Hydra Emerges

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of tomorrow, built by Stark Industries! Do you believe that a wave of new technology is sweeping in? Perhaps, in a few years, cars will no longer need to touch the ground!"

Taking the microphone and pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his lips, Iron Man's father began his performance.

He seemed to enjoy the gazes fixed on him from below the stage. As he promoted his company's innovative technology, he motioned for the beautiful women to remove the red car's four wheels.

Standing onstage, Howard Stark looked less like a scientist and more like a magician well versed in the art of performance.

He knew exactly how to seize the audience's attention.

"Stark Industries' latest anti-gravity technology will make all of this possible!"

With a smile on his face, Howard switched on the device.

The car, now stripped of its wheels, slowly rose into the air.

The miraculous sight made the audience below hold their breath.

Luke's lips twitched. He had little interest in Howard Stark's little toys.

Although Howard was one of the smartest geniuses in the world, just like the not-yet-mature Iron Man, Tony Stark—

They shared one trait, or perhaps a hereditary flaw in their personalities—

They were difficult to deal with!

Perhaps that was a common ailment among geniuses!

Taking advantage of the moment, Luke quietly slipped out of the crowd, escaping the pointless entanglement of the young women.

That youthful, lively haven of tenderness was better left for Bucky, who would soon be heading to England to serve his country.

Turning his head casually, Luke caught sight of Rogers' thin, frail back.

Rogers left the crowd gathered around the stage and headed toward a nearby recruitment station.

Luke took a deep breath. So this was where Captain America began.

With both hands in his pockets, he considered what he should do.

After all, lying low and building himself up was the proper path.

But who knew when his cheat ability would arrive?

Besides, having landed in the Marvel universe, wanting nothing more than an ordinary person's peaceful life seemed like a waste of a transmigration opportunity.

As he pondered, Luke spotted an elderly figure.

The man had graying hair, a receding hairline, and glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.

Abraham Erskine!

Luke recognized him.

The german scientist who had developed the Super Soldier Serum and personally created Hydra's leader, Red Skull, slowly entered the recruitment station.

"Hmm! Looks like he has followers too!"

Luke was about to follow when his expression suddenly turned grave.

Behind Abraham Erskine, he saw several men in black wearing bowler hats trailing after him.

Their waists bulged beneath their clothes. Their faces were tense as they kept glancing around.

They did not look like ordinary tourists, nor did they resemble accompanying bodyguards.

"Hydra?"

A thought surfaced in Luke's mind.

As the developer of the Super Soldier Serum, Dr. Erskine was undoubtedly a thorn in Hydra's side.

Red Skull would do everything possible to eliminate this threat!

If the Allied Nations acquired the Super Soldier Serum and created large numbers of super soldiers, there would be no suspense over who won the war.

With thoughts racing through his mind, Luke entered the recruitment station as well.

"Steve..."

Bucky snapped out of watching Howard Stark's performance and turned to look at his dejected friend, only to find that Steve had already disappeared.

"Luke..."

He looked toward Luke again, only to find him gone as well.

"What's going on? Where did they all run off to?"

Bucky muttered, then was dragged by the remaining female companions toward another exhibition area.

"The battlefield isn't for you."

Inside the recruitment station, Rogers was rejected once again.

The recruiting officer took one look at his frail frame and immediately made his stance clear without even looking at his completed application form.

Although Rogers argued his case with earnest, heartfelt words,

No matter what he said, the officer only shook his head.

In the officer's view, sending this scrawny little man to the battlefield was no different from murder.

"There are plenty of things you can do. You don't have to enlist. We're short on labor right now. You can work in a factory making weapons for the front lines, or find some other job!"

The officer spoke impatiently.

He pushed Rogers' enlistment form back with an expression that said there was no room for negotiation.

"War isn't a street fight! On the battlefield, you'll only hold everyone else back! You'd be better off staying safely on the home front!"

"Be grateful, kid! You won't have to risk your life dodging through a hail of bullets. Plenty of people would kill for that!"

The recruiting officer said this as he looked at the frail little man before him.

He could not understand why Rogers insisted on enlisting. Wasn't staying on the home front good enough?

There was no danger to his life, and he would not have to experience the cruelty of war.

No matter how precious medals symbolizing honor were, could they be more important than staying alive?

Everyone knew that the Allied Nations and the Axis Powers were fighting bitterly.

Every battlefield was like a meat grinder, endlessly devouring flesh and blood from both sides.

Only God probably knew the exact number of corpses buried in the trenches!

"Sir! I want to serve my country! I want to do something! I know I can do something..."

The recruiting officer avoided Rogers' determined gaze and shook his head again.

Everything had to follow the rules. He could not recruit an unqualified soldier.

Their increasingly raised voices caught Abraham Erskine's attention.

He looked at the dejected Rogers as though something had occurred to him.

"It really is exactly the same as the course of history..."

Luke watched quietly from the side, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

But he quickly wiped away his smile, because the men in black who had followed Abraham Erskine were closing in behind him.

Their eyes were cold and murderous. Their right hands slowly reached toward the bulges at their waists.

In an instant!

The men in black flipped up the corners of their coats!

They drew their concealed pistols!

The cold gun barrels aimed at Abraham Erskine.

It seemed they would pull the triggers the next second.

Bang!

The moment the gunshot rang out, panic swept through the recruitment station. Frightened screams spread like steam bursting from a locomotive.

Those recruits in military uniforms, not yet officially enlisted, immediately scattered like ants on a hot pan.

They had never been on a battlefield, nor had they received formal training. They had no idea what to do.

The officer in charge of security fell into a pool of blood. A bullet hole had appeared in the white cap on his head.

Blood gushed from the back of his head, and together with his twisted expression, the sight was especially terrifying.

"Move!"

Luke, who had been hiding nearby, pulled Dr. Erskine up from the ground and turned into a curtained compartment off the corridor.

Intense gunfire rang out behind them. Bullets struck the walls, sending clouds of dust flying.

Luke glanced at Rogers, who was crouched behind a cabinet with both hands over his head, and could not help having a strange thought.

What if the future Captain America died here? How would things develop afterward?

Would a new hero appear?

Or would the Third Reich win the war, with Red Skull conquering the world?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sharp gunshots interrupted Luke's wandering thoughts.

He looked at the tense Dr. Erskine and said softly, "Hide here! Don't go anywhere!"

Outside the compartment, the pattering footsteps gradually drew closer.

Under the light, the drawn curtain revealed the silhouette of a gunman.

Luke touched the Colt M1911 at his lower back, took a deep breath, and suddenly charged out of the compartment into the corridor!