Winter Soldier Awakens

The 200 million would not be transferred directly into the account. Instead, it would be delivered in other forms, such as purchasing the equipment and materials they needed.

What arrived first was the equipment Egghead had promised, worth 100 million.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had deep pockets and vast resources. It possessed many high-performance server-grade computers, as well as plenty of top-tier data center equipment unavailable on the market, and even supercomputers.

These items were soon shipped by sea to the port of San Juan, then loaded onto trucks and delivered to The Laboratory.

Tony handled the design, and a brand-new, massive server room gradually took shape.

Until the research into the "Quantum Brain" was complete, this place would serve as the server for the "Framework" and the headquarters of the "Azeroth Social Network Company."

Through certain shady channels, Skye registered a large number of companies in advance. Several subsidiaries under the Azeroth Group would cover every field, including life sciences, social networking, military heavy industry, artificial intelligence, and aerospace. This was one of the more important parts of Old Wang’s dozens of plans, and its purpose was not merely to make money—

Once wealth reached a certain level, money itself no longer held meaning. What mattered was the influence wealth brought: influence over politics, the military, and the entire world.

In capitalist countries, capitalists truly could influence the operation of a nation, and thus influence the whole world. Old Wang had little interest in politics.

He would rather be the man behind Earth.

And the man behind Azeroth.

Another plan was to cultivate cutting-edge elites—the "Super Heroes."

Quake, Ghost Rider, and the others were naturally his earliest and most solid foundation, but Old Wang’s ambitions did not end with them.

Fitz really was capable. Two days meant two days.

After making the necessary adjustments to the relevant equipment, Fitz altered the Winter Soldier’s memories. While he was at it, he removed Hydra’s brainwashing, then… brainwashed him.

Old Wang did not directly control the Winter Soldier on a mental level. This was not merely out of humanitarian concern. More importantly, if he did that, Fitz and the others would certainly feel uneasy. If he could control the Winter Soldier, he could control them too. No one wanted to lose their freedom—the freedom of both body and mind.

Besides, that kind of control was not absolute. It could fail.

And once it failed, it would provoke fierce resistance, with serious consequences.

A few simple memory alterations would make the Winter Soldier feel favorably toward Old Wang. That was all.

Then came the thawing.

Before everyone’s eyes, the Winter Soldier opened his eyes.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I supposed to do?

Like everyone else who had gone through the same experience, the Winter Soldier fell into a daze the moment he awoke.

Years of training made him instinctively want to use overwhelming force to secure the upper hand, take control of the situation, and only then contemplate life’s three great questions.

But a hand swiftly pressed down on his shoulder. Its strength was immense, and no matter what he did, he could not rise.

"Relax, Sergeant Barnes."

A gentle voice sounded. A stream of True Qi entered his body, slowing his heartbeat and reducing his adrenaline secretion, calming him down.

Most importantly, the natural aura radiating from Old Wang made him feel freedom and peace. Combined with the targeted memory alterations, it gave him an inexplicable trust in this man. Seeing him felt like seeing family.

Standing before him was a warmth like home.

"Immortal Iron Fist? Master Wang?"

The Winter Soldier remembered certain things and hurriedly asked, "What… did you do to me?"

"You were brainwashed by Hydra. I helped you remove the hidden danger."

Old Wang’s smile was as warm as ever, like a spring breeze melting the Winter Soldier’s sixty years of coldness. "Congratulations, Sergeant Barnes. You’re free!"

Free?

Bucky froze.

The past sixty years surfaced like a movie. Every time he had awakened and carried out a mission was now a nightmare to him.

What did I do?

He had been captured by Hydra, subjected to human experiments by Dr. Zola, and turned stronger than ordinary people;

Steve had appeared alone to save him, and he had joined the Howling Commandos.

He had fallen from a cliff and survived due to his unusual physique, only to be captured by Hydra once again, experimented on further, fitted with a mechanical arm, and brainwashed into the "Winter Soldier."

He had helped Hydra eliminate its rivals.

Over the past several decades, dozens of extremely important people had died because of him, including famous scientists and politicians, as well as the founder of Stark Industries—his old friend, Howard Stark.

Now he was finally free, and he owed it all to Master Wang.

Looking at Old Wang, the Winter Soldier did not say "thank you." That word was too light.

This debt was greater than saving his life. He could only repay it with the rest of his life—

Strange. Why would I think that? It doesn’t really fit my character…

Of course, the Winter Soldier did not know that Fitz had altered his memories. What concerned him more now was another name.

"Steve. Steve Rogers. Captain America."

The Winter Soldier fell silent. "He’s dead…"

He’s dead, and I’m still alive. Life is nothing but darkness. What’s the point…

"No. He’s alive."

Old Wang’s voice suddenly rang out. "He’s lying somewhere in the Arctic Circle, waiting for you to wake him."

The Winter Soldier’s eyes flew wide open. He tightly gripped Old Wang’s shoulders. "Y-you, what did you say? Steve… is still alive?"

During World War II, Captain America fought a great battle against Hydra’s leader, the "Red Skull," and ultimately won.

The Cosmic Cube was activated and transported Red Skull to a barren planet deep in the universe. Its immense energy melted through the aircraft, while the Cosmic Cube fell into the ocean. After changing hands several times, it eventually ended up with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Captain America vanished into the Arctic Circle aboard the Valkyrie and crashed somewhere there.

He merged with the ice, then drifted away with the glaciers and ocean currents, disappearing without a trace.

Both Hydra and the Strategic Scientific Reserve of that era—S.H.I.E.L.D.’s predecessor—had sent people to search for him, but neither found anything.

Everyone believed Captain America was dead.

But no one knew that he had merely been frozen within a glacier. Thanks to the powerful physique granted by the Super Soldier Serum, he had remained alive, even retaining the appearance he had sixty years ago.

Waiting to be discovered.

Without Old Wang’s interference, S.H.I.E.L.D. would discover and awaken him roughly two years later. Then, under Egghead’s persuasion and the influence of his former girlfriend, Agent Carter, he would join S.H.I.E.L.D. and even receive Level 8 clearance like Coulson.

Now, his Fate had been rewritten.

Compared to being awakened by S.H.I.E.L.D., it was obviously better for someone else to wake him.

Best buddies for life.

His former girlfriend had long since married someone else. She was practically about to die of old age. What was there left to wait for?

Only the Winter Soldier, who had likewise lived from sixty years ago to the present and likewise possessed a youthful body, was true love!

"Master Wang, you know where Steve is?" The Winter Soldier was highly agitated.

"Greenland… I know it’s huge, but at least there’s hope now, isn’t there?" Old Wang smiled.

"I’m going now." The Winter Soldier could not wait another second. He stood and headed for the door.

So impatient… Old Wang hurriedly held him back. "Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. searched for years and found nothing. Are you sure you can do it alone?"

"But…"

"Wait a little longer."

Old Wang smiled. "I’ll prepare a plane and the best detection equipment for you. I’ll also install the best mechanical arm for you… Don’t worry, it won’t take long. You’ve waited more than sixty years. What are a few more days?"

"…All right." The Winter Soldier nodded reluctantly.

For some reason, he trusted this Master Wang, whom he had met only a few times. He trusted him from the bottom of his heart. It was strange.

Like…

Family separated for many years?

Thanks to "Chicago Jungler Ze" for the 1,000 reward!