"First question, Steve. You saved the world, but you lost everything in the process. Do you regret it?"
"No. I was confused and had regrets, but I never felt remorse. If I hadn't stopped them, everything I cherish would have been destroyed. I may have lost everything, but everything I fought for still exists."
Steve's voice was firm and resolute. His gaze was clear and fearless, as if he had returned to the war-torn battlefield where his convictions had never wavered.
Peggy looked at Steve, her eyes filled with pride and heartache.
"I give this answer full marks. Second question: if there were a bomb on Peggy, and you had a button in your hand that could randomly transfer the bomb to someone else, be it a criminal or an innocent civilian, would you press it?"
"I could disarm the bomb or pull it off—"
"You only have ten seconds."
Steve's brow furrowed deeply, his face twisted in pain and struggle.
His eyes lingered on Peggy for a moment before shifting to Kino. His lips pressed into a thin line as he sank into agonizing indecision.
Peggy grew angry and questioned, "Why ask such a question? This hypothetical violates human decency and morality! You're deliberately making things difficult!"
Her face flushed with anger, her eyes widened, and her body trembled slightly as her breathing grew heavy.
Steve quickly reached out to hold Peggy's hand, trying to calm her down.
Yet Peggy continued to glare at Kino in defiance.
"What kind of test is this? Let me ask you, what would you do if you were in his place?"
"I would press the button. Even if the bomb transferred to Tom, I would press it."
Kino answered without hesitation, his face devoid of guilt or doubt, as if it were the simplest decision in the world.
Tom smiled faintly and bowed respectfully. "It would be my honor to die for the leader."
"..." Peggy was speechless.
"You remind me of an old enemy," Steve said, his gaze complicated with memories of the past and the confusion of the present.
"Red Skull? Then, what's your answer?"
Steve took a deep breath and said slowly, "I... I would press the button."
His voice was filled with pain and conflict.
Peggy sighed softly and glared angrily at Kino, as if he were deliberately trying to destroy Steve's beliefs.
"Full marks again. Now, the final question: One day, if your Peggy becomes young again and you have a child together, but they die in a car accident, you would be devastated. While going through her belongings, you discover she was actually assassinated. After a long investigation, you find the true killer. In your fury, you want to kill them, but a friend stops you, saying the killer is their brainwashed sibling controlled by a dark organization. Would you kill them or let them go?"
A: Kill them. B: Let them go.
Kino's gaze fixed on Steve, waiting for his decision.
Peggy, puzzled, thought the question was similar to the previous one. Why was Kino asking it again?
A car accident? This method of death felt eerily familiar.
A dark organization...
Brainwashing...
Peggy's aging mind worked hard to recall where she'd encountered this before. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she searched her memories.
Meanwhile, Steve, still shaken by the previous question, didn't hesitate as much this time.
"I choose A: Kill them," he said with cold determination.
"Steve, wait—" Peggy's pupils shrank as she tried to stop him, but it was too late. Her outstretched hand froze midair.
Kino clapped his hands and smiled. "Three questions, all full marks. Congratulations, Steve. You're hired."
"Kino, may I ask you a question?" Peggy's unease grew, her suspicions becoming harder to suppress.
She finally remembered.
Howard Stark and Maria Stark.
When they died in a car accident, something had felt off. Despite mobilizing all her resources to investigate, she found nothing. All the evidence pointed to an accident.
But Kino's questions reignited her suspicions. If the people in his scenario were real...
Peggy's body trembled slightly, her eyes filled with shock and anger.
Steve noticed her reaction and held her hand tightly.
Kino nodded.
"Howard and Maria didn't die in an accident. They were assassinated."
"That's right. And their son still believes it was an accident."
Steve's breath caught in his throat, his eyes glazed over in shock.
The questions replayed in his mind. If the dark organization was Hydra, and the victims were Howard and Maria, then... he was the one who had been manipulated!
"Why? I destroyed Hydra! Who was brainwashed?" His voice trembled as he demanded answers, though he already feared the truth.
"James Buchanan Barnes."
"No! You're lying! Hydra is gone. If they're still alive, then what was the point of all my sacrifices?"
Steve sprang to his feet, his body trembling with rage, his eyes bloodshot.
His enemies were still alive. His best friend killed his benefactors. And the son of his benefactors knew nothing about it.
The weight of these revelations struck Steve like a hammer, shaking his resolve to its core.
Kino, satisfied with Steve's torment, turned to Peggy. "Why don't you tell him yourself?"
Peggy sighed heavily and whispered, "Operation Paperclip..."
The more Steve listened, the darker his expression became until it was as stormy as thunderclouds.
Bang!
Steve slammed his fist through the table, sending splinters flying as he tried to release his fury.
Tom glared at him, displeased by his disrespect toward their leader.
"I defeated them once, and I'll do it again," Steve said with fierce determination.
"No," Kino replied coldly.
"Why not?"
"Because I plan to recruit them. They're useful, capable, and obedient. It would be a waste to destroy them."
Kino crossed his arms.
"But they're evil. They want to conquer the world," Steve protested.
"If conquering the world is evil, then your country is no different. You know that, don't you?" Kino sneered. "Steve, I hate you. You're the kind of person who'll do anything to protect your loved ones, no matter what. I'm the same. But you hide behind a facade of selflessness while expecting others to be selfless for you. That makes you a hypocrite."
Kino's words cut like a knife.
Steve's face turned ashen. He opened his mouth to argue but found himself speechless.
Peggy looked at him with concern, unsure how to comfort him.
"Since I'm your boss now, I'll offer you two options," Kino said, placing a black contract on the table.
"One: Sign the contract. Abandon your so-called justice. Become a Captain of Hell. I'll bring Bucky back and even revive the people you've lost."
Steve stared at the contract and the vial beside it, stunned.
"Two: Walk away. Tell Nick Fury the truth, destroy S.H.I.E.L.D., and face my wrath."
Turning to Tom, Kino added, "Tom, you earned 3,000 contribution points for giving me such a good show."
Tom beamed with joy and bowed again. "Thank you, Leader!"
"As for you, Steve, if you sign the contract, this rejuvenation serum is yours. Deliver 10,000 contribution points within a year."
Kino left with a parting remark. "When someone appears perfect, it usually means there's an emptiness inside they are trying to hide. Are you saving the world for justice—or for glory?"
As the door closed, Steve stared blankly at the contract and serum.
A rough, aged hand entwined with his. Steve looked up to see Peggy.
Her once-beautiful face was lined with wrinkles, her body frail with age. Yet to Steve, she was still the woman he loved.
Peggy gazed at him gently, her eyes full of understanding and determination.
"When ideals collide with reality, only conviction can guide the way."
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