Three Days Earlier.
Siberia.
A secret military base.
He awoke slowly, his consciousness sluggish.
What…?
He found himself in an unfamiliar setting, restrained in a chair surrounded by strange instruments. His head was fixed in place, and beside him stood a man in a white lab coat, bald and wearing glasses.
Around them, several soldiers in military uniforms, red berets, and armed with guns, watched closely.
He couldn't understand what was happening.
All he remembered was that he was once an ordinary man from Earth. On the eve of the release of Cyberpunk 2077, after saving up enough money to buy a high-end graphics card, he'd finally sat down to enjoy the game. The night passed in a blur of neon lights and immersive gameplay, and then—darkness.
Am I really here?
An absurd, almost panic-inducing thought flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, the sound of crackling electricity filled his ears.
"Ah!!!"
Pain. Unimaginable pain.
He was just an ordinary man from a modern world, unaccustomed to such agony. It felt as though someone had sawed open his skull and was now grinding his brain with sandpaper.
He screamed—a raw, primal sound—until his newly awakened consciousness was consumed by the overwhelming pain.
There was no room for thought, no way to analyze what was happening.
All he wanted was to die. That was the only clear thought in his mind.
But death didn't come.
His mind was too weak to trigger his brain's self-defense mechanism, leaving him conscious and trapped in this torturous state.
The torture continued, pushing him to the brink of madness.
Finally, just as he thought he couldn't take any more, his vision went black.
But still, he didn't faint.
In the darkness, flashes of red and blue neon danced before his eyes.
Then, a progress bar labeled "System Restarting…" appeared at the center of his vision.
His pain-ridden consciousness clung to this progress bar, focusing all his remaining mental energy on it.
The pain seemed to lessen, albeit slightly.
It wasn't just a distraction; as the progress bar filled, the pain genuinely began to subside.
By the time it reached halfway, the pain had gone from unbearable to merely excruciating.
When the bar finally filled, the pain was reduced to a tolerable level.
Suddenly, his vision lit up—not with reality, but with something he recognized all too well.
The character interface of Cyberpunk 2077 appeared before him.
But there was something off about it.
The character on the screen wasn't the one he'd created. Instead, it was V, the legendary figure of Night City. But V wasn't alone. He shared the screen with another familiar figure.
A man with shoulder-length hair, a handsome face, clad in a black combat uniform, with a metal arm bearing a red five-pointed star.
The Winter Soldier.
James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes.
A man once known as Captain America's closest friend, turned into a weapon by Hydra. His mind was controlled, his body modified, making him the ultimate killer in the shadows.
The realization hit him like a truck. Something must have gone wrong during Bucky's last cryo-freeze, or perhaps during the thawing process. Bucky's consciousness had somehow disappeared, replaced by his own.
From today onwards, I am Bucky Barnes.
Though he'd always admired superheroes, even fantasized about being one, he had never imagined becoming the Winter Soldier—a man still under Hydra's control.
Brainwashed, used as a tool, subjected to unspeakable tortures…
But there was a glimmer of hope: the cyberpunk system that had come with him into this new world.
Character: James Buchanan Barnes
Level: 1
It was a cold reminder that, despite his confusion, the system saw him as Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier.
He continued to explore the interface, noting the empty weapon slots, the [Backpack] and [Prosthetic Body] tabs, and the grayed-out [Network Access Warehouse], which in this world was a neural device used for hacking.
His attention was drawn to the [Hydra Mind Controller (Modified)] listed under available equipment.
Hydra Mind Controller (Modified): Allows cracking of targets or devices during scanning. Requires link to scanning device.
System fraud.
A surge of hope washed over him. The mind controller Hydra had implanted in his brain had been transformed by the system, changing its function so it could no longer control him.
Maybe I can even modify the metal arm.
Before he could delve further, a sharp pain snapped him back to reality.
His vision cleared, revealing the bearded officer standing in front of him.
The brainwashing session had ended, but the Winter Soldier had been unresponsive, leading the officer to slap him back to awareness.
"Eager."
Not good!
The officer held a red leather book stamped with a black five-pointed star and began to recite words in Russian.
His body reacted instantly, muscles tensing as fragmented memories and images flooded his mind. He was slipping into a daze!
This is a hypnotic trigger for the Winter Soldier!
Though he wasn't the original Bucky Barnes, his brain and body still housed the remnants of Bucky's memories and experiences.
His mind raced. The only way to resist was through the system in his mind.
[System Information: Affected by mind control, Calm -3, lost control of the body.]
Calm -3!
He focused on the keyword, quickly switching to the character attribute interface.
[Character Attributes:]
Body (7 points): Your physical strength; health, stamina, weight, melee damage.
Subordinate Feats: Movement 7; Annihilation 7; Brawl 7.
Reaction (7 points): Your agility; movement speed, explosive power, control, critical hit rate, and ranged weapon accuracy.
Subordinate Feats: Pistol 7; Assault 7; Brawl 7.
Technology (3 points): Your technical skills, mechanical engineering, and crafting level.
Subordinate Feats: Engineering 1; Crafting 1.
Intelligence (4 points): Your memory, calculation, comprehension, analytical skills, and hacking ability.
Subordinate Feats: Breach Protocol 1; Quickhack 1.
Calm (7-3 points): Your willpower and resilience; stealth efficiency and pain endurance.
Subordinate Feats: Stealth 7; Cold Blood 1.
Health Points:
Stamina Points:
Available Attribute Points: 7
Available Feat Points: 7
This setup was different from the initial attributes in the original game, where the five attributes started at 3 points, representing an average human level. However, Bucky's physical attributes had surpassed normal human limits due to the super-soldier serum, giving him 7 points in [Body] and [Reaction].
His willpower, though repeatedly shattered by brainwashing, was still strong, especially with the addition of his own consciousness. Hence, his [Calm] attribute was also at 7 points.
But the hypnotic trigger was cutting through his willpower, making his [Calm] attribute drop by 3 points.
I need to increase it!
With a thought, he added 3 free attribute points to [Calm].
"Rusty, Seventeen…"
The officer continued, but now a strong willpower surged within him, forcing his mind to clear. His body stopped trembling, and he began to calm down.
"Dawn, Stove, Nine…"
As the words continued, he felt his body responding again. In a panic, he added another point to [Calm].
The effect was immediate! Like a final, crucial feather tipping the scales, he felt his mind and body completely calm down.
The negative effects vanished as his [Calm] attribute returned to 7 points, neutralizing the hypnosis.
But the officer noticed something was wrong and quickly closed the red book.
He stared at him, his eyes dark and suspicious.
The man remained quiet, maintaining the Winter Soldier's expressionless demeanor.
The bearded officer hesitated but eventually ordered, "Activate the Winter Soldier Program."
The man's heart sank, but he quickly regained his composure.
Activate the Winter Soldier Program—meaning a mission.
This was a life-threatening moment.
The cyberpunk system was incredibly advanced, with attributes that surpassed any ordinary person, but it still required him to play the role of the Winter Soldier.
"Understood," he said, his tone robotic, trying to buy himself some time.
"Be prepared to leave at any moment," the officer ordered before turning to leave.
Several minutes later, alone in the dim room, he processed the reality of his situation.
He was Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, in a world where every action could lead to his death. He had a system that could help him break free from Hydra's control, but he had to be careful. One misstep could mean the end.
He took a deep breath, glancing around the room before focusing inward.
This is not a dream.
This is my reality now.
He would have to survive—one way or another.
Chapter 2: Mission Preparation, Cyber System
"The mind control command has no effect on the mind at all, but some subconscious reactions will emerge from the body. No major issues, though."
In a modest motel room, Caspian Vale had already conducted a thorough check on himself.
Standing before the mirror, he stared at the strange yet familiar face reflecting back at him. He remained silent for a long while before muttering to himself:
"Although I am still myself, in this world, I am you, Winter Soldier—Bucky. Wish me luck."
In this reality, only he knew his true identity as Caspian Vale, while everyone else would recognize him as a completely different Winter Soldier, a completely different Bucky Barnes.
"So... I am the Winter Soldier."
Whether he liked it or not, he had to accept the fact that he had transmigrated into the body of the Winter Soldier and must inherit Bucky Barnes' identity and past.
The inner turmoil he had experienced since his transmigration was finally suppressed in his heart, forcing him to accept his new identity as soon as possible.
The man who went into the bathroom was the transmigrator Caspian Vale, controlling the Winter Soldier's body.
The man who walked out was no longer Caspian, but the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes—assuming his new role fully.
He walked over to the single bed and picked up the folder beside him.
Upon opening it and seeing the photo clipped to the file—a white-haired, handsome elderly man—he fell into deep thought once again.
In the secret base of Hydra in Siberia, the first time he saw Howard Stark's photo, he immediately thought he was a decent man, so he couldn't hold back a blank expression.
It turned out the time of his transmigration coincided with the events of Captain America: Civil War.
That meant the Winter Soldier, Bucky, had just been thawed out and was about to embark on the mission to assassinate Howard Stark and retrieve the super-soldier serum he was carrying.
Howard Stark—father of Iron Man Tony Stark, one of Marvel's hottest superheroes, a super-genius inventor, and a patriot—had led the project to create Captain America.
The core of Iron Man, the Arc Reactor, was a concept and prototype that originated from Howard. He was also a patriot, fighting against the Third Reich alongside Captain America and Peggy Carter, battling the evil Hydra organization led by the infamous Red Skull.
After World War II, Howard became one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., undertaking numerous secret missions with Peggy Carter.
And up until this moment in 1991, Howard was still active. This time, he was secretly transporting the super serum that had created both Captain America and the Winter Soldier to a secure location.
However, due to the "Paperclip Project" after World War II, S.H.I.E.L.D. had recruited numerous scientists, researchers, and technicians, many of whom were actually Hydra agents, allowing Hydra to grow in secret within S.H.I.E.L.D.
As a result, Howard's movements were exposed.
Then came this assassination and capture mission.
But assassination wasn't possible. Whether it was the original Winter Soldier or himself, neither had any grudge against Howard.
On the contrary, both held resentment toward Hydra.
Having endured such hardship after transmigrating, this resentment had only grown stronger.
Even though he had no desire to directly confront and kill all the Hydra troops before him, he also knew he couldn't simply explode into a killing spree.
Not to mention, he still possessed the mindset of a modern-day worker, making the idea of killing temporarily unacceptable.
Even if he wanted to, he couldn't. He hadn't yet fully assimilated Bucky Barnes' past memories, nor had he acquired his combat experience, skills, or even muscle memory.
All of that would take time to master.
And even if he were to kill, what then?
This was Siberia. Aside from Hydra, no one knew the exact location of their base.
If he didn't manage to grab a helicopter in time, even with a car, he wouldn't dare to drive off, fearing he'd get lost in the snowy wilderness.
So, he had no choice but to pretend he was still a compliant Winter Soldier, accepting orders, obtaining the equipment, supplies, fake identities, funds, and other resources provided by Hydra, and boarding the helicopter to a secret airport, before making his way across the ocean to New Jersey.
The Winter Soldier was a tool, and since he was a "person," he had the ability to act independently. The Winter Soldier had only lost his memory and free will, but his intelligence remained intact.
Hydra had full confidence in their flawless creation.
Thus, the Winter Soldier operated in a single-soldier mode.
This gave Caspian the opportunity to change his usual mode of action. Instead of directly carrying out the mission, he came to an unremarkable old motel first.
"I can't become the ruthless killer. In less than 72 hours, there's no time to fully integrate Bucky's memories or adjust to his body. Fortunately, I don't need to, for now."
Closing the mission folder, Caspian fell into deep thought once more.
While he didn't plan to carry out Hydra's mission or kill Howard, that didn't mean he wouldn't meet Howard.
With the resentment of his suffering after transmigration and Bucky's memories, he had no intention of letting Hydra go.
But Hydra was a global secret organization, parasitic within S.H.I.E.L.D., with countless members.
Neither the original Winter Soldier nor Caspian could act rashly.
He couldn't handle this trouble on his own.
And Howard Stark, one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., a wealthy and decent man, a brilliant inventor, and once familiar with Bucky Barnes, was obviously the best person for the Winter Soldier to connect with.
"But I can't just approach him directly. Howard is easy to meet, but Hydra is hard to guard against."
If he were to meet Howard, he wouldn't kill him, but he would reveal Hydra's secrets to him.
With such a betrayal, it was certain Hydra would retaliate fiercely.
So, preparations were necessary.
"Even though I can't reach the original combat prowess of the Winter Soldier in such a short time, and may not even be as skilled as an elite soldier or agent, it doesn't matter. Apart from being the Winter Soldier, I have another advantage."
After transmigrating to this world, his greatest reliance wasn't the Winter Soldier's body; in fact, this body was something he resented.
His true reliance was the cyberpunk system.
Mumbling to himself, he stood up, lifted an oversized black travel bag on the ground with his metal arm, and opened the zipper. Instead of guns and ammunition, it was filled with...
A large pile of calculators, staplers, remote controls, electronic watches, and other miscellaneous household and office supplies he had collected from a nearby supermarket warehouse.
He then snapped off the wire of the desk lamp, holding the live end with his metal arm.
A surge of electricity coursed through his body, making him shiver a few times.
But there was no pain.
It wasn't because of any strange hobby awakened by the electric shock brainwashing.
Rather, the system that had been activated during the electric shock brainwashing allowed his body to absorb external energy.
It wasn't unlimited, and the absorption capacity had its limits. For instance, the 110V AC current here only caused a slight tingling sensation, indicating that most of it had been absorbed and that this was his absorption limit.
He absorbed energy to use with the random items in front of him.
Holding the electrified metal arm, he picked up a calculator in his other hand.
In an instant, the calculator emitted a burst of red and blue neon sparks, and within seconds, it disintegrated into a pile of broken parts.
It looked as if it had been smashed to pieces with a hammer and then kicked away, leaving only debris.
[System information: Disassembled a calculator (scrap), received 1 common item component and 1 sophisticated quick-crack component.]
According to the system in his mind, he opened the inventory and selected [Show All Items].
In the previously empty item bar, there was an icon for a white-framed, disassembled component, labeled [Common Item Component];
And a green box resembling a PCB circuit board component, labeled [Quick Crack Components].
Obviously, none of this could have been dismantled from just a calculator.
But in a cyberpunk world, a bit of exaggeration was to be expected.
Just like in the original game, this system had two functions: [Create] and [Disassemble], allowing him to disassemble almost any item to obtain [Common Components].
But given the cyberpunk setting, a bit of the extraordinary was also acceptable.
The more mechanical structures and better materials an item had, the higher the probability of dismantling better-quality components.
Moreover, this system allowed him to disassemble electronic products, not just for ordinary components, but also for [Quick Crack Components], which were materials needed for creating cyber hacker-related plugins.
They were also required for certain electronic prosthesis constructions.
After all, in this Marvel world, there were no cyber prosthetic doctors or arms dealers.
Fortunately, the system allowed him to DIY.
The two types of components and the equipment he created were classified into white common, green excellent, blue rare, purple epic, and orange legendary.
However, in 1991, the technology lagged far behind Cyberpunk 2077. Electronic products from the '90s only offered a small probability of disassembling the lowest level [Green Excellent Quick Crack Components], with an even smaller chance of obtaining [Blue Rare Quick Crack Components].
That was why Caspian had gathered so many items—to dismantle components, craft gear, and arm himself.
Not only did he carry one travel bag, but with his metal arm, he had brought three more from the supermarket, which were still in the back of his car.
"Only 72 hours left. I need to disassemble as much as possible, to create at least a few pieces of high-quality equipment."
Muttering to himself, Caspian grabbed a remote control from the travel bag, opened the system interface, and selected [Disassemble].
In less than a second, this simple plastic remote control split into parts with a flash of red and blue neon sparks, disassembling into a pile of waste and also generating an item.
This was his greatest reliance—using the disassembly and creation functions of the system to create as many good things as possible.
So that the next time he encounters Hydra, or even S.H.I.E.L.D., it wouldn't be difficult for him to manage.
Chapter 3: I Don't Have Time to Explain. Get Off Now.
Idealism is full, but reality is often harsh.
This truth applies even to the Winter Soldier, who starts with certain advantages. He thought that once he unlocked his abilities, he would instantly become a force to be reckoned with, capable of taking down enemies with ease. But that kind of power comes with experience, which he hadn't yet gained.
Instead, all he had was a basic network access module, a rudimentary prosthetic eye, and not even a quick-crack plugin to enhance his abilities. To obtain the green-level quick-crack plugin, he needed purple-level epic components—an outrageous requirement that left Bucky muttering curses in the many languages he had mastered as the Winter Soldier.
So, for now, he had to put aside any thoughts of overpowering his enemies with a mere stare.
Even without the plugin, his network access module and prosthetic eye were still quite useful. While he couldn't yet perform the quick hacks that could simulate effects like electric shocks or paralysis, he could still highlight targets and remotely access electronic devices. For example, Bucky could simply glance at a phone to hack into it—though without a prosthetic ear, he couldn't eavesdrop. However, he could end calls remotely.
He could also control all electronic devices, such as lights, phones, and TVs. If a car had electronic ignition, he could turn it off as well. With cameras, he could not only disable them but also remotely access their feeds, converting the video into visual signals for his prosthetic eye, allowing him to see through them directly.
These functions were incredibly useful.
Suddenly, the lights on the ceiling flickered as if haunted, turning on and off without anyone touching the switches. This was Bucky getting familiar with the visual changes and functions of his prosthetic eye, while simultaneously connecting his metal left arm to the electrified wire.
System, convert my left arm into a prosthesis.
System Notice: An unknown model of the left arm prosthesis has been detected. It can be upgraded to a green advanced system prosthesis. This requires 15 common item components and 10 excellent item components. Conversion in progress...
The mind controller he had received earlier was likely part of the system's initial gift package, allowing Bucky to use it for free. But this time, he needed to pay for the conversion.
However, compared to crafting something from scratch, the conversion process offered a discount based on the quality of the original prosthesis. The steel arm of the Winter Soldier received a 50% discount, requiring only half the usual materials.
Although the steel arm was formidable, Bucky knew it was his body that had to bear the prosthesis, not just accept it. At the junction of his left chest, he felt a slight rejection.
And who knows if Hydra had added something special to it—like a GPS tracker or remote-control paralysis? The safest option was to transform it into a system-recognized prosthetic that his body could fully accept and control freely.
System Notice: Conversion complete. Prosthetic steel arm (gorilla arm) obtained.
Iron Arm: Increases power output, equivalent to 15 points of physical strength.
In other words, Bucky's physical strength attribute, previously at 7 points, was now more than doubled thanks to the system's transformation. Despite the appearance of his arm remaining unchanged, the internal structure was completely different. While Bucky wasn't a technical expert, he could feel the most significant change: the discomfort in his chest had completely vanished.
His left arm was no longer just controlled by nerve signals; it was connected directly by them. Bucky felt as if his left arm had "grown back." It no longer felt like a foreign object but an extension of his own body.
After the modification, his left arm also housed a data cable that connected directly to the network access module in his brain. This allowed Bucky to not only access devices remotely but also connect directly to interfaces.
Using the remaining components, Bucky upgraded his bulletproof combat uniform to improve its armor and created several [Fuerkang I] treatment syringes. Subconsciously, he still prioritized survival.
With all components used up, he was now fully equipped.
"This is the first real step I'm taking in this world," Bucky muttered. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety and agitation, and immersed himself in the Winter Soldier's memories, integrating into the role.
His eyes grew cold.
Putting on his mask and goggles, he slung the AK-74M assault rifle over his shoulder, grabbed the last two black travel bags, and turned off the lights. The room plunged into darkness.
The door opened.
The silent killer, the Winter Soldier of the night, was on the move.
…
The dim light from street lamps cast eerie shadows on the suburban road.
In the dead of winter, the howling wind, rustling needles, and creaking branches made the deserted road even more ominous.
At that moment, the sound of a car engine echoed in the distance. Soon, a light-colored Ford sedan appeared, its headlights piercing through the darkness.
Inside were two white people, a man and a woman. The man, who was driving, had white hair and a beard, and though his face showed signs of age, his eyes were sharp and full of life.
The woman, who looked much younger due to good care, appeared to be in her late forties, her beauty still evident. Both of them exuded an air of wealth and nobility, but their faces were heavy with worry.
"Howard, I can't shake this uneasy feeling," the woman said.
"Still worried about Tony? Our son may be a bit reckless, but he's not stupid. He won't be easily taken advantage of. Or maybe it's time he learned some hard lessons..." Howard replied.
"You're both so alike, stubborn and proud. But that's not what's bothering me. I just..." she trailed off.
"What are you worried about? Nothing's going to happen to us—" Howard began, but was interrupted by the sound of a roaring engine.
As a brilliant inventor and one of the world's top mechanical engineers, Howard had spent his life working with engines. He could tell, just by listening, that this was no ordinary engine. It was heavily modified for high performance. He could even guess the original model and the modifications made.
But as he analyzed the sound, a heavy motorcycle, carrying a figure with long hair flying in the wind, suddenly appeared beside his car.
Howard's aging body reacted too slowly to avoid what was coming. All he could do was watch as the figure pulled out a pistol from his thigh.
Boom!
Puff, puff!
---
Chapter 4: Old Friends
Of course, Howard Stark didn't stay confused for long.
Soon enough, the sound of a car engine came from the distance.
"Get in."
The black Ford Mustang pulled up, driven by Bucky Barnes, who had returned.
Howard took his wife and got into the car.
"You come and go."
But instead of driving, Bucky moved to the passenger seat, retrieved a metal suitcase from the trunk, and held it in his arms.
Howard circled around, sat in the driver's seat, and secretly heaved a sigh of relief. The man said he had no intention of coercion, and Howard understood he just wanted him, a local expert, to find a safe place.
"…"
When the car started, Bucky fell silent again, as if lost in thought. Howard, full of questions, couldn't help but ask directly:
"Were you acting for that camera just now? How did you…"
Howard had noticed a camera not far away later on, which made the situation even stranger. If Bucky was acting, then why did it seem like he was caught on film?
"I have my own ways."
From the beginning, Bucky had used his prosthetic eye in conjunction with a network access device to directly control the camera, manipulate its recording process, and modify the timestamps.
That camera only recorded Bucky showing up, disabling the tire, opening the car door, taking the case, burning the car, and walking away.
For this, Bucky used up his last two free attribute points, increasing his [Intelligence] attribute to 6.
This boost improved his network hacking ability, allowing him to invade and tamper with the video recording program, not just toggle switches and monitor.
But that's fine—Bucky had always intended to follow a path of hacking and engineering, primarily boosting [Intelligence] and [Technology].
And now,
[System Information: The series of missions "Betrayal," Mission 1 "Rescue" is completed. 500 experience points earned;
Character: James Buchanan Barnes;
Level 1
Experience;
Body 7 (Movement 7, Combat 7, Brawling 7);
Reflexes 7 (Pistol 7, Assault 7, Swordsmanship 7);
Technology 4 (Engineering 1, Crafting 2);
Intelligence 6 (Hacking 1, Quick Cracking 1);
Cool 11 (Stealth 7, Cold Blood 1).]
With Intelligence raised to 6, his technical expertise in crafting also leveled up to 2, due to previous dismantling and item production.
Taking over the camera remotely and tampering with the video increased his hacking experience, gaining 75 points in the process.
Additionally, after contacting Howard, the mission was officially triggered, and after saving him, Bucky completed it, earning 500 experience points.
That's exactly what Bucky was fixated on.
"However, even so, this only buys us some time. I'm the real problem. If I don't report back, they'll act immediately. So, time's tight—drive faster."
After checking his attribute panel, Bucky snapped back to reality and addressed Howard.
"Sergeant Barnes, who sent you?"
Although Howard was curious about what Bucky had been through, the most critical question was who was behind this incident.
"Sergeant Barnes… what a nostalgic title."
Bucky pretended to sigh, then said:
"Since you remember that old title, surely you remember our old 'friends'?"
"…Hiss! You mean Hydra? How is that possible? Hydra was destroyed with the Red Skull by Captain America and the Allied Forces."
"Focus on driving."
It's not that Howard hadn't vaguely suspected this possibility, but when Bucky confirmed it, he was even more shocked. His hands shook on the steering wheel.
This represented the worst possible scenario!
"Don't forget, cut off one head and two grow in its place. Hydra's scum are like cockroaches and rats in the sewer. Who knows how many there are?"
Bucky didn't mention the biggest failure of the Allied Forces after World War II—the "Paperclip Project" that absorbed scientists and technicians from the Third Reich.
But Howard didn't need convincing. Bucky's appearance, the leak of his whereabouts, and the night's events made him believe it. He just hadn't recovered from the shock.
"And you, Sergeant Barnes, what have you been through?"
"That's a long story, but I've got time now to explain…"
Bucky recounted his experiences. From World War II, the accident on the train, falling into an icy canyon, surviving the catastrophe but losing his left arm, to being captured by Hydra forces and taken to Russia for all sorts of inhumane experiments.
He was turned into a top-secret weapon and subjected to Hydra's freezing and electric shock tortures repeatedly, becoming a mindless assassin.
However, during a recent brainwashing session, something went wrong.
Of course, Bucky couldn't say that someone had time-traveled, so he claimed that he didn't know what happened, but he woke up with some limited memories and resolutely turned against them, switching from killing to saving people.
"I found out the mission target was you, so instead of defecting immediately, I staged my own act. I figured you should know this, and that we have common enemies, so we can help each other."
"Yes, I do need this information. It's too important. Though I've always had a vague sense something was wrong, I couldn't find any clues and gradually ignored it. Hydra is hiding too well."
Howard admitted he didn't know Hydra still existed and had grown stronger, to the point where they could track him down. It was terrifying.
And as for Bucky saving his life, Howard acknowledged it. But when it came to helping each other and mutual benefit…
Howard looked at Bucky, then at the metal box in his arms.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Bucky… well, actually, he didn't. After all, Bucky caused such a mess at the outset, and they hadn't seen each other in decades. If Bucky claimed he was "awake," who could verify it?
And the contents of the box, the super soldier serum, were too important. Bucky seemed to value it highly, so Howard couldn't help but be cautious.
And Bucky?
----------------
Chapter 5: Are You Ready to Get Blood on Your Hands?
"Where's the armory? Where is it?"
Howard Stark didn't take Bucky to some underground secret base immediately. Instead, he made a phone call first, and after a while, a helicopter was called in. Then, a distinguished older gentleman who resembled a British housekeeper was sent to pick up his wife, Maria.
Bucky was feeling a bit impatient.
"Follow me."
He followed Howard to the basement of the villa.
"Look, how is it?"
"...How about it? Where's the secret door mechanism?"
Bucky looked around.
This was a room resembling a collection room, displaying calligraphy and paintings, bottles, jars, and various other collectibles. Of course, there was a display cabinet on one wall showcasing shotguns.
But this shouldn't be a camouflage or anything; surely Howard would go to the bookcase, pull out a book, or press a button under the desk to reveal a secret door leading to a high-tech secret room filled with advanced gadgets.
"Secret door mechanism? No, there are shotguns here, but they are all meticulously maintained and definitely functional."
Bucky looked at Howard in disbelief. Old Stark, you're not following the script.
The old man smiled wryly, probably wearing an expression like, "Little boy, you've fooled me so many times, almost broke my old back, so of course I'll find a chance to get revenge."
"I do have a basement here, and it contains top-secret items that I have sealed up, but there's nothing you can use. I was planning to seal the serum here, but it's no longer needed.
As for weapons, these are indeed all that I have. The Stark Group manufactures firearms, but I wouldn't store all of my products in my own home, would I? We have a facility called a warehouse."
"Ha ha."
Facing Howard, who probably held back his laughter the whole time, Bucky turned around and left.
He knew that compared to his future nephew Tony, Howard was more inclined towards weapon research and development. He had designed many lethal weapons, some of which were merely ideas that even he found frightening. To prevent anyone from using them, he always sealed away these dangerous items.
Previously, Howard might have thought the situation was critical and taken out some emergency supplies, but he didn't, and Bucky didn't press the issue.
"Don't you want to look at it anymore? This gun is a collectible."
Still chasing after him, right? Bucky rolled his eyes, turned around, and broke the lock on the display cabinet, stealing all five shotguns inside and leaving with them tucked under his arm.
"...Hey, you don't want those, do you? That gun is extremely valuable, a Remington 1882 Royal Custom Edition..."
Indeed, these five shotguns were incredibly valuable as collectibles. If they were replaced by Kalashnikovs, they could fill up the space in the villa, but Howard anticipated what Bucky would do, so he didn't pursue him.
"What a remarkable ability! What's the principle behind it?"
As Bucky touched the wire with one hand while dismantling his precious shotgun with the other, Howard felt no distress but instead continued to annotate Bucky's dismantling process in amazement.
"God knows."
"When the storm passes, you must let me examine it."
"Looking at your eyes, I think what you really want to discuss is not an inspection but an autopsy."
"How could I possibly want to rush you off so soon... Cough, I mean, how could I entertain such an idea? You're overthinking it."
"Let's get down to business. You're a genius; do you have any ideas?"
Bucky shifted the subject and regarded Howard seriously.
"Um..."
Howard also grew serious but shook his head, replying in a deep voice:
"The information I have is still too limited."
"There's only so much I can tell you." Bucky raised his hand, shrugging helplessly.
"...In that case, it's better to know nothing."
...Doesn't seem ironic? Bucky rolled his eyes, and a thought flashed through:
"You mean I've simply lost my memory?"
"Exactly! You just don't remember anything, so you didn't intend to kill me, and I managed to escape."
It's not that he was making excuses for his amnesia, but a local person had initiated this memory loss after his transmigration... Bucky found the whole situation a bit strange.
"The current situation is even more serious than we realized. Hydra is our enemy! We can't act rashly; it would only make things spiral out of control. Why not continue what you've been doing and do it even better?"
"Can you conceal it?"
"As you said, it's only a matter of time before it's uncovered. What we need most right now is time. With a little buffer, we can take the initiative, and then..."
As Howard spoke, he seemed to gradually clear his mind.
But at that moment, Bucky quietly stood up. Howard felt as though his vision had blurred, and suddenly Bucky was by the window, gazing into the darkness outside.
"Anything?"
Howard didn't understand why.
"Well, you have a new guest. Don't you have a secret room? Can you hide people? If not, find a room, lock the door, and oh, make sure to flip the switch while you're at it."
"Okay, be careful yourself."
Howard didn't hold back. Though he dared to take risks and flew planes through enemy air defenses when he was young, he understood that he wasn't a soldier. Since there were enemies, he should leave it to a professional like Sergeant Barnes.
Oh, by the way, he now had a nickname: the Winter Soldier.
Howard didn't hesitate. He turned around and left. After a moment, he returned to the collection room.
Bucky's guess had been correct. Howard pulled a book from the bookcase, pressed a button on the back, and the bookcase opened like a door.
Inside was indeed a tech room, bright with lights, computer clusters, several CRT monitors, and an unfinished instrument on a workbench.
Howard approached the computer, fiddled with it for a while, and then the lights in the villa went out. The monitoring screen, composed of several monitors next to it, displayed images captured by infrared cameras—inside the villa, outside the villa, and along the road leading to the manor.
Sure enough, three black SUVs had already driven into the range of the manor.
But how did Bucky know?
Of course, when Bucky first arrived, he had scanned the area with his prosthetic eye and found the cameras. The prosthetic eye was continuously connected to one of them, using its field of view to switch between cameras and monitor the surroundings at all times.
Bucky was not surprised that Hydra found this place so quickly. Not to mention the failure of the assassination attempt on Howard Stark—such a significant event would cause a stir. The sudden loss of contact with their secret weapon, the Winter Soldier, was enough to make Hydra panic.
Speaking of which, this was entirely Hydra's oversight.
The emotional killing machine had executed countless tasks flawlessly, without a single deviation or accident.
No matter how careful they were, they eventually grew complacent, adopting the attitude of "Leave it to the Winter Soldier; just wait for him to complete the mission" as a routine.
Until something genuinely went awry.
That is, the GPS tracking system in Bucky's prosthetic arm suddenly went offline, and Hydra lost Bucky's location.
Only then did they quickly send personnel to investigate.
But it was far too late; they only found the charred car and the body of a similar model inside.
After reviewing the surveillance footage near the car, they saw that the Winter Soldier had completed his mission.
Some even felt a flicker of hope because of this.
But no matter how long they waited, they couldn't expect any communication from Bucky.
Only then did they realize the severity of the situation, mobilizing urgently and deploying all available forces to finally uncover a clue.
Their Winter Soldier was fine.
Howard Stark, their target, was unharmed.
And Hydra was in chaos!
Chapter 6: Confrontation, Annihilation
Through the holographic scope of the Techtronika SPT32 Grad sniper rifle, Bucky could clearly see that the prostrate target, with its head encased in a metal helmet, exploded like a watermelon struck with force.
Its entire body was pierced from head to toe, and when the body bulged, a large pile of inexplicable matter sprayed out from the lower part of its body...
So he vomited without hesitation.
Fortunately, he hadn't eaten for nearly twelve hours and had only consumed a few energy bars before, so he had nothing to expel, resulting in a fit of retching.
He guessed the outcome, but not the effect.
Not only him, but Howard, who witnessed all this through the surveillance camera, also felt nauseated and even betrayed—
You agreed to create only a remote control, but you turned around and made a remote control capable of summoning JOJO's boss? Explain?
Well, it wasn't that exaggerated, but in contrast, he couldn't shake the suspicion that Bucky was playing him.
Boom!
Spitting aside, immersed in the role of the Winter Soldier, Bucky—imbued with a strong sense of calm—did not cease his movements; he spat and shot simultaneously!
The enemy had already reacted when the first shot was fired, prompting the commander to order his men to charge forward without hesitation!
The enemy was clear, while they were in the dark, leaving no room for avoidance. At this moment, instead of retreating and leaving behind the fierce beast in the shadows, it was better to charge ahead and fight!
Bucky's sharp reaction, intense focus, and the positioning of his optical prosthetic eye enabled him to track the swift movements of his enemies, even as bullets whizzed around him!
The second shot was still precise, this time hitting the left chest of another soldier!
The previous 5.56mm body armor, which could not effectively damage those wearing it, was easily breached by the tungsten core bullet from the SPT32!
A blood hole the size of a cup appeared in the warrior's chest. After penetrating, it erupted from his back like a firework, spewing forth pieces of blood and flesh!
This gruesome display did not deter the enemy; they continued their reckless charge!
Bucky had no time to retch again; the enemy's frenzy left him no such luxury!
Boom! Boom!
Another two shots fired, claiming two more enemies in a horrifying manner!
This chilling scene made the commander holding the formation feel a creeping dread; he seemed to foresee that he would be the last to fall on this brutal charge!
However, the roar of the God of Death came to an abrupt halt.
"The power is impressive, but the magazine capacity is far too small."
Not only had the roar of the God of Death ceased, but the God of Death himself had slipped away.
Future Technology's anti-material rifle was undeniably powerful, yet with only four rounds of ammunition, it lacked sustained firepower when facing a large number of targets.
Bucky had only these four bullets, and he only had time to make the gun, but not a single bullet more.
Four shots fired, and the enemy had already locked onto Bucky's position. The nearest adversary was now only about twenty meters away!
Yet, in just one breath, this distance had expanded back to fifty meters.
Let's not forget, Bucky's physical abilities had surpassed the limits of human potential. He could turn around and mock Bolt in a hundred-meter race!
His explosive strength allowed Bucky to increase the distance from the enemy in an instant!
As long as Bucky chose to run, even if he was dodging erratically to avoid enemy fire while they pursued and attacked him fiercely, the gap between them would only continue to grow!
As Bucky ran, the red and blue neon color blocks on his hand flickered. A new magazine was produced, and he adjusted the bomb, increasing the distance between the two sides by another eighty meters.
Then, Bucky's powerful physique allowed him to leap from his running stance, halt, turn around, kneel on one knee, raise his gun, and aim—smooth as silk, flowing like clouds and water, all in one seamless motion!
Even the enemy could sense the beauty of Bucky's movements in an instant!
The next moment, however—
Boom!
Another enemy fell!
All at once, those who had hoped Bucky was merely lucky because he had run out of ammunition felt a cold wave wash over them!
Pulling the bolt back, he shot again.
Boom!
Yet, this time, the enemy who fell managed to throw the shock bomb he was holding before succumbing to death!
Bang!
Bucky's keen reflexes and the combat instinct he gradually rediscovered within the Winter Soldier's body enabled him to capture every detail on the battlefield, allowing him to evade!
Although he avoided the blinding light of the shock bomb, he was still stunned by the deafening blast from a short distance away.
"Dammit, I should have put on a prosthetic ear!"
Fortunately, the sound of his own lethal weapon, the anti-material sniper rifle, was quite loud. Despite the ringing in his ears, it didn't impede his actions.
Boom!
The nearest enemy rushed to within twenty meters of Bucky, only to be shot in the lower abdomen, causing his entire stomach to explode!
"F*ck!!!"
However, this enemy, in the final moments of his life, did not howl in anger or despair; instead, he shouted a Russian word with all his strength!
Bucky was momentarily taken aback, his body tensing instinctively, caught in a brief stupor!
In that moment of hesitation, the next enemy, seeing Bucky's reaction, charged forward, shouting hoarsely:
"Rust!!!"
After this loud roar, he had initially intended to close his eyes and await death, but he gritted his teeth and kept his eyes open, expecting silence!
He and his teammates witnessed that formidable warrior, that relentless killing machine, stop and remain motionless!
In an instant, they all felt themselves teetering on the edge of the abyss, leaning forward as if falling, but a hand yanked them back!
Narrow escape!
The thrill of slipping from the grasp of death was indescribable!
"Seventeen! Dawn! Stove! . . ."
However, this was not the end. The commander remained the most composed, observing that except for the one who had sustained a neck injury and was still lying on the ground, his remaining three team members were dazed alongside the Winter Soldier, forgetting to call out the command. He quickly shouted and ran over.
"Go home! One! Wagon!"
The commander and three team members approached Bucky, who had lowered his weapons and stood up defenseless. They all aimed their guns at him, wary of any sudden movements.
"Soldier?"
The commander scrutinized Bucky's blank eyes, asking cautiously.
"Sir, you made a mistake."
But he saw Bucky's eyes light up instantly, his mouth twisting in a grin!
However, there was no time to react. He saw a metallic fist, which grew larger in his field of vision.
Bang!
The commander instantly felt a severe pain shoot through his face, followed by a sharp pain in his neck. But only for this moment, the next instant, he fell directly into darkness.
Yet he didn't collapse. Instead, his head was twisted 180° by the swift and forceful impact, causing his head to hang limply!
Bucky suddenly unleashed a violent attack, and with a flick of his steel arm, he decapitated one soldier!
Without pausing, he drew the field knife at his waist with his right hand and threw it; a black flash zipped through the air, striking an enemy's throat until it embedded to the hilt!
"Damn it!!!"
"F*ck!!!"
The other two soldiers roared angrily, pulling the trigger ferociously!
Puff! Puff!
However, the bullets fired by the two struck the body of the commander, which Bucky effortlessly shielded with his steel arm.
Whoosh!
Bucky simply pushed the commander's body aside, but due to the immense strength of the steel arm, the commander's body flew away like a cannonball!
One soldier was knocked back instantly!
The last soldier was lost from view, but Bucky was already behind him, blowing lightly in his ear.
Then, without waiting for the other to turn around, he twisted the soldier's neck 180°, forcing him to face himself.
"Helping you add, long live Hydra."
After Bucky finished speaking, he dropped the body, drew out the silencer pistol from his lap, and shot the head of the fallen soldier with two precise bangs. Then he lay back down, finishing off the last two survivors with two more shots.
At last, all twelve fighters had been wiped out.
------------
Chapter 7: Nick Fury
"Then we can only look at the corpses outside to see if we can find any clues."
Nick Fury scratched his head a bit. He said this, but deep down, he didn't believe that the mysterious organization daring to operate on U.S. soil would leave any useful information behind.
"Although I have some guesses, such as the Leviathan on the opposite side... But there is no evidence, and that's all for now."
"Mr. Stark, shall I escort the two of you back to the New York branch first?"
Nick Fury suggested protecting the two key figures, Howard and Bucky.
"Not for now. Bucky and I will continue with my previous actions."
"This..."
Seeing Howard's resolute and fearless expression, Nick Fury thought to himself that he was worthy of being the founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. Even as a multi-billionaire, he remained so brave for his career.
"Is it too dangerous?"
"It's about danger. I just want to tell those rats lurking in the dark that I'm fine, I have the means—let them come... Besides, isn't Bucky protecting me?"
Well, it turns out he has someone to rely on, so he's so bold.
Only then did Nick Fury realize that Howard might need protection, but Bucky had single-handedly taken down twelve fully armed elite fighters. With his ferocious fighting power, coupled with Howard's genius mind and hands-on ability, the two of them were like an enhanced version of Howling commandos.
Moreover, Howard's title and rank were higher than Nick Fury's. He was still on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. If he wanted to continue, Nick Fury had no right to object.
"Can you let me take the agents and act with you? It would provide some support."
"Yes, but not too many people—nothing too conspicuous."
Howard had precisely this intention; making such an extra detour was just to show others.
Otherwise, without the super soldier serum, he would be escorting himself alone.
"Yes, sir, you are ready to go at any time."
"It's best to prepare weapons. I need an assault rifle with steel core bullets and a shotgun with slug rounds. Of course, a 40mm grenade launcher would be ideal. It will be tough to deal with enemies without that kind of equipment."
"Certainly."
"That invention of mine is running low."
Seeing Nick Fury looking slightly puzzled by Bucky's request, Howard added more context.
These were all details. After a few words, Bucky carried the metal box that originally contained the serum and left the villa with the two of them.
The agents outside had already cleaned up the scene. They were not CSI and didn't need to collect evidence since the murderer was on their side.
"Agent Coulson, Agent May, Agent Neil, and Agent Fenton, follow me."
Nick Fury called out the agents and said to Bucky secretly, "It really is her," referring to the indifferent woman with two other well-known agents.
The four got into an SUV, while Nick Fury got into another vehicle with Howard and Bucky.
This thwarted Bucky's plan to get acquainted with those two.
But along the way, it was anything but lonely.
"How much do you remember about World War II? My father doesn't tell me much about that time; I'm very interested in it, and Captain America..."
Fury used his talents to their full extent, keeping Bucky engaged with questions.
Though regarding this mission, where they were going, and what he was escorting, he said nothing. His management style was separate and confidential, not his original method.
But how could Bucky not understand? The Black baldie pirate —oh, now it is a future Black baldie pirate —kept testing him.
And Bucky regarded this as the professional habit of the future king of secret agents.
Now Bucky had high intelligence, composure, quick response, strong analytical ability, and extraordinary calmness. He constantly analyzed Nick Fury's words and found the various subtle traps and serial routines in the questions very interesting.
Howard, sitting next to Bucky, occasionally glanced at Nick Fury, who was driving, his eyes flickering.
In his mind, Nick Fury was the younger man (compared to his age) favored by the current director, Alexander Pierce, and was a direct descendant of Pierce.
Pierce was one of Howard's most suspicious individuals.
Though Pierce didn't appear in person, Nick Fury did.
How did Nick Fury's habits become so natural? This made Howard suspicious of him.
...
"Director Pierce? Well, I'm fine, but something is wrong..."
Fortunately, Nick Fury didn't keep Howard in doubt for too long.
Howard's Motorola MicroTAC, the smaller brick phone, rang, and it was Pierce calling.
This was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Although Howard, a senior executive, had complete autonomy, the Director could obtain information from any agent, so why not ask about it?
So Nick Fury quieted down and listened to their conversation with Bucky.
I wonder if Pierce will breathe a sigh of relief or become more nervous?
Listening to Howard's evasive responses, Bucky couldn't help but ponder.
Not long after, the call ended, and the car fell silent for a moment.
This trip was just a show. They went to the end, even taking a detour to a S.H.I.E.L.D. safe house to gather equipment, then headed to the location designated by Howard, arriving at their destination very quickly.
Howard went to his secret stronghold alone, maintaining the act.
Bucky also remained vigilant.
But the expected attack never came.
"Mr. Stark, shall we go back to the New York headquarters?"
"No, Bucky and I will go to my company's laboratory; the equipment there is more complete. Well, you can follow along. This isn't just my business—the bureau also needs to be aware of Bucky's situation."
Howard's response to Nick Fury indicated that Bucky was still under his command.
"Okay."
Nick Fury naturally had no problem with this; he was the least resistant to secrets.
...
"New York, I really miss it. Howard, can I have a cheeseburger first?"
Back in New Jersey, crossing the George Washington Bridge brought them to Manhattan Island, New York—the brightest part of the beautiful country's pearl.
"You and that kid in my family have the same taste."
Seeing Bucky's curiosity mixed with bewilderment and a trace of nostalgia, Howard thought to himself that this guy's acting skills were quite impressive. But he didn't realize Bucky was simply being genuine.
Tonight's thrilling experience was temporarily over, and Howard felt a bit relaxed. Hearing Bucky's words reminded him of the brat in his family who brought him both joy and headaches. He really took Bucky with him to a burger joint.
So the three in the car each enjoyed a cheeseburger and a milkshake.
"It tastes really good, but it doesn't seem to be the one I remember."
"...Then how about here?"
Howard pointed out the car, but he found himself back on the bridge again—the Brooklyn Bridge.
The road to Bucky's hometown.
Bucky didn't expect that this time, the response from his body was stronger than Hydra's chanting a mantra. For a while, countless long-term memories flooded into his heart.
"Brooklyn, Steve, home..."
Chapter 8: I Really Lost My Memory
"Hmph~."
"Mr. Stark, is there a problem?"
In one of Howard Stark's private laboratories in Brooklyn, this great inventor with a genius mind, while primarily focused on machinery—especially military technology—has countless brilliant ideas and inventions.
Just like his nephew, Tony, who inherited his genius and wisdom, the future Iron Man could master thermonuclear physics and astronomy overnight.
Howard also dabbles in a wide range of other projects from time to time, with genius ideas spanning various branches of science.
As a top-tier inventor, he naturally has a private laboratory for each scientific discipline and can build one whenever inspiration strikes.
In Brooklyn, he has a biotechnology lab, which also houses a CT machine. Although there is an MRI machine here—a better choice—Bucky definitely can't use it. Asking Bucky to go to Magneto would be equivalent to a nightmare, considering the metal arm and the mind controller in his brain that would have to be extracted through sheer force.
So Bucky lay on the CT machine while Howard and Nick Fury observed the head imaging in the control room.
"Look here. This is the hippocampus in the temporal lobe of the brain that I mentioned earlier. My guess was indeed correct; his hippocampus has been previously traumatized, which affects his memory. There's also a special miniature brain device in this area," Howard explained to Nick Fury, his voice firm, though the previous "hum~" revealed some skepticism.
After all, Bucky's condition seemed too bizarre. Deep down, Howard had his suspicions that Bucky had not truly lost his memory.
Yet Bucky's behavior—saving him and his wife, revealing Hydra's secrets, and cooperating fully—suggested that he was genuinely trying to help.
Despite the many puzzles, questions, and hypotheses swirling in his mind, Howard was prepared to go to great lengths to convince Nick Fury that Bucky's brain was indeed compromised and that he had tampered with the inspection data.
However, he did not expect that, after all that contemplation, they would indeed find something wrong with Bucky's mind.
Bucky's hippocampus was damaged but recovering, albeit with lingering traces. It made sense that he had received enhancements from the super soldier serum.
Moreover, there was a strange device in Bucky's mind that seemed designed for electric shock, memory erasure, and hypnosis. This device was indeed malfunctioning, potentially explaining the damage to Bucky's hippocampus.
Only he and his wife emerged unscathed.
So what Bucky claimed might be true?
Reaching that conclusion, Howard felt no guilt about misjudging Bucky's character; rather, he found himself trusting him more.
It would indeed spare him from having to deceive Nick Fury, let alone Alexander Pierce. He could simply present the test results and perhaps even provide Bucky with a chance for a new beginning... Oh, if that fails, he might end up feeling like a meat bun.
In short, Bucky's condition fit the narrative of amnesia they had discussed, saving Howard a great deal of effort.
As for Nick Fury, although he still struggled to grasp many of the medical terms Howard had mentioned, he understood the implication: "Bucky has completely lost his memory."
"So, is there any chance for his memory to recover?" Nick Fury asked, skipping over the medical jargon to get to his most pressing concern.
Howard shook his head and sighed. "Under normal circumstances, a doctor would tell patients there's a chance, but it's not easy to say—could be a day, could be ten years.
Bucky's condition is more severe than typical hippocampal damage caused by external shocks. He sustained internal injuries, so I doubt he'll regain his memory even after ten years."
"Is there any method you can think of, like medication or psychological guidance? I mean, for treatment purposes, to help him recover his memory?" Nick Fury asked, always concerned about secrets and potential strategies.
"How do you think Bucky was brainwashed?" Howard replied, a slight frown appearing momentarily before he resumed his calm demeanor.
"Bucky's brain can't handle any external force. To be frank, he just lost his memory; he isn't stupid or insane. It's a small mercy."
"Sorry, I just wanted to help," Nick Fury quickly apologized.
"Actually, this might not be a bad thing for him," Howard continued nonchalantly. "He was controlled and brainwashed by a shadowy organization, acting without self-awareness. Now, he can forget everything and form a new consciousness and personality, which will appear normal and orderly—a not-so-bad outcome for us."
"What's not a bad thing?" Bucky interjected as he returned from the examination.
Howard smoothly changed the subject: "The condition of your brain doesn't seem to pose any issues and will likely not affect your future behavior, though further inspections are still necessary."
"Oh? Tell me." Bucky was aware nothing was wrong, yet he wanted to know how he appeared to others.
As he looked at his own CT scan while listening to Howard's explanations, he felt a strange sensation.
The cyberpunk system really was something. On his own panel, the spirit controller showed an intact [network access warehouse].
Yet in the eyes of others, what was observed remained the original broken entity.
He pondered about the technological advancements he had created, like the [SPT32] ice storm sniper rifle, and how it might appear to Howard.
What if he created a weapon that fired bullets tracking their targets automatically or a gun that launched electromagnetically accelerated projectiles?
Bucky speculated that they might seem invisible to Howard.
The unique features of weapons and prosthetic limbs stemmed from the system's capabilities, existing in a reality that ordinary means couldn't perceive.
So, could what he creates be used by others?
Bucky planned to find an opportunity to test this.
Just not now.
With Nick Fury having seen enough, it was time to see off their guest.
But there was still one more thing.
--------------
Here's a revised version of your chapter, maintaining the original essence, length, and word count while implementing the necessary changes:
Chapter 9: Pierce; Carter
Washington D.C.
S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Tri-Wing Building.
Office of the Chief Executive.
Alexander Pierce, Howard Stark, and other founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited the first batch of S.H.I.E.L.D. students—not the agents absorbed from various departments at that time, but young students trained by S.H.I.E.L.D. itself.
In the eyes of others, he is a well-established S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with strong professional and organizational skills, who eventually became Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
He is one of the most classic inspirational models.
Others don't know that before he entered the academy, he was recruited by Hydra. His business ability, leadership, and achievements are all silently supported by Hydra.
He is the biggest beneficiary of the paperclip project, bar none.
Because the Hydra recruited by the paperclip project, due to its own historical reasons, could not become a high-level executive, but they secretly supported S.H.I.E.L.D.
Pierce sits in the director's chair, secretly dirty and corrupt, while appearing smooth on the surface. His growth history is the process of Hydra parasitizing S.H.I.E.L.D., and his status within Hydra also keeps rising.
As one of the leaders of Hydra, Pierce is certainly not satisfied with the status quo. This kind of symbiotic relationship between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra has "me in you and you in me."
On behalf of Hydra, he will completely devour S.H.I.E.L.D. and let the glory of Hydra shine in every corner of the world!
And more than ten years ago, by chance, he used Hydra's resources to get a piece of news.
The number one assistant of the Red Skull back then, the super genius Dr. Zola, actually did not die. Instead, he digitized his own mind and stored it in a supercomputer.
Pierce didn't quite understand these things, but he knew that this must be a genius invention of Dr. Zola's, which had a great attraction for him.
After that, he spent a lot of energy and resources, and finally got Dr. Zola.
In a secret Siberian stronghold, in a room full of computers with tape storage devices that Pierce thought looked outdated, a pixelated face of Dr. Zola was displayed on a small monitor.
But he was not in control, because Dr. Zola had become an electronic consciousness and truly had a personality. He thought he was second only to the Red Skull.
Dr. Zola was willing to assist Pierce, but not wholeheartedly; he seemed to have his own plan.
And he didn't seem to be that powerful; he seemed to be confined in those old computers and could not be transferred, which made him still a super genius, but he couldn't use more powerful computers to do more things.
Still, he provided Pierce with a lot of useful information.
For example, during World War II, when Captain America was born, and Hydra failed to capture the super soldier serum, he also tried to restore the formula of the serum. Although he was unsuccessful, he developed a side effect based on the blood provided by the Red Skull: a degraded version of the serum that was larger but less effective.
But it was just an accidental experiment, a product that could not be reproduced.
It was after that that Dr. Zola planned to ambush Captain America and the Howling Commandos on a train, causing Sergeant Bucky Barnes to fall into the abyss.
He himself was arrested and later abandoned by the remnants of Hydra, but he managed to acquire Bucky, who was transformed into the first Winter Soldier using that serum.
As a result, Pierce started with the Winter Soldier, and Hydra, which had been in control of the Winter Soldier, continued to represent Hydra in its vain endeavors.
There was also a time when he learned that Howard was going to bring a batch of blood he had left behind with Captain America, and the serum he had researched seemed to be the reason for the serious side effects. He didn't want to continue the experiment but had to seal it up.
Pierce was moved.
It didn't matter if the side effects were significant; he could brainwash and cleanse.
So he decisively ordered the Winter Soldier to attack.
However, Pierce, who was waiting for the result and hoping for a successful outcome, did not expect that the news he received was that the Winter Soldier had lost control. Instead of killing Howard, he forged evidence, delayed time, and saved Howard.
Pierce was furious!
He couldn't understand at all how something could go wrong with a tool he had been using for over ten years!
But that was the situation; the Winter Soldier had turned against him, and he was about to be exposed!
Pierce could hardly wait to unleash all his power directly and strangle the Winter Soldier and Howard together in the cradle!
But he couldn't.
Because the opponent was Howard Stark, who was vigilant.
Although Pierce was the director, the other party was also a senior executive, super-rich, and super-talented, and he had prepared earlier than him to start a full-scale war. He felt uncertain of winning!
And even if he wanted to start a full-scale war, he couldn't mobilize most of the troops for a while. After all, he was the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and his subordinates were all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and they all had to perform tasks.
Pierce, who had gone smoothly all his life, did not have the courage to risk everything.
Instead, he had the urge to drop everything and run away.
But he was reluctant to give up everything he had.
At this time, he hesitated for a while but urgently dispatched the most elite Hydra fighters in his hands to try to capture the Winter Soldier and continued to gather troops.
Sure enough, it failed.
However, when Pierce was frightened and a little ruthless, he kept wavering between the two options of "run away" and "just fight."
He received a call from Howard.
Then he heard Howard tell him that it was suspected that some mysterious organization had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.
Not only did he not mention the word Hydra at all, he didn't even suspect him.
After all, he was an old secret agent for a lifetime, and Pierce immediately responded calmly.
Then what made him a little dumbfounded was that Howard actually told him that Bucky Barnes had completely lost his memory and couldn't remember anything, so he didn't kill him.
Is it possible? Who does he think he is fooling? A three-year-old or the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
However, what made Pierce feel unbelievable was that not only Howard but also Nick Fury, whom he had single-handedly promoted and trusted, and a few of his real subordinates who accompanied him, all told him that Bucky Barnes at least appeared to have lost his memory.
People are always willing to lean toward the true thoughts in their subconscious, and when others' words are biased toward this idea, people are always more willing to believe.
Pierce was more willing to believe that what they said was true.
And when Nick Fury reported to him and faxed him a CT scan of Bucky Barnes' head, he consulted a professional.
He felt there could only be two situations: Howard and Bucky had fooled Nick Fury, or Nick Fury and the two partnered to deceive him.
The balance in Pierce's heart became more and more inclined. Bucky's amnesia was real, and he truly couldn't remember anything related to Hydra.
But they couldn't just draw conclusions like that.
However, all of this was enough to make Pierce, who couldn't bear to be cruel and turn his face directly, completely give up the idea of directly flipping the table.
Of course, this was also temporary.
Having had dual identities for too long, the last thing Pierce needed was patience and caution.
He would continue to gather his forces, try to guard against Howard's possible actions at any time, and continue to test Bucky Barnes to ensure he truly lost his memory.
And when he was sure... Howard could keep him, but Bucky!
Pierce subconsciously hated Bucky, who had brought him all these troubles, more than he hated the more powerful Howard.
No matter what, he had spent more than ten years in vain, so he must have some feelings; suddenly betraying him! If you say turn your face, turn your face! Simply callous and unreasonable! There is no law! —Well, this is not Pierce's real mood, but it is roughly similar to this, a very wronged feeling.
For Pierce, it was a sleepless night, and he was still struggling. He couldn't make up his mind for a while about how to deal with Howard and Bucky.
Fortunately, Bucky and Howard were not going to confront him right away; he still had time to continue hesitating.
Everyone has plenty of time to play slowly.
...
Manhattan, New York.
Cedars-Senna Medical Center.
An exclusive research area that is not open to the public.
In the corridor, a young and beautiful blonde girl stood imposingly in front of the snack vending machine, her slender palm kept pressing the buttons of the vending machine, her beautiful little round face was bulging with anger.
The angry girl didn't notice a tall figure walking by her side, who asked her in a very magnetic voice, a little amusing:
"Stuck on snacks?"
"Yeah, this broken machine... Ah, it's you!"
The blonde girl spoke American English with a somewhat London accent, but it was barely noticeable.
And it was only then that she realized she was startled like a deer, and when she looked at the shoulder-length bearded handsome man beside her, she blushed slightly.
"It just so happens that I want to eat this too; you can just pay me back later."
The tall figure said casually, throwing a coin into the machine.
The girl felt a little relieved. She quickly smiled sweetly, "Thank you! You can buy me another one later."
"Oh? Really? You want me to buy you dinner?"
"That's not dinner! This is just a snack!" The blonde girl laughed.
The man with a smile raised his eyebrows slightly, his casual expression was even more handsome, and the girl felt that she could not help but stare at him.
This is a medical area; naturally, she can't be allowed to stay here for too long.
She should go back to her post.
However, the girl couldn't help but smile a little shyly and glanced at him.
"So, what are you doing here? You look like a doctor."
The man smiled and said lightly, "Just checking on someone."
"I should be working too." The blonde girl pursed her lips, looked at him, and suddenly asked, "What's your name? You seem a bit familiar."
"Stefan. You?"
"Peggy Carter," she replied, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You're not just here to check on someone, are you? Or is it just to see me?"
The man laughed lightly, "If I say it is to see you, will you believe it?"
Peggy smiled, feeling that the man was funny. She replied, "Perhaps."
The man waved his hand, seeming uninterested, and started walking.
"Okay, then see you later."
He turned around and said casually, "But remember, this is just a snack."
Peggy couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, I see. You haven't eaten."
She couldn't help but catch up and kept chatting with him.
--------------
Chapter 10—Carter; Streets of New York
Peggy Carter, a generation's heroine.
Even though this kind of thing happened in her later years, she did not panic but quickly accepted the reality.
She immediately put down her S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs in London and came to the USA to visit the hospital here for a review. After that, she would resign from S.H.I.E.L.D.
In her case, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. could find the world's top experts in this area, this was a medical problem that Bucky had not been able to solve in the 20s before his transmigration.
Unless it involved superpowers, advanced technology, or alien technology.
Bucky knew that one of Marvel's three major alien races, the Kree Empire, had come to Earth long ago, experimenting with Kree genes and human genes to create super soldiers.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had a Kree corpse and was using it to research cures that was found by hydra with Inhuman Diviner.
Bucky couldn't believe it. S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't have a similar project.
After all, Hydra did not separate science with myth. Hydra was originally engaged in looking for supernatural and surreal existences, trying to break through the limits of human capabilities and elevate humans into more advanced beings. S.H.I.E.L.D. had also been doing this.
But Peggy Carter, like Howard Stark, was open-minded.
Her life had been wonderful enough. She had experienced unforgettable love, a normal life, and a complete and happy family.
She didn't need any superpowers or transformations to change her life experience or tarnish those precious memories.
Bucky admired this from the bottom of his heart, but he was not envious.
He didn't feel qualified to be envious, let alone want to be.
Understanding the trends of the world, he would not follow the crowd and muddle along.
He wouldn't simply enjoy 30 years of peace because Thanos would arrive 30 years later, blindly calculating his fate with his eyes closed.
He wanted to hold his destiny tightly in his hands.
He was also unwilling to be ordinary. For him, being ordinary was not something Peggy desired but something that had accompanied her for over 20 years, year after year, day after day.
He just wanted to be great.
As Sharon Carter said, he was going to be a real living legend.
However, Peggy's situation still made Bucky feel a bit uncomfortable.
Bucky's own examination was just a formality and a show.
Afterward, Howard went to perform an MRI for Peggy to study her condition.
With Howard's assistance, a super genius, Peggy's situation should improve.
And Bucky, who had nothing else to do, thought that instead of training his speaking skills with Nick Fury, he might as well go see his future second wife.
This wasn't a joke; the situation was truly complicated when he thought about it.
Moreover, even if something unfortunate happened again, Bucky didn't want to be sad. There had been enough to be sad about. The office worker who hadn't experienced real happiness for a long time before his transmigration now just wanted to be happy, not sad.
Teasing the little girl would obviously improve his mood.
"Can you tell me how you became like this? What kind of mysterious experiment? Human cloning? Or did some Terminator make you like this? Oh, this is all confidential information, you can't tell me, right, sir?"
The little girl, Sharon, was very cheerful and generous. She didn't know Bucky at all. She watched him curiously and asked questions, like a happy little oriole, asking nonstop.
It was difficult to connect this cheerful girl with the heroic agent No. 13 she would become in the future.
Moreover, she seemed to be accompanying her aunt, whom she hadn't seen for a long time and who was feeling a little unwell, for a physical examination, unaware of Peggy's real situation.
"I'm not an officer, but the situation is a bit special. I really can't tell you for the time being. Someone will come to inform you later that everything I've seen today, including my existence, can't be mentioned to anyone."
"That's fine." Although Sharon became more curious, she nodded and agreed readily.
"You can say you met Johnny, though."
"Who?"
"I'm Robert Johnny Lind, an extra who was called in to dress up as a guy named Bucky Barnes, and I was told I looked like him. Bucky—that doesn't sound like a serious name. Do you want to eat something?"
"You...hahaha, you are so funny."
The little girl, still a rookie student, was genuinely fooled by Bucky for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"So, Johnny, I'm Sharon. Nice to meet you."
"Me too, Sharon... Tell me about yourself. Where did you study?"
"You two seem to be having a great chat."
While chatting amiably, at the corner at the end of the corridor, a man and a woman, an elderly man and woman with white hair, appeared.
Compared to Howard's preoccupation, Peggy looked at her niece and smiled kindly.
"Peggy, you're here. Come and talk to your niece. With my friendship with Steve, it's not too much for her to call me uncle, right?"
Of course... Peggy felt a little sweetness in her heart when she heard the old man mention Steve, but she sensed something strange in the old man's tone.
Bucky didn't look like this, did he? It seemed that amnesia had impacted him greatly...
"Peggy, I will help you research a plan as soon as possible."
Howard was still worried about Peggy's situation. He was carefree, but he was very concerned about his friends. At his age, he might lose one friend at any time, and he cherished every one of them.
"Howard, don't worry about me. Your affairs are more important."
After chatting for a few moments, Peggy took her niece, and both of them left with some reluctance. One wanted to catch up with old friends, and the other wanted to meet a very interesting person.
But Peggy knew that Howard and Bucky still had important matters to attend to, and her current situation wasn't suitable for her to participate in.
Bucky finished the examination, left the inspection results, and left with Howard.
They arrived at another of Howard's laboratories in New York, which specialized in human mechanics and engineering.
Here, Bucky was going to undergo some physical tests and conduct further research.
It just so happened that Bucky also needed to test the limits of his body to control it more perfectly.
"Running speed: 8.1 seconds for 100 meters; long jump: 12.5 meters; vertical jump height: 1.56 meters... right arm pulling force: 161 kilograms; left arm pulling force: 1.3 tons... heart rate: 56 beats per minute when running..."
With each physical fitness test, Howard expressed more admiration.
It wasn't mere admiration; after all, he had personally created a better and more amazing muscular Dominator, but he still admired Dr. Zola, the maker of Bucky's simplified version...
Well, Howard, a genius inventor, naturally wouldn't admire Bucky's muscular dominance; he would only sympathize with the genius's wisdom.
He only felt that being able to use the blood sample of Red Skull, a failed serum transformation product, to create a super soldier like Bucky—even with the requirement for brainwashing control—was enough to prove Dr. Zola's brilliant mind.
After completing the preliminary tests, Howard left; he had too many things to keep busy with.
For instance, the unpretentious and tedious job of being the CEO of Stark Industries, which had a market value of tens of billions.
There was also the previously frightened wife who needed to be appeased and the incompetent son who needed to be disciplined.
Now, more importantly, he had to start investigating the internal problems of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As for Bucky, he would not be brought to S.H.I.E.L.D., and after Hydra blew up, S.H.I.E.L.D. would follow suit. He didn't want any actions that might provoke the enemy to act aggressively.
So, Bucky lived in this laboratory temporarily, which happened to be where ergonomics was studied. There was plenty of fitness equipment for data collection, along with a spacious enough area.
Bucky turned into an iron pumping maniac, getting familiar with his body.
This went on for three days.
And these three days had been peaceful.
Although Bucky stayed behind closed doors, it wasn't that no one knew he was here.
On the contrary, there were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents around here watching 24/7.
But there was no movement from Alexander Pierce. The other party seemed to be observing and did not want to act rashly.
It was like hunters regarding each other as prey, patiently lurking and waiting for each other to show their flaws first.
While pulling iron, Bucky was also dismantling.
Now that he was on good terms with Howard Stark, Bucky was naturally not shy about asking him for a lot of mechanical tools and electronic products.
And as long as it was expensive, the latest electronic chips, memory sticks, and motherboards, Bucky disassembled them without hesitation.
The more advanced the item being dismantled, the higher the chances of extracting higher-level components.
And Howard didn't feel bad when Bucky dismantled five precious collectible shotguns, let alone some ordinary items.
With the support of Howard, Bucky finally retrieved his long-awaited [Epic-level Quick Crack Component] and could create the first green excellent-level [Quick Crack Plug-in]!
[System, make plug-in target positioning; make plug-in electromagnetic short circuit design; make plug-in electromagnetic interface structure design; assembly... finished. The Quick Crack Plug-in is built successfully.]
He was holding the Quick Crack Plug-in and staring at the module in front of him, feeling giddy.
It was at this moment that the phone rang; it was Howard, who wanted to invite him to dinner.
Bucky laughed; the feeling of happiness radiated.
Chapter 11: The First Act of Chivalry
"32 bucks? Do you want to die for messing with Falk!"
"Yeah! Old man! You monkeys are the most cunning. You must have hidden the money. Hand it over quickly, or I'll blow your brains out with one shot! Damn it!"
"I... I'm really out of money! This is the third time you guys have come this week! There's really only a little left!"
In the convenience store, a tall, thin man and a short, overweight man—two African-Americans wearing hoods and triangular masks—pointed guns at the trembling shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was a skinny old man with a weather-beaten face, and now he looked even more distressed, filled with sadness and anger, but he could only beg, hoping that they would at least spare his life.
"Listen! We don't have time to watch you act! Get the money out!"
"I'll count to three, and if you don't pay, I'll shoot! One!"
However, the two robbers ignored the shopkeeper's pleas. They only knew that if they didn't get the money, there would be no enjoyment, and they wouldn't be able to afford the good things in life.
"No! Don't shoot! I'm really out of money! Take something from the store instead! Ahh!!!"
"Two!"
Angrily, the shorter robber hit the shopkeeper on the forehead with the handle of his gun, causing him to cry out in pain. The small man didn't care and, in a fit of rage, cocked the hammer of the revolver.
"Hey bro... hey!"
The tall man didn't want to cause real harm. Seeing his partner getting anxious, he tried to dissuade him.
Suddenly, an electric arc erupted from the short man's body!
It seemed like a hallucination, as the arc was fleeting.
Without warning, the small man collapsed to the ground, convulsing, but it wasn't due to any drug use.
" Hey, brother, what's wrong with you?"
The tall man, confused, was genuinely taken aback. Did he just witness this guy have some sort of seizure?
"Brother, stop messing around, get up quickly! Brother, please!"
After several calls, the short man not only failed to respond but also stopped twitching, foaming at the mouth and rolling his eyes.
This caused the tall man to panic immediately.
"Hey, why don't you get up? I'll call 911 for you!"
On the contrary, the shopkeeper, who had closed his eyes and awaited death in despair, cautiously interjected.
It's not that he didn't hate these unreasonable robbers; he just felt helpless. Although he didn't understand what had happened, it seemed like he had escaped a catastrophe, and he didn't want anyone to die in his store.
"Fck you! Old man! Your messed with—fck!!!"
The tall man, furious and realizing the situation was out of control, snatched the money from the shopkeeper and ran away, leaving his good brother on the ground.
The shopkeeper finally breathed a sigh of relief...
Suddenly, an electric arc erupted from the tall man's body. But it lasted only a moment, making the shopkeeper think he was just too frightened and hallucinating.
Gulp!
The tall man also twitched and collapsed to the ground, joining his fallen companion.
Is there a wire leak in my shop? The shopkeeper blinked, completely bewildered by what was happening, but he immediately called the police.
Both the robbers and the shopkeeper were oblivious to the real situation.
Meanwhile, the one who knew what was going on had already left, hiding his accomplishments.
"Hmph~, the effect is really good, but the damage is a bit low. It can't cause fatal harm to an ordinary person, but it's non-fatal. The cooldown time is 15 seconds, which is still a bit long. The contagion from group attacks has even lower damage, allowing even ordinary people to survive..."
Bucky, who seemed to be just passing by, had actually tested his [Quick Crack] ability, which is "magic," for the first time.
First, he used [Target Positioning] to lock onto the two robbers. Then he felt something strange; even from a distance, he could still see their highlighted images through several floors of buildings.
Next, he employed [Electromagnetic Short Circuit] to incapacitate the more aggressive short robber, waited for the skill to cool down, and then targeted the other one.
The skills were powerful and allowed him to defeat the enemies silently, but he knew they were just two ordinary people. In a different scenario, like facing two heavily armed soldiers, the outcome might be entirely different.
Moreover, two was his limit. The skill's cooldown time was a full 15 seconds. If he targeted another person, it would take 30 seconds for the next cooldown, giving any additional enemies time to react. In the recent encounter, a third person might have been frightened and run away, leaving the shopkeeper unharmed.
That wasn't Bucky's intent.
In fact, Bucky could also use a group attack skill, [Combined Contagion], which could cause the target and their accomplices within a certain range to experience severe discomfort, including headaches, vomiting, dyspnea, abdominal pain, and other symptoms.
However, the joint infection was also non-fatal, and the damage was minimal. It might not incapacitate ordinary people effectively. To truly subdue an enemy, Bucky would need to deliver the final blow.
Bucky's [Network Intrusion] was similar to a sorcerer's abilities, a late-stage genre needing the support of intelligence attributes, specialties, and equipment plugins to deliver significant damage.
Currently, Bucky was akin to a level 1 mage who had just learned to cast fireballs and ice bombs. His skills seemed impressive, but they were too restrictive.
Fortunately, his potential was immense, and it would develop gradually over time.
In short, Bucky was pleased with the results of his first act of chivalry.
Not only did he help innocent people, but he also gained something for himself.
Not just psychological satisfaction.
More tangible rewards—
[System information: Defeated two armed robbers, completed the daily reward. Reward: 150 experience points, random item box (normal)*1.]
These two little thieves not only provided experience points and increased Bucky's proficiency in the Quick Crack Specialty but also allowed him to complete a daily task, granting extra experience points and a random box.
Although it was just an ordinary-level box, containing only common items, the anticipation of opening it was always exciting.
[System information: Opened a random item box (common) and received locust pepperoni pizza*1;
Locust Pepperoni Pizza: Max HP +5%, if out of combat, recover 0.5% of HP per second. Effect lasts for 450 seconds.]
Bucky looked at the three servings of food in the system's inventory. The effects were decent, adding 7% to his maximum HP over five and a half minutes, and allowing him to recover health outside of combat.
This was a food item from a cyberpunk world, which was a bit strange; this pizza was not merely labeled as "locusts"—it was genuinely made from locusts, with a dense covering of them.
Fortunately, food from the system was consumed directly within the system and not physically taken out to eat.
Overall, Bucky was very successful in his debut as a street hero.
He couldn't wait to do it again.