That evening, Steve gathered five reliable comrades from the rescued Allied soldiers at the military camp's bar. Together with Bucky, the seven of them formed what would later become the famous Howling Commandos, with Steve assuming the role of team captain.
Meanwhile, the thin barrier between Agent Carter and Steve's affections was finally broken, much to everyone's delight.
In fact, some patrolling soldiers that night were lucky enough to spot Steve sneaking into Carter's room. Not long after, the lights in her room went out.
Such juicy gossip spread like wildfire, and by the next day, the entire camp was abuzz with different versions of the tale.
Wang Ye heard the news as well. Seeing his blockheaded protégé finally catch on to love left him deeply gratified.
With his presence, the original storyline had already begun to shift. Though the overall plot might eventually correct itself, the 70-year-long separation that was once the lovers' tragic fate would no longer occur!
Just as Wang Ye was about to head back to the Brooklyn S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters for some leisurely downtime, Colonel Phillips informed him that an official appointment notice from higher-ups would arrive in a couple of days. Phillips suggested Wang Ye stay a little longer to receive his commendation.
Unable to refuse, Wang Ye reluctantly agreed to extend his stay by a few more days.
What he didn't expect, however, was for the efficient S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives to fly over mountains of paperwork overnight and deliver them to his temporary location.
The sight of the workload almost moved Wang Ye to tears—or at least, made his eyes sting.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us give a warm round of applause to welcome Captain Wang Ye and Second Lieutenant Steve Rogers to the stage!"
On a temporary stage built at the camp, Colonel Phillips held a microphone and begrudgingly read from a script, his expression tight. He preferred speaking off the cuff but was forced to follow protocol.
Below, rows upon rows of soldiers formed neat formations, their gazes filled with admiration as they looked toward the stage.
The moment Phillips' words fell, thunderous applause erupted. Amid the cheers, Wang Ye and Steve, dressed sharply in green military uniforms, stepped onto the stage.
Phillips raised a hand, and the applause instantly ceased, leaving him nodding in satisfaction.
"Regarding the exploits of Captain Wang Ye, I believe there's little need for me to elaborate.
"He is brave and intelligent, with exceptional combat prowess and razor-sharp judgment.
"Throughout his missions, Captain Wang has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance, often defeating overwhelming odds and achieving monumental victories.
"In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, the President has promoted Wang Ye to the rank of Army Colonel and awarded him two First-Class Medals of Merit and five Second-Class Medals of Merit. Let us now welcome Senator Brandt to present the honors!"
Under rapturous applause, Senator Brandt ascended the stage. Dressed in a sharp suit, he waved to the crowd before turning to Wang Ye. He replaced Wang Ye's captain insignia with colonel's bars and pinned the medals on his chest, all while wearing a broad smile.
"Congratulations, Colonel Wang Ye!"
Wang Ye returned a polite smile. "Thank you."
Next came Steve's turn. Colonel Phillips glanced at his script and cleared his throat.
"Second Lieutenant Steve Rogers has risen from obscurity to renown.
"Accompanying Colonel Wang Ye on a daring mission to Austria to rescue Allied soldiers, Steve exhibited remarkable leadership talents and earned widespread recognition from his first mission alone.
"On the battlefield, he displayed adaptability and excellent command skills, personally leading rescued soldiers to mount a counterattack that decimated Hydra's elite mechanized forces.
"Recently, as the leader of the Howling Commandos, he led successive assaults that wiped out five Hydra bases and their accompanying forces.
"In light of his significant contributions, the President has promoted Steve Rogers to Army Major and awarded him one First-Class Medal of Merit and six Second-Class Medals of Merit. Let us welcome Senator Brandt to present the honors!"
Once again, applause thundered through the air as Senator Brandt stepped forward to bestow Steve's medals.
"Major Rogers, you've finally earned the title of 'Captain America.'
"Though you're no longer traveling nationwide for bond drives, your heroic deeds are dominating the headlines.
"Bond sales are skyrocketing, and recruitment lines now stretch for blocks!"
Steve offered a sheepish smile. "I'll do my best, sir."
Brandt, satisfied, nodded.
After the award ceremony, everyone gathered for a commemorative group photo.
One Year Later: S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Brooklyn
In the year since Wang Ye returned to Brooklyn, life had returned to a semblance of routine. Sitting on a couch in his office, he stretched lazily, though the sight of the towering stack of paperwork on his desk made his head ache again.
Previously, Carter would occasionally drop by to help, but she was now fully immersed in her relationship with Steve, leaving Wang Ye to fend for himself.
Having stayed up late the previous night to clear his backlog, he ended up crashing on the office couch. Yet, by morning, new files had already piled up.
Lighting a cigar, Wang Ye leaned back, contemplating ways to gracefully step down from his role as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. when a knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," he called out.
The door opened, and a statuesque blonde secretary walked in, holding a folder. Her voice was soft.
"Director, this is the latest report from the front lines. Please take a look."
"Leave it on the desk," Wang Ye said with a nod. "And bring me a cup of coffee, please."
"Of course, Director. It's my pleasure."
She left the office, throwing a playful wink over her shoulder.
Shaking his head, Wang Ye flipped through the report, landing on the intelligence about Hydra's latest movements:
Details on Steve's assault on Hydra bases.
Professor Howard's latest experimental breakthroughs.
Hydra's secretive plans and a terrifying new initiative.
Reading through the third section, Wang Ye's lips curved into a faint smile as he exhaled a puff of smoke.
"So, Hydra's been quietly moving its elite troops since last year, and their final gambit lies in the Alps—a massive underground base and a gigantic supersonic bomber ready to launch global devastation."
His voice carried a mix of amusement and determination.
"Let the Alps be the grand stage for this story's conclusion. The time has come."
(End of Chapter)
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