Counterattack Begins!

Times Square, New York.

Pierce led the agents and brought several captured prisoners here.

He wants to hold a public execution.

At this moment, all the giant screens in Times Square are broadcasting this grand event live. Not only that, but all the television stations are under his control, and there are no extra programs today, only this live broadcast!

Pierce had already received the news that the aircraft carrier had been refitted and was ready to be launched at any time.

The completion of the aircraft carrier's refit was excellent news for Pierce.

This is the force he needs to overthrow the old world.

Others might have thought it was an execution, but he knew perfectly well that it was Hydra's coronation ceremony!

From this day forward, he will be the new Hydra Supreme!

For a king, the best gifts are none other than the submission of others and the heads of his enemies.

Therefore, instead of immediately executing Nick Fury and the others, he used them as bait to lure Steve and his men out so that he could capture them all at once.

"Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and the Hacker, I know you're watching. Drop your weapons and surrender now, or you're all dead."

"Anyone who discovers their whereabouts must report it immediately; anyone who fails to do so will be treated as a rebel!"

Then, in front of countless people, he walked up to Harry.

Then several agents led Norman Osborn out.

Norman was wearing his suit, but he didn't look well.

"Harry!"

Upon seeing Harry, he couldn't help but shout anxiously.

Seeing this, Pierce smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

This scene had already been captured and broadcast to every United States by all the media present.

This was done by Pierce on purpose.

He needs someone to willingly submit to set an example for the world, to show them what they can gain by kneeling before him, and what the consequences of disobeying him will be.

Norman Osborn was the perfect target.

With Harry Osborn in his hands, Pierce wasn't worried that Norman would rebel.

"We meet again, Norman."

Pierce walked down the steps of the Broadway Theatre building that stood in the center of Times Square, looking at Norman from a distance.

"Let my son go, Pierce."

"That won't do, your son, Harry," Pierce said kindly. "He's involved in these acts of treason, helping those criminals attack S.H.I.E.L.D.. agents. This is a challenge to the Security Council, a challenge to our nation!"

"Of course, he's still young."

Pierce said, "Perhaps he was misled, but I need you to provide sufficient evidence to prove that he didn't mean it."

"Show me your sincerity, Osborn, and demonstrate your loyalty to this country!"

Upon hearing this, Norman bit his lip tightly.

To surrender, or to watch one's son die...

This was undoubtedly a cruel choice for him, who was nearing fifty.

However, it was all an act.

In reality, Norman Osborn was waiting for a signal, a signal for a counterattack.

Daily Bugle.

Peter stood in Jameson's office, the two of them locked in a stalemate. Outside the office, all the employees stopped what they were doing and stared at the two of them.

Peter was disheveled; in his haste, he could only find a random set of clothes to cover his battle armor. His face was covered in dust, making him look extremely weak.

His gaze also fell on the new newspapers on Jameson's desk.

The above article contains:

Spider-Man, the Deadliest Criminal!

Captain America: A Hydra Plot!

Articles like these.

"These can't be sent out, Mr. Jameson!" Peter swayed, staggered, and nearly fell over as he slammed his hand on Jameson's desk.

"Spider-Man isn't a bad guy, and Captain America isn't Hydra... We must tell this truth..."

Today, the usually irritable Jameson was unusually calm. He casually puffed on his cigar, exhaled gray smoke, and watched Peter perform with his legs crossed.

"I know you might not believe me, but we really need to tell everyone to unite everyone we can—"

"Stop!"

Jameson interrupted Peter, shoving his half-finished cigar into the ashtray, and then asked loudly:

Where is he?

"What?"

Peter was stunned by his question.

Jameson's expression grew impatient, and he slammed his fist on the table. "Where is that person who can step forward, gain everyone's trust, and unite everyone?"

He made a sarcastic remark, and then said:

"It couldn't possibly be you, could it?"

"I'll go find it right now!" Peter pursed his lips excitedly, then rushed out without looking back.

Seeing this, Jameson loosened his tie, sat back down, and said unhappily:

"Clumsy kid!"

"You didn't even notice your collar was showing!"

Then, he grabbed the phone from his desk. "Destroy all those newspapers, we have new news!"

Hardy Foundation.

Connors has encountered new trouble.

Mrs. Hardy found him.

This sharp-tongued woman knew how to protect herself in this situation, so she immediately picked up her phone, ready to report Connors's information to S.H.I.E.L.D..

Fortunately, Otto reacted quickly, immediately putting on his mechanical arm and extending it to control Mrs. Hardy's wrist.

"Otto Octavius! How dare you do this!"

Mrs. Hardy immediately showed an incredulous expression. In her view, Otto was just an employee working for her, and she was the real boss who paid her. Logically and emotionally, Otto should obey her every word!

But now, this guy actually dares to defy his superiors!

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hardy, I can't let you report Curt." Otto shook his head.

You want to kill me?

"Didn't you see the terrible state Osborn and Stark were in?"

"Now all their operations are shut down, Tony Stark is wanted and his whereabouts are unknown, and that poor old Norman was humiliated in front of the whole nation for his son!"

You want the Hardy Foundation to follow in their footsteps!

Otto knew that what he was doing was unfair, so he thought for a moment and said:

"I will take Curt with me."

"Impossible. If you leave, what about all the money I invested in your experiments?" Mrs. Hardy retorted.

Those experiments are all money-devouring beasts; they haven't even produced anything yet, and Otto already wants to take Connors away? How is that possible?

Upon hearing this, Otto felt somewhat guilty.

His research progress has been very slow. Although he is very frugal, it has still consumed a lot of funds.

Seeing his remorse, Mrs. Hardy took advantage of the moment to press the tip-off number Pierce had left behind.

"Ring ring ring--"

In Times Square.

Pierce was waiting for Norman Osborn to make his choice when his cell phone suddenly rang.

It's obvious without even thinking that it's a tip-off hotline!

"Looks like someone's smarter than you, Norman." Pierce chuckled, picked up his phone, and answered the call.

To his surprise, it wasn't a tip-off call, but rather the anxious voice of a secret agent.

"Mr. Pierce, someone has hacked into our network!"

"What?"

Pierce's expression changed.

"All the images have been replaced!"

The words on the phone had barely faded when a man large enough to be sculpted into a statue appeared on the giant screen of the Broadway Theatre.

"Steve!"

Pierce gritted his teeth.

In the picture, Steve Rogers is wearing a display suit he pulled from a museum. Although the style is a bit old, everyone is familiar with it.

Throughout the United States, there are very few people who haven't visited his museum.

"This is Steve Rogers. You've heard quite a bit about me these past few days, some of you even received orders to arrest me. I think it's time for you to know the truth..."

In the distance, Ben unplugged the USB drive, then walked to a floor-to-ceiling window of a building and watched this scene.

He was the one who helped Steve Rogers hack into S.H.I.E.L.D..'s systems, enabling the broadcast from the Daily Bugle studio to the big screen.

Banner, sitting not far away, asked somewhat embarrassedly:

Did you prepare a script for him in advance?

"No need for a script, Doctor Banner. He just needs to express his own feelings." Ben pointed directly to his heart.

Banner nodded, then asked somewhat nervously, "Am I to lead the charge later?"

"No need. You're a scientist, and scientists don't have the same (weak) strength as them, so of course you don't need to go to the battlefield."

Banner was pleased to hear this.

Holding seven doctoral degrees has always been something he is very proud of.

In Times Square, a group of agents gathered to listen to Steve Rogers' speech. Not all of them were Hydra; some were genuine agents.

They were also very confused about the capture of Nick Fury Captain America.

Inside the New York Police Department, George Stacy was redeploying officers, and he heard Steve's speech—or rather, everyone heard it.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.. has changed. It's been taken over by Hydra, and besides them, there are many others who are Hydra. Alexander Pierce is their leader, as are the Special Task Force and Project Insight teams."

"I don't know exactly who else is involved, but they're in this country, and they might be standing right next to you."

"They're about to succeed. See those three aircraft carriers in the sky? They'll soon have absolute control and use their weapons to eliminate anyone who might pose a threat..."

"Unless we stop them."

As Steve spoke, the agents who had originally stood with Hydra began to waver.

Each agent gripped their pistol warily, glancing around at the people around them.

Meanwhile, the agents inside the mothership also became vigilant.

Seeing this, every Hydra immediately sprang into action. Compared to the trembling, suspicious agents, they knew exactly who the enemy was.

In Times Square, Hydra bared its fangs.

Blood and sacrifice are blossoming.

Steve continued speaking.

"I know it's difficult, but the price of freedom is high, always has been..."

"I'm willing to pay this price, even if I'm the only one who stands up, but I believe I won't be the only one..."

That's all.

Ben interrupted the feed of Steve Rogers, and then--

It was Norman Osborn's stage.

In Times Square, Pierce looked extremely grim. He never imagined that even now, he would still be outmaneuvered by Steve Rogers.

If such an important occasion could still be hacked, then those incompetent agents, whether from Hydra or S.H.I.E.L.D.., have no reason to exist!

"The snakeskin can't cover it up anymore, Pierce."

Norman scoffed.

At this moment, Pierce's phone was ringing off the hook. Countless people who had worked with him but were not Hydra were trying to contact him to ask whether what Steve said was true or false.

Pierce simply threw his phone away.

"It doesn't matter anymore!"

In an instant, he understood.

Originally, he intended to continue his rule under the guise of S.H.I.E.L.D.., but instead he was met with alienation and questioning. Since that's how it is...

"I'm not pretending anymore, I'm coming clean."

He spread his hands arrogantly and said:

"I am Hydra!"

"What can you do? Defiant me?" Pierce pointed to the sky. "Soon, three powerful motherships will arrive here, and anyone who opposes me will be annihilated!"

"I've always thought you were a smart man, Norman."

Pierce walked toward Norman Osborn, his face ashen and as cold as ice.

Tell me, tell the world your choice!

He pointed to the camera, and the eyes of the entire world were focused on the two people in front of him:

"If you just say ' Hail Hydra,' you can join me in New World. Osborn will replace Stark and become the most powerful corporation in America! Your son won't die, and you'll gain the power and status you've always dreamed of!"

"No!"

Norman's voice struck with the crispness and decisiveness of a hammer.

His heroic demeanor was witnessed by people all over the country. Who would have thought that the chairman of the Osborn Corporation would have such a tough backbone!

I'd rather die!

Norman said angrily.

"Then I'll grant your wish!"

Pierce pulled out a gun and pointed it at Norman's chest.

Bang!

The moment the bullet was fired, it was as if the entire screen went black.

After a while, the United States watching the live broadcast realized that they themselves had involuntarily closed their eyes out of fear.

Norman Osborn, facing the gun barrel head-on, did not back down an inch!

He wasn't hit because Captain America — Steve Rogers—descended from the sky, holding up his star-studded shield and taking the bullet for him.

Falcon Sam circled in the sky.

Since Steve descended from the sky, he landed as if he were half-crouching, his raised round shield appearing as if he were offering a fluttering flag to Norman Osborn!

At the same time, a flame swooped down, and Tony Stark, clad in crimson-gold armor, landed arrogantly, standing on Norman's other side.

Norman had no weapons and no protective gear, but he appeared to be fully armed.

He took a step forward, clenched his fist, and shouted:

"Avengers, assemble!"

The next moment, Spider-Man Lizard Man Connors descended from the sky and stood behind Norman.

At that moment, Norman Osborn seemed to have been ordained by destiny!