Chapter 1297 - Ch: 62-72

Chapter 62: Convincing Coulson

Maria's hand slid off her gun, her lips trembling. Jackson's face was white as paper, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"Three million… people?" Maria's voice shook.

Coulson said nothing.

He stood rooted, as if frozen.

A few seconds later he slowly closed his eyes; when they opened again, something inside them had shattered—the faith built over twenty years of service.

"So those 'killed in the line of duty'… those reassigned comrades… it wasn't alien infiltration—they were 'impurities' on HYDRA's purge list?"

Natasha nodded. "Including Fury. If he's still alive, he's number one on that list."

"It's not murder," Coulson finally answered Maria, voice dry yet chilling. "It's forcing the World to its knees. Whoever won't kneel, dies."

He shot to his feet, his wounded leg making him sway, but he refused the table… and stood firm.

He walked straight to the painting on the wall.

In it, a young Captain America smiled… a clean smile, as though the evil he'd defeated had vanished forever.

Coulson pressed a corner of the frame.

Click!

The painting slid aside, revealing a safe behind it.

"Fury's contingency." He entered the code, voice calm now, yet molten beneath. "After the Battle of New Yorkhe told me: 'If S.H.I.E.L.D. ever rots from the root, open this.'"

The lock disengaged and the door popped open.

Inside sat two neat rows of old-school communicators, black and solid-looking.

Deeper in, a silver case.

"Protocol End-of-Days." Coulson grabbed three communicators and tossed them to Natasha and Angela. "Seventeen people, worldwide. Fury hand-picked them over twenty years—absolutely clean. These are off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s grid."

He opened the silver case: dozens of silver chips glittered.

"Raw records of every op." Coulson pinched one, studying it two seconds. "Deleted, altered, never filed—it's all here. How HYDRA infiltrated, the proof is inside."

He paused, then slammed a fist into the safe door!

Bang!

The metal rang, echoing through the Underground Room.

"Twenty-odd years…" Coulson grated. "I worked twenty-odd years for my parents' killer."

Natasha closed her fist around the chip.

"We need the real Fury," she said. "Only he can take Pierce down publicly."

Coulson sat again, kneading his injured leg, movements sharp. "I know several of Fury's hideouts. 'Providence Base'… built secretly after New York, off every record. 'The Sandbox' in the African desert, 'The Fridge' at the North Pole, 'The Slingshot' Base shoots dangerous items into the Sun."

He counted on his fingers. "Fifty-plus safe houses in Washington, all retrofitted three-bedrooms. And an EDU emergency site."

Then he shook his head. "Pierce likely knows those. If Fury really wants to hide…"

"He'll pick somewhere no one imagines," Natashafinished.

Angela's pale eyes flickered. "Like… K'un-Lun?"

Coulson blinked. "The legend in the Himalayas? That's a myth."

"Fury believes myths." Natasha shrugged. "His office is crammed with occult tomes, half on K'un-Lun. Its energy field would blind every sensor… Pierce could dig forever and find nothing."

"Then we start with K'un-Lun." Natasha tucked the chip into a pocket. "But first we find the Captain. Steve Rogerssaw Fury 'die'; he'll be reeling. We need him with us."

"Captain won't be easy," Coulson sighed. "He barely trusts spooks as it is…"

"That's why you go." Natasha held his gaze. "You're one of the few at S.H.I.E.L.D. he still trusts, and you've got proof. More importantly…"

She paused, voice dropping. "Tell him Lin Che is with us."

Coulson's eyes widened. "Lin Che?"

"He's joined us," Natasha said. "He's with Wanda and Pietro now—the HYDRA twins."

She stepped closer. "The Captain saw what Lin did in New York. To shut the portal that kid nearly died. A man like that can't stand with the villains."

Coulson fell silent, recalling the post-battle photos: Lin Che covered in blood.

Someone like that would never side with HYDRA.

Coulson drew a deep breath and nodded firmly. "I'll find the Captain. But you two…"

He looked at Natasha and Angela. "K'un-Lun is dangerous. The Himalayas aren't a joke—no supply, no backup. And if Fury's there, he'll have the place booby-trapped to the teeth."

"We've walked harder roads," Angela said quietly.

Wings of light snapped open behind her, flooding half the room with white luminescence, feathers glinting against her calm profile.

They synced comm frequencies, set simple emergency codes—old song titles.

At the door Natasha glanced back.

Coulson swallowed. "If… we lose?"

"Then we lose," Natasha answered, calm and clear. "But I'll have fought on my feet, not on my knees."

She pulled the door and left with Angela; their footsteps faded upstairs.

The door shut.

Coulson stood a moment, then approached the painting. Captain America's eyes looked clear and steadfast, certain justice would win.

He brushed the frame.

"Red Skull," he murmured, voice like ice, "your disciples are dead this time."

Upstairs the record player clicked; the music stopped.

Silence.

A new battle begins.

Chapter 63 – Meeting Captain America

Steve Rogers stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, the thick glass reflecting his taut profile and the glittering yet frigid city lights beyond.

Unconsciously, his thumb traced the rim of the old pocket watch again and again, feeling the metal worn smooth by time, its faint warmth, and the tiny scratches on the case that could never be polished away.

Peggy Carter had given it to him amid the flames of war, along with her smile and her hopes.

Now it lay heavy in his palm, a warm ember from the past, yet it could not dispel the cold creeping from his heels up his spine.

Eighteen hours had passed since he watched "Fury" assassinated.

Eighteen hours since the corpse turned into a green alien.

Six hours since Alexander Pierce announced that "S.H.I.E.L.D. has been massively infiltrated and must be cleansed."

A familiar, viscous helplessness seized him; he felt like an insect trapped in amber.

Back then, through reinforced glass, he had watched Red Skull activate a cannon large enough to erase a city.

In the biting Alpine wind, he had seen Bucky's fingers slip from the train's edge, his figure swallowed by rolling clouds.

He awakened in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s infirmary to twenty-first-century news on the radio, the mirror showing a face still young, yet already seventy years late for the dance.

The World had turned unrecognizable again, faster than he could keep up; danger now came not only from external artillery but from within the very system he had sworn to serve.

Who could he trust?

Who was there left to trust?

The questions twined around his heart like innumerable vines.

The communicator vibrated at his wrist, its buzz loud in the silent safe-house.

Steve lowered his gaze; the screen's glow lit the blue of his eyes.

His brows drew together, almost imperceptibly.

Lin Che—the dark-haired young man whose elusive figure and unorthodox tactics had stood out during the Battle of New York.

They had fought side by side against the Chitauri tide, forging a rough, absolute trust between life and death.

Contact now… trap, or another hand reaching through the dark?

Steve's thumb pressed hard against the watch, as though to draw courage from the past.

He tapped accept; the knuckles of his hand went white.

"Captain, S.H.I.E.L.D. is no longer safe," Lin Che's voice arrived without static, clear as if he stood nearby, tone purely factual, emotionless. "Two blocks east, old freight wharf, Warehouse Five. Come now, alone."

"It concerns HYDRA—and Sergeant Barnes."

The line cut cleanly, leaving no room for questions.

HYDRA.

Sergeant Barnes.

The two words struck like perfectly aligned firing pins, punching through every mental barricade Steve had raised.

The warning about HYDRA tightened his muscles instinctively, but "Sergeant Barnes"… a lightning flash that tore the dark, illuminating every pain and obsession sealed by time.

He didn't even stop to check his gear; the shield was within reach—he simply yanked up his hood and, like the most alert leopard, slipped silently out of the safe-house into the embrace of New York night.

Every stride was swift yet heavy, his heartbeat hammering urgency against his eardrums.

The warehouse lay deep in the abandoned docks, its rust-eaten sheet walls peeling like the rotten ribs of some colossal beast.

Briny harbor wind whistled through the gaps, keening.

Stacked containers cast jagged shadows; only a single bare bulb glowed at the center, a halo of yellow in the dust- and rust-laden air.

Lin Che stood at the edge of that light, his charcoal tac-suit drinking in every ray; only the faint rustle of fabric when he shifted weight and those eyes—pupils pure black under the dimness, gaze sharp as a newly bared blade—fixed exactly where Steve appeared.

"Lin." Steve halted three paces outside the circle, feet apart, center of gravity low—perfect balance, ready to advance or retreat.

His gaze swept Lin Che once, assessing possible weapons and body language, then locked on the eyes.

The trust forged in the Battle of New York was battle-tested, solid, yet not necessarily transferable to a clandestine meeting in the dark.

His voice carried Captain America's trademark calming steadiness, though beneath it ran an undercurrent of scrutiny. "You said HYDRA—and Bucky. Proof."

Concise, brooking no evasion.

Lin Che had clearly expected the demand; without flourish he raised his left wrist, the device projecting a beam as a micro-holoprojector activated.

A hologram hummed to life between them, ghost-blue light illuminating drifting dust motes.

Internal S.H.I.E.L.D. memos, abnormal cross-department personnel reassignments, strings of cold code— "Alexander Pierce, current head of HYDRA. Project Insight is not for defense but for cleansing."

"Core logic of Zola's Algorithm: identify and eliminate every individual who poses a potential threat to HYDRA's new order." Lin Che's cadence stayed level, each word a poisoned nail.

"Fury's assassination was the prologue; the corpse was a Skrull decoy. The real Fury's whereabouts are unknown, but Pierce has already gained supreme authorization through the panic."

Steve's eyes swept the data like a scanner.

His brows knitted tighter, lips pressed into a bloodless line.

Insane—outrageous!

The accusation could upend everything.

Yet the formats, stamps, internal reference numbers… details that chilled the spine with authenticity.

The faint unease he had long felt toward certain S.H.I.E.L.D. methods now seemed to find its source.

The ice of doubt cracked under the torrent of evidence, fissures spreading, though it had not yet shattered.

"Information can be forged, systems hacked," he said, lifting his gaze, eyes burning as he searched Lin Che's face for any fissure.

"HYDRA nesting inside S.H.I.E.L.D.? I need something direct, undeniable."

A tremor of uncertainty—almost imperceptible—rippled through his voice: the shudder of a foundation stone being pried up.

"Then look at this." Lin Che's tone dropped half a notch; fingers flicked the virtual interface.

The image switched.

Siberia.

Endless pale ice, frigid and pitiless, revealing a vast metal structure buried beneath the permafrost.

Then focus on an isolated cryo-unit inside.

The real-time feed carried grainy noise, yet it was clear enough: the cold gleam of a metal left arm, the familiar line of brow on a sleeping profile, the shadow of lashes that once held Brooklyn sunlight—now closed.

Chapter 64 Persuading Captain America

Time stretched into infinity at this moment, freezing solid.

Steve Rogers, the ever-victorious Captain America, looked as though an invisible hammer had slammed into his chest.

He sucked in a sharp breath, staggered half a step forward, right hand shooting out on instinct, fingertips trembling as if to brush Bucky's cheek in the phantom image—only to freeze a hair's breadth from the hologram.

He swayed like a statue whose supports had vanished, then braced himself with iron will.

But something in those clear, steadfast blue eyes shattered: the cavernous void seventy years of duty and battle had barely sealed, the grief sanded numb by time, now ripped open by this brutal vision, raw and bleeding.

His breathing turned ragged, loud in the silent warehouse, chest heaving, the knuckles of his left hand on the shield cracking softly under the strain.

'He's… alive…' The words came hoarse, scraped through a throat lined with sandpaper.

Not a question; a tortured certainty forged in hell.

Alive.

The miracle he'd buried so deep he dared not hope now stood before him in monstrous form—alive, yet trapped in an ice coffin, remade, memory-wiped, turned into a killing machine.

Fury, dull ache, heartbreak, towering regret—molten emotions seethed behind his eyes, threatening to shatter the ice of composure.

His jaw clenched like steel, Adam's apple jerking as he swallowed the roar clawing up his throat.

When he spoke again his voice was the dead stillness before eruption: 'Location. How to free him.'

Each word ground between clenched teeth.

'Siberia, old HYDRA Base codename "Echo." Brainwashing protocol, keyword-sequence triggers. They call him the Winter Soldier—a perfect, reusable weapon. Assassinating Fury is one of his current missions; the order trail leads to a man codenamed Zemo.' Lin Che's pace quickened; he could see the tempest gathering in Steve's eyes, the terrifying force a man releases when someone he loves is in peril.

'To free him we must first destroy the organization that enslaves him—and right now that organization wears S.H.I.E.L.D.'s skin and is raising its blade against the World.'

Steve closed his eyes; long lashes cast shadows on pale cheeks.

When they opened again the swirling pain and vulnerability had been replaced by a cold, ruthless resolve—blue irises like permafrost lit by an unquenchable fire.

He turned to Lin Che, gaze as tangible as a searchlight: 'Your plan—and why are you, Lin Che, this deep in?'

Trust was still a sapling, but the shared goal—saving Bucky—gave it soil to grow.

At that moment three knocks, two short taps sounded from the rusted iron door across the warehouse, followed by the scrape of something heavy across concrete.

The slow rhythm said the newcomer moved with difficulty. Lin Che's eyes flicked; he listened, then murmured, 'Ally. Agent Coulson.'

The hinges shrieked; Phil Coulson slipped inside and shut the gap behind him.

A dark stain seeped through the bandage on his left thigh; under the yellow light his face looked haggard, yet his eyes stayed sharp, a veteran still vigilant through pain.

He swept the warehouse, confirmed safety, then fixed on Steve, a weary, relieved, deeply worried smile surfacing.

'Captain,' his voice rasped dry from long travel and higher tension, 'good to see you in one piece—though I suspect you're about to digest the worst news yet.'

He nodded toward Lin Che; the motion tugged at his wound and twitched the corner of his mouth, 'Mr. Lin, you move fast. Natasha's already headed for K'un-Lun to find Fury.'

'K'un-Lun?' Steve echoed, unfamiliar syllables knitting his brow.

The word carried an Eastern mystique utterly alien to every S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol or HYDRA Base he knew.

'A place that exists only in the most classified files and ancient legend,' Coulson explained, leaning against a sturdy container to ease his left leg.

'Sealed from the World, said to hold power beyond modern comprehension and history older than nations. Director Fury… has "safeguards" and "contacts" none of us fully grasp.'

He glanced at Lin Che. 'That might explain why we can't find Director Fury—if he's hidden there.'

Lin Che nodded thoughtfully, fingers drumming the small device on his tactical belt. 'K'un-Lun… indeed a mystery.'

He raised his gaze, sweeping Steve and Coulson. 'It means we adjust the route to locate Fury and the core evidence, but the main direction stays the same.'

Three streams of information converged, forming a more persuasive river.

Lin Che offered the cold logic of HYDRA's infiltration and the brutal fact of Bucky's captivity.

Coulson brought the hope that Fury might be alive—the last ember inside S.H.I.E.L.D.

And Steve—tactical core, moral compass—was now an avenger and savior ignited by his best friend's fate.

'We can't wait. We move now—but we need muscle, eyes, ears, and a brain that can crack their most advanced systems.' Steve's voice had regained its command-steady cadence, each syllable hammered of steel.

Decision made, he looked toward the distant spire of Stark Tower glimpsed through the window. 'Tony Stark. He has to know everything—and we need his help.'

Coulson nodded at once, winced as the motion pulled his wound, but his eyes were certain. 'Stark Industries' resources, Jarvis's global data reach, and Tony himself…'

'He's our best shot at cracking Zola's Algorithm, reverse-engineering Insight's control system, even tracing Zemo and Echo's signals. And given Howard Stark's history with S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony has the right to know how rotten the organization has become.'

Lin Che stepped forward, the holo-light skimming his calm profile. 'The hard part is persuasion. Tony's brilliant, suspicious, arrogant, has zero love for bureaucracies—especially S.H.I.E.L.D.—and his methods… unpredictable.'

'Drop bombs like "HYDRA owns S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Winter Soldier" and he may refuse to believe, or bypass us and take reckless solo action—scuttling the entire plan.'

In the dim light the shadows of the three men stretched and twisted across the cracked wall, as if they too conspired in the secret.

Chapter 65: Preparing to Persuade Iron Man

Silence lasted for a few seconds. Steve slowly raised his hand and gripped the pocket watch again; the cold metal seemed to give him a certain anchoring strength.

"I'll be the one to talk to him," he said, his voice quiet but carrying an unquestionable, rock-solid determination. "Tony and I... we see the World differently, but we have fought together and bear similar burdens."

"I will tell him what I saw with my own eyes—that corpse turned green, and the evidence I've gathered," he said, pointing to the still-active holographic projection.

"The truth that S.H.I.E.L.D. is being controlled by our enemies. This is not just about the present; it's also about the past..."

"It concerns the organization his father helped found, the history that has been tampered with, and whether we can still trust our own memories and judgment. At this moment, honesty is the only weapon we have left."

Coulson nodded and took an encrypted data stick bearing the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo from his pocket. "I can provide S.H.I.E.L.D.'s abnormal activity files, as well as data on abnormal energy fluctuations and communication blackouts at S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities globally over the past twenty-four hours. This objective data can corroborate your statement."

He looked at Lin Che. "Mr. Lin, the most direct evidence you hold, especially the code logic where the Zola Algorithm designated Captain as the 'Highest Threat,' and the real-time coordinates and defense synopsis of the 'Echo' Base, will be key to breaking through Stark's technological arrogance and psychological defenses."

Lin Che operated the projector, highlighting the relevant documents and generating a condensed data package. "I will prepare it. But we cannot go empty-handed and simply throw problems at him."

"Captain, you need to give him a clear technical entry point that requires his immediate attention—a specific goal that can instantly ignite his desire for a challenge and his sense of responsibility."

Steve pondered briefly, his eyes sharpening. "We'll start with the Zola Algorithm's behavioral prediction model and the vulnerability in the helicarrier's global positioning attack protocol."

"Tell him that HYDRA intends to use the weapon systems he helped design or upgrade to carry out an unprecedented, precise global massacre."

"This will strike directly at his core. His technological genius is being used for evil, and his sense of responsibility cannot be stained."

The plan rapidly took shape in quick, efficient whispers.

Coulson would continue to utilize his remaining network to try and contact other S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents who might not yet have been purged or who harbored doubts, and attempt to obtain a more precise launch schedule for the Insight Project.

Lin Che needed to immediately rendezvous with Wandaand Pietro, rescue Bucky, the soldier, and on the other hand, organize the "evidence package" for Stark.

Steve was responsible for the most direct and difficult task—contacting and persuading Tony Stark.

"Remember our priorities," Steve stressed again before they parted.

His gaze swept over Coulson's tired but resolute face, Lin Che's unfathomable dark eyes, and finally settled back on his own tightly clenched fist, where a sliver of cold metal light from the pocket watch peeked through his fingers. "Stopping HYDRA's global purge and protecting the innocent—that is the highest mission. And on this path,"

He paused, his voice dropping, yet containing an iron will. "Rescuing Bucky, freeing him from control, and helping him find himself again, is a goal I will never compromise. This is not a negotiation; it is a vow I failed to fulfill seventy years ago."

Lin Che met his gaze and nodded slowly and solemnly, without any pretense. "His freedom will mark the beginning of HYDRA's complete collapse. I understand."

Coulson also straightened up slightly. Although his injured leg made him sway a little, his tone was decisive. "We will use every resource, Captain. For the S.H.I.E.L.D.that should be, and for everyone they have harmed."

Without further words, the three exchanged contact information.

Immediately, like drops of ink dissolving into deep water, they silently merged into different shadows of the warehouse and departed toward their respective destinations.

Steve did not immediately head toward the brightly lit city center.

He stood on the edge of the dock for a moment, letting the salty, seaweed-scented night wind brush against his cheek and ruffle his golden hair.

In the distance, the arc reactor light of Stark Tower was clearly visible in the night, like a technological lighthouse, and like the only clear objective at the moment.

He took out the pocket watch, opened the cover, and Peggy Carter's youthful smiling face was still warm in the faint light.

He gently stroked the photo with his thumb, then closed it with a 'click,' holding it tightly in his palm, pressed against his chest.

It was as if he was drawing the last bit of strength from the past, and as if he was once again engraving a heavy promise onto his heart.

He raised his wrist and operated the communicator; the cold light of the screen illuminated his face, which was now resolute, as if carved from stone.

Finding the name, his fingertip hovered over the virtual button for a moment. There was no hesitation, no confusion, only pure resolve after emotional tempering and recognizing the goal.

He pressed it.

It connected almost instantly, as if the other party had been waiting.

Tony Stark's voice came through, with the faint sizzling of arc welding and a lazy piece of classical jazz in the background. "Captain? This is a historic moment. Let me guess, have you finally decided to embrace 21st-century streaming music services?"

"Or does your old motorcycle need me to find you an antique part again?"

"Tony," Steve interrupted his habitual teasing, his voice steady, yet like a boulder dropped into a calm lake. "I need to see you immediately, face-to-face. It's not about music or motorcycles. It's about S.H.I.E.L.D., and it's about the Insight Project."

"It's about an enemy we thought was buried in history, but has been growing inside our organization like a cancer, and is now about to devour the World—HYDRA." He took a deep breath, his voice imbued with an undeniable heaviness.

On the other end of the line, all background noise vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly silence.

A few seconds later, Stark's voice returned, all traces of flippancy gone, leaving only extreme, taut calmness, and a hint of forcibly suppressed shock. "...Rogers, you better have something that can convince me, and not just sound like you woke up from a World War II-themed nightmare. Top Floor Lab. Now. Bring every piece of 'evidence' you can find."

He paused, his voice lower and deeper. "And, be ready—I need to know everything, starting from the beginning, everything I don't know."

"I'm already on my way." Steve cut the communication and carefully placed the pocket watch into the inner pocket of his uniform, close to his heart.

He took one last look at the deep night sky and the brilliant lights of the city in the distance, then turned, taking firm and swift steps toward Stark Tower.

Behind him, the warehouse fell silent again, with only the waves tirelessly lapping against the old wooden dock, as if whispering the prelude to the end of one era and the start of another struggle.

Chapter 66: Bucky Barnes

After Lin Che left the dock warehouse, he returned directly to the safe house.

Pushing open the door, Pietro and Wanda were already waiting there.

"Is it done?" Pietro asked.

"Captain agreed." Lin Che pulled a data pad from his backpack. "These are the coordinates I hacked from HYDRA's internal network—an old Base in Siberia. Buckyis frozen there."

Wanda looked at the information on the data pad. "How do we get there? All the airports in the World are currently under S.H.I.E.L.D. surveillance."

"We walk," Lin Che said.

Pietro raised an eyebrow. "Walk to Siberia?"

Lin Che didn't explain, he just held out his hands. "Grab my wrists."

Wanda and Pietro exchanged a glance, but complied.

As soon as they grasped him, a layer of silver-blue light flashed in Lin Che's eyes... The next second, the three figures vanished from the printing factory.

There was no dizziness, just the feeling that the surrounding scenery had instantly changed.

Bitingly cold air rushed into their lungs, and before their eyes was a vast expanse of white ice field, with the aurora slowly flowing across the night sky.

They were standing directly in the snows of Siberia.

"What the... hell." Pietro let go, almost losing his balance. "What kind of ability is this?"

"Just teleportation," Lin Che said lightly, though this teleportation across half the Earth made his temples throb.

He quickly surveyed his surroundings.

Consistent with the satellite images obtained by the hacker, not far ahead was the Base entrance disguised as an ice mound.

Wanda wrapped her clothes tightly, her breath condensing into white mist in front of her. "What's the guard situation?"

"According to the surveillance logs, this Base usually has one squad on rotation, eight to ten cannon fodder." Lin Che pointed ahead. "It's the night shift today, so there should be four in the inner sentry post at the entrance, two in the monitoring room, and the rest resting."

Pietro stretched his limbs. "So, we rush in, knock everyone out, and bring Bucky out?"

"Roughly." Lin Che pulled three miniature headsets from his waist pouch. "Put these on to maintain communication. Wanda, once inside, you handle helping Bucky break free of the control. Pietro, you're fast, so you take down the moving guards."

"What about you?" Wanda asked.

"I'll clear the way." A flash of light crossed Lin Che's eyes.

The three approached the Ice Mound.

The entrance was well disguised, but Lin Che had already obtained the door code from the system.

He pressed a few spots on the ice wall, and a section of the ice silently slid open, revealing a downward metal staircase.

As soon as they stepped down, warmth and light rushed in.

Ahead was a small sentry post where two people in HYDRA uniforms were dozing on chairs.

Pietro's figure flashed.

They barely heard a sound before the two guards slumped in their chairs. Quicksilver was already back in his original position, clapping his hands. "Done."

Lin Che nodded and continued forward.

The corridor was old, and symbols from the Soviet Unionera were still visible on the walls, not fully scraped off.

They quickly reached the first fork in the road.

"The left goes to the living quarters, the right goes to the core area." Lin Che glanced at the map in his mind. "Buckyis in the innermost cryo-chamber in the core area. Pietro, go to the living quarters and deal with the rest of the people quietly."

"Leave it to me." A flash of silver light, and Pietrovanished.

Lin Che and Wanda continued to the right.

They hadn't gone far when footsteps approached... another patrol soldier.

Lin Che didn't hide.

The moment the guard turned the corner, he stepped out, the Speed Force making his movements blur into an afterimage.

A precise hand chop struck the side of the guard's neck, and the guard collapsed without a sound.

"The monitoring room is ahead," Lin Che whispered. "Wanda, the two inside are yours."

Wanda nodded, reaching out her hand in a pressing motion.

Deep red Chaos Energy seeped in through the door crack.

A few seconds later, the sound of heavy objects falling came from inside.

The door opened. Two monitors were sleeping soundly, slumped over the control desk, the screens still lit.

"I've temporarily jammed the signal output, but I can only maintain it for ten minutes," Wanda said, looking at the screen. "They report to their superiors every half hour."

"That's enough." Lin Che quickly operated the Main Control Desk, pulling up the Base structure map and the real-time feed of the cryo-chamber.

On the screen, Bucky Barnes lay quietly in the cryo-pod, surrounded by pale blue coolant.

Just then, Pietro's voice came through the headset. "Living Quarters cleared, six people are sleeping soundly. How's your side?"

"Preparing to enter the core area," Lin Che replied.

The airtight door of the Core Area slowly opened.

It was much colder inside than out, with white lights illuminating rows of experimental equipment.

The cylindrical Cryo-Pod was right in the center.

Lin Che quickly walked to the Main Control Desk and began cracking the freezing program.

Wanda walked to the side of the pod, placing her hand on the glass, red energy fluctuating slightly.

"His mental state is very poor," Wanda frowned. "His consciousness is locked very deeply; there are many layers of control programs."

"Let's get him out first," Lin Che said, hitting the final key.

The Cryo-Pod hissed with the sound of hydraulic release, the coolant was drained, and the glass cover slowly rose.

The temperature inside the pod quickly rose, and color gradually returned to Bucky's pale face.

Lin Che took out a pale gold syringe and injected it into the side of Bucky's neck.

After the serum was injected, Bucky's body twitched violently.

"He's struggling," Wanda said, her hand still pressed against Bucky's temple, the red energy flowing steadily. "The Control Program is resisting... I need a little time."

Bucky's eyes suddenly snapped open.

But it wasn't a conscious look—it was hollow, cold, like the scanning light of a machine starting up.

His metal left arm shot up, fingers forming a claw, aiming straight for Wanda's throat!

"Look out!" Lin Che pulled Wanda away.

Bucky had stood up from the Cryo-Pod, his movements still a little stiff, but his intent to attack was clear.

He looked at Lin Che, his eyes devoid of emotion, only the cold indifference of carrying out orders.

"He's not awake yet," Wanda gasped. "The Control Program is still in charge!"

Bucky lunged again.

This time, Lin Che didn't dodge; instead, he met the attack head-on.

The moment Bucky's metal left arm swung, Lin Cheshifted slightly to avoid the sharp edge, while simultaneously forming his right hand into a knife shape, delivering a weakened version of the Hulk Power strike precisely to the back of Bucky's neck.

A normal person would have been knocked out instantly by that blow.

But Bucky merely stumbled, turned around, and a deeper red light flashed in his eyes... a sign that the combat program was upgrading.

"Don't fight him directly," Wanda shouted. "It will trigger deeper defense mechanisms!"

Lin Che knew that too.

He took a deep breath, activating his Mind Master ability at full power, his consciousness piercing Bucky's chaotic mental World like a sharp cone.

In that instant, he "saw" many things.

Fragmented images: the streets of Brooklyn, the flashes of war, Steve's thin back... then falling, endless darkness, the sting of electricity, cold voices repeating commands in Russian... and above it all, layer upon layer of complex control chains, tightly binding the original personality.

"Wanda!" Lin Che shouted. "I'll hold open his mental defenses, you dismantle the Control Program from the inside!"

"Understood!"

Deep red Chaos Energy and silver-blue mental power simultaneously flooded Bucky's mental World.

Bucky's movements abruptly ceased. He clutched his head, letting out a painful roar, his metal left arm flailing wildly, smashing the nearby laboratory table out of shape.

"First layer of locks... broken!" Blood trickled from Wanda's nose, but she didn't wipe it. "Second layer... he's resisting... many painful memories are surging back..."

Lin Che also felt immense pressure.

Bucky's seventy years of accumulated pain and confusion rushed over through the mental connection, like a tidal wave. He grit his teeth, maintaining the stability of the channel.

"The final layer..." Wanda's voice trembled. "Broken!"

Bucky's roaring abruptly stopped.

He fell to his knees, breathing heavily, sweat rolling down his forehead. The hollowness and red light vanished from his eyes, replaced by deep confusion and exhaustion.

He looked at his metal left arm, then looked up at Lin Cheand Wanda, his lips moving. "...Who are you? Where... where am I?"

It was done.

But just then, a piercing alarm blared throughout the entire Base!

The Main Control Desk screen turned blood red. "Self-Destruct Program initiated! Countdown: 60 seconds!"

"We've been discovered!" Pietro's voice came through the headset. "I just saw an external signal access, and then the Alarm went off!"

Lin Che grabbed the still-dazed Bucky. "No time to explain, let's go!"

The three rushed out of the Core Area. Pietro was already waiting at the door.

White nerve gas began spraying into the corridor, and a pungent odor quickly spread.

"This way!" Lin Che led the way, running toward the emergency exit.

This was the route he had noted when he hacked the system.

But the lock on the Emergency Exit was dead. Clearly, HYDRA had remotely locked all exits.

"Get back!" Pietro prepared to use his speed to ram the door open.

"No need." Lin Che raised his hand and pressed the lock, Hulk Power condensing in his palm. The lock emitted a grinding sound of twisting metal, then "bang," it exploded open.

Outside the door was an upward emergency staircase.

As soon as they rushed in, a muffled explosion sounded behind them... the Core Area began to collapse.

At the end of the staircase was a heavy security door.

Lin Che repeated the process, tearing it open directly.

The freezing polar wind rushed in.

They were back on the Ice Field, the Base entrance behind them spewing thick smoke and flames.

"How do we get back now?" Pietro asked. "Another one of those Teleportations?"

Lin Che looked at Bucky.

Bucky's state was very unstable; his eyes were unfocused, and he occasionally clutched his head and groaned softly.

Attempting long-distance spatial travel in this condition was too dangerous.

"I'll send you back first," Lin Che said. "Pietro, support Bucky. Wanda, hold onto me."

"What about you?" Wanda asked.

"I'll follow shortly."

Pietro and Wanda supported Bucky on the left and right, and Lin Che grasped their arms.

The silver-blue light flashed, and the three figures vanished from the Ice Field.

The next second, Lin Che himself vanished.

When he appeared in the Safe House, Pietro and Wandahad just helped Bucky onto the sofa.

Bucky was curled up, shaking all over, and Wanda was using Chaos Energy to help stabilize his mental state.

Lin Che sat down against the wall, his face pale.

Consecutive use of abilities, especially long-distance Teleportation plus mental intervention, was too taxing.

He took a few deep breaths, pulled out his communicator, and sent a message to Steve:

The person has been rescued. The Control Program is dismantled, but his state is unstable. Evidence secured.

After sending the message, Lin Che looked at Bucky on the sofa.

Bucky was staring blankly at his metal arm, then used his flesh-and-blood hand to touch his face, as if confirming his own reality.

After a while, he looked up, his eyes still confused, but he asked a crucial question. "...Steve... where is he?"

Lin Che knew that the hardest part was over.

Next, it would be taking Bucky to see Steve, and then facing HYDRA together.

But that was for later.

For now, they needed rest, and Bucky needed time to adapt to the feeling of being "human again."

Chapter 67: Iron Man Is Persuaded

Tony Stark stood in front of the holographic projection table, his fingers unconsciously tracing lines in the air, pulling up streams of data.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and the dark circles under his eyes were particularly noticeable in the screen's cold light, suggesting he had been working continuously for who knows how long.

Steve Rogers had just finished presenting, and the evidence lay before them both.

Pierce's suspicious directives, the Zola Algorithm's malicious code, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal purge list... the cold numbers and files outlined a chilling truth.

Tony turned around, his back to Steve, facing the perpetually lit New York skyline outside the window.

He held a cup of coffee that had long gone cold.

"HYDRA." Tony finally spoke, his voice flat and emotionless, merely tasting the word in his mouth as if it were something exceptionally bitter.

"Hidden in the highest levels of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Insight Project... they want to use the system I helped upgrade to eliminate tens of millions of 'potential threats'."

He turned back, his gaze sharp as a knife. "My father, Howard Stark, helped establish the predecessor to S.H.I.E.L.D. He spent his entire life fighting HYDRA."

"And the result? The house he built is inhabited by the devil he hated most." Tony pulled at the corner of his mouth, his smile full of sarcasm. "This story is absolutely brilliant, Captain."

Steve could feel the fire simmering beneath Tony's calm exterior.

The anger of being fooled, the heartache over his father's life work being tainted, and the fear that his own technology might be used for murder.

"This isn't Howard's fault," Steve said. "HYDRA is too good at hiding. They exploited Operation Paperclip, the Cold War, and every opportunity S.H.I.E.L.D. had to expand. They waited seventy years."

"And I built them the sharpest knife." Tony slammed the coffee cup onto the counter, splashing a few drops of liquid.

"The insight helicarriers' collaborative algorithm, anti-gravity system optimization, weapon interface standards... Stark Industries issued technical briefings, and I provided consultation. Pierce personally came to talk to me several times, putting on that facade of 'for World safety' every time!"

His voice rose with self-mockery. "I, Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, philanthropist... actually failed to realize that the person shaking my hand was a HYDRA tentacle!"

"They disguised themselves too well," Steve took a step forward. "Even Fury didn't fully see through it until he was 'assassinated.' But now we know, and this is our chance to fight back."

"A chance?" Tony abruptly waved his hand, bringing up another set of holographic images.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had just issued a global announcement, declaring the highest alert and calling on nations to cooperate with the Insight Project's 'defensive deployment.' "Look! Pierce has everything: power, public opinion, and the legal guise of global surveillance! Three Helicarriers will be in position within forty-eight hours. What happens after the 'final system test'?"

"One button press, and every person the Zola Algorithmdeems 'a threat'... politicians, scientists, activists, maybe even just someone complaining online."

"Will be precisely eliminated by cannon fire from the sky. Clean, swift, and no one will investigate because it can be framed as an 'internal mistake by an alien-infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.'!"

He spoke rapidly, his fingers tracing more data streams in the air: Helicarrier real-time positions, energy readings, and abnormal deployments of S.H.I.E.L.D. forces globally.

"Jarvis analyzed the algorithm fragment you provided, Captain. That thing is based on big data and psychological profiling, and it's terrifyingly accurate. It doesn't look for 'known enemies'; it looks for 'people who might become enemies in the future.' This is preemptive slaughter, Nazism wrapped in 21st-century technology!"

Steve's heart sank.

Tony's analysis made the horror of the plan clearer.

"So we must stop it before the Helicarriers are in position and the algorithm is fully activated. We need your technology, Tony. We need you to hack into the Helicarrier systems, and we need you to expose the true face of the Zola Algorithm to the World."

Tony walked up to Steve. They stood close, their gazes locking. "Then what? Even if we hack the Helicarriers and expose the algorithm, then what? S.H.I.E.L.D. has 173 major facilities globally and hundreds of thousands of employees. Who knows how many of them are HYDRA?"

"Pierce is the Director approved by the Security Council, possessing maximum authority. We aren't fighting a secret organization, Captain, we are fighting an 'official agency' with a legal guise, a global network, and cutting-edge weapons."

"We will become traitors, Terrorists. Your shield and my armor might become symbols of crime in the public eye."

"I know." Steve's voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of a thousand tons. "I know this might be a point of no return. But Tony, some lines cannot be crossed. When the law enforcement agency itself becomes a tool for slaughter, following orders is not a virtue—it's complicity."

He paused, his blue eyes looking straight into Tony's caramel-colored ones. "I'm here not because I'm Captain America, but because I'm Steve Rogers. That fool from Brooklyn who couldn't stand a big guy bullying a little guy."

"Now HYDRA is that big guy, and countless people in this World are about to be bullied and erased by them. I can't just turn away."

Tony looked at him for a long time.

The anger and anxiety in his eyes slowly subsided, replaced by a deep weariness and the sharp glint of determination.

He understood Steve Rogers; this Old Ice Pop was as stubborn as Vibranium, but behind that stubbornness was uncompromising integrity.

In this messed-up World, this might be the only thing left to believe in.

"What do you want me to do?" Tony finally asked, his voice returning to its usual calm.

That was Tony Stark entering work mode, ready to solve the problem.

The weight on Steve's shoulders lessened slightly. "First, we need a secure Communications and Command Network that HYDRA cannot track or interfere with. Second, Lin Che is bringing back evidence soon; we need you to analyze it and find the hardest, most irrefutable proof. Third, and most crucial... we need a way to simultaneously paralyze the three insight helicarriers at a critical moment, or at least disable their weapons."

Tony was already walking toward the main workstation, and several holographic screens lit up simultaneously.

Jarvis's voice sounded steady. "At your service, sir."

"Jarvis, initiate 'Ghost Protocol,' maximum encryption. Physically sever all data connections between Stark Industries and S.H.I.E.L.D., and use our own satellites."

"Scan all the data Captain provided, and build an Anti-Zola Algorithm Model. I need to know where the vulnerabilities are." Tony's fingers flew across the virtual keyboard, his speech rapid.

"Executing now, sir," Jarvis replied.

Tony then turned to Steve. "When is Lin Che bringing the evidence back? Also, you mentioned Bucky Barnesearlier... he's alive, and what does that have to do with this?"

Chapter 68 – New Jersey Base

Tony asked the last question with extra care.

Steve drew a deep breath.

He knew the question couldn't be dodged; Tony had a right to the truth.

But the Captain still didn't know Bucky was connected to the deaths of Howard and Maria Stark.

In his mind, Bucky was a victim, a weapon HYDRA had aimed and fired.

'Lin Che's team is running rescue and evidence-collection; we'll hear soon,' Steve answered the first question, then met Tony's gaze.

'As for Bucky… after HYDRA captured him, he didn't die. They rebuilt him, brainwashed him, turned him into their best assassin—codename "Winter Soldier." For decades he carried out killings.' He paused, voice heavy.

'HYDRA still controls him. Getting him back isn't just personal; he's living proof of their crimes and may hold the key to taking them down.'

Tony's pupils narrowed. 'Winter Soldier,' he echoed, clearly familiar with the rumors.

'Another casualty of war and scheming, forged into a weapon.' His tone mixed pity with deeper disgust at technology abused. 'Where is he now?'

'Lin Che is bringing him in,' Steve said.

His encrypted comm vibrated softly—Lin Che's update had arrived.

When Steve Rogers read that Bucky was safe, his ramrod-straight back eased, almost imperceptibly.

A torrent of relief, laced with heavier responsibility, flooded his taut nerves.

Bucky was free—at least for the moment. Yet Steve knew the real ordeal

—helping Bucky heal, confront the past, and fit into an alien World—had only begun.

'Good news?' Tony caught the flicker of emotion.

Steve lifted his head, eyes steady. 'Phase one complete. They've extracted Bucky, secured evidence, and are on their way back.'

'Tony, we have to speed up preparations. The war's already started—most people just don't know it yet.'

Tony Stark studied the warrior from the past, the same fire of conviction burning seventy years undimmed.

He glanced at the data streams on the bench, testament to HYDRA's sprawling conspiracy.

He lifted the cold coffee and downed it like bitter liquid resolve.

'All right, Captain,' Tony said, a metallic smirk curling. 'Let's give those octopus heads hiding in the shadows a twenty-first-century surprise.'

At that instant one screen flashed red.

Jarvis had flagged an anomaly during deep data-mining.

'Sir, while analyzing early-version Zola Algorithmarchitecture, I found a recurring coordinate reference,' Jarvis intoned, drawing both men's gaze.

'Multiple segments of core code point to one location—an abandoned military Base outside Whitney, New Jersey, coordinates precise.'

Tony pulled the site file instantly.

A hologram showed derelict buildings, satellite images of rusted roofs and weed-choked parade grounds.

'That's…' Steve squinted, a memory stirring.

'S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first training facility,' Tony supplied, scrolling historical archives.

'Established 1946 for the Strategic Scientific Reserve's first recruits; decommissioned late sixties.' He glanced at Steve. 'You trained there pre-serum, right?'

Steve nodded, memories flooding back—crude barracks, brutal drills, the scrawny kid desperate to prove himself. 'Basic training, yes.'

He stared at the coordinates. 'But why would Zola's algorithm reference that place?'

'Exactly.' Tony enlarged code snippets. 'See here and here—unnecessary for runtime, more like… comments or markers pointing to the same spot.'

He opened dossiers: 'Per declassified S.H.I.E.L.D. files, the Base hosted top-secret computation projects in the fifties—state-of-the-art IBM machines running "strategic predictive analysis."'

Steve's eyes widened. 'Zola… Armin Zola, the HYDRAscientist.'

'After capture he worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. under Operation Paperclip. Fury mentioned Zola wrote early forecasting programs for the Agency.'

Their gazes locked as the realization hit.

'If Zola was already working for S.H.I.E.L.D.—or for HYDRA embedded inside—' Tony began.

'—then those "strategic predictions" could have been the very first draft of the Zola Algorithm,' Steve finished, steel flashing in his eyes.

'Pierce is scrubbing every trace of HYDRA, but something that old and obscure might have escaped even him.'

Tony was already pulling structural schematics.

'Three underground levels; deepest holds a hardened archive room. If anything survived, it's there.'

'We need to go,' Steve said.

Tony arched a brow. 'It's abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. property—certainly on HYDRA's watch-list. We show up, we announce we know.'

'Then we don't get caught,' Steve replied. 'Lin Che's team needs hours; we can slip in and out.'

'If we find the original code, we prove the algorithm was HYDRA from day one, not "defensive software."'

Tony hesitated, fingers drumming on virtual keys.

Jarvis began mapping perimeter sensors, patrol routes, possible defenses.

'Old motion detectors and cameras, obsolete models,' Tony noted over live satellite feed.

'No recent foot traffic; looks truly abandoned. Trip an alarm and the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D. response unit arrives in twenty minutes.'

'Twenty's enough,' Steve said. 'We grab evidence and vanish.'

Tony studied him, then nodded. 'Fine. Conditions: silent entry, no footprints, no fireworks. We were never there.'

'Agreed,' Steve answered. 'When do we leave?'

Tony checked the clock. 'O-three-hundred now—dead quiet. We move in two hours, back before dawn.'

He strode to another bench, summoning armor. 'I'll pack portable scanners—fast copy of any paper or electronic record. You…'

'I remember the way in,' Steve said, a ghost of nostalgia in his voice.

'Settled.' Tony turned to the holoscreen. 'Jarvis, keep mapping the Helicarrier for breach points.'

'And prep two stealth suits—bypass standard motion and thermal sensors.'

'Already compiling, Sir.'

Steve moved to the window, staring at New York's dark outline beyond.

New Jersey, Whitney—where he'd trained seventy years ago—might now hold the key to crushing HYDRA.

Sometimes fate really does come full circle.

Chapter 69: Zola Appears

New Jersey, on the outskirts of Wheaton.

The abandoned training Base looked like a giant skeleton under the moonlight.

Rusted barbed wire, collapsed watchtowers, and a weed-choked parade ground.

Everything here exuded an aura of being forgotten by time.

Two figures silently vaulted over the broken perimeter wall.

Tony wore a lightweight stealth suit coated in light-absorbent material, making him nearly invisible in the night.

Steve wore dark tactical gear, his shield wrapped in a special fabric to prevent any light reflection.

"The drainage pipe is at the northeast corner," Stevewhispered, memories rushing back like a tide. "Follow me."

The scanner inside Tony's faceplate continuously scanned the surroundings. "Jarvis, build a holographic topographic map of the surrounding five hundred meters. Mark all possible surveillance points and sensors."

"Established, sir," Jarvis's calm voice echoed inside the suit. "Detected seven old cameras, all inactive. The motion sensor array is offline. No recent signs of human activity found."

They crossed an overgrown training field, the gravel crunching softly beneath their feet.

Steve stopped in front of a half-collapsed concrete wall, crouched down, and pushed aside a thick patch of vines. "Here."

At the Base of the wall, a drainage pipe about a meter in diameter was revealed, its rusted iron grate half-fallen off.

Tony glanced at the pipe, then at his suit. "I can't fit in there wearing this."

"Jarvis, initiate suit separation protocol." As soon as Tonyspoke, the back of the suit opened.

He stepped out from within, wearing only light tactical clothing. "Portable mode."

The suit automatically folded, shrinking into a metal block the size of a briefcase. Tony picked it up. "Now I can."

Steve was somewhat surprised. "You usually carry your suit around like that?"

"This is the latest model, Mark 37, designed specifically for infiltration missions." Tony patted the metal block. "Waterproof, shockproof, and can double as a temporary cover. Let's go."

The two of them crawled into the pipe one after the other.

It was pitch black inside, with only the beams of their tactical flashlights piercing the darkness.

The inner walls of the pipe were covered in slimy moss, and the air was thick with the smell of rot and dampness.

Tony wore a lightweight head-mounted display, with Jarvis's interface projected onto the lenses. "Sir, detecting faint energy readings, approximately twenty-five meters deep underground, steady and stable. Likely a backup power source."

They climbed down the pipe for about thirty meters until a fork appeared ahead.

Relying on his memory, Steve chose the left path.

After another twenty meters, the end of the pipe was blocked by a rusted iron grate.

Tony set down the metal block, which automatically unfolded into several components, forming two mechanical arms. "Step back a bit."

The mechanical arms grabbed the bars, and the hydraulic system let out a low hum as it forcibly tore a gap in the grate large enough for a person to pass through.

After squeezing through, they stood in a dim corridor.

The emergency lights on the walls were still on... emitting a faint, dark red glow.

"Basement level two," Steve confirmed. "The backup power is indeed still working."

Tony looked around as Jarvis scanned the structure of the entire floor. "There's a slight energy flow inside the building, concentrated... fifty meters ahead. At the end of the corridor."

They moved down the corridor, passing abandoned offices and laboratories on both sides.

Most of the rooms were empty, containing only decaying desks, chairs, and documents scattered across the floor.

Until they reached the end of the corridor.

There stood a heavy metal door, completely out of place in the dilapidated surroundings.

The door was new... or rather, very well-maintained.

The electronic lock panel beside the door still glowed with a faint green light.

"This is it." Tony stepped forward to examine the lock. "Jarvis, analyze the lock type and era."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. standard electronic lock from the mid-eighties, model SDS-1984," Jarvis replied.

"But there are recent maintenance records; the last password entry was seventy-two hours ago."

Steve and Tony exchanged a look.

"Someone has been here," Steve said.

Tony nodded and took a small device from his tactical bag, sticking it onto the lock panel. "Jarvis, remote crack. Use the S.H.I.E.L.D. standard protocol library from 1984 to 1992."

A few seconds later, Jarvis's calm voice spoke. "Protocol match. Attempting to crack... Warning, anti-intrusion protocol detected. The opposing system is reverse-tracking the signal source."

"Cut the tracking," Tony said quickly. "Use the seventh obfuscation algorithm."

"Executed. Tracking cut. Crack successful, door lock disengaged."

The metal door made a soft 'click.'

Steve pushed the door open, with Tony following close behind.

The room wasn't large, with an old-fashioned computer terminal sitting in the center, its CRT monitor emitting a ghostly green light.

The terminal was connected to several massive tape storage units; the machines were still running, letting out a low hum.

But the most striking thing was the three walls covered in paper documents, photos, charts... and countless names and events connected by red strings.

"My god..." Tony walked closer to take a better look.

The photos were from World War II, the Cold War, and the past few decades.

The connections of the red strings revealed horrifying correlations: political assassinations, economic crises, regional conflicts... all with the shadow of HYDRA's manipulation behind them.

Some names were specifically highlighted... including many current high-ranking government officials, corporate leaders, and even personnel within S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Jarvis, scan all the contents on the walls and create a digital archive," Tony ordered, while he himself walked toward the computer terminal.

The screen showed a simple green character interface, with a cursor blinking behind a line of text.

[Welcome, Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark. I have been waiting for you for a long time.]

"Zola," Steve whispered.

The text on the screen changed immediately.

[To be precise, I am a backup of Dr. Arnim Zola's consciousness. Captured in 1945, died of cancer in 1972, but my thoughts, my intellect... these more important things were long ago preserved digitally. HYDRA never truly dies, Captain. We simply... change form.]

Tony sneered. "So you've been hiding here like a cockroach in a wall crack?"

[:) Such typical Stark arrogance.] The text carried clear mockery. [Your father once spoke to me in a similar tone, back when he worked for the Strategic Scientific Reserveand I 'assisted' them in developing early warning systems. He never realized those algorithms would become the foundation for a much greater work in the future.]

"The Zola Algorithm," Steve said. "That's when you started preparing."

[Preparing? No, Captain. It was planting seeds.] The screen scrolled.

[Humans are always short-sighted. You see the immediate threats, while we see the order of a century later. While you were dealing with the Red Skull on the battlefield, I was already writing the code for the layout of the next century.]

Tony had already had Jarvis begin copying the terminal data. "Don't waste words with him; he's stalling for time. Jarvis, can you find the physical location of the main server?"

"Attempting to trace the data flow, sir. But the opposing system has advanced obfuscation protocols."

[It is useless, Mr. Stark.] New text appeared.

[This terminal is merely a display window. The real data is stored in a reinforced server array fifty meters underground, with an independent power supply and physical isolation. You cannot get it.]

Chapter 70: The ※23⛬ is Blown Up

"But you can tell us more," Steve took a step forward, "about HYDRA's current plans. About Pierce."

[Alexander is an excellent executive, but he lacks vision.] Zola responded.

[The Insight Project? It's nothing more than a crude tool. True control doesn't lie in eliminating opponents, but in making everyone believe they never had any other choice.]

Tony stared at the screen, "So you don't agree with his methods?"

[I don't agree with his impatience.] The text scrolled rapidly.

[HYDRA has waited seventy years; it can wait another seventy. But Pierce... he's been blinded by power. He wants to be the King of the new World, not the Gardener.]

Steve frowned, "Gardener?"

[Pruning branches, shaping forms, making everything grow according to design.] Zola explained.

[Kings rule, gardeners cultivate. We pursue the latter... a meticulously designed, perfectly orderly World. No war, no poverty, no disorderly choices. Everyone is in the position they should be, doing what they should do.]

"Sounds like a prison," Steve said.

[Freedom is an illusion, Captain.] A smiley face character appeared on the screen.

[:) The 'freedom' you fight for is nothing more than charity from the strong to the weak. When order is established, everyone will attain true security... freedom from hunger, freedom from fear, freedom from the burden of choice.]

Tony shook his head, "And the price is becoming your slaves."

[Not slaves, but components.] Zola corrected, [Just as cells compose a body, every part has its function. Efficient, orderly, and eternal.]

Just then, Jarvis's urgent alarm blared in Tony's earpiece.

"Mr. Stark, I've detected high-speed flying objects approaching... three cruise missiles, S.H.I.E.L.D.equipment, estimated Impact time in 120 seconds!"

Tony's expression changed drastically, "Captain, it's a trap! He's stalling for time!"

Steve reacted immediately and rushed toward the door. But Zola's text was still scrolling rapidly on the screen.

[Too late. From the moment you triggered the door lock, an alarm was sent to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters. Piercedoesn't know I'm still 'alive,' but he knows this Basecannot remain. The missiles... are just a safety measure.]

Tony shouted as he ran, "Jarvis, calculate the best evacuation route!"

"I suggest returning the way you came, sir. But time may be insufficient... it takes at least 85 seconds from your current position to the ground exit, and the missiles..."

"Then find another way!"

The two sprinted through the corridor. Steve suddenly stopped and pointed to the side, "This way! There's an emergency exit leading straight to the surface!"

They burst through a rusted iron door, behind which was a set of stairs leading upward.

Tony tried to summon his armor while running, but there wasn't enough time.

"Jarvis, how much time left for the missiles?!"

"45 seconds, sir. The Impact shockwave will arrive in 30 seconds."

At the end of the stairs was a heavy security door, locked tight.

Steve raised his shield, preparing to ram it open.

Suddenly, a silver-blue light illuminated the stairwell.

Lin Che's figure stepped out from the void, his face pale and breathing ragged... continuous long-distance spatial travel had taken a massive toll.

"Grab onto me!" Lin Che reached out his hand.

Steve and Tony didn't hesitate for a moment, grabbing Lin Che's arms on either side.

The next second, silver-blue light swallowed the three of them.

Almost at the same instant, three cruise missiles struck the Base's ground level. Massive fireballs rose one after another, and the shockwaves of the explosions completely tore the abandoned building apart.

Flames consumed everything underground, including that old terminal that had been running for decades and the consciousness within it that called itself Eternity.

At the edge of the woods two kilometers away, the silver-blue light flared again.

Lin Che, Steve, and Tony collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air as they watched the fire and smoke billowing into the sky in the distance.

Tony was the first to stand up, his face grim. "Zola... that bastard was playing us from the very beginning."

"But he revealed important information," Steve also stood up. "There's division within HYDRA; Zola thinks Pierce is too impatient."

"And... he mentioned 'Gardeners' and 'components.' This could mean HYDRA has even deeper plans."

Lin Che rubbed his temples, the aftereffects of overusing his abilities giving him a splitting headache. "I received Jarvis's emergency signal... I got here just in time."

Tony looked at Lin Che and said with rare sincerity, "Thanks. But could we make it a bit less thrilling next time? I almost had to test the power of those missiles with my body."

"Jarvis sent out a warning the moment you triggered the door lock," Lin Che said, catching his breath, "but locating your exact position took a bit of time."

Steve looked at the burning ruins of the Base, the firelight reflecting on his face. "We lost the direct evidence, but we know about Zola's existence and his disagreement with Pierce. This could be a breakthrough."

Tony nodded, his expression turning serious. "Zola said he was going to enter a broader network. If he really can do that... Jarvis, analyze his possible destinations."

"Analysis initiated, sir. But more data is required," Jarvisreplied.

Lin Che pulled a data storage disk from his pocket. "This is all the data I got from the Siberia Base. Maybe there are clues in here."

Tony took the storage disk. "Leave it to me and Jarvis. But before that..."

He looked toward the horizon, which was gradually being enveloped by morning light. "We have to stop those three insight helicarriers first. There are less than forty hours until the 'final test.'"

Steve gripped his shield tight. "Pierce, Zola, and all those HYDRA members hiding in the shadows... we'll root them out one by one."

Lin Che looked at the two of them and suddenly said, "I've contacted Dr. Banner. He's willing to help, but we need a secure way to meet."

Tony and Steve exchanged a look.

"Then arrange it," Steve said, "but it must be absolutely secure."

The sky began to turn white as dawn approached; a new day was about to begin.

The three turned and left the burning ruins, walking deep into the woods.

They had lost some clues, but gained even more important information... the enemy was not a monolith, and any crack could become a breakthrough.

Far away at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters, Alexander Pierce looked at a briefing on the screen: "Abandoned Military Base in Wheaton, New Jersey, Attacked by Missiles."

A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Whatever had been hidden there was now ashes. And as for Captain America and Iron Man... if they hadn't died in the explosion, they would only blame HYDRA for this, becoming angrier, more impatient, and more prone to mistakes.

He pressed his communicator, "Inform the 'Insight' control center that the final test will proceed as planned."

"Also, strengthen monitoring of all remaining facilities. I don't want any more... surprises."

Outside the window, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds.

But the darkness before dawn is often the deepest. And the true battle has only just begun.

Chapter 71: Meeting the Ancient One

Deep within the Kunlun Mountains, the wind and snow were as sharp as knives.

Natasha Romanoff tightened the collar of her tactical jacket; before her lay a ridge covered in eternal ice and snow.

According to Coulson's coordinates, this was Nick Fury's final hiding place.

A blind spot that even S.H.I.E.L.D. satellites marked as a "magnetic anomaly zone."

"The energy readings are very unique." Angela stood by her side, golden runes swirling within her pure white eyes. "It's not like Earth's natural energy; it's more like a woven reality."

Before them was a nearly vertical ice wall, a hundred meters high, its surface smooth as a mirror with no sign of an entrance.

Natasha took out an old-fashioned S.H.I.E.L.D. locator.

Just as her index finger was about to press the activation button... ripples suddenly appeared on the ice wall.

Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread, but what flowed within the "cracks" was golden light, like surging molten gold.

A figure stepped out from where the golden light was brightest.

It was a tall man wearing deep blue robes with golden patterns, his skin dark and his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Uninvited guests are not welcome here." Mordo's voice was deep and resonant, each syllable carrying a certain ancient rhythm, though there was a slight rasp at the end. "State your purpose, or leave."

As he spoke, the light from the Sling Ring in his hand intensified slightly, and an invisible energy field spread out.

Natasha recognized that face... marked in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s classified files as "Karl Mordo," the eldest disciple of the Ancient One and one of the Guardians of Kamar-Taj.

"We are friends of Nick Fury." She stepped forward, her hands slightly spread to show she was harmless. "Something has happened within S.H.I.E.L.D., and we need to see him."

Mordo's gaze lingered on her, sharp as a scalpel.

Then, he turned to Angela.

In that instant, the fingers of his left hand suddenly tightened, forming a complex and distorted hand seal.

His finger joints bent at angles that defied common sense, and dark purple runes appeared on his palm.

A blinding light suddenly erupted, and a wave of dark gold swept out!

Two of the light wings behind Angela instinctively unfurled, bursting with pure white-gold light.

The light wasn't blinding, but it carried a powerful sense of "presence."

The two energies collided in mid-air.

There was no explosion, but the air between them twisted eerily.

Light bent there, snowflakes evaporated ten feet away, and the ice and snow on the ground melted into a perfect circle.

"You," Mordo stared at Angela, his wary gaze mixed with a certain greedy scrutiny. "You are no mortal. Nor are you a visitor from this dimension. Your energy structure... is very interesting."

His gaze roamed over Angela's light wings as if evaluating the worth of a magical item, but deep within, a faint trace of dark purple flowed.

Angela did not answer.

Her pure white eyes calmly met Mordo's gaze, and the light wings behind her slightly adjusted their angle.

Fine golden runes appeared on the edge of every feather—these were the defensive incantations of the Asgardians.

Mordo whispered a chant of strange syllables; with every syllable uttered, the air vibrated once, and fine cracks appeared on the stone-paved ground of the courtyard.

"Karl, that's enough."

A voice came from deep within the ice wall.

The voice was calm and gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

The dark purple light on Mordo's hand instantly extinguished, and the hand seal of his left hand loosened.

But he did not lower his guard; he only stepped slightly to the side and nodded toward the ice wall.

"Master, their identities need to be verified," Mordo said, a hint of almost imperceptible resentment in his voice.

"I have already verified them," the voice said. "Bring them in."

Mordo was silent for two seconds before finally nodding slowly.

He drew a circle in front of him with his right hand, leaving a golden trail in the air.

"Step through it." Mordo stepped to the side, his gaze still locked on Angela. "Do not touch the edge of the ring; it will sever your limbs... whether they be physical or energetic."

Natasha glanced at Angela.

The queen of the hunt gave a barely perceptible nod and was the first to walk toward the ring.

As she passed Mordo, the feathers of her light wings lightly brushed against his robes.

The dark gold runes on the robes lit up for an instant, briefly flashing blood-red before fading again.

Mordo's pupils constricted slightly, and his right hand tightened.

The two stepped through the ring.

A sense of weightlessness hit them instantly, and in the next second... the wind and snow vanished.

Before them was a serene courtyard paved with bluestone, with bright green moss growing in the cracks between the slabs.

Surrounding them were Chinese-style buildings with carved beams and painted rafters, red pillars and gray tiles, and bronze wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

Several thousand-year-old pine trees stretched their branches, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and tea.

Outside the transparent energy dome, the Kunlun blizzard continued to howl.

Snowflakes struck the dome, melting into fine streams of water that slid down.

"space folding technology," Angela said softly, her gaze landing on the center of the courtyard. "Earth's mages are more interesting than I imagined."

In the center of the courtyard, a bald woman wearing simple yellow robes stood with her back to them, looking up at the sky.

Before her, countless fine lines of light appeared in the air... the projections of timelines.

The birth and annihilation of stars, the rise and fall of cities, the gathering and parting of people... countless branches of possibility unfolded and intertwined before this woman.

The Ancient One did not turn around, but her voice reached them: "Karl, bring them over."

Mordo bowed respectfully and retreated to the edge of the courtyard.

The two walked to the Ancient One's side.

Only then did the Ancient One slowly turn around.

Her face was gentle, and her eyes were as deep as the Universe.

The moment Natasha met her gaze, she felt as if she were being thoroughly read... not scrutinized, but read.

"Natasha Romanoff," the Ancient One smiled, a compassionate tenderness in her expression.

"You have walked a long road. From a weapon of the Red Room, to a blade of S.H.I.E.L.D., to a person seeking themselves. That road was painful, wasn't it?"

Natasha's fingers curled slightly.

She said nothing, only nodding gently.

The Ancient One then looked at Angela, the interest in her eyes deepening.

"Princess of Asgard, queen of the hunt of Heven. Your destiny should have been among the stars; why do you linger on this tiny Planet?"

"I owe a favor," Angela answered calmly, her gaze falling on the flowing timelines. "Furthermore, a mage who can observe timelines... in Asgard, that belongs to the authority of Odin."

The Ancient One smiled, a sense of detachment in her expression that saw through everything. "Interesting. The New York of this Universe always manages to bring the most impossible existences together."

She waved her hand gently, and the timeline projections, like a sand painting scattered by the wind, gradually dissipated.

The courtyard returned to silence, leaving only the tinkling of the wind chimes.

"You have come looking for Nick Fury," the Ancient Onestated, walking toward a stone table.

On the table sat celadon tea sets; she poured two cups of tea, the liquid clear as amber.

"He is in the meditation room. But before that, there are some things you need to know." The Ancient Onemotioned for the two to sit.

Chapter 72: Meeting Nick Fury

As Natasha took the teacup, her fingertips brushed against Ancient One's fingers.

In that instant, countless images flashed by: snow-capped mountains, burning castles, vows under the starry sky... The images were too fast to discern.

"The enemy you are about to face... Arnim Zola, has touched forbidden territory... immortality," Ancient Onesaid gravely, picking up her teacup.

Ripples spread across the tea's surface, forming bizarre symbols that quickly dissipated.

"Zola wants immortality?" Natasha frowned, unconsciously turning the teacup. "He's already a digital consciousness."

"Digital consciousness wears down," Ancient One shook her head, tracing the rim of the teacup with her fingertip. Thin ice formed on the tea's surface, then instantly melted.

"But the power of the Dark Dimension can'solidify' him, making him part of the fabric of reality. By then, destroying his physical vessel will be meaningless, for he will be the concept itself."

She took a small amulet from her sleeve.

Made of black metal, its surface was smooth as a mirror, with irregular, streamlined edges, like a drop of solidified ink.

At the center of the amulet was an colorless crystal, with countless points of light slowly rotating within.

"Take this," Ancient One handed the amulet to Natasha.

The amulet felt cold to the touch, but after three seconds, it began to emit a gentle warmth.

Even stranger, its weight kept changing... sometimes light as a feather, sometimes heavy as lead.

"It will be useful at a critical moment," Ancient One did not explain further, only giving Natasha a deep look. "It will find its moment when you need it most."

Natasha carefully placed the amulet into an inner pocket of her tactical suit, close to her chest.

She could feel the amulet's regular, faint pulsation, like a second heart.

Just then, the wooden door on the other side of the courtyard opened.

Nick Fury walked out.

"Natasha," Fury's voice was hoarse as sandpaper. He cleared his throat. "I knew you'd find this place. Coulsongave you the coordinates?"

"He did," Natasha stood up, her gaze quickly sweeping over Fury... no obvious external injuries, but his exhaustion was bone-deep. "Director, you..."

"I'm alive, and that's enough," Fury interrupted her, walking to the stone table. He first bowed deeply to Ancient One. "Master, thank you for your protection and guidance."

Ancient One smiled and raised her hand, making a gesture of support. "Nick, you chose to come here because you still have something in your heart that you must protect. Kunlun protects not your body, but that resolve."

Fury straightened up, a complex emotion flashing in his single eye. He said no more, placing a rolled parchment on the stone table and slowly unfurling it.

It wasn't text, but a complex tree diagram, drawn with ancient ink, with intricate symbols dotted between the lines.

"The complete list for Operation Paperclip," Fury pointed to the root of the tree diagram. "Every Nazi scientist absorbed by the Strategic Scientific Reserve in 1945, their true identities, HYDRA affiliations, subsequent development paths... and every one of their subordinates developed within S.H.I.E.L.D. over seventy years."

Natasha gasped. If this list was true, it would be enough to uproot the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. leadership.

"How did you get it?" she asked.

"Kunlun has its own intelligence network," Ancient Onesaid softly. "Some history, only the observers of time remember completely."

Fury rolled up the parchment and handed it to Natasha. "I can't go to the front lines with you. Pierce now controls S.H.I.E.L.D.'s armed forces; if I show my face, I'll be 'dealt with' immediately."

"Then you..."

"I'm going to Geneva," a cold light flashed in Fury's single eye. "The World Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss 'final authorization for the Insight Project.' Pierce needs that authorization to legally activate the Helicarrier's global strike mode."

He stood up and looked at Ancient One. "Master, the 'door' you mentioned earlier..."

Ancient One nodded, drawing a golden circle of light in front of her chest. The circle rotated and expanded, revealing the scene on the other side... a solemn conference hall, with representatives from various countries taking their seats.

"A Mirror Dimension portal," Ancient One explained. "It leads directly to a Safehouse three kilometers below the Council meeting venue. From there, you can avoid all surveillance."

"This is my private channel," he handed the communicator to Natasha, his fingers pausing for an instant during the handover. "When the Helicarriers launch, I will publicly release this list at the meeting. By then, HYDRA's legitimacy will collapse like a house of cards."

"But they still have military force," Natasha gripped the communicator, the metal casing still retaining Fury's body warmth. "Three insight helicarriers, HYDRA Agents worldwide..."

"So you need to sever their claws," Fury gave her and Angela a final look, his gaze lingering on them, as if remembering something, or saying goodbye.

"Destroy the Helicarriers, paralyze the command system. Politics and force, both fronts must be won simultaneously. Fail on one, and all is lost."

He turned and walked towards the golden circle of light. Just before his figure was swallowed by the light, he paused, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly, but then straightening again the next second.

"Natasha."

"Yes, Director?"

Fury didn't turn back. His silhouette appeared both small and vast in the golden light of the circle.

"After this mission..." He paused for two seconds. "Take a vacation. A real vacation. Go somewhere with no missions, no surveillance, no damned alien invasions."

Natasha opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Fury stepped into the circle of light. The golden light swallowed his figure, then the circle began to shrink, spin, and finally dissipated into a shower of sparks.

Ancient One looked back at the sky, where the light and shadow of the timeline began to reappear.

"Go," she said softly. "There isn't much time. Zola's consciousness is accelerating its descent into the Dark Dimension... with every second, he gets closer to 'Eternity.'"

Natasha clutched the parchment and the time amulet in her hand, looking at Angela.

For the first time, a solemn expression appeared in the pure white eyes of the queen of the hunt.

"Lin Che's side," Natasha whispered, "it's time to gather."

At the edge of the courtyard, Baron Mordo still stood, his staff in hand, dark golden runes faintly visible on his robes.

His gaze followed Natasha and Angela's retreating figures. In his deep brown pupils, the golden halo flickered slightly, and a thread of dark purple light flashed in its depths.

His lips moved silently, uttering an ancient and distorted syllable.

The blizzards of Kunlun still howled outside the dome, but within the courtyard, beneath the facade of spring-like warmth, something colder was quietly brewing.