At dawn the next day, Luke woke feeling refreshed.
As he got out of bed, a strange thought suddenly crossed his mind.
How did Superman from the neighboring studio manage to reproduce biologically with his girlfriend, Lois Lane?
Setting aside for the moment whether there would be any problems with a Kryptonian and an Earthling getting together.
He could lift aircraft weighing hundreds of tons, and his muscle density was so formidable that even heavy weapons could not penetrate it...
With a Steel Body like that, was he sure he would not break Lois Lane like an inflatable doll?
With that inexplicable question on his mind, Luke walked into the washroom.
To be honest, what should have been an intense activity that exhausted a man's strength and stamina.
Was, for someone loaded with the Superman Template, a little too dependent on technique.
Especially when it came to controlling his strength, it was a serious test of skill.
And this was only at the LV1 commoner stage. If he unlocked a higher-level template, Luke might consider becoming an abstinent superhero and never touching women again.
"Being too durable really takes all the pleasure out of it."
Luke muttered softly. Throughout the whole process, he had felt like a merciless pile driver.
"Will you come back?"
Marlena lay on her side against the headboard, a trace of seductive charm still lingering on her face.
She watched Luke change into fresh clothes and prepare to leave, asking in a soft voice.
Marlena did not know whether what she had done was right or wrong.
But one thing was beyond doubt: Luke's arrival had freed her from her miserable fate and given her an unprecedented sense of security.
Like a ray of sunlight shining into a dark world blanketed by gloom!
"Don't worry. Before long, you'll hear my name spreading across Sicily. By then, I should be back."
Luke lowered his head and kissed Marlena's smooth forehead.
A tender haven was certainly wonderful, but taking the first step toward his future career was just as important.
Captain America had merely defeated Hydra and Red Skull, creating an opportunity for the Allied Nations to win the war, yet America's military had praised him to the skies.
Over the next seventy years, Steve Rogers became a household legend. There were simply countless fangirls and fanboys like Coulson.
After being thawed out of the ice and revived, his special status naturally placed him in a leadership position, whether in S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers.
That was the power of "prestige." By always standing on the moral high ground, he would receive appropriate respect from both the Federal Government and superheroes.
"Then be careful. I'll wait for you to come back."
Marlena nodded obediently, like a lazy cat.
She did not wonder whether this was a lie, nor did she wonder what great undertaking this man had to accomplish in order for his name to spread across Sicily.
She simply believed that Luke would return.
"Tomorrow at 3:40 in the afternoon, the Allied forces will land!"
Luke wore a solemn expression as he stared at Alessandro and said, "Cosa, if you handle this well, you will truly become someone respected throughout Sicily, and even Italy!"
"Mayors, prime ministers, even Mussolini! Those dignitaries who once looked down on you will have to bow and scrape before you, calling you 'Your Excellency.'"
"I will, Captain Cavill!"
The Mafia boss was so excited that even his voice trembled.
This was the first time he had addressed Luke by that name. After all, Vito Corleone was already a thing of the past.
And the identity of Berlin Envoy, Iron Cross recipient, Captain Steiner probably would not last much longer either.
Following the original plan, Luke split his forces into two groups.
He took the accompanying Dum Dum Dugan and boarded a ship bound for Rome.
Hitler had once said that military uniforms had to look stylish so young people would throw themselves into the army without hesitation.
It had to be said that his words did make some sense.
Luke wore a well-tailored captain's uniform and looked at himself in the mirror.
Collar tabs, shoulder marks, and an armband adorned the black uniform, while a peaked cap bearing a silver double-headed eagle insignia rested on his head.
A wool overcoat draped over his shoulders, and he wore a pair of calfskin gloves.
With that sharply defined young face, Luke looked every bit like a handsome, imposing Nazi senior officer.
"From this moment on, I am Captain Steiner, Berlin Envoy. I was born into a German military family, joined the Schutzstaffel, and became a trusted confidant of Heinrich Luitpold Himmler. This trip to Rome is to deliver the Fuhrer's orders."
Luke repeated his identity to Dum Dum Dugan.
"Understood."
The latter silently committed it to memory.
They were about to infiltrate deep into enemy territory and capture the enemy leader alive.
There could not be the slightest carelessness in any detail!
The voyage from Sicily to Rome did not even take half a day, and Luke soon arrived at his destination.
Standing at the bow and gazing into the distance, he saw Italy's capital surrounded by hills of all sizes, historically known as the City of Seven Hills.
Its walls crossed rivers and followed mountains, twisting and rising in irregular lines like a crouching lion sprawled across the Apennine Peninsula.
Rome could be called one of the oldest cities in history, located on the Latin Plain of the Apennine Peninsula in the central Mediterranean.
It had successively experienced the Republic and Empire eras, was the birthplace of ancient Roman mythology, and possessed a glorious history and profound cultural heritage.
Luke openly disembarked at the harbor and presented his prepared documents. His cold expression, combined with that immaculate uniform, gave off the imposing aura of someone not to be approached lightly.
The soldiers questioning him did not dare inspect him too carefully, afraid of offending this absurdly young senior officer.
After giving the documents a cursory glance and verifying his identity, they respectfully let him pass.
If this had been Berlin, those Gestapo agents would not have been so easily fooled.
"Dugan, we will successfully conquer this country and gain unprecedented glory."
Luke entered Rome. This was Italy's heart and also Mussolini's center of power.
After winning the First World War, the Roman Curia witnessed the rise of the Italian fascist forces led by Mussolini.
The two sides then signed the Lateran Treaty, which recognized Rome as Italy's capital, while the Italian government recognized the Roman Curia's sovereignty over the Vatican.
Afterward, the ambitious Mussolini was not satisfied.
He led his troops into Rome and declared an alliance with Nazi Germany, forming the fascist Axis Powers.
Many believed Hitler was the founder of fascism.
In truth, Mussolini was the one who opened the evil Pandora's Box.
In a sense, he could be considered the teacher of the Third Reich's Fuhrer.
After the First World War, Europe's political landscape was reshuffled. Italy's people felt deeply disappointed by the unequal distribution of postwar benefits.
Combined with the country's economic stagnation and the hardships of ordinary people's lives, this gave Mussolini an opening into politics.
He launched the "Fascist Movement" in Milan and established the world's first "Fascist Party of Combat."
However, this politician who wanted nothing more than to become a dictator was fundamentally an opportunist without any outstanding abilities. At least in speeches and stirring up emotions, he could not compare to his student, Hitler.
Originally, Mussolini and the Third Reich's Fuhrer held equal status within the Axis Powers camp, and Hitler even maintained a respectful attitude toward him.
But who could have expected Italy's army to perform so poorly? They either surrendered without fighting or called in their teammate, the German army, for rescue.
Whenever trouble arose, Mussolini would summon his "student," Hitler, to help him out.
This caused the Fuhrer to look down on him more and more, to the point where he nearly cursed him over the phone as a "piece of trash"!
Especially after Mussolini was placed under house arrest by order of the King of Italy, only to be rescued by special forces sent by Hitler.
The once ambitious dictator completely became a puppet manipulated by Germany.
"Captain, you always create miracles beyond anything we can imagine!"
Dugan stood behind Luke and spoke with conviction.
After spending these days together, even if Luke said he was about to fly to Berlin, drag Hitler out, and end this war sweeping the world, Dugan probably would not doubt him in the slightest.
The two arrived at Venice Square, where Luke gazed at the massive, magnificent palace.
That was Venice Palace, built by the Pope of Rome.
It was now the political center from which Mussolini ruled over more than forty million people in Italy, and the most heavily guarded place in the city.
Tomorrow, the first shot in the conquest of Italy would be fired here!
P.S. Thanks to Gods-Class Battleship for the 1,000-point donation, Empty Fame Doesn't Mind for the 500-point donation, Emperor Heaven Unparalleled for the 500-point donation, Blue De Soy Milk for the 500-point donation, Remembering Wutong for the 500-point donation, and Beads Falling from the Heavens for the 100-point donation. Love you all~
P.S.2: The author is still updating diligently today. (Frantic hint.jpg)
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