Chapter 268

Don’t think putting on a suit of armor makes you a Saint Seiya. You watched that little over-three-minute recording a few times and dared claim you’d cracked my moves? Is your full name Madara Tony Uchiha Stark? How many Tomoe do your eyes have?

"Magic and science are both truths, which is why they are both rigorous." Evenson secured Melinda to the chair. There was no helping it—she had been hit by the Weakness Curse and was so limp and powerless that she would have slid right off even while sitting. "A new invention that hasn’t undergone any testing is best kept off the battlefield."

Melinda weakly rolled her eyes and glanced at Evenson, muttering, "Mental Power can change frequencies?"

"A radio can switch channels. Why can’t I switch frequencies?" Evenson raised an eyebrow.

"And all I need to do is increase my Mental Power output a little…" Evenson snapped his fingers, and a string of tiny sparks immediately burst from Melinda’s left wrist. "Aha, so it’s this thing." Evenson removed the anti-Sorcerer bracelet and waved it before Melinda’s eyes. "It burns out from overload."

Melinda weakly turned her head aside. In her heart, the gold-lettered Stark brand was rapidly losing its paint.

"And another thing… I really can’t understand why you people bothered bringing this thing." Evenson tossed the bracelet to the floor and crushed it underfoot. "This is just about the stupidest idea imaginable."

"Among the spells I know, there aren’t many ways to render someone combat-ineffective without hurting them." Evenson frowned. "If this bracelet had worked as you expected…" He paused. "Melinda, it would have forced me to use some very dangerous spells against you. You’ve seen the power of those spells."

"Yeah…" Melinda struggled to shift her body, but ultimately failed. "I’ve seen it. If you went all out, no one who came here today could leave alive. Not even Captain America."

"But that’s what missions are…" Melinda said despondently. "You can’t simply refuse to do one because the odds are too low, or because you might die."

"Besides, our original plan was to attack while you were exposed after realizing your spells weren’t working." Since the key tool of the plan had already become useless, there was no reason to conceal its contents.

"Good idea." Evenson offered mock praise, then asked, "Then why didn’t you make a move? I distinctly remember standing there stunned for quite a while."

"Because this plan wasn’t made for me," Melinda said. "The real executor was Captain America. Only he had a chance of subduing you the instant you exposed an opening. But who would have thought…"

"He was intercepted by Tyler." Evenson smiled. "But I’ll tell you the truth too. If Captain America had been the one who came in earlier, I wouldn’t have let him get that close. And I wouldn’t have stood there dazed because one spell failed."

"That hurts…" Melinda pursed her lips. You’re basically saying I’m not strong enough to make you take me seriously.

"But… you should still stop." Melinda had not given up trying to persuade Evenson. "Ms. Peggy Carter is not only one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s founders; she also knows far too many of its secrets."

At that, Melinda gave a bitter smile. "If this operation fails, Director Fury will probably activate the sanitation measures."

"Sanitation…" Evenson naturally understood what that meant: mutual destruction, taking everyone down together. "Would he really be willing?"

"For the security of those secrets, he would." Melinda answered with certainty, though she herself was not entirely sure. Captain America was part of this rescue operation—would Nick Fury truly be willing to sacrifice that superhero?

Still, she had to sound tough when she said it. It was a negotiation tactic, perhaps. "You should understand the weight of those secrets too. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken such a huge risk to interrogate Ms. Peggy Carter."

"Interrogate? Hahaha…" Evenson laughed. "If I were interrogating her, this lady shouldn’t still be alive."

"Hm?" Melinda did not understand. This wasn’t interrogation? You turned an old woman into this—were you treating her frozen shoulder? And what did you mean, she shouldn’t be alive?

"As far as I’m concerned, rather than torturing the living, I prefer making the dead speak." Evenson said sinisterly. "The flesh is too fragile and breaks easily. Souls, however, can endure much more pain. They’re always very honest."

"Is that so…" Melinda had no particular reaction, because she had no idea whether Evenson was telling the truth. "Then what are you doing to her?"

"She’s undergoing a transformation now, and she’s almost succeeded." Evenson looked at Carter. The outcome could now be said to be decided. The Doomguard’s soul had already lost; only the final fusion remained.

"Transforming… into what?" Melinda asked.

Before Evenson could answer, there came a clatter as a gaudily dressed fellow charged in. Without a word, he hurled a disc at Evenson. Evenson immediately thought, If Hubbs were here, he’d definitely catch that disc in his mouth.

Evenson was protected by a barrier, so the disc naturally bounced away. But the man caught it, slid forward, and came between Evenson and Carter. It was none other than Captain America, king of standing people up.

"Tyler, you useless piece of trash!" Evenson cursed, making the Demon Guard chasing after him shrink his neck. But he did not look much better himself. A large patch of his chest was blackened. He was not injured, but he looked thoroughly bedraggled.

Captain America should originally have been completely Overpowered by Tyler. But as Captain America dodged left and right, he spotted an operative who had been knocked unconscious by Susanoo. He rolled over and took a grenade from the operative.

Then, with fearless resolve, he pulled the pin and charged Tyler with the grenade in hand. Naturally, at the last moment, he threw the grenade at Tyler and raised his shield in front of himself.

Using the force of the explosion, Captain America successfully opened up distance from Tyler and slipped into the room through a gap in his field of vision before Tyler could intercept him.

"Long time no see, Captain." Evenson greeted him warmly, as though they were old friends.

Captain America naturally returned the courtesy by swinging his shield at Evenson’s face.

"Careful, Captain! The bracelet…"

"Weakness!"

Thud.

Melinda had just begun warning Captain America that Tony’s bracelet was shoddy merchandise when, before she could finish, Captain America was hit.

"That’s impossible…" His body had been enhanced, after all. Though struck by the Weakness Curse, Captain America merely dropped to one knee instead of collapsing outright like an ordinary person.

"No… that’s impossible…" Captain America struggled with all his strength, trying to resist the curse’s effects. But when he barely managed to raise his head, he saw the agent called Melinda staring at him with her mouth wide open. No, she was staring behind him. A sudden gust of wind rose.

In Melinda’s eyes, a pair of pitch-black wings unfurled behind Captain America with a whoosh.

Still utterly confused, Captain America heard the sound of chains shattering. Someone grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. Before he could react, the pair of wings struck him once, then casually flung him away.