Chapter Seventy: Hydra Still Triumphs Today [New Book—Please Add to Your Favorites and Recommend]

Hydra—a vast and ancient organization. For the older generation, or more specifically for Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, the Hydra he knew was a German organization during World War II. It was led by a man named Red Skull, his sworn enemy.

During the war, Rogers led the Howling Commandos through countless hardships to finally take down Red Skull. After Red Skull vanished, Rogers believed he had eradicated Hydra at its roots. Then, after being frozen beneath the sea for a long period, time slipped by. Though Hydra was purged, many of its scientists were absorbed into other places, and when S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded, these scientists and other talents used their skills to take root within the organization.

Rogers was completely unaware of the events that unfolded decades later.

Hydra was never a single branch. While Red Skull was annihilated, other branches continued to develop and eventually regrouped after decades. Hydra rose from the ashes, initiating an “Infiltration Program” to steal S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources and expand its reach, penetrating every aspect of society.

Even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s former director, Alexander Pierce, was one of Hydra’s own.

Though Pierce had stepped down, many of his operations continued smoothly after his departure. The newly promoted director, Nick Fury, was oblivious to the truth.

Now, hearing Rogers' words through his earpiece, Nick Fury found it hard to believe. He was certain Rogers could not be Hydra.

Outwardly, he maintained his composure, but his mind raced. Why had Hydra operatives arrived on the scene within ten minutes of his orders? There are no such coincidences in this world.

And there were many other details...

Fury’s suspicions began to settle on Hill and Alexander Pierce.

After Rogers uttered the phrase “Hail Hydra,” he did not turn off his earpiece. He believed Fury would understand his intentions.

Before Rogers stood several young Hydra agents. Though young, they were seasoned operatives, for as S.H.I.E.L.D. strike team members, they dealt with Hydra more than anyone else.

In truth, it wasn’t just them—everyone on that rooftop was Hydra. In fact, many of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top agents were Hydra; their grandfathers had been Hydra, some of their parents were Hydra, and with each generation, the organization endured.

Such loyalty, cohesion, and willpower!

So many recent events had caught Hydra’s core by surprise. Suddenly exposed, agents personally recruited by Fury—Natasha, and Barton, known as “Hawkeye”—were both Hydra. Moreover, following unknown orders, they had stolen the Cosmic Cube, forcing Hydra to accelerate certain plans.

While Hydra’s ranks scrambled to investigate, an even more explosive revelation stunned them further: Stark himself was Hydra, and this information came straight from Fury’s own lips.

Pierce, eavesdropping beside Fury at the time, relayed these words to Hydra’s branch leaders.

Suddenly, Hydra’s core felt as though they had already won.

Or rather, there was nothing left to fear.

Thus, when orders arrived from above, they were told to test Rogers, or at least to probe him for more critical information.

What if Rogers was Hydra too?

It wasn’t impossible.

According to their orders, though probing Rogers might expose their identities, there was little to fear—after all, S.H.I.E.L.D. was full of their own people. Even if captured, it wouldn’t matter. After a period of laying low, they would surface again under new identities, still lifelong soldiers of Hydra.

Hydra operatives closed in around Rogers.

To test his allegiance, as soon as they disembarked from the helicopter, the agents spoke a phrase every Hydra operative knew:

“Hail Hydra!”

But Rogers didn’t respond immediately. He paused for several seconds, making the lead Hydra agent frown, realizing things might not be so simple.

“Hail Hydra!” he repeated, altering his pronunciation slightly.

Rogers remained calm, meeting his gaze, and replied softly:

“Hail Hydra!”

The Hydra captain’s pupils contracted upon hearing Rogers’ reply. He noticed Rogers’ hesitation and his failure to detect the subtle shift in pronunciation.

It was obvious.

Rogers was not Hydra.

He wasn’t one of them at all.

The captain’s hand went to his gun.

“Captain, I may not be responsible for S.H.I.E.L.D.’s infiltration, but I am a loyal and cautious Hydra agent. You should study our greetings more carefully…”

He raised his weapon, aiming at Rogers. “You’re not Hydra.”

All around, Hydra operatives leveled their guns at Rogers, but the Captain remained unfazed, his expression blank as he replied:

“So, when Hill warned me to be careful, what was she really trying to say? Who is your handler?”

“Captain, do I look like a fool?” The Hydra leader tapped his chest. “Would I tell you who’s leading our infiltration?”

Rogers did not flinch.

“You’ve already told me everything I needed to know, idiot.”

...

On the other side, Nick Fury glanced at Hill, only to see Alexander Pierce entering the room.

“Fury, what now? You called me here in such a rush. I’m swamped organizing the investigation team.”

Pierce walked in and took a seat.

Fury watched him sit, turned to Hill, and prepared to confront her. He had just heard Rogers’ words himself.

“Hill, how much longer do you plan to keep up this charade?”

Alexander feigned confusion and stood. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Apparently you don’t know, Director. Hill is Hydra. She’s been exposed. I hope your review committee proves useful.”

Fury raised his voice.

Pierce was momentarily stunned by Fury’s sudden accusation, staring in disbelief before quickly recovering. “Wait, Hill is Hydra—well then, that settles it.”

He gestured, and agents outside the door immediately detained Hill.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she tells us everything.”

“I am the Director, after all!”

Fury’s eyes glittered with a strange light.

“And why shouldn’t I suspect you as well, Director?” he thought privately.

At this point, with no one left to trust, if everyone around him was Hydra, detaining Hill made no difference. Better to let Pierce handle it.

This way, he might have more chances to set his own traps.

This was strategy.

Spy within a spy within a spy!