Dr. Abraham Erskine

Steve suddenly remembered that Master had agreed to let him enlist!

His low spirits instantly soared. Steve had no mood to look at the exhibits anymore. Without saying goodbye to Bucky and the others, he headed straight out of the exhibition hall, following the arrows.

A while later, Bucky realized Steve was gone. After looking around, he quickly spotted the recruitment poster. Knowing Steve as well as he did, he immediately guessed that Steve had gone to enlist again.

From a distance, Chen Mo watched the two leave one after the other, then followed with Albert.

By the time Chen Mo reached the recruitment station, Steve and Bucky were arguing in the passageway.

"Are you really going to try again?"

"It's a Carnival anyway. I'm just trying my luck."

"Where this time? Ohio?" Before meeting Chen Mo, Steve had already lied about his identity and tried several times. Falsifying enlistment records was against the law. "They'll catch you! And if they actually take you, that'll be even worse!"

"I know you think I can't do it, but I'm not that weak little guy anymore. I can beat them!" Steve was very confident in his current strength.

But Bucky was deeply worried about him. Though he did not know how much Steve had improved under the guidance of the mysterious and powerful Chen Mo, in his eyes, Steve was still the good friend he had protected since childhood.

The battlefield was full of artillery fire and flying bullets, danger lurking everywhere. It was enough for Bucky to go alone; he did not want Steve to risk his life as well. "This isn't a fight, Steve! I know Mr. Chen is incredible, and he's made you much stronger than before, but this is war!"

"I know it's war. That's why I need to do my part!" Now that he had finally become strong, and Master had agreed, Steve could not wait to get to the battlefield and serve his country.

"Then find something else to do." Bucky still hoped Steve could remain safely behind the lines.

"Like what? Make canned food for the soldiers? I don't want to sit in a factory, Bucky!" Steve said heatedly.

"I don't—" Before Bucky could finish, Steve cut him off. "Bucky! Please! Everyone is risking their lives on the battlefield. I can't hide in the rear! You don't understand. I'm not trying to prove anything."

"Yeah, right. You just want to prove yourself." Bucky understood Steve very well. He knew that besides wanting to serve his country, Steve had always wanted to enlist so he could prove himself on the battlefield. His frail body had never made him give up on himself, because within him was a powerful, unyielding soul.

The two stared silently at each other, neither willing to back down.

Just then, Bucky's female companion came looking for him and called from afar, "Sorry, are we still going dancing?"

"Of course!" Bucky answered, turning around.

Turning back, Bucky looked helplessly at the stubborn Steve. As he walked away, he reminded him, "Don't do anything stupid. Wait for me to come back."

"Be careful. Don't win the war before I get there."

Watching the two reluctantly part, Chen Mo knew it would be a long time before they met again.

Chen Mo glanced once more at the refined, bespectacled middle-aged man standing in the corner. He had happened to be nearby while Steve and Bucky were talking and had heard every word of their conversation.

He was Dr. Abraham Erskine, the creator of the Super Soldier Serum and Chen Mo's target this time.

After watching Bucky leave with the girls, Steve was about to go when Chen Mo stepped forward and stopped him.

Dr. Erskine, who had been watching Steve all along, also turned his attention to Chen Mo.

He was searching for a suitable candidate for the first Serum Enhancement Experiment. In his mind, the ideal candidate should be compassionate, merciful, and someone who would not abuse power. The American soldiers Colonel Phillips had prepared for him clearly did not satisfy him.

Then Steve suddenly entered his sight. Though thin and weak, he still wholeheartedly wanted to serve his country. His gaze was clear and calm, fitting Dr. Erskine's standards perfectly.

"Steve." Chen Mo walked over with Albert.

"Master, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're planning to enlist too?" Steve joked.

"Of course. My disciple is going to the battlefield—how can I, his Master, fall behind?" Chen Mo's answer caught Steve somewhat by surprise. "Besides, you're still too weak. Going to the battlefield alone would be a bit much. If I go with you, I can look after you as well."

"Master!" Steve's eyes reddened with emotion.

Chen Mo felt a little embarrassed about fooling Steve like this all the time.

Steve was kind by nature and very intelligent, though he was too straightforward and did not know how to adapt. Still, he was a qualified and good disciple. He had always respected and trusted Chen Mo, and Chen Mo truly treated him as his disciple.

With Chen Mo around, Steve's fate would definitely not be as tragic as it had been in the original story. At the very least, Chen Mo, as his Master, had his lifelong happiness in mind and would not let him suffer that regret of finding everything changed beyond recognition.

Setting aside his guilt over fooling his innocent disciple, Chen Mo patted Steve on the shoulder. "Come on. If you still can't make it this time, I'll have to go by myself. You can stay at the Martial Arts School and keep sweeping the floors."

At the thought of being left behind to sweep floors at the Martial Arts School, Steve hurriedly shook his head. "Master, under your training, I'm already very strong. I'll definitely pass this time!"

"Let's hope so."

Watching the two head toward the recruitment station together, Dr. Erskine smiled with interest and followed them.

As expected, Dr. Erskine appeared during the physical examination.

Joining the Super Soldier Project was the best way to obtain the serum. Otherwise, Chen Mo would have to seize it through spies, just like in the original story. But without Stark's Vita-Ray, Chen Mo was not sure what consequences direct injection of the serum would bring.

Besides, Chen Mo was not merely after a single dose of serum.

"Do you want to go overseas and kill the Japanese?" Dr. Erskine asked casually as he entered, flipping through the documents in his hand.

Seeing Chen Mo look at him in confusion, the doctor introduced himself. "Dr. Abraham Erskine, Strategic Scientific Reserve Department."

"Chen Mo."

"Where are you from?" Dr. Erskine asked, staring into Chen Mo's eyes.

Chen Mo's identity in the United States was that of a wealthy immigrant from China. There was nothing wrong with that identity, so he only needed to "tell the truth." "China. There's a war going on there. I came to the United States to escape the conflict. Now, I don't want to run anymore. I want to go to the battlefield."

"To kill people?" Erskine asked again. He was a man who loved peace. If Chen Mo's answer did not satisfy him, he would not allow Chen Mo to join.

"No, to end this war. The ones who should die are not the soldiers, whether Allies or German forces, but the ambitious men who started the war." The answer surprised the doctor. As a German, Chen Mo's words struck a deep chord in him.

That was right. Soldiers were incited and controlled by ambitious men. If Hitler and his followers were eliminated, his countrymen would no longer have to be sent to the front lines to risk their lives. Perhaps the war would truly end.

And the Super Soldier Serum in his hands could help achieve that goal. At that thought, Dr. Erskine looked at Chen Mo differently. Perhaps he would be a good candidate. Still, he needed to be thoroughly tested.

"I can give you a chance. Just one chance." Dr. Erskine pulled back the curtain and walked out.

"I'll make the most of it." Chen Mo followed the doctor out of the examination room, quietly letting out a breath of relief. The first step had been a success.