When Steve returned to the living room, Tony had also landed outside.
This was actually Tony and Captain America's first meeting.
However, including Shen He, none of the three looked very happy.
"He, did you deal with the aircraft carrier base?" Tony stepped out of his armor and sat on the sofa with a blank expression. "Jarvis detected that the aircraft carrier was sunk by missiles from various countries."
"That's right." Shen He nodded. "But Saiki restored it. It's currently lurking underwater. When you have time, go take a look at repairing and modifying it. It will be useful when the aliens invade."
"Aliens invading? What aliens are invading?" Steve felt that a lot of things were being kept from him.
"Why is this soldier still here while we're discussing classified information?" Tony looked at Shen He. "You're not really going to let him join us, are you? I thought he was just a figurehead pushed in front of the public. Oh, right, I saw his combat broadcast. Saiki must have put in a lot of effort to get him to shoot down a plane with his shield."
"...I thought you guys called me here." Steve's face was grim. "If you think I'm useless, I can leave."
"No, no, you're useful, like a stage actor. I get it, people like to watch you flex your muscles for the cameras." Tony seemed to be suppressing his anger. "But, Shen He, you really should have let Saiki help me. Saving a few promising young people is surely more important than making this soldier a hero, right?"
"...If S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters were taken, the sacrifices would be much greater." Shen He shook his head slightly. "We can't save everyone."
"Even though you knew and planned all of this beforehand?" Tony raised his voice, breathing heavily, eyes slightly closed. "They're all just in their twenties. The best one got all A's in school, he was even a fan of mine, and he got an internship at Stark Industries…"
This wasn't the first time Tony hadn't been able to save someone, but it was the first time he felt so heartbroken.
He was clearly there, clearly knew the plan, knew everything, yet he still watched those outstanding young people lose their lives in the flames of war.
"…" Shen He didn't know what to say.
From the outcome, they did indeed achieve a complete victory this time.
But there could never be a perfect victory in this world.
"That's what war is like." Steve wasn't upset by the sarcasm. "I lost many comrades in the past wars, including my best friend. They were all excellent people. Even so, for everyone who survived, it was still a victorious war."
"..." Tony fell silent.
He wasn't ignorant; he just found it hard to accept. This kind of war was more brutal than punishing those terrorists in the chaotic area.
"...Alright." Shen He straightened his back. "We don't have much time to dwell on the sacrifices. Coulson has been captured."
"Coulson… captured by whom?" Tony asked.
"A runaway Hydra agent, named John Garrett," Shen He said. "We tried to find his location, but the direction kept changing. Undoubtedly, the other party is constantly choosing random locations to transfer. This is indeed a good way to deal with a prophet, especially one that can't be precisely located."
After Shen He stabilized the aircraft carrier, he immediately had Jeanne search for Coulson's location.
In fact, if the battle situation at the aircraft carrier base hadn't been so dire, he should have done this first. However, Jeanne had changed direction several times in just ten minutes, and those directions didn't have any S.H.I.E.L.D. bases or safe houses.
"I'll have Jarvis keep an eye out," Tony frowned. "But finding an elite agent isn't easy."
"So, we'll have to get help from other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents." Shen He sighed. "Director Fury was supposedly taken out by the Winter Soldier, but that old fox is probably just playing dead to avoid his enemies, or secretly planning something. We had a plan from the start to recruit S.H.I.E.L.D.'s elite… it was originally meant for Coulson."
According to the plan, regardless of Fury or Coulson, rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. in this situation would require funds. And the virtual reality company had the funds, which meant Chaldea could easily have an experienced intelligence department.
But now, Fury and Coulson were both gone.
"Can I ask some questions?" Steve suddenly interjected.
"Of course," Shen He nodded, giving a slight smile. "Don't take Tony's words to heart, he just has a foul mouth. Now, you can ask anything you want to know directly."
Although some basic information had been prepared for Steve earlier, it was only the fundamentals.
"What do I need to do to truly join you?" To Shen He's surprise, Steve was the first to ask this question. "If I really join you, I think I should know the plan in advance, at least know what I'm doing these things for."
"...I didn't tell you everything because I didn't want you to be a show hero..." Shen He was a bit helpless. "Let me handle all the conspiracies and schemes. Heroes only need to do what heroes should do... That's what I really think."
After all, this plan was, indeed, artificially, organized, and premeditated in shaping a hero.
"..." Steve didn't seem to expect this answer either. He was silent for a moment and suddenly said, "I've done it."
"What?"
"A stage actor, just like Tony said." Steve paused, then continued, "Touring performances across the country, wearing the star-spangled suit, showing my muscles to the people, telling them I'm a superhero. I've done things like that, and I know people need this, so you don't have to worry that I'll be an old-fashioned, stubborn person."
"That's interesting." Tony seemed very surprised. "What did you perform? Can you dance? I mean, maybe we can share some stage experiences sometime."
"Of course, I'm a good dancer."
"..." Shen He hadn't expected that these two heroes, who had been at odds just a moment ago, would now find common ground.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat to break the somewhat strange atmosphere. "In that case, I'll get straight to the point. Steve, I hope you can use your reputation and charisma to attract the remaining elite agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. After all, you fought alongside them, and with Fury's announcement, they will trust you."
Trust was what these agents needed most right now.
The government was hunting them, their former colleagues were potential enemies, and they could only hide cautiously, not daring to trust anyone.
-----------------------
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