Meanwhile, in a high-rise office in the Council Building, New York City officials led by Councilor Ross were discussing the feasibility of the Sokovia Accords.
Because in the last operation to eliminate Hydra in Sokovia, the Avengers accidentally created Ultron, a major boss, causing irreparable and immense losses to public safety.
Therefore, Councilor Ross proposed the Sokovia Accords, hoping to use it to restrict the actions of the various street tiers.
However, considering the influence of the Avengers and the uncertainty of "outsiders guiding insiders."
Apart from Councilor Ross, most of New York City's high-ranking officials maintained a neutral stance; of course, a small number of people opposed the proposal.
It was obvious that everyone present was intelligent.
Just as the discussion on the accords reached a stalemate, a small energy ball shining with white light suddenly rose outside the window.
The light was even more dazzling than the sun.
Before the councilmen could react, the nuclear energy within the energy ball instantly exploded.
Heatwaves, airwaves, and sound waves rushed over—
The reinforced bulletproof windows instantly shattered, and then white light, accompanied by airwaves, swept through, turning the council office into ruins.
Fortunately, the bulletproof glass blocked the first wave of energy impact. Although all the councilmen were dazed and injured, they were, thankfully, temporarily out of mortal danger.
The only one who was relatively unlucky was Councilor Ross. Because he was closest to the window, his entire body was cut by shattered glass shards.
Especially his face, which was a bloody mess, looked exceptionally tragic.
"It's the Avengers and the street tiers..."
Soon, a councilman with less severe injuries went to the window to check the situation and then spotted the Avengers and street tiers carrying out their mission below.
If it didn't concern them, they could remain aloof.
But this time, the commotion caused by the Avengers' mission had clearly threatened the lives of the councilmen.
Immediately, in a wave of lingering fear, the councilmen looked at the Sokovia Accords documents scattered in the room, and their expressions slowly changed:
Restricting the actions of the street tiers seemed very necessary... "Well done!!! Wanda!"
Below, the street tiers, unaware of the immense damage Scarlet Witch's actions had caused the councilmen, came forward to celebrate.
After all, Scarlet Witch's previous actions had indeed saved many ordinary citizens.
Even Captain America couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at this moment.
His gaze towards Scarlet Witch also held a hint of approval.
"Suspicious personnel detected two kilometers away, possibly Hydra accomplices..."
It was at this moment that Vision, who was monitoring the surroundings with his data eye, once again issued a warning to everyone.
Based on Crossbones' dying words, it could be inferred that he definitely had accomplices behind him.
And the identity of this person should not be simple.
Considering this situation, Captain America immediately commanded, "Let's go, let's see who the other party really is."
So, guided by Vision, the Avengers and the street tiers went to a secluded square two kilometers away.
"I didn't expect there to be such a desolate place in the heart of the city, where every inch of land is precious..." Tony couldn't help but complain, looking at the abandoned scenery around him.
The square was overgrown with weeds, and next to it was the dilapidated remains of an overpass.
Clearly, this place had once been prosperous, but it might have been overlooked during new urban planning.
At this moment, a tall man in a uniform stood with his back to the crowd under a discarded bridge pier.
He showed no intention of escaping.
"Who are you?" Captain America took off his shield and cautiously stepped forward to ask.
"Long time no see, street tiers. It seems Crossbones didn't cause you too much trouble." The man slowly turned around, a row of medals pinned to his uniform chest.
His stern face showed no extra expression.
He had the aura of a professional soldier.
"Who exactly are you, and what is your relationship with Hydra?" Captain America continued to ask.
Looking at the medals on the other party's chest, his expression grew increasingly wary.
"Helmut Zemo, a very common name, you probably haven't heard of it..." Zemo said in a low voice, "I was once a special forces commander, holding the rank of colonel. Of course, I can't compare to you, Captain, who experienced World War II."
"As for the Hydra remnants you mentioned, they are just some insignificant cannon fodder."
From his tone, he seemed to look down on Crossbones and other Hydra remnants.
"What is the purpose of your actions?" Captain America continued to ask.
The other party had already admitted his connection with Hydra, so Crossbones and the others' actions this time were clearly manipulated by him from behind.
"Revenge, for my dead wife and child..." When his family was mentioned, Zemo's face clearly showed hatred.
But very quickly, his expression returned to calm, and like an observer, he said, "Perhaps, you can listen to my story..."
Colonel Zemo, nicknamed Baron Zemo, was once an excellent professional soldier, and he also had a warm and happy little family.
However, all of this was mercilessly destroyed during the Ultron incident.
His wife and child were killed in the streets by the mechanical army led by Ultron.
From then on, Baron Zemo went "mad."
After investigating Ultron's origins, he resigned from his special forces job and began planning his revenge against the Avengers.
And the Hydra remnants were merely a pawn in his revenge plan.
On the Avengers and street tiers' side, after hearing Baron Zemo's tragic experience, they all fell silent.
Especially Tony, who had personally created Ultron, lowered his head in shame.
He somewhat dared not look directly into the eyes of the man before him.
"I sympathize greatly with your plight, but this is not a reason for your crimes. I will send you to a military tribunal and explain your situation to them..." After stating his position, Captain America moved forward to apprehend him.
Although Baron Zemo possessed excellent professional skills, he was, after all, just an ordinary person.
He clearly lacked the ability to resist Captain America, who had been injected with the Super Soldier Serum.
"Wait, I haven't finished speaking yet." Zemo took a slight step back and said, "Besides the Hydra remnants, I have also prepared a grand gift for you, Captain, which you will surely like..."
"Come out! Winter Soldier!"
As Zemo's voice fell, a cold figure emerged from behind the abandoned bridge pier.
Messy long hair, a distinctive mechanical arm.
Even though the other party wore a mask, Captain America recognized at a glance that it was his old friend Bucky, whom he had been searching for a long time.
Their friendship could be traced back to World War II.
However, unlike Captain America, who became a war hero, Winter Soldier's experience was arduous.
He was taken away by the then-Nazi Hydra organization, brainwashed and subjected to biological research, turning him into a War Machine that only knew how to carry out Nazi missions.
But Bucky's life was tough enough.
After the Nazi' defeat, he was taken in by the subsequent Hydra and lived until now.
Captain America had also seen him after he awoke.
However, in the last operation to eliminate Hydra in Sokovia, Captain America did not find his good friend.
He didn't expect him to be found by Baron Zemo.
"Bucky, it's me, Steve, do you still remember?" Knowing that Winter Soldier had been brainwashed, Captain America still couldn't help but step forward and call out his name.
He tried to awaken his friend's memory.
However, someone was faster than Captain America.
The moment Winter Soldier appeared, Tony, with a face full of rage, activated his armor and fired a laser cannon at him.
With a "boom," Captain America, who was walking towards Winter Soldier, reacted in time and blocked the laser cannon with his shield.
"What are you doing, Tony!" Captain America, having suffered a small setback, also glared angrily at Tony.
Of course, a large part of the reason for his anger was that Tony had inexplicably attacked Bucky.
"What am I doing? I should be asking you. He's the one who killed my parents, I can't be mistaken. Are you going to cover for this murderer!?" Tony questioned.
Not long ago, Tony had received a mysterious disc sent by an unknown person.
The images recorded inside were the scenes of his parents' deaths.
And the appearance of that murderer, he would never forget in his life.
Now that the murderer was right in front of him, how could Tony possibly hold back?
"Is there some misunderstanding?" Captain America tried to persuade, "Moreover, Bucky was brainwashed by Hydra long ago, and everything he did was beyond his control."
As his only old friend, Captain America knew something about Bucky's situation.
"I don't care, he killed my parents, so he must pay with his life!!!" With such a deep-seated hatred, how could Tony listen to advice?
All he wanted now was Winter Soldier's life.
"It seems you're very satisfied with my gift." At this moment, Baron Zemo, who was watching the show from the side, showed a smile on his face, and then commanded, "Act, Winter Soldier. Take them down—"
Yes, the disc Tony had received earlier was deliberately sent to him by Zemo.
This was also Baron Zemo's intentional doing.
Possessing considerable intelligence, he knew that he couldn't deal with the Avengers by himself. That's why he thought of this method to make them cause internal strife among themselves...