HellFire's Rider Of Vengeances

Chapter Six: Looking into the abyss

                    In a salvage yard on the African coast, the sun beat down relentlessly on a sprawling complex of rusted metal and discarded machinery. Inside a building, men worked tirelessly, salvaging parts from stolen vehicles. The air was thick with the smell of oil and sweat, the sound of clanging metal echoing through the space. In a small, cluttered office, Klaue paced back and forth, a phone pressed to his ear. "Don't tell me your man swindled you. I sent you six short-range heat seekers and got a boat full of rusted parts. Now, you will make it right, or the next missile I send will come much faster," he threatened, his voice cold and menacing. He ended the call abruptly and immediately connected to another. "Now, minister, where were we?" Klaue asked, his tone shifting to one of feigned politeness. Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out, plunging the building into darkness. A wave of confusion and panic swept through the salvage yard. Klaue's hand instinctively reached for the gun in his desk drawer. He scanned the room, his eyes straining to see in the dim light. He caught a glimpse of movement and fired, but to his shock, the bullet reappeared on his desk as if by magic.

                    Out of the shadows, two figures emerged, their presence unmistakable. "Strucker's prize pupils," Klaue said with a twisted smile, utterly unfazed by their sudden appearance. He picked up a dish of candies from his desk and offered it to them. "Want a candy? Oh, sorry to hear about Strucker. But then, he knew what kind of world he was helping create. Human life, not a growth market," he explained, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. The twins exchanged a look of confusion. "You... you didn't know? Is this your first time intimidating someone? I'm afraid that I'm not that afraid," Klaue taunted, his confidence unwavering.

                    Wanda stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Everybody's afraid of something," she said, her voice low and threatening.

                    "Cuttlefish. Deep sea fish. They make lights. Disco lights. Whoom, whoom, whoom! To hypnotize their prey, then whoom!" Klaue said, using his hands to mimic the movements of a cuttlefish. "I saw a documentary. It was terrifying," he admitted, a hint of genuine fear in his voice. Pietro sped over to the desk, snatching a candy with lightning speed. Klaue flinched at the sudden movement but quickly regained his composure. "So if you're going to fiddle with my brain and make me see a giant cuttlefish, then I know you don't do business, and I know you're not in charge. I only deal with the man in charge," he explained, his eyes darting around the room.

                   As if on cue, Ultron crashed through the glass window, sending shards flying. He knocked Klaue to the ground with a single, powerful blow. "There is no 'man' in charge," Ultron spat, his voice filled with contempt. He bent down, his face inches from Klaue's. "Let's talk business," he said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

                    Minutes later, one of Klaue's men heaved open a shipping container, revealing barrels of toxic waste stacked haphazardly inside. As the men worked, the floor of the container began to descend, revealing a hidden room below, filled to the brim with Vibranium. The precious metal gleamed under the dim light, a stark contrast to the grimy surroundings. Klaue stepped forward, a greedy glint in his eye, and grabbed a small container of Vibranium. He handed it to Ultron with a flourish. "Upon this rock, I will build my church... Vibranium," Ultron declared, his voice reverberating with a mechanical echo. He tossed the container to Pietro, who caught it effortlessly.

                  "You know, it came at great personal cost. It's worth billions," Klaue said, his fingers brushing the brand on his neck, a reminder of the price he had paid.