London, Allied Command.
The Strategic Scientific Reserve's secret base was a scene of intense, bustling activity.
A month had passed, and the intelligence agencies of the Allied Nations had engaged in fierce clashes with Hydra.
Spies and agents from both sides operated in important cities far behind enemy lines.
Places like Berlin in Axis Powers territory, as well as London, New York, and Poland in Allied Nations territory.
Both sides continually intercepted each other's intelligence. Although the Strategic Scientific Reserve had gathered the finest talents from across the Allied Nations, it still remained at a disadvantage against the covert and powerful Hydra.
"Even now, we still haven't found the exact location of Hydra's base! Where were those captured Allied soldiers sent? What experiments were the German Nazis conducting in secret? We know none of it!"
Colonel Phillips roared furiously, his harsh rebuke echoing through the room and leaving everyone below afraid to utter a word.
"In just one month, we have lost thirteen agents, and four spies planted inside the Axis Powers have been exposed... This is the greatest loss the Strategic Scientific Reserve has suffered since its founding! Allied Command is deeply disappointed in us! And I am deeply disappointed in all of you!"
Colonel Phillips was livid. He had received a call from President Roosevelt yesterday.
Although the man in the White House had not voiced any explicit dissatisfaction with the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
The colonel could still hear the faint note of accountability in his tone.
The Allied Nations had originally been steadily advancing on the battlefield, and many believed the Axis Powers were finished.
Yet no one had expected Red Skull, having obtained the Tesseract, to use Hydra's scientific resources to develop extremely powerful energy weapons and apply them to firearms, tanks, and other conventional weapons.
Technology far ahead of its time halted the Axis Powers' collapse.
Their previous string of defeats and unfavorable position had also eased somewhat.
Instead, the Allied Nations had begun to show signs of fatigue on the Eastern European battlefield, and the defensive line they had established was on the verge of collapse.
A series of factors had placed enormous pressure on the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
They had yet to determine the technological foundation behind Hydra's energy weapons.
As for the exact locations of its military factories and secret bases, they had not even caught a glimpse.
Hydra agents had long since infiltrated every level of the Allied Nations, making them impossible to guard against.
This kept Colonel Phillips's team perpetually on the back foot in intelligence matters.
"Any news from Luke?"
After venting his anger, Colonel Phillips turned to look at Peggy Carter beside him.
He could only place his hopes on Luke now. If the plan to raid Rome and assist the Allied Nations' landing on Sicily succeeded.
Not only would Allied Nations morale soar, but the Strategic Scientific Reserve's standing would rise with it.
"We received a telegram from Captain Cavill yesterday. They captured a naval camp near Sicily. At 3:40 this afternoon, the Allied Nations will land with assistance from the local Mafia. This operation is codenamed 'Trojan Horse'!"
Carter delivered her report with meticulous precision.
She had not expected Luke to actually pull it off.
Leading a team deep into enemy territory to strike at the leadership!
They were now only one step away from success!
Italy, Rome time, 2:00 p.m.
Luke approached Venice Square as if no one else existed. The first thing that came into view was the grand palace north of Capitoline Hill.
This most magnificent building in Rome had once been the Pope's residence before later falling into Mussolini's hands.
That dictator often gave speeches from its broad balcony to the people gathered in the square.
His rank of captain, his identity as the Berlin Envoy, and Dum Dum Dugan standing behind him spared Luke the trouble of being questioned by patrolling guards.
"When will Mussolini receive us?"
Dugan asked in a low voice.
"At four o'clock, after he crawls out of his mistress's bed."
Luke smiled.
He stood in the square like a tourist admiring the scenery.
"Manelli and the others should be making their move soon."
Dugan nodded silently.
According to the plan, Jimmy, acting as the sniper, had already taken up a high vantage point. Kenneth, the assault man, had driven a truck and slowly parked it at the roadside one street away.
It carried twenty carefully selected Mafia gunmen, along with a Maxim heavy machine gun.
Alessandro had no idea how much effort it had taken to get that thing inside.
They would soon draw the attention of the Venice Square garrison, create widespread chaos, and give Luke the best possible opening.
"Tell me, do you think Mr. Mussolini will be pleasantly surprised when he sees us?"
Even now, Luke remained composed enough to joke around.
Dugan, standing behind him, could not help admiring his calmness in the face of danger.
Just thinking about what was about to happen made his legs tremble slightly.
Second by second, time seemed to crawl along unusually slowly.
"Let's go in."
Luke presented his military-issued pass and entered the reception hall of Venice Palace.
Just after he vanished from Venice Square, an abrupt gunshot shattered Rome's peace.
Like a massive boulder crashing into a calm lake, it triggered unprecedented chaos and turmoil!
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Piercing whistles sounded as squads of patrolling guards suddenly mobilized. Military police swiftly surrounded the entire Venice Square, trying to find the sniper hidden in the shadows.
Another barrage of gunfire erupted. Kenneth, the assault man, tore away the truck's tarpaulin, and twenty elite Mafia gunmen filed out.
The fierce firepower caught Rome's patrolling guards completely off guard.
Following Luke's orders, Kenneth operated the Maxim heavy machine gun.
A long tongue of flame swept across the area, and the surging military police and guards fell one after another.
For a time, no one could break through the deadly net woven from bullets.
"Protect the leader!"
Luke shouted excitedly as he strode out of the reception hall without hesitation.
At that moment, whether politicians or guards, no one had the time to carefully distinguish friend from foe.
Besides, Luke's captain's rank and German army uniform were the best pass he could have.
Ordinary soldiers did not dare stop him, while senior officers had no spare time to question him. He made his way up the stairs unhindered.
"Commander! Kenneth's side won't hold out for long. At most, they can keep them occupied for five minutes!"
Dum Dum Dugan, close behind him, swallowed hard. They were surrounded by enemy troops.
"That'll be enough!"
Taking two steps at a time, Luke reached Mussolini's office floor at astonishing speed.
Security here was clearly tighter than outside. The Italian dictator was protected by Nazi soldiers.
They wore Hydra armbands and were not thrown into panic by the sudden gunfire.
Instead, they guarded Mussolini even more closely while maintaining basic order.
An unfamiliar face like Luke's was stopped and questioned the moment he rushed in, even with his Third Reich captain's rank.
"No passage! State your identity!"
Luke could not be bothered with words. He lashed out with a kick, shattering the breastbone of the Nazi soldier blocking him and sending him flying!
Before the remaining men could react, their necks were snapped with swift, clean movements.
"Create a disturbance and draw their fire!"
Dugan heard Luke's instructions and quickly nodded.
He drew his pistol and ran toward the upper floors, firing several shots downstairs at the same time. Sure enough, this attracted even more guards.
Dense footsteps echoed through the corridor. Luke strode forward, shouting, "Protect the leader!" and "The enemy is running upstairs!" while making his way toward Mussolini's conference room.
He had prepared thoroughly long ago. The Italian dictator had a habit of drinking afternoon tea at two o'clock every day and preferred staying in the third conference room on the right side of the corridor.
Whenever the mood struck, he would summon his mistress there as well to vent his excessive energy.
Gunfire rang out in waves. Like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep, Luke knocked every Nazi soldier who tried to stop him to the ground.
This time, he showed no mercy!
After all, submachine gun bullets still hurt when they hit him.
Closing his fingers, Luke crushed a hard steel helmet into scrap metal. The last person trying to stop him collapsed before him.
Bang!
He kicked open the conference room doors!
Inside sat a bald man, his eyes filled with terror.
A German-made Walther P38 pistol was aimed at Luke as he entered.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets punched clear holes through Luke's German army uniform, but no blood flowed out.
"That's it?"
Luke pulled the flattened bullets out with his hand and smiled pleasantly. "Hello, Mr. Mussolini."
"Who are you? The Liberal Party? Or one of those Revolutionary Front bastards?"
Mussolini stared at Luke as though he were a monster.
The bullets could not penetrate his skin?
Luke did not answer. He walked straight over and lifted the Italian dictator with one hand as though picking up a chick.
"I am Italy's..."
Smack!
A slap landed across Mussolini's face, and one side of his cheek immediately swelled high.
That was only because Luke had held back!
"I don't care who you are, Mr. Benito Mussolini. Please face the reality that you have become a prisoner."
Luke's gaze was cold as he shoved Mussolini onto the balcony where he often delivered speeches.
Gunfire erupted across Venice Square, and chaos reigned everywhere.
"Rome is under our control! From this moment on, there will be no dictators! No fascists!"
Luke looked down at the crowd below, his booming voice carrying far into the distance.
Sunlight shone upon him, making him look like a heroic figure who had stepped out of a mythic epic.
P.S. In this cold society, only the readers' recommendation votes bring even a trace of warmth~
Before you continue