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Back aboard the Nature Guardian, Oaks did not relax.

Zola had transmitted a final backup of his consciousness.

While a few seconds were absolutely nowhere near enough to transfer every mind stored on his 200,000 feet of magnetic tape, Zola had called it "save data backup"!

A program dozens of gigabytes in size might have save data amounting to only a few kilobytes.

So it was understandable that Zola’s save data could be uploaded within those few seconds.

Oaks knew there was a Hydra base in Siberia.

That was where Bucky and five other "Winter Soldiers" had undergone their enhancements and been frozen!

But Oaks had not expected there to be another backup of Zola’s mind there!

From what Zola had said, as long as that save data backup was transmitted there, the Zola mind backup over there would inherit the memories of the New Jersey Zola and become his "main body"!

"How the hell did he accomplish something this outrageous back then…"

The Hydra base in Siberia had originally been one of Oaks’s targets.

But the fact that it also contained another backup of Zola could only be described as proof that Hydra truly refused to die.

Although Zola had failed to transmit it because the Siberian mind backup was powered down—

After all, Hydra would hardly keep two instances of the same consciousness running in sync. One would be the primary consciousness and the other a backup; if one encountered a problem, the other would activate. That was the standard procedure.

Zola’s save data existed somewhere on the internet and was impossible to trace.

If that backup was powered on in the future without anyone knowing and caused some sort of problem, that would be troublesome.

"Fortunately… I found the Siberia Base’s location in Bucky’s memories."

Hydra probably did not have time to activate Zola’s backup now, so Oaks could get there ahead of them.

However, Oaks had thought of a good way to deal with him.

After all, Zola could be called a genius who surpassed Howard Stark.

Oaks sent Steve the recordings full of Dr. Zola’s valuable information, naturally excluding the backup-related portion. Before long, Steve called him.

"Oaks! You actually had a trick like that. Natasha and I almost thought we had really appeared in New Jersey…"

"Yeah, your memories got blown flat by missiles, buddy."

Oaks’s relaxed tone made Steve breathe a sigh of relief. He knew Oaks was absurdly fast, but Steve could not truly set his mind at ease until he confirmed that Oaks was unharmed.

"It was Arnim Zola. That’s unbelievable!"

"But unfortunately, he still refused to reveal the true details of the Insight Project. Still, judging from the algorithm he provided, don’t expect it to be something as simple as building files on people."

Oaks snorted.

"How have things been going on your end?"

"We found out that the Council has restarted the Insight Project and moved it up—

Sixteen hours from now, tomorrow at noon, the project will go online!"

Steve’s tone turned grave.

"The illusion you created of us heading to New Jersey greatly reduced the pressure on us. We have a new helper now, a flying friend.

But, Oaks, S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters has dispatched three Attack Helicopters toward New Jersey.

They will definitely discover that we did not die there. The hunt for us will continue, and our time is limited!"

"Then you need to determine what the Insight Project actually is. I’ll handle Nick Fury."

After thinking for a moment, Oaks still asked:

"Should I call Tony over?"

"…Oaks, although I really want his help, but…"

Steve fell silent for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh.

"The information Zola mentioned said that Howard and his wife’s car accident was a Hydra plot.

If Tony comes, with his personality, he might blow up Triskelion outright.

But there are not only Hydra agents in there. There are also agents and civilian staff who have been diligently working for world peace!

Even if S.H.I.E.L.D… they are innocent.

If he loses control and does that, I guarantee he’ll regret it for the rest of his life."

"…"

Oaks also fell silent. What Steve said was exactly what he had been thinking.

Moreover, Zola’s information had only mentioned that Hydra had orchestrated the car accident and murdered Howard and his wife.

If Steve and Tony learned the truth—that the brainwashed Bucky had caused the accident—things would get ugly.

On one side was his best friend, someone he could fight the world for. On the other was the blood debt of his parents…

Until Oaks settled everything, it was better to keep Tony in the dark.

"All right. Once I deal with Nick Fury’s situation, I’ll find a way to enter the Insight Hangar first."

Oaks set the tone for the operation.

"After all, if we cannot shoot down the satellites in the sky, we can only find a way to prevent the Helicarriers from taking off.

If we shoot them down after they take flight, the losses will still be unimaginably immense.

Steve, this is densely populated Washington. I do not want to cast another large-scale healing spell—

Besides, I should be in Asgard right now."

"Understood."

Steve’s voice was firm.

"We’re going to Fury’s place now.

Natasha has already investigated potential targets who know about the Insight Project. If we capture one, we can figure out exactly what the Insight Project is.

Also, Oaks…"

Steve paused before asking seriously:

"What do you think of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Oaks chuckled.

"Two sides of the same coin as Hydra.

But Nick Fury will probably want to salvage it.

If you want my opinion, I support whatever you’re thinking."

"You know what I’m thinking?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra—leave none."

Oaks voiced Steve’s decision for him.

"A shield that has been corroded beyond recognition can no longer serve its purpose, so why keep holding it in front of yourself in self-deception?

Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. from the end of World War II onward. By now, they are inseparable. Trying to save it by force will only create even greater trouble. Better to smash them both together."

"…Thank you for your support."

When Oaks revived Nick Fury in the safe house, Agent Hill beside him breathed a sigh of relief.

Oaks’s spell was far too potent. Even their finest doctors had concluded that Nick Fury was truly dead.

It even made Hill wonder whether Oaks had used this opportunity to settle an old score.

When Nick Fury woke up, his first reaction upon seeing Oaks was to touch his face.

"Asshole! That slap you gave me directly gave me a concussion!"

He glared fiercely at Oaks with his one eye.

"Then you personally broke my right arm, sternum, and collarbone, and even fractured my spine with a stomp!

Even if it was to make it convincing, did you have to be that brutal?!

Later, I got shot again! My lung ruptured!"

"I also punctured your liver. It’s all healed now anyway. Want to do it again?"

"…"

Agent Hill opened her mouth. Who could endure that kind of revenge…

PS: Zola had one final mind backup at the Siberia Base, inspired by "What If…?"