Just as the Strategic Scientific Reserve set out for London, and Rogers was dragged off by the Senator to serve as an ambassador for war bonds, Luke remained in Brooklyn, New York.
Just as Carter had said, he had other missions.
After that conversation in the infirmary, Colonel Phillips told Luke about an astonishing plan with an extremely high level of secrecy!
Even with a Super Soldier leading the way, its difficulty was immense!
Colonel Phillips had handed the Howling Commandos over to Luke for more than simply recognizing his abilities.
As one of the 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 signs of wanting to cultivate him!
Luke himself was not surprised by this at all.
That was one of the reasons why he had not concealed his outstanding performance at Caspian Training Camp.
At its core, social interaction was an exchange of interests.
Being useful to others was, in a sense, proof of one's value.
There was an old online joke from his previous life: "Ever since I became useless, no one has been able to use me anymore." It was funny, but on reflection, it made quite a bit of sense.
As the Super Soldier program ended in failure, the Strategic Scientific Reserve's standing had clearly declined.
Its funding was cut, personnel were reassigned, from the rear to the front lines...
This string of moves showed that if Colonel Phillips did not find a way to demonstrate why the Strategic Scientific Reserve needed to exist—
Then it would likely face dissolution.
This was not alarmist talk.
In wartime, all resources had to be allocated according to value and efficiency.
So the colonel wanted me to lead the Howling Commandos to restore the Strategic Scientific Reserve's status? I thought my personal charisma had already reached the point where I could win over any character on my own.
Luke lay on the large hotel bed, looking at the crisp military uniform hanging from the rack.
"Captain Cavill."
He muttered the words, a smile appearing on his face.
This was one of the benefits Colonel Phillips had offered, and it would also make it easier for him to lead the Howling Commandos.
Otherwise, who would be willing to accept a rookie as their superior?
It had taken Luke less than a month to rise from a newly enlisted private to a commissioned officer.
The speed was astonishing!
If I really accomplish the task Colonel Phillips assigned me, forget captain—becoming the fastest-promoted Field Officer in history might not be impossible. If I put my mind to it, maybe I could follow Eisenhower's example and move into that White House.
Luke's thoughts continued to wander, sketching out a beautiful blueprint for the future.
A moment later, he could not help laughing out loud. "Seems like I'm getting ahead of myself."
The young man who had just been promoted to captain and was about to lead the Howling Commandos cast aside his stray thoughts and returned to the question of his own abilities.
"I'm Superman now—though a budget version."
Luke opened his character panel and looked at the data displayed there.
The power he possessed was roughly on par with Superman when he had first debuted.
He could outrun a car at full speed, punch through thick steel plates, and easily track bullets with his dynamic vision.
His muscle density, far beyond that of an ordinary person, made it difficult for small-caliber bullets and cold weapons to deal Luke fatal harm.
He had a steel body, impervious to blades and bullets—provided heavy weapons were not taken into account.
"The LV1 Civilian Superman Template probably caps out at evolving my physical qualities to the point where I can catch bullets barehanded and block shells with my body."
Luke pondered this. To unlock "Flight" and "Heat Vision," he would need the LV2 Warrior Superman Template.
"It feels like Superman when he first appeared. He wasn't that powerful either, but his abilities became more and more complete later on—until he became terrifyingly strong enough to destroy a six-dimensional universe with one punch!"
Looking at the many Superman Templates waiting to be unlocked in his consciousness space, Luke suddenly felt that perhaps one day, he too could evolve to that level.
"A world without Batman and kryptonite is wonderful..."
With that thought, Luke closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
Brooklyn, Old Joseph's Tavern.
When Luke entered, the people he had arranged to meet were already seated in a corner.
"Timothy Aloysius Cadwalader Dugan... Good lord, that name is long! I think I'll just call you Dum Dum Dugan!"
Luke waved for a glass of dark beer, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
He did not exchange much small talk, nor did he deliberately act warm and friendly.
Dugan looked like the archetypal soldier, with hard features and an upturned mustache.
When he saw that his commander was an absurdly young fellow, his expression darkened slightly.
On a battlefield full of danger, youth often meant insufficient experience and a lack of real combat.
It also meant that entrusting one's back to such a person would be a very bad idea.
"Captain Cavill... You sure got promoted fast. I heard you were still a private just a month ago."
Dugan sneered. In his eyes, Luke was surely some well-connected rich kid who had come to pad his résumé.
Otherwise, how could a newly enlisted recruit rise straight to commissioned officer in a single leap?
Besides, Dugan had never heard of the man earning any astonishing victories or distinguished merits.
Judging from his record alone, it was practically blank.
"I'd prefer that you call me sir."
Luke smiled faintly, without the slightest hint of anger.
He turned to the other man sitting beside Dugan and said softly, "Dino Manelli. Colonel Phillips said you're a master of disguise and hand-to-hand combat. I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do."
"And you, Jimmy! Kenneth! Gelf..."
Luke called out each of their names in turn.
He had reviewed the files on the Howling Commandos beforehand and had gained a preliminary understanding of the unit.
"I am your commanding officer, and I am also the commander of the Howling Commandos. At least until new orders arrive, you will all follow my deployment and obey my instructions."
Luke leaned back in his chair, speaking in a rather casual tone.
He did not have that much time to build relationships with a group of arrogant soldiers.
"Captain Cavill, we're soldiers. We obey orders."
Dugan appeared to be the leader of the group. He was the first to confront Luke. "But we only respect capable people, not..."
"You mean I look young and inexperienced, and even though I'm a rookie, I'm trying to put on a dignified act in front of you?"
Luke cut Dugan off without ceremony. The smile on his lips grew even gentler. "I heard you're skilled in hand-to-hand combat and firearms, and that you once went behind enemy lines alone and wiped out a German army operations squad?"
"That's right. After that, everyone started calling me 'Dum Dum.'"
Dugan raised his head proudly.
Dum Dum bullets were a type of ammunition made in Britain, commonly known as expanding bullets or shrapnel bullets, renowned for their astonishing lethality.
Because being shot by them inflicted unbearable pain on the human body and was considered excessively cruel, international organizations in later generations repeatedly petitioned to ban the use of such bullets.
The fact that Dugan bore such a nickname showed just how capable he was.
"To be honest, I originally planned to have a fair fight with you and prove that I'm not what you think I am. But then I realized that me fighting you would be unfair in itself."
Luke shrugged, lifted the glass of dark beer from the table, and took a sip. Smiling, he said, "So I'll be more direct next. That way, you'll understand why I went from a rookie to a captain, and why I can lead the Howling Commandos."
"But when you see what happens next, I hope you don't get scared."
"Hahaha, Captain Cavill, we're soldiers who have fought on the battlefield and crawled out of hell! We won't be afraid!"
Dugan clutched his stomach and burst into exaggerated laughter.
He only thought Luke was putting on a show. What kind of frightening sight could possibly scare him?
PS: It's here, it's here—the piping-hot update fresh out of the oven~
Before you continue