Chapter 106: The Death of Hope

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A living Rogers was far more useful to Roald.
He still needed Rogers to accomplish certain tasks.
The reason he allowed the Mind Stone to continuously manipulate and influence Rogers, sowing discord between him and Nick Fury, was also to cast suspicion on Coulson.
The relationship among the three was like a set of nested dolls.
Reuniting them wouldn’t be so simple if Nick Fury wanted to take further action.
Meanwhile, aboard Hill’s mothership, members of Congress, the Federal Court, government officials, and most of the relocated military personnel had gathered.
Given the current circumstances, Hill’s mothership was arguably the safest place.
Everyone sat elegantly, sipping coffee, watching the screens with satisfaction.
Only when Hydra’s mothership disintegrated did their tense hearts begin to relax.
Hill stood on the bridge of the mothership, then turned and positioned herself behind Roald.
Roald removed his hood and stepped forward before all the officials aboard.
He opened his arms and looked at everyone present.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to meet you all. I believe there is much room for cooperation between us. The Cataclysm Legion welcomes your participation.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept across each official and influential figure on the mothership. The Mind Stone glowed yellow, its light enveloping everyone inside.
After all the twists and turns, his objective had never been so simple from the start.
Hill had leaked information about Hydra planning to use the mothership to ram Congress, the Federal Court, or other vital institutions. Alongside Ross and Pierce’s coordination, this led most key officials to gather here.
Not knowing the exact target initially, and with the mothership being the safest location once disaster struck, Roald created a one-shot opportunity.
The Mind Stone’s whispers were intoxicating; the officials who had been startled and ready to flee at Roald’s arrival instantly changed expressions once bathed in its light, soon breaking into smiles.
Under the Mind Stone’s control, each was further subdued by a [Mind Control] card.
After some time passed,
“Of course, we are very willing to cooperate with you, Mr. Arthas.”
Ross was the first to express goodwill, followed by a group of nodding officials behind him.
After planning so long and maneuvering through various complexities to secretly control the country’s core, this was Roald’s ultimate goal.
Rogers and Nick Fury were mere byproducts.
No matter how powerful Nick Fury was, as long as he remained in the country, he had to face official pressures.
Roald could comfortably remain in the shadows.

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Even if he summoned Captain Marvel, what then?
Try to overthrow a nation with such arrogance?
...
With Hydra’s mothership destroyed, the impact event came to an end.
Just like the citizens of New York, the people of Washington started to recover and reset.
Major newspapers and magazines resumed praising Hill, hailing her as the new spiritual symbol.
Simultaneously, Shield came under relentless verbal attack, as countless keyboard warriors and paid online trolls worked around the clock to stir public resentment toward Captain America and Shield.
They continuously fueled division and conflict.
As the incident escalated, Hill rose to the forefront through a series of appointments.
She delivered a national report:
“According to our current statistics, the impact from the mothership attack has caused casualties to steadily rise...”
“Washington is rebuilding from the ruins, and rescue efforts for survivors continue. Our reconstruction progress remains promising...”
“Due to the tragic mothership assault, Congress has urgently moved the Superhuman Registration Act onto the agenda...”
The Superhuman Registration Act was a must-implement measure.
For the majority of ordinary citizens, Hill’s decision received overwhelming support.
Fate’s trajectory was peculiar, repeating itself in a different form.
“I am Hill, an ordinary person dedicated to protecting our nation and its people. I stand here to declare and assure you that I will do everything in my power to make this terrifying world a little less frightening. Therefore, the actions of superhumans must be regulated to some extent before they enact their so-called justice...”
—
Of course, this was not good news for many superhumans.
It served the people’s interests but not theirs.
Yet for Roald, it was imperative—this was the plan he had to implement.
Registering all superhumans, under Hill’s leadership, the new Shield (the Cataclysm Legion) would enthusiastically visit them with friendly “courtesy calls,” each receiving a [Mind Control] card.
Those who refused would soon learn what it meant to face the will of the nation and its people.
It wouldn’t take long before many superhumans joined the Cataclysm Legion family.
—

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“What is she doing? What is she doing?”
Watching Hill’s speech on television, Rogers was baffled. “This is betrayal. She’s trapping the heroes who have risked their lives for this country.”
At that moment, Rogers realized that people’s faith was wavering; the so-called spirit of freedom was dissipating.
“No...”
“I can’t let this happen!”
“You can’t stop it, tough guy. This is the will of the people; you simply cannot change it!” Tony Stark’s voice rang out.
“I was supposed to fight for the people, but now I’m not... so they betrayed me, didn’t they, Stark?”
Rogers’ voice was weak.
“Who knows? At least I’m fighting for myself.” Stark shrugged, indifferent.
“Yeah, everyone fights for themselves.”
As if struck by a thought, Rogers walked to a mirror and stared for a long moment.
Then he removed the helmet he had long been reluctant to take off, revealing his weathered face. Slowly, he recited to the mirror:
“—Steve Rogers, ID RA25-262-771, honorably discharged soldier of the United States Armed Forces.”
Falcon was beside him, sitting on the floor with a similarly bewildered and helpless look in his eyes at Rogers’ actions.
“Hey, Captain, what are you doing now?”
“He’s lost hope, lost the faith to fight. Even my revenge has become a joke,” Stark replied.
His words drew the attention of several Blades around, who looked toward Rogers—the very spirit and symbol of free will.
Steve collapsed weakly to the floor, all hope gone from his eyes, overwhelmed by sorrow and helplessness. Even the gleam on his shield dimmed.
From beginning to end, he was just an ordinary man.
As the plan progressed, Hill relied on the power of the state to methodically execute everything.
The Superhuman Registration Act exposed all superhero identities without reservation. To protect their families or for other reasons, some heroes joined the Cataclysm Legion.
Others renounced their heroic identities and refused conscription, only to receive visits from Kelsu’gad in person.
Clearly pleased with the results of his negotiations, the Legion’s membership grew significantly.
These individuals declared they did not need pay and would serve until their bodies and souls decayed.