung from prison by Justin Hammer using Hammer Industries' influence, and the capabilities of HYDRA's European branch could only be described as even more formidable.
The battered HYDRA Assassins were now reduced to just their leader, relying on sheer willpower.
He slowly used his weapon to blast open Nathan Hawke's hotel room, seeing a man in a black trench coat with his back to him.
The remaining HYDRA Assassin didn't care who was in front of him and immediately opened fire.
Bullets flew rapidly; the man's body seemed to tear apart, and the assassin's heart instantly trembled. His intuition told him that the person was now behind him.
With a squelch.
The sole HYDRA Assassin slowly fell down. Before his Death, Wesker noticed that the other party had left with a smile, but Wesker didn't care and unhurriedly headed towards his target.
The incident escalated.
"Director."
Maria Hill was in Nick Fury's office, holding a remote control and flipping through intelligence on the multimedia screen.
Nick Fury picked up a mug with a cat design, took a sip of his U.S. coffee, and said, "Let's wait until Coulson arrives."
"Beep."
Coulson, dressed in a neat suit, walked in and nodded to Hill, then looked at Nick Fury, his expression seemingly pleased.
"I'm not late, am I?"
Nick Fury looked up and gestured for Coulson to find a seat.
After Coulson sat down, he looked at Hill and then at his dear Director.
"Hawkeye and Natasha have a mission; it's just the three of us for the meeting," Maria told Coulson.
Coulson nodded and immediately entered work mode.
"First, these two images."
One image showed a skull with an open snake's mouth extending from a red circle in the center. The snake's mouth was fierce and sharp, with pointed teeth, exuding an aura of evil and ferocity. The snake's body coiled around the red circle, with clear patterns and smooth lines. The entire logo design was simple yet unique.
The other image consisted of an umbrella-shaped pattern made of red and White. The top of the umbrella was a circular red pattern, symbolizing strength and determination. The main body of the umbrella was composed of alternating red and White lines; the red lines outlined the umbrella's shape, and the White lines filled it in, forming a striking contrast. The entire logo design was simple yet powerful.
"HYDRA!" Coulson immediately stood up, his face turned towards Nick Fury, his eyes filled with endless confusion.
"Coulson."
Coulson heard Maria's words, turned back, and apologized, "Sorry, I got too excited suddenly." Coulson sat down again, but his inner calm, under the influence of this image, began to become unusually restless.
"Last night, a major Death incident occurred in a top-tier hotel in Monaco. These two photos were left in the hotel. Based on multiple investigations, it appears someone wants us to uncover this major conspiracy. The HYDRA logo indicates their involvement in this incident."
"What about the other image?" Coulson asked.
"Umbrella Corporation. It operates in the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. According to Agent investigations, before its establishment, this company was involved in multiple acts of violence, extortion, robbery, and assassination. However, during the Agent's investigation, crucial evidence was not found."
"Well, that's really something," Coulson pouted.
Nick Fury listened quietly, his face grim. He knew HYDRA was a notorious terrorist organization, and their existence meant chaos and danger.
"What is the nature of this incident?" Nick Fury asked, his eyes revealing concern for the situation.
"Preliminary investigations show that the personnel inside the hotel suffered exceptionally brutal violent attacks, resulting in a large number of casualties. We are still further analyzing the scene and collecting evidence, but it's clear this was a carefully planned assassination," Maria Hill replied.
"Assassination? Who was there at the time?" Nick Fury frowned.
"Nathan Hawke."
Nick Fury's pupils contracted, and he immediately said, "I remember that Stark fellow was sent to the hospital. How are his injuries?"
"He's fine. Natasha has already sent me the message. I planned to tell you after the meeting," Maria said.
"Hmm." Nick Fury nodded, signaling Maria to continue.
"According to the agency's intelligence experts' speculation, we have reason to suspect that someone, perhaps HYDRA or its remnants, intended to eliminate Nathan Hawke, and Umbrella Corporation, which has no direct connection with Nathan Hawke, protected him."
Nick Fury began to ponder Maria's report. As for the suspicion of Nathan Hawke colluding with Umbrella Corporation, mere suspicion was enough.
"Tell me the basis," Nick Fury said, although he already had a guess in his mind, he still wanted Maria to continue.
"That is..." Maria then switched the screen to a photo of Superheroes together.
"The Invisible Man, Super V, Electro. Three super-powered individuals, or rather, Superheroes. We have ample reason to suspect that their creation is the work of Umbrella Corporation."
At this moment, Coulson interjected, "I remember hearing about Nathan Hawke's assassination. So, in Monaco, was it remnants of HYDRA attempting to assassinate Nathan Hawke to gain control of Hawk Group, thereby secretly changing the landscape?"
Nick Fury quickly said, "No, no, who is the leader of Umbrella Corporation? I'm more inclined to believe that Nathan Hawke is just a figurehead. Perhaps they considered killing Nathan Hawke and then having someone impersonate him."
Coulson's back immediately tingled, as he thought of the Skrulls. He then looked at My Lord Director, who noticed his gaze but ignored him.
Hearing this, Maria's expression was somewhat troubled.
"According to an Agent who once infiltrated Umbrella Corporation, he said that the leader of Umbrella Corporation is a man named Wesker."
"Wesker," Coulson murmured the name.
Nick Fury slammed his hand on the table and said sternly, "Coulson, you go to Umbrella Corporation and meet their chairman. Maria, you have Mei (Iron Rider) go to Hawk Group under the guise of the Safety and Fire Department."
"Yes." x2
Umbrella Corporation Tower.
After glancing at the security guard at the entrance, Coulson walked in. The first thing that caught his eye was a spacious and modern lobby. Tall marble pillars supported the ceiling, exuding an atmosphere of solemnity and stability.
The reception area was located in the center of the lobby, formed by a large glass countertop, allowing people to see the activities within the building through the glass. Exquisite plants and high-end decorations were placed on the counter, giving a luxurious and professional feel.
Behind the reception area was a spacious waiting area, equipped with comfortable sofas and coffee tables for visitors to rest and wait. The Umbrella Corporation logo hung on the wall, showcasing its authority and power.
The front desk staff, dressed in neat business attire, greeted visitors with a professional and friendly smile. They skillfully handled various tasks, including receiving visitors, collecting credentials, and providing information.
"Hello, sir, may I help you?" The front desk staff smiled at Coulson as he approached.
Coulson presented an ID and a written document, "Hello, I'm Coulson from XXX. Is your company's chairman, Wesker, in?"
The front desk staff paused for a moment, then said, "Excuse me, let me make a call first."
Coulson nodded and smiled, "Certainly, please do."
The front desk staff called someone on the phone, informed them of the situation, and then said, "Someone will escort you up shortly, sir. You can rest in our waiting area for now."
"Alright, thank you. I won't disturb your work then." Coulson nodded in thanks, then headed to the waiting area.
Approximately 20 minutes later.
A man in security attire approached Coulson and said, "Mr. Coulson, I presume?"
"Yes, hello," Coulson stood up.
"I am the company's security manager. I will take you up now, but may I ask if you are carrying any weapons, sir?" The security manager asked Coulson.
"No problem, you can hold onto them for me." Coulson took out the pistol from his clothes and handed it over.
The security manager took out a White plastic bag to store it, then said, "Sir, you can reclaim it at the security department's claim counter at the front desk when you come down." After speaking, he led Coulson through the employee access point and directly to Wesker's office.
"Sir, the secretary will take you the rest of the way."
After leading Coulson to Wesker's office floor and seeing the waiting secretary, the security manager said.
"Okay, thank you," Coulson said with a smile, while also sensing the strictness of Umbrella Corporation's visitor procedures.
On the way, Coulson had already noticed numerous hidden cameras, patrolling security personnel, riot gear, safety hazard eliminators, and so on... He also compared Umbrella Corporation with Hawk Group.
He became even more eager to meet Wesker.
Beep!
The secretary smiled at Coulson and said, "Please come in, sir. The chairman is waiting for you inside."