185

Chapter 185: The Script Is Wrong!

"Sokovia was beyond saving before you destroyed it. I lost everyone, and you will too."

Zemo opened a video showing December 16, 1991, the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

With a mysterious smile, Zemo pointedly said, "An empire overthrown by an external enemy might recover, but an empire that falls from within will be doomed forever."

All three were riveted by the video, and Zemo slowly exited the base.

The video displayed in black and white a car crashing, followed by an elderly figure crawling out.

Bucky recognized the scene and lowered his head in guilt.

In the footage, Howard Stark, lying on the ground, recognized Bucky and called out, seemingly regaining some consciousness. However, Bucky only hesitated for a few seconds before delivering a heavy punch with his metal arm...

After dealing with the lifeless Howard, the Winter Soldier in the video approached the co-pilot's seat, finding no one there. With his sole target being Howard, and Bucky no longer an issue, he destroyed the surveillance camera with a single shot and walked away...

The screen went dark.

Steve looked at Stark with concern, having understood Zemo's strategy to pit them against each other.

Stark closed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his head with a peculiar expression. "Steve, I must say, your partner seems quite unprofessional—assassinating a man who was already near death, yet he missed."

Steve, who was bracing for a confrontation, was taken aback. What was this—expansion?

It took him a moment to process, and he hesitated, "Mr. Howard, he's not dead?"

Stark nodded slowly.

The Winter Soldier, standing nearby, appeared visibly relieved. Although he and Howard didn't have many interactions, Howard had been a significant figure to Steve. If he had truly died at Bucky's hands, it would have been a heavy burden for him to bear.

Stark noticed the confusion and began to explain: "At that time, many doctors declared my father's death. Later, the body was discovered to be a fraud..."

"Additionally, he seemed to have discovered a unique ability. No matter how severe the injury, he could heal slowly. So, in the last few years of his life, he tried almost every sport he had wanted to but was too afraid to attempt. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

Steve's eyes widened; it all sounded too fantastical. He even suspected Stark might be making up stories to comfort himself.

"Before he died, he had a blood sample taken and asked me to study it. I found a mysterious substance, albeit in trace amounts, that set him apart from ordinary people."

"Super Soldier Serum?" Steve's heart skipped a beat.

Stark shook his head. "I wondered if the old man had used it himself, but no. Years later, I finally found the source—Maya Hansen's lab, Extremis!"

"Thor was active during that era and had many interactions with my father. All of this must be his doing. Rather than coincidence, I prefer to think he had the ability to foresee the future and orchestrated events decades in advance."

Stark, as he spoke, felt a pang of discomfort. He really didn't want to discuss his father in front of Thor; it always made him feel out of place...

The real reason his father drove alone that night was that he had just argued with his mother, largely due to Thor's previous disparaging comments about him!

The usually silent Bucky suddenly said, "I should apologize to you. I remember everything, and although I didn't mean to, I nearly killed your father."

Stark nodded, "I accept your apology.

In fact, my father never mentioned that night until his death. Since he didn't hold onto it, why should I? After that, he handed over the company to me and withdrew from public life. Many probably thought he had disappeared."

Outside the base, Zemo listened through his headphones, anticipating the sounds of a confrontation between the Avengers.

"Sorry, I apologize on behalf of Bucky."

"It's not necessary. None of this is his fault. He was under HYDRA's control at that time, merely a weapon. The true blame lies with HYDRA."

"Thank you for understanding."

Zemo, who hadn't anticipated such an outcome, was nearly overwhelmed with frustration.

Damn, this script is wrong. That's all it takes for you to forgive your father's death? Stark, are you really that generous?

...So.

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