Outside the White House.
Steve Rogers and Lake stood facing each other.
Rogers wore a complicated expression. "I thought I had already wiped out Hydra."
He had only learned about it from General Ross after finishing a press conference at the Pentagon.
Captain Rogers was in a... complicated mood.
After all...
Lake gave a faint smile. "There's never a shortage of ambitious people. You should understand that, Captain Rogers. If it makes you feel any better, Hydra really did perish at your hands. The Hydra that exists now is nothing more than a group of people who thought the name 'Hydra' sounded impressive and decided to use it. It's just like how your uniform is already being sold on the streets."
"Is that so?"
"Isn't it?"
Lake chuckled. "It's just that ordinary people idolize you, Captain America, while the idols of those villains are merely Hydra, which once nearly ruled the world. I've heard a saying like this before."
"What is it?"
"Fans' actions shouldn't be blamed on their idols."
Lake smiled. "If one day, a fan who worships you directly killed someone and then claimed to be Hydra, would you think that had anything to do with you?"
Captain Rogers frowned.
Seeing this, Lake said, "It's the same here, Captain Rogers. Hydra is dead. The Hydra that exists now is merely fans imitating their idol, just like those copycats of so-called serial killers. But those copycats and the real serial killers aren't even in the same league. If it were the Hydra in your memories, Captain Rogers, do you think they would be like this?"
Captain Rogers shook his head. "No."
The Hydra in his memories had been the most terrifying and powerful antisocial, antihuman organization in existence. Back then, the people of the entire world had united through