"But there's a war going on right now. If I'm going to be the lead in a movie, I'll have to wait until the war is over," Howard sighed.
Howard still had some principles. It was World War II, and he had become a consultant for the Strategic Scientific Reserve. Of course, he couldn't just abandon his duties for a girl.
Fang Yuan understood. Howard was much like Tony; outwardly wild and unrestrained, but with a strong sense of responsibility deep down.
Anyway, all he wanted was Vought Corporation.
Howard acted quickly; the funds were in place that same day. Fang Yuan immediately found several major film and television industry figures in New York and had them set up Vought Corporation.
It was publicly announced as high-salary headhunting, but in reality, it was all due to Telepathy. After all, Fang Yuan was too lazy to play the 'three visits to the thatched cottage' charade for these ordinary people.
With Vought Corporation's matters handed over to these obedient subordinates, Fang Yuan wasn't idle either. His current main target was Steve, and he naturally wouldn't let Steve out of his sight for too long.
There's a famous theory called the "Six Degrees of Separation," meaning any two people in the World can be connected through no more than six intermediaries.
Of course, the premise is having enough resources, and Professor X was Fang Yuan's resource.
So, after five days of hard work, once Vought Corporation was on track, Steve, located at Camp Caspian Sea in New Jersey, was surprised to see an old acquaintance.
"Fang?"
Steve, who was training, stopped. He had already put on his long-desired military uniform and was running laps on the parade ground.
"Hurry up, ladies, hurry up!"
"Rogers, I said keep up!"
But the drill sergeant's words interrupted Steve's thoughts. Without waiting for Fang Yuan to speak, he quickly chased after his teammates.
"According to the plan, they still have two more days of training and assessment, and then Dr. Erskine will select the most suitable person from this group of soldiers to be the first test subject," a man in a black suit beside Fang Yuan introduced.
"Councilor Brand, welcome to inspect." The military Base commander walked over to greet the man, and Fang Yuan found his appearance very familiar.
Don't think I don't recognize you just because you changed into a military uniform, Agent K.
Of course, here he was Colonel Chester Phillips, head of the Strategic Scientific Reserve and one of the future founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Phillips's attitude was very enthusiastic because the research funds for the Strategic Scientific Reserve needed Councilor Brand's approval.
"This is?" Phillips looked at Fang Yuan.
"This is Fang Yuan, a representative from the media, and also my consultant," Brand introduced.
This Brand was naturally controlled by Fang Yuan using Telepathy. Such high-ranking ordinary people without superpowers were very useful to Fang Yuan.
Although Phillips was somewhat wary upon hearing that Fang Yuan was from the media, since he was brought by the financier Councilor Brand, he remained polite and agreed to Fang Yuan taking photos of the training site, but no information could be leaked before the plan was officially announced.
So Fang Yuan naturally stayed at the military Base and also met Agent Carter, Steve's lifelong love, and witnessed Steve's act of jumping on a grenade.
After a day of training, Steve finally couldn't help but find Fang Yuan.
"Fang, why are you here?" The two met outside the barracks, and Steve quickly asked.
"I told you I had connections. Have you forgotten how you got into the military Base?" Fang Yuan replied with a smile.
"This military Base…" Steve frowned slightly. "They are choosing the best soldier, and I…"
After so many days of training, Steve also understood how rare the experiment Dr. Erskine spoke of was, so he became a bit unconfident, because the soldiers training with him were all tall, strong men, each one capable of outperforming three of him.
"Hey, is this still the Steve Rogers who would fight someone all day?" Fang Yuan teased, "You should know…"
"Wow, look who it is?"
At this moment, an arrogant voice sounded. Steve turned to see three soldiers training with him. The speaker was Hodge, who had the best physical qualities among all the soldiers.
However, he also had the worst personal character among everyone.
"Young lady, so you enlisted through a reporter's connections?" Hodge asked with full malice.
"Hahaha!" The other two also started to mock.
Steve clenched his fists, glaring angrily at Hodge, but ultimately held back.
"Fighting is not allowed in the military Base," he explained.
Of course, this was just the official rule; behind the scenes, United States military Bases were already a "Water and Fire" of activity.
"Water and Fire" of activity.
Important things are said twice.
Saying it three times would be padding the word count.
But Steve was a disciplined man.
He knew how hard-won his chance to join the military Base was, so he controlled his emotions very strictly.
But Hodge became even more brazen.
"One of you is thinner than a woman, and the other is a Chink. What a perfect match!" Hodge mocked loudly.
Fang Yuan's face instantly darkened, and Steve shouted even more furiously: "Shut up, Hodge!"
"Chink" in this era was a discriminatory term on par with "Nigger."
"This person is very brave," Fang Yuan glanced at Hodge.
Although angry, he didn't lose his temper. The more agitated he was, the calmer Fang Yuan became.
He first used Telepathy to examine Hodge because this person was clearly abnormal.
Everyone knew that he was here with Phillips's permission. Hodge provoking Steve was one thing, but provoking him was too unusual.
Two seconds later, after scanning Hodge's empty brain, Fang Yuan immediately knew why.
The Super Soldier experiment slot!
Although Hodge was the best among all those training, there were already rumors in the military Base that Dr. Erskine intended to choose Steve, the smaller man, to be the first Super Soldier.
Especially today, Steve bravely jumped on the grenade, which even changed Colonel Phillips's opinion. Hodge knew that the results would be announced tomorrow, and if he didn't do something, it would be too late.
At this moment, Hodge suddenly saw that Steve and Fang Yuan knew each other, and immediately thought of provoking Steve to act, because Hodge had figured out that someone like Steve might endure being bullied himself, but he would absolutely not tolerate an insult to his friend.
This way, although Steve wouldn't be kicked out of the military Base, whether Dr. Erskine would still choose him was another matter.
As for himself?
Just a few verbal jabs, which were normal in the military Base. Hodge believed Colonel Phillips still favored him more.
Fang Yuan understood. It turned out to be a butterfly effect caused by his arrival here.
Don't let the burly appearance of the people in the military Base fool you; they all had their own little schemes, but Hodge clearly only had a little bit of cunning, not much.
Sure enough, Steve had already rushed over to confront Hodge.
Hodge was overjoyed. He deliberately didn't make a move, letting Steve's fist land on him, creating the impression that he was being unilaterally beaten.
"Now Dr. Erskine won't let you join the experiment!" Hodge thought.
But Fang Yuan remained unmoved. Hodge didn't understand that from the moment Steve joined the military Base, he was practically Dr. Erskine's chosen one.
Hearing the commotion, Base leaders Phillips and Erskine quickly arrived.
After hearing the whole story, Phillips's expression was not good, and Erskine was also a bit silent.
Hodge was secretly delighted, thinking his plan had succeeded.
Steve hung his head, looking ready to take his punishment.
"Smack!"
Erskine clapped Steve heavily on the shoulder: "To be able to endure personal insult, but to stand up when a comrade is insulted—that is what a Super Soldier should be like!"
"Huh?" Hodge was stunned.
"What?"
He was the one who hit, I was the one who got beaten, but he actually received praise?
What he couldn't accept was yet to come.
Seeing that Phillips and Erskine had no intention of pursuing the matter with Steve, Fang Yuan suddenly spoke.
"So… it's over?"
Phillips nodded silently.
Hodge was still confused, about to say something, when he horrifyingly realized that Fang Yuan's fist was already closing in on his cheek.
From beginning to end, Fang Yuan didn't give Hodge a chance to say a single word.
Being cursed at, Fang Yuan had no interest in talking back.
What he returned, others might not be able to bear.
To cure a foul mouth, one pair of iron fists at a time!
You will get 90 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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