An Uncommon Day, A Historic Moment

London, Allied Command.

The secret base of the Strategic Scientific Reserve was buzzing with intense activity.

A month had passed, and the Allied intelligence agencies had engaged in fierce exchanges with Hydra.

Spies and agents from both sides were active in important cities in the rear.

These included Berlin in the Axis camp, and London, New York, and Poland in the Allied camp.

Both sides were intercepting each other's intelligence. Although the Strategic Scientific Reserve had gathered the elites of the entire Allied Nations, they were still at a disadvantage against the stealthy and powerful Hydra.

"To this day, we 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 nothing!"

Colonel Phillips roared, his stern reprimand echoing in the room, silencing everyone below.

"In just one month, we lost thirteen agents, and four spies embedded within the Axis powers were discovered… This is the greatest loss the Strategic Scientific Reserve has suffered since its establishment! The Allied High Command is disappointed in us! And I am disappointed in all of you!"

Colonel Phillips was furious. He had received a call from President Roosevelt yesterday.

Although the powerful leader in the White House hadn't expressed any specific complaints about the Strategic Scientific Reserve, the Colonel could sense an implied accountability in his tone.

Initially, with the Allies advancing on the battlefield, many believed the Axis Powers were on the verge of collapse.

However, no one expected that Red Skull, having obtained the Tesseract, would utilize Hydra's scientific reserves to develop extremely powerful energy weapons and apply them to firearms and tanks.

This black technology, far ahead of its time, halted the Axis Powers' downward spiral.

Their previously retreating and disadvantageous situation had also eased.

Instead, the Allies began to show signs of fatigue on the Eastern European front, and their established defensive lines were becoming precarious.

A series of factors had placed immense pressure on the Strategic Scientific Reserve.

They had yet to figure out the technological support behind the energy weapons controlled by Hydra.

As for the exact locations of the factories and secret bases, they hadn't even gotten a hint.

Hydra agents had long infiltrated all levels of the Allied Nations, making them constantly vulnerable.

This resulted in Colonel Phillips' team always being in a passive position regarding intelligence.

"Any news on Luke?"

After venting his anger, Colonel Phillips turned to Peggy Carter beside him.

He could only place his hopes on Luke now. If the plan to raid Rome and assist the Allied landings in Sicily succeeded, it would not only boost the morale of the Allied Nations but also elevate the status of the Strategic Scientific Reserve.

"Yesterday, we received a telegram from Captain Cavill. They've captured a naval base near Sicily. The Allies will land this afternoon at 3:40 PM, with assistance from the local Mafia. The operation is codenamed 'Trojan Horse'!"

Carter reported meticulously.

She hadn't expected Luke to actually pull it off.

Leading a team deep into enemy territory to strike at the head!

Now, only one step remained until success!

Italy, Rome Time, 2:00 PM.

Luke approached Venice Square as if no one else was around. The first thing that caught his eye was the magnificent palace located north of Capitoline Hill.

This was the most beautiful building in Rome, once the residence of the Pope, and later fell into Mussolini's hands.

The dictator often gave speeches to the gathered crowds on the spacious balcony.

His rank as Captain, his identity as a secret envoy to Berlin, and Dum Dum Dugan standing behind him, allowed him to avoid being questioned by patrolling guards.

"When will Mussolini see us?"

Dugan asked in a low voice.

"At 4 PM. After he gets out of bed with his mistress,"

Luke said with a smile.

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, the sniper, had already occupied a vantage point, and Kenneth, the assault team member, had also driven a truck and parked it slowly on the side of a street a block away.

Onboard were twenty gunmen carefully selected from the Mafia members, along with a Maxim heavy machine gun.

Alessandro had gone to great lengths to transport that thing.

They would soon attract the attention of the Venice Square guards, create chaos, and create the most opportune moment for Luke.

"Do you think Mr. Mussolini will be surprised when he sees us later?"

Even at this moment, Luke remained composed, even finding the energy to joke.

Dugan, standing behind him, couldn't help but admire his calm demeanor in the face of adversity.

Thinking about what was about to happen, his legs trembled slightly.

Time ticked by, each second seeming to drag.

"Let's go in."

Luke presented his military pass and entered the reception hall of Venice Palace.

Just as he disappeared from Venice Square, an extremely abrupt gunshot shattered the peace of Rome.

Like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake, it triggered unprecedented chaos and turmoil!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

A piercing whistle blew, and patrols of guards suddenly mobilized. Military police quickly surrounded the entire Venice Square, attempting to locate the sniper hidden in the shadows.

Another series of gunshots roared. Assault soldier Kenneth flipped open the truck's rain cover, and twenty elite Mafia gunmen filed out.

This fierce barrage caught the patrolling guards of Rome completely off guard.

Kenneth, following Luke's orders, operated the Maxim heavy machine gun.

A long tongue of flame swept across, and the swarming military police and guards fell one after another.

For a time, it was impossible to break through this interwoven net of death.

"Protect the leader!"

Luke shouted excitedly, walking out of the reception hall without hesitation.

At this point, it didn't matter if they were politicians or guards; no one bothered to distinguish friend from foe.

What's more, Luke wore the rank of Captain and a German uniform, which served as the best pass.

Regular soldiers dared not stop him, and the higher-ranking officers didn't have the extra time to question him, allowing him to proceed up the stairs.

"Commander! Kenneth can't hold out much longer, he can only buy us five minutes at most!"

Dugan, who was closely following, swallowed hard. The surroundings were filled with enemy soldiers.

"That's enough!"

Luke took two steps at a time, reaching Mussolini's office floor with astonishing speed.

The security here was clearly much tighter than outside. The Italian dictator was protected by Nazi soldiers.

They wore Hydra armbands and were not panicked by the sudden gunfire.

Instead, they guarded Mussolini more closely, maintaining basic order.

A stranger like Luke, upon rushing in, was immediately stopped and questioned, even with his Third Reich Captain's rank.

"Halt! State your identity!"

Luke, too lazy to waste words, kicked out. The Nazi soldier blocking him had his sternum shatter, sending him flying backward!

The remaining team members, before they could react, had their necks snapped cleanly.

"Create a diversion and draw their fire!"

Dugan heard Luke's instructions and quickly nodded.

He pulled out his pistol, ran towards a higher floor, and fired a few shots downstairs. This immediately attracted more guards.

The sound of dense footsteps echoed through the corridor. Luke strode forward, shouting "Protect the leader!" and "The enemy is heading upstairs," as he made his way towards Mussolini's conference room.

He had long been fully prepared. The Italian dictator had a habit of drinking afternoon tea at two o'clock every day and preferred to stay in the third conference room on the right side of the corridor.

When he was in the mood, he would also call his mistress over to vent his pent-up energy.

Gunshots rang out one after another. Luke was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, knocking down the Nazi soldiers who tried to stop him.

This time, he showed no mercy!

After all, bullets from a submachine gun still hurt when they hit you.

Clenching his fist, Luke crushed the hard steel helmet into scrap metal. The last obstacle fell before him.

Bang!

He kicked open the conference room door!

Inside the room sat a bald man, his eyes filled with terror.

A German-made Walther P38 pistol was aimed at Luke, who had just burst in.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three bullets punched clear holes in Luke's German uniform, but no blood flowed out.

"That's it?"

Luke took out the deflated bullet with his hand and smiled kindly, "Hello, Mr. Mussolini."

"Who are you? The Liberal Party? Or those guys from the Revolutionary Front?"

Mussolini stared at Luke himself as if he were a monster.

The bullet couldn't penetrate his skin?

Luke didn't answer. He walked straight over, picked up the Italian dictator, and held him as if he were a little chick.

"I am Italy's..."

Smack!

A slap landed on Mussolini's face, causing that cheek to swell up instantly.

This was the result of Luke holding back his strength!

"I don't care who you are, Mr. Benito Mussolini, please face the reality that you are a captive."

Luke's gaze was cold as he pushed Mussolini onto the balcony where he often gave speeches.

Gunshots erupted in Venice Square, causing chaos.

"Rome is ours now! From this moment on, there are no dictators! No Fascists!"

Luke looked down at the crowd below, his resonant voice carrying far.

The sunlight shone upon him, like a hero from a mythological epic.