[Task "Stall Steve" settlement completed]
[Reward obtained: 1000 EXP, 20 S.H.I.E.L.D. Reputation, Item "Snail Ray"]
[Item: Snail Ray (Use on any target to significantly slow down the target's speed)]
With the mutual recommendations of the members, Steve's original plan was successfully delayed for a whole week.
Receiving the reminder from the game system, Darian knew there was no need to continue recommending members and asked impatiently, "Steve, now that the team is assembled, when are we going to storm S.H.I.E.L.D. and take out Nick Fury?"
"Ahem, we're on a secret mission, not storming the place!"
Steve cleared his throat and tried to correct him, though even he didn't quite believe those words as they came out.
However, he felt even more confident about the upcoming operation.
Aside from himself and Sam, every other member of the team was, without exception, the elite of the elite from S.H.I.E.L.D., top talents in their respective fields.
With such a high-spec team assisting him, he wouldn't be afraid even in a direct head-on confrontation with HYDRA.
With this lineup, how could he possibly lose!?
The surrounding members exchanged glances, looking equally confident.
Except for Steve and Sam, everyone present was an undercover Agent sent by Nick Fury; their mission was to prevent Steve from discovering the truth and to hinder his plans along the way.
With everyone being on the same side, it would be difficult for Steve's plan to succeed!
Darian named this plan "Steve's World," carefully crafting a script for Steve to keep him in the dark, where all the people he trusted around him were actors.
Both sides had their own thoughts, but their spirits were equally high.
Steve took the opportunity to display his leadership and began the pre-battle mobilization.
His voice was steady and powerful, his gaze like fire, and his words pointed directly to one core objective.
Capture the mastermind Nick Fury and destroy the HYDRA forces behind him, no matter the cost!
Steve spoke with high morale, every word sincere.
The surrounding undercover Agents were also listening with surging emotions and boiling blood, vowing that they must stop Steve's plan and never let him disrupt the existing balance of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
Driven by this heated atmosphere, Darian was the first to raise his left hand and shout loudly, "Down with Nick Fury! Liberate S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Down with Nick Fury! Liberate S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Down with Nick Fury! Liberate S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Down with Nick Fury! Liberate S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
The undercover Agents shouted in unison, acting exceptionally hard, full of emotion and fighting spirit.
Looking at these faces filled with determination, a wave of relief washed over Steve.
As expected, no matter the era, there is never a shortage of brave warriors willing to stand against evil.
He wasn't fighting alone!
Since the team size far exceeded expectations and the available personnel were overflowing, Steve had to adjust the plan on the fly. Most members would handle Nick Fury and his HYDRA forces, while he and Darian would be responsible for replacing the Helicarrier's targeting blades.
Except for Sam, who was left at his home as a trump card, no one had any objections and began acting according to the plan.
The next day, Darian followed Steve all the way to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
To be safe, Steve specifically brought his iconic shield this time, unafraid of drawing attention.
After all, everyone knew Steve and his shield were inseparable; as Captain America, it was perfectly normal for him to carry it.
"I wonder how that Bald Egg is preparing," Darian mused to himself.
Just yesterday, Nick Fury had told him over the comms that everything was arranged, then cut contact. It was quite mysterious; even Darian didn't know exactly what he was up to.
But Darian didn't ask much. If Nick Fury messed up, he could just follow Steve and beat Nick Fury up as a HYDRA leader; he was sure the man would understand.
The two walked into the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters building, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents they met along the way nodded in greeting.
Darian and Steve were a S.H.I.E.L.D. senior Agent and Captain America, respectively; their status was enough to command respect.
Steve smiled in response but lowered his voice, "Be careful, there might be some HYDRA mixed in among these people."
Stop guessing; they're all HYDRA. The few actual S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents are right next to you acting as undercover moles.
Darian nodded, trying to look serious on the surface, while secretly having already opened the game system's recording function, planning to save this in the "Steve Try Not to Laugh Challenge" folder.
He had a strong premonition that Steve would provide him with plenty of great material this time.
Soon, the two entered the private elevator at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Steve pressed his earpiece, "Skye, we're at the elevator."
"Copy that."
A rapid clicking of keyboard keys came from the other end of the headset.
Then, Skye said in a relaxed tone, "Done! I've hacked into the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters system and given you temporary top-level clearance. The elevator will go straight to the bottom floor, and the system won't leave any records."
"Good job."
Looking at the floor buttons lighting up automatically, Steve praised Darian, "Darian, the person you recommended is indeed reliable."
"Of course."
Darian chuckled.
In fact, all of this was pre-arranged; Skye was just mashing keys for show.
But Skye's acting was a bit too fake; even if S.H.I.E.L.D.'s firewall was like a public restroom, it wouldn't be hacked in just a few seconds.
Fortunately, Steve was an old fossil who still used one finger to operate a phone; a scientist like Tony would definitely have seen through it.
The elevator descended smoothly, and through the glass walls, three massive Helicarriers gradually came into view.
Since the Insight Project had long been canceled, this floor wasn't heavily guarded, with only some maintenance personnel moving about.
Steve whispered, "We'll split up. Each takes one Helicarrier. Replace the targeting module and retreat. Whoever finishes first handles the remaining one. Remember, try not to draw attention."
"Okay, leave it to me."
Darian made a Thumbs up hand gesture.
The two then split up, heading toward different Helicarriers.
Of course, Darian was just going through the motions. He found a spot out of Steve's sight and pulled out a comic book to slack off.
This was a mission reward he had obtained earlier: the complete set of X-Men comics.
Whenever he had free time, he would flip through them, gaining a deeper understanding of the X-Men and Mutants.
As of today, Darian had read more than half of them.
His comment on it was that Logan was a bit short, and the Phoenix Force was pretty badass.
As for the bickering ideologies among Mutants, they seemed meaningless to Darian.
In the end, it was just about whoever had the bigger fist having the more valid argument.
If Magneto's power was enough to crush everyone, humans would have to force themselves to praise how great Mutants are, and Professor X would have to stand up and offer him a toast.
But looking at it now, Phoenix seemed to have the strongest argument; telepathy, magnetism, and healing factors were nothing compared to the Phoenix Force.
Yeah, Cyclops was also impressive.
After all, he was the man who had been with Phoenix, and the child they had was Wade's good buddy, Cable.
Darian was puzzled, "Come to think of it, why have I never seen Wade in the Mutant comics?"
"Could it be that Mutants don't recognize Wade as a Mutant?"
"But the problem is, humans don't recognize Wade as a human either."
Darian suddenly felt some sympathy for Wade.
Being disliked by both races was truly a bit pitiful.
If I get the chance to see that guy again, I must... laugh at him ruthlessly to his face!
While Darian was engrossed in reading, Steve's voice came through the earpiece, "I've successfully replaced the targeting module. How are things on your end?"
"Not done yet, ran into some trouble. I'll leave the remaining Helicarrier to you," Darian brushed him off.
"Alright."
Steve agreed without hesitation.
But the next second, his voice tightened, "Oh no, I see Sitwell and the STRIKE team."
This was unexpected for Darian.
Sitwell and the STRIKE team are all HYDRA; did Nick Fury not move them away beforehand?
Darian was confused but still warned him, "This floor is the core area of the Insight Project. It might be full of HYDRA. You'd better leave quickly before they find you, or the operation will be exposed prematurely."
Sitwell and the STRIKE team didn't know the script.
If they ruined the show and Steve's World was exposed, it would be no fun at all.
Steve said helplessly, "It's too late. They've seen me and are walking toward me."
"What are you going to do? Do you need my help?"
"No, I'll handle it."
Steve finished speaking and looked up at the people approaching him.
"Captain, what are you doing here?"
Sitwell looked at Steve with surprise, a hint of caution in his eyes.
The STRIKE team members behind him looked relaxed, but their muscles were tense, already in combat stances.
Steve keenly sensed their abnormality and already had the answer in his heart.
These people in front of him are definitely HYDRA!
Steve's expression remained unchanged, his tone casual, "Nothing, I'm just here to look around."
The STRIKE team leader, Rumlow, stared intently at Steve, "As far as I know, Captain, you shouldn't have clearance for this floor. How did you get in?"
As he spoke, the STRIKE team members quietly spread out, faintly forming a perimeter around him.
Steve thought to himself, this is bad.
He wasn't afraid of being outnumbered; he was worried that if a conflict broke out, the whole operation would be exposed early, and Nick Fury would certainly be alerted.
By then, everything they had carefully planned might fall through.
Steve's brain worked rapidly, and he suddenly thought of a good idea.
He smiled slightly, "Don't be nervous. Actually, Nick Fury sent me."
"But we didn't receive any notification."
"It's a secret mission; of course you wouldn't be notified," Steve replied fluently.
"I'm going to call the former Director."
Sitwell naturally wouldn't believe him so easily.
This was Captain America, HYDRA's greatest enemy. As the current figurehead of HYDRA, why would Nick Fury assign such a mission to him? It didn't make sense.
"It's fine, trust me."
Seeing Sitwell about to take out his phone to verify, Steve suddenly raised a hand to interrupt, a reassuring smile on his face.
He leaned in close to Sitwell and whispered slowly in his ear.
"Hail HYDRA!"
Sitwell was visibly stunned, his eyes widening as he looked at Steve in disbelief.
Rumlow and the other STRIKE team members behind him also heard this; their movements froze as they exchanged glances.
Facing Sitwell's suspicious and uncertain gaze, Steve nodded steadily, his expression calm, as if to say, "That's right, I'm one of you."
Having dealt with HYDRA for so many years, he knew them like the back of his hand. He was well aware of their internal slogans; by saying the universal password "Hail HYDRA," HYDRA members would grant unconditional trust.
Normally, Steve would rather fight than say those words.
But with the situation pressing, he could only resort to this ultimate trick.
Not to mention, although it was his first time saying the slogan, Steve said it exceptionally naturally and fluently, without any hesitation, as if he had practiced it countless times.
Looking at everyone's reaction, Steve felt that things were definitely settled.
Maybe he could even use this to trick them into trusting him and get more intelligence on HYDRA.
Just as Steve was about to speak, he saw Sitwell suddenly take a step back.
"Get him!"
Steve: "???"
Before he could figure out what was happening, Rumlow and the STRIKE team rushed forward.
In the blink of an eye, Steve was pinned down by several strong men.
Rumlow pulled out a stun baton and jabbed it hard into Steve's side, shouting, "Captain, this isn't personal!"
Bullshit! This definitely feels personal!
Steve endured the stinging electricity, thinking they hadn't heard him clearly.
He quickly shouted, "Hail HYDRA! Hail HYDRA!"
As a result, the more Steve shouted, the harder the STRIKE team beat him, and Rumlow even dialed his stun baton to maximum power.
Steve felt very aggrieved; he didn't know what he had said wrong.
He had clearly shouted "Hail HYDRA," yet they reacted as if they'd seen an archenemy, jumping him without a word.
But he was, after all, a Super Soldier. With a sudden burst of strength, he broke free from the STRIKE team's hold and kicked Rumlow several meters away, knocking him unconscious instantly.
Steve felt quite apologetic about it; he had accidentally used too much force, but it definitely wasn't personal.
He quickly backed up two steps, raised his shield, and asked in confusion, "Why are you attacking me? I've already identified myself!"
Sitwell snorted, "Still pretending, you spy!"
"What's wrong with 'Hail HYDRA'?"
Steve frowned.
Where did things go wrong? Why were they so certain he was a fake?
"Want to know why?"
Sitwell said coldly, "Simple. Because... Hail S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Steve: "??????"