"Indeed, Dreykov trusted me," Melina said calmly with a nod. However, that trust had been earned through years of service, completing countless missions for him. In exchange, her hands were stained with the blood of innocents, including children who had died under brutal training regimens while she could do nothing but watch.
She would have preferred never to have gained that trust.
Unlike Natasha, Melina had never been brave enough to escape. After Natasha fled, guilt and shame gnawed at her countless times. But now, things were different. The demon—Dreykov—was dead, and the nightmare that had haunted her for so long had finally dissipated. She could now confront her past with a sense of calm.
Leon smiled, giving a knowing nod to Natasha, who placed a tablet in front of Melina. She hesitated for a moment but took it, her expression doubtful. As she reviewed the confidential information displayed, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
"You took over his scientific research team? And the Sky Fortress Project is 80% complete?" she asked, astonishment in her voice.
Leon nodded. "Yes. Ms. Melina, are you willing to take over this team? I need someone who can supervise it, and I believe you've had contact with them before."
Indeed, it was the Sky Fortress Project. After using Wanda's chaos magic to alter Dreykov's will, Leon had seized his gray assets and scientific research division. With the acquisition of Sky Blade No. 7, he entrusted Keisha to advance the Sky Fortress technology.
Sky Blade, originating from a high-tech civilization far more advanced than Earth's, made the Sky Fortress seem almost trivial in comparison. As a result, the initial estimate of four to five years for the fortress's completion had been shortened to just six months—or even less.
The Sky Fortress was intended to serve as a foundation for cultivating future forces, a critical piece in Leon's long-term plans. Sky Blade had always been his hidden trump card, and he had no intention of involving Wanda or anyone else with it. Even if he gained access to Merlot Heaven later, he planned to keep those powers completely separate from Earth.
Leon's plan was simple: use Earth as a springboard to build strength and, in the future, create a kingdom similar to Asgard. However, he intended to keep the angelic civilization, which he had control over through the Sky Blade No. 7, secret and independent.
On the surface, two massive forces would appear unrelated, but behind the scenes, both would be controlled by Leon. In time, a new kingdom, comparable to Asgard, would rise to face the universe, while the Sky Blade No. 7—and eventually the angelic civilization—would act as another transcendent power.
As the Sign-in system's rewards became more powerful and the angel civilization was perfected, Leon's sights would shift to new targets.
The so called "Angels" of this universe. He preferred the term birdmen for them.
The resources in Heaven's dimension were vast, and Leon planned for the angelic civilization to one day replace the birdmen and take control. This was another of his hidden cards.
Since the appearance of Sky Blade No. 7, Leon had adjusted and refined his future plans. But these ambitions were kept entirely to himself, buried deep within. Not even Natasha, Wanda, or anyone else he trusted knew the full extent of his vision. These hidden cards would only be revealed when a new crisis emerged.
As a wise man once said, amateurs chase the sun and get burned. Power stays in the shadows.
In the chaos of the cosmos, playing it safe was essential. One wrong move and he could easily be swallowed by an unknown threat. Caution was second nature to him, ingrained deeply in his character.
As for Melina, she had no idea of Leon's broader strategy. From her perspective, being entrusted with the scientific research team was a significant gesture of trust.
From Melina's perspective, Dreykov's scientific research team was a highly valuable asset, cultivated over many years with immense resources. Even a billionaire might not have access to such a team, but Leon had entrusted it to her.
Taking a deep breath, Melina nodded. "I'm willing to manage this team."
"That's great. I believe the Sky Fortress will soon become one of our key trump cards," Leon said, giving the impression of issuing casual instructions. "In addition, the team is working on a new technology that deserves special attention."
"New technology?" everyone asked, puzzled.
"Yes," Leon continued. "I found this technology in an incomplete set of technical drawings from a secret Hydra database. It's artificial intelligence."
"Artificial intelligence?" The group was stunned.
"That's right. According to the data, if fully developed, AI technology could lead the world's technological frontier. It could play an immeasurably important role for us, especially when integrated into Sky Fortress to assist its operations."
What Leon referred to as "AI" was actually Keisha from Sky Blade. Developing advanced artificial intelligence was not only feasible but easy for Sky Blade No. 7, capable of surpassing even Tony Stark's famed Jarvis.
But how could any artificial intelligence compare to Keisha? With the development of AI and futuristic technologies, Leon didn't need to over-explain. He could simply attribute advancements to the AI and move on.
"I understand," Melina said thoughtfully. "Sky Fortress is impressive, but to keep it flying for extended periods, it requires a powerful energy source. The current engines need constant replacement to activate the energy core, and that's costly."
Leon nodded in agreement. Dreykov's Sky Fortress, while advanced for human technology, had its shortcomings—especially when it came to sustaining flight, which required immense energy. Even with turbine engines and anti-gravity tech, the resources it consumed were a significant financial burden, even for Leon.
Natasha thought for a moment before chiming in, "I remember that Stark Industries developed a massive Ark reactor. The power it generates is substantial and could probably sustain Sky Fortress for a long time."
"But that technology is the Stark Group's core secret. It won't be easy to get our hands on it," she added.
"Leave that to me," Alexei interrupted, pounding his chest with confidence. "That playboy Stark? I'll beat him until he hands it over."
"Tony is missing," Yelena said, rolling her eyes. "Who exactly are you going to fight?"
"Wait, missing?" Alexei's fierce expression quickly turned to confusion.