"Sir, that was the general situation."
At USR Corporation's Manhattan headquarters in New York, Steve reported the results of his S.H.I.E.L.D. meeting to Russell, making it clear that Tony and Nick Fury had run into a thorny problem and needed Russell to lend a hand.
Personally, Steve did not want to be a spy, but he knew perfectly well that even if he kept quiet, someone else would speak up. Then Russell would give him a hard time, and the loss would outweigh the gain.
At other companies, bosses making life difficult for their subordinates was a means, not an end. But in Hydra, a leader making life difficult for subordinates really was the end itself.
As long as he was even slightly careless and gave Russell an opening, Russell would absolutely make things difficult for him.
Nothing else. He just found it interesting!
"These useless fools can't even find the way to their own deaths, yet they dare fight me."
Russell leaned back in his executive chair, took a cigarette from the pack, and raised it. Seeing this, Steve immediately stepped forward and rubbed Photon Energy between his fingertips to light it for him.
"Mm, this is good stuff. Want one?"
"Sir, I don't smoke."
"Who does?"
"..."
Five seconds later, Steve lit a cigarette and silently took a drag. He felt uncomfortable all over and went straight to the point. "Sir, do you have any guidance on how to expose Hydra's location and direct Nick Fury's attention toward Mars?"
"Steve, you've changed. You used to speak so directly. Now you've even learned how to flatter people." Russell shook his head with a sigh. Time was an old rogue. As it passed, everyone around him had learned to go bad.
*As if I had a choice. I'm only doing