The next shot was still indoors.
Captain America and Black Widow were seen sitting in Sam Wilson's house, discussing something with serious expressions.
"So, the problem now is, who in the bureau has the authority to launch a domestic missile strike?" Black Widow asked Captain America, her expression serious.
This sentence implied that they had previously encountered a missile attack!
This was no ordinary level of attack; it seemed Hydra was truly determined to kill Captain America.
"Pierce!" On the screen, after a moment of contemplation, Captain America said to Black Widow with a solemn expression.
Everyone present couldn't help but stir slightly; they had previously suspected Pierce was a Hydra mole, and now that suspicion grew even stronger.
This was because Captain America's reason for being wanted this time was very clear and sufficient: he simply refused to reveal information about Nick Fury before his death, nothing more.
For such a minor reason, Pierce was willing to launch missiles to kill Captain America.
This was completely out of protocol; no normal high-ranking official would issue such an order.
This style was entirely Hydra's style.
"He's the head of the most secure building in the world," Black Widow interjected.
"He's not alone; Zola's algorithm is on the Lemurian Star."
"Sitwell is also on that ship."
"So the real question is, how can two of the most wanted fugitives kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. official in broad daylight?"
Captain America and Black Widow quickly finalized their next operational plan after a brief discussion: kidnap Sitwell.
"The answer is, you don't go!"
Sam Wilson, who had been silent, suddenly pulled out a document and handed it to Captain America.
The subtext was clear: you don't need to go; leave this to me!
Captain America and Black Widow took the documents and quickly scanned them.
They found that it contained some of Sam Wilson's mission data, as well as some related photos and so on.
It was mainly for Captain America and Black Widow to understand his capabilities.
"Sam, I can't ask you to do this; you have every right to retire!" Captain America sighed, shaking his head at Sam Wilson after closing the documents.
"Buddy, Captain America needs my help, and that's the best reason for me to come back!" Sam Wilson, however, said with unwavering determination.
"Sam Wilson, he seems like a very reliable person," Black Widow couldn't help but glance at Captain America beside her and remarked.
Captain America wholeheartedly agreed.
He secretly made a decision that if he had the chance later, he would get to know this Sam Wilson.
At this point, the scene on the big screen switched again.
The location was on the rooftop of a skyscraper.
Bang!
Sitwell was violently pushed to the ground, and Captain America and Black Widow strode towards him, exuding immense pressure.
Although the intermediate process was not shown, it was clear that Sam Wilson had captured Sitwell on behalf of Captain America and Black Widow.
"Tell me Zola's algorithm!" Captain America's voice rang out as he sternly commanded Sitwell.
The video didn't explain what Zola's algorithm was, but no one present was foolish.
Everyone knew that the algorithm must be what Captain America and his team had found on the USB drive they were investigating.
Captain America and his team had even been hit by missiles earlier, so it was clear they had already taken some action.
It was reasonable for them to have investigated some things.
However, this algorithm called Zola was too profound, and Captain America couldn't crack it with his existing resources and methods, which was why he resorted to the desperate measure of kidnapping a Hydra official.
"I've never heard of it!"
On the screen, Sitwell got up from the ground and calmly shook his head in denial.
"What were you doing on the Lemurian Star?" Captain America continued to press Sitwell, moving closer to him.
"I was throwing up; I get seasick!" Sitwell retorted, backing away.
By this point, Sitwell had retreated to the edge of the building, and he stumbled, almost falling backward.
But Captain America, quick as a flash, grabbed him and lifted him up.
Sitwell remained calm, showing no panic at all.
He was completely confident: "Are you going to throw me down for such a small thing? That's not your style, Rogers!"
"You're right!" Captain America nodded, putting Sitwell down. "That's not my style, but it's hers."
With that, Captain America stepped aside, making way for Black Widow.
Sitwell's smiling face instantly stiffened.
Bang!
Black Widow said nothing, delivering a swift and decisive kick that sent Sitwell flying off the rooftop.
Everyone present was startled by Black Widow's action, jumping in surprise.
But then they all calmed down, realizing that Black Widow surely wouldn't simply kill someone like that.
After all, what was the point of capturing someone if you killed them before even starting the interrogation?
They might as well have just killed him on the spot.
Indeed.
In the next moment, a figure with a pair of metal wings soared into the air.
He held Sitwell in one hand and tossed him back onto the rooftop. Without a doubt, it was Sam Wilson.
"Isn't that my flight suit?" Thor looked at the flight suit on Sam Wilson with surprise.
He had thought that he was the only one who had this flight suit.
Now, seeing that someone else also had an identical one, he instantly felt it wasn't so special anymore.
"Zola's algorithm is a program! It's used to select targets for Project Insight!"
Sitwell was now terrified; he didn't need Captain America and Black Widow to press him further and spilled everything in one breath.
"What targets!" Captain America demanded, staring at him intently.
"You! A TV anchor in Cairo, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, a high school graduate in Iowa, Bruce Banner, Doctor Strange... anyone who could threaten Hydra, whether now or in the future."
Sitwell rattled off the information to Captain America like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.
Dr. Banner: "..."
Wtf?
MMP!
Who did he offend?
How did he end up on Hydra's "Project Insight" list so inexplicably?
Although no one present knew exactly what Project Insight was yet, even if they thought about it for a moment, they knew it couldn't be anything good.
"Now or... in the future?" Tony Stark keenly picked up on this point, as did everyone else present.
Current enemies were one thing, but how could future enemies be determined?
"The future? How can that be known?"
On the screen, Captain America also asked, clearly confused.
"Heh heh!" Sitwell, however, scoffed. "How could it not be known!"
"The 21st century is a digital book, and Zola's algorithm teaches Hydra how to read it."
"Your bank records, medical records, voting patterns, emails, call logs, university exam results..."
"Zola's algorithm evaluates a person's past to predict their future!"
Under the gaze of Captain America, Black Widow, and the others, Sitwell "educated" them on what Zola's algorithm truly was.
It's fair to say that everyone present was left stunned.
So, it could be played like that?
It must be said that Hydra, as an organization that was like an unkillable cockroach, having lurked since World War II until now, still possessed a certain depth and vision.
Look at the scale of Zola's algorithm; it truly wasn't something just any organization could pull off.
"And then?"
Captain America continued to stare at Sitwell, pressing for answers.
"My God, Pierce will kill me," Sitwell's face, however, showed a hint of panic.
Everyone present couldn't help but stir.
Because Sitwell's words unequivocally conveyed a very important piece of information: Alexander Pierce was, indeed, Hydra!
Although everyone had suspected this before, when they truly confirmed it, they were still shocked.
Because in terms of position, Pierce was the highest-ranking person in all of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
His authority was even above Nick Fury's!
This kind of person was also Hydra?
Then what would S.H.I.I.E.L.D. become?
It was likely that the entire S.H.I.E.L.D., from top to bottom, was already filled with Hydra agents, right?
Black Widow and Hawkeye Barton couldn't help but exchange glances, their faces turning grim. This was truly not good news for them.
Especially Black Widow, her emotions were even more complex; she didn't know what to say.
She had thought that by breaking free from the Red Room, she would have a different life. For so many years, to atone for the sins she committed in the Red Room, she had worked herself to death.
In the end, she discovered that the organization she was risking her life for was Hydra!
An organization even more evil than the Red Room!
God, you're really messing with me!
"And then! Hurry up and tell me!"
Despite some fear and panic, it must be said that Sitwell was indeed a coward. After being yelled at a couple of times by Captain America, he still confessed.
"Then the Insight helicarriers will eliminate everyone on the list, millions at once," Sitwell told Captain America and the others with a serious expression.
Killing millions of people at once!
Everyone present couldn't help but feel their hearts skip a beat, their pupils suddenly constricted, and they gasped in cold air. Hydra's plot was too outrageous!
What a grand and astonishing scheme!
This wasn't a game; it was real murder, killing millions at once!
Those were human lives, not straw!
In an instant, everyone couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines, experiencing immense fear and relief.
Thanks to the Q&A system, they learned about Hydra's inhumane and world-shattering plan in advance; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
At this point, the scene on the screen froze, and the video playback ended.
But the ripples in everyone's hearts were far from over.
"We must stop Project Insight at all costs!" Captain America said in a decisive, unyielding tone.
This point became a consensus among everyone present, except for Thor.
Even non-S.H.I.E.L.D. members like Tony Stark and Dr. Banner expressed strong support for eliminating Hydra and stopping Project Insight.
Evil organizations like Hydra should not exist!
"We gained two very important pieces of information from this video!"
After a pause, Captain America began to summarize, "First, we can now confirm that Pierce is also a member of Hydra."
At this point, Captain America glanced at Black Widow and Hawkeye. "Romanoff, Barton, you need to be more cautious from now on. There aren't many trustworthy people left in S.H.I.E.L.D."
Black Widow and Hawkeye Barton wholeheartedly agreed.
Now they finally understood Nick Fury's feeling of not being able to trust anyone, of not daring to trust anyone, from back then.
They, too, wanted to ask if there was anyone trustworthy left in S.H.I.E.L.D. besides Coulson and Hill, who were confirmed to be alright by the Q&A system.
"Even the highest-ranking officer in S.H.I.E.L.D. is a Hydra agent. How deeply infiltrated must Hydra be?"
Tony Stark also clicked his tongue in amazement, "It's probably just you guys and Nick Fury who aren't Hydra, right? If you ask me, S.H.I.E.L.D. might as well change its name to Serpent Shield!"
Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye Barton remained silent, feeling immense pressure.
Hydra had infiltrated to such an extent and scale; what could they possibly do?
Leaving aside their current isolated and helpless situation, even if they could achieve such a feat, S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably be finished, right?
Although Tony Stark's words were just a joke, tragically, they hit the truth: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flesh and bones had all been replaced by Hydra.
Was such a S.H.I.E.L.D. still S.H.I.E.L.D.?
"Secondly, there's Project Insight!" Captain America said again in a deep voice after a moment of silence. "Both Zola's algorithm and the Insight helicarriers are our targets!"
"Captain, leave the other things to you, but if it's Zola's algorithm, you can leave it to me! I will crack that program!"
Tony Stark said, not letting anyone else take the lead.
What Hydra was doing was truly too evil, too heinous; Tony Stark couldn't possibly ignore it.
Moreover, Tony Stark also deeply suspected whether he would end up on the death list determined by Zola's algorithm.
This matter was thus happily agreed upon.
...
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