Chapter 151: The Winter Soldier Awakens (Second Update)

The two hundred million did not arrive as a direct cash transfer; instead, it was redeemed in other forms, such as purchasing necessary equipment and materials.

The first to arrive was the equipment promised by the Egg-head, valued at one hundred million.

SHIELD was a massive organization with deep roots, possessing numerous high-performing server-grade computers, many high-end server room facilities completely unavailable on the open market, and even supercomputers.

These items were quickly shipped via sea freight to the port of San Juan, then loaded onto trucks and delivered to the laboratory.

Tony took charge of the design, and a brand-new, ultra-large server room gradually took shape.

Before the completion of the "Quantum Brain" research, this place would serve as the server hub for the "Framework" and the headquarters of the "Azeroth Social Network Company."

Through certain unsavory channels, Skye had registered a multitude of front companies in advance. The subsidiaries under the "Azeroth Group" would span life sciences, social networking, military heavy industry, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and many other fields. This was a relatively crucial step among Wang's dozens of plans, and the goal was not merely to make money—

When wealth accumulated to a certain extent, money itself lost its meaning; the true value lay in the influence brought by that wealth—influence over politics, over the military, and over the entire world.

In a capitalist country, the power of capitalists could genuinely sway the operation of a nation and thus influence the entire world, yet Wang had little interest in politics.

He preferred to be the man behind the scenes of the Earth.

And the man behind the scenes of Azeroth.

Another plan of his was to cultivate top-tier, elite forces, namely, "superheroes."

Quake, the Ghost Rider, and others were naturally the initial and most solid foundation, but Wang's ambitions extended far beyond them.

Fitz's capability was indeed impressive; when he said two days, it meant two days.

After making the necessary adjustments to the related equipment, Fitz modified the Winter Soldier's memories, casually purging the Hydra brainwashing from his mind, and then... brainwashed him anew.

Wang did not directly control the Winter Soldier on a spiritual level. This was not only out of humanitarian considerations, but more importantly because doing so would undoubtedly make Fitz and the others deeply uneasy. If someone could control the Winter Soldier, they could control anyone; nobody wanted to lose their freedom, neither physical nor spiritual.

Furthermore, such control was not absolute and carried the risk of failure.

Once it failed, it would provoke fierce resistance, and the consequences would be severe.

Some simple memory alterations would simply cause the Winter Soldier to develop a favorable impression of Wang, and nothing more.

Then came the thaw.

Before everyone's eyes, the Winter Soldier opened his eyes.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I supposed to do?

Like everyone else who had shared this identical experience, the Winter Soldier fell into a state of utter bewilderment the moment he woke up.

Years of training made him subconsciously reach for absolute, overwhelming force to ensure he took the dominant position, controlled the situation, and only then pondered life's three ultimate questions.

However, a hand quickly pressed down on his shoulder with the weight of a thousand jun, making it impossible for him to rise no matter how hard he tried.

"Relax, Sergeant Barnes."

A gentle voice rang out, and a surge of internal energy flowed into his body, slowing his heartbeat, reducing adrenaline secretion, and forcing him to calm down.

Most importantly, the natural aura radiating from Wang made him feel a sense of freedom and tranquility. Coupled with the targeted memory modification, it caused him to feel an inexplicable trust in this person, looking upon him as if he were seeing a close family member.

Standing before him felt as warm as coming home.

"The Immortal Iron Fist? Master Wang?"

Recalling certain fragments, the Winter Soldier hurriedly asked, "What did you... do to me?"

"You were brainwashed by Hydra, and I helped you resolve that hidden hazard."

Wang's smile remained as warm as a spring breeze, melting away the sixty years of frost within the Winter Soldier: "Congratulations, Sergeant Barnes, you are free!"

Free?

Bucky froze.

The past sixty years flashed before his eyes like a rolling film. Every awakening and every mission executed had been a nightmare to his current self.

What have I done?

Being captured by Hydra, subjected to human experiments by Dr. Arnim Zola, and rendered stronger than ordinary men;

Steve appearing alone to rescue him, joining the Howling Commandos.

Falling from a cliff, surviving due to his unique physique, only to be captured once more by Hydra, subjected to further experimentation, fitted with a mechanical arm, and brainwashed into the "Winter Soldier."

Helping Hydra eliminate dissidents.

Over the past few decades, dozens of extremely important individuals had died by his hand, including renowned scientists and politicians, as well as the founder of Stark Industries and his old friend, Howard Stark.

Now, he was finally free, and all of this was thanks to Master Wang.

Looking at Wang, the Winter Soldier did not say "thank you"—the word felt far too light.

This weighed heavier than a life saved; it was a debt that could only be repaid with a lifetime—

Strange, why would I have such a thought? It doesn't quite fit my personality profile...

Naturally, the Winter Soldier had no idea that Fitz had tampered with his memories. Right now, he was far more concerned with another name.

"Steve, Steve Rogers, Captain America."

The Winter Soldier fell silent: "He is dead..."

He is dead, yet I remain alive. Life feels so bleak, so utterly meaningless...

"No, he is still alive."

Wang's voice suddenly echoed: "He is lying somewhere in the Arctic Circle, waiting for you to wake him."

The Winter Soldier's eyes snapped wide open, his hands gripping tightly onto Wang's shoulders: "Y-You said what? Steve... is still alive?"

During World War II, Captain America fought a monumental battle against the leader of Hydra, the Red Skull, ultimately securing victory.

The Tesseract was activated, banishing the Red Skull to some desolate planet deep in the cosmos. Its immense energy melted straight through the aircraft, causing the Tesseract to plunge into the ocean, where it eventually found its way into SHIELD's hands after changing hands several times.

Captain America flew the Valkyrie into the Arctic Circle and crashed in a remote location.

Frozen solid within the ice, he drifted away with glacial movement and ocean currents, disappearing completely.

Neither Hydra nor the Strategic Scientific Reserve of the era (SHIELD's predecessor) had ever stopped sending search parties, yet they found nothing.

Everyone assumed Captain America had perished.

Yet no one knew that he was merely frozen within the glacier, remaining alive thanks to the formidable constitution granted by the Super Soldier Serum, while even maintaining the appearance he had sixty years ago.

Waiting to be discovered.

Had Wang not intervened, he would have been discovered and awakened by SHIELD operatives roughly two years later, subsequently joining SHIELD under Nick Fury's persuasion and the influence of his former lover, Agent Carter, eventually attaining Level 8 clearance just like Agent Coulson.

Now, his destiny had been rewritten.

Compared to being awakened by agents of SHIELD, it was evidently far better to be awakened by someone else.

Brothers for life.

His former girlfriend had long since married and was nearing the end of her natural life—what was left to wait for?

Only the Winter Soldier, who had survived from sixty years ago to the present day and possessed an equally youthful physique, was his true love!

"Master Wang, do you know where Steve is?" The Winter Soldier was visibly agitated.

"Greenland... I know it is vast, but at least there is hope, isn't there?" Wang smiled faintly.

"I'm going right now." Not waiting even a second, the Winter Soldier stood up, ready to stride out.

Such an impatient temperament... Wang quickly pressed him back down: "Hydra and SHIELD searched for years without success. What makes you so certain you can do it alone?"

"But..."

"Wait a little longer."

Wang smiled: "I will have a plane and the finest detection equipment prepared for you, and I will also install the best prosthetic arm available... Rest assured, it won't be much longer. You've waited over sixty years, what are a few more days?"

"Fine..." The Winter Soldier nodded reluctantly.

For reasons unknown, he placed absolute trust in this Master Wang whom he had only just met, a trust that welled up from the depths of his heart—how bizarre.

It felt just like...

A long-lost family member?