Chapter 221: Crazy Idea

The room fell silent.

Underwood's bold declaration hung in the air, leaving everyone, including Steve Rogers, stunned. The councilors exchanged whispers, their glances flicking between Underwood and Captain America. Some looked skeptical, others seemed troubled, while a few nodded as if pondering the feasibility of the idea.

Steve's expression was a mixture of disbelief and seriousness. "Sir," he said, his voice steady, "do you even realize what you're saying?"

Underwood's determination didn't waver. He stood firm, his words crisp and unhesitating. "I do. I'm asking you, Captain, to run as the third-party candidate in the presidential election taking place in two weeks."

Steve's jaw tightened. "I think you're mistaken," he said bluntly. "I'm a soldier, not a politician."

"You're wrong," Underwood retorted passionately, his voice rising. "Washington was a soldier too! Captain, I know this idea is outrageous—some would call it crazy—but I also know it's necessary. Look at the United States today: fractured, divided, and spiraling into chaos. Seventy years ago, when evil threatened to crush us, you answered the call without hesitation. And now, we're facing even greater crises. We need you again, Captain!"

Steve shook his head, his tone resolute. "The presidency is no place for someone like me. It's a position that requires compromise with harsh realities every single day. Life is already filled with enough grim compromises—I'd rather drown in my ideals than lose them."

Underwood's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Many of the people here," he said, gesturing to the other councilors, "are gathered for ideals, Captain. This country is teetering on the edge, a giant standing on feet of clay. One wrong move, and it'll collapse entirely. The Wakanda invasion is merely the spark. The real problem is that we've lost the spirit that once held us together. And you, Captain—you represent that spirit."

Steve wanted to argue, but debating wasn't his strength. He could feel the weight of the councilors' stares, their collective hopes pressing down on him. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "I need time to think," he said, his tone noncommittal. Without another word, he turned and left.

As Steve disappeared, the room erupted into murmurs and questions. The councilors gathered around Underwood, demanding answers.

"Are you serious?" one asked incredulously. "The Captain hasn't been in politics. He's from seventy years ago! He doesn't have the foundation for something like this."

Underwood's confidence didn't falter. "No one is ever truly prepared when they start. Besides, we don't need another politician right now. This is an era that needs heroes. And Captain America is the ultimate symbol of heroism."

"But he didn't even agree!" another councilor protested.

Underwood's smile was enigmatic. "He will," he said simply.

In a dimly lit room elsewhere in the hotel, Thor and Jean Grey sat across from each other. The tension between them was palpable as they discussed the unfolding events.

"This," Thor remarked with a smirk, "is real mind manipulation. Far more effective than any of the professor's abilities."

Jean frowned, deep in thought. "Is it your plan to install someone truly just at the helm of this country?"

Thor tilted his head. "Something like that. Think about it: someone like Steve could restore a sense of balance without alienating either side. He's trusted, admired—even his opponents can't hate him. That kind of figure could unify a divided nation."

Jean's mind drifted to her own world and the struggles faced by mutants. She remembered the countless instances of persecution, the systemic discrimination, and the refusal of those in power to address their plight. "If there'd been someone like Steve in my world," she said quietly, "maybe mutants wouldn't have suffered so much."

Thor chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not about having someone like me or Steve. It's about perspective. You're too entrenched in the struggle—you can't see the big picture. But standing on the outside? It's a lot easier to move the pieces around."

Jean gave him a wry smile. "You make it sound so simple."

"For me, it is," Thor replied with a grin. "Even if the entire Earth were to stand against me, it wouldn't make much of a difference."

Meanwhile, Steve returned to his temporary quarters, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. He was a soldier, not a politician. He had never craved power or authority beyond the battlefield. And yet, Underwood's words echoed in his mind:

"We need you. This country needs you to be a beacon of freedom and democracy."

The plea was earnest, but could he really bear the weight of such a responsibility? Could he lead a nation out of its darkest hour?

He didn't sleep that night, his thoughts racing as he wrestled with the enormity of the proposition.

The next morning.

At exactly six o'clock, Steve's phone buzzed loudly, pulling him from his restless thoughts. He answered without looking at the screen.

"Steve! What the hell is going on?" came Tony Stark's unmistakable voice. "You better explain, and fast."

Steve blinked, confused. "What are you talking about, Tony?"

"You've gotta be kidding me," Tony said, his tone exasperated. "Turn on the news."

Still groggy and disoriented, Steve grabbed the remote and switched on the television.

The image on the screen made his heart stop.

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