The Baron Zemo in the movies is very different from the one in the comics.
First, he went from being a dyed-in-the-wool third-generation HYDRA member to a pioneer of anti-HYDRA, and from a supremacist to a staunch anti-supremacist.
His grasp of human nature and his views on superhumans are unique, and his methods are quite mature.
It just so happens that at this stage, Harry can provide what he wants. The best outcome is for him to honestly help Harry, and he will also be able to enjoy a happy family life.
"Cheer up, Baron. After this is resolved, Osborn can help you rebuild—guaranteeing everyone has a place to live." Harry patted Zemo on the shoulder.
It's no big deal. In a place like Sokovia, in terms of basic living, using Osborn's construction technology, we can guarantee everyone has affordable housing. The only thing to worry about is food, but they'll be able to get new technology from Alfheim soon enough.
Zemo didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
Osborn being willing to invest is certainly a good thing, but after being threatened like that, he couldn't feel happy at all.
"Fine, where do we start?" Zemo took the USB drive from Harry, completely giving up resistance—the key point being that he couldn't resist.
"Not bad, looks like you've gotten into the swing of things." Harry reached out his hand, and the holographic projection played Osborn's satellite footage. "Let's start with your family."
As mentioned earlier, Sokovia is HYDRA's base, so naturally, all officials and their families must be monitored.
Especially someone like Zemo, who doesn't belong directly to HYDRA but works under them.
Hearing this, Zemo looked at Harry.
"What? You don't think I'd just drag you into this without caring about your wife and children, do you?" Harry shrugged.
To be honest, Zemo really did have that anxiety.
After all, it's common in TV shows for the protagonist's assistant's family to be kidnapped back and forth, jumping between the protagonist and the villain, only to end up as sacrifices.
Harry doesn't claim to be a good guy, but he certainly won't let his subordinates become sacrifices.
Since his wife and children were mentioned, Zemo perked up—actually, he had considered this issue many times.
The plan was simple—"kill" them.
Zemo's family lived in a Villa outside the city, guarded in shifts by his elite assault team members.
But to be honest, these elite assault team members might also be HYDRA. Zemo couldn't be sure, or rather, he didn't dare to be sure. They were too close; it was better to remain oblivious.
Zemo's ideal plan was to hire a team of mercenaries to attack the house, kill everyone, and then take his family away.
Obviously, this plan was far too crude—could the mercenaries really beat those soldiers? Wouldn't his family be accidentally harmed? Wouldn't the mercenaries be caught and leak information?
Because of this, while he investigated HYDRA, he didn't take much action, and the subjects of his investigations were mostly foreign forces.
But now that Osborn is involved, it's different; there are many more options available.
A plan formed in Zemo's mind.
Zemo said: "I have a 'rival' in a neighboring country. He will hire soldiers to attack the residence, kill all the soldiers, and then take my family away."
"The elite assault team is very capable. I need support from Osborn—preferably a crushing victory. I built a safe room in the house, but that might not be safe either."
"This part is the most important; I hope that Osborn technology can solve this problem."
Harry nodded; that was a minor issue.
"Next, I want you to deal with those mercenaries and eliminate the evidence," Zemo said.
"What about your 'rival'?" Harry asked.
Zemo paused: "He's not a problem; you can spare his life."
Harry rubbed his chin. Sparing him seemed a bit troublesome, but Zemo didn't seem willing to kill him—perhaps he had some contingency plan.
In fact, even if he were killed, the whole thing would look very suspicious. Rival officials assassinating each other isn't rare in these places, but if the mercenaries are dead and the mastermind is also dead after the killing, that would be very strange.
Dealing with HYDRA could last for an unknown amount of time, and Harry still needed Zemo, a secret agent with no ties to Osborn, to assist from the shadows.
Harry thought for a moment and said: "This point involves too much. Let's try a different approach."
"There is a senator in the assembly who has ties to some arms companies—you should know him. He has always advocated for your independence. If we leak a little bit of your information, he will move on his own."
"Since we have his support, it would be normal for Hammer Industries to supply these mercenaries with some weapons."
Hammer Industries wasn't eventually dismantled into a ballpoint pen manufacturing company; instead, it was controlled by a few senators who used it for some small-scale arms business.
Of course, business hasn't been great in recent years.
Osborn can pretend to acquire Hammer Industries. Before selling, these senators will likely be unable to resist doing one last job, then raise the price to sell.
Attacking Zemo, instigating a war between the two countries, and then taking the opportunity to resell arms—this routine is almost engraved in their DNA.
Even if they didn't do it, Harry has the complete biological information of this senator on hand; framing them would be easy.
Hearing the word "senator," Zemo was stunned: "A United States Senator?"
Harry gave him a strange look: "Of course, a United States Senator."
Norman's control over the United States political scene is far deeper than the outside world imagines, and Harry himself feels amazed when he sees it—thanks to Norman's maneuvering, Harry has many pawns at his disposal.
Zemo silently closed his mouth—there were some things he didn't know, and this was a good opportunity to understand the strength of this person pulling the strings behind the scenes.
This senator hiring soldiers to attack Zemo also makes sense—provoking relations between the two countries, then waiting for an opportunity to sell arms.
However, this senator had long been fully recorded by ctOS; Norman kept him specifically to be used as a pawn for Harry.
"Then my father will uncover their corruption, they will be caught, and eventually, this matter will be investigated, which will serve as a good example for other countries."
Osborn can also take the opportunity to abandon the acquisition process.
HYDRA can follow the clues abroad to Zemo's informants, but they won't be able to act recklessly within the United States.
Besides, Norman has always been investigating corruption among senators, so this won't be too abrupt.
So, the final result will be that Baron Zemo of Sokovia's family was attacked by unknown Terrorists, the whole family unfortunately perished, and only partial remains were found.
And these remains are actually biological tissues cloned by Osborn.
The next day, Zemo caught this squad, discovered they were hired by a United States senator, and demanded an explanation from the United States.
Then, this senator was found to be colluding with Hammer Industries and involved in numerous illegal activities, was arrested, imprisoned, and sent to prison to serve his sentence.
Once they are in a federal prison covered by Osborn's surveillance, HYDRA won't be able to do anything.
Moreover, whether they can even detect this layer is a question.
"The plan is good, it's just..." Zemo had to admit that this plan was indeed more reliable, but it just made him feel...
"It's just a bit wasteful of senators." Harry shrugged, finishing what Zemo was about to say.
But two-legged senators are everywhere, and Harry can take the opportunity to support a new one.
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