The host of Fox News station is broadcasting with a serious face:
"... Now a breaking news."
"Alexander Pierce, former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and current World Security Council secretary-general, just held a press conference in Washington."
The screen cuts to the press hall of Triskelion.
Pierce stood in front of the podium with a sad face, and a video was playing on the huge display behind him.
The video shows Steve·Rogers attacking the agents in the elevator.
"I regret to tell you." Pierce's voice was heavy, "Captain America, Steve·Rogers, whom we have always admired... betrayed us."
The whole place was in an uproar.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. discovered a top-secret file during an internal review. This file shows that as early as World War II, Captain Rogers was secretly captured by a branch of Hydra after falling into the ice sea and brainwashed for decades."
"The so-called 'freeze' is just a lie to cover up the truth!"
A series of perfectly forged documents and photos appeared on the screen. In the photo, Captain America was lying in the laboratory of Hydra, with tubes inserted into his body.
"Nick Fury, the current director, is the driving force behind all this. He is the Hydra spy lurking at the highest level of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It was he who awakened 'Hydra Captain' in an attempt to use him to subvert world peace and seize power!"
"Boom--!"
This news instantly triggered public opinion.
Captain America is Hydra?
This is simply more ridiculous than President United States being a Red Square spy.
But the evidence... and the speeches of the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and current Security Council Secretary-General can't help but make people suspicious.
"Therefore." Pierce raised his voice with a righteous tone, "In the name of World Security Council, I officially issue a global wanted order!"
"Wanted Steve·Rogers! Wanted Nick·Fury!"
"They are extremely dangerous terrorists..."
"Crack!"
Steve turned off the TV.
He had no anger, only a deep exhaustion.
"Hydra Captain..." Steve smiled bitterly, "Pierce, you really took great pains to destroy me."
Now he has become a public enemy. Coincidentally, his face has nowhere to hide in United States.
"Woooooooo--!!!"
A piercing siren sounded outside the V. G. D base.
Steve walked to the window.
I saw more than twenty black armored vehicles with flashing police lights parked outside the base gate.
Those are S.H.I.E.L.D.'s rapid response special forces, and the FBI's tactical team.
There is another Quinjet buzzing in the sky.
"People inside, listen! Let Hydra Captain Steve·Rogers come out immediately with your hands high!"
Rumlow was standing on an armored vehicle with one hand hanging around his neck and a loudspeaker in the other, his face full of arrogance.
"If the person is not handed over, Vought will be suspected of harboring international terrorists. We will forcefully enter, search and arrest!"
The next second after he finished speaking, he was attacked by hail, Hurricane Protocol, lightning, acid and other colors. He was so beaten that he fled 200 meters away.
Steve looked at all this and sighed.
He doesn't want to involve Vought. This is a war between him and Hydra.
Then he stood up, straightened his uniform, picked up his shield, and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going? Captain."
A voice stopped him.
Ashley stood calmly in the middle of the corridor.
"Mr. Rogers, have you forgotten that you are still the chief instructor of VGD? Your employment contract has not expired, and you will have to pay liquidated damages for leaving your job without permission."
"Ashley..." Steve smiled bitterly, "Now is not the time to joke. They say I am Hydra, and I am wanted all over the world."
"So what?"
Ashley sneered.
"They say you are Hydra, you are the one? If tomorrow they say I am United Kingdom queen, do I still have to go to the Buckingham Palace to ascend the throne?"
Steve frowned slightly, "But I can't hurt you."
"Implicated?"
Ashley smiled nonchalantly.
"Captain, do you have any misunderstanding about Vought?"
"We are Vought International, our market value now exceeds Boeing, and our boss is Homelander who can rub aliens in volcanoes."
"Do you think we are afraid of the garbage outside?"
Ashley stepped forward and slapped a document in his hand on Steve's chest.
"What is this?" Steve was stunned.
"A new contract." Ashley said, "There is also a letter that Mr. Starr left for you before he left."
"He said if you have a 'political crisis,' sign this."
Steve was stunned.
Homelander left?
He opened the envelope.
There was only a thin piece of letter paper with scrawled handwriting on it.
"To the veteran who is still lost:
Hey, Steve.
When you read this letter, there is a high probability that you have been stabbed in the back by that arrogant and mysterious organization.
I'm not surprised.
I have long said that this place is rotten to the core and cannot be repaired.
None of this matters.
The important thing is that I understand your inner thoughts.
You are thinking that you are outdated, an antique belonging to the last century, and those persistence and morals seem like a joke in this era.
But let me tell you, that's fart.
The colors will fade, the flags will change, and even the number of stars on Stars and Stripes will change.
But some things never change.
Courage, sacrifice, and the kind that when you see injustice, even if the whole world tells you to get out of the way, you dare to stay in place like a giant tree.
I've always said that I'm not a real hero. Steve, you are.
Vought needs more than a thug with a shield.
We need a soul.
A soul that can tell those confused brats that strength is not for showing off, but for protecting.
We don't need Captain Captain America, we don't need Captain White House, and we don't need Captain S.H.I.E.L.D..
What we need is... a captain of the people.
Signed the damn contract, Steve.
Fight alongside me! Veteran.
--Anthony·Starr"
Steve's hands are shaking.
Ever since he woke up in Arctic Ocean, he has been a stranger. S.H.I.E.L.D. is his job and Avengers is his colleague. He has never had a real sense of belonging.
And now...
"He..." Steve's eyes were a little moist, "He had expected it?"
"The boss always sees further than everyone else." Ashley handed over a pen, "Sign it, captain. If you sign it, you will be a registered hero of V. D. G., protected by <Superhero Registration Act>. To arrest you requires a special order from the president, and President Ellis... is our old friend."
Steve took a deep breath.
He took the pen and solemnly signed his name at the end of the contract.
"Very good."
Ashley put away the contract with a smile of victory on his face.
She opened the makeup mirror to check her makeup, then turned and walked towards the door.
"Now, I'm going to get rid of those nasty flies outside."
"Then, I'll clear your name again."