Marvel: Copying Abilities

Steve looked a bit downcast.

At that moment, Senator Brandt walked over.

"It's not that I have anything against the Colonel—he just failed to see the bigger picture.

But I do, Steve.

More importantly, the entire nation sees it too."

Senator Brandt handed the newspaper in his hand to Steve.

"Ever since your story made the papers that day, the response has been incredible.

Now, the lines to enlist stretch out the door at every recruitment center!"

Steve glanced at the paper and saw the front-page headline:

"Spy Appears on New York Streets—Mysterious Hero Descends from the Sky to Save Innocent Civilians."

(Note: There was a "kidnapped civilian" inside the car—yes, all of it was staged!)

Senator Brandt then looked toward Agent Carter behind Steve and said,

"Steve is perfect for the idol route.

A different kind of contribution to the war effort is just as important.

You really shouldn't be keeping him locked up in a lab."

Seeing that Carter didn't respond, the senator stepped forward and draped an arm around Steve's shoulder, speaking in a friendly tone.

"Son, would you like to serve your country—on a battlefield that matters more?"

"Sir, I'd love nothing more!"

Steve immediately nodded, eager for a mission.

"Then congratulations—you've been promoted!"

Senator Brandt extended a hand, and Steve shook it. The senator's smile was meaningful, almost too smooth.

Steve suddenly felt… maybe he was a little too naive.

Agent Carter stood by, shaking her head with a sigh.

From there, Senator Brandt successfully convinced Steve to leave and began using his popularity to aggressively promote war bonds and raise funds for the military.

Steve's career as a performer officially began—commercials, posters, and daily filming of propaganda films.

He also went on a nationwide tour, performing live on stage, earning him the title:

Captain America.

Meanwhile, Wang Ye had wanted to see Steve perform live.

But S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counteroffensive against Hydra had already begun.

His desk was covered in endless piles of paperwork that seemed to multiply like rabbits, never-ending.

Luckily, Agent Carter came in during the day to help, or Wang Ye might've given up the job altogether.

Looking at the mountain of documents he'd been working on all morning—without making a dent—Wang Ye was growing desperate.

"By the way, Carter—how's recruitment for the departments going?

If this keeps up, I, the first Director, am going to die buried under paperwork!"

Agent Carter closed the file she had just finished and placed it neatly on the stack of approved documents.

"We still need some time to finish recruitment.

Given the current special circumstances, our screening standards are much stricter than before.

Anyone we can't trust completely is not getting in."

The more she learned about Hydra…

The more Carter felt their terrifying capabilities, especially their ability to infiltrate everything, bone-chilling it was.

"But we have found some promising recruits, and they're now undergoing final screening.

Once they pass, they'll officially be assigned roles."

Agent Carter smiled, clearly satisfied with this progress.

But little did she know—those "promising recruits" had all been secretly arranged by Wang Ye and Jon.

Their backgrounds were squeaky clean, and more importantly—

They had been deeply conditioned from childhood with subliminal programming.

Most of the time, they were just regular people.

But once triggered by specific keywords or audio cues, they'd transform into mindless puppets—obeying orders without question.

And the scariest part?

This subconscious conditioning was completely undetectable.

These were originally Schmidt's backup infiltrators—intended to be embedded in governments worldwide.

Now? They were all embedded directly into S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Well, that's good news. All I want now is to hit a bar and drink myself silly!

I've been buried in the paperwork so long, I forgot what alcohol tastes like!"

Upon hearing that his reinforcements were about to pass recruitment, Wang Ye was so moved he nearly cried.

"I think you're just losing your patience.

You're the Director now—these are official documents you're supposed to review personally!

Meanwhile, I'm in charge of intelligence and leaving a mountain of my tasks behind just to help you, and I'm not even complaining!

And no smoking in the office! You trying to burn the documents?!"

Agent Carter has been irritable these past two days.

Wang Ye guessed her period had come, and following the "wise man doesn't argue with women" principle, he chose not to push back.

Besides, this was his future daughter-in-law we're talking about—and he was quite satisfied.

After all, as the old saying goes:

"A slim waist and wide hips make for easy childbearing."

"Oh—sorry! Force of habit."

Then, smiling, Wang Ye added:

"Lovely Miss Carter, would you be so kind as to make me a cup of coffee?"

He stubbed out his cigar and returned it to the cigar box.

Agent Carter didn't say anything, but still got up and went to make him coffee.

After all, Wang Ye was the Director now.

And she had cast her vote for him during the election.

Late October, 1943

In the blink of an eye, Wang Ye had been buried in paperwork for several months.

Now, with his help, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s departments were fully infiltrated by Hydra agents.

These agents didn't even know who their true superior was, but when they joined S.H.I.E.L.D., they received only one command:

"Wholeheartedly grow and strengthen S.H.I.E.L.D."

And finally, Wang Ye got what he wanted:

He delegated all his work to subordinates and became a full-on hands-off leader.

He returned to his antique shop and resumed his lazy, salted-fish lifestyle.