Once the encirclement operation began, the four agencies did not recklessly rush into S.H.I.E.L.D. with guns blazing.
Doing so would only trigger violent clashes and devolve into a chaotic firefight.
That was never the objective.
A sudden gun battle would cause panic among civilians unaware of the situation and could even push Hydra into taking hostages.
The real plan was far more methodical—
Gradually tightening the encirclement.
Like a spider weaving layer upon layer of web, the containment began from the outer perimeter and slowly closed inward.
Large numbers of portable micro-computers were used to verify identities in real time.
Anyone flagged as suspicious—even civilians—was immediately detained.
Even if a Hydra agent slipped through the first layer, they would be intercepted by the second line of agents and assault teams.
Failing that, the third and fourth layers—positioned at different angles—would continue tracking and capturing targets.
Every operative involved wore a positioning tracker.
Anyone who removed or disabled it would be immediately classified as Hydra and arrested.
Those who allowed Hydra agents to escape would be placed under suspicion themselves—and if irregularities appeared again, they would be detained without hesitation.
If Hydra still managed to escape under such conditions—
Then at least everything possible had been done.
Faced with such an airtight net, Hydra's mid- and upper-level operatives quickly realized the truth:
This operation was aimed directly at them.
Those foolish enough to confront the four agencies head-on were either dropped on the spot by tranquilizer rounds or swarmed and beaten unconscious by sheer numbers.
The rest could only submit alongside genuine S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and undergo investigation.
One S.H.I.E.L.D. branch after another fell.
Large numbers of personnel were taken into custody.
"1,221 confirmed Hydra operatives.
3,281 suspects.
Only 2,124 agents verified as clean."
Lucas glanced at the continuously rising numbers on the screen and sneered.
"At this point, S.H.I.E.L.D. might as well be renamed S.N.A.K.E.L.D."
Nick Fury's brow was deeply furrowed.
He had expected Hydra infiltration—but not to this extent.
And this was America, the region under his strictest control.
Soon, disturbances began erupting even within headquarters.
Small explosions, internal chaos, emergency alerts—
Watching the surveillance feeds filled with disorder made Fury's mood sink further.
And to make matters worse—
Everyone in the room was someone he absolutely could not offend.
Boom!
Suddenly, the floor of the director's office shook violently.
Objects on the desk visibly shifted.
"So someone's stupid enough to try and kidnap me," Lucas remarked calmly.
On the monitors, several squads were seen regrouping, blasting open sealed doors, and charging straight toward the director's office.
Under normal circumstances, Fury would already be preparing an escape route.
But now?
There was a demon sitting right here.
If Lucas couldn't stop them, then there was nowhere left to run.
Two full assault teams quickly reached the floor outside the office.
Even with biometric locks and security doors, their explosives and tools tore through defenses one after another.
Boom!
The intelligent lock failed.
The reinforced security door was blown open.
"Director, we need you to—"
The large-built lead operative froze the moment he saw Lucas.
"Shit!"
He spun around and ran.
After all—who in S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know who Lucas was?
If you didn't run now, when would you?
"Stop," Lucas said calmly.
All twelve Hydra assault operatives froze mid-step.
"Bind yourselves. I don't feel like moving," Lucas continued.
They exchanged glances.
The one closest to the stairwell suddenly burst forward at full speed.
Before anyone else could react—
A flash of light.
Thud.
The man stiffened, then collapsed to the floor.
A hole was visible in his head.
The remaining eleven Hydra operatives shuddered.
Two of them, who had been entertaining the same thought, felt their legs go weak.
Without another word, they pulled zip-ties from their kits and began restraining one another.
"Sit in that corner. Stay quiet," Lucas ordered.
The eleven Hydra agents shuffled to the corner and sat down obediently, heads lowered like children who'd just been scolded.
Nick Fury burst out laughing.
It was the first time he had ever seen Hydra—arrogant, untouchable Hydra—reduced to mice staring at a dinosaur.
What made it even better was that more Hydra agents kept trying the same thing.
They stormed into the director's office through the now-clear path—
Only to join the others quietly in the corner moments later.
Roughly twenty minutes later, over a hundred Hydra operatives were sitting inside the office.
If not for the room's size, it wouldn't have been able to hold them all.
"Hey, I caught a few Hydra guys—should I—"
Tony Stark arrived in his armor… and froze.
The office floor was packed.
"Over there. You know the drill," Tony said, tossing his captives into the pile.
Then he turned to Lucas, puzzled.
"When did you capture this many Hydra agents?"
"They came to me voluntarily," Lucas replied lazily, legs crossed.
"I believe you," Tony said without hesitation.
The Hydra agents he'd just captured had been defiant a moment ago—
But the instant they saw Lucas, they behaved like ostriches, heads down and silent.
Captain America, Hawkeye, Natasha, and Falcon arrived shortly after—and were equally stunned.
Falcon—Sam Wilson—had only recently been recruited into the Avengers and had rushed over after helping Cap deal with Hydra elsewhere.
This was his first time seeing Lucas in person.
He hadn't expected that Lucas wouldn't even need to lift a finger to suppress Hydra.
Captain America had always been Sam's idol—
But now, his loyalty was beginning to… wobble.
Lucas glanced at the clock.
4:32 p.m.
Less than twenty-eight minutes until Carrie got out of school.
"Alright," Lucas said, standing up casually.
"Take these guys away and clean things up."
"Don't make me late for picking Carrie up from school."