Siberia, in fact, still has a considerable population in both the eastern and Siberia parts, especially the western part, which is known as the breadbasket of Russia.
The truly harsh and barren lands are those in northern Siberia.
This area is close to the Arctic Circle, and the average temperature in winter is minus seventy degrees Celsius.
A truly barren land.
This is the prison where Natasha and Yelena's 'father,' Alexei, is held.
The prison is situated in a natural basin surrounded by high mountains.
The high mountains, which are covered with snow all year round and have no paths, serve as a natural wall and barrier.
The prison was converted from several large abandoned military barracks, completely sealed off on all sides except for one exit.
Outside the exit is a high, simple steel corridor, which, together with the wall below, divides the prison's entrance and exit into several small paths with different functions.
Some were leaving, some were entering; some were escorting prisoners, some were transporting supplies—all in an orderly fashion.
Soldiers strolled lazily back and forth in the steel corridor, guns in hand.
The harsh natural environment and weather surrounding the prison serve as its best shield.
Compared to the freezing cold outside, the prison was warm and cozy, with many inmates even sitting shirtless around tables chatting loudly.
The comfortable temperature in prison is not only for humanitarian reasons, but also to prevent prison breaks!
The temperature inside meant that the prison provided prisoners with nothing more than a vest and a thin jacket. If you dared to go outside, even if the guards didn't shoot, you would freeze to death before you even climbed the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
So even though most of the prisoners held here are extremely vicious, the prison guards still maintain a leisurely and carefree attitude.
When Alexei was young, he participated in several battles as a super soldier, and then he was sent to the United States as an undercover spy by General Dreykov.
After returning from his mission in the United States, for reasons unknown, Alexei was thrown into this prison by Dreykov.
More than ten years have passed.
So Alexei, the Red Guardian, wasn't very well-known outside, but inside this prison, everyone knew Alexei as the super soldier.
But more often than not, they were the object of ridicule and jokes among prison guards and inmates after meals.
After all, he possessed superhuman physical abilities like Captain America, was the only super soldier in the former Soviet Union, and was a war superhero that the country was preparing to cultivate, yet he was locked up in this godforsaken place with a bunch of scum.
His identity is undoubtedly the best psychological comfort for the frustrated prison guards and the criminals destined to stay here for life.
"Bang!"
"Haha! Come on, next one!"
Having spent over a decade in prison, the overweight and unshaven Alexei easily snapped the wrist of another inmate, who looked as strong as a bear, and slammed it onto the table.
This was almost a daily after-lunch entertainment activity in the prison: selecting a few strong men to arm wrestle with Alexei.
While satisfying Alexei's need to demonstrate his strength, the main reason was to hear Alexei boast about his past heroic tales.
Those stories always revolved around Alexei's personal heroism, and were incredibly exaggerated.
Many people listened to it as a joke; after all, listening to Alexei was a good way to pass the time during the boring prison life.
"Bang!"
Alexei once again defeated an opponent who appeared unusually tall.
"Yes! I am the invincible Red Guardian!"
"In this world, only Captain America is as powerful as me."
In Alexei's heart, he wanted to be a national hero like Captain America, not a criminal in prison, so most of the boasts he made were related to Captain America.
"It was sometime in the 1980s, I can't remember the exact year. I met Captain America while on a mission, and his shield was pointed at me..."
"Hahaha! Captain America was declared dead in 1945! Did you fight a ghost?"
A new prisoner pointed at Alexei and burst into laughter.
Upon hearing this, all the surrounding prisoners fell silent.
The prisoners who have been held here for a long time all know that you can make fun of Alexei as a fool, but you must never laugh at him when he boasts about his heroic deeds.
Otherwise...
'Click!'
A crisp sound of bones breaking rang out as Alexei swiftly and cleanly snapped the new prisoner's right arm into an awkward angle.
"You're questioning me? You think I'm bragging? I'm Red Guardian, kid! If it weren't for political reasons, I'd be more respected than Captain America."
"Feel my power? Rookie!"
Ignoring the new prisoner's cries of pain, Alexei punched the metal table, leaving a deep dent.
"Don't doubt my words. Remember, I am the strongest man in the world, Alexei! No one is stronger than me, no one!"
Alexei pounded on the table frantically, roaring that he was the strongest man in the world.
The words had barely left his mouth.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the wall next to the restaurant, which was at least 50 centimeters thick and even had a layer of steel plate sandwiched between it, was destroyed.
Alexei once took his anger out on it, punching it several times until he bled profusely but without even shaking the wall.
With a deafening roar, a hole two or three meters in diameter was ripped open.
On the opposite side of the large hole stood a young Asian man.
Or rather, it's a man with a fist outstretched.
His fist still had a few bits of debris from smashing against the wall.
The man shook his head and withdrew his fist. Just as he was about to step in, he found a protruding steel plate blocking his way.
With a slight pout of dissatisfaction, the young Asian man did not lift his leg and step over it.
Instead, it was a seemingly light kick that struck the steel plate, cracking a small protruding piece. The kick then swept past Alexei with a whistling sound and embedded itself deeply into the opposite wall.
"Who is Alexei Shostakov? Your time to be released is here. Come with me!"
The prisoners surrounding Alexei all stepped to either side.
Alexei was left standing there alone, his eyes fixed on Qin Xiao.
Alexei swallowed hard.
"I... I am... can I stay here? Actually, being in jail is fine, I really don't want to get out!"
Actually, in the movie, Alexei mentions that he fought Captain America in the 1980s. I suspect this is Marvel foreshadowing the time travel scene where he goes back in time to meet Captain America. Of course, they might use it or not, since Marvel usually leaves plot points unresolved. But for the sake of the story's integrity, they couldn't have Captain America appearing in the 1980s, so let's just consider it nonsense! Anyway, Alexei's defining characteristic in the movie is that he loves to boast and lives in the past!