I'm Packing Up My Crayons And Leaving!

One afternoon, Shen was enjoying the most satisfying cup of coffee, hand-brewed by Ed while listening to classical violin music being played on the street just outside his window.

There was a light knock on the door. As Ed was about to get up, Shen motioned him to remain seated while he put down his cup, got up, and opened the door.

A young boy was standing outside holding several large boxes. He looked at Shen with a bright smile and said, "Sir, here are the items you requested. We did our very best to meet your expectations."

A few days ago, Shen had commissioned custom suits and leather shoes for both Ed and himself from the tailors and shoemakers he was acquainted with. He even went as far as to rent some workshops for them. So, they were extremely thankful for the opportunity to make some money and gratified knowing that their skills were still needed.

Shen let the young boy into the room and pointed to the nearest table, "Thank you for your hard work. You can leave it there."

He then gave the young tailor apprentice a good tip, lightly ruffled his hair and sent him on his way.

Shen turned his attention to the boxes and sorted them out. He handed the ones with "Ed" written on the boxes to... well... Ed while focusing on the remaining ones.

"How about it Ed? Are they to your liking?" Shen asked.

"Exquisite workmanship sir. As expected, the tailors from Germany still make the best clothes," he replied while heading to his room.

Old Ed had initially declined the offer, thinking that it would be commissioned from an English Tailor Shop. It wasn't that he was discriminating against them or looking down on them.

Okay, maybe he was looking down on them a little, but only on their tailoring skills. He insisted that the clothes made by the tailors here are not as good, and would rather continue to wear his old dark gray suit.

As Ed usually isn't the type of person to make too much fuss, he assumed that the 'German tailored clothes' just reminded him of his home. Either way, Shen didn't comment on it as everyone is entitled to their preferences.

It reminded him of those old men back home going on and on about "Ancient Chinese Tradition this", "Ancient Chinese Medicine that", "Ancient Chinese Kung fu this" and "Ancient Chinese Cultivation that". Remembering this, Shen let out a snort and chuckled.

Who knows, there really might be some truth to this so he didn't dismiss any culture or tradition completely. He always learned what he could, taking in the good and recycling out the bad.

After checking the contents in the boxes, Shen nodded in satisfaction and went to get changed in his own room as well.

Ed returned to the living room shortly after trying on all his clothes but the sight in front of him made him freeze. He was absolutely stunned and almost yelped, as his voice hit a high soprano note in surprise.

In front of him, there was another "Ed" sitting on the sofa, looking at him with an amused smile. He was wearing the exact same clothes, had the same haircut and even his salt and pepper beard was trimmed in a similar manner.

Ed almost felt as if his brain wouldn't be able to handle it. But as someone who has experienced the vicissitudes of life, he quickly calmed down and asked solemnly,

"Who are you? And how did you appear here?"

"Who are you? And how did you appear here?"

The other 'Ed' replied in a voice that sounded exactly like his own. It was uncanny, like a recording playback. Old Ed was even more confused now as his entire being became more defensive, and his eyes turned sharp.

Seeing the look on his face, the 'Ed' on the couch struggled to hold back a smile that was starting to form. After a second, he couldn't hold back anymore and let out a "pfft." He started to chuckle for a bit which then turned into full-blown laughter.

He then slowly reached out towards his face and removed his... face? revealing a Shen who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Hahaha how about it Ed? Did you like the surprise? Did I look exactly like you or what?" he fired off.

Shen threw the mask over to Old Ed, who finally came back to his senses from the sudden turn of events. He frantically looked at the mask, turning it around carefully and bringing it closer to his eyes as to not let any detail escape.

"What is this... thing... made of?" he asked. "It looks so real... even I was completely fooled by you just now."

"Liquid silicone rubber base, gelatine, foam latex, and a special blend of synthetic material that I invented," Shen replied.

Seeing that even Ed, the foremost expert, on realism was fooled, Shen felt very proud of himself.

He had already started experimenting with different chemicals and materials back home. The idea for the hyper-realistic disguise came from the Mission Impossible series that he watched for stealth research and training.

He always found those scenes in spy movies very cool. Agents wearing super-realistic latex masks waltz right through security and extract crucial information from their unwitting targets before they dramatically peel off their faces to reveal their true identity.

Especially the image of Tom Cruise ripping off a previously perfectly working mask left a deep impression on him.

The reality, however, was often disappointing. The field of hyper-realistic prosthetics had not reached that level yet. Not at all discouraged, he decided to put that enhanced big brain of his to use. He moved forward with his own experiments and after countless trials, made some headway.

The inspiration that hit the... nail on the head?... the idea that hit the home run came from one Monkey D. Luffy. He remembered the scenes with Luffy doing hilarious impressions of his entire crew.

Taking the Gomu Gomu no Mi as a base, he enhanced it even further by adding the properties of Mochi Mochi no Mi which could be molded into different shapes as required. And thus, the super synthetic material formally dubbed "GomuNoMochi" was born. [T/N No, he didn't actually use the devil fruits, just experimented with different variations of the said materials.]

Although he was successful in creating the "GomuNoMochi" long ago, it was only now after months of learning and training from the best realism artist that he was able to successfully make a complete, working hyper-realistic disguise.

Old Ed could only shake his head helplessly at Shen's antics.

"Well, this is amazing! But what about your voice? How was it exactly like mine?" he asked.

"Oh, that is actually pretty simple. I just had to control my vocal cords to adjust the way of speaking. It requires a lot of practice and control." Shen answered.

His enhanced mind had naturally allowed him superior control over his body which was also enhanced in the first place. When he learned to sing, improv., and act from the skilled refugees, he was also taught various vocal exercises. He practiced and improved these skills every single day. Even professional impersonators and impressionists wouldn't be able to hold a candle to him at this point.

This milestone officially marked the completion of Step one in his grand, with a touch of crazy, plan. This also meant that it was now time for him to leave.

The next morning, Shen quietly left the hotel into the thick fog of Liverpool. He wasn't too good at saying goodbyes so, he just left $10,000 and a letter for Ed in the living room. Although they hadn't known each other for too long, he felt very close to the Old man. He was an exceptional teacher and more importantly, a great friend in this strange new world.

Although this amount was nothing to Shen, it would be enough for Old Ed to survive for the rest of his life.

It's just a pity that he wouldn't be able to enjoy the old man's hand-brewed pour-over coffee anymore. Shen shook his head in reluctance and left Liverpool.

_

March 1942 Tønsberg, Norway

On the outskirts of the oldest village in Norway, was a simple, old decrepit church also known as the 'Castle Rock Tower'. Unlike its simple exterior, the interior revealed centuries of history. Entombed within the walls of this simple church are bodies of countless famed Viking warriors.

Although Norway has been occupied by Nazi Germany due to the war, the night in this remote village is still quiet and peaceful.

Unfortunately, this tranquility was quickly broken. Huge armored tanks mounted with 88 mm anti-artillery and anti-aircraft guns roared into the town. Everything on their path was crushed, the neat slabs shattered, while the surrounding houses all trembled like a minor earthquake.

A giant steel beast-like tank crushed through the small village square and drove all the way to the church. It then sped up and slammed straight into the closed gate. The tall and heavy wooden gate collapsed along with the surrounding stone walls. As the smoke dissipated, the view inside was revealed.

The small interior contained several thick gray stone pillars that supported the circular pit of the church. Ancient and mysterious murals were carved all along the walls and in the center of it all, was a simple sarcophagus.

There was only a frail old man within the church, and a civilian buried under the collapsed ruins. The old man moved towards the dead civilian and closed his eyes shut.

A team of soldiers armed with weapons filed in from the collapsed gate. Six of them quickly took up positions in all the corners while the Lieutenant led the remaining three soldiers to the sarcophagus and tried to open it.

At the same time, a domineering black six-wheeled off-road vehicle slowly stopped in front of the church. The hood of the vehicle was engraved with the symbol of HYDRA, a skull with ominous octopus tentacles springing from it. A representation of how the organization has wrapped its tentacles deep into the very fabric of society, promising that it'll eventually engulf the whole world.

A tall and cold silhouette exited the vehicle while his dark military boots stepped on the hard stone pavement. He moved forward with a sense of purpose, the slow tapping of his boots were like thunderclaps that reverberated with every step.

He wore a black military uniform that gave off an intense and oppressive pressure. His cold face was slightly stiff, but his cold eyes revealed a trace of tyranny and madness.

As he walked into the church, he could hear the voice of the Hydra officer that had entered before him, "Open it! Quickly, before he…"

Once inside saw the HYDRA agents struggle to lift the lid of a coffin. The soldiers inside quickly stood at attention and saluted, "Hail Hydra!"

He ignored everyone and looked straight at the frail old man and said, "It has taken me a long time to find this place... You should be commended."

Although he said that, there was no expression on his cold face. "Help him up," he said to a soldier.

The soldier helped the old man to his feet. Facing this sudden change in the situation, the old man appeared a little panicked.

"I think that you are a man of great vision. And in this way we are much alike." the leader of Hydra spoke as he brushed off the old man's messy clothes.

The way he spoke without the slightest emotion in his voice gave chills to everyone who heard him.

"I am nothing like you" the old man replied with a firm resolution. Although a bit flustered, he was not afraid.

"No, of course. But what others see as superstition, you and I know to be a science," Johann Schmidt looked straight into the old tower keeper's eyes.

"What you seek is just a legend," The old man's voice trembled.

"Then why make such an effort to conceal it?" Seemingly impatient, Johann took off his hat and handed it to a subordinate, and walked towards the casket.

He put his hands on the lid and pushed it open. The casket, which previously couldn't be opened even with the combined effort of three soldiers, was easily pushed aside by him. As the heavy lid fell to the ground, the contents inside were revealed.