Chapter 86

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Hydra: Captain America, we want your serum!

"Yes, sir."

"Our people have reported that Coulson has already set off with the necessary personnel, taking with them the original search and rescue records for Captain America."

"Judging by Coulson's series of arrangements, they must be fairly confident."

The senior Hydra undercover agent sitting across from Pierce nodded solemnly and respectfully replied.

"Nick is always suspicious, but he wouldn't take action without sufficient confidence," said Pierce, starting to ponder deeply.

Although he did not know the source of Nick Fury's intelligence, Pierce's understanding of Fury, just based on the actions taken by the director of SHIELD, was indicative enough.

Moreover, Pierce having a living example in his hands only made him more receptive to the idea.

If the Winter Soldier could survive till now after being transformed by them, why couldn't Captain America?

So, it seems there's indeed a high possibility that Captain America is still alive.

"Sir, do you really believe Captain America is still alive?"

The voice of the senior Hydra undercover agent across from him rose again, seeking Pierce's opinion.

"It's not so unbelievable, is it?"

Pierce removed his reading glasses and casually spread his hands, treating the matter as if it were a trivial affair.

"If Captain America truly is alive, do we need me to..."

At that moment, the undercover agent made a throat-slitting gesture, the meaning of which needed no further explanation.

A hint of cold light also flashed in Pierce's eyes.

Captain America was their old nemesis after all!

He led the Howling Commandos in delivering severe blows against Hydra, causing them immense losses.

Even Hydra's own leader Red Skull perished at the hands of Captain America!

After his supposed death, his old flame Carter went almost insanely committed to establishing SHIELD and relentlessly pursued Hydra.

Ultimately, Hydra was decimated!

You could say that in the annals of history, Captain America is credited as Hydra's foremost nemesis.

The blood feud between Hydra and Captain America is as deep as the ocean.

But soon enough, Pierce regained his composure.

He shook his head lightly, implying there was no need for drastic measures: "No, you don't have to do anything. Maintain the status quo."

Going after Captain America at this juncture would be an open declaration to Nick Fury that there is a mole in SHIELD.

Furthermore, times have changed!

It's no longer seventy years ago.

With Hydra's current situation, even if Captain America were alive, what harm could he possibly do?

Is he not just another super-soldier, incapable of stirring up any real trouble?

More importantly, a living Captain America is far more valuable than a dead one. Why?

The blood running through Captain America's veins is a priceless treasure!

Though Hydra now controls the super-soldier Winter Soldier and has several others cryogenically frozen in Siberia, for Alexander Pierce, this is far from enough.

These super-soldiers are flawed and don't come close to Captain America's level.

That's why Hydra awakens the Winter Soldier only for missions, keeping him in cryostasis otherwise.

The same goes for the ones in Siberia; they've been on ice for decades without use.

Why is that?

These super-soldiers are imperfect! Hindered by technological limitations, Hydra had no choice but to let the matter be.

But now?

Hasn't the opportunity to change this situation presented itself?

With the technological prowess Hydra possesses, coupled with the burgeoning levels of modern science and technology.

If they get their hands on a sample of Captain America's serum, Pierce is confident of replicating Captain America's glory.

So in the coming time.

It's not just Nick Fury or Tony Stark's Iron Man who's paying attention.

Even Alexander Pierce is now keenly interested in the dormant Captain America.

All eyes now converge on the icy polar regions.

Of course.

Coulson, the honest man, had no inkling of any of this.

Having received orders from Nick Fury, he led his team directly into the vast and endless icy wilderness.

Daily, they followed the original search records, conducting a meticulous ground search with both his team and Hydra moles.

There was no choice. Seventy years ago, this was an open sea!

With the passage of time, the landscape underwent a drastic transformation, becoming land.

All traces were erased; all SHIELD's information overturned. They had to start from scratch.

The task was enormous.

But the earnest Coulson remained incredibly loyal and reliable; a top SHIELD agent doing exploratory work in these polar conditions without a single complaint.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The piercing cold winds blew relentlessly, whether at level five or six, intensifying the already blinding snowfall.

Visibility dropped to an infuriatingly low level, adding to the difficulties faced by Coulson's search team.

Despite this, the well-trained SHIELD agents with their exceptional qualities did not complain.

They persevered, tackling any difficulties that arose while continuing their mission.

Little did they know due to the extreme weather conditions, including Coulson himself, all the SHIELD agents were being watched.

By whom?

None other than the suavely arrogant, super-rich genius Tony Stark.

Right at that moment.

Hovering in the air amidst the endless snowfall, an Iron Man suit observed from above.

Jarvis had marked and magnified those SHIELD agents on the ground, projecting them right in front of Tony Stark.

"Why are there so many people?"

"Isn't this place supposed to be deserted?"

"And this isn't one of those scientific research bases either!"

Inside the suit, Tony Stark felt puzzled.

Like Nick Fury, upon discovering the bombshell that Captain America might still be alive from the diary, Iron Man also took action.Regardless, that's Captain America!

Although Tony Stark, who is always arrogant, is indifferent to Captain America, unlike so many others who worship him.

But now that Tony Stark knew Captain America was still alive, he couldn't remain unmoved.

So after making the necessary preparations, Tony Stark flew to the Arctic in his Iron Man suit.

He arrived at the crash site officially announced as Captain America's and began a search.

However, Tony Stark did not expect that he would not find Captain America but would instead stumble upon other people first.

This made Tony Stark feel quite curious.

Why would these people just happen to appear near the crash site of Captain America?

And they were carrying equipment, looking like they were scanning for something!

Could it be that, like himself, they were all looking for Captain America?

But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before Tony Stark dismissed it.

That's unlikely. I found out about Captain America's survival through a journal, how would others know?

According to the journal, Captain America was found in the future by a Russian oil team.

Not now!

"Sir, there's something in the sky!"

"Look, what is that!"

Due to the heavy blizzard, it was only after getting close to Coulson and his team that JARVIS was able to spot these people.

And promptly, they were discovered by the ever-vigilant SHIELD agents.

With an exclamation from one SHIELD agent, all the agents then spotted the iron clank flying overhead.

But it was precisely because of this that JARVIS managed to scan the faces of the SHIELD agents.

Tony Stark didn't recognize the other SHIELD agents, but he had met Coulson and even "collaborated" with him before.

Iron Man recognized him immediately.

"Coulson?"

"SHIELD!"

Tony Stark instantly realized the identity of the people on the ground.

At the same time, he grew more curious.

Why would such an international intelligence organization appear in a place like this?

"Iron Man suit, it's Iron Man!"

"No, it's the Destroyer!"

"Stark? What is he doing here?"

At this point, the SHIELD agents finally managed to see through the blizzard what the thing in the sky actually was.

They were equally surprised.

"Stark? What's he doing here?"

Coulson, keenly sensing something, felt Stark's presence was somewhat unusual.

During the period given by Director Fury to find the captain, he appeared near the crash site where the captain had gone down!

Could it be that Stark knew something as well?

"Stark, aren't you going to come down and say hello?"

With those thoughts flashing through his mind, Coulson looked up and shouted out to Tony Stark.

Whoosh!

Since he had been discovered, Tony Stark no longer kept it a secret.

He descended from the sky and landed in front of Coulson.

"Stark, I have to say, I never thought I'd encounter you in a place like this."

Coulson swept over the cool iron suit in front of him and expressed his inherent amazement.

Clang!

Tony Stark's faceplate opened, and Iron Man's face revealed itself to Coulson.

"Really? I was about to say the same thing."

Tony Stark spread his hands slightly, "Of course, my intent isn't to suggest that we're on the same wavelength—frankly, it's both terrifying and disgusting when two grown men are that in sync."

"The reason I wanted to say the same thing is because your appearance here is rather strange."

"So, what are you doing here, on some kind of secret mission?"

Iron Man didn't bother beating around the bush and directly asked what was on his mind.

"No comment."

Coulson divulged not a single piece of information, then fixed his eyes on Tony Stark and pressed, "But I need you to tell me, why are you here?"

"That's hardly fair, you won't tell me why you're here, yet you expect me to explain my presence?"

"Correct."

Faced with Iron Man's frank accusation, the straightforward Coulson admitted candidly, offering a noble reason, "You've intruded into our jurisdiction unsanctioned, best to come clean."

"Is that so?"

Tony Stark, unafraid of Coulson's threat, answered without even a blink, "Alright then, I was just passing through."

"Passing through?"

"Yes, I was taking the Destroyer for a spin and unexpectedly ran into you guys here."

"A spin? To a place like this?"

"What is that look? Well, I'm not sure about the benefits of SHIELD or how much a special agent like you earns, but you can't imagine the lifestyle of someone like me."

"Stark, I need you to give me both a formal and a more detailed explanation."

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry."

Whoosh!

Tony Stark, knowing there would be no end to this fruitless conversation, didn't waste any more words.

After abruptly ending the awkward chat, he flew away in his Iron Man suit.

Leaving Coulson helplessly flustered in the wind.

He watched the direction where the Iron Man suit disappeared for a few seconds before pulling out a satellite phone and dialing Nick Fury's number.

"Director, we've encountered a problem."

Coulson solemnly reported the run-in with Tony Stark to Nick Fury.

They had actually run into Iron Man?

Fury was just as surprised, but at the same time, he sensed something unusual.

Why would Tony Stark appear there?

And at such a coincidental time?

The journal had just revealed Captain America was still alive, and then Stark showed up?

It was hard for Nick Fury not to connect this to an earlier theory by the Black Widow.

It seemed highly likely that Tony Stark was also a holder of the journal.

Otherwise, there would be no explaining his actions in the Arctic.

"I understand."

"Leave Stark to me; you needn't worry about him."

"Continue with your duties."

After a brief contemplation, Nick Fury gave Coulson this directive.

"Understood, Director!"

Coulson acknowledged and resumed his diligent search in the Arctic with his team.

As for Tony Stark?

Even though their top-secret operation had been discovered by him, since their superior had said not to worry, Coulson naturally dismissed it.

As if Iron Man had never appeared, they went back to their duties, removing him entirely from their thoughts.