World's Fair of Tomorrow

Han Lin looked at the glass experimental chamber before him. The mass of flesh was slowly moving toward him. Though it was still unconscious, instinct drove it to wriggle in his direction. Han Lin felt instinctively repulsed. He still had no idea what would happen if he fused with it, nor did he know whether he should.

The unknown was always terrifying. Han Lin took a blowtorch, lit it, and aimed it directly at the flesh. The highly self-protective flesh aggressively extended several tiny tentacles, intending to block the flames, but it was not yet powerful enough to resist. It was burned straight into charred remains, and the air filled with a scorched smell.

When the two guards returned, they did not dare say anything. They stood silently by the door, watching Han Lin. Han Lin said, "If the doctor asks, tell him I did it. I'll give him an explanation!"

With that, he walked out of the laboratory and suddenly saw Howard Stark striding toward him. He asked, "What brought a busy man like you here today?"

"Today is the World's Fair of Tomorrow. I came to let Dr. Erskine know, and to tell you as well. You're coming with me later. If you stay with the professor, it might affect that Mr. Rogers you mentioned, so I came to pick you up early."

Howard spoke with some embarrassment. It was not that he did not believe Han Lin; he simply felt that this would make it easier for him to accept Han Lin's ability to predict the future. Otherwise, his materialist beliefs simply could not get past it.

Han Lin glanced sideways at Howard Stark. "Dr. Erskine hasn't rested for nearly two days. I just forced the guards to take him away to rest. If you need to tell him, we may have to wait until this afternoon. If we don't wait, I think we should have the guards explain it to him. If he doesn't go tonight, he might not meet Steve..."

Howard nodded seriously. "Then we'll wait a while and go with the doctor."

Steve Rogers went to see Old Joey again that day and made a fake enlistment form. Since there were two enlistment drives today, he had arranged early that morning to visit the World's Fair of Tomorrow with Bucky that evening. Then he set off for the recruitment medical center. The same thing happened again, and the disqualifying 4F stamp left Steve feeling dejected.

On his way home, he suddenly remembered Han Lin. Han Lin had said he would return today, so Steve hurried home. At the door, Bucky stopped him. Seeing Bucky in full military uniform, Steve quickly asked, "Did you get your orders?"

Bucky tugged at his jacket. "107th Infantry Regiment. Sergeant James Barnes. We sail for England tomorrow morning."

Steve lowered his head with a sigh, feeling dejected once more. "I should be going with you."

Bucky patted Steve on the shoulder. "Don't think about it. It's our last night. Let's go see the future."

Howard Stark and Han Lin took Dr. Erskine, whose eyes were still bloodshot, to the World's Fair of Tomorrow. Since Howard Stark had a display booth to set up, Han Lin and Howard headed there while Dr. Erskine used his special credentials to go to the recruitment station.

Han Lin looked at the booth, which was decorated with a comically sci-fi atmosphere. Since twenty-first-century China was also a technological powerhouse, this sort of display meant nothing to Han Lin. He merely stared curiously at the bright red sedan on the stage.

This should have been the Anti-Gravity Car invented by Howard Stark. Though the technology was still immature, it had enormous room for future development.

Han Lin asked, "Is this your only exhibit? No newly designed weapons or anything?"

Howard Stark rolled his eyes. "This is the future. The car of the future. We'll be able to fly cars through the sky."

Han Lin looked meaningfully at Howard Stark. "To be honest, you're a genius in this field, but I don't think this is ready yet. Really... you might embarrass yourself tonight!"

Han Lin was the type to speak bluntly. Howard suddenly remembered Han Lin's ability to predict the future and looked at him nervously. "Is the problem serious?"

"It's not a big problem, but watch your wording. You have to make it clear first that this is an immature product of technology and can't be put into practical use yet!" Han Lin reminded him. He and Howard were in the same boat now. The bigger Stark Industries became, the more dividends he would receive.

Night gradually fell, and more and more visitors appeared at the World's Fair of Tomorrow. The booths lit up one after another, waiting for the exhibition to begin.

Steve and Bucky arrived at the World's Fair of Tomorrow together. It was supposed to be a double date, but Steve's female companion clearly did not care much for him. The four of them came to Howard's booth and watched Howard Stark onstage as he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I can tell you right here that in just a few years, your cars may be able to leave the ground."

As Howard finished speaking, several girls removed the car's tires, revealing the Anti-Gravity Device inside.

"Yes, with Stark Industries' Anti-Gravity Apparatus, all this can become possible. Of course, for now, it's still an immature technology. But that's all right, because I'm Howard Stark. I can improve it slowly and make it truly leave the ground." Then Howard slowly pushed the controls, and the car gradually rose into the air. The crowd below was astonished.

"That's unbelievable!"

"This is the work of God!"

Before the crowd could finish marveling, sparks suddenly erupted from the Anti-Gravity Device, and the car crashed down onto the stage.

Fortunately, Howard had already said that it was immature technology. Otherwise, there was no telling how embarrassing it would have been.

The audience still gave the wealthy man some face, and applause broke out. After all, Howard Stark was the only one who could show them something so advanced.

Steve looked at the booth with little interest. He had come today to try enlisting once more, so he headed to the recruitment medical center. Looking at the enlistment slogan on the huge poster—

"I Want You."

Steve Rogers gathered his courage and walked inside. Bucky turned, saw Steve's back, and chased after him.

Han Lin watched the two of them head toward the recruitment station from the shadows behind the Stark Industries booth, and he quietly sighed in relief. He was afraid that his presence as a butterfly might change some things, so he had been watching in secret. Seeing Steve go to the recruitment station just as he had in the film, he relaxed.

Han Lin followed them from afar to the recruitment station and watched as the two argued.

"Are you really going to try again?"

"It's a carnival anyway. I'll just try my luck."

"Where is it this time? Ohio again? You've forged your identity so many times already. They'll catch you."

"I know you think I can't do it, but I want to try one more time. I need to do my part for this world, even if I die on the battlefield."

"This isn't a fight, Steve. This is war."

"I know it's war."

"Then go find something else to do. Get a job."

The frail Steve desperately wanted to go to war. He wanted to serve his country and prove himself on the battlefield. His weak body had not made Steve give up on himself. He had a powerful soul. "Do what? Make canned food for soldiers? I don't want to sit in a factory, Bucky!" Steve answered heatedly.

The two stared at each other without backing down. Bucky's date came over. "Sorry, are we still going dancing?"

"Of course!" Bucky replied, turning around.

He turned back and hugged Steve. "Don't do anything stupid. Wait for me to come back."

"Be careful. Wait until I get to the battlefield, then we'll win the war."

Han Lin watched the two men, one top and one bottom, brimming with chemistry. He shook his head and drove the inappropriate thought from his mind. Dr. Erskine was silently watching them, taking every word of their conversation to heart.

Steve turned and headed toward the medical center. Dr. Erskine nodded to himself and followed him.

Just as expected, when it was Steve's turn for the medical examination, Dr. Erskine appeared.

"So, you want to go overseas and kill those Nazis?"

Dr. Erskine said, "I'm Dr. Abraham Erskine, Strategic Scientific Reserve."

"Steve Rogers." After exchanging names and shaking hands, Steve asked again, "Where are you from?"

"Queens. Before that, I was German. What about you?"

Steve hesitated and did not answer.

Dr. Erskine said, "Where are you from, Steve Rogers? Five documents listed five different cities..."

"You may have taken the wrong files," Steve tried to argue.

"I don't care about the files. I care that you tried five times, but you still haven't answered my question. Do you want to kill Nazis?"

"I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to be a bully, no matter where they're from." Steve spoke the justice in his heart.

"A lot of big men have already enlisted. One more little guy won't hurt. I can give you this chance. Now tell me where this little guy is from. Tell the truth."

"Brooklyn."

"Congratulations, soldier." As he spoke, he handed Steve a document. A paper marked "1A" was displayed before Steve.