Marvel: Copying Abilities

Italy

Five miles from the front lines, at the S.H.I.E.L.D. expeditionary forces camp.

Colonel Phillips was in the command tent, studying the battlefield model and formulating the next phase of his operation, when his adjutant burst in, flustered.

"Report, Colonel!

Two hundred Allied soldiers and the 107th Regiment were ambushed by Hydra while engaging enemy forces—they've suffered heavy losses. Fewer than fifty men made it back to camp alive!"

"When did this happen?

Why weren't we informed of their attack beforehand?!"

Colonel Phillips immediately flipped through the communications log but found no record of the 107th Regiment's offensive.

"This was an order issued from High Command three days ago.

Due to a failure in our communications equipment, we didn't receive the message in time."

"And you didn't report a communications failure immediately?!

Do you have any idea what kind of consequences this delay could bring?!"

Colonel Phillips furrowed his brows as he read the casualty report, frustration mounting. Glancing up to see the adjutant still standing there motionless only infuriated him more.

"What are you still doing here?!

Go investigate the fault—find out exactly what went wrong and get communications back online ASAP!"

At the Antique Shop

"Commander!"

Wang Ye picked up the ringing phone.

"What is it?"

"All the bases we previously abandoned have now fully defected and joined **.

Yesterday afternoon, they ambushed a marching Allied unit and captured the majority of the soldiers, including the 107th Regiment."

"We're still digging for more details—should have a full report soon!"

"The 107th?

That's the regiment Steve's childhood friend Bucky is in, right?"

Wang Ye raised an eyebrow. Damn, the plot corrects itself fast.

He only looked away for a few days, and Bucky's already been captured.

"Yes, according to confirmed intel, James Barnes is among the prisoners.

We also suspect the defectors are trying to brainwash him.

Shall we intervene and rescue him?"

"No need. I'll handle this personally.

In the meantime, stay at the Alps base and do this, that, and also that…"

After finishing the call with Jon, Wang Ye grinned:

"Time to put my acting skills to the test."

At the Frontline Camp

"Report!"

"Speak."

"There's a man outside the camp who calls himself Wang Ye and is requesting to see you. He's waiting outside now."

"Bring him in at once—and have someone make a premium cappuccino and send it over!"

Colonel Phillips perked up upon hearing Wang Ye had arrived. His timing couldn't have been better—just when everything was falling apart.

Moments later, Wang Ye strolled into the tent in a vintage-style casual outfit.

"Colonel, I expect an explanation.

This kind of oversight—let's hope you've got a perfect excuse for me."

Wang Ye casually sat in the armchair, his tone neutral, giving Phillips no clue what he was thinking.

"There was a storm here a few days ago—violent winds knocked out our power and communications.

Because of that, we didn't receive the high command's orders in time. I've been preoccupied with planning our countermeasures against Hydra.

Only yesterday were communications restored, and we received the order… along with the casualty report…"

The more he spoke, the more guilty Colonel Phillips sounded, until he finally slumped in defeat.

"Now is not the time to be defeated, Colonel.

You've already made a mistake—feeling sorry for yourself won't fix it.

What we need to focus on is how to fix this mess and minimize the losses.

If they've only been captured, that means they still have value—for now, their lives likely aren't in immediate danger."

Wang Ye stood up and walked over to the large-scale battlefield sand table in the center of the tent.

"This is the current terrain and enemy deployment?"

"Yes. It's a to-scale model based on our scouts' intel, and—"

Wang Ye raised a hand, signaling Phillips to stop talking. He began studying the map in detail, focusing on the three Hydra bases marked on the layout, frowning deeply.

He recalled that those three bases held fewer than a hundred troops combined, with only basic-level space-energy weapons.

How could they have defeated an entire regiment and captured so many Allied soldiers?

Did someone just pull a Han Xin, and the fewer troops they had, the stronger they got?

Phillips was irritated at being cut off, but seeing Wang Ye fully absorbed in the map, he swallowed his frustration. After all, he was the one at fault, and Wang Ye had come to help—he had no room to complain.

Wang Ye thought for a moment, and an answer came to mind.

Some time ago, Jon had mentioned that Setes had recently reemerged and been appointed Hydra's new commander.

These three bases must have been taken over by Setes—Wang Ye even recalled him from Red Skull's memory.

Setes had been a classmate of Red Skull's in Hydra's academy. They had been as close as brothers…

But not actual brothers.

During a leadership selection years ago, Setes, once confident in his victory, lost by a single vote to none other than Red Skull.

From then on, Red Skull's position rose steadily, while Setes was left behind, relegated to an instructor at the academy and forced to fade into the background.

Bitterness took root in his heart.

As the saying goes, "Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west—don't bully the poor."

Red Skull, no longer content with the status quo, became obsessed with mythical power and began neglecting Hydra's leadership.

The higher-ups grew discontent.

So Setes, who had a history with Red Skull, was once again brought into the spotlight.

They didn't want a rebellious wolf—they wanted a loyal dog.

The more Red Skull strayed, the faster Setes rose.

After Red Skull's loyalists mysteriously vanished in the Alps, Setes was officially declared Hydra's new leader.

He was even gifted 30,000 elite troops as a "welcome gift" to take over Hydra…

Of course, what he inherited was only a shell of the old Hydra.