Conspiracy

Dr. Erskine fell silent. After lowering his head in thought for a while, he got up, took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, and poured Han Lin a glass as well.

As the two drank, Dr. Erskine, who had come to trust Han Lin more and more, began telling him about his past.

Dr. Erskine was German. After Hitler came to power and learned of his research, he sent him to Hydra headquarters' research division to create Super Soldiers for Germany.

Hydra's current leader, Schmidt, was wildly ambitious and even more obsessed with power and strength than Hitler.

Originally a genius scientist, he had wanted to become a superhuman and gain the power of a god.

Hitler used words to incite his followers, but to Schmidt, this was no fantasy. To him, it was real.

He believed that the power of the gods remained in the mortal world.

So, after Schmidt discovered the potential of the Super Soldier Serum, he could not resist its power. He wanted to become a superhuman and forced the doctor to enhance him. But the serum had not yet matured at the time, and its side effects disfigured Schmidt, turning him into the Red Skull.

The serum could enhance every aspect of a person. The good became better, and the bad became worse. Thus, Schmidt became even more evil, and his ambitions grew ever greater.

The strong were born with power. Only the weak held power in awe.

"I hope that after Steve is enhanced, he will not merely become a good soldier, but a good man!"

"Schmidt knows you're here," Han Lin said, following up naturally. What came next was important.

The doctor's hand froze around his glass. "With Hydra's intelligence network, they certainly know. I know tomorrow will be dangerous."

"Then what are your plans for tomorrow, Doctor?" Han Lin asked, getting to the point.

"I had actually planned to die tomorrow from the beginning. Only then would Schmidt stop looking for me, and the Super Soldier Serum formula would disappear with me." Before the doctor could finish, Han Lin interrupted him.

"I won't let you die, Doctor. Tomorrow's experiment will succeed. What I need is for you to die in front of them. Of course, not truly die.

"Perhaps we should talk to Colonel Phillips, Howard, and Agent Carter."

By the time Howard, Colonel Phillips, and Agent Carter arrived, it was already midnight.

Seeing the two drinking by the fireplace, the three did not know what had happened. But knowing Han Lin's abilities, they could all sense the grave atmosphere.

Han Lin himself was not too concerned, because the ability he claimed to possess was not foresight. It was merely the plot he had seen in his previous life. With Han Lin's current abilities, changing this would be easy.

The problem was how to make Dr. Erskine fake his death tomorrow.

Howard spoke first. "What's wrong, Lin? Why does the atmosphere feel so serious?"

Han Lin said, "I saw the future. Tomorrow, the doctor will die, Steve will be successfully enhanced, and then Steve will tour the entire country to raise funds for the war. I have the power to change all of it, but I don't want to!"

Han Lin deliberately made the situation sound dire in order to seize control of the conversation.

"Why? You can clearly change this ending. You can make the world more peaceful. The glory of an early victory would all belong to you!" Colonel Phillips was a supporter of the United States military and regarded dying on the battlefield as an honor.

Han Lin gave a soft, scornful laugh. "Yes. If I save Erskine, Steve will lead a bunch of huge, muscular men onto the battlefield, sweep through Europe, and kill Schmidt. But do you know what happens afterward? Spies from every nation will swarm in, all to capture the doctor.

"Then the United States will become a second Germany, an enemy of the world. War will rage everywhere, and countless people will be displaced. Those Super Soldiers will become the butcher's knives in politicians' hands. Later, the serum formula will be lost, and Super Soldiers from every nation will emerge one after another. A devastating war will break out, nuclear weapons will be used without restraint, and the Earth will be battered beyond recognition. War pollution, disease, and famine will leave the world scarred beyond repair. Is that the peace you want? I would rather sacrifice the doctor than let the politicians you keep talking about get their hands on it!"

Han Lin's mixture of truth and falsehood filled the four people present with fear. They had never imagined that their research could bring such consequences. They had always hoped it could end the war and preserve peace.

Yet while they had guarded against Hydra, they had never considered how the upper ranks of the Allied nations would react. No one wanted to see the United States become a second Hitler, dominating alone and bringing an even greater disaster upon the world.

Dr. Erskine shook his head and sighed. "If there is no better way, then I think letting me die tomorrow is the best choice. Only then will Schmidt stop focusing on this place."

Agent Carter sharply rejected the idea. "No. You cannot be sacrificed."

Howard and Colonel Phillips nodded as well. "The doctor cannot die, even for victory."

Howard said, "I have a new type of bulletproof vest. If the assassin uses a handgun, I can guarantee that as long as he does not shoot the head, we can put artificial blood on the vest and create a fake death scene. The only concern is if the assassin aims for the head."

Han Lin's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, I think we can try it. As for a shot to the head, I can prepare for that. I can see bullet trajectories. If anyone shoots at the doctor's head, I can block it for him."

Since Dr. Erskine's death had to look convincing, Howard immediately got up to prepare what they would need for tomorrow. The best method would have been to find a dead man to replace Dr. Erskine, but the doctor strongly opposed it, saying that only by personally watching the experiment succeed would it be best.

At the same time, at Hydra's base deep in the mountains of Germany.

Dr. Zola looked at Schmidt. "I heard we found him."

As he spoke, he walked to the table and looked at the photographs spread across it.

Zola asked, "Do we need to give the order?"

Schmidt said, "I already gave it!"

The next day, Steve followed Agent Carter to the secret laboratory.

At the entrance to the laboratory, Han Lin, who had come to meet Steve, looked at him and asked, "How do you feel? Nervous?"

"Not bad. A little nervous."

"Relax. Don't worry. Today, you'll change!" As he spoke, Han Lin led Steve to the enhancement chamber. "Get in."

Lying inside the spacious enhancement chamber, Steve's thin body shifted uneasily.

"Are you all right, Steve?" Han Lin looked at the fidgeting Steve.

"It's a little big." When he saw Erskine and nodded to Dr. Erskine, Steve visibly relaxed.

"You'll soon find it too small," Han Lin said with a smile.

"Remember, no matter what happens, you must hold on. The serum's effects have become stronger, so the pain caused by the enhancement will be greater as well," Han Lin warned seriously.

"I can do it." Steve nodded firmly. He had finally gotten this opportunity, and he would never give up.

After clearing out the irrelevant personnel, the doctor picked up the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

"Today is the first step on our path toward peace."

"First, we will carry out a series of minimally invasive injections."

"The serum will be injected into the muscle groups."

"After the serum is injected, it will trigger rapid cellular changes."

"Afterward, it will stimulate growth."

"Then the Life Ray will penetrate the subject."

As Dr. Erskine explained, the experiment began. After the serum was injected, the enhancement chamber closed.

The Life Ray irradiation began, and intense blue-white light shone through the chamber's window.

As the ray's intensity increased, Steve lost control and began screaming in pain.

Seeing this, Agent Carter anxiously shouted, "Turn it off!"

"Steve!" Dr. Erskine pounded on the enhancement chamber and called out. When Steve did not respond, the doctor hurriedly shouted, "Turn it back! Howard, shut it down!" Howard was about to turn off the rays when Steve suddenly rasped out.

"No! Don't turn it off! I can do it!"

Howard paused at those words and looked at Dr. Erskine, who in turn shifted his gaze to Han Lin.

Han Lin could only trust Steve now. The child of destiny always had some privileges. "He can do it."

At those words, the doctor nodded to Howard. Seeing that, Howard slowly turned the switch to maximum.