Collecting his thoughts, Chen Mo walked toward the Red Skull's vehicle.
It was a six-wheeled armored coupe, a masterpiece of Hydra's top-tier black technology. Its pitch-black body exuded power and menace, its streamlined frame concealing both explosive speed and terrifying strength. Reinforced chassis, six-wheel drive—this was not just a car; it was a war machine.
Opening the door, Chen Mo climbed into the back seat, the Tesseract's wooden case and his long sword in hand. He pointed at a nearby soldier standing guard.
"You—soldier. Can you drive?"
The man's eyes gleamed with fanatical devotion—the unmistakable look of someone fully indoctrinated by Hydra. Hearing his leader's question, he straightened, shouting with enthusiasm:
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Mo nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Then drive. We're going back to base."
Having no idea where the base was, he leaned back comfortably while the soldier drove through the night, heading deep into the mountains of Norway.
Hydra's Norwegian base lay hidden within the southeastern slopes of the Scandinavian Mountains—a naturally fortified region, nearly impenetrable.
The vehicle followed a narrow forest road, almost invisible from the air, winding deeper and deeper until massive steel doors came into view. As the gates opened, the convoy entered the heart of Hydra's fortress.
When they arrived, Chen Mo stepped out, handing the box containing the Tesseract to the soldier.
"Take this to my office."
Carrying his sword, he followed another guard who led him through the concrete corridors to the Red Skull's personal office.
"Put it on the desk," Chen Mo ordered.
Then, with the Red Skull's low, authoritative tone, he studied the young man standing before him.
Tall, blond, and blue-eyed—a model Aryan soldier, brimming with zeal. The man's excitement at serving the great "Herr Schmidt" was written all over his face.
"Tell me your name, soldier."
"Johann Wolf, sir!" the young man answered loudly, nearly trembling with pride.
"Very good, Johann. From now on, you're my personal guard."
Chen Mo smiled faintly. Having someone to drive and guide him would make things easier. The man's blind loyalty was an asset—he wouldn't question any strange orders.
After dismissing the exhilarated soldier, Chen Mo turned to the piles of documents in the office and began reading.
Hours passed. Gradually, with the help of Johann Wolf's eager cooperation, Chen Mo pieced together the full picture of Hydra's organization—and its staggering power.
Originally founded as a secret scientific division under the Nazi regime, Hydra under Schmidt had evolved into something far greater—a vast network spanning research, intelligence, and mechanized warfare.
Its structure resembled a religious order more than a military unit. Every command came directly from the Red Skull, and no one dared disobey.
Hydra operated multiple bases across Europe—factories producing tanks, aircraft, and weapons far more advanced than anything the Allies possessed. The soldiers were fanatically devoted, fearless in combat.
But even so, Chen Mo knew the outcome. In the original storyline, Hydra's strongholds would eventually be destroyed—one by one—by Captain America and the Howling Commandos. That alone proved the terrifying power of the Super Soldier Serum.
Even without Captain America, the Allies would never have allowed Hydra to survive. The only difference would be how much blood was shed.
But Chen Mo had no intention of repeating the Red Skull's madness. He was not Schmidt. He had no dreams of conquering the world.
For him, this was temporary—a mission to grow stronger, to prepare for the dangers waiting in his own reality.
He knew that Nazi Germany's defeat was inevitable. So rather than be crushed along with Hydra, he would reshape it—bend it to his own will.
In Hydra's command center, Chen Mo studied a large map of Norway pinned to the wall.
The country stretched narrow and long across the north of Europe, with rugged mountains and endless coastline. Small population, simple politics, and rich geography—it was the perfect ground for a hidden empire.
The Scandinavian Mountains ran the length of the country, steep and partially glaciated. The western side plunged sharply into the Atlantic, full of fjords and natural tunnels—ideal for secrecy and defense.
Chen Mo decided to abandon most of Hydra's existing bases, keeping only three of the most secret and strategically valuable ones, including the Alpine headquarters. Then, he would build a new base—one deeper, larger, and completely hidden.
This new Hydra fortress would be carved inside a northern mountain, over 1,800 meters tall, its west face overlooking the fjords. Inside, hundreds of meters of rock would shield the installation. It would feature hidden submarine docks beneath the cliffs, concealed air tunnels carved into the rock, and several underground passages stretching for miles for personnel and supplies.
A city beneath the mountain—Hydra's new heart.
Construction began in total secrecy. Resources and equipment were moved north. Handpicked teams of scientists, engineers, and soldiers disappeared from other sites, vanishing into the mountain's depths to begin work.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo met with Hydra's chief scientist, Dr. Arnim Zola, the biologist and mechanical genius who had long served under the Red Skull—and who was now unwittingly serving him.
"Have all the instruments been delivered, Dr. Zola?" Chen Mo asked coolly from behind the Red Skull's desk.
"Y-yes, Herr Schmidt," Zola stammered nervously. "The equipment for studying the Tesseract has arrived, and the rest will be here soon."
He couldn't shake the feeling that something about his superior had changed. The "Schmidt" before him seemed colder, more unpredictable than ever.
"Good. Then begin your research immediately. I want results soon. Don't make me wait."
The tone sent a chill down Zola's spine.
"Y-yes, of course, Herr Schmidt. I'll start at once!"
As he turned to leave, Chen Mo pushed the wooden box toward him.
"Don't forget this."
The scientist froze, then gingerly picked up the box as if it contained the wrath of the gods.
Watching him go, Chen Mo allowed himself a quiet sigh.
Maybe I overdid the act, he thought. He looks like he's about to faint.
He had tried storing the Tesseract in his personal space earlier, but it refused to enter—its own spatial energy far exceeded his ability to contain it. Researching it safely would have to fall to Zola.
After all, in the original timeline, Zola had successfully harnessed its energy to create powerful energy weapons.
Once the doctor left, Chen Mo picked up another folder lying on the desk.
Across the cover, bold letters spelled out:
"Super Soldier Program."
He stared at it for a long moment.
This—more than anything—was the key to his survival when he returned to his own world.