Don't Be Afraid

Just as the Strategic Scientific Reserve set off on their journey to London and Rogers was dragged by the Senator to serve as a bond-selling ambassador for the nation, Luke remained in Brooklyn, New York.

As Carter had said, he had other tasks.

After that conversation in the medical bay, Colonel Phillips had told Luke about a startlingly high-level classified plan!

Even with a Super Soldier leading the charge, the difficulty was immense!

Colonel Phillips entrusted the Howling Commandos to Luke not simply because he valued his abilities.

As one of only two Super Soldiers in the world, no one was more suited than Luke to carry out that plan!

In other words, the Colonel needed him!

That was why he had shown a willingness to mentor him.

Luke wasn't surprised by this at all.

It was one of the reasons he hadn't hidden his outstanding performance at the Caspian Training Camp.

Social interactions, at their core, are exchanges of interests between parties.

Being useful to others is, in a sense, a reflection of one's own value.

There was an old internet meme from his past life: "Ever since I became useless, no one could take advantage of me anymore." It drew laughs, but on closer thought, it held some truth.

With the Super Soldier program ending in failure, the Strategic Scientific Reserve's standing had clearly declined.

Budgets were cut, personnel were reassigned, from the rear to the front lines...

These moves all indicated that if Colonel Phillips didn't find a way to demonstrate the Reserve's necessity soon, it might face disbandment.

This wasn't an exaggeration.

In wartime, all resource allocation prioritized value and efficiency.

"So, to salvage the Reserve's position, the Colonel put me in charge of the Howling Commandos? I thought my charisma was strong enough to naturally win over any character from the story."

Luke lay on the hotel bed, staring at the crisp military uniform hanging on the rack.

"Captain Cavill."

He muttered to himself, a smile spreading across his face.

This was one of the perks Colonel Phillips had offered, also to make leading the Howling Commandos easier.

Otherwise, who would willingly accept a rookie as their direct superior?

From a newly enlisted private to a commissioned officer, Luke had done it in less than a month.

A stunning pace!

"If I actually pull off what Colonel Phillips asked, becoming the fastest-promoted Field Officer in history isn't out of the question, let alone a captain. If I play my cards right, maybe I could even follow in Eisenhower's footsteps and move into that White House."

Luke's mind wandered, sketching out a bright future.

After a moment, he couldn't help but laugh out loud, mocking himself: "That seems a bit far-fetched."

This young man, newly promoted to captain and about to lead the Howling Commandos, shook off the stray thoughts and focused back on his own abilities.

"Right now, I'm a Superman—even if it's a budget version."

Luke opened his character panel and looked at the data displayed.

His power was roughly on par with Superman's earliest appearances.

In terms of speed, he could outrun a car at full throttle, punch through thick steel plates, and his dynamic vision could easily track bullet trajectories.

His muscle density, far beyond normal human limits, meant that small-caliber bullets and cold weapons could barely inflict fatal damage on Luke.

He was practically an invulnerable Steel Body—unless heavy firepower was involved.

"The LV1 Civilian Superman Template's ceiling is probably just evolving my physique to the point where I can catch bullets barehanded and withstand cannon fire with my body."

Luke pondered. To unlock "Flight" and "Heat Vision," he'd need the LV2 Warrior Superman Template.

"It feels like Superman's debut—he wasn't that powerful at first, only growing more perfect over time, until he reached the terrifying level of punching through a six-dimensional universe!"

Looking at the many Superman Templates waiting to be unlocked in his consciousness, Luke suddenly felt that one day, he might evolve to that point too.

"A world without Batman and Kryptonite is truly beautiful..."

With that thought, Luke closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

At Old Joseph's Tavern in Brooklyn.

When Luke walked in, the people he had arranged to meet were already seated in a corner booth.

"Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan... Good Lord! That name is a mouthful! I'll just call you Dum Dum Dugan!"

Luke waved for a dark beer, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

He didn't engage in excessive small talk or put on a show of warmth.

Dugan was the quintessential soldier, with sharp features and a mustache that curled upward at the ends.

When he saw that his commanding officer was a guy young enough to be suspicious, his expression turned grim.

Because on a battlefield rife with danger, the word "young" often meant a lack of experience, having been through few wars.

It also meant that entrusting your back to someone like that would be a terrible idea.

"Captain... Cavill. You sure climbed the ranks fast. I heard you were a private just a month ago."

Dugan let out a cold laugh. In his view, Luke must have pulled some strings, a second-generation rich kid here to gild his resume.

How else could a fresh recruit leap straight to officer rank?

Besides, Dugan hadn't heard of any remarkable feats or achievements from him.

His record was practically blank.

"I'd prefer you call me 'sir.'"

Luke smiled faintly, showing no sign of irritation.

He turned his head, looking at another man sitting next to Dugan, and said softly, "Dino-Manelli. Colonel Phillips says you're a genius at disguise and a master of combat. I look forward to seeing what you can do."

"And you, Jimmy! Kenneth! Gelf..."

Luke called out each name one by one.

He'd already reviewed the files on the Howling Commandos, so he had a basic understanding of the team.

"I'm your commanding officer, and the leader of the Howling Commandos. At least until I receive new orders, you'll all follow my commands and obey my instructions."

Luke leaned back in his chair, speaking in a casual tone.

He didn't have the time to buddy up with a bunch of arrogant soldiers.

"Captain Cavill, we're soldiers. We'll follow orders."

Dugan seemed to be the head of this group, stepping up first to confront Luke. "But we only respect people with real skill, not—"

"You mean to say, I look young and inexperienced, a fresh recruit trying to put on an air of authority in front of you?"

Luke cut Dugan off without courtesy, his smile growing warmer. "I hear you're skilled in hand-to-hand combat and firearms. You once went behind enemy lines alone and wiped out a German army action squad?"

"That's right. After that, everyone started calling me 'Dum Dum.'"

Dugan puffed out his chest, speaking with pride.

Dum Dum was a type of British-made bullet, commonly known as an "expanding bullet" or "shrapnel round," infamous for its devastating lethality.

Because it caused unbearable pain to the human body upon impact, it was deemed too cruel, and international organizations later repeatedly petitioned to ban its use.

With a nickname like that, Dugan's prowess was clear.

"Honestly, I was thinking of having a fair match with you to prove I'm not what you imagine. But then I thought, a match between us would be unfair in itself."

Luke shrugged, picked up the dark beer on the table, took a sip, and smiled. "So, I'll cut straight to the point and show you all why I went from a private to a captain, and why I'm leading the Howling Commandos."

"But when you see what's coming, I hope you won't be scared."

"Hahaha, Captain Cavill, we're soldiers who've been through the slaughter on the battlefield and survived hell! We don't scare!"

Dugan clutched his stomach, laughing exaggeratedly.

He just thought Luke was bluffing. What scary scene could possibly rattle him?

PS: Here it comes, hot and fresh off the stove~