An Impressive Chapter Title

"Sir!?"

Steve opened his mouth several times, but finally chose to address Russell as "Sir," a term he had used since his time with Hydra and was used to calling him that.

After Russell stepped out of the portal, two mages from Kamar-Taj followed closely behind, and a Winter Soldier fired a signal into the sky to locate Natasha and Yelena.

"Steve, it's only been a short time since we last met, and you've already betrayed us."

Russell said painfully, "I trusted you so much, appointing you as the Hydra Captain and even calling on everyone to learn from you. Now look what's happened, you stabbed me in the back without a word. How am I supposed to explain this to everyone? Should I call on everyone to continue learning from you and betray me together?"

Bucky chimed in, "Steve, you've already lost. Surrender now, and the officers will treat you leniently."

"Huh, did I? I don't remember saying that."

Russell looked at Bucky in surprise and asked doubtfully, "Bucky, do you want to trick them into surrendering, capture them, and then turn your backs on them, stuffing the men into the locker room and the women into the basement?"

Bucky's face turned pale, and he hurriedly explained, "No, no, I didn't."

"Bucky, you can't be so depraved. We Hydra are a righteous organization. I've repeatedly emphasized that we can't bring in any evil practices. Why don't you listen to me!"

"Sir, how could you..."

"No need for further explanation. As a high-ranking Hydra officer, to utter such insidious and vicious words, you have greatly disappointed me. Go back and write a 5 million-word self-criticism, with no repetition allowed."

"..."

After Bucky entered a state of autism and his soul regained its freedom, he gained a new right that he didn't have before: to mentally hang Russell up and whip him in various ways.

His motivation for urging Steve to surrender was nothing more than...

Well, perhaps part of the reason was for Steve, but it was more for the benefit of the group.

The collective is the entire Hydra, and Hydra is Russell's business. So, rounding up, his persuasion of Steve to surrender was ultimately for Russell's sake.

As a result, his boss was completely incapable of negotiation, effectively blocking all avenues of retreat. The other side had no choice but to fight to the death if they wanted to surrender.

Most importantly, Bucky really wanted to know if 5 million words was a serious number.

As expected, upon hearing Russell's words, Howard immediately closed his armor, and Maria and Carter also prepared for battle.

They didn't know if Russell was joking or if he really intended to do so, but considering that Hydra had never had a traitor, they couldn't rule out the possibility that such a punishment was real.

Russell waved his hand, signaling everyone to calm down. "Don't get agitated. While I don't accept surrendering voluntarily, I also disagree with Bucky's proposed method of punishment. After all, Hydra is a lawful organization, and it still has its principles... Oh, except for Bucky, he's been single all along, which is a bit abnormal."

Bucky: "..."

As they spoke, several streaks of fire flashed across the sky. Natasha, Yelena, and the others arrived, forming an encirclement in mid-air and surrounding Steve and his companions.

With all escape routes blocked, Steve took a deep breath. "Sir, this has nothing to do with Howard and the others, it's my fault..."

Russell interrupted him directly, saying firmly, "No need for explanations, the facts are there for all to see, and I only believe what I see."

At this moment, Howard spoke up, "Boss, you may not believe it, but I have always loved the organization and was extremely proud to be a member of Hydra. This time, I was forced by Steve to take the risk with him. During this time, I was in great turmoil, constantly thinking about returning to the organization."

"..."xN

No wonder he's a businessman; he betrayed his teammates in the blink of an eye!

Howard opened his visor and secretly gave Steve a look. With no way out and no way to fight back, he had no choice but to surrender.

In his view, with three fewer people holding him back, Steve should be able to escape even if he can't win the fight.

With that thought in mind, Howard grabbed his wife Maria and Steve's lover Carter, one in each hand, and the three of them took off their suits and surrendered.

"Stop acting, do I look stupid?"

Russell curled his lip. "I said I don't accept surrender. I'll dig a hole and bury you all when I'm done fighting."

Howard said with a look of grief and indignation, "Boss, please give us another chance! Fighting and killing will damage our harmony. We're all on the same side. If anyone gets hurt, it's your loss."

Russell said meaningfully, "There will be no loss, and my men will not be hurt."

Just as Howard was about to say something more, Maria and Carter suddenly put on their Iron Man Suit, raised their long guns and short cannons, and each aimed them at their lovers.

"Maria!?"

Peggy!?

The sudden betrayal struck the two grown men like a thunderbolt. They quickly realized that the two women had been taken control of by Russell.

"An attack from the Mind Stone, they cannot resist my orders... If you don't understand, I can explain it again!" Russell looked at Steve with amusement, his eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Howard.

Howard stood frozen in place, his gaze shifting from struggle to calm, finally settling into a blank expression. Maria behind him sheathed her weapon, and the couple walked side by side into Russell's camp. A mage opened a portal, sending them to the Wakanda base.

"Look, capturing prisoners is that simple, so why accept their surrender?"

Russell smiled slightly, which sent chills down Steve's spine, making him afraid to meet his gaze.

Steve is overthinking it. Even Thanos with the Mind Stone couldn't do it, so there's no way Russell could control him.

In fact, when Russell first acquired his Mind Stone abilities, he could easily overwhelm them by sheer numbers, making it very easy for him to invade and control the minds of ordinary people.

Infiltrating Howard, who had taken the Heart-shaped herb, became more difficult. His limit was roughly equivalent to that of agents like Carter, who had undergone enhancements and received professional training.

Click!

Teka expressionlessly withdrew the weapon she had been pressing against Steve's forehead, and instead pointed it at her own head, startling Steve into quickly striking her unconscious with a chop to the neck.

"Steve, I wasn't angry at all when I found out you were defecting, even though you took Howard and the others with you," Russell said. "Because I know very well that no matter how many like-minded companions you find, they will all become my people."

"..." Steve gritted his teeth, a deep sense of powerlessness rising within him.

"However, thanks to you, I was able to eliminate the destabilizing factors within Hydra. For that, I must say... well done!"

Steve felt a chill run down his spine and said coldly, "That's why I left Hydra. It's not because you fabricated false memories to deceive me, but because you Enslavement the minds of others. If Hydra were truly the righteous organization you claim it to be, you shouldn't be like that mustachioed guy, dictating everything and controlling everyone's will."

"Regarding this, I have rescinded everyone's contract. They are very grateful to you because they have gained my trust through this test."

Steve looked around in surprise and received a nod of approval from Bucky, which made him feel even more disheartened.

"Steve, you're so narrow-minded!"

Russell gripped the Infinity Gauntlet, the Snap to send Carter, ordered his men to capture her, and continued, "The Hydra I rule and the Hydra ruled by Red Skull are two different things. If you insist on looking at the new order with old eyes, you'll only end up getting hurt."

Steve: "..."

Yes, compared to you, Red Skull isn't even worthy of carrying your shoes!

"A failed betrayal successfully amused me, but it also brought a bit of fun to my boring daily life." Russell strode towards Steve, threw a heavy punch, and stopped in front of his face. "Let me reiterate one last time, I do not accept surrender. Fight me, and if you win, I can guarantee that Howard and the others will be returned to you."

"And then they arrested him?"

"Don't say that. I'm a positive person. I always persuade people with reason and never resort to underhanded tricks!"

Russell raised an eyebrow. "Hurry up and do it. You probably don't want to know what will happen if you lose."

No, I know!

Steve thought to himself that, given Russell's style, he would definitely help Carter hold a wedding, with Bucky.

He will attend the wedding as a groomsman and may also offer his congratulations to the newlyweds.

Russell said smugly, "I'll help Carter throw a wedding, and the groom will be Bucky. You'll be the best man. How about that? Heartbroken? Scared?"

"..."

Steve remained expressionless. Having already guessed the answer, he wasn't afraid at all; in fact, he even felt a little amused.

"As for Howard, that old ingrate learned my knowledge, used the resources I provided, and got a pair of healthy kidneys, plus a wife who's over fifty but still as beautiful as a flower. Instead of being grateful, he's betrayed you." Russell's eyes darted around. "I heard he has a son named Tony Stark. Why don't we capture him..."

"To arbitrarily decide the fate of others, that's why I left Hydra!" Steve sneered, delivering a heavy uppercut to Russell's chin.

Bang!

Russell extended his left hand and steadily caught the punch. The purple light on the Infinity Gauntlet was dazzling. He slowly lowered his fist and looked directly into Steve's eyes. "Captain, you're being hypocritical. If you hadn't made Howard break free from the contract, he wouldn't have been in danger and would have continued to live the life he wanted."

Bang!

Steve threw another punch, but Russell gripped it tightly. The Power Stone and the Photon Energy clashed against each other. Steve said, word by word, "But he lost his freedom, he lost himself, he's just your slave."

"But I saved his life!"

Russell pressed down on Steve's fist. "Your eyes can only see the present, while my eyes can see the future. If I hadn't intervened, Howard would have been murdered, and you... because the person who killed Howard was Bucky, you broke with his son and died in the Civil War between heroes."

"Impossible!"

"It's possible that by the time you return to Earth, Carter will be old, and you'll have missed her wedding and only made it to her funeral," Russell said. "Compared to that, you should thank me."

"Impossible!!" Steve's voice became even more agitated upon hearing the word "wedding."

"Don't worry, even so, you won't be single forever. You've gotten together with Carter's niece. That girl idolizes you and pursued you relentlessly. You say you only Carter, but you're more proactive than her."

"Impossible, Peggy's niece is already forty years old."

Russell chuckled, "No, it's not her. The one I'm talking about hasn't been born yet!"

"Then... then it's even more impossible!!!" Steve's tone was more agitated than ever before, and he was incoherent.

"Steve, you're too modest. Don't underestimate yourself. You're much worse than you think."