The scales of war, nudged by the invisible hand of Lynn Morris, tipped decisively in favor of the Allied Forces.
The combined efforts of Soldier Boy and Human Torch destroyed HYDRA's final War Machine, the "Fenris Wolf," and crushed Red Skull's last shred of hope.
The Perfect Being legions lost their core factory located in the hinterlands, becoming like water without a source.
Though they still rampaged across the battlefield, every loss they suffered could not be replenished.
Meanwhile, the Repulsor Field Grenades and Sentinel exoskeleton armor produced by Vanguard flooded the front lines like a tide.
The Allied Forces soldiers, who were once pinned down and unable to lift their heads by the Perfect Beings, had undergone a massive upgrade.
Wearing the exoskeleton armor, their individual strength skyrocketed.
Facing the suicidal attacks of the Perfect Beings, they were no longer afraid; they only needed to calmly toss a Repulsor Field Grenade the moment the enemy began to glow.
The soldiers even had the leisure to whistle at the void after the explosion.
The state of the war transformed from a bloody meat grinder into a one-sided slaughter.
HYDRA's front lines collapsed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The dawn of victory was clearer than ever before.
The generals at The Pentagon watched the reports of continuous victories on the sand table, but they couldn't force a smile.
They had won, but it was a frustrating victory.
From beginning to end, this war had become a one-man show for Lynn Morris.
He defined the heroes, he manufactured the weapons, and he even defined the price of victory.
These so-called Commanders became nothing more than spectators sitting in the audience, applauding the performer on stage.
Now, this director was preparing to unveil his final grand finale—the hero's return.
An order jointly issued by the Department of Defense, the Strategic Scientific Reserve, and the Congressional Military Committee was delivered to Steve Rogers.
"Steve, congratulations on your recovery."
The Minister of Defense personally presided over this video conference, his tone carrying a deliberate enthusiasm.
"The nation needs you, the World needs you. We will hold the grandest return ceremony for you. You will personally receive the flag and lead the first legion entirely armed with Sentinel armor to launch an all-out assault on Red Skull!"
"You are the bugle of our counterattack, the embodiment of victory! The entire World will witness your return!"
The generals sat around the conference table, wearing official smiles.
They were attempting to pull this out-of-control "totem" back onto the track they had set.
However, Steve Rogers on the other side of the screen just listened quietly.
He was wearing a simple white shirt, and in those deep blue eyes, there was none of the excitement or gratitude the generals had expected, only the stillness of a calm lake.
"Officer."
Steve spoke, his voice steady and powerful.
"My brothers are still on the front lines, in muddy trenches, paving the way for victory with their flesh and blood. I will not stand under the spotlight to accept cheers."
"I am going back to the Howling Commandos to fight alongside them until the very last moment of the war."
"This... this is an order!"
A general slammed the table and stood up.
"When I was unconscious, your orders failed to protect my comrades."
"Now, I choose to protect them in my own way."
The video call was unilaterally disconnected.
...
Steve pushed open the door to Lynn's office.
"They want you to be a victory mascot?"
"Yes."
Steve walked over to his side, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.
This was the place where the entire war had been turned around.
"I refused."
"I guessed as much."
"I am going back to my unit."
Steve's tone was firm.
Lynn finally turned around to look at him.
Steve expected to see disappointment, or persuasion, or even an order.
But he only saw a flash of something like admiration in Lynn's bottomless eyes.
"Of course you can."
Lynn's answer caught Steve by surprise.
He agreed?
Just like that?
Lynn walked to the desk and pressed a button.
The wall on one side slid open slowly, revealing a weapon display rack.
In the center of the rack, the Captain's shield lay silently.
It still featured the classic circular design, the striking red, white, and blue colors, and the star.
Lynn took the shield down and handed it to Steve.
"Why?" Steve looked up and asked, voicing his confusion.
"Why agree to let me go back? I thought you would want me to follow their arrangements and become a more perfect 'Captain America'."
Lynn smiled, a look in his smile that Steve couldn't decipher.
"What I need is a Steve Rogers who can feel anger, who can question, and who can disobey orders for the sake of his own convictions."
Lynn looked him straight in the eyes.
"A perfect god, high above, worshiped by all, will eventually just be shelved. But a hero with flesh and blood, who can make mistakes and feel pain, can truly enter people's hearts and gain the most loyal followers."
Lynn placed his hand on Steve's shoulder, his tone sincere.
"Steve, go do what you want to do. Go fight alongside your brothers, and go win the victory that belongs to you."
"I will handle the generals and the media. You just need to... be yourself."
Steve looked at Lynn; this man had once again seen through all his thoughts and paved the way for him.
What else could he say?
"Thank you, Lynn."
Steve's voice was a bit hoarse.
"We are partners."
Lynn smiled and patted his shoulder.
Steve took the shield and turned to leave.
His back was straighter than ever before.
The office door slowly closed.
Lynn sat back at his desk and closed his eyes.
[Lord of War]
[Condition: Provide extraordinary power services to the Allied Forces (or any party), with the company's annual profit exceeding 10 million USD]
[Comment: War is a human tragedy, but it is also the fastest way to accumulate wealth. You have completed the primitive accumulation of capital amidst blood and fire.]
[Reward: One draw opportunity]
plz support me if you can
readfictional.com
patreon.com/AZFANFICTION
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AZofficial
All the novel and fanfiction are 30 chapter ahead there.