Deterrence

Han Lin's words made everyone present stunned. The first to react was Phillips, who spoke up, "You mean that someone in the national high command is a Hydra spy, or someone supported by Hydra."

Han Lin said affirmatively, "Marx said that once there is proper profit, capitalists become bold. With fifty percent profit, they take risks; for one hundred percent profit, they dare to trample on all human laws; with three hundred percent profit, they dare commit any crime, even risking the gallows.

I don't know who specifically initiated this meeting, but I want to say that with the prepared ambushing the unprepared, we have already entered the game and can only play along with the other side. The front lines have gradually stabilized, and Steve's promotion tomorrow will have no problems.

The main problem tomorrow lies with me. No matter what, Steve, just don't stand on the same front line with me. Although you are an American soldier now, I still want to ask you, Steve, are you willing to join S.H.I.E.L.D.? What we are going to do is maintain world peace."

Steve had followed Han Lin's team on the battlefield for a year, fighting over a hundred large and small battles, and he had long since seen through what kind of person Han Lin was.

Although every day he said with his mouth that he was not a good person, that was toward enemies, who needed no mercy or forgiveness, because you never knew when the other side would put a bullet in your back.

To friends and teammates, Han Lin was always the one who rushed to the front line, bearing all the pressure on himself alone, in order to prevent casualties among his teammates and injuries to his friends...

Steve shook his head. "I don't agree with that. We're a team, and I can't let you bear this pressure alone. Dr. Erskine gave me a chance, and you've always been leading me down a path that belongs to me. I'll join S.H.I.E.L.D."

Han Lin looked at this enthusiastic big soldier with a slightly warmed heart, and said with some amusement, "Tomorrow, you will see the darkest moment of the world. At that time, you will feel disappointed in this world, so don't forget your original intent."

After dressing neatly in their military uniforms the next morning, Han Lin and Steve headed to the Senate with Phillips, Steve's shaped shield hanging behind his back.

Upon arriving at the scene, Steve and Han Lin were arranged to wait outside before entering, while people around entered the venue one after another.

Han Lin smiled lightly and said to Steve, "Nervous?"

Steve nodded. "A little. I used to be just a little guy from Brooklyn."

Han Lin patted Steve on the shoulder. "Relax, you are Captain America now, they won't do anything to you, or else they won't be able to bear the nation's anger. You are a true hero."

Phillips came out and called Han Lin and Steve to go in together.

Han Lin and Steve stood still in the middle of the venue. Han Lin curiously looked around; the onlookers numbering in the dozens were not enough to make Han Lin feel nervous. Seeing Brand constantly winking at him, Han Lin completely pretended not to see it.

Straight ahead sat two four-star generals and two senators.

After the two stood still and waited for the people on the stage to speak, the entire venue fell silent for thirty seconds. One of the two generals, a spirited old man, stood up:

"Captain Steve Rogers, became a Strategic Scientific Reserve recruit in November 1942, participated in the experiment as the first Super Soldier test subject in early 1943, and the experiment succeeded. Subsequently, he followed Colonel Phillips to fight in the European theater with brilliant military achievements, and maintained a hero's image in the hearts of the people through the persona of Captain America. He is hereby promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and will lead the Howling Commandos in the future."

With these words, he completely severed all ties between Steve and Han Lin, and then turned to Han Lin and said:

"Captain Han Lin, origin unknown, identity guaranteed by Howard Stark to become a U.S. citizen, entered the Strategic Scientific Reserve in 1942 to study the Super Soldier Serum with Dr. Erskine. After Dr. Erskine's death, he entered the Strategic Scientific Reserve and formed a squad with Steve Rogers, displaying extraordinary strength. Now the state questions whether you privately concealed national assets; do you have anything you want to explain?"

Han Lin looked at the people around him glaring and wanting to see right through him, and smiled softly, "I don't know what you're talking about. Can you speak more clearly, old man?"

"We suspect that your power comes from the Super Soldier Serum. You were Dr. Erskine's assistant before he died, and we have reason to suspect that you concealed the doctor's research results. Do you have any good explanation for this?" the old general slowly began.

Han Lin had a quite favorable impression of this very polite old general. Looking at his mental state, he didn't seem like the kind of person who would be swayed by Hydra, and besides, if it were him, Hydra would have long since brought the battlefield to the American Empire: "Old sir, I don't know what to call you. I have a question to ask you, and also the general behind you—who is he? Let's see if you can give me an answer."

"I am Chester William Nimitz, Allied Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Theater during the war, and he is Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied European Theater. What do you want to ask?" General Nimitz spoke up.

Han Lin executed a Patton-style military salute to the old general and respectfully said, "I want to ask the general, the Pacific Theater doesn't seem very critical, calling you, the commander-in-chief, down from the front line just to interrogate a minor character who nearly wiped out Hydra's scientific research forces in the European theater and pushed the front line nearly 100 kilometers toward the enemy. Am I right, General Eisenhower?"

Every word Han Lin spoke caused everyone present to change their expressions, while the two generals showed no special reactions. Senator Brand immediately spoke up, "Han Lin, we are now asking you whether you are hiding Dr. Erskine's research results, not for you to interrogate us."

General Eisenhower stood up, his posture even straighter than General Nimitz's, and slowly spoke, "I know your merits. All of Phillips's combat reports are still on my desk. It is indeed the merit of you and Steve on the European battlefield, and precisely because of this, we came here to ask you why you concealed the doctor's experimental results. If more of you and Steve appeared, we would accelerate the pace of the war and quickly end this war!"

Han Lin looked around, noting the expressions on each person's face in his mind, and turned directly to General Eisenhower to say:

"I believe all the senators present have heard this Senator Brand mention me. After Dr. Erskine's death, he approached me at the very first moment, wanting me to continue the research. At that time, I gave this country the best answer.

I will not let the doctor's life's work fall into the hands of you politicians who only know how to fight for power, so Steve and I enlisted in the army.

This is what the senator knows. I believe that the eighteen general lords present here received reports of my abilities long ago. My abilities and Steve's are different; my abilities originate from myself. Now, shall we witness what my power is like?"

As he spoke, Han Lin transformed his right hand into a Warhammer Form and smashed it fiercely onto the ground in front of him.

Just before hitting the ground, a shield blocked it. A sonic boom resounded through the entire venue, and the whole venue shook like an earthquake, startling all the generals and senators into taking two steps back.

Seeing the black-red muscles on Han Lin's clenched fists bulging and rapidly expanding to twice their size before slamming toward the ground, Steve finally understood why Han Lin had asked him to bring the shield this morning. He had witnessed the lethality of Han Lin's fists hitting the ground.

Steve quickly picked up the shield, stood in front of the four high-ranking officials, and blocked Han Lin.

Steve looked at Han Lin in slight panic and said, "What are you doing, Lin?"

Han Lin looked at Steve with amusement and said, "Look, I know you are a good man. Even without a shield, you would use your body to protect them. I have a sense of proportion; this is at least 10 meters away from them, smashing it on the ground will only give them a fright.

He proved to you that he is a soldier who stands in front of you to protect you. Now, Steve, tell them: if you didn't have a shield, could you take my punch?"

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