Become a Homelander and a Marvel superstar

"That's not you, Bucky!" Steve stood up agitatedly. "That's Hydra! You're being controlled, you're not the killer!"

"But the finger that pulls the trigger is mine," Bucky said coldly, looking at his metal arm.

The atmosphere became tense.

Steve looked pained and helpless. He had just found his best friend and didn't want him to wander again.

Azu looked at the two of them, pondering in his heart.

Bucky's current state is indeed unstable. If he stays with VGD, he might have a stress reaction one day and kill the trainees, which would be a public relations disaster.

"All right."

Ah Zu suddenly shrugged, a helpless smile on his face that said, "I can't do anything with you."

"Since you're so eager to seek redemption, I can't stop you."

He turned to look at Steve.

"team leader."

"Yes." Steve straightened his back instinctively.

"I'm giving you a long-term field assignment."

"Follow him." Azu pointed at Bucky. "Since he's the one we need, we can't let him wander around outside like a homeless person."

"Go help him find those damn memories, go dig up those old Hydra grievances."

Steve was stunned. He was still struggling with how to ask for leave, but he was the head instructor of VGD and was currently at his busiest time.

did not expect……

"Anthony..." Steve said, somewhat moved, "This...this is against the rules."

"My rules are the rules."

Azu stood up and walked over to Baki.

"Listen, Sergeant Barnes."

"You can wander, atone for your sins, do whatever you want."

"But remember one thing."

Azu stretched out his hand and pointed to the dim yellow light above his head.

"...There will always be a light left on for you here."

Bucky looked at Azu, and a flicker of emotion appeared in his usually wary eyes.

He remained silent for a long time, then nodded.

"Thanks."

Azu then turned to Steve, speaking in a tone like a superior officer.

"As for you, Steve Bucky, you're my designated employee."

"You have to bring him back to me the way you took him out."

"Do you understand?"

Steve also cooperated by giving a solemn military salute.

"Understood, sir!"

He knew that this was Ah Zu upholding his dignity and also fulfilling his selfish desires.

In this world where profit reigns supreme, such human kindness is truly rare.

"Ding! Special popularity points gained +5000! (From Steve Rogers)"

"Ding! Special popularity points gained +5000! (From James Barnes)"

Ah Zu listened to the notification in his mind, then turned and left with satisfaction.

"Don't get too sentimental, I'll be waiting for your expense reports in the office."

With his back to the two of them, Ah Zu waved and disappeared at the entrance of the cafeteria.

……

Some unknown mountainous area.

This is one of Nick Fury's many "safe houses".

Despite being called a safe house, it is actually a luxury villa built on the site of a Cold War-era air-raid shelter.

The thick lead plate layer can block all radiation and scanning, and the independent ecological cycle system is enough to sustain survival for several years. There are even hundreds of bottles of fine red wine stored in the wine cellar.

"Click".

The airtight door opens. The fully intelligent home system automatically starts, soft lights illuminate the room, a warm flame ignites in the fireplace, and even soothing jazz music fills the air.

Clint Barton walked in carrying a bow and arrows and two huge tactical backpacks.

He looked around at the open kitchen, which was even bigger than his living room, and couldn't help but whistle.

Wow.

Patton threw his backpack on the ground and plopped down on the expensive-looking sofa to test its elasticity.

"Seriously, boss," he said, looking at Fury making coffee in the kitchen, "if you have a place like this, why were we eating biscuits in that rat hole before?"

"A cunning rabbit has three burrows, just like Patton."

Fury walked over with two cups of coffee. "That bomb shelter was used to evade regular surveillance. But here..."

He pointed to the top of his head.

"...It's used to hide from the 'Eye of God'."

Patton sat up straight. "You mean the InSight satellite?"

"That's right." Fury's face darkened, and deep worry flashed in his single eye. "Our names are definitely in the top ten of the elimination list."

Fury took a sip of coffee, the bitter taste spreading in his mouth.

"Therefore, we must be prepared to remain in hiding for a long time."

"Long-term?" Patton keenly caught the key word.

"That's right."

Fury put down his glass, his brow furrowed.

"Our names will definitely be at the top of the purge list for Project Insight."

"Although the Sky Carrier hasn't fired yet, as long as the satellites in the sky keep rotating, as long as that algorithm keeps running..."

Fury pointed to the sky.

"...If we walk out onto the street now, it can see the hands on our watches clearly. If we show our faces, within a minute, several high-powered missiles will turn us into mincemeat."

"So, Clint."

Fury turned around, his expression serious.

"Be prepared. We may be here for a long time, until we find an opportunity to completely destroy the Insight System."

Clint Barton's hand holding the coffee cup froze.

His face instantly turned ugly.

"A long time? How long is that?"

"A few months? A few years?"

Barton stood up and paced anxiously in the living room.

"Boss, you know I have a family. Laura... and the kids. Cooper's math is just starting to improve, and Lila's ballet performance is next month..."

"Besides, the tractor on the farm hasn't been repaired yet. If I don't go back, the whole season's corn will be ruined."

"This is for their safety!" Fury's voice rose several octaves. "If you go back now, you'll only be inviting Hydra to your doorstep! Do you want Laura and the kids to watch you get your head blown off?!"

Barton fell silent, plopped back down on the sofa, and downed his coffee in one gulp.

"Damn Pierce...damn Hydra..."

It was in this oppressive atmosphere.

"Drip—drip—drip—"

The encrypted communicator on the table suddenly rang.

Fury's expression hardened, and he immediately picked up the communicator and inserted the decryption key.

"it's me."

A series of static noises came from the other end of the communicator, followed by a voice that had been altered.

"Frey..."

"Get to the point," Fury said in a deep voice.

"Just now, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to activate the emergency takeover clause."

"Control of the three Sky Carriers, as well as command of the entire Insight System... has been transferred to Vought International."

"Now, those ships don't listen to Pierce anymore. Their current stewards are... Homelanders."

"What?!"

Fury's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the communicator.

"Wharf? Homelander?!"

"What's wrong?" Barton sensed something was amiss. "Hydra has attacked?"

"No……"

Fury slowly raised his head, looked at Barton, and spoke in a somewhat evasive tone.

"Even more...outrageous than that."

"Insider information. The Security Council has just passed a resolution."

Fritz paused, as if to process the enormous amount of information.

"Project Insight... has been handed over."

"Transfer?" Patton was taken aback. "To whom? The military?"

"To Vought." Fury tossed the communicator to Barton. "Full handover. Those three motherships are now Starr's."

"Wait... if the mothership falls into Vought's hands, does that mean... no one will use it to kill us anymore?"

"That's the theory." Fury frowned, pacing back and forth in the living room. "Homelander may be a bastard, but he wouldn't use weapons of mass destruction for a purge."

"Are we safe now?" Barton jumped up. "Can I go home now?"

"It's safe for now," Fury corrected. "The sword is still in someone else's hands."

Barton didn't care about any of that; he had already started packing his backpack.

"I'm going to call Laura! Tell her that the damn tractor is finally being fixed!"

Looking at Hawkeye's relaxed expression, Fury's face showed a mixture of joy and worry.

The good news is that millions of lives have been saved.

What I'm worried about is...

Before the barrage of Project Insight had even ceased, Hydra had not yet revealed its fangs.

Fury sighed inwardly.

"I have no evidence to prove my innocence."

"In the eyes of the world, I am still the 'S.H.I.E.L.D. rat' who embezzled public funds and colluded with terrorists."

Fury picked up his coffee and took a big gulp.

It's fucking miserable.