Several days later, at noon.
Several jeeps slowly drove into Venice Square, carrying Colonel Phillips and Peggy Carter.
This circular plaza, paved with white marble and located in the heart of Rome, was surrounded by Italian guards.
They had tightly encircled Venice Palace, which towered over one side of the square, and had even set up machine guns.
It was no wonder the italians had mobilized such a force and created such a grand display.
The huge commotion at Venice Palace a few days ago had nearly made the King of Italy think Allied tanks had entered the city and the air force had begun bombing. It scared him out of bed in the middle of the night, and he did not sleep for the rest of it.
When they later learned that Hitler had sent men to rescue Mussolini, the royal family hurriedly deployed troops and sealed off Venice Palace under the pretext of protection.
"Looks like Captain Cavill gave these people of Italy quite a scare."
Colonel Phillips spoke with the bearing of a victor.
He opened the car door, stepped out, and looked toward Venice Palace.
Everyone else also turned their eyes to the second-floor balcony.
Mussolini had once lived there and delivered his famous "Balcony Speech."
He had addressed the Italian people with those inflammatory speeches, promising them countless seemingly bright futures.
But now, the dictator had been overthrown, and the country had chosen to surrender.
All that beauty had turned to nothing.
Venice Square gradually filled with Italian civilians.
Moments later, a tall figure emerged and stepped onto the open-air balcony, holding the Italian dictator, who no longer possessed his former majesty.
Mussolini, once arrogant and imperious, looked like a wilted eggplant, shoulders slumped as he was lifted up in humiliation.
His gaze at Luke carried both hatred and fear. It was this young Allied captain who had ended his dictatorship!
Like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, Luke had suddenly stormed into Venice Palace, knocked down every guard, and defeated the force Hitler had sent to rescue him.
He had reduced the ruler of Italy to the prisoner of a mere captain!
A cheer soon rang out across the silent square, followed by thunderous applause.
Wave after wave of sound spread outward from Venice Square in every direction, carrying from one block to another!
"Liberate Italy! Long live freedom!"
"Down with the dictator! Mussolini must step down!"
"Hang him! Hang that demon!"
Amid the fervent, solemn cheers, such slogans kept erupting as even more people gathered at Venice Square.
Their faces were flushed with excitement as they raised their arms and shouted!
Mussolini's dictatorship had led to the spread of fascism.
Food was rationed, freedom of speech was banned, people took to the streets to protest every day, and waves of strikes had never stopped.
Therefore, in the eyes of people whose lives had become unbearable, Luke was not some hateful invader, but a great hero who had liberated their country from the dictator's hands!
Well, that certainly suited the romantic nature of the people of Italy!
"My decision back then really was the right one."
Watching the reputation points on his character panel refresh like a waterfall, Luke was quite satisfied.
Between taking the initiative and passively completing missions, he preferred the former!
Once the cheering crowd gradually dispersed, Colonel Phillips led Carter into Venice Palace.
The Howling Commandos put away the heavy machine guns set up in the hall and waited for the condolences from their allies.
"Long time no see, Luke!"
Colonel Phillips could no longer maintain his calm expression and excitedly gripped Luke's hand.
From the way he looked, it seemed as though he could not wait to take a commemorative photograph and appear in the Allied newspapers with such a legendary figure!
"You certainly didn't disappoint me! The President thinks highly of you. Once we return to New York, you'll be awarded a medal immediately!"
Colonel Phillips leaned close to Luke's ear and quietly delivered the news.
Carter's beautiful eyes flickered. She had never imagined that the young man from Brooklyn she had met at the Stark Industries Expo would one day become an Allied War Hero.
Such was the wonder of life's twists and turns.
Under the direction of the American military, Luke's name had already spread throughout the Allied forces, and his legendary deeds had taken root in people's hearts.
Compared to Captain America, who had become a household name by promoting war bonds onstage and performing in costume, someone like Luke, who had infiltrated the enemy's rear headquarters alone and accomplished a world-shaking feat, was far more likely to earn the soldiers' recognition!
"I merely made some insignificant contributions toward helping the Allied Nations win this war, just like every soldier fighting on the front lines."
Luke humbly responded to Colonel Phillips's praise, and that manner only made him more admirable.
A soldier who could remain calm in the face of applause and flowers was precisely the right candidate to become a general.
Night arrived lightly draped in a thin veil.
After the people in Italy tidied and cleaned Venice Palace following the fierce battle, it looked completely renewed—if one ignored the open-air balcony where the bedchamber had been destroyed, as well as the collapsed dungeon.
The walls, which had looked like honeycombs, were repainted and carved with even more exquisite patterns.
The marble floors, once stained with clumps of blood, had been scrubbed clean until they shone like polished mirrors.
The fallen Crystal chandeliers, damaged oil paintings, broken railings... all of them had been restored or replaced with new ones.
Soothing music flowed through the air of Venice Palace.
Princes, ministers, and members of the powerful elite arrived one after another in formal dress, as though attending a ball.
Naturally, the guest of honor was Luke, dressed in a crisp military formal uniform.
Everyone was curious what kind of man this War Hero was, the one who had led a team alone, breached Rome, and liberated Italy.
When they saw Luke's tall frame and straight posture, they were not disappointed.
With his stern features and deep eyes, he looked like a hero stepped out of Greek mythology, inspiring instinctive admiration.
Although this Allied captain was still young, his presence did not pale before any of the princes and nobles present. No one dared to look down on him!
—It could not be ruled out that this was the effect of the "legendary figure" achievement.
"Guess what position the Allied Nations plan to promote you to?"
As glasses clinked and hosts and guests enjoyed themselves as though they had put the war behind them, Colonel Phillips pulled Luke aside during a break after he had entertained wave after wave of royal family members and high-ranking officials.
"Colonel? Or lieutenant colonel?"
Luke held a glass of champagne, a relaxed smile on his face.
He was too young. Even with solid achievements to his name, he still lacked seniority.
After all, the most famous general in American history, Douglas MacArthur, had only been promoted to major general at the age of forty-five.
Luke understood that neither the military nor the President could possibly promote him too high all at once.
First, it would invite criticism and resentment.
Second, it would be difficult to convince others, since he currently had no foundation at all.
The title of War Hero alone was not enough to deal with the major figures of every military faction.
Besides, a hollow title like "hero" could be fabricated. It was the cheapest thing of all!
"At first, they planned to award you a medal and make you a colonel. A colonel under twenty years old would have been enough of a reward for you, but..."
A delighted smile appeared on Colonel Phillips's aged face.
"The people of Italy disagreed! Especially the royal family. If a mere colonel captured Rome, it would make them lose all face!"
The Italian Kingdom Government would never accept that a colonel leading fewer than thirty men had dared to storm into Rome, openly kidnap Mussolini, terrify forty million people, and even reside in Venice Palace like a supreme ruler, issuing orders.
That was simply too humiliating!
And it would turn Italy into a laughingstock!
"So?"
Luke raised an eyebrow in surprise. This outcome was rather unexpected.
"Congratulations, Luke. You are now the youngest general in American history!"
Colonel Phillips answered.
P.S. Thanks to Three W Dot Com for the 100-point donation, Demon Who Fell Behind During Social Practice Activities for the 100-point donation, and Eternal Sacrifice to Buddha for the 100-point donation. Hearts~
P.S. 2: The attempt to evolve into a perfect organism failed. You little buns who can eat and be used need to work even harder, quack (_)
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