Banner, having arrived at the lab, marveled at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s obvious wealth before immediately getting to work. The others were not idle either, continuously tracking Loki and Barton's positions. While searching for the Tesseract, they aimed to capture the mastermind and all those under Loki's control.
Steve calmly waited on the bridge, completely unhurried. He had far more intelligence than anyone else on the ship.
This time, he accepted Fury's invitation instead of acting directly with S.H.I.E.L.D., partly to create a diversion and cover the agency's covert operations, and partly to assess whether the team Fury assembled could handle their responsibilities.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation of Hydra was nearly complete. Except for the top commander, no Hydra member had escaped their surveillance, including the agent sitting across from Steve, searching for Loki.
Of course, Steve's direct superior, Alexander Pierce, was also being watched. But since there was no solid evidence yet and his position was too high, they let him continue performing for now.
"Um… Captain, if it's not too much trouble…" Coulson approached Steve shyly, seemingly hesitant to make a request.
"No, no problem. Give it to me," Steve replied with a smile.
"Uh… you know what I mean?" Coulson was caught off guard by Steve's straightforwardness.
"You mean a signature, right? Your little cosmos told me so when I saw the collector's edition cards you've been gathering," Steve said.
"Alright… this is overpowered. So… this really is…" Coulson pointed to the box at Steve's feet, hesitating.
"Yes, but only bronze."
"Truly worthy of you, Captain," Coulson said with a smile, not too surprised. He knew the demands of Saints, and in this world, aside from current Saints trained since childhood and a few outstanding candidates, only Steve could fulfill them.
"Just lucky," Steve nodded and extended his hand to Coulson.
"What?"
"The cards. You wanted a signature, right?"
"Oh, thanks! I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Coulson said, thrilled that a small wish he had cherished could finally be fulfilled. He rummaged excitedly in his arms.
Plans, however, could never keep up with events. Just as he pulled out the card, Agent Sitwell reported they had located Loki.
"Guess I'll have to wait a bit," Coulson muttered, placing the card back in his pocket with regret.
"Don't worry. There will be another chance," Steve said, patting Coulson on the shoulder reassuringly.
Coulson had always been on their backup list, currently ranked even higher than Fury. S.H.I.E.L.D. had previously rated Fury highly, but since becoming director, his methods had become overly rigid, and his controlling nature grew stronger, lowering their evaluation of him.
Coulson's status in Hydra was rising, his authority increasing, yet he remained kind and efficient in missions. If any Hydra member could get along well with every Avenger on Fury's original list, it would be Coulson.
It wasn't the right time yet. Once S.H.I.E.L.D. fully stepped into the light and Hydra was destroyed, that would be the best time to absorb him into S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Where is he?" Coulson quickly asked.
"Stuttgart, 28 Kunig Street. He didn't even try to hide," Sitwell reported.
"Looks like it's time to move," Steve said, hoisting the box onto his back and heading for the helipad.
Fury watched Steve's retreating figure, especially the box on his back.
"Expose a little more. I can gather even more intelligence this way."
…
On Kunig Street in Stuttgart, Loki towered over kneeling humans, flaunting his power and constantly belittling them to satisfy his vanity.
Yet humans, though easily oppressed and fearful, always had those of noble character who stood bravely against tyranny.
Among the crowd, an elderly man stood out. Ordinary, frail, trembling in the wind, yet he met Loki's gaze with unyielding eyes and calmly said, "We obey our rulers, but never someone like you."
"Heh," Loki laughed at the old man's defiance. "I am one of a kind."
"People shameless like you are a dime a dozen," the man retorted.
"Heh," Loki's vanity was struck again. He decided to execute the man publicly to show the cost of defiance.
The Mind Stone glowed blue, energy cannon charging.
"Look at this old man. He's your role model."
The blast surged toward the man's resolute eyes.
At that moment, Steve descended from above. The energy blast collided with his shield on the right arm, reflecting back and striking Loki.
Everyone's gaze focused on Steve. He wasn't wearing the iconic red, white, and blue suit nor the classic circular shield, but a simple red armor, with a square shield mounted on his right arm.
"You know, last time I came here, someone else tried to place themselves above all beings. Look how that ended," Steve said calmly, approaching Loki, embodying courage that inspired more and more defiant souls to rise.
"A soldier arrives," Loki laughed while standing. "An outdated man. Where's your circus outfit? Not playing monkey anymore, turned actor?"
"Didn't recognize me? Seems you really aren't the Loki we know," Steve mocked.
Meanwhile, Quinjet aircraft hovered above, targeting Loki with cannons, but refrained from firing as he blended in with the crowd.
"Loki, drop your weapons and surrender," Natasha called from the jet.
Loki had no intention of complying and fired an energy blast at the Quinjet, forcing them to evade.
But the moment Loki's gaze left Steve, Steve was already in front of him, landing a punch to his stomach.
"Pff~"
Loki's body bent like a shrimp from the impact, flying back and hitting a wall.
"Bang~"
He fell to the ground, coughing blood, using the Mind Stone to support himself, yet swaying unsteadily. He couldn't believe his Frost Giant body couldn't withstand a human punch. How could an outdated soldier possess such strength?
Wait—the armor… why does it feel…
Steve gave him no time to think. He approached again, grabbing Loki by the collar and performing a back throw.
"Boom~"
Debris scattered, leaving a human-shaped crater. Loki lay there defeated.
Steve ensured Loki could no longer resist and snatched the Mind Stone from him. "Loki, you are under arrest."
Steve felt elated. It was his first public appearance in the saint armor, easily defeating Loki, leaving Hydra helpless, and…
"So I've beaten a god… huh? Heh, maybe I can brag about this later."
"Looks like I'm late again."
"Hm? Tony?"
The sound of Iron Man's armor landing and his complaint interrupted Steve's thoughts.
"It's me. I was hoping you couldn't handle it so I could make a flashy entrance and finish him off," Tony said.
"Heh, you really are Howard's son."
"Don't mention him, it makes me angry. Oh, is this your saint armor? First time seeing you wear it," Tony asked Steve.
"Yeah, Shield Bronze Saint Armor."
"…So the armor's rank is inversely proportional to the shame factor?" Tony joked. Compared to Garon's Silver or Asura's Golden Saint Armor, Steve's Bronze was embarrassingly simple.
"…Try saying that in front of Mr. Melin."
"I wouldn't dare. By the way… can I borrow it to study…"
"If you touch my armor, I'll clean house on your dad!"
"Tch, so petty."
"Alright, gentlemen, now's not the time for chatting. We still need to bring him back for questioning."
The Quinjet had landed. Natasha interrupted their banter, her mind racing—part astonished at Steve's strength, easily defeating Loki with the new armor that emerged from the box, and part worried. Earth faced an imminent extraterrestrial threat, yet they were still chatting instead of capturing the mastermind.
"Fine," Steve nodded, unfazed. Howard had once told him: if you don't feel embarrassed, then others should.
"Do as you wish. I'm just a spectator," Tony said, half-sulking.
Natasha groaned, forehead in hand. Was this the team the director assembled? What a laughable "super boy squad"!
Wait—Tony seemed to be the one who coined that name.