Protect Our Scapegoat

"Go back?" Rumlow was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized that this meant he was being asked to go undercover. However, he was already a Hydra agent undercover in S.H.I.E.L.D.

If I go back now, I'll be a Stark agent undercover in Hydra, and then I'll be sent to S.H.I.E.L.D. to continue my undercover work.

I've infiltrated several places; this will definitely cause confusion when I report on my work later.

"That's right. I'll arrange for you to escape in a bit, and then you can go back to work and do your job well at S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra. I'll contact you."

"No problem!" Rumlow readily agreed. Infiltrating a few people wasn't an issue; whether he would work or not after he returned was entirely up to him.

"Don't rush, let me show you something you need to pay attention to first." Tony took Wesker's tablet, tapped a few times, and found an experiment record.

Rumlow looked up curiously. The experimental monitoring was normal at first. One of the experimental subjects was undergoing a strength test. A barbell weighing hundreds of kilograms was being manipulated like a dumbbell. Then a speed test was conducted. The treadmill was almost smoking. The experimental subject was very relaxed, without blushing or sweating.

"How about it? You can do that now too. Are you happy?" Tony suddenly asked.

Rumlow paused for a moment, then subconsciously said, "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Tony was also taken aback for a moment, not expecting Hydra to do such a good job with gratitude education, before continuing:

"Don't worry, keep watching. The next situation will be similar to yours."

The testing of the experimental subjects continued, but one subject suddenly stopped to receive an injection from the person in the white coat next to him and then continued to test his strength, while the other subject directly started a new round of testing.

Another round of strength testing began normally, but the experimental subject who hadn't received the injection seemed to have gained more strength. He lost control and the barbell flew away. Then the subject became extremely excited, recklessly adding more weight plates and then running while carrying the barbell.

The experimenters immediately tried to stop it, but the experimental material seemed not to hear them, continuing to accelerate and even attacking the experimenters who tried to stop it.

Upon seeing this, the experimenters began to evacuate the experimental chamber. Then, as the experimental material moved faster and faster, its entire body began to change, growing larger and larger, with its muscles growing wildly.

The more Rumlow looked at the footage, the more familiar it seemed, just like the monster T03 he had fought before.

"Alright, do you understand now?" Tony paused the recording and asked Rumlow.

"It's that injection we had halfway through; without it, you'd turn into a monster," Rumlow asked tentatively, realizing something.

"That's right, that's similar to the one you're getting injected with now." Tony tugged at the IV line in Rumlow's hand and continued.

"Your power wasn't obtained through normal enhancement, but rather through direct infection with the T-virus. Although it's currently speculated to be a processed strain, there's still a risk of genetic collapse. I think Hydra has probably already researched this."

Rumlow recalled the scene he saw in Zola's laboratory, and couldn't help but imagine himself turned into a lump of flesh.

"But don't worry too much, this one is a bit stronger than yours. At most, it will become a biological weapon like a mindless beast."

Tony's words of comfort only chilled Rumlow further; it seemed like he'd rather just die.

"So when you get back, do your job well. I'll send you inhibitors regularly," Tony said, patting Rumlow on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll do my job well," Rumlow said through gritted teeth. The threat was too blatant, but he had no choice but to bow his head when he was under someone else's roof.

"Now let's work out the script. We need a suitable reason to send you out."

Rumlow thought of a question and asked, "I now have the T-virus in my body, and my body has been enhanced. Will I be detected when I get back?"

Tony said nonchalantly, "It's fine. Just go back and report it to Hydra's scientists. There's no problem with their research; technology sharing is the only way to make progress."

This doesn't sound like something a capitalist would say. If it were truly about sharing, I wouldn't be risking my life like this.

---------------

Coulson felt uneasy. After completing the harassment work on the perimeter, Coulson stayed on a high ground outside the Marbury community, where he set up a temporary command center.

The harassment operation was carried out very well. According to the satellite surveillance footage, the security personnel were all transferred out, and Rumlow and his team successfully entered the experimental building.

But now ten hours have passed, the security personnel have all gone back, and even Stark Industries' plane has arrived, but there is still no news of Rumlow and his team. A group of fully armed agents have simply vanished.

"Barton, how's the situation? Still no movement?" Coulson contacted Hawkeye again in frustration.

Hawkeye was currently infiltrating Umbrella Corporation. After all, he was a super agent. He couldn't get into the experimental building, but he could still get into the company gate. However, he had to lie in a concealed position and minimize his movements, because there were too many surveillance cameras, and the bureau's hackers couldn't break in.

"There's been no movement. Someone entered the lab building earlier; it looked like Tony Stark to me. I have a feeling Rumlow and his crew are finished. I suggest we retreat immediately."

Coulson clutched his head, feeling a throbbing headache. He hadn't been optimistic about the mission to begin with. Even if it succeeded, it would mean a complete falling out with Stark Industries and General Ross. But there would still be some gains, at least the Security Council would be satisfied. He could then let Pierce and the others negotiate with the military.

But now the worst has happened: the mission failed, they gained nothing, and instead got themselves into a mess.

"Wait a minute, Rumlow is in charge of the operation. Let me ask the chief for instructions." Coulson was also at a loss, but he could still report to his superiors and have someone higher up to take charge.

But just as Coulson was about to give his report, Hawkeye suddenly spoke up.

"Something's wrong! Someone flew out of the lab building!"

"What! What flew out?"

Due to the sabotage by Hydra, the safety passage of the T1 experimental building was blown up and has not yet been repaired. The only way to guard it is to use the most primitive method, with security personnel standing guard here.

Then suddenly a person ran out of the elevator shaft. The security personnel were originally focused on the outside, so who would have thought that someone could run out from inside? Before the security personnel could turn their guns around, they were attacked by the newcomer.

The security personnel who were approached by Rumlow, who moved with ghostly speed, were knocked unconscious. Rumlow then picked them up and used them as shields, charging wildly through the security personnel's blockade.

Rumlow, who was furious with himself in the lab, vented his anger on the security personnel, but he didn't dare to go too far. He could only channel his anger into power, throwing the security personnel all over the place, even sending them flying out of the lab building. Rumlow then rushed out after them.

Hawkeye finally spotted Rumlow running out and said happily.

"Rumlow escaped; he's alive."

Coulson was also very happy: "Quick, cover for him, the scapegoat is here."