Marvel: Little Genius - Chapter: 428 (Patreon)

"Have you seen these two individuals appear in the base before?"

"No, sir. I just found these two individuals suspicious."

"Can you describe their approximate appearance and attire?"

"One of them was wearing a black linen suit and had a hippie-style beard. As for the other one, I couldn't get a clear look at his face, but he was dressed in a base soldier's uniform, tall and muscular, and most importantly, he had a perfect posterior!"

"Alright, thank you for your cooperation, ma'am. Everyone, head to the sixth floor for an emergency assembly. There are unauthorized intruders in the underground base!"

The conversation was between the female clerk who had just ridden the elevator with Captain and the male security guard of the underground base.

As a staff member, even though she wasn't a field operative, this civilian woman had developed a keen eye through exposure to various experiences.

While in the elevator, she didn't show any expressions or actions, but internally, she had already harbored suspicions about Tony and Captain's identities.

Captain, despite being a seasoned soldier, was not as skilled in covert operations as a seasoned agent would be.

As for Tony, he was even more conspicuous; his natural charisma couldn't be concealed, no matter how hard he tried.

However, this clerk was very astute. She was dealing with two physically strong adult men while lacking any combat training herself.

So, even though she had seen through their disguises, she kept her composure and didn't reveal her knowledge. Instead, she memorized their features and planned to contact professionals to handle the situation once they were out of sight.

Meanwhile, just around the corner from where she was conversing with the security personnel, Captain, who had been unsuccessful in his search in the records room, happened to overhear their conversation.

Seeing the security team rapidly gathering and heading in his direction, he immediately changed his course.

Spotting an office with no lights on nearby, he quickly opened the door and slipped inside.

Outside the office, the security team hurriedly passed by without entering to search. Captain hid behind the door, listening to the fading footsteps, and quietly let out a sigh of relief.

His tense nerves relaxed, and it was only now that Captain shifted his attention to the surroundings of this office.

The office was a double suite, divided by a solid wall with windows on either side.

His current hiding spot was the single-person workspace in this office, consisting of a desk, a filing cabinet, and some decorations on the wall, making the entire office environment neat and bright.

On the other side, it connected to a common office area, a not-so-large space with six wooden desks piled high with numerous documents and clutter, giving it a chaotic appearance.

It was evident that the office Captain had taken refuge in belonged to a high-ranking officer.

Suddenly, as Captain looked at the items on the desk, his expression froze for a moment, showing signs of surprise.

This was because on the desk was a photo he was very familiar with, and the person in the photo was himself, more precisely, the photo was taken before he was selected by Dr. Erskine and he had received the Super-Soldier Serum injection.

Now it was 1970, a whole twenty-five years since he was presumed dead. Among the friends who possessed this photo, there was only one person in Captain's mind who could have maintained such a strong longing for him.

Picking up the photo from the desk, Captain turned to look at the door behind him, and the frosted glass on the door clearly displayed a line of text: Margaret Peggy Carter.

Clutching the photo tightly, it was at this moment that Captain finally understood why Mark had arranged for him and Tony to travel to this time period together.

And what did Mark mean by "the thing he needs."

"So, this is the surprise you hoped I'd find, Mark, isn't it? Now I'm even more convinced that you'll definitely come back to us, because you've always been a master of careful planning."

Just as Captain marveled at Mark's calculations, a sound behind him reached his ears.

It turned out that someone had entered the adjacent common office area and was engaged in an intense discussion.

"Carter!" Captain looked at the familiar face with excitement, ready to blurt out the name, but the last bit of rationality held him back from making too much noise.

One of the newcomers was none other than Captain's long-lost lover, Peggy Carter.

Hiding in the darkness, Captain gazed tenderly through a glass pane and a set of blinds at Peggy, who was engrossed in a serious discussion with someone on the other side...

It was now 1970, and Peggy was 49 years old, but her figure remained gracefully slender and proportionate. Her face had matured slightly compared to Captain's memory, but it hadn't shown too many signs of aging. She appeared unnaturally youthful given her age.

However, the sprinkling of silver strands at her temples and in her hairline served as a reminder that time may grant favor, but it spares no one.

Youth is fleeting, beauty fades with time. Watching his beloved so close at hand, Captain, for the first time, felt a pang of regret for breaking their initial promise.

This regret wasn't about the sacrifices he had made, but rather, it was a regret for not being strong enough to overcome all obstacles and keep their appointment.

There was a moment when he wanted to rush to Peggy and tell her that he was still alive, that he could now keep their appointment and fulfill the dance he had promised her.

But Captain didn't. The call of the times, Mark's trust, and the responsibility of countless lives in the universe rested on his shoulders. All of these factors forced him to suppress his excitement and prevent a reunion with Peggy.

Although, in this fleeting moment, he couldn't break through all these barriers to rekindle their romance, in Captain's heart, a seed had been silently planted, and a decision had been made.

"Captain, I've obtained the Space Stone on my end; we can go back now."

Just then, Tony's voice came through the communication device, delivering absolutely good news to Captain.

Captain quickly collected his thoughts, composed himself, and responded, "That's good. Where are you now? I'll come to meet you."

"I'm back on the surface. You come up first, and we'll meet at the main gate."

"Alright, I'll be there," Captain replied and was about to take action.

But suddenly, he halted in his tracks, and once again, he contacted Tony, asking, "Besides the Infinity Stone, did you find what you needed for yourself?"

"I think we both found what we wanted," Tony immediately understood the underlying meaning of Captain's question.

"Well, it looks like our journey is complete, and it's time to go home."

"Yes, home, and to end this long nightmare!"