Chapter 268: The Elderly Captain America!

Clark didn't ask who the other person was, nor did he care.

For him now, whether black or white, as long as they could help solve the Ultron issue, they were good people!

Following George Carter to the study of the Carter estate, the fifty-something elder stopped at the door and said, "Mr. Clark, I believe you'll have a lot to talk about with the person inside. I won't accompany you in. You are welcome to visit our home anytime if you wish."

Clark responded with a smile, "I may indeed trouble you more in the future. Perhaps we will have opportunities for cooperation."

George's eyes brightened at the prospect. With Clark's current strength and status, any cooperation would be hugely beneficial for the Carter family.

Knowing it wasn't the time for such discussions, George nodded slightly and left.

Who could command such respect and caution from an influential English political figure?

With this question in mind, Clark knocked on the study door.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

"Is that Clark?" came a familiar, yet upon careful recollection, utterly unfamiliar voice from inside. "The door's unlocked, just come in."

Pushing the door open, Clark saw an interior decorated in a quaint, medieval European style. On a brown sofa, sat a benign-looking old man with white hair, probably about the same age as Peggy Carter, but seemingly healthier, showing no signs of impending demise.

Conservatively, the old man could live another decade or two without issue.

But upon seeing his face, Clark was taken aback.

Such a familiar face!

Yet Clark was certain he'd never met him before.

This sensation was just like when he heard the man's voice, a blend of familiarity and strangeness in the same person, truly bizarre.

"Clark Lee," the old man began as Clark remained silent, "although it's our first meeting, I've been aware of you for a long time. I think it started when... " He paused, lost in thought, then continued, "When you woke someone up two years ahead of schedule."

Hearing this, Clark's eyes lit up, realizing why the man's voice and appearance were so familiar.

But the truth was a bit too shocking.

"Ah... I'm getting old, sometimes my words get mixed up," the old man suddenly said, sighing before inviting Clark to sit. "It's rude to keep a guest standing for so long."

After speculating about the old man's identity, Clark took a seat and said, "I just remembered something when you mentioned the person I woke up. Could it be that you are that person?"

Their conversation seemed like riddles, but both understood each other. The "sleeping person" they referred to was none other than Captain America, Steve Rogers!

The old man before Clark had a familiar voice and face, yet Clark was certain he had never met him. His memory was impeccable, especially for familiar faces.

It wasn't until the man mentioned Captain America that Clark realized the old man bore a striking resemblance to him, almost like an elderly version!

Two Captain Americas in the same world?

Which one was the real Captain America? Or was one a mythical Hydra Captain America?

Upon hearing Clark's question, the elderly Captain America seemed to ponder.

"Sort of, but not exactly," the elderly Captain America finally gave a vague answer after much thought. "Originally, we were one person, but since your arrival, the timeline has branched, and we are now on different paths."

Confronted with philosophical musings from an elderly Captain America, Clark shook his head and admitted, "I don't quite understand what you mean."

Gaining an impression of +12345 from Steve Rogers, the old Captain America explained, "It's about a 'time paradox'. I don't fully understand it, but according to Banner and Tony, I am from the future. Had nothing changed, I'd still be me. But your arrival created a divergent timeline, and we now exist in this branch, so I am no longer the me from before."

Clark, feeling the absurdity of the situation, as if Captain America was spoiling the plot of "Avengers 4," asked, "So, did you win in the end?"

The old Captain America nodded gently, "Yes, we won, though at a great cost. But those are painful memories I'd rather not revisit."

He then recounted his journey: After the war, tasked with returning the Infinity Stones to their original timelines, he chose not to return to the future but to 1945, the year he was frozen.

Subsequently, Captain America led a secret life with Peggy Carter, adopting the name Chris Evans. He thought he could seamlessly merge into this timeline, especially considering his children's appearance confirmed this.

Until Clark's emergence, especially awakening the past Captain America two years early, the old Captain America realized the timeline had indeed changed. The future Steve Rogers would now live a different life, hence the statement that the other him was not him.

This change, while unsettling, also brought relief. The original timeline's alteration meant he no longer needed to tread carefully to avoid disrupting history and creating new branches.

Clark came seeking advice on combating Ultron, now possessing Pym Particles. Peggy Carter had hinted this might be a problem he could help with.

The old Captain America shared Tony Stark's plan to trap an intangible AI, as much as he remembered. Beyond that, executing the plan was beyond his capabilities as a soldier.

As Clark prepared to leave, he suddenly turned and asked, "Captain, did you fight the guardians of the stones when you returned them?"

The old Captain America, now gaining an impression of +99999 from Steve Rogers, remained silent...

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