Chapter 462
Most con artists knew better than to brag about how well they were doing.
They preferred tragedy.
Dad was dead. Mom was dying. The whole family had somehow been wiped off the map. The story would be crafted to tug at every heartstring until even the most cautious listener reached for their wallet.
After all, if you told someone you were wealthy, successful, and surrounded by luxury, why would they give you money?
They’d probably ask you for some instead.
That was why Malik had questioned Evenson’s motives.
Under Evenson’s deliberate presentation, Umbrella was almost absurdly powerful. An organization with that kind of strength could accomplish whatever it wanted on its own. Why would it need a partner?
And Evenson couldn’t exactly play the helpless victim, either. If you were too weak, why would anyone want you as a partner?
That was the trap.
Too strong, and people assumed they had nothing to offer you. Too weak, and they assumed you were useless.
So Evenson had prepared a third option.
Umbrella would bring the money.
"I’d say that’s a very reasonable question."
Evenson didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he leaned back and regarded Malik calmly.
"People encounter things they don’t understand all the time. Take your organization, for example. I still don’t understand why you worship the Hive. From what I know, he spent a considerable portion of his history as a slave to the Kree."
"A slave?"
Malik’s expression barely changed.
"What better origin story could a god have?"
There was something timeless about that kind of story. The fallen nobody who was cast aside, suffered humiliation, rose from the bottom, and eventually became something greater than anyone imagined.
People loved those stories.
Malik clearly did, too.
Whether that belief had been drilled into him since childhood or whether he simply needed Evenson’s help to bring Hive back to Earth, he continued without hesitation.
"Our ancestors believed that ultimate power came from beyond this world. That’s why we’ve spent generations sending people there. We wanted to rescue that great being, or serve him until the day he could return. Once he came back, we would rule the world together."
"Rule."
Evenson raised one finger, stopping Malik in the middle of his explanation.
"That’s the important word."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You’re not a selfless believer, Mr. Malik. Your faith is a transaction. Worshipping Hive and rescuing him are merely the means. What you actually want is world domination."
Malik’s eyes flickered.
That was about the extent of his reaction.
Stephanie, however, looked horrified.
She stared at Evenson, then slowly turned toward her father.
"Interesting."
Malik’s lips twitched. After a moment, he managed a faint smile.
"In all these years, you’re the first person who’s ever summarized our objective that way."
He glanced at Stephanie’s worried expression.
"And you’ve summarized it perfectly."
"Father!"
Stephanie shot to her feet, anger and disbelief fighting in her voice.
"That’s not what you taught me!"
Evenson gave a quiet laugh and glanced at her before looking back at Malik.
"Don’t tell me she actually believed all that nonsense about faith."
"Young people..."
Malik avoided his daughter’s accusing stare and shifted slightly in his seat.
"They tend to have unrealistic ideas. Sometimes they develop a rather grand sense of purpose, too."
He sighed.
"As her father, I didn’t see much point in crushing those ideals while they were still doing her some good. Eventually she’ll grow older, experience the world for herself, and leave those fantasies behind."
Stephanie went still.
Then she slowly sank back onto the couch.
She really had believed.
When she was young, Malik had taught her Hydra’s entire history. He had told her that Hive was the origin of Hydra, that he was the organization’s most important figure, and that one day they would bring him back.
To Stephanie, Hive wasn’t merely a leader.
He was a god.
Now, in a single conversation, that entire foundation had collapsed.
Hive was indeed vital to Hydra.
But not because he was a deity worthy of worship.
He was the key to Hydra’s plan to rule the world.
Hydra would rescue Hive from the other world, and Hive would give Hydra the power it needed to seize the world.
That was all it was.
A transaction.
"Exactly. It’s a transaction."
Malik no longer bothered hiding it.
"But isn’t that what most faith ultimately becomes?"
He spread his hands slightly.
"People pray for good fortune, health, protection, or a better life after death. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting those things."
His expression hardened.
"But eventually, people start treating faith like a shortcut. They ignore the rules, ignore the teachings, ignore everything their supposed god actually asks of them, then expect a few prayers and offerings to solve every problem in their lives."
He gave a small, humorless smile.
"And when nothing happens, they blame the god for failing them."
Evenson raised an eyebrow.
"Very pragmatic."
He smiled.
"I like pragmatic people."
Then he finally answered the question Malik had originally asked.
"You wanted to know why I chose to cooperate with Hydra. Now I can give you the answer."
Malik immediately leaned forward, listening intently.
Evenson spoke without hesitation.
"Because our goals are aligned."
Malik inhaled slowly.
He considered that for several seconds before nodding with an almost understanding expression.
"I see. Ruling the world is a dream shared by plenty of people. Who wouldn’t want to sit on the throne of the world?"
He paused.
Then his expression became completely sincere.
"But that throne is only big enough for one person, isn’t it?"
The room fell quiet.
Minor interests could be negotiated. Peripheral territories could be divided. Both sides could compromise when necessary.
Core interests were different.
Neither side could simply surrender the thing they wanted most.
Malik had no reason to pretend otherwise. He wasn’t going to insult Evenson’s intelligence by claiming that the throne of the world could somehow be split neatly in half.
So he said it plainly.
"You want the throne of the world?"
Malik looked directly at Evenson.
"Then go ahead and sit on it."
His smile was thin.
"We have absolutely no interest in it."