Perhaps it was because of his position of power, his personality, or his confidence in the military support behind him, but General Ross continued to speak forcefully, even after witnessing Natasha's formidable strength with his own eyes.
This amused Natasha.
She had a good temper—or at least, she wasn't irritated by General Ross's tone. To her, his posture came across more like that of an amusing clown.
Natasha glanced around at the large group of soldiers, their guns trained on her. The sight reminded Hulk of his own experience of being hunted by so many people and weapons, and a fierce light flickered in his eyes.
But because of Natasha, he refrained from choosing to lash out in a violent rampage.
Natasha shifted her gaze to Ross and the worried woman standing beside him. Tilting her head slightly, she spoke in a calm tone:
"I admire your character, General Ross, judging by your attitude toward me. Even now, you remain steadfast. Your military career has clearly forged a strong, iron-blooded temperament."
She continued, "You possess enough tenacity and conviction to face any situation, and as a result, the soldiers under your command seem to reflect those same qualities."
"But I'm always tough and would never find myself in your position. So, is that acceptable?"
"Or is it just habitual arrogance?"
"Maybe both."
"It's not about that, ma'am. I need you to hand over the Abomination, and we have to take the Hulk. They're military matters," Ross said, attempting to interrupt Natasha, only to be interrupted more forcefully by her.
"There's no need to put on an act, General Ross. As a spy, I've mastered the art of reading expressions and understanding psychology. Now, I can also sense specific emotions."
She continued sharply, "For instance, your soldiers are extremely nervous. And you—despite your tough exterior—are harboring a nervous heart at this very moment."
Her words cut through the tension, making Ross's face darken as he glared at her.
"Madam, you must realize that your actions here are a direct provocation of the U.S. military."
"Frankly, I don't care about your American military," Natasha replied coldly. "If you're relying on these soldiers, then—"
Before she could finish, her bright eyes turned piercing. In an instant, a terrifying and overwhelming force of sheer dominance erupted from her, radiating outwards in a red wave. It swept through the area, striking like a tempest.
Under this immense pressure, every soldier present froze. Their eyes went blank, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground like cut straw, completely unconscious.
In the aftermath of her display, only a handful of individuals near Natasha remained unaffected by the wave of dominance.
Ross, overwhelmed by the sheer power, stood in shock, watching helplessly as his soldiers lay scattered and incapacitated.
Betty and Hulk looked on, visibly shaken, while Bloody Mary gazed at Natasha with an expression of fanatical admiration.
This girl was clearly recalling the man she had longed for that night in the Kingpin Building, demonstrating his overwhelming, commanding power in the same way.
"Is this a demonstration? Or a provocation against the U.S. military? Are you planning to start a war with us?" General Ross asked, his voice deep, as he struggled to suppress the turmoil brewing in his heart.
Despite his unease, Ross refused to back down, still attempting to appeal to the authority of the United States. However, to Natasha, his words came off as crude and clumsy.
"You're really irritating," Natasha said bluntly, stepping closer to Ross. "If you weren't Bruce Banner's father-in-law, I might not kill you outright, but you'd certainly end up a vegetable."
Though she was slightly shorter than Ross, Natasha's aura was commanding, radiating the majesty of a ruler and utterly eclipsing his presence. Even Ross, staring at the woman before him, couldn't suppress the growing tension in his heart.
"I'll say this only once," Natasha continued, her voice calm but laced with authority. "I have no interest in your army or your country. The only reason I'm here is because your resources are substantial enough to provide me with the enjoyment I seek. And for that, I've paid my dues. But—"
She paused, her gaze sharpening.
"You shouldn't expect me to be like the average American, bowing down obediently to your so-called free will."
"There are few people who can influence my will—my family among them. But you? You don't make the cut. Believe me, General, you don't want to provoke me, and certainly not the family behind me."
Her tone grew colder as she added, "Here's a piece of advice for you: if you ever think of pursuing us or harboring malicious intentions, you'd better first consider whether you can endure the consequences of our wrath. If you think you can conceal your schemes from us, by all means, try. But don't expect to walk away unscathed."
Natasha's words were direct, cold, and uncompromising, laced with subtle double meanings. They weren't just directed at Ross—they were a declaration to the entire United States, perhaps even to the world, delivered through him.
The sheer weight of her words left Ross stunned. He was so shocked that, for a moment, he couldn't find anything to say.
What unsettled him the most, however, was the creeping realization that this woman might not be bluffing. The unwavering confidence in her eyes told him as much.
In Canada, before coming here, she had displayed an incomprehensible level of power, effortlessly crushing the Abomination—a being he had regarded as one of the most formidable superweapons.
Her destructive capabilities were undeniable, with visible damage to the terrain standing as a testament to her might.
Considering the strength she had shown so far, Ross couldn't think of a single viable way to counter her. Large-scale tactical offensives? Laughable. The hundreds of soldiers present had been incapacitated without even meeting her gaze.
What was the range of her abilities? What was their upper limit? He had no answers.
Her reaction speed, explosive strength, and the potential for devastating long-range attacks made even conventional warfare seem pointless. That left only unconventional measures.
Biochemical weapons? Nuclear strikes?
But deploying those came with catastrophic consequences. The "one thousand wounds to the enemy, two thousand to oneself" scenario was unavoidable. And to make matters worse, she seemed capable of opening portals.
If they resorted to launching a nuclear strike and she simply escaped through a portal, leaving them to face the fallout alone, it would be nothing short of devastating.
And this was just Natasha. Her words suggested that there was a family backing her—an implication far more terrifying.
They are all such monsters. No wonder she is so confident and capable of directly disregarding the most powerful country in the world—the United States.
Upon realizing this, Ross understood that his plan was doomed to fail.