While Steve and Peggy were still lost in that quiet, heartfelt gaze, Colonel Phillips had already made his way toward Chen Mo. He looked up at the tall, steel-armored man standing before him — expression cold, posture straight — and the hint of a smile at the corner of the colonel's mouth deepened.
"You sure took your time coming back. That's not like you, son."
Chen Mo sighed and shook his head.
"Had to deal with those busted Hydra tanks."
He gestured toward the open field behind him, where the captured tanks and armored vehicles stood parked. A crowd of soldiers had already gathered, circling the machines, pointing and marveling at the strange black plating and advanced design — clearly far superior to anything the Allies possessed.
Phillips rolled his eyes.
"Only you would call that junk. If they're so bad, then build me something better."
Chen Mo shrugged.
"Talk to Howard. He's the one in charge of R&D. I just fight."
The colonel huffed, glaring, but there wasn't a damn thing he could do. Technically, he was the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., but everyone knew Chen Mo was the most capable of them all. With his strength, mind, and leadership — and that inexplicable charisma — he had earned the respect and trust of every core member.
Phillips often suspected that if they'd ever held a vote for director, Chen Mo would've won unanimously — even his own ballot.
He had long planned to hand command to Chen Mo one day, once the young major had gained enough experience and he himself was ready to retire, leaving the logistics in steadier hands.
A shame that dream would never come true.
Retire? Forget it, old man. You're not getting out that easy.
London — Strategic Scientific Reserve Underground Headquarters
A few days later, freshly returned from the Italian front, Chen Mo, Phillips, Carter, and Steve sat in crisp military uniforms around a secure conference table.
Howard Stark was already there, lounging comfortably with his usual smirk. With Dr. Erskine still in New York, every core member of the newly-formed S.H.I.E.L.D. was present — plus one new addition: Steve Rogers.
In less than a year, Chen Mo had risen to the rank of Major — a meteoric rise, but well-earned given his record of annihilating multiple Hydra strongholds.
Steve, on the other hand, sat stiffly in his chair, unsure what was happening. After they returned to the Allied camp, Chen Mo had completely ignored Senator Brand's furious demand to have Steve sent back to America, and instead brought him straight here — to a secret facility beneath central London.
Now, seated in a heavily guarded meeting room, Steve felt even more out of place.
"There are some things," Chen Mo said calmly, noticing his confusion, "that you deserve to know."
That only made Steve more confused.
At Chen Mo's signal, the two armed guards at the door saluted and stepped out. The heavy door closed with a dull thud, sealing the room in silence.
After a quick mental sweep to confirm there were no eavesdroppers, Chen Mo began his report — describing everything he had uncovered in New York.
Howard had helped Steve sneak behind enemy lines and, fearing the colonel's wrath, had immediately flown back to London after dropping off Peggy. He hadn't told anyone about the discoveries — the new serum, the Adamantium alloy — and so both Phillips and Carter were hearing about them for the first time.
Their faces lit up with excitement. A refined super-soldier serum and a nearly indestructible metal alloy — these breakthroughs would elevate S.H.I.E.L.D.'s power to unprecedented levels.
Howard, however, frowned slightly.
Something was off.
Chen Mo had mentioned a new serum developed by Dr. Erskine, one that was safer but somewhat weaker — yet he hadn't said a word about the fact that the doctor had successfully tested it on himself.
Howard opened his mouth to clarify, but Chen Mo's sharp gaze cut across the table, pinning him like a blade.
Howard snapped his jaw shut, straightened his posture, and nodded solemnly as if nothing had happened.
Steve, however, was reeling.
"Master… did you just say… the doctor is alive?"
He stared wide-eyed at Chen Mo, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Back during the serum experiment, Steve had watched with his own eyes as Dr. Erskine was shot and killed by a Hydra infiltrator. He had mourned him deeply.
Now, to hear that the man was not only alive but thriving — even perfecting his work — was almost too much to take in.
Chen Mo glanced at Peggy, saying nothing.
He couldn't exactly admit that the doctor's death had been his idea — a carefully staged deception orchestrated to protect both the serum and the program.
Peggy caught his look, rolled her eyes faintly, and took over the explanation.
She told Steve everything:
How they had predicted that Hydra might attempt to sabotage the experiment; how they had planned the fake death to prevent the serum from being misused; how the doctor had gone into hiding afterward; and how, in the aftermath, they had secretly founded S.H.I.E.L.D., forming the elite task force that now fought Hydra across Europe.
By the time she finished, Steve was silent — but not angry.
He wasn't the kind of man to hold grudges.
Knowing Dr. Erskine was alive filled him with nothing but joy. And realizing why the truth had been hidden — to protect everyone and keep Hydra in the dark — only deepened his respect for the people in this room.
When he heard that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s purpose was to safeguard world peace, his eyes turned toward Chen Mo — shining with admiration.
His teacher had once told him that his dream was "peace for the entire world."
Back then, Steve had admired the ideal but secretly doubted it. It sounded too big, too impossible — the kind of dream you spoke of, not achieved.
But now, Chen Mo wasn't just talking about it — he was building it.
From Bucky and Peggy, Steve had already heard the stories: Chen Mo's missions, his destruction of Hydra bases, his transformation of S.H.I.E.L.D. into the decisive weapon of the Allies.
With Hydra collapsing, Hitler's ace army was doomed. Without Hydra's weapons and support, the Western Front would soon break open.
Then, the Allied advance from both east and west would crush the Reich completely.
For the first time, Steve understood the scale of what Chen Mo was doing — and how small he himself still was.
He had always wanted to serve his country.
But Chen Mo was fighting for something greater — not a nation, but the world itself.
Steve's patriotism suddenly felt narrow in comparison.
Chen Mo's vision wasn't "love for a country." It was love for humanity.
Chen Mo met the eyes of each person in the room — Carter, Howard, Phillips — and they all nodded in silent agreement.
Finally, he turned back to Steve.
"From this moment," Chen Mo said solemnly, his tone carrying both command and promise,
"I officially invite you to join S.H.I.E.L.D."