The next morning.
After breakfast, Kai checked the time.
Good—still one minute before eight o'clock.
As a proud salary thief, there was no way he'd let Tony Stark, that big capitalist, squeeze even one extra minute of work out of him.
With a flash, Kai transformed into countless photons and zipped straight to the Stark Industries Building.
He arrived at his office with his usual unhurried stride—only to find a tall, blonde woman with red lips and an LO uniform already waiting inside.
"You're here!"
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw him. Like a fan meeting her idol, she hurried forward holding a stack of documents.
"Hello, Mr. Kai! My name is Alice. This is the work Mr. Stark specifically prepared for you today. Please take a look!"
Kai frowned immediately.
Tony Stark, you capitalist devil.
Even when he's not around, he finds a way to make me work?
"Ugh, so troublesome. When Tony recruited me, I don't remember agreeing to actual work," Kai muttered.
"I'm not too sure about that, Mr. Kai," Alice said politely, placing the stack of papers neatly on his desk.
Then she hesitated for a moment before asking with hopeful eyes:
"Mr. Kai… could I take a picture with you? You're my idol!"
"God is my witness! When I saw you save so many innocent people during the New York Battle, and defeat those damned aliens, I was—oh my goodness—completely blown away!"
Kai smiled at her enthusiasm and nodded. Why not? A fan moment never hurt anyone.
They took a photo together. But as he glanced at her name tag, he caught sight of a small brooch pinned to her chest—an emblem that felt uncomfortably familiar.
"Alice," Kai asked casually, "which department are you from again?"
"I used to work in the weapons development division," she said brightly. "But after Mr. Stark shut it down, I was transferred to the research department!"
After the photo, Alice left the office practically skipping, still glowing with excitement.
But the moment she stepped out of sight, her cheerful expression vanished. She pulled out her phone, dialed a number, and spoke quietly:
"Madame, I've approached the target."
Meanwhile — Inside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion.
"You mean Madame Hydra wants us to cooperate with her—to recruit or research the weaknesses of that young man named Kai?"
Alexander Pierce leaned back in his chair, eyeing Crossbones thoughtfully.
After a pause, he nodded.
"Let Sitwell handle this."
"That kid Kai has been mingling with the Avengers. He could become a real problem down the line. If Madame Hydra can eliminate him, it saves us the trouble."
"Understood," Rumlow replied crisply.
One Captain America was already a massive headache for HYDRA. Now there was another super-powered nuisance? Wonderful.
Back in Stark Industries.
Kai watched Alice leave—but didn't touch the stack of documents on his desk.
Something about her felt… off.
Was it really coincidence she'd asked for a photo today, of all days?
It had been over three months since the New York Battle. Stark Industries had been fully operational again for nearly two and a half months.
And in all that time, not a single fan from the office had asked him for a picture.
Yet suddenly, right after he wiped out a HYDRA-controlled gang, one appears out of nowhere?
His gaze darkened. That badge on Alice's collar wasn't just decorative.
He'd seen it before—the same HYDRA insignia worn by Sitwell and Senator Stern in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Yeah. That Senator Stern—the pompous guy who once tried to seize Tony's armor during the Senate hearing.
Kai wasn't overthinking this. Stark Industries had been a weapons manufacturer for decades. Of course HYDRA would try to infiltrate it.
Even though Tony shut the weapons division down after his return from Afghanistan, HYDRA's interest in Stark technology would only have grown.
And after the New York Battle—plus yesterday's total annihilation of the Viper Gang—it was obvious:
HYDRA had him on their radar now.
The only question was… which faction?
Pierce's S.H.I.E.L.D.-embedded HYDRA, or Madame Hydra Ophelia's splinter group?
Either way, it was a pain in the ass.
Then Kai's eyes fell on the stack of work Tony had dumped on his desk.
And suddenly, he smiled.
"Perfect excuse not to work."
After all, if HYDRA was targeting him, wasn't it too dangerous to do paperwork right now?
Slacking off it is.
Half an hour later.
"Damn it, I knew you were slacking off!"
Tony Stark barged into Kai's office, instantly spotting the untouched stack of files. Meanwhile, Kai was leaning back in his chair, binge-watching a drama like it was his job.
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Why is your personality like this, kid?"
"Hey, Kai, can't you be a little—"
"I'm being targeted!"
Tony froze mid-sentence.
"Targeted? By who?"
"HYDRA."
Tony blinked.
"HYDRA?"
"That's right."
Kai leaned forward seriously.
"Everyone thinks HYDRA was wiped out seventy years ago. But you saw what happened yesterday—the Viper Gang was their puppet organization."
"With my involvement in the New York Battle and the mission yesterday with Steve and Natasha, it's clear I've become one of their targets."
He explained everything—Alice, the badge, the timing.
Tony frowned, his expression darkening.
"That does sound like something those psychos would do. Steve told me about the explosion yesterday—HYDRA blew up a whole block just to cover their tracks."
He folded his arms.
"They're maniacs. If they're after you, I'm not surprised. So… what's your plan?"
Kai shrugged lazily, a sly grin on his face.
"If they want to target me, then let them. It'll be a good chance to show them what 'kicked at the speed of light?' really means."
Tony chuckled, though there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Alright, but be careful. And tell Natasha and Steve. HYDRA isn't as simple as you think."
He turned to leave, muttering,
"I swear, you're worse than Peter when it comes to listening."
Once Tony was gone, Kai resumed his show.
"Thanks, HYDRA," he murmured. "You just gave me the perfect reason to keep slacking off."
As for the pile of documents?
"What documents? I don't see any."
He propped his feet up on the desk, grinning as the familiar system chime rang in his head.
[Ding!]
[Borsalino Template Synchronization +0.2%]