The Winter Soldier?!
The squad leader instantly grew solemn and stepped aside to take the call.
The Winter Soldier was a super-assassin training program Hydra had begun during World War II. Its core involved brainwashing promising soldiers, using hypnotic suggestions and other methods to turn them into killing machines under absolute control.
They had stolen some of the research on the super serum injected into Captain America and used it to create an imitation: the super soldier serum developed by Hydra scientist Doctor Zola. It could enhance a soldier's strength, physical fitness, healing, endurance, and more, and even slightly extend his lifespan.
This was Hydra's ultimate secret weapon. They had originally planned to create an elite army of super soldiers, enough to instantly turn the tide of battle. But to Hydra's disappointment, the super soldier serum developed by Doctor Zola clearly had some unknown flaw. Soldiers injected with it were prone to going mad and losing control, indiscriminately attacking everything around them or even exploding and dying.
With their dreams of a super army shattered, Hydra ultimately prepared six such super soldiers, but could only keep them frozen at their base in Siberia.
Only one Winter Soldier was actually deployed, becoming Hydra's most prized human weapon.
Between missions, he was frozen in suspended sleep. Whenever Hydra needed him, they would thaw and awaken him, order him to carry out a mission, then freeze him again until the next assignment.
Faced with such a precious weapon, the squad leader naturally took extra care.
Yet despite his caution, he still could not evade the Merfolk's keen hearing.
"...The Winter Soldier is coming to Outpost Three? ...No, no problem... We'll give him our full cooperation! Yes! ...We'll complete the mission without fail!"
Ending the call, the squad leader ordered the others, "Change of