Planning

Howard took the two of them to the military factory. Since Howard was very interested in the small submarine from earlier, he had Han Lin and Steve follow the vehicle ahead all the way there.

After arriving, Steve took the assassin to find Agent Carter, while Han Lin followed Howard, intending to see how this small submarine with its futuristic technology operated.

The moment they entered the factory, Howard and Han Lin heard a commotion.

"Colonel Phillips, the committee needs an answer," a congressman said.

Colonel Phillips gave him a contemptuous look. "Fine. Then let's talk about how a German spy got into your car and entered my secret base."

He glanced at Howard, who was fiddling with the small submarine. "How is it?"

Howard tapped the submarine's hull. "I may be the best mechanical engineer in the United States, but I still can't figure out this thing's structure or how it operates."

"This is Hydra's classified technology. I'll need some time to fully study it before it can be deployed on the battlefield. I spoke with the President this morning. Starting today, the Strategic Scientific Reserve has a new mission. Dr. Erskine is dead, and only he knew all the core formulas. So the Strategic Scientific Reserve will be heading to the battlefield to fight Hydra to the death.

"Pack your bags, Agent Carter, and you too, Stark. Lin, what will you choose? Continue Dr. Erskine's research, or fly to London with us in two days?"

Han Lin looked at the silent Steve. "Is Steve going? I don't think Steve needs to stay behind and be a dancing monkey. He needs to go to the battlefield with me! I will not restart Dr. Erskine's experimental research, because that would be disrespectful to him. As for what your military does, that's your business. Starting today, I'm a soldier. I'll make Hydra pay."

"Who do you think you are? Steve's future has already been arranged. And you are a soldier of the United States. Your duty is to obey orders. The United States needs you to continue researching the Super Soldier Serum. That is how we can speed up the end of the war. You haven't seen Steve's value, but the entire country has. The streets are filled with people lining up to enlist. We cannot let an idol like him be buried in a laboratory," the congressman said.

Han Lin sneered. "Who do you think you are? I'm only an external member of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Orders from politicians like you, who only know how to talk, are worthless to me. I can resign and leave whenever I want. As for Steve, you say you see his value? Do you really understand Steve? You want to make Dr. Erskine's sole life's work wear the flag and perform like a monkey."

As he spoke, he flicked the screwdriver he had been playing with toward Steve. A sharp whistle cut through the air as Steve caught it with a backhand. "What are you doing, Lin?"

Han Lin raised his chin and glanced at the congressman, who had already hidden behind Steve. "See that? He's protecting a weakling like you. In front of him, you are nothing. Let me show you how terrifying true power is."

As he spoke, he picked up another screwdriver and threw it at a distant wall. The screwdriver sank into the wall all the way to its handle, leaving fine cracks around it. "This is my power. Killing ordinary soldiers would be as easy as breathing for me, yet Steve caught it. Do you think power like this is something you can control?"

"I heard from the doctor that Schmidt injected an incomplete serum. He might not be stronger than Steve, but do you think soldiers on the battlefield can stand against Schmidt? Steve should lead an elite force to the front lines and kill the enemy. As for you, all you need to do is package him as a hero capable of changing the battlefield. That will bring you greater returns, instead of having him sell his ass."

Han Lin had been in this world for nearly two months. As his strength grew and the things he came into contact with rose to increasingly higher levels, the young man who had once known only how to have fun had matured somewhat. He acted according to his heart. Just like with Dr. Erskine, if he wanted to change Erskine's fate, he had to bear the consequences of altering the story himself. Whether it turned out well or badly, he could only follow his heart. Thus, he did not care in the slightest about the congressman's threats.

Colonel Phillips nodded. "Then Steve will come with us to London in two days as well."

After sending Steve home to pack, Han Lin, Howard, Agent Carter, and Phillips went to the experimental base where Dr. Erskine was staying. Wrapped in bandages, Dr. Erskine sat at a table, looking over the experimental data before him.

"Are we really not telling Steve?" Agent Carter asked worriedly.

Han Lin shook his head. "He'll know, just not now.

"Right now, Dr. Erskine is publicly dead. I mean no offense, Doctor. We have already ended the Super Soldier Program, and the outside world now knows that Steve is the only successful case.

"I believe Colonel Phillips had already submitted my information in advance. The pressure on me will be no less than Steve's. What we need to do now is keep the serum in our own hands. I don't care who receives the injection, but I care about this world.

"No matter how strong they become, they will not be stronger than I am now. If you can give me Schmidt's location, I would not mind killing that parasite who endangers the world right now.

"We can establish a department here. The five of us, plus Steve in the future, six people in total, will become its first administrators. Any use of the serum must receive unanimous approval from all six of us. What do you all think?"

Han Lin laid out his plan in full. In truth, he wanted to bring S.H.I.E.L.D. into existence ahead of schedule. After discussion, S.H.I.E.L.D. was born. It would not belong to any country, and its core members would consist of the six of them.

S.H.I.E.L.D. (S.H.I.E.L.D./Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), its full name was the Strategic Homeland Defense, Attack, and Logistics Support Bureau.

The establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D. stirred everyone present. After settling several organizational personnel matters that needed confirmation, Agent Carter and Colonel Phillips were sent to recruit members in secret. For the time being, the organization would remain hidden within the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Once it gradually grew stronger, it would expand its core members and external personnel. Its purpose was to protect Earth.

Han Lin and Steve would be responsible for external combat operations and would lead troops in attacks against Hydra.

Colonel Phillips would be responsible for logistics, command, and communication with the United States. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first director, he would manage the organization's operations and development.

As an elite agent, Carter would be responsible for establishing the intelligence department and gathering intelligence.

Dr. Erskine and Howard would provide technological support, including serum enhancement, combat equipment, defensive facilities, and the interpretation of captured Hydra technology. Judging from the captured Hydra small submarine, their technology was roughly fifteen years ahead of the rest of the world. Han Lin hoped they could decipher its technology as soon as possible and put it to use within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Dr. Erskine still had some reservations about Han Lin going to war. After only a month of study, Han Lin's knowledge of biology might not reach the doctor's level, but he was still a rare and capable assistant. With such an assistant, his research could progress more quickly.

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