Raising his head to watch the snowflakes and moonlight leaking through the roof, Su Ming shook his head at the ruined city; the damage here was much more severe than in New York because the actions were taken a bit late.
Missing the street-facing wall, one could directly see outside from the small bar, where fire and thick smoke were visible, and many miserable corpses were also mixed in the ruins.
The attack time was midnight, when many people were already asleep at home. When the attack arrived, they didn't even have time to react before encountering bombs or flamethrowers.
Ignoring the hesitant woman beside him, he had finished speaking with her; as long as she did her job according to their agreement, Su Ming would naturally let her live a few more years.
Lotus lacked strong independent action ability; she was like most Japanese women who liked obeying the orders of the strong. This was a tradition carved into their bones, unable to change.
Compared to the violent Du Zun and Blood Count, Lotus's previous role was as an insurance against Captain America.
Steve was filled with justice, and his willpower was extraordinary, so he was immune to mind control skills.
But often, those who acted with him weren't as resilient. If the Super Axis was targeted by Captain America, and they couldn't win, Lotus would control Captain America's teammates and have them stall him, allowing the others to escape.
Once faced with his own people, Captain America would always be restrained, unable to act ruthlessly.
Many superheroes fell victim to Lady Lotus's hypnosis during World War II, including all members of the Roaring Assault Team, Namor from the Invasion Team, and even Baki.
Those affected by it would fall madly in love with Lotus, thinking she loved them too, and then perform reckless acts for love, like dragging Captain America down with them.
Baki was relatively better, still remembering Steve, eventually awakening after being punched by Captain America's Friendship Face-Breaking Fist.
But what happened to Fury was simply black history; he was once controlled, insanely in love with Lotus. If Dum Dum Bullet Dugan hadn't noticed early, the entire Roaring Assault Team might have been wiped out.
With a heart as black as his skin, how could he believe he could love someone? Truly lacking self-awareness, young Fury was still far from ready.
In the end, it was interference from hormones.
Dugan, talking now without feeling the pain in his back, will in a few years fall for a French woman, an elegant widow named 'Lady Otto Baroness'. Then he'll understand how formidable Hydra female spies are.
Su Ming flipped over the bar, found a still-intact radio, and after twisting a few buttons, listened to static for a while.
Afterward, he didn't say much more and directly left, heading towards Zemo's location.
........
The military in Los Angeles had already been eliminated by Magnetic King; his actions were in a different order than Su Ming's. Meanwhile, Su Ming found Zemo, alone visiting a production studio in Hollywood.
For some reason, this guy seemed interested in Howard's movies; when Su Ming found him, he was hiding in a warehouse at the film set, spying on a somewhat rushed Howard.
Despite the chaos in the city, Howard was still entangled with his new movie's leading actress, with all sorts of melodramatic dialogue flowing from their mouths, as if the escape journey would be a farewell of life and death.
Zemo was watching this soap opera, a behavior extremely inappropriate for his identity.
Seeing Deathstroke appear, he was not surprised, as if he had expected to encounter this strongest force, and knew Deathstroke wouldn't kill him.
Su Ming also negotiated a deal with him, as expected, Little Zemo only wanted to deal with Red Skull, having no interest in other Hydra plans.
Deathstroke asked for the whereabouts of the Stone of Destiny but didn't get a definitive answer, only knowing it was lost somewhere in Asgard, and at that time Zemo's mind wasn't clear, and he couldn't remember.
"I'm curious, Baron Zemo, why did you come here, for Howard?" Su Ming extinguished the flame in his palm after the contract burned out, while Howard, not far away, had yet to notice them, his eyes fixated on the actress's pretty face.
Zemo touched the hilt of his sword at his waist, a sigh emanating from under his purple mask:
"No, what I wish to do, the atomic bomb can't help me; I came here because I've heard that Hollywood is a place where miracles can be created, a place where others' lives are performed every day, piece by piece of beautiful lives, I... want to see it."
"Then you've come to the wrong place; Howard's films, although dubbed romance, are actually horror; his and the leading actress's acting can send a coma patient, screaming, dashing into the icy night. American critics unanimously believe his performance pioneered a new genre called 'Traffic Accident' style."
Su Ming coldly revealed the reality, having watched one of Howard's films years ago. It showed Howard shouldn't mix in Hollywood but should venture further east by about ten miles, seeking opportunities in Fernando Valley.
"But he's... relaxed; is he usually such a person? It's hard to imagine someone this unsophisticated invented the most powerful bomb." Zemo turned away, having no plans to interact with Howard; he was there just waiting for Deathstroke, and now that goal was accomplished.