Chapter 231. Smile (Part1)

Boom --

With a violent explosion, the armoured tank was blown to pieces.

Holding his brand new vibranium shield, Steve couldn't help but smile a little.

"According to our progress so far, it won't be long before Schmidt's loses all his bases in this part of the world." With his super-soldier serum-enhanced body as his foundation, Steve had led his team through a long string of successful raids, having destroyed several secret Hydra bases in a row.

"Maybe we can get a short break after this one."

Bucky looked around at the exhausted faces of the group and spoke up.

"After all, not everyone has a super soldier body like you."

Dio looked at Steve, who had no fatigue, and spoke in a lukewarm tone.

With Captain America's invitation, Dio also half-heartedly joined his small team.

Turning his head and glancing at the weary expressions of the team members around him, Steve nodded, "Alright, once we've sorted out this target, we'll get some rest."

Hearing Steve's words, the squad members, who were still tense, instantly looked relieved.

"God, finally, I can get a good night's sleep."

"I haven't had a break in days."

"I haven't visited the pub in days."

"Hey, you guys know we're on a secret mission, right? .... yeah, don't forget to call me when you do."

Hearing the banter among the team members, Steve noticed Dio's indifferent expression and asked, "What? No plans?"

Sweeping a cold gaze over the chatty crowd, Dio turned his head to look at Steve, "You know... the reason I joined your team is to see how large the gap between us is, Steve." As he spoke, Dio looked at his own hands and continued with a flat tone, without any sadness or joy, "But, the more I follow you, the more I know how desperately large the gap is between you, a Super Soldier, and me, and an ordinary person."

"..."

Dio's words left Steve somewhat silent. He didn't know what to say.

Dr Erskine had died, and the last of the Super Soldier Serum was destroyed. Even if they wanted to make Dio the next subject of the experiment, there was no way to do that.

...

"You are failing!!"

Standing on the ruins of a Hydra base, Schmidt's bright red skull looked furious, "We have the power of the Cube, we are close to being an offensive that will shake the planet, yet you cannot outwit a simpleton with a shield! "

"This is hardly my area of expertise!"

In response to Schmidt's anger, Dr Zola stammered out an explanation, "I merely develop the weapons, I cannot fire them."

"It seems like I need to remind you, Doctor." Schmidt turned his red face, looked at Dr Zola, and threatened with a sharp tone, "If you lose my protection, the Americans will definitely tear you to pieces. Don't challenge my patience …."

"Sir!" Right at that moment, a wretched figure arrived at the ruins with several masked soldiers detaining him, "I'm sorry, Herr Schmidt. We fought to the last man."

"Evidently not." Pulling an energy gun out of the holster and aiming it at the survivor, Schmidt spoke with an icy expression.

In the next instant, an eerie blue light flashed, and the survivor who had been standing in front of them was reduced to ashes.

Schmidt turned his head and looked at the ruins in front of him, "We need to be proactive, we can't let Captain America destroy everything before we're done."

...

"It should be here."

Raising his hand to catch the flying shield, Steve looked sideways at the base in the distance and warned the team members beside him, "Be careful, everyone."

"Don't worry."

Glancing in the direction Steve pointed, Bucky nodded back with an assault rifle at hand.

"We know what to do."

After all this time working together, the members of the team had long since worked out a suitable operational pattern, with Steve wielding a vibranium shield up front and the rest of the team sweeping the left and right with their firepower.

Hearing Bucky's reply, Steve's face couldn't help but smile, but it was quickly tucked away as he cautiously approached the Hydra base with his shield in hand. Steve immediately raised his hand and gestured to the members behind him, counting down with his fingers. Then he jumped up. He landed right in front of a patrolling Hydra soldier and swung his shield to bash the soldier right out of the way.

"Fire!"

With Steve's actions, the team left behind started attacking and aided him from behind.

Taking care of the soldiers outside the base with ease, Steve took the lead and ran into the base. However, the large number of Hydra soldiers standing in full gear inside the base caused the expression on Steve's face to change. He quickly used his shield to protect the team behind him, "Watch out, it's a trap!"

"You're here at last, Captain."

A sharp voice emerged from among the Hydra soldiers. They then stepped away, and Schmidt appeared with his bright red face, looking at Steve and the others in front of him. He opened his mouth and flashed a rather creepy grin, "I've been waiting for you."

"Schmidt!"

Looking at the familiar face that appeared, Steve couldn't help but exclaim.

"I have to admit, Captain, I underestimated you. What you have done has caused me a lot of problems and has delayed my plans even more. I have to step in and take care of the nuisance that you caused."

As Schmidt's words fell, the Hydra soldiers standing behind him raised their weapons and aimed at Steve and the others.

Bang --

In the next second, a mass of pale blue light shot out from across the room, forming a curtain of blue light in the air.

"Look out!"

In the face of this blanket of bright light, Steve unhesitatingly raised his shield to deflect the light. He shouted to the team behind him, "Hurry up, get out of here. Tell the people outside that it's a trap."

"We can't leave you here, Steve!"