Become a Homelander and a Marvel superstar

"Captain?" Ashley walked over and handed Steve a small black device. "This was left behind by Mr. Starr. He said... this might be useful if you're going to see an old friend."

It was a mechanical device no bigger than a fingernail.

"What is this?"

"A universal decoder," Ashley whispered. "A new product from Vought Technology. Theoretically, it can rewrite the underlying logic of most electronic locks. If necessary, it can even become a small electromagnetic pulse bomb."

Steve looked at the little thing, remained silent for a moment, and then put it in his pocket.

"Thanks."

……

Washington, D.C., the Tri-Wing Building.

Steve, wearing his conspicuous uniform, stopped his motorcycle in front of the building.

Once inside S.H.I.E.L.D., they encountered no obstacles.

After all, he is Captain America.

"Captain Rogers."

The elevator doors opened, and Brock Rumlow stood inside with a strange smile on his face.

"Long time no see. Are you here to see the bureau chief?"

Steve nodded and stepped into the elevator.

Is he there?

"You know, the director is always busy." Rumlow pressed the elevator button for Captain America. "But you're lucky, he just got back."

The elevator slowly ascended.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive in the cramped space.

Steve had his hands behind his back and was looking straight ahead, but he could sense that Rumlow's hand was casually resting on the holster at his waist.

"How's work lately, Rumlow?" Steve suddenly asked.

"Not bad," Rumlow shrugged. "Just cleaning up after Walter and his gang of stars, keeping order. You know, chores."

"That's good." Steve turned and glanced at him. "Don't forget who you work for."

"Of course," Rumlow smiled, "for peace."

"bite."

The elevator has arrived.

Steve stepped out of the elevator without looking back.

Rumlow watched Steve's retreating figure, his smile vanishing instantly, his eyes turning cold.

……

Director's Office.

In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, there should have been standing the bald, one-eyed man in the black trench coat.

But now, there is no one there.

"Frey?"

Steve walked into the office, frowning.

"team leader."

The sound came from behind.

It wasn't Nick Fury, but Alexander Pierce.

The former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., now the Secretary-General of the UN Security Council, was smiling at Steve.

"Pierce?" Steve looked puzzled. "I thought Fury would be here."

"Nick?" Pierce took off his glasses and wiped them. "Nick's a very busy man. Lately... well, he's been dealing with some very sensitive personal matters."

"Private matters?"

"You know, old spies always have secrets they don't want others to know." Pierce stood up and walked over to Steve. "Is there anything I can help you with, Captain?"

"I'm here to check a file," Steve said, looking directly at Pierce. "It's about the Winter Soldier."

Pierce's eye twitched slightly, but he quickly covered it up.

"The Winter Soldier?" Pierce laughed. "That's a ghost story, Captain. A Cold War-era rumor. If you want to hear a story, I can recommend some good novels."

"I saw him." Steve didn't smile. "In Chicago. He has a metal arm, and his combat skills... are from the military."

Pierce's smile gradually faded.

He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"Captain, sometimes it's better for everyone to let bygones be bygones."

"I just want to know the truth."

“The truth…” Pierce said, his back to Steve, “is usually ugly and dangerous.”

"Perhaps you can wait until Fury comes back; maybe he can tell you the truth."

Where is Fury?

"I said, it's a private matter."

"Yeah?"

Steve looked at Pierce and suddenly gave him a meaningful look.

"That's strange."

"Just before I arrived, Fury contacted me via encrypted channel."

Steve started lying, looking directly into Pierce's eyes—something Azu had taught him: when you lie, you have to look the other person in the eye.

"He said that if I couldn't find him one day, I should go to the 12th basement level of the archives. He left me a 'gift' there."

"Oh? Is that so?" Pierce said calmly. "Since it's Nick's arrangement, then go ahead and take it. As long as you have the authority."

"I have it," Steve chuckled softly. "Of course I have it."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"bite."

The elevator doors opened.

Steve went inside and pressed the button for the first floor elevator.

However, the moment the elevator doors closed, he quickly pulled a decoder out of his pocket and stuck it on the control panel.

"Target reset: Basement 12, Archives Room"

At that very moment, Pierce picked up the phone on the table and dialed an internal line.

"He knows."

"Don't let him leave."

……

The elevator began to descend.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief; the things Anthony gave him were indeed useful.

Just then, the elevator stopped.

"bite."

The door opened.

Brock Rumlow entered with four burly operatives. They were wearing tactical vests, their hands resting near their holsters.

"Captain," Rumlow nodded, a forced smile on his face, "would you mind giving me a ride?"

Steve nodded without saying anything and moved to the corner.

The elevator continued to descend.

"bite."

It stopped again.

Five more agents squeezed in.

The cramped elevator car instantly became incredibly crowded.

Steve looked at these people.

No one was looking at him, but everyone's muscles were tense.

Some people's hands are slowly reaching towards their lower backs, while others are adjusting the position of the stun gun.

None of them pressed the floor button.

Steve's gaze swept over them.

He was calculating silently in his mind.

Ten people.

The one on the left has a stun gun.

The unknown equipment on the right that resembles a suitcase.

Rumlow kept his hands on his holster.

Steve lowered his head and looked at the floor.

He sighed inwardly.

"Before we begin..."

He slowly raised his head, his face calm and composed, revealing only a quiet fighting spirit.

"...Does anyone else want to go out?"

"Attack!!" Rumlow roared.

The two agents beside him suddenly pulled out magnetic handcuffs, trying to lock Steve's wrists.

Another agent brandished a high-voltage stun baton and thrust it straight at Steve's lower back.

Steve did not resist as they had expected.

He simply pressed a button on a black device.

"Sizzle—Smack!!!"

A piercing crackling sound of electricity rang out inside the enclosed elevator car!

"Slap! Slap!"

The magnetic handcuffs in the hands of the two agents short-circuited instantly, lost their magnetism, and turned into two pieces of scrap metal.

The indicator light on the high-voltage stun gun went out, and it became an ordinary stick.

Even the communication headset in Rumlow's ear emitted a sharp crack, causing him to grimace in pain.

"Ah! My ears!!"

"What's going on?!"

Taking advantage of the momentary chaos that engulfed the Hydra agents due to equipment malfunction, they...

Steve moved.