Looking back at Quinn, Steve saw the little boss with all his limbs cut off.
An ordinary person would have died from such injuries—but Quinn screamed hysterically, trying to mask the paralyzing fear inside.
Steve glanced at the broken computer and carefully set it aside. These were evidence, proof, and credit—all vital.
"Captain!" Crossbones approached, gun in hand, awaiting orders.
"Don't leave a single vampire alive. Kill them all," Steve said casually, then walked over to the wine cabinet.
Blade watched, incredulous. "Steve, what about us?"
"I'll command from here. You keep hunting. You're the vampire hunter—you can't drink," Steve replied, opening a fine bottle of red wine and pouring himself a glass.
Blade's expression darkened. We're working our asses off, and he's just drinking?! How can the Captain be so depraved?
Seeing Blade's confusion, Steve patted his shoulder. "Do you know what's most important in war?"
Blade shook his head. He didn't expect a lesson from a man who seemed to be slacking off.
"It's the reserve team," Steve said solemnly.
"In my friend's regiment, they were defeated because there was no backup. I am the reserve. Ready to support you, warn you of ambushes, and ensure you don't walk into traps. Understand?"
It was a flawless argument. Blade couldn't refute it. "Okay, I'll hunt down the vampires."
"That's right. I'm right behind you, your strongest defender," Steve said, satisfied. What a team!
He looked at Crossbones, nodding to his Hydra agents. Good soldiers, all of them.
Steve's mind wandered. Hydra has assets worldwide, intelligence unmatched. If I became Captain Hydra…
Hiss! The idea was now real.
He was a man out of time, frozen for seventy years. No one could know the details of his past.
Even fighting the Red Skull could be framed as an ideological difference—Red Skull, a heretic.
Hydra had capable people and beautiful women, assets and wealth beyond imagination. Rather than letting SHIELD control them, why not seize the nest?
Captain Hydra, assemble!
At that moment, Steve found purpose: lead Hydra, gain influence, uphold justice under a new banner, and maintain a heroic reputation. A perfect plan.
Half an hour later…
Other agents arrived, and Steve led his team back to SHIELD, handing Hill the computer retrieved from Fes.
"It contains Faith's plans, though the computer is broken," Steve reported.
"No problem, I'll handle it. Thank you for your hard work, husband," Hill said, alone in the office.
Her tight uniform emphasized her graceful figure, fair skin, and long military boots, radiating heroic elegance.
"Tired?" Hill asked, locking the office door.
Steve caught his breath as Hill crouched slightly, a subtle, intimate gesture.
Evening.
Steve visited Tony, still recuperating, in the underground lab. Tony was testing a new battle suit with 3D imaging, Yinsen assisting. Progress was impressive.
"Prepare for the first test flight, Yinsen. Record it," Tony instructed.
The test armor covered only hands and feet—no full exoskeleton. Purely a prototype.
Steve observed, champagne in hand.
"Three, two, one!"
Bang! Tony flipped backward in the air, landing awkwardly on the hood of a Maserati.
"Damn! Too much force! Lower the output!"
Despite the comedic fall, Tony meticulously documented every issue, refining his approach. Genius and imagination drove the evolution of his Iron Man suit.
After several trials, he dismantled the armor with Yinsen's help.
"Why visit me now? Hunting vampires? Meet any pretty ones?" Tony asked.
Steve shook his head, sipping champagne. "No, I want a retractable hang glider."
Tony smiled. "No problem. Blueprints are on my computer—pick one."
Granting Steve access showed deep trust. Not even Vice President Obama or Rhodey had that privilege.
Steve wanted the glider retractable, like a falcon's wings. Military tech could handle it, but he preferred Tony's genius touch.
"I also want an electromagnetic adsorption device for my shield. Easier to retract." Steve added, leveraging their rapport.
Tony shrugged. "No problem. Consider it done."
Before more requests could be made, Steve received a message from Sharon, asking him to stay overnight at her apartment and visit her aunt Peggy tomorrow.
The niece stole the man her aunt loved—what a complicated plot!
"I got your favorite black stockings and red peep-toe heels!" Sharon texted.
Steve, freshly released by Hill, immediately turned from a sage into Ximen Qing, fully controlled by desire.