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At some point, Arthur found himself increasingly busy.
Running around with Dr. Erskine every day was one thing, but now he also had missions with Agent Carter.
Lindsay Clive was a high-profile target. Even as a spy, he was a 'king' among spies.
However, this 'king' now seemed quite dejected. It was as if he was saying, "I was once a king until I got hit on the back of the head with a blunt object."
From Lindsay's information, Agent Carter had uncovered a significant list of agents.
This was the source of Arthur's recent busyness.
For three consecutive days, Arthur averaged less than three hours of sleep per night.
Fortunately, the Battle Soul had enhanced his physique, keeping him energetic. However, how Agent Carter managed to stay stunningly beautiful despite the lack of sleep was beyond him. Isn't it said that women need their beauty sleep?
How could she remain so beautiful without enough sleep?
When Arthur found out the truth, he was floored.
While Arthur was busy with Dr. Erskine during the day, Agent Carter was sleeping soundly. She would wake up in the evening, join Arthur for missions, and then go back to sleep!
What happened to gender equality?
In reality, true equality is hard to achieve.
For instance, some people are born with silver spoons, while others start at the bottom of the barrel.
Some grow up strong and healthy, while others remain frail and even suffer from asthma.
When Arthur saw the yet-to-be-chosen future Captain again, he was standing in line.
The Strategic Scientific Reserve had officially begun operations, and these recruits had been carefully selected.
The future Captain's height made him stand out among the others... he looked like a tiny house amid towering mountains.
Colonel Phillips addressed the recruits, "You are the best!"
Then, seeing the future Captain, he paused. The old man found it hard to continue with a straight face, unable to lie convincingly.
Arthur thought he was there just to observe, but Colonel Phillips had a task for him— to train these recruits in shooting.
To Arthur, shooting skill was something innate, not learned.
No!
It was something you were born with!
Fortunately, even though Arthur's own shooting skills were 'acquired,' his brain was full of practical knowledge, so he wasn't completely in the dark.
Arthur understood why Colonel Phillips wanted him to train these men.
Hydra likely had their eyes on Arthur, and among these recruits, one was destined to become a Super Soldier. Building good relationships with them could provide him with some protection.
The stubborn old man was always thinking about his safety, even though he didn't know Arthur had essentially 'become' a different person, with just a slight change in his name.
As in many novels and movies, unpleasant incidents were inevitable. Arthur was Asian, and although not as short as the future Captain, he was still at a disadvantage compared to these tall, burly guys, many over six feet tall.
All except the future Captain had been rigorously selected. As Colonel Phillips put it, they were the best!
Naturally, they had some pride, and troublemakers were bound to appear.
Being soldiers and young men, they respected only strength.
Arthur, however, didn't assert dominance with his fists but with his legs... After kicking a troublemaker three meters away, all dissent vanished like smoke in the air.
---
Arthur couldn't help but echo Dr. Erskine's sentiment: "Youth is truly wonderful!"
Over the past three days, Arthur's greatest gain wasn't just dealing with a bunch of recruits, but the nightly missions that brought in weapons and books. Each night, after returning from missions, Arthur would acquire a variety of weapons and materials.
The upgraded Disassembler now produced fragments of energy residue, albeit in small amounts, but with the abundance of weapons, the gains were significant.
Arthur could feel something new coursing through his body. It wasn't constant, but whenever he moved, it moved with him. When he stopped, it fell silent.
Though not fully controllable, these energy fragments didn't enhance his strength or speed. Arthur was unsure of their full potential beyond their ability to move.
Still, he fantasized about one day being able to light a cigarette without a lighter, despite the fact that he didn't smoke.
Strictly speaking, despite the busyness, Arthur's life had a certain tranquility. These were some of the rare stable days since he arrived in this world.
Each morning, he would check if Dr. Erskine needed to go anywhere. If not, he would wander around the camp, occasionally training the new recruits and showcasing his superior shooting skills.
In the evenings, he went on missions, growing increasingly adept at these operations.
Arthur shamelessly shadowed the soldiers, learning from their training. The camp provided the best and most comprehensive training, covering a wide array of skills from the use of various firearms and melee weapons to tactics in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, and even the operation of machinery, vehicles, and aircraft.
These recruits were being groomed to become Super Soldiers— individuals not only at the pinnacle of human strength, speed, endurance, and reflexes but also fully equipped combat machines.
Arthur lacked many of these skills, so he used his enhanced memory, thanks to the Battle Souls, to absorb as much as he could. Wandering around the camp, he observed and learned from the soldiers.
To them, Arthur was more than their shooting instructor; he was a war hero, Dr. Erskine's bodyguard, and someone with deep ties to Colonel Phillips. No one dared to chase him away.
Thus, Arthur absorbed almost everything he observed. While he might not have 'mastered' these skills, he memorized them for future study.
One of the most exhilarating moments for Arthur was witnessing the scene from the movies where the future Captain selflessly jumped on a grenade.
Arthur genuinely admired this act of self-sacrifice. He doubted he could ever possess such a spirit, making the future Captain's noble character all the more remarkable.
"But I still think... he's not as good as you," Agent Carter whispered to Arthur beside him.
"You're just blindly idolizing me," Arthur replied with a smile.
(End of Chapter)