Revival

Peggy Carter was intimately familiar with the mark on this brooch, because it had been part of the most difficult case she had ever handled.

Peggy Carter had obtained this brooch from a particularly troublesome opponent, so she believed it carried enormous significance and needed to be investigated.

But just as her investigation began, certain so-called members of high society tried to obstruct her. First, a congressman hinted that she should not continue, but she ignored him. Then those people began causing trouble throughout her investigation, creating obstacles at every turn.

Later, they produced secret documents and used her reputation to threaten her. In the end, they even resorted to assassination attempts.

But Peggy Carter did not yield to them. She was not afraid of their threats, nor was she intimidated by the attempts on her life. Yet in the end, the matter somehow reached no conclusion.

Well, it would be more accurate to say there was no real conclusion. Some sufficiently influential people stepped forward to bear the consequences, and the case was closed. Although Peggy Carter was swiftly transferred elsewhere to deal with other matters, she had always believed that those people who took responsibility were merely scapegoats, while the truth remained hidden behind the curtain.

"You came to me with this as a private individual." Carter looked at Evenson and said, "It seems your situation is as bad as mine was back then. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Peggy Carter believed that this young consultant, like her back then, had stumbled upon something suspicious about this object by chance. And like her, he had faced obstruction from multiple sides. That was why he had come to her as a private individual, hoping to find some clues.

"To be honest, Ms. Carter." Evenson pursed his lips, wearing an extremely troubled expression. "My situation is far more difficult than yours was back then."

After saying that, Evenson brought up another photograph on the computer. Though the date on the photo was recent, the thing it depicted looked quite old. On the wall of an ancient fortress was a weathered symbol carved into the stone. That symbol was identical to the mark on the brooch.

"I took this in Gloucestershire, England, at an ancient castle built during the Hundred Years’ War." Evenson rested his chin on his hand as he looked at the photograph. "Heh… Although it has long been abandoned, and the owner of the inn next door uses it to put on spooky shows and attract customers, it was at least an impressive place in the past."

"The Secret Party." Carter narrowed her eyes and softly uttered the term. Many believed that certain secret groups not only manipulated national and global politics, but even influenced the course of history. The Mithraic Cult and the Priory of Sion, for example. But the ones most often discussed nowadays were, of course, the Ivy League and Freemasonry.

"But they really are low-profile." Carter said quietly. Since this symbol had appeared on a castle built during the Hundred Years’ War, the organization it represented had to be at least six hundred years old. It had a long history, and judging from the resistance she had encountered back then, its influence was considerable as well.

Yet unlike other secret parties, which always let at least a little of their reputation leak out, they seemed truly invisible. Even during her thorough investigation back then, she had not even learned what they were called.

"They aren’t low-profile at all." Evenson said meaningfully. "They’re extremely famous."

Evenson pulled up another image. Judging from Peggy Carter’s widened eyes, this image was far more shocking than the previous two.

The image showed a skull within a ring, with six snakes protruding from it. Peggy Carter looked at it with surprise and confusion, but above all, hatred. "Hydra."

"Though no matter how I count, there are only seven heads… yes, it’s Hydra…" Evenson operated the computer and flipped the Hydra emblem upside down. "Looking at it this way, do you notice anything?"

"How is that possible?" Peggy Carter was shocked to discover that once the Hydra emblem was inverted, its outline bore more than eighty percent resemblance to the previous two symbols.

"Hydra’s history goes back much further than we imagined." Evenson said quietly.

"No, no." Carter seemed to remember something and repeatedly denied it. "Hydra was dismantled during World War II. I personally led the team that destroyed their last base. Even if some escaped, they couldn’t possibly wield that much influence."

"Cut off one head, and two more take its place, ma’am." Evenson looked at Carter seriously. "Whether you are willing to believe it or not, the Hydra established by Red Skull and his followers was only one part of the real Hydra. Hydra has many other branches hidden throughout the world. The one you investigated was one of them."

"However, Red Skull’s branch was indeed one of Hydra’s larger heads. After Captain America and you cut it off, Hydra was truly severely weakened and went into hiding." When Evenson said this, he deliberately emphasized "and you."

"Ms. Carter, do you believe in things like fate or destiny?" Evenson suddenly asked.

"What?" Carter was still reeling from the news she had just learned. Evenson’s sudden question caught her completely off guard.

"Hydra was severely weakened and has remained dormant all these years, while Captain America was frozen beneath the ice." Evenson said. "And now, just as they are gradually regaining their strength, Captain America has returned as well. They really are enemies destined to face each other."

"I don’t really believe in destiny, but I believe the Captain can defeat them again. However… I need more evidence." Carter forced herself to calm down. "You can’t make me believe in Hydra’s revival based on the resemblance between three pictures alone. I assume you couldn’t have deduced all this from just three pictures either. Do you have other clues?"

"I… do." Evenson bit his lower lip, looking extremely conflicted. "But I don’t want to show you."

"Why?" Carter asked.

"Because it involves certain people and matters." Evenson said, playing hard to get. "I think it would be better if you didn’t know."

"Does it involve a friend of mine?" Carter asked tentatively.

"A very good friend."

"Then I need to see it even more." Carter said firmly.

"Your health…"

"I can handle it." This time, she had learned her lesson and had already taken a bottle of fast-acting medicine into her hand.

"All right, since you insist…" Evenson took out a disc and inserted it into the computer. "Hydra Siberia Branch, mission report, December 16, 1991."

"December 16?" Carter repeated the date with a frown. She remembered that date. A very dear friend had indeed left her that day.

"I remember that road…" The recording began playing. Though it was only grainy black-and-white footage, Peggy Carter recognized the place at a glance. Tears had already welled up in her eyes.