Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

Chapter 202 Hawke's Imminent Departure (First Update!)

Hawke stood behind his desk, looking at the photo in his hand, then at the woman who walked in through the door, seemingly stepping out of the photo.

Lady Viper Ophelia Sarkissian was also watching Hawke, who had appeared in her office at some point and was standing behind her desk holding a photo of herself and Anna.

The moment when their eyes met.

The moment Ophelia met Hawke's deep blue eyes, which seemed to sparkle with countless stars, she felt as if she were in a strange universe.

Loneliness.

Icy.

With a biting chill.

But she quickly realized what was happening.

She quietly closed the door to her office, then stood still, meeting Hawke's gaze without moving.

Hawke first glanced at the woman in the photo with Anna, then looked at the woman in front of him, before looking away and putting the photo back in its place.

"your name!"

“...Ophelia.”

Ophelia was taken aback at first, then quickly responded. Her voice was not as alluring and seductive as it had been when she spoke to Alexander before; instead, it sounded calm and even reassuring.

After Hawke put the photos back in their original positions, he listened to Ophelia's self-introduction, raised an eyebrow, put his hands in his pockets, and looked again at Ophelia, who was standing at the door with a very upright posture, as if he were confirming something.

"Lady Viper?"

"……Yes."

Ophelia nodded in agreement again.

Hawke chuckled.

Her name is Ophelia.

It's Hydra again.

Moreover, she has long, emerald-green hair, just like the bamboo viper. Only the legendary Hydra Lady, who manipulated the famous mutant Wolverine Logan, could perfectly match these three key pieces of information.

really.

He guessed correctly.

However, there are no mutants in this world, so there is no Wolverine Logan; in any case, mutants do not exist in this main universe.

But this Ophelia in front of me...

He is indeed a mutant, or more accurately, an Inhuman.

Hawke glanced at Ophelia and instantly sensed the strange energy fluctuations hidden beneath her dark green uniform.

Legend has it that Lady Viper is highly venomous, and a single kiss from her can turn Wolverine Logan from a tough guy into a spineless coward.

I don't know if it's true.

Hawke thought about it curiously.

However, that was not his purpose in coming here.

Hawke looked back at the photo that had been placed back on the table.

"What is your relationship with Anna?"

"friend."

Ophelia, standing at the door, seemed to have thought of something, looked at Hawke, and added a sentence.

"Very good friends".

"is it?"

Upon hearing this, Hawke looked at Ophelia, then at the forced smile on her face, and chuckled, "I'll confirm that. You'd better not be lying."

Say it.

He immediately took the initiative, acting as if he were the master of the place, and Ophelia, who was standing at the door, was his invited guest. He pointed to the sofa in front of the spacious floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked what was said to be the most expensive place in all of Asia.

"sit!"

"……Thanks."

Ophelia breathed a sigh of relief, said thank you, and then, like a guest—and rather, an awkward one at that—walked over to the sofa. She gathered her skirt and sat upright on the sofa, facing Hawke.

Hawke also came over, but instead of sitting on the sofa, he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at what is known as the most expensive place in all of Asia.

Ophelia sat on the sofa, too afraid to move.

Hawke's voice was low and somber.

"When I came here, I did think about turning this place into a white wasteland like Wakanda with a single punch."

"It was all white, and it looked very clean."

"but……"

As Hawke spoke, he turned and sat down on the sofa opposite Ophelia: "After I landed, I saw a huge fire, which calmed my anger a bit. And I just saw the photo of you and Anna together. So, I only have one question for you: Was it you who impersonated Anna and spoke to me?"

Anna is not in the island nation.

This was something he discovered the moment he landed on the island nation, when his sixth sense instantly extended outwards, encompassing the entire island.

That's why he called Sharon to ask about the exact location of the island nation's Shield branch.

But he wasn't sure at the time.

What if Anna happens to have left the island and gone somewhere else?

but now……

Hawke saw his body suddenly stiffen the moment Ophelia entered the office, confirming the truth completely.

The Ana he spoke to during his time with S.H.I.E.L.D. in New York was not the real Ana.

Then the problem is coming.

Where is Anna?

It's impossible to say that the Anna who spoke to him in New York was fake, and the Anna who spoke to him outside Wakanda the time before last, telling him that she had been promoted and come to the island nation, was also fake.

If that's really the case.

Ha ha.

Hydra wants to fight again.

Fuck your mother's legs.

Ophelia, sitting opposite Hawke, listened to Hawke's question and felt the boundless killing intent in his eyes. She shuddered and quickly shook her head.

“It wasn’t me, Mr. Phoenix.”

"is it?"

Hawke's gaze was deep as he stared directly at Ophelia: "Who burned down the Yasukuni latrine? Don't tell me Anna called and asked you for help." "No."

"It's Alexander Pierce."

Without hesitation, Ophelia betrayed Alexander Pierce, who had called her a few hours earlier to ask for her help.

Although Alexander Pierce promised to do her a favor.

but……

What good are favors when you're about to die?

Ophelia knew perfectly well that the only reason she was still alive at this moment was not because Hawke didn't want to kill her, but simply because there was a photo of herself and Anna on her desk.

That's the only reason she's still alive and able to talk to Hawke.

But what if she chooses to keep it a secret?

Ophelia had no doubt that in the next second, the entire Ginza would turn into a vast, clean expanse of white, just as Hawke had just said.

Hawke listened to the names Ophelia mentioned without showing any expression on his face.

"Alexander Pierce?"

"Yes."

Ophelia nodded hastily, and then recounted without reservation the contents of her phone call with Alexander Pierce a few hours earlier.

After confirming that the Ana he spoke with at S.H.I.E.L.D. in New York was not the real Ana, Hawke's first suspect was Alexander Pierce.

Ophelia's testimony now only further confirms this point.

only……

“The time before last, when I was outside Wakanda, Alexander Pierce contacted Anna, and Anna told me that she had come to the island nation to take charge of the business here.”

"No."

Ophelia shook her head decisively and said to Hawke, "The island nation is my territory. Anna is my friend. I welcome her to visit, but she is Alexander Pierce's subordinate. Alexander Pierce and I are just business partners."

Hawke smiled.

But to Ophelia, that smile was particularly eerie, as if Hawke was about to devour someone.

But Hawke quickly calmed the raging fire that had risen in his heart after Ophelia finished speaking, and looked at Ophelia.

What about Anna?

"do not know."

Ophelia said honestly, "I haven't been in touch with Anna for a long time either."

Hawke raised his eyebrows.

"Didn't you say you were good friends with Anna? Aren't you curious since we haven't been in touch for so long?"

"I asked."

"Then……"

"Alexander said Anna was on a mission, so he didn't ask any further questions. After all, Alexander and I were just business partners."

"is it?"

Upon hearing this, Hawke looked at Ophelia, who didn't seem to be lying, and nodded thoughtfully: "When was the last time you contacted Anna?"

Ophelia frowned, met Hawke's gaze, thought carefully for a moment, and then looked at Hawke.

"Mid-July last year."

"July?"

"Yes."

As Hawke listened to the timeline Ophelia provided, he recalled how he had asked Anna to keep an eye out for information about when Thor's girlfriend, Jane Foster, would arrive in London.

correct.

It seems he also discovered that he couldn't reach Anna by phone after arriving in London.

So, Anna has been missing or imprisoned since July of last year?
Hawke thought to himself.

The reason why we are so sure that Anna is not dead is actually quite simple.

He did not see Anna's soul in the underworld.

do not forget.

Hawke had made a pact with Mephisto that his friend's soul would not return to Hell after death, but to his underworld.

and so……

Missing or imprisoned? Which one is it?

Hawke's thoughts raced.

next second.

He sneered.

Why think so much? Just go ask Alexander Pierce.

In short...

Hydra has a second chance to fight.

Completely gone!

Hawke thought to himself, then got up from the sofa, intending to go to Washington to lend a hand.

but……

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Ophelia, seeing him get up, also snapped out of her daze and quickly got up with him.

Hawke stopped, turned around, and his gaze fell on Ophelia once again.

"You'd better really be Anna's friend."

"I swear."

Ophelia swore in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Hawke stared at Ophelia for a few seconds before looking away.

"Then you'd better pray that when I find Anna, her answer is the same as yours."

"Otherwise, you will die a more gruesome death than Alexander Pierce!"

Say it.

Hawke's figure vanished from the office in an instant, and when he reappeared, he was already thousands of miles above the ground. Accompanied by the sudden appearance of a sonic boom cloud, he instantly transformed into a rainbow of light and sped towards the direction of the Hua Mansion.

……

(End of this chapter)