Chapter 146 - 2

Chapter 12: Homeless Little Asian Girl

"Root, rob, rob, rob..."

This isn't some gangster with a gun who storms a bank's jewelry store.

This is a transmigrator who sneaks around in the street under the name of Bucky Barnes.

The second chivalrous action did not happen as soon as Bucky expected.

"Think about it, even though this is Brooklyn, not the Gotham City next door, and it's impossible to go out in broad daylight and encounter so many crimes casually."

Bucky knew that he was still too excited, and he was not satisfied with the task reward of such a small robbery. He wished that there would be a wave of bank robbers right away.

It's just that there was no criminal activity, but Bucky wandered around for a long time and found that he turned around and returned to the convenience store before.

Then he saw that the two unlucky robbers were gone, and there were no policemen. It was probably regarded as an ordinary robbery, and it happened that the two robbers had some acute illness or something.

The old boss, who was a little impatient and embarrassed, waved at a little girl as if he were shooing her away.

Bucky couldn't help but feel a little curious, so he went over to watch the excitement.

"Please, I just want something to eat, I'm really hungry..."

"Little friend, please go away. If I don't call the police, you should consider yourself lucky. If you don't leave, I will find social service personnel."

So young, and she ran away from home?

Bucky walked into the convenience store without making a sound and heard the shop owner talking to the little girl, who was less than his waist height and looked a little dirty.

It seemed that the boss was really afraid of trouble and getting involved in right and wrong. When he saw such a young child, he didn't even ask her what was going on. He just wanted to dismiss her.

Although this is a lack of love, such a shop owner who has been bullied is not doing anything illegal or out of line; everyone cleans up their own doorsteps, and it is not Bucky's turn to criticize him.

The store owner is afraid of trouble, but Bucky is not.

Seeing the girl in front of him, with a little bit of mixed features, very cute, wearing shabby clothes, anxious and aggrieved, wanting to cry but stubbornly holding back, Bucky couldn't help but feel soft.

"Boss, I'm checking out."

Bucky went to grab some snacks and two bottles of drinks and put them on the counter.

"...what!"

"what!"

But he forgot that he had a system bonus—calmness 11, stealth 7—when he didn't want people to notice him, he really didn't make a sound.

This startled the two people who were talking, as if they had seen a ghost.

"Sorry, sir."

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Bucky didn't let the boss settle the score and directly threw a Franklin paper onto the counter.

Anyway, it was the living expenses given by Howard Stark, and Bucky didn't feel bad at all.

And it was also the little girl who saw a tall, handsome man appearing, feeling a little ashamed and guilty, after all, she had done something wrong before and had run out directly.

But Bucky was not in a hurry to catch up and stop her. Anyway, he had already locked onto her location, and he would definitely not lose her. It would be an electromagnetic short circuit at worst... Cough, he couldn't gain experience like this; although he couldn't recruit the NCPD's terrorist squad, it was not so frenzied.

Bucky just followed the little girl all the way to the back alley of a dilapidated residential building nearby.

Even this kind of owner couldn't manage it. Bucky didn't know how many dilapidated houses there were, and how many buildings were infested with poisonous vagrants. The little girl couldn't live in them; of course, she probably didn't dare to live in them, choosing instead to build a "house" with cardboard.

If it weren't for her features, Bucky might have thought that Phoebe from Friends had messed in.

Bucky walked over slowly, and with his keen senses, he heard a whimper.

This reminded him of the dirty and injured little dog on the side of the road.

"Woooo... why can't I have a home..."

"You don't have a home?"

"...Ah! Don't come here!"

"I'm really sorry to scare you again. Do you mean that I look like a bad guy?"

Bucky felt a little helpless; as long as he had the idea of "quietly" and walked lightly, calmness and stealth would take effect.

"Suck... it's you, what do you want?"

"I want to sympathize with you. Otherwise, what else can I do? Put down the thing in your hand first. You aren't afraid of getting infected by such a dirty thing, are you? Aren't you afraid of getting an injection?"

Bucky looked at the little girl, who was frightened, holding a fragment of a wine bottle in both hands, facing him defensively. He sighed and felt agitated for no reason—what a goddamn world.

"I don't need sympathy."

The little girl put down the broken glass, raised her head, and said very stubbornly.

"Hey, little one, besides sympathizing with you, what reason do I have to help you for free? You don't need sympathy, do you really need someone to help you with ulterior motives?"

"You man!"

The little girl knew some tricks but was instantly speechless at Bucky's strange posture.

"Tell me, what's the situation with you? Where did you escape from, an orphanage or a foster family?"

Bucky didn't bother to say anything gentle and pleasant; that would require too much patience and time, and this miserable little girl also had too much guard up.

Anyway, this little girl must have suffered a lot, and she wouldn't care if his tongue was a little bit harsh.

Bucky had a special communication gesture.

That is to use feeding as an aid.

He unwrapped a piece of cream-filled cake he had bought just now, broke off half, stuffed it into his mouth, and handed the other half to the little girl.

"Suck..."

The hungry girl didn't sniff her nose this time but drooled.

And she finally couldn't resist the aroma of the cream, took it carefully, and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Um..."

The girl was instantly overwhelmed by the cream and sugar, and she snorted comfortably.

It's not a little dog, but a little cat... Seeing the girl's expression of enjoyment, Bucky's irritability also dissipated a little.

"I ran away from the foster family. Do you want to send me back?"

After Bucky fed her another bar of wafer chocolate and let her drink a few mouthfuls of fruit juice, she finally gave the answer.

"Why, does the foster family treat you badly?"

"It's better than it is now."

The girl sighed, showing the expression of a young adult. She had been beaten by society without any pretensions.

"Although I am to watch the children, change diapers, wash clothes, eat their leftovers, have no hot water for bathing, sleep in the basement, and have no new clothes to wear, if something goes wrong, they take it out on me."

"...Really? It wasn't you who set the house on fire mischievously, ran away in fear, and used this trick to fool me, right?"

"What about you, the trust between people?"

The girl rolled her eyes like a grown-up, never expecting that the kind-hearted person she met would be so incomprehensible.

But also because Bucky didn't really doubt it and kept teasing her, gradually, she really let down her guard.

But because of her next action, Bucky's pupils shrank, and his teeth creaked!

... damn brutes!

Chapter 13: Little Girl's Name is Skye

Skye pulled up the sleeves of her clothes.

Bucky noticed bruises on her slender arms. Not just fresh ones, but some fading and pale yellow ones as well. It was evident that what had happened to Skye didn't occur in just a day or two.

The foster family who took her in clearly didn't genuinely care for her; they treated it as a business, exploiting the subsidies meant for adopting children. At least they provided food, but as an adopted child, she had no power to choose her circumstances.

Yet, not only were they neglectful, but they also abused her. Was that even human!?

A surge of anger flooded Bucky's mind, driving him to consider confronting Skye's foster family, to deal with those who "cared" for her in the same way he had dealt with Hydra soldiers before.

Evil doesn't require superpowers. What happened to Skye was a crime no less serious than a supervillain killing people on the streets.

"Come on, come with me."

"…Hey, you're not actually trying to take me in, are you?"

Skye held onto a glimmer of hope. Despite this kind-hearted man being a bit strange and having a sharp tongue, she thought, compared to what she had experienced, how could it possibly be worse?

"No, I'm from Karma, and I'm going to take you to see some goldfish."

Still inexperienced, Bucky realized Skye was too naive. What she had experienced in reality was far worse than she could imagine.

"Can't you say something nice?" Skye frowned. "Don't you feel bad treating a child like this?"

"I don't have a conscience. Conscience only slows down my recovery."

"Do you really think I'd believe you if I jumped out of the car?"

"Of course, I'm just going to the hospital to see a doctor."

"Are you sick?"

"Hmm, I've recently been through a lot, and I seem to have lost my memory."

As they bickered, Bucky learned a bit about her situation. Little Skye was only seven years old this year and had been transferred from an orphanage to a foster family for a year.

Yet, according to the MCU timeline, Skye's first appearance was after Iron Man 3, meaning she should be in her twenties by then.

However, the world he had traveled to wouldn't adhere strictly to the MCU timeline; after all, Skye never appeared in the films. Sharon Carter, whom he had met previously, was fifteen this year and would be thirty-nine when appearing in Captain America 2, maintaining a natural beauty that didn't stray far from her cinematic counterpart.

In short, there were discrepancies, but nothing too strange.

But to think that this little girl was actually Skye, the super hacker who had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.'s servers, and the Inhuman Quake...

Bucky recalled that Skye was originally named Daisy Johnson; her father was the supervillain Dr. Hyde, and her mother was Jiaying, the leader of the Inhuman race on Earth. They had lived in a small town in the east.

Not long after Jiaying gave birth to Skye, she was captured by Hydra, subjected to cruel experiments, and abandoned.

Her Inhuman ability was to absorb life force. Dr. Hyde, unable to bear his wife's death, had Jiaying absorb the life force of the villagers, allowing her to revive. However, Dr. Hyde had to inject her with a special serum to control her, ultimately taking Skye away.

He then handed her over to a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent for her own good, who placed Skye in an orphanage, keeping an eye on her until a tragic accident during a mission.

Originally, Bucky had thought to arrange a better future for Skye by handing her over to S.H.I.E.L.D., where she could attend the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy and become an agent. That was her destiny, after all.

It was strange that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were currently unaware of Skye, but that was probably just a matter of timing.

Overall, placing Skye in the hands of such a powerful organization like S.H.I.E.L.D. seemed the best way to settle her issues with her foster family.

But now that he knew who she was, Bucky had new ideas.

In Manhattan, the hospital awaited him.

Of course, he intended to check on his own head and see his sister-in-law and second sister-in-law.

Sitting in the same corridor as before, Bucky and Skye waited on chairs. He had spoken with Howard on the phone and was now waiting for his assigned S.H.I.E.L.D. agent to arrive.

Bucky and Skye had become accustomed to bickering along the way. Now, as they sat in this unusual hospital, she couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, where is this? Are you really going to rub my waist, right?"

"Yeah, I'm going to buy some snacks for you first. Oh, don't buy D-3; it's easy to get stuck."

Bucky handed Skye a few coins, and she hurried off to get some snacks.

He could see that she was still very uneasy. In truth, she hadn't thought much about the situation; otherwise, she wouldn't have followed him so easily. Yet, the insecurity was palpable.

However, trust couldn't be built overnight. It takes time for an abused child to shed their guard, let alone a person.

Click, click, click...

Just when Bucky was considering how to help the little girl feel safe, he heard the sound of high heels approaching.

The cold face of an Asian woman Bucky had seen before came into view.

Chapter 14

Bucky didn't expect that the person sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. to help him was actually this individual.

Looking at the heroic lady agent in a tailored suit and glancing at little Skye, he thought that these two were truly destined to meet.

Yes, the person who arrived was someone he had seen before, the partner of Agent Coulson, who would also be the future partner of Shockwave—Melinda May, nicknamed Iron Cavalry.

The nickname "Iron Cavalry" signifies her exceptional abilities; she has successfully completed numerous perilous missions, rescuing agents in distress like a heroic knight descending from the sky.

So, she should be on the front lines undertaking dangerous tasks, yet she suddenly appeared here and met little Skye first—an occurrence that could only be explained by fate.

The current Melinda looked much younger than Bucky remembered, appearing to be only 27 years old, but her demeanor remained the same: an unsmiling iceberg.

She glanced at little Skye, who was terrified, and the girl clutched Bucky's sleeve with her small hand.

"Sir, Melinda May, I have been ordered to assist you."

"You don't need to be so formal, just call me... Johnny. Skye, come and say hello to Ms. May."

"Ms. May, hello."

Little Skye was timid; this was her natural response to strangers.

Melinda merely nodded.

"Then Skye will be your responsibility. Skye, follow this sister; it will be fine."

Bucky observed Skye, who was hesitant to approach Melinda, exuding an aura that made her seem unapproachable. He rubbed her little head, wondering where her energy for bickering with him had gone.

Skye turned her head three times before following the formidable woman, genuinely worried about what lay ahead.

However, Bucky received another call.

"Bucky, do you notice something special about her?"

From the little brick phone came the voice of Howard, who had given this phone to Bucky.

Howard didn't mention Skye or the little girl, only referring to Melinda. Bucky realized he needed to be cautious about his actions.

"No, I just feel sorry for her, so I can't just leave her. What's wrong with her?"

"...Is it really all right?"

"Is there truly a problem?"

"I'll send someone to talk to you face-to-face."

"Are you really that busy?"

"Ah."

It was inconvenient for Bucky to inquire about what he wanted to know over the phone, and Howard ended the call quickly after just a few words.

Shortly after, Melinda returned with little Skye, her face as pale as if she had seen a ghost.

If she was an ice cube before, she was now liquid nitrogen.

Clearly, she had witnessed what had transpired with Skye.

"Is everything settled?"

"Well, after the injury certificate is issued, I'll contact the police station. Personnel from the child protection agency will also be involved..."

Hydra agents lurk in every corner of the world, infiltrating various industries, and S.H.I.E.L.D. is no different. They employ not only combatants but also many ordinary people in everyday roles to provide information for S.H.I.E.L.D.

Thus, the police station and other organizations have their own operatives. This matter will follow the standard legal process, but from the investigator to the police to the district attorney, and even the lawyer hired by the foster couple, are all affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Or rather, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra are intertwined, but in this case, it makes no difference.

Afterward, investigators from the child protection agency arrived to question Skye. After the process concluded, Bucky became Skye's temporary caregiver.

"Uncle Johnny, why do you care about me so much?"

Little Skye sat in Bucky's car, watching as darkness enveloped the sky and streetlights gradually illuminated the surroundings. Her tone was filled with uncertainty.

Because I realized you are Quake, and when I saw you, your story must be different from what I remembered. I feared that if I handed you over to S.H.I.E.L.D., you might fall prey to Hydra's deceit—the "True World Breaker." Although Bucky thought this in his heart, he simply reached out and rubbed her little head, tousling her soft hair.

"Why wouldn't I care about you? Don't be so down, and try not to view the world so negatively..."

Bucky, growing serious, faltered. The world was far worse than she could imagine in many ways.

"In short, don't overthink it. Just have a good meal and get some rest; everything will eventually pass."

"Really?"

"Of course! Is it possible for time to turn back? Tomorrow will always come."

"You!"

Someone trying to be cool for only three minutes quickly reverted to their playful banter.

Bucky took little Skye to eat at Papa John's. Pizza was far more appealing to children than any Michelin-starred meal. Little Skye, with a round belly, made Bucky a bit worried; he hoped the little girl wouldn't become a little fat girl.

"Uncle Johnny, is this your home?"

"Well, it's your home now."

Upon returning home, Bucky took off his coat and gloves and said to Skye:

"By the way, my real name is James Buchanan Barnes. Everyone I know calls me Bucky. Of course, I'm also known as Johnny, Robert Johnny Lind."

"Uncle, you can't really be a spy agent or something. And that Ice Cube Auntie... Wow! What is this!?"

No matter how young Skye was, she was born smart and had become precocious due to the hardships she faced. She could guess that Bucky was not an ordinary person. Though she couldn't hear the conversations between Bucky and Ice Cube Auntie in the hospital, she understood it seemed quite significant...

Just as she pondered Johnny, the kind of secret agent Uncle Bucky might be, she suddenly exclaimed, "Uncle, are you a robot!?"

"Kids, don't think too much about it. It's just a metal arm. When I lost my arm during the war, I got a prosthetic."

Bucky casually offered the explanation, but he felt a bit odd. Since arriving in this world, everyone he encountered had been surprised by him, yet little Skye showed no reaction to his name.

"Uncle, you're lying! You must be a robot here to protect me! Wow! It's just like in the movie! Could it be that I'm John Connor, destined to lead the future rebellion? Uncle, what model are you?"

"..."

Bucky helplessly watched the little one bounce around him, pinching his arm one moment and his thigh the next.

He thought to himself, "What's a Terminator? Just wait until my entire body is transformed into a prosthetic and I become the No. 17 cyberpsychopath."

It took quite a while before Bucky managed to convince the little girl to accept the story of being a "volunteer for Stark Group's latest nerve-linked prosthetic medical experiment." The change in identity was due to the commercial confidentiality agreement he signed with Stark Group; a leak could result in a significant loss of money.

Bucky, overwhelmed by the little girl's chatter, decided to keep his more bizarre experiences to himself for the time being.

-----------

Chapter 15

Little Skye had been away from home for several days, enduring hunger and cold, yet she was still not sick. The Inhuman race had a strong genetic foundation, but she also needed rest. As soon as she touched the warm and soft bed, she fell asleep.

Bucky arrived on the roof of his own apartment building, battling the cold wind as he gazed out into the night.

That's right; it was Mr. Nick Fury, the future king of secret agents.

"Mr. Stark entrusted me to pass this information on to you, and it will be destroyed after reading it."

It wasn't that Nick Fury was eager to run errands; after all, he was a level 7 agent, part of the elite force of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, due to his status as a level 7 agent and "Pierce's man," with high confidentiality clearance, Howard had sent him on this task.

The document Nick Fury handed over to Bucky was covered in black bars, obscuring the handwriting—no complete sentences to be found. One could only guess why it had to be burned after reading. In reality, it could easily be posted on a telephone pole without any issues.

It seemed that another high-ranking official involved in this matter deemed Skye's background too significant, resulting in even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top-secret files being recorded in such a manner. Instead, Howard used this to further confuse Alexander Pierce.

Of course, Bucky, who had never considered this possibility, remained oblivious to it all. He was simply relieved, knowing that Howard and Nick Fury would keep it secret. No one would notice Skye's uniqueness for now; they would only recognize her through him.

As he watched the future king of secret agents disappear into the night, Bucky decided not to go home either.

The night was still long, and he didn't want to sleep. Instead, he figured he might as well do something productive.

Brooklyn, 99 Police Department.

"The office model at today's police station is still too outdated..."

Bucky modified the camera to evade the police's sight, sneaking into the station without a trace. He managed to find the file room but was disappointed.

In this day and age, the first generation of Pentium computers had not yet been released, and the police were primarily using 1 and 386 models. Some remote areas still relied on typewriters.

There were hardly two or three computers in the police station, and the hard drive capacity of just a few hundred megabytes was outrageous. Most information was stored on paper.

Here, databases consisted of boxes of paper files in the archives.

Bucky's idea of connecting to the police's criminal database was completely thwarted, and he realized that retrieving scanned records would take forever.

However, although his plan to find criminal files was no longer feasible, he could still combat crime and gather information by monitoring the police radio and listening for real-time updates.

[System: Created and implanted military-tech prosthetic ear monitor type I.]

[System information: Consumed 30 common item components, 25 excellent item components, 15 superior quick crack components, and 5 rare quick crack components to create military tech prosthetic ear monitor type I.

Prosthetic ear monitor type I: enhances hearing, capable of receiving various long and short wave electromagnetic signals. The built-in decoder automatically decodes and converts to audio, and users can set the receiving frequency band themselves.

Enhances balance and resists strong noise.]

[Implanted in both ears...]

Bucky felt a strange sensation in his ears, as if they were subtly transforming. They didn't seem like his own anymore, yet they still were...

After the implantation was completed, Bucky felt a rush similar to when Superman next door had first awakened his super hearing. Although not as exaggerated, the cacophony of clear but chaotic noises surrounded him.

After a brief period of adjustment, the prosthetic body connected to the network access hub, allowing it to interface with Bucky's brain and automatically calibrate to a manageable level.

"The next step is to locate a police radio station."

Bucky found the parking lot, disabled the cameras, pried open a patrol car, and hacked into the police radio inside...

"Call on 5th Avenue, shooting..."

"Shooting on 6th Street, police support needed..."

"There was a robbery at Pearson Bank; all nearby police forces are ordered to assist..."

Back in his car, the crime reports blared through the police radio, creating a stark contrast to the peaceful surroundings, which made Bucky nod in agreement.

This was Happy America, with shootouts happening every day.

Bucky also scanned detailed maps of New York streets in the police station, while the prosthetic eye automatically recognized the terrain and matched it to the map.

The map in his field of vision displayed normally and could even navigate to his location autonomously.

"So, happy hour begins."

Bucky grinned silently, pressed the accelerator, and the car sped away.

"Good morning~! This is~Johnny, wake up, little sleeper."

"Hmm...ah! I'm getting up now!"

Early in the morning, Bucky knocked on the door of Little Skye's bedroom, only to hear a panicked scream from within, as if Bucky had knocked with an axe instead of his fingers.

One could imagine how she would wake up if she had slept in.

Bucky didn't open the door or enter to comfort her. Sometimes, you don't need to remind others that you care; it can only highlight how important they are.

It was better to give her a little space and let her discover and adapt on her own.

Bucky walked to the kitchen and started preparing a bacon omelet, humming a tune and feeling genuinely good.

Unlike the previous day when he had only caught two money grabbers, last night, with the help of the police radio, Bucky managed to complete three missions.

At first, Bucky was excited, chasing after shootouts, bank robberies, and drug dealers. However, after three attempts, he found himself facing groups of seven or eight criminals, or even a dozen.

Bucky possessed only one skill, and the cooldown period was 15 seconds. The rookie methods (hacking) often resulted in him taking out two or three people, which inevitably led to discovery—either by the police taking advantage of the situation or criminals scattering after a tree fell.

One officer had even been shot in the process.

Bucky didn't want to resort to using an anti-material sniper rifle to turn the crime scene into a massacre.

Reluctantly, he had to let those opportunities slip away.

Realizing he couldn't rush things, Bucky changed his strategy to target smaller crimes that could be subdued easily, involving one or two robbers.

Although he only completed three missions, he gained more than 600 experience points, expertise proficiency, and three ordinary loot boxes from his previous encounters.

Though the rewards weren't substantial, Bucky was still only at level 2, and the experience points needed for leveling up at this stage were minimal. After a couple more runs, he would be able to advance to the next level.

"How about taking you out today? Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Little Skye had reached school age, but the additional subsidy for her education was unfortunately misappropriated by her foster family, who forged a school certificate for her and then kept her locked at home.

However, these issues would be resolved by the child protection agency personnel sent by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Bucky could simply wait for the outcome.

For now, his focus was on ensuring Little Skye's well-being.

Bucky pondered the need to find a nanny for her.

But he wasn't in a rush; he was in a good mood today. First, they could go out for a walk.

----

Chapter 16: Veterans

Manhattan.

Christmas is approaching, and the festive spirit is everywhere.

Central Park.

On the bench, dressed in new clothes, the well-dressed little Skye was enjoying a chocolate sundae, her face lit up with delight. Beside her were big bags and Bucky, who had turned into a reluctant participant in the day's activities.

"Women shopping is definitely an innate talent."

Despite having not slept the whole night before, Bucky had managed to recover his energy and felt revitalized. However, being dragged around for shopping by little Skye drained his physical strength, making him feel utterly exhausted.

"Hey hey..." Little Skye scratched her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was the first time she had experienced the joy of shopping, and she worried that Bucky might be unhappy. But seeing him merely complain out of habit reassured her.

Who cares.

"Uncle, I think even if it's only for one day, I'm satisfied with this kind of life."

"Little one, it doesn't matter if you become a chubby girl, but just don't become a bore."

Bucky looked at the little girl with a mix of fondness and apprehension, fearing that all this happiness might vanish when he opened his eyes. There was nothing to say that could ease his worry; it was a matter of waiting for time to reveal the truth.

He had just restored little Skye's healthy and lustrous hair, only to mess it up again.

"I hate it! Uncle Bucky!" Little Skye's face puffed up with anger, her eyes rolled dramatically as she scooped a spoonful of sundae and flung it at Bucky's face.

But it "precisely" landed in his mouth.

"Very good, you are being thoughtful."

The pair laughed together, but suddenly, Bucky's laughter faded.

He noticed a family of four, also carrying big bags, walking towards him.

This was a husband and wife with two children. The older boy was about the same size as Skye, and the beautiful wife was cradling a cute little girl, who looked to be around three or four years old.

The husband, with a sturdy build and a resolute, even stern, face, softened when he interacted with his wife and children, showing a heart that was strong yet tender.

Bucky's attention was caught because the man had noticed him too.

Their eyes met, and both men instinctively frowned slightly—there was something about the other that felt significant.

Those who have seen battle possess different eyes, steps, and presence. In the memories of the Winter Soldier, Bucky had seen too many like him; this man was a veteran, someone who had survived countless battles and had lives resting on his shoulders.

Presumably, in the eyes of this man, Bucky appeared similarly.

However, veterans were commonplace in this country. Though this one seemed formidable, he wasn't worth Bucky's full attention.

Bucky merely nodded, and the man returned the gesture.

Yet, the two did not cross paths. The veteran's wife and children appeared tired, so the family sat on a bench not far from Bucky's side to rest.

The veteran seemed lost in the happiness of his family.

But Bucky, who had taken lives not long ago and was fighting for justice just the night before, felt the instincts of the Winter Soldier awaken within him. He couldn't relax.

He sensed something was amiss, as if trouble was looming.

Was it aimed at him?

Or was this veteran, who appeared so composed, someone of notoriety?

As Bucky took a stroll, he picked up on the little girl's playful spirit and tried to shake off his suspicions.

"Skye, let's go. Don't you want to watch Terminator? Let's watch Terminator 2."

"Really? Okay, okay, ouch~."

Little Skye clapped her hands in excitement, but felt a gentle tug as Bucky lifted her with one ar, making her both surprised and delighted. She playfully nuzzled against Bucky's face.

Bucky didn't mind her affectionate antics but stole another glance at the veteran.

The veteran suddenly felt an instinctive shift but only saw Bucky holding little Skye in one arm and the handle of a large bag in the other.

Bucky couldn't determine if the danger lay with him or the veteran. If he charged in recklessly, it might put them all at risk. If it was a threat to the veteran, it would jeopardize little Skye as well.

It was better to ensure little Skye's safety first before assessing the situation.

But just then!

Bucky seemed to move slowly, yet his pace quickened. He turned around abruptly!

He spotted a royal blue Chevrolet muscle car barreling onto the empty lawn, heading straight for the family of four with alarming speed!

Bucky had initially assumed the danger lay elsewhere but was stunned to find it came from that direction!

However, there was no time to ponder who it was. The Chevrolet raced ahead, and although the veteran noticed the danger, his reflexes were dulled. By the time he comprehended what was happening, it was already too late to shield his family!

Zila! Boom!

In that instant, an electric arc erupted from the Chevrolet's engine hood, followed by a puff of black smoke. The car lost power and careened forward, carried only by its momentum!

Amidst the billowing smoke, the driver instinctively slammed on the brakes, stopping just short of the veteran's family!

Bucky had acted decisively, using his abilities to cause an electromagnetic short circuit in the vehicle!

"Ah!!!"

At this moment, little Skye, cradled in Bucky's arms, along with the veteran's wife and children, screamed in terror!

While the veteran's family was merely frightened, little Skye ran even faster because Bucky had suddenly lifted her!

The incident unfolded swiftly, and the veteran reacted instinctively, dragging his wife and children away to safety!

But the occupants of the car weren't finished yet!

Four Latino gangsters emerged, their faces and hands adorned with tattoos, all gaudy and armed with Uzis!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

However, as soon as they exited the vehicle, they raised their guns at the veteran's family without hesitation, but they didn't pull the trigger!

Instead, Bucky sprinted away with little Skye in his arms, pivoting as he locked onto the gangsters as targets, pulling out the Makarov pistol from his lower back, and fired without hesitation!

Unfortunately, even without aiming, he only managed to hit one gangster in the shoulder and another in the thigh through sheer luck!

Two gangsters were still aiming their weapons at the family of four!

"Do not!!!"

The veteran could only do his best to shield his family with his body, but he couldn't protect his son, who fled in panic. Both father and son were splattered with blood, collapsing in a pool of crimson.

When Bucky saw this, a surge of rage coursed through him. This was happening right in front of him!

die!

Boom!

Bucky spun around, leveling his pistol at the two gang members, and pulled the trigger!

He turned to secure little Skye on his back while charging forward, fueled by fury!

Hateful!

It was because of his own worries that an innocent child fell victim to this violence!

-----

Chapter 17: A Fate That Cannot Be Completely Rewritten

Bucky doesn't regret his actions.

He was protecting little Skye, and things happened for a reason. The goals of the gang members were clear. If he were asked to choose again, he would still protect little Skye first and prevent her from being implicated by the veteran's family.

But seeing innocent children lying in a pool of blood still made him angry!

"Uncle! You! You!..."

Little Skye, who was behind Bucky, was frightened. Half of her fear came from the gruesome scene before her—a gruesome mix of red and white...

"Don't be afraid; it's alright!"

Bucky didn't have time for more comfort. He ran to the two gang members who had been shot and were now lying on the ground, and he quickly kicked them unconscious!

"Cough cough cough!...Son!!"

The veteran was incredibly strong and tenacious. Shot in the back three times, he was still conscious, staring at his son, who lay in a pool of blood with bloodshot eyes.

Bucky hurried over, picked up the boy who was about the same age as little Skye, and reached out to check his neck. There was no pulse!

But it wasn't time to give up!

In an instant, an electric arc flashed across the body of the little boy in Bucky's arms, causing his body to twitch!

Things that can kill people can sometimes save lives!

Although the electromagnetic short-circuit skill isn't a pacemaker, in this situation, the child had lost too much blood and was in cardiac arrest, so he could only be treated as a living doctor!

"Son! What are you doing!?"

The veteran was crawling desperately, and when he saw this, he couldn't help but roar like a wounded beast!

But Bucky ignored him, just feeling for the little boy's artery. After the first electric shock, there was still no pulse!

But it didn't matter; the electromagnetic short circuit lasts for three seconds, meaning it would pulse three times for effect!

And the second time... the third time!

Just after the third electric shock, Bucky, still unable to feel a pulse, felt a wave of sadness wash over him. But then he sensed a weak vibration in his fingers, and then another!

Bucky was ecstatic in an instant, and following the surge of red and blue neon blocks in his hand, he conjured up a [Fuerkang Type I] treatment injection and pressed it against the child's chest!

"Let go of my son!..."

At this moment, the veteran finally crawled to Bucky's side. As he was about to pounce on Bucky like a wolf, he saw his son in Bucky's arms, breathing again!

"He's fine for now, but... your wife... I'm sorry."

Bucky handed over the child to the veteran, his expression grim as he spoke.

"Really!?... Maria! No... no!!!"

The veteran, who had just been ecstatic, turned around upon seeing Bucky's expression. He found that his wife was also lying in a pool of blood, with blood oozing around her head. His little daughter sat beside her mother, wide-eyed and silent, utterly terrified.

Only then did the veteran remember that his wife, whom he had been holding, hadn't moved. While he struggled toward his son, she had slipped from his arms and fallen to the ground.

Unexpectedly, this wife was also named Maria.

The man did not weep lightly. When Bucky saw the old soldier's eyes widen, two lines of pale red tears fell down his cheeks. He couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.

"Save her! Please save her!"

The boy managed to be pulled back from the brink of death because he still had a faint breath and a bit of luck.

For the veteran's wife, there was truly nothing Bucky could do.

The veteran crawled back to his wife's side, cradling her bloody head in his arms, looking at Bucky with a final glimmer of hope in his despair.

However, Bucky shook his head, his voice heavy with sorrow. "I'm sorry. Your wife... your child still needs treatment, and it's not safe here."

Bucky walked over and gave the veteran a therapeutic injection. He had also been shot three times and was bleeding profusely, but his willpower was incredibly strong.

"..." The old soldier fell silent for a moment. Then he glanced at the four gangsters lying on the ground, and his expression suddenly turned feral, like a ghost!

As his injuries lessened and his body regained strength, he rushed forward without hesitation!

"Take care of your children! Your two children!"

Bucky stopped the veteran and looked him straight in the eyes, which were almost crazed with rage.

"Me! . . . Lisa, Frank."

The veteran struggled intensely. Finally, he turned from fury to sadness. He walked to his little daughter, picked her up, and moved toward his son.

"Agent Fury, I need a quick response team, the kind that operates at night... How am I supposed to know who I killed?... Hey, it's not my concern; I just happened to be there, in the southeast of Central Park, in short, hurry up. If there are any survivors, don't let the police take them away."

Before Bucky could dial, he thought that he couldn't reach some big money with tens of millions in business every minute. Anyway, he had ordered others to do it. When Nick Fury gave him his ID card, he almost asked for his phone number.

"You know Fury? Nick Fury?"

But when he hung up, he heard the veteran's hoarse voice asking.

"Yeah... you know him too? Johnny Lind, what's your name?"

"Frank Castle."

Bucky was taken aback. It turned out... it really was him!

He wondered why he had a vague sense of déjà vu about this situation, but he couldn't remember it immediately.

This was indeed the well-known street anti-hero, the Punisher, Frank Castle, whom he had talked about before!

Bucky knew that Frank's family had been killed by gang members because of a series of unfortunate events. Some gang members exchanged fire, some intentionally harmed him, some conspired against him, and others attacked his whole family, including his father. Only then did he become the Punisher, who used violence to control violence, declaring, "You are guilty; you will die."

It was just that he hadn't expected this encounter to happen at this moment, but he couldn't completely change Frank's fate.

The world is impermanent... Although Bucky's appearance had saved Frank's son, he couldn't save Frank's wife, which left him feeling powerless.

If only he could become stronger and send that car full of criminals to the sky when he discovered the situation, such a human tragedy would never occur.

Witnessing all of this with his own eyes, almost losing Frank's son, Bucky now longed for greater strength.

So what if the Punisher never showed up again?

Bucky would rather see a happy family of four than a dark anti-hero.

After a while, the sound of a car engine approached, but there were no sirens.

S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived before the police could wash away the evidence.

Bucky gritted his teeth. He would handle this matter himself; he wanted to see who troubled Frank

-----

Chapter 18

"Little guy, don't be scared. I'm sorry you had to encounter something like this."

Bucky didn't pay much attention to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent leading the team, Phil Coulson, who looked like he had faced a midlife crisis with already receding hairline. Instead, he focused on comforting little Skye, holding her tightly like a koala cub.

This scene frightened not only Frank Castle's little daughter but also the child within him.

"No, don't be afraid! Uncle, I'm fine!"

Little Skye shook her young body, but somehow she gathered her strength, raising her head with tears in her eyes.

"How can you not be afraid? This is the first time I've encountered something like this. I haven't eaten for three days. Are you some perverted serial killer?"

"...Woooo! Uncle, I'm so scared! Woohoo, there's so much blood! There are dead people!"

Bucky didn't mean to provoke little Skye... Well, maybe a little, but in this situation, it was clearly better to let her express her fears.

"Okay, okay, it's alright, I'm here..."

Bucky continued to comfort her softly, sighing inwardly. Ever since this little girl met him and he learned she was Skye, she was bound to encounter such situations sooner or later. In the past, she wouldn't have faced this until she was an adult, but now it had come so much earlier. Although it wasn't his fault, he still felt a little guilty.

"Mr. Castle, you'd better head to the hospital first. Leave these people to us. Please rest assured that we will interrogate them thoroughly."

"No, I want to know who ordered this! Call Nick Fury, and I'll tell him!"

Meanwhile, two SUVs from S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived to handle the bodies and the surviving gang members. They managed to isolate the late police officers on the periphery.

The agent leading the team insisted on following Frank for interrogation; it was Frank who wanted to wake up the two gangsters immediately to interrogate them.

Bucky didn't seem inclined to get involved. It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but this was just a chance encounter, and it was best to keep some distance. Otherwise, it could give Hydra the wrong impression that Frank was linked to him.

However, the agent was familiar with him, having met once before, and now he seemed to be seeking his help with the eyes of an old friend.

Bucky had no choice but to approach Frank, gently handing him his dazed daughter, Lisa. He let Frank subconsciously take her and said in a deep voice:

"Let's take care of the children first. You need to arrange your wife's funeral. Although I'm not qualified to give advice, I know that no one can understand your anger and pain like you do. But you have to hold back, for your child's sake."

Bucky felt there was a violent beast named Anger living in Frank's heart. Usually, his family served as a strong cage, sealing this beast tightly. But now, in this tragic encounter, that cage had shattered, and the beast had awakened.

"...I understand."

Frank's expression kept changing. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed, embracing his daughter as he walked to the S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle, where his son was waiting. Their family of three was headed to the S.H.I.E.L.D. hospital.

The agent approached with a friendly smile on his face. "Sir, thank you for your help. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known how to persuade him."

Come on, you're clearly curious about me because my good friend is your idol. Bucky felt a bit annoyed by the agent's implicit admiration, knowing he was thinking differently.

"It's nothing, Agent Coulson, right? We didn't get a chance to chat last time, but I think we can talk next time. Can I get your number?"

After all, Coulson was a notable figure, one of the MCU's most visible supporting characters, almost rivaling Hawkeye. Bucky wanted to deepen his connection with him.

"Sure, absolutely!"

Coulson nodded eagerly. Staying in touch with the follower of his idol would give him a chance to learn more about that idol!

Bucky, who could guess what was on his mind, felt an urge to send him to Antarctica to find his frozen old friend, wishing he wouldn't come back.

"Then we'll head out."

Bucky called out to his companion. He had nothing more to say; it was just an unexpected incident. After exchanging a few words, he left with little Skye in his arms.

"Should I send someone to take you back?"

"No, you all are busy. If you need help, please contact me. And if there are any developments in this matter, please let me know about that person."

"Of course."

Though Bucky didn't have official status in S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson knew he was closely linked with Howard Stark, and it didn't interfere with their work. He could still provide follow-up information, planning to do so in person while gathering intel on his idol along the way.

Before Bucky left the scene, he received a call from Nick Fury.

"I heard about the incident. It turns out to be Frank. Thank you for your help."

"It was nothing, but it's a shame... Are you familiar with him?"

After chatting with Nick Fury a bit more, Bucky walked to the periphery, where police tape was set up.

Helping him was a young policewoman in her early 20s, with reddish-brown permed hair and long legs, who looked more like a model than a patrol officer.

She noticed Bucky carrying various bags and holding a little girl in his arms. On the other side of the scene, members from unknown departments had driven away, leaving the police behind.

She rolled her eyes and quickly approached Bucky before her patrol instructor could call her. "Sir, do you need help?"

Bucky sized up the pretty young policewoman, probably a rookie, and nodded. "Okay, thank you."

The policewoman greeted her instructor and then followed Bucky. After a couple of steps, she continued the conversation:

"Sir, I'm Constable Beckett. May I know your name?"

"You can call me Johnny."

"Mr. Johnny, can you tell me what happened just now?"

Bucky chuckled to himself, amused by the policewoman's awkward clichés. Was it a coincidence again, or did she have another purpose?

---------------

Chapter 19: Harvest, Insomnia, Follow-up

The young and beautiful policewoman kept talking for a long time but still only knew that Bucky's name was Johnny.

Instead, she was tricked by Bucky. Her name was Kate Beckett. She was a trainee patrol officer who had just passed the police academy assessment. She also left Bucky her contact information, unaware of how upset she would be afterward.

This made Bucky even more certain that this is not just the MCU universe; the name was a clear indication.

This was the lead female detective, Kate Beckett, from the American Castle TV Show he had watched before his transmigration.

But this was just an episode, and Bucky didn't have much interest in getting to know this rookie policewoman right now. By the time her plot is triggered, the streets will already be filled with people with superpowers, and the world is about to change drastically.

In a word, let it be.

Originally, for this shopping trip, Bucky wanted to give little Skye a Christmas that truly belonged to her.

Of course, the little one had Christmas before, but she was locked in the basement, listening to the laughter above.

It's fortunate that the little one had the courage to run away from home; otherwise, she would have endured it all the time, feeling that she would never be able to compare with a certain mercenary and his wife in the future.

However, when she encountered that situation before, the atmosphere was ruined. The little one drank milk and went to bed early.

Bucky checked the system.

[System Information: Defeat four armed criminals, save three victims, complete daily rewards, reward 3 experience points, random item box (green excellent)*800;

To trigger the series of missions "Origin of the Punisher," you need to continue to contact the key figure Frank Castle to trigger the next mission.]

Although it wasn't perfect, the system still gave rewards, which was satisfactory.

It was also reasonable to trigger the Punisher's origin mission.

Originally, because Bucky failed to save everyone, he felt a burning anger inside him that he had nowhere to vent.

Now he saw the first random box of the elite level. If he had saved all of them, it should have been blue and rare. He felt that he lost something substantial, and that anger grew.

But for this matter, Bucky had no specific spoilers, because he didn't know which version of the Punisher this was. He had seen three versions of the movie and one version of the TV series, and each plot was different.

Let's wait until Agent Coulson finds out some information.

Now, let's open the box first.

[System Information: Open a random item box and get subcutaneous armor*1;

Subcutaneous armor (green and excellent): The bionic epidermis and bulletproof dermis covering the whole body replace the original skin system, greatly enhancing protection. It can adjust the sensitivity and pain of skin touch by itself, armor +50;

——It has caused a serious impact on the protective gear market.]

Bucky's mood improved significantly in an instant; this reward was excellent!

This was precisely what he needed most—well, what he wanted most—to improve his safety.

The system specified that for every 10 points of armor, 1 point of damage would be reduced. In this world, ordinary weapons, such as 9mm pistols, could deal about 10 points of damage. Armor would exceed 100 points.

In the future, not only could the Iron Man suit block bullets, but it could also withstand them with ease.

If he encountered Frank's situation again, Bucky would go straight to him with little Skye on his back.

Bucky silently said, "Implant the prosthetic body," and red and blue neon blocks flashed all over his body.

The feeling this time was even more wonderful.

It wasn't strange; it was extraordinary, because it felt as if the skin of his entire body was being replaced little by little. At the same time, there was a sensation, like a soft brush gently caressing his skin.

Not long after the implantation was completed, Bucky felt as if he had just taken a shower. The pores all over his body were relaxed and breathable. The touch became more sensitive, but it could also be adjusted to make it less intense.

Stretching out his left arm to look, it was covered with a layer of fake bionic skin; the only difference from the right arm was that it was slightly thicker than the right.

This layer of skin also had tactile feedback. After Bucky turned his left arm into a systematic prosthetic body and connected it with flesh and nerves, his left arm gained a real sense of touch.

After all, Bucky was very satisfied with this lottery draw. When watching movies and shows before his transmigration, he thought the Iron Man suit was cool, but becoming the Winter Soldier made him not want people to constantly stare at his arm, hoping it wouldn't become his defining label.

With the experience points gained this time, Bucky also upgraded again.

[System Information: The experience value is sufficient and has been upgraded;

Character Level: 3;

Experience:

Get 1 free attribute point;

Gain 1 free feat point.]

[System, attribute points plus intelligence; feat points plus "Vulnerability Expert."]

[System Information: Points addition completed;

Character: James Buchanan Barnes;

Grade: 3

Flesh: 8 (movement 7, annihilation 7, brawl 7);

Reaction: 8 (pistol 7, assault 7, sword 7);

Technology: 4 (Engineering 1, Crafting 3);

Intelligence: 8 (Intrusion Protocol 2, Quick Crack 1);

Calm: 11 (stealth 7, cold blood 2);

Life Value:

Endurance Value:

Added the quick-cracking specialty talent "Vulnerability Expert";

Vulnerability Expert: Unlocks the crafting specification for the Blue Rare Quick Crack plugin.]

The upgraded attribute points were directly added to intelligence, and the rare-level quick-crack plugin was unlocked, allowing the two plugins of target positioning and electromagnetic short circuit to be upgraded.

However, to make an excellent green plugin, he needed the purple epic component, and the rare blue plugin needed the orange legendary component—so outrageous that Bucky wanted to review the advanced cursing postures in 30 languages he had mastered.

Unlocking was easy, but obtaining materials was difficult... Should he consult Howard again?

But at the current level of technology, what Howard had provided him before was already the most advanced computer designs, and those components could not be dismantled from the orange legend.

"Either wait for the new CPU , or think about Howard's black technology..."

Bucky pondered that Howard, the great inventor, had many inventions that surpassed the times.

For example, the enormous Ark reactor in Stark Industrial Park was the prototype of the mini-reactor in Iron Man's chest.

Was it truly that Howard was limited by the current level of technology, preventing him from miniaturizing it?

Anton Vank0, the Russian scientist who developed the reactor with Howard, seemed to have ambitions to miniaturize it, but Howard expelled him from America. In some versions, Anton Vanko succeeded in miniaturizing it and became the supervillain "Crimson Mecha" or "Second Generation Whiplash."

Perhaps this was due to Howard's caution?

Could he do something about it?

"...Uncle, I can't sleep? How did your arm change back?"

Bucky, lost in thought, was called back to his senses by little Skye's timid voice. He saw the little one in pajamas, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead and a look of fear in her eyes, obviously having had a nightmare.

Bucky felt a pang of sympathy but didn't show it. He picked up the little one and smiled, "Oh, someone did it for me before... It's easy to fall asleep. I'll give you the best way to deal with insomnia."

"Any solution?"

"Stay up late; as long as you stay up late, you won't have to suffer from insomnia."

"…"

The little one really didn't know how to accurately complain about this seemingly flawless logic.

She didn't know how to express her frustration

---------------------

Chapter 20 Harvest, Insomnia, Follow-up

"Come on, let me show you the right way to stay up late."

Bucky placed little Skye on the couch, then went to warm up a glass of milk and a plate of Oreos. He sat down next to her, turning on the TV to some dull late-night shopping show.

Little Skye didn't need anyone to comfort her with phrases like "don't be afraid" or "don't take it to heart." Instead, she just needed someone by her side to feel safe, knowing she wasn't alone.

"Do you know how many combinations of Oreos are correct? Oreos, Ollies, and Oreos..."

Although Bucky didn't know any bedtime stories, he told a few corny jokes and complained about the TV shopping shows that tested people's IQ. Soon, little Skye calmed down and began to fight against her heavy eyelids...

Knock knock...

However, just as little Skye was about to fall asleep, there was a knock on the door. It wasn't loud but was rather urgent.

Who?!

Bucky looked at little Skye, who woke up suddenly in his arms, and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

If this is the wrong door, you're in trouble!

When he opened the door, he was taken aback.

Standing outside was Frank Castle, his face haggard and anxious.

"I need to ask you something. Can you come with me?"

"Wait for me to change."

Seeing that Frank wanted to drag him off, Bucky just nodded without saying anything. He went back to comfort little Skye, who looked a bit scared at the sight of Frank.

"I'll go out for a while. You can go back to the bedroom or watch TV. Just don't open the door if someone knocks..."

After giving her some more instructions, he put on his clothes and followed Frank out.

"It's my son. He lost a lot of blood and stopped breathing for too long, leading to a lack of oxygen to the brain. According to the doctor, he may have permanent mental damage."

As they sat in Frank's muscle car, speeding down the road, Bucky understood why Frank had sought him out.

But it was a shame... Although the system props were powerful, they could only restore health and replenish vitality. The healing props could bring his son back from the brink of death, but due to issues like brain hypoxia from stopping breathing, the system props couldn't help with that.

"I know you have special abilities. There are extraordinary powers in this world. Can you help me?"

However, Frank's pleading only earned him Bucky's apologetic gaze and a slight shake of his head. His heart sank for a moment, causing the steering wheel to tremble, and the car shook slightly.

Frank asked, trembling, "Do you need anything..."

But Bucky interrupted him: "If I had any requests, I would have mentioned them before, wouldn't I? I'm not stingy."

He then handed him a [Fuerkang Type I] syringe.

"This is what I use to treat you and your son. It's a healing agent that can be used to rescue seriously injured patients. I only have this type of treatment. You can try it on your son, but... you need to be mentally prepared."

Bucky didn't feel bad about using one or two healing potions. Even if it was for a prosthetic body, as long as it could save lives, it was worth it.

But even the brain access pod couldn't repair brain damage.

And the prosthetic couldn't be installed by anyone else.

The props could be used by others because they were still used by Bucky, just like Bucky shooting, scanning with his prosthetic eyes, and beating people with his prosthetic limbs.

Frank looked at the small gadget with the red cross on it. It appeared delicate at first glance, but his heart felt entirely cold. Tears filled his eyes, and his chest swelled with resentment and anger.

But as a desperate parent, even with slim hope, he suppressed his urge to go mad and took Bucky to the S.H.I.E.L.D. hospital.

He watched as Bucky injected the serum into his son, who didn't respond, and despair began to creep in.

Then despair turned to madness.

Frank, with bloodshot eyes and unable to find his voice, rushed out of the hospital, returned to the car, and slammed the door shut.

"Where do you want to go? Has Coulson found out anything?"

At that moment, he heard a familiar voice beside him.

In his rage, he was completely oblivious to how Bucky had gotten into his car.

Then he realized he hadn't thought about what he was going to do at all. His mind was filled with rage, and his body was driven by it.

"...FUUUCK!!!"

Frank, consumed by anger, finally couldn't hold it back any longer. He slammed his fists on the steering wheel and let out a beast-like growl.

"...Hey, Coulson, did you interrogate those two gangsters overnight?"

After Frank had shouted with all his strength and leaned on the steering wheel with his arms around his head, Bucky took out his mobile phone and called Phil Coulson.

"What? I just finished an operation and I'm still resting. I'll ask when I wake up. Where are they? Let me go over and have a look. Those two bastards who shot and killed innocent people deserve this treatment?"

Bucky cursed under his breath; it was a shame he couldn't save a good person but had to heal a beast.

However, he still let Frank drive them to another S.H.I.E.L.D. emergency hospital.

Upon arrival, under Coulson's curious gaze, he administered a healing potion to each of the two bastards, saying, "Wake these bastards up, then interrogate them."

The two injured men were healed but still affected by the sedative drugs.

"You can invite Frank to join in. With his threat, it will be easier for you to handle the case, but you need to watch him and make sure he doesn't act aggressively."

"I understand; you can rest assured."

Bucky saw that Frank had transformed from a sluggish walking corpse to a raging beast, glaring at the two bastards. He pulled Coulson aside to explain a few things, and Coulson remained as calm and mature as ever, which eased Bucky's mind.

Since things were still unclear, Bucky felt he wouldn't be of much use here.

"Who's watching Frank's daughter?"

"A caregiver has been arranged."

"Then I'll leave first. Let me know if there's any news."

After speaking with Coulson, Bucky approached Frank again but didn't say much.

Little Skye needed comfort from others, but Frank didn't.

Bucky simply patted him on the shoulder and said, "If you need help, call me."

After leaving, Bucky felt a little better due to the upgrade, but he was still somewhat down.

In this world, so many random events cropped up suddenly and made people unhappy.

Damn, I'm not happy, and you shouldn't be either!

Bucky thought to himself. If Frank couldn't find a way to vent his anger, why couldn't he?

He turned on the police radio; let's go!

The night was still long, and while people might sleep, the bastards were everywhere. How could Bucky sleep?

-------------

Chapter 21 The First Pot of Gold

"Little brat, wake up! The sun is shining on your back!"

"Well, Uncle, I don't feel well. I might have a fever."

"...Oh! That's terrible. I'll take you to the hospital. You need an injection!"

"Huh? An injection? No need! I think I'll be fine after a little rest."

"Are you a doctor? What do you think is good for you? Let's go! I'm taking you to the hospital."

"No!"

In the early morning, Bucky carried the little Skye, who was pretending to be sick and reluctant to go to school, on his shoulders. The little one screamed in protest, revealing her true colors.

It had been almost a week since the incident with Frank Castle.

However, the investigation was not going smoothly. Those two scoundrels were just thugs. They were fierce but thoughtless. Under interrogation by S.H.I.E.L.D., they spilled everything they knew, but it was of no use.

Even S.H.I.E.L.D. dispatched personnel to take down that gang directly.

However, it turned out that the gang had nothing to do with Frank's past experiences.

They simply took money to do jobs, not caring who was paying them at all.

It was also impossible to determine who held such a deep grudge against Frank and wanted to kill his entire family.

However, the investigation was not abandoned.

Both Frank and Coulson felt they had lost their leads, and when they were feeling a bit helpless, Bucky brought them back with a simple realization.

The problem still lay with Frank.

There is no unreasonable hatred in this world. Frank must have done something to provoke the other party, prompting such extreme actions against him.

The target was Frank, with his wife and children being collateral damage.

Yet, it was necessary to investigate who Frank had angered. Frank, although not a punisher, had a reputation for being fiercely protective and could not tolerate evil.

During his time in the military, he undertook special missions overseas, even engaging in black operations. He witnessed a lot of darkness, including corruption within the ranks, bullying by security personnel of defense contractors, and the mistreatment of locals.

He took action against many injustices.

Not to mention that he had cooperated with contractors and the CIA, engaging in many questionable activities behind the scenes.

Even after returning home and starting a family, his disposition against evil led him to take action against wrongdoers.

For a moment, Frank could only imagine how many people he had offended and how many enemies he had created. Even if the hatred was intense enough to send a hitman after him, he couldn't keep track.

There was still time for investigation.

Fortunately, this gave Frank a sense of direction so that he wouldn't become a mad beast with nowhere to vent his rage.

As for Bucky, he couldn't assist him for the time being, so he returned to a more peaceful life.

Yes, peaceful. Hydra seemed to have really quieted down or was perhaps biding its time for a bigger move.

On the other hand, Howard, to maintain the appearance of ignorance regarding Hydra and keep up his usual pace of life, was busy with his career and secretly investigating the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D. His progress was very slow and cautious.

Bucky was not in a hurry; after all, Howard, being a genius, was leading the matter, and he only needed to cooperate.

His goal was to strengthen himself and become more powerful.

Fighting against Hydra was far less efficient than strengthening oneself.

If he were not the Winter Soldier but Thor or Captain Marvel, he wouldn't be afraid of Hydra's schemes!

During these days, Bucky focused on fighting crime on the streets, striving for faster upgrades.

As for little Skye, Bucky spent a lot of time with her, helping her gradually overcome her previous fears. It's worth mentioning that the future Quake showed an extraordinary resilience. He worried she might be affected by autism, but she managed remarkably well.

Seeing her progress, Bucky waited for the people from S.H.I.E.L.D. to help him complete all the necessary procedures to re-enroll Skye in school without bothering the two experts.

The little one was now a primary school student.

However, after spending a few days with Bucky and becoming comfortable, she started to lose interest in studying before even attending school.

Bucky thought it was time to find a nanny for her.

While he had enough free time to care for her, it was not convenient, and he wasn't very good at looking after others, so he decided to find a professional nanny.

However, there hadn't been any online recruitment responses lately, so Bucky turned to the newspaper, published a recruitment ad, and waited for applicants.

...

"Wow, Uncle, this is the legendary computer!"

After school that afternoon, Bucky picked up little Skye. As soon as they entered the house, she spotted a brand-new computer on the desk in the living room. It was a Compaq 486. They had ordered it on Christmas Eve, and it was delivered and set up today.

The little one was immediately captivated by this novel gadget.

It had to be said that little Skye had a special connection with computers. At an age when most kids preferred Barbie dolls, playing house, or makeup, she showed little interest in those things, instead favoring high-tech devices.

"Uncle, Uncle, hurry and turn it on so we can see!"

The little girl bounced in excitement, sitting in front of the computer. She poked the keyboard with one finger, toyed with the wheel mouse, and beckoned Bucky eagerly.

While this computer was considered top-of-the-line at the moment, with a 50MHz 486 processor, 8MB of memory, and a 512MB hard drive, to Bucky, it felt no different from an electronic dictionary.

Yet, this experience made Bucky feel nostalgic, as if he were revisiting something new and retro.

With great interest, he approached and pressed the power button.

"Oh! It's on!"

"Oh! There's a design! Uncle, you're amazing!"

Little Skye's enthusiasm made Bucky feel a bit embarrassed. He wanted to explain some basics about the computer... Even if he were showing off operations to the future world's top hacker, he didn't want to showcase something as simple as turning it on.

However, there was really nothing to brag about regarding this machine. The MSDOS and Windows 3.0 operating systems were pre-installed on it. Even when entering Windows, you had to execute commands in DOS. There was no internet access, just some software that was more expensive than the computer itself.

There weren't even any simple games like Minesweeper or Solitaire, so Bucky couldn't demonstrate his impressive skills in Minesweeper.

Still, little Skye watched with great interest. She found it fascinating, playing with the mouse for a long time without tiring.

"You can't play anymore if it's interesting! Go do your homework now."

"No, Uncle! Just a little longer!"

Seeing little Skye getting addicted to the computer, Bucky decided to pick her up, carrying her on his shoulders and insisting she do her homework.

Then he fiddled with the mouse for a while, unsure of what to do next.

What do I even use this computer for? …Before, I was misled by Howard's computer and the system he created. Everyone has played with man-machine dialogue. This is the best computer on the market that I bought, but it doesn't even have Minesweeper.

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Chapter 22: The First Pot of Gold

When Bucky bought a computer, his real intention was to use it to make his first pot of gold.

Upon arriving in this world, he quickly realized the persistent threat of Hydra—a shadowy force that was difficult to shake off. Collaborating with Howard and striving for strength and self-improvement became Bucky's goal, almost a mission he had to complete.

But beyond this mission, there was life to live.

Bucky cherished this second chance, bizarre and hard-earned as it was. He could change his identity, start fresh in a new environment, and live a life far removed from the mechanical routine he once knew.

In his past life, the relentless grind of work had numbed him, his sense of self gradually eroding. Life became a monotonous cycle of work, eat, sleep—day after day, with nothing but repetition.

Bucky didn't want to fall into that trap again.

He was also determined not to remain entangled with Hydra for the rest of his life. By the time Bucky crossed over, Hydra hadn't been fully eradicated yet, and he refused to be caught in its web forever.

He wanted freedom, a life without constraints, filled with excitement and possibilities.

This world was full of opportunities. Bucky, who had only dared to dream before, now found himself in a place where the fantastical was real. He could see, touch, and, if he fought for it, even achieve unimaginable rewards.

The opportunity was right in front of him. How could Bucky be content with the status quo just because he had allied himself with a wealthy benefactor like Howard?

Besides, while it's fine to rely on Howard once or twice, Bucky knew he couldn't keep asking for help. Howard might not mind, but Bucky didn't have the audacity to keep leaning on him.

To make his first pot of gold, Bucky thought of the strategies of those who had traveled through time before him—copying songs, novels, and various documents, or buying potential stocks.

When it came to copying songs, Bucky was tone-deaf. He wouldn't dare step into a karaoke bar, where people pay to sing, and instead, he'd have to pay others not to listen to him sing.

So, Bucky decided to copy books.

Yes, when he bought the computer, Bucky intended to use it for writing.

In fact, Bucky was more interested in making computer games because, in his previous life, he had dabbled in it, even creating some simple pixel games on his own.

But after understanding the situation, he quickly dismissed that idea.

Bucky didn't have much specific information about this era—just a general sense that it was the "90s." But the early 90s and late 90s were vastly different, especially with the explosion of computer technology.

In this era, computer performance was advancing rapidly, far beyond the mainstream game consoles available. However, the penetration rate of computers was still too low; even in the U.S., they weren't a common household item yet.

Moreover, the initial investment in making games was too high, making it far less convenient than writing books.

When writing, Bucky didn't even need to type. He could simply connect to the computer with the [Internet access compartment], and communicate directly with the computer's operating system.

He could just think of what he wanted to write, and the text would automatically appear in the document—much more convenient than voice recognition.

As for what to write, the first thing that came to mind was the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series that he had loved before his transmigration.

But that book was too explicit, and it only became popular after the TV adaptation "Game of Thrones" was released, which in turn drove the novel to sell millions.

And with little Skye being so interested in computers, if she saw it when he wasn't paying attention...

Bucky decided to go for something more family-friendly, something with a broader audience. Children's books were the easiest to sell.

Even if he still wanted to write "A Song of Ice and Fire," he would have to do it elsewhere, not at home.

For family-friendly content, the most famous choice was, of course, the "Harry Potter" series. But Bucky had only seen the movies and read the first book. Since J.K. Rowling wrote it as a children's story, its fairytale-like style didn't appeal to him, so he didn't bother with the second book.

Fortunately, the movie adaptation was well-done, with Rowling herself involved in the filming. The movie closely followed the story, so Bucky's task was to expand the plot he remembered into a book.

With that in mind, Bucky connected the data cable at the base of his left palm to the computer. A word document automatically opened on the monitor, and the text began to appear: "Harry Potter, Chapter 1, The Boy Who Lived..."

"Uncle, I finished my homework. Can I play on the computer now? Wow, Uncle, are you really not a Terminator?"

Little Skye, guessing she had finished her homework, didn't feel hungry at mealtime. Instead, she wanted to play on the computer, but when she saw Bucky's non-human operation, her eyes widened.

Luckily, Bucky didn't hide much from little Skye, not even his real name, though she didn't fully understand what it meant.

Bucky's repeated displays of abilities beyond normal comprehension had quickly become accepted by little Skye, who, at seven years old, was still forming her worldview and was open to the extraordinary. She was adapting quickly and easily.

"Hungry? I'll get you something to eat."

Bucky continued "writing," working like a machine, pouring out text that began with Harry Potter meeting Hermione Granger in Diagon Alley.

Before he knew it, night had fallen, and it was well past dinnertime. He quickly prepared some food for little Skye, not minding that she was playing with the computer. After all, he had saved the file, and it could be directly stored in the network access warehouse.

He either had a photographic memory or something close to it.

While warming up some fast food, Bucky thought about finding a nanny soon, someone who could take care of little Skye. However, this would mean restricting his behavior at home, no longer able to be as open as he was now.

Maybe he also needed to find a secret base, which would be convenient for his activities.

"Time to eat."

"Oh..."

Little Skye was engrossed in Bucky's document.

Since it was a children's fantasy story, Bucky tried his best to recall the style of the first "Harry Potter" book he had read, using the simplest language and the most straightforward descriptions. This time, he truly appreciated J.K. Rowling's talent.

It was such an easy-to-understand narrative, without any fancy language or rare words, yet it painted such a vivid and magical world.

And this style of writing was easy enough for little Skye, who had just started first grade and had secretly read some books and dictionaries left behind by other kids in her foster family, to stumble through and grasp the general meaning. She was completely captivated by the story.

Bucky's earlier worries faded away. The charm of "Harry Potter" was universal.

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Chapter 23: The Nanny and the Neighbor

"Bucky, I've already contacted the publisher. You can just bring the manuscript to the editor. I didn't expect you to have such a talent."

"What's so strange about this? You know Steve likes to draw comics, so what's so special about me making up stories? We both wanted to publish a graphic novel back then."

Three days later, Bucky finished writing *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*, the first book in the series, at a rate of several thousand words per hour, or "thinking" speed, for three hours a day.

Since it was based on his limited memory of the book and the movie's plot, the word count was slightly less than the original version, but it was still a complete story, with a narrative structure and plot rhythm that felt reasonable.

This was confirmed by little Skye, the first fan of this book in this world. Although her approval isn't authoritative, Bucky was relieved that a child could understand and enjoy it.

Bucky had it printed and asked Howard to help him contact his family's publishing house.

Not just any publishing house—it was his family's. Howard, a super genius, had naturally published books before, and he wouldn't allow his works to be critiqued by editors at regular publishing houses, so he simply bought a small company with the ability to publish officially.

He wrote books with the mentality of not caring if anyone read them. If people didn't read the books written by a genius like him, it just meant they didn't have the chance.

Bucky was also very confident in his work—well, in Aunt JK's work. When he heard that Howard had his own publishing house, he decided to print the book and sell it directly. He wasn't in a rush; he'd let the book slowly build its reputation.

What Bucky didn't expect was that Howard also read his manuscript and thought it was well-written.

Thanks again to JK Rowling. If I ever have the chance in the future, I'll go to England to find out if there's such a genius in this world, he thought.

What Bucky didn't know was that in this world, there was indeed a JK Rowling who had had the original idea since 1989, but it wasn't until 1996 that the outline of the first story was completed.

In this world, after seeing someone write out a story that was still a hazy concept in her mind, the future great author began to suspect that there really was magic in this world. She also sought out Bucky, hoping to collaborate on the writing. After Bucky guiltily recruited her, she wrote the last few Harry Potter books and *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*, becoming the sole author of those works.

But that's a story for later.

Bucky simply handed over the first draft to Howard's publishing house, which hired a fairy tale editor to help with polishing and error correction. It was ready to be printed directly.

Other specific tasks were also handled with the help of the publishing house.

All Bucky had to do was go through the story in his head while the computer coded it out for him. The follow-up work was completed with the help of wealthy men.

This brought him unprecedented happiness. Earning money while lying down is indeed the most enjoyable thing in the world.

After copying *The Sorcerer's Stone*, Bucky decided to see how it performed before moving on to copying *A Song of Ice and Fire*.

In the past two days, Bucky had found out that this world was a little different from his original one, and that the original author, Mr. Martin, did not exist here.

Unlike Aunt JK, Mr. Martin had been famous for a long time, starting his writing career in the 1970s and winning many awards. He had even entered Hollywood in the 1980s with "The Brave Lion." There was no need to bother finding out his identity.

The result was that no such person was found.

This was also why Bucky felt at ease. Without the old man, perhaps there wouldn't be an aunt.

And since there was no such masterpiece as *A Song of Ice and Fire*, how could Bucky, as the most loyal fan, not bring it to this world?

However, he planned to work on it behind little Skye's back. There was no rush; Bucky had plenty of experience in preserving it well.

...

"Señor, breakfast is ready. I'll call little Skye right now."

"I see, Rita."

Another morning, a new woman appeared in Bucky's house.

A Latino woman in her 50s.

After copying *The Sorcerer's Stone*, Bucky also completed another task that had been on his mind: finding the right nanny.

The woman's name was Rita, a Mexican who had immigrated to the United States with her family. Both her husband and son had stable jobs, and her son was getting married.

She had been a nurse and later worked as a nanny. She had just finished her previous job and wanted to take a break, but her son needed money for the wedding, so when she saw Bucky's job advertisement, she decided to continue working.

Bucky had asked Coulson to help investigate her background, and after confirming everything, he felt comfortable leaving little Skye in her care.

Bucky was very satisfied with Rita, but little Skye was not used to her presence.

She was accustomed to living with her uncle, and having a nanny felt like a form of alienation.

But Bucky wasn't really suited to taking care of others. He had no patience when it came to little Skye, and sooner or later, he would have spoiled her.

That's why, after learning about Rita's background, he decided to hire her. She had taken care of several children similar to Skye.

Fortunately, even though the little girl had some reservations, she didn't show it. She didn't want to upset her uncle or do anything that might make him dislike her.

And with Rita's patience, good cooking, and the unique care only a woman could provide, little Skye soon stopped resisting.

After breakfast, Rita went to take little Skye to school, and Bucky was about to continue "thinking," planning to recreate the second book in the series, *The Chamber of Secrets*. He had only seen the movie, so this time it would take more effort. Fortunately, having completed the first book, he had gained some experience, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

"Hello, little sister."

"Hello, Auntie, who are you?"

"...I'm your new neighbor, little one. What's your name?"

Just then, Bucky heard little Skye talking to a young female voice outside the door.

New neighbors? When Bucky heard this, he walked over to open the door and saw a tall young woman who seemed a bit exasperated by little Skye's "sweet mouth."

Little Skye called all the young women Bucky met "Auntie." Melinda didn't mind when she heard it before, but the young woman in front of her, who looked to be in her early 20s, younger than the rookie policewoman, exuded a youthful energy. However, her cold and elegant beauty clearly showed her dissatisfaction with this title.

"...Hi, I'm Johnny Lind. What's your name?"

"Hello, Maria Hill. Nice to meet you."

"…Uh-huh."

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Chapter 24: Hill

When Bucky first saw this "female college student," he was momentarily taken aback.

Is this "neighbor" really coming to live next door?

But he quickly learned that the person hadn't even bothered to change her name, simply introducing herself as Maria Hill.

The heroic, glamorous, and unparalleled future commander of the aerospace aircraft carrier—a key figure for the mighty S.H.I.E.L.D.

Who sent her?

Damn Nick Fury? No, he hasn't taken full control yet, so he couldn't have sent her. He can't really interfere with Bucky's affairs.

That old trickster Alexander Pierce? No way. Commander Hill isn't someone he could corrupt, right? And it's unlikely he'd bypass Howard Stark to pay special attention to Bucky.

So, the most likely answer is Howard. But why?

"You said you're a college student at NYCU?"

NYCU, the City University of New York—while not as famous as NYU, it has a long history and has produced many celebrities.

"Yeah, I'm a student at the Brooklyn campus. I just enrolled this year. How about you, Mr. Linde? Have you lived here for a long time?"

Bucky pretended not to know who Maria Hill was, and the future Commander Hill was also very enthusiastic, even inviting Bucky into her house.

"Yeah, I've been living here for a while."

"Sorry, the boxes are still unpacked, and there's only mineral water in the fridge. I'm new here, so I haven't prepared much."

"It's okay. Why don't you live on campus?"

"I'm used to living alone. By the way, I'm looking for a part-time job. Mr. Linde, you must be familiar with the area, right?"

Hill seemed very eager, almost like a young woman inexperienced in the ways of the world, trying to navigate her surroundings.

Bucky didn't point out the ruse but played along, though he was curious—what exactly was she up to?

"Hey, Howard, do you know anything about the new neighbor next to me?"

After chatting for a while, Hill suggested having lunch together with a bit of an assertive approach. Bucky agreed but quickly left and called Howard once he got home.

"I was just about to tell you. There's a special situation with a kid in your care, and I'll send someone over to help. If you can't manage, I can take care of it."

So, it was arranged by Howard. Was Hill just joking around? A harmless prank?

"And, this Agent Hill is someone Nick Fury has a lot of faith in."

So what? You want me to keep an eye on her? Bucky was a little surprised by Howard's suggestion, but he responded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

"That's good. I trust you to handle it. If anything comes up, contact me immediately."

It seems Howard is also quite fond of Commander Hill.

Bucky didn't fully grasp that Howard's "take care of" implied building a good relationship with the future Commander Hill.

However, Howard interpreted it as "watching over her," possibly reporting back to her superior, Nick Fury, or even to Pierce.

The two seemed to have a mutual understanding, but in reality, their relationship was full of subtleties.

Fortunately, it was Howard who misinterpreted the situation, not Bucky.

Bucky felt relieved knowing that with the future Agent Hill helping keep an eye on the place, he could leave little Skye at home alone without worry.

Knock, knock.

Just as he was thinking this, there was a knock on the door.

"My place doesn't have hot water yet. Can I borrow yours?"

Outside stood the pretty and slightly embarrassed Maria Hill.

Bucky hadn't expected to meet Commander Hill in this way.

What game are you playing?

Are you really just an ordinary young and beautiful college student? This kind of scenario only appears in certain action movies, right?

Bucky looked at Maria Hill, feeling no particular emotion but instead feeling somewhat critical.

Well, maybe not entirely without emotion—who wouldn't feel a bit flattered by the attention of a young female college student?

Anyone, despite knowing it might be a prank, would still be a little pleased and even have a small fantasy, right?

Bucky wasn't celibate, but since crossing over, he hadn't had a normal social life, and his subconscious reaction was just a sign of a healthy man.

So, let's put an end to this.

"Agent Hill, I've spoken to Howard Stark on the phone."

When Bucky let Maria Hill into the room, facing her inquisitive eyes, he made a gesture to pause, indicating he didn't want to play along anymore.

"Sir, Agent Hill, reporting for duty."

As soon as she heard Bucky's words, her expression changed from a playful look to one of indifference, barely more animated than Melinda May. She also stepped back to maintain some distance.

Still, there was a fleeting look of "tsk, that's no fun" on her face.

Sure enough, it was a joke.

Maria Hill, freshly out of the academy and still a rookie agent, thought she'd be assigned to significant fieldwork, imagining herself as a super spy like 007.

Unexpectedly, a last-minute call assigned her to a mission requiring a covert identity to secretly observe and protect a special person.

Initially smug, she felt a bit dissatisfied with the assignment, though she would never show it and would follow orders 100%.

But when she learned that the task had been personally arranged by the legendary Howard Stark, and that the target was a highly important individual, she became much more focused.

Yet, her curiosity about the top-secret mission target grew.

So, with youthful impulsiveness, she decided to play a prank, not directly revealing her identity but arriving first to "test" Bucky.

To see if she could fool him or discover what made Bucky so special.

However, before she could fully commit to her act, Bucky had already figured it out and called her bluff.

Although disappointed, Maria Hill didn't press on.

"Sir, I'll continue living as an ordinary college student, maintaining my cover. But if you need anything, I'll respond immediately. I'll also install cameras in the corridor and around the perimeter to monitor the situation."

"I won't disturb your work. Just continue as you were."

Seeing Hill's official demeanor, Bucky couldn't help but adopt the attitude of "I'm watching your progress."

After sending Hill away, Bucky couldn't help but think that Howard had made an excellent choice. Now, he could leave at night to fight crime without worrying about Skye. If anything happened, Hill would have his back, even if he had to be away for two or three days, or longer.

However...