For Our Cause

In Nick Fury’s safehouse, everyone finished discussing the plan and decided to split into three groups.

Steve, Skoll, and Sam formed one group, responsible for extracting the truth about Hydra’s "Insight Project"—

This was an important step in exposing Hydra’s conspiracy and gaining the support of the real S.H.I.E.L.D. members.

Otherwise, how could just the few of them possibly purge Hydra from the entire Trident Headquarters?

Steve had now decided to find a suitable high-ranking Hydra officer and force him to talk, but so far, none of their chosen targets had appeared publicly.

"At a time when Hydra is about to make its full-scale move, they really know how to keep their cool."

Steve scratched Skoll’s head. With an invisible assassin and ranged damage dealer, aerial support, and himself as a powerful tank, as long as Hydra dared to show itself in the daylight, it would never escape.

But Trident Headquarters was now under martial law, and they had no way to contact anyone inside. Otherwise, Sharon Carter could at least have been useful.

"Contacting her now would only get her killed. Sharon can play a decisive role later."

Natasha glanced at Oaks as he slipped three chips into his pocket.

"Her former boss is taking part in the operation too."

Nick Fury and Natasha, two former senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, formed another group. They would directly storm the World Security Council venue at the highest level and deal with Pierce.

Because the Council members would arrive there from around the world in a few hours to jointly activate the "Insight Project."

The highest-level permissions altered by the Insight Project required the iris recognition of two A-level authorized personnel, so Pierce could not die yet.

Besides, they also had to ensure the safety of the other four Council members.

No, according to the plan, it was three.

If any of them supported Pierce… then perhaps there would be fewer people who needed protecting.

Incidentally, there were plenty of useful things in this Hill-led safehouse. Natasha picked one, intending to use it to gain operational clearance within the Triskelion.

Oaks and Hill formed the third group, responsible for the Insight Carriers.

Hill would operate the communications hub while Oaks infiltrated the Insight Hangar under her guidance, attempting to make sure the Helicarriers could not fly before takeoff.

And if something went wrong, Oaks’s extreme speed and overwhelming combat ability would allow him to replace the three chips on the carriers immediately.

Their advantage now was that Hydra had no idea where they were.

At first light, Pierce arrived early at S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Trident Headquarters.

In three hours, he still had to personally welcome the other four Council members.

So although he was anxious, all he could do during these three hours was use every method at his disposal.

"Once noon passes, none of this will be a problem anymore."

Pierce turned to Sitwell, who was standing behind him.

"How is the hunt for Captain America going?"

"We still haven’t been able to locate them."

Sitwell now occupied roughly the position Hill had once held under Fury.

So he and the special operations team were responsible for hunting Captain America.

"New Jersey has indeed been razed to the ground. Rumlow and his men confirmed it personally. But if it’s Captain America, escaping from that situation isn’t impossible."

"That is certain."

With one hand in his pocket, Pierce turned to face his capable subordinate.

"Then has there been any progress in locating the Winter Soldier?"

"No, sir."

A faint sheen of sweat appeared on Sitwell’s forehead. He could not help complaining inwardly, You’re the one who told me not to waste effort looking for him!

But I hadn’t exactly let up either…

"After what happened in New Jersey, we intensified our search. But the Winter Soldier seems to have vanished completely. There isn’t the slightest trace of him."

Sitwell was absolutely certain.

"We even activated our backup measures directly, but neither the control chip in his brain nor the tracking device in his mechanical arm has given any response.

"It is as if all his signals have been cut off."

"All right, then abandon that task. There isn’t enough time…

"Give Rumlow your full support in preparing the sniper operation against Captain Rogers."

Pierce fell silent for a moment before finally giving the order.

"But sir, we don’t have the Captain’s location. We don’t even know when he’ll appear…"

Sitwell adjusted his glasses, somewhat bewildered.

Has Pierce lost his mind?

If we can’t find him, who am I supposed to send people to snipe?

"If you can’t find Captain Rogers, then stop looking."

Pierce looked once more at the perplexed Sitwell, his gaze strange.

"Our plan is about to be carried out. The long-awaited new order is about to arrive. Throughout this process, we have made countless contributions and countless sacrifices…"

He slowly walked over to Sitwell and patted his shoulder with a sigh.

"Sitwell, you too have given a great deal. You’ve languished in middle management for all these years. It hasn’t been easy, has it?"

"…No, sir!"

Sitwell hurriedly lowered his head, flattered beyond measure—

Is the boss going to compensate me for all the grievances I’ve suffered over the years?

"For our cause, I would sacrifice myself without hesitation! Hail Hydra!"

"Good, very good!"

Pierce smiled approvingly, drew Sitwell a little closer, and looked seriously into his somewhat excited eyes.

"Then the time has come for your final contribution to the organization."

Sitwell: "?"

"From Captain Rogers’s movements, it is clear that he has been investigating the truth behind the Insight Project.

"But even after sacrificing Zola, we still failed to reel in this big fish."

Pierce watched Sitwell’s slightly vacant eyes and affectionately straightened his shirt collar, tie, and suit.

Like an old friend discussing gossip from the newspaper, he gave his capable subordinate his final order in a calm, detached tone, as though it had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

"They must be in Washington now, and a middle manager important enough to matter—oh, he should be senior management now.

"A senior manager important enough to matter should be a target they absolutely will not let go of—

"I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it, but you, surely you can use your extensive experience to handle it calmly, guard the secret to the death, and buy enough time?"

Pierce’s sharp gaze was like a spear, stabbing deep into Sitwell’s pupils.

"This is the final moment before sunrise…

"I guarantee that Rumlow will complete his mission.

"Then you… can you shoulder this glorious duty of leaving your name forever in the organization’s history?"

"I…"

Sitwell’s back was already drenched. He was dizzy for two seconds before his eyes gradually hardened with resolve.

"I will certainly complete this glorious mission!"

"Hail Hydra!"

Outside the office’s floor-to-ceiling windows, golden sunlight shone upon the scattered clouds.

The sun had risen.