Chapter 51 51: A String of Good News
Taking over the Red Room wasn't particularly difficult.
After the 1990s, due to certain political changes, the spy organization that had originally been under government control was disbanded.
Without government funding, the Red Room should have dissolved as well.
But Dreykov saw the opportunity clearly. He took control of the Red Room, seized all its assets, technology, personnel, bases, and records, and completely privatized the organization.
With Neagley using her ability to access all of Dreykov's memories, and with Natasha—the insider who had defected—taking over the Red Room became a natural outcome.
However, the process took time.
A full month passed before everything was thoroughly cleaned up and fully absorbed.
The main reason was the sheer scale of Dreykov's network—it spanned the entire world.
While it didn't quite reach the level of his boast—
that a single command could crash global stock markets and oil prices, or plunge a quarter of the world into famine—
there was certainly some exaggeration in that claim.
Even so, after sorting through the assets, the results were astonishing.
It could easily be described as a top-tier global underground empire.
Dreykov controlled portions of global oil, natural gas, food supply chains, and arms companies, along with offshore finance operations and black-market money laundering networks.
There were hundreds of offshore shell companies, with hidden accounts spread across Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and South America.
Liquid assets alone exceeded 8 billion dollars.
The total estimated value of all assets reached around 30 billion dollars.
And this was only 2007.
Even a top global billionaire like Tony Stark had a net worth of only around 20 billion at this time.
There were also twelve underground safe houses and training facilities across the world.
A force of 120 active, fully trained Black Widows, along with young trainees still undergoing training in the Red Room—many of whom had already been placed across various countries, infiltrating political and business circles.
In addition, there was a scientific research team, security forces, and an established network of connections.
All of it was valuable, functional assets.
Money, manpower—everything was in place.
However, the Black Widows who had been recalled, as well as the young trainees, would require careful handling.
The younger ones were easier to deal with. But the fully trained Black Widows were no longer ordinary people.
They were completely disconnected from normal society—like soldiers who had spent years on the battlefield, unable to reintegrate into civilian life after retirement.
Matthew wasn't like Dreykov, a heartless exploiter.
His principle was simple—everything should be voluntary.
Those unwilling to stay would have their memories altered by Neagley, be given money, and sent away.
Those willing to remain would be able to enjoy real benefits.
...
Aside from that, the past month of extreme training had brought another surge in Matthew's strength.
His raw physical power alone had surpassed 500 tons.
All three forms of Haki had stabilized at an advanced level and even improved further.
Although there was still some distance from the very top, his overall strength had undergone a major leap—he was now only a step away from reaching Admiral-level power.
The good news didn't stop there. Neagley also brought new information.
They had found the Black super soldier—Isaiah Bradley.
This meant that once his blood was obtained, a new version of the Super Soldier Serum without side effects could soon be developed.
Matthew left Yakut. His training progress had slowed—the extreme environment and water pressure there were no longer as effective after his physical growth.
He needed greater pressure—or high-intensity combat.
After leaving, he boarded a transport aircraft and headed for a forest in Minsk Region, Belarus.
There, deep within the woods, stood a girls' boarding school—
the State Ballet Academy.
Located about fifty kilometers south of the capital, Minsk, it was hidden deep within a dense forest, on what had once been abandoned Soviet military site.
This was the headquarters of the Red Room.
...
Afternoon.
The weather was unusually pleasant today, with rare sunlight breaking through. On the open ground behind the school—
Natasha, Reacher, and a mature, strikingly beautiful woman stood at the front. Behind them, more than a hundred young women—each with exceptional looks and physique—stood in neat formation, waiting.
Everyone wore padded winter coats, making them appear slightly bulky. For people trained to remain constantly alert and combat-ready, this would normally be a major disadvantage.
But here, they were safe. There was no need to sacrifice warmth.
"No need to be nervous, Melina. The boss is a good person."
Noticing the unease of the woman beside her, Natasha spoke to reassure her.
"I'm just curious," Melina replied with a smile and a nod.
Even as she said that, she felt as though everything happening now was unreal.
Melina was also a Black Widow.
She had graduated a class before Natasha and had worked under Dreykov for many years. She had never imagined that the man she once considered the most terrifying person in the world would die so easily.
Nor had she ever imagined that the Red Room would be overthrown and dismantled.
Like Natasha, she had dreamed countless times of leaving the Red Room and living a normal life—but she had always known it was nothing more than a fantasy.
The Red Room was a devouring hell. People entered—but no one ever left.
And yet now, someone had actually done it.
From what Natasha had told her, the one responsible for all this was a young man not even twenty years old.
Melina felt both curiosity and unease.
Fortunately, she had witnessed firsthand the changes Natasha and Reacher had implemented after taking over the Red Room. The brutal training methods had been halted immediately.
The guards loyal to Dreykov had been eliminated without hesitation, while the remaining soldiers were brought under control.
The younger children no longer had to wake early for training and study. They could sleep in, enjoy proper meals, and as long as they didn't leave the Red Room, they were given ample freedom.
They could even watch television, play games, and more.
Melina saw that the children were no longer filled with fear or anxiety. Instead, they wore bright, carefree smiles—something she hadn't seen in a very long time.
The life she had once only imagined had become reality.
And not just for her—the Black Widows standing behind her felt the same.
They, too, were waiting.
Waiting for their future.
"He's here."
At that moment, Reacher suddenly spoke, lifting his head to look at the sky.
Melina, Natasha, and the other Black Widows instinctively followed his gaze.
In the once-clear blue sky, a brilliant golden point of light had appeared.
And it was rapidly growing larger.
Like a golden meteor, its radiance couldn't be concealed even by the sunlight as it descended swiftly toward the ground.
Under the confused and guarded gazes of everyone present—
the "meteor" fell rapidly, landing right in front of them.
As countless golden particles burst and scattered, Matthew's figure emerged.
Black hair, a black coat, jeans, and Martin boots. A youthful, refined face—and an air of authority.
At close range, one could feel the overwhelming presence emanating from his upright frame—a pressure so intense it was almost suffocating.
Fortunately, the sensation passed in an instant.
Others might have dismissed it as an illusion—but not Natasha, not Melina, and not the other Black Widows.
Transforming into a beam of golden light and descending from tens of thousands of meters in the blink of an eye—
no matter how one looked at it, this young man possessed terrifying, extraordinary power.
His first appearance became a moment none of them would ever forget.