Chapter 226. Frontlines (Part2)

However, it was clear that the soldiers were anticipating the backup dancers who were dancing along with him more than the content of Steve's speech.

Steve wasn't in a good mood when he was booted off the stage in an awful mess.

His ambition was to be a soldier who defended his country, not to be put on a stage like a dancing monkey for the amusement of others as he was doing now.

However, for the situation at hand, although his heart wasn't happy, Steve had to continue. Compared to staying in a lab for people to study, at least he still had some freedom, although this freedom was accompanied by a lot of ridicule.

"So, this is what happens to a Super Soldier? "

Alone, drawing in silence...

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind Steve. Turning around, Steve saw Dio Brando, who had participated in the training with him. He was gazing at him with a look that put him to shame, "A clown who sings and dances on stage? If that's the case, I'm glad they chose you back then."

"This wasn't part of the plan."

Dio's words left Steve in silence for half a second before speaking, "Something went wrong, that's why..."

"So, they turned you into a performer? I saw you on stage. At least, it's better than when you were training."

Dio's unrelenting sarcasm caused Steve to clench his fists. However, in the next moment, as if thinking of something, he unclenched his fists and looked dismayed.

Indeed, as Dio said, he was now more of a circus performer than a soldier.

Gazing at the dejected Steve in front of him, Dio spoke again, irritated, "So, you're just going to keep going on like this, being a dancing monkey?"

"Of course not, I ..."

Opening his mouth, Steve was about to say something when a sudden, urgent shout came from within the camp, not far away.

Looking conveniently, he saw a seriously wounded soldier being carried down from a medic van.

"That's...? Has the war on the front line reached this far?"

Steve had been performing everywhere and almost forgot the cruelty of war.

"It wasn't this serious before. That guy called Schmidt sent out a terrifying force to Azzano. Two hundred men went up against him, and less than fifty returned. The 107th suffered the heaviest casualties, with many of its soldiers either killed or taken prisoner ..."

"The 107th?!"

Dio Brando's account gave Steve a new sense of the brutality of war, and the situation of the 107th Infantry caused his expression to change suddenly.

If Steve remembered correctly, his best friend Bucky Barnes served in the 107th Infantry.

'If what Dio said was true ...'

With that in mind, Steve was no longer silent.

...

"Colonel Phillips!"

Inside the camp, Steve found Colonel Phillips.

"Well, if it isn't the Star-Spangled Man with a Plan? What is your plan today?"

Looking at Steve, Colonel Phillips couldn't help but mock him. Colonel Phillips clearly held a rather strong opinion about Steve's choice to serve the senator in the end rather than help him with the reverse-engineer of the super soldier serum research.

"I need the casualty list from Azzano."

Ignoring Colonel Phillips' ridicule, Steve made a request.

"You don't get to give me orders, son."

"I just need one name, Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th."

Colonel Phillips glanced at Dio, who was standing to one side. It was clear that Steve wouldn't have known what was going on among the troops unless someone had told him. He was silent for a moment before he stood up and looked at the thick letter in his hand and replied, "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."

"..."

Colonel Phillips's reply silenced Steve.

After a long while, he spoke and continued to ask, "What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?"

Shaking his head, Colonel Phillips replied with a heavy tone, "We have to keep the bigger picture in mind."

Colonel Phillips's reply was too much for Steve to take, "But if you knew where they are, why aren't you going ..."

"They're 30 miles behind the lines, through some of the most heavily fortified territories in Europe. We'd lose more men than we'd save. We have to make choices, this is war. But I don't expect you to understand that because you're a chorus girl."

After saying all that, Colonel Phillips ignored Steve and turned to deal with other things.

Today, they had suffered heavy losses, and he had a lot of work waiting for him.

Turning around, looking at Colonel Phillips passing by him, Steve set his eyes on the map in front of him, which clearly marked the location of the captured soldiers.

...

"Looks like you have no plans on listening to the Colonel's orders."

In the temporary performers' tent, Dio looked at Steve, who was packing his equipment and said so.

"I can't just stand by and watch so many people die like that." Picking up his shield, Steve looked at Dio and said, "Besides, I don't believe Bucky's dead. I need to see it for myself."

"Are you going to sneak into the enemy camp like this?"

Looking at Steve in front of him, who was in a simple outfit, Dio spoke again, "Looking like this, not to mention infiltrating the enemy camp, you won't even be able to pass the front lines."

"I don't have time. One more minute would be a minute too late."

Steve was also aware that he might not be able to do it on his own, but Colonel Phillips had been quite adamant about not offering him any help.

"Maybe, I can help you." Looking at Steve, who was going to fight and enter the enemy camp alone, Ryan turned to look not too far away and said, "Just in time, here they come."

As Dio's voice fell, Steve immediately saw Agent Carter coming along with Howard.

"Steve."

"Peggy ..."