Underestimated

"Are there a lot of people named Steve Rogers?" Kino asked with a dark expression.

"Uh... no, no, well..."

He had not reacted just now.

After all, Steve Rogers had been frozen for nearly seventy years. With the efforts of those who cared, his deeds had been almost completely "heroized." The outside world rarely heard the name "Steve Rogers" anymore. Everyone called him—Captain America!

Yes, the Captain had no name.

His name was Captain America!

Hearing that name again so suddenly, Coulson truly failed to react at first.

"Then... you... you mean it?"

"Of course."

"But... how... how do you know?" Coulson was still too excited to contain himself.

"Not only do I know, I can even tell you where he is."

This time, it was not just Coulson. Hill, Melinda May, and the two unidentified assault team members were all dumbfounded. That was Captain America. Could he still be alive?

Hmm, Black Widow did not seem quite as enthusiastic.

Thinking about it, she had not originally been American.

However, he noticed the slightest ripple in Black Widow's emotions.

Strange?

He searched her memories but found nothing before Coulson interrupted him. Still, he vaguely remembered that in the comics, Black Widow had crossed paths with Captain America. Later, she went to the Red Room, where some of her memories had been erased and others implanted.

So perhaps...?

Kino was not sure for the moment whether this Black Widow had ever met Captain America.

Coulson kept pressing, "Then... where is he now?"

"Do you have a map?"

"Yes!" Coulson pulled out his phone.

Pretty advanced, though Kino did not know how to use it.

"The point where the 74th west longitude line intersects the northeastern outline of Baffin Island."

Very quickly, Coulson marked the exact location. He looked surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Not completely, but... it shouldn't be too far off." Kino still held something back, lest he get proven wrong.

After swallowing hard, Coulson dialed the director. "I... I need to speak with the director."

He knew the Cosmic Cube had been found near that stretch of sea. They had searched the surrounding area countless times, but... they had never found any trace of the Captain. The climate there was volatile and complicated, the terrain was constantly changing, and the equipment at the time had been limited. After searching for years... they had finally given up.

But now?

Although he did not know how Kino knew, he would rather take a chance. That was his idol.

"Sir, I have a possible... location for Captain America. What do you think? Oh, right, it was provided by Mr. Marcus."

To keep the director from doubting him, he deliberately mentioned Kino.

"What? Steve Rogers?"

"Yes, I mean, no one else would be... called Captain America." Coulson said.

"Send me the location." After receiving the information, Nick Fury nodded. "Good. I'll send people over immediately! Continue your mission."

He knew exactly how much Coulson idolized Captain America, so he specifically reminded him not to lose focus.

The Captain!

He was someone from Fury's era. Though they had never fought side by side, they were both old hands from World War II. As he grew older, the companions from his time either died or became frail with age. With only himself left, he could not help feeling lonely. Though Black Widow was also from that era, she had come from Stalingrad.

They had once been hostile forces.

So he was happy now as well!

Kino snatched the phone. "Hey, Baldy, once you find Steve Rogers, our deal is settled. It cancels out!"

Nick Fury knew what he meant. He had verbally agreed to do Kino two favors. Saving Tony was one, and finding Captain America was the second.

Though he was furious that someone called him "Baldy"!

"That won't do. You volunteered this lead on your own; I didn't ask you for a favor!" Nick Fury was far too cunning to give up another "promise."

"Believe me, I can go over there right now and kill your Captain America. He should still be frozen in ice, so killing him would be easy." Kino was unhappy.

Blackhead was dumbfounded. Uh—

"And another thing, Baldy. If I say it cancels out, then it cancels out. Stop rambling at me. Keep yapping, and believe it or not, I'll go tear down your S.H.I.E.L.D.!" Kino snapped.

The atmosphere aboard the entire Quinjet instantly turned bizarre.

Coulson looked awkward. He knew Kino was joking, but he still could not help swallowing.

"You—"

"You're full of crap! It's settled! If you try to get me to work for free again, don't blame me for turning on you!"

Beep—beep. He hung up and tossed the phone back to Coulson.

Looking at the dead call on the screen, Blackhead was so angry that his face turned pale. "That bastard has no discipline and no regard for organization. Barton, Barbara, take people to this location immediately and search for Captain America."

"Mm." Hawkeye nodded, slung his bow over his back, and left. "Darling, we get to fight together again."

He actually wanted to know who that badass was that dared to rage at the director. But confidentiality rules were confidentiality rules. If he was allowed to know, he would know. If not... asking was useless.

"You'd better not hold me back." Barbara tossed her flowing golden hair and said arrogantly.

"No problem!" Hawkeye said with a smile and a shrug.

"Let's hope he's still alive." Nick Fury let out a long sigh. Though he knew the Captain had been genetically enhanced, he had been frozen for nearly seventy years...

--

The group traveled in silence. Around evening, they arrived at the U.S. military airfield in Afghanistan.

Colonel James Rhodes, the future War Machine, had received notice long ago and was already waiting at the airfield.

"You're three hours early!"

"Hello, Colonel Rhodes. I'm Phil Coulson, from Homeland Strategic Defense, Attack, and Logistics..." Coulson stepped forward and shook his hand.

Although Black Widow outranked him, she was mainly responsible for flying the plane on this trip. The one truly in charge was Phil Coulson. He was adept at handling all kinds of people and had a strong sense of the bigger picture, making him well suited to lead.

"Okay, okay, I know who you are!" Rhodes smiled and nodded, but his face quickly turned gloomy. "No time for pleasantries. Come on, come on, we'll talk as we walk... How are you planning to search for and rescue Tony?"

"Uh..."

Coulson awkwardly turned to look at Kino. In truth, they had not formulated any strategy at all. Everything depended on Kino.

Rhodes noticed Coulson's glance as well and looked over at Kino. Don't tell me they're counting on him?

Dressed in casual clothes and carrying himself lazily, Rhodes had thought he was logistics personnel.

What, were you inspecting merchandise?

Kino was very unhappy. Damn it, was he being underestimated?

If it were not for the fact that you were the future War Machine, believe it or not, I'd teach you a lesson in minutes?