Chapter 254

"To prevent the world from being destroyed, to protect the peace of the world. To uphold justice, freedom, and truth. Ms. Peggy Carter, are you willing to fight for those things once more, as you did back then? Are you willing to join your beloved Captain America and send Hydra back to Hell?!"

"I… I…" Upon hearing those impassioned words, Peggy Carter’s eyes lit up for an instant, as though she had been summoned. But they soon dimmed again. "I’m old…"

Though it was only three words, they carried endless vicissitudes. Since ancient times, beauties and famed generals alike were never meant to be seen with white hair.

Yet now, the hero had grown old and the beauty’s hair had turned white, only for them to discover that their former enemy had already risen again, stronger than before. Though her former beloved had returned, he remained as young as ever. There was no longer any possibility between them. How could that not feel tragic? How could that not feel bitter?

But Evenson seemed not to have heard her. He stubbornly asked again, "Are you willing to fight, Ms. Peggy Carter?"

"Didn’t you understand? I said I…" Evenson’s first question had left Carter immersed in sorrow, but this time, it felt as if he were exposing her weakness, igniting an inexplicable anger within her. Yet halfway through venting, she abruptly changed her tone and asked, "If I say I am, what do you intend to do?"

Carter felt that anyone could see she was well into her seventies or eighties. There was no way she could charge into battle with a submachine gun and lead the Howling Commandos like she had in her youth. So the kind of fighting Evenson was proposing was likely something expressed in another way—passing on experience, providing intelligence, and the like.

If that was the case, she might as well hear his proposal first.

But Evenson’s words were something she never could have expected. "My position at S.H.I.E.L.D. is Special Affairs Consultant. Naturally, that means I possess certain special abilities. My ability is called Magic."

"Don’t rush to deny it." Before she could refute him, Evenson continued, "Magic is real. If you want to discuss it, I have plenty of time in the future. But for now, all you need to know is…"

Evenson spoke slowly. "My Magic can restore your youth."

"Like Whitehall?" Carter did not dispute the possibility of restoring youth. After all, there was an example right before her.

"How could he possibly compare to me?" Evenson raised a brow. "His methods are evil… forget it."

Evenson did not finish that sentence, but Peggy Carter naturally interpreted it as Whitehall’s methods being too evil, and Evenson feeling insulted by being compared to him. But what he really meant… heh.

"Ms. Peggy Carter." Seeing that Carter was still hesitant, Evenson stood up, turned his back to her, and looked out the window. "The last time he fought Hydra, Captain America nearly lost his life. This time, facing a Hydra that is even stronger and more secretive, will Captain America be as lucky as he was last time? Especially with no one there to help him."

Peggy Carter frowned. She had only just learned of Captain America’s situation from Evenson and did not know the details. But she could imagine how fortunate he must have been to survive such circumstances. Would that kind of luck happen a second time?

And if Hydra really was as powerful as Evenson said, then Captain America would not only have to deal with enemies in the open. More than that, he would face bullets from the shadows and hidden schemes.

She knew Captain America was not good at handling such things. It was very possible that before the real battle even began, the Captain would die to an assassination.

"The Captain needs help. He needs the help of someone he can trust absolutely." Evenson turned around to look at Carter. "That person can only be you."

"He doesn’t know about this yet, does he? Neither does little Tony." Carter suddenly asked, looking at the computer. Given her age and seniority, adding "little" before Tony’s name was perfectly natural.

"Yes." Evenson admitted. "Neither the Captain nor Tony Stark is good at keeping calm. If they find out about these things too early, it will only make matters worse."

"Especially this." Evenson patted the computer, clearly referring to Howard’s murder. "I uncovered the Winter Soldier’s true identity, but I almost wish I hadn’t. Things would have been much simpler that way." He then looked at Carter. "Can you guess who he is? You know him very well too."

Carter shook her head.

"His name is Bucky Barnes." Evenson gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "He didn’t die. Hydra captured him, modified him, and brainwashed him into their super-soldier. Surprising, isn’t it?"

It was more than surprising. Carter did not even know what to say. From what she knew of Captain America, if Hydra had Bucky pretend to regain his senses and defect from Hydra, then infiltrate Captain America’s side to assassinate him, it would be a guaranteed kill every time.

And if Hydra was cleverer still and made use of the tape showing Howard’s murder, New York’s citizens might soon get to witness Iron Man versus Captain America.

A sharp glint flashed through Carter’s eyes. It seemed she truly needed to stay by Captain America’s side to keep Bucky from appearing near him again, and also make sure he had as little contact with little Tony as possible. But…

"I remember Hydra wasn’t good at mind control, was it?" Carter asked in confusion. "When Bucky was first captured, Hydra brainwashed him before, but the results were far from successful." It was precisely to rescue that unlucky kid that Captain America, who had previously only been acting in stage plays, first went onto a real battlefield. When they found Bucky, he had been staring at the ceiling and counting. Captain America called to him twice, and he snapped out of it. What kind of brainwashing was that?

"Someone skilled helped them refine that system, and you know this expert too." Carter thought, What a coincidence. Everyone involved today, good or bad, is someone I know.

"John Huffman?" Carter named the only person she knew who was proficient in mind control.

Near the end of World War II, the Allies’ attack on Finow was stalled. So the commander of that battle decided to use a gas that would allow soldiers to fight continuously for days and nights without fatigue.

But the gas was unfinished. It made people irritable, caused hallucinations and mental disorder. In short, their behavior was no different from zombies.

And John Huffman was the sole survivor of that battle. He spent three hellish days there, losing all his comrades and brothers. So he resolved to take revenge—revenge on the inventor of that poisonous gas, Howard Stark. Of course, he was ultimately captured by the brave Agent Carter.

But he could indeed be called a master of mind control. With just a few muttered words, he had turned the Director of the Strategic Scientific Reserve into his living puppet.

"He was Hydra too?" Carter asked.

"He wasn’t when you captured him," Evenson said. "But one of the inmates imprisoned with him was rather interesting—Arnim Zola, Red Skull’s most prized scientist, the one Captain America captured."

Carter could only think, What else can I say? Is Heaven determined to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D.?

"I agree." Carter finally agreed at that moment. She truly could not rest easy knowing Captain America, a brainwashed Bucky, and Stark, who could turn into an obsessive maniac at any time, might all start messing around together.

"Excellent." Evenson let out a sigh of relief, but then changed his tone. "However, Ms. Carter, everything comes at a price. Within the rules of Magic, that truth is especially apparent."

"So, I can restore your youth. At the same time, I can grant you strength no less than Captain America’s, allowing you to truly fight beside him shoulder to shoulder. But you will need to pay a small price."

"Strength too?" Carter thought, So this comes with a free bonus? But strength was even better. The responsibility of protecting the Captain from assassination would fall upon her, after all. Besides, she could not let those sixty years of waiting go to waste.

Peggy Carter asked, "Then, Evenson, what is the price?"

Evenson leaned his head forward slightly. "Your eyes."