Ch. 262 Wanda and Pietro

Even though Skye had been learning from Perkins for three days now, her talent in combat was far from her proficiency with computers. Nevertheless, under Perkins' deliberate efforts to go easy on her, Skye managed to hold her ground during their sparring.

While she couldn't see a clear path to victory, she also wasn't completely defenseless.

When Skye was knocked down by Perkins once again, Russell, who had been observing from the sidelines, stood up.

"Let's take a break for now," Russell said as he approached both Skye and Perkins.

Perkins glanced at Russell, nodded, and left the sparring arena.

After Perkins left the arena, Skye, who had been knocked down, finally sat up, removed her headgear and gloves, and started catching her breath.

Russell didn't step onto the arena but stood at its edge, asking Skye, "How do you feel after learning from Perkins for a few days?"

Skye initially rolled her eyes at Russell, then replied slowly, "Getting beaten up every day. What do you think I feel?"

Skye had initially expected that Russell's combat training would be similar to military or police training, starting with the basics and progressing gradually. However, once Perkins started teaching her, she realized she had overestimated herself.

Perkins' approach to teaching combat to Skye was neither simple nor straightforward. It involved making Skye experience the feeling of combat firsthand. While this teaching method would be normal for others with prior combat training, Skye had never received any such training.

Apart from wearing protective gear and gloves while sparring with Perkins, Skye had also received a brief introduction to firearms usage during these three days. Compared to hand-to-hand combat, Skye was even less proficient with firearms.

"Just get used to it. You've never received any combat training before, so this is the fastest way for you to understand what close-quarters combat is all about," Russell said with a smile as he watched Skye, who was clearly unhappy.

"I'm a hacker, not a warrior!" Skye retorted.

"If you only want to be a hacker, I can tell you right now that the Justice League doesn't need you," Russell replied firmly.

If it were a different situation, Russell might have tried to comfort Skye a bit. However, in the training room, he wouldn't show any leniency.

Even if it were the Hulk, who had joined the Justice League from the beginning, Russell wouldn't go easy on him during training. If the Hulk didn't cooperate, Russell wouldn't mind teaching him a lesson in a more "reasonable" manner.

"The Justice League isn't lacking in combat power, and you've mentioned before that I will awaken superhuman abilities in the future. I don't see how this combat training is useful for me," Skye still felt unsatisfied.

"True, you will awaken superhuman abilities in the future. But if you don't have even the basic close-quarters combat skills, even with your superpowers awakened, you won't be much stronger than an ordinary person. Having Perkins train you is not only about mastering combat techniques but also preparing you for your future awakened abilities," Russell explained calmly.

After hearing Russell's words, Skye fell silent for a moment. After about ten seconds, she continued, "You seem to know what kind of superpower I'll awaken in the future. Can't you tell me now?"

"No," Russell replied without hesitation.

Even though telling her about her future superpower wouldn't have any immediate consequences, Russell had no intention of revealing it at this moment. Knowing the gift in advance would ruin the surprise.

"You won't tell me what superpower I'll awaken in the future," Skye said, clearly unhappy. "You won't even tell me my parents' names."

"When will you be willing to tell me what I'm supposed to do?"

Skye complained with a displeased look on her face.

"After you complete Perkins' combat training, I can tell you your father's name first," Russell said slowly after thinking for a few seconds.

"Alright! You said that, so don't go back on your word!" Skye quickly agreed.

"Don't celebrate too soon. Completing Perkins' combat training won't be as easy as you think," Russell warned.

After answering Skye's questions, Russell didn't give her a chance to ask more. He turned to Perkins and said, "Perkins, continue the training and help Skye become a competent warrior."

"Yes, sir!" Perkins, who had a cold and slightly authoritative demeanor, replied immediately.

After giving instructions to Perkins, Russell left the training room and went to Diana's study.

After briefly informing Diana that he was going to Sokovia, Russell opened a portal to Sokovia right in front of her.

After three days of preparation, No. 3 had thoroughly investigated Baron Strucker and the two siblings, Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.

Furthermore, three White Zetsu squads had already arrived in Sokovia and were prepared to attack Baron Strucker's castle at any moment.

When the shimmering portal took shape, Russell wasted no time and walked through it, arriving in Sokovia, located in Eastern Europe.

"According to the plan, we'll attack the castle from three different directions. Besides the target individuals, leave no survivors," Russell calmly instructed.

"Understood, Commander!" came the swift response from the White Zetsu soldiers.

With their orders in hand, the three White Zetsu squads, comprising a total of eighteen soldiers, immediately launched their assault on the distant castle.

Attacking Baron Strucker's base was originally a mission for the Avengers, at least in the cinematic universe. However, due to Russell's involvement, the current situation had diverged significantly from the movies. Therefore, the task of assaulting Baron Strucker's base had fallen to him, accompanied by the White Zetsu soldiers.

Three days ago, after handing over the Hydra list hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D. to Natasha, Nick Fury had immediately initiated a purge of the organization.

While the media had not received any news regarding this operation, Russell was well aware of how far along the operation to cleanse S.H.I.E.L.D. had progressed.

Though Natasha's brainwashing had been lifted, it didn't mean Russell had lost his source of intelligence from within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Just like Tony had found ways to gather information from S.H.I.E.L.D., as a capitalist akin to Tony, Russell could do the same.

The fully armed White Zetsu soldiers quickly disappeared from Russell's view, just like a pack of hunting wolves, as they rushed towards the distant castle.

Once all the White Zetsu soldiers had left, Russell began his approach towards the castle. He arrived in front of the castle after a short walk.

"Baron Strucker, hello," Russell greeted with a smile as he saw the one-eyed Baron Strucker.

Upon hearing Russell's words, Baron Strucker's face displayed a puzzled expression. Although he had never seen Russell before, he was not unfamiliar with him.

Just as he was pondering why Russell had come, Russell suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck, lifting him off the ground.

"Bashki?" As Strucker struggled, he heard Bashki's name mentioned, and his face filled with shock.

Finally realizing why Bashki, who had initially been Whitehall's assistant, had become so dominant after Whitehall's death, Strucker was shocked.

Just as Baron Strucker was about to say something, Russell's right hand applied a bit of pressure.

Crack!

Russell directly snapped Baron Strucker's neck.

At the moment he broke Strucker's neck, the Hydra soldiers who had aimed their weapons at Russell didn't hesitate any longer. They simultaneously pulled the triggers, sending a barrage of bullets and missiles in Russell's direction.

Russell paid no mind to the gunfire from the Hydra soldiers and tossed Baron Strucker's lifeless body aside like trash.

Then, his eyes shone with a red light.

Heat vision!

A laser-like beam of heat vision emerged.

The heat vision slashed across the Hydra soldiers as if it were a laser blade.

After scanning the room with his heat vision, Russell left the command center in silence, leaving only the electronic devices making static noises behind.

Having eliminated all the Hydra soldiers in the command center, Russell turned to where Wanda and Pietro were standing in the corner.

"Hello, I'm Russell, Russell Bradley," he introduced himself, standing about two meters away from Wanda and Pietro.

However, before he could finish his sentence, Wanda and Pietro disappeared as if teleporting.

Huh...

Although Russell had clearly seen Pietro use his super-speed to grab Wanda and leave the command center without looking back, he didn't expect them to act so decisively.

Do I really look that much like a bad guy?