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Iron Man had not asked Black Widow to notify Apocalypse because, from a human standpoint, the matter was genuinely difficult to handle.

Apocalypse was closer to Iron Man. If he helped Iron Man kill Winter Soldier, it would inevitably provoke Captain America's resentment.

Captain America leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. would be the least of it. He might even turn dark and embark on a path of opposing S.H.I.E.L.D.

Conversely, if Captain America urgently begged Apocalypse to spare Bucky, would Apocalypse help or not?

If he helped, he would be unable to answer to Iron Man. If he refused, he would lose Captain America as a friend forever.

Only Iron Man could pursue Bucky openly and aboveboard.

If he succeeded, Captain America could only blame himself for failing to protect his friend. He would not harbor any additional resentment.

At most, he would leave S.H.I.E.L.D. and refuse to work with Iron Man.

In the original plot, Captain America and Bucky joined forces to defeat Iron Man, yet did not dare do much more.

Instead, in the name of his father, Iron Man forced Captain America to leave behind his shield.

Captain America could only hand it over guiltily.

Apocalypse said, "I'm going. This is no longer merely a grudge between the three of them. There may be hundreds of Winter Soldiers like Bucky."

Nick Fury was shocked. "Hundreds? That many?!"

Just one Bucky had already stirred up the entire world. Even Iron Man's parents, one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., had been assassinated.

What would happen if there were hundreds of them?

Apocalypse said, "Those Winter Soldiers are flawed. They should all be dormant right now. But Colonel Zemo found them, and after that, anything could happen."

In the original plot, those Winter Soldiers never awakened. Colonel Zemo killed them directly.

Now, the