As it turned out, Luke was right.

When Rogers got his hands on the round silver shield, he was like a child with a beloved toy, fiddling with it and feeling very handy.

"This is the best gift we've ever received since we left Brooklyn!"

Rogers smiled slightly, put his shield on his hand, and made a few trademark gestures.

He was still worried about the safety of his friend Bucky, and his mood was a little low.

However, Luke's arrival made Rogers a lot easier.

"Luke, what the hell did you say happened to Bucky?"

Captain America, who had a trace of worry in his eyes, asked with a frown.

He felt that Luke always had many ways to solve various problems.

"I asked the captured soldiers, and they said it was very likely that Bucky had been transferred."

Luke, who was back in the barracks, analyzed.

He did pick up some clues that no one else would notice.

For example, the secret base of Hydra, which transfers a group of captives every few weeks.

Almost two hundred men of the 107 Infantry Regiment were held in military factories and served as free labor.

But in the end, the number of people who managed to escape with Luke and Rogers was probably just over one hundred and twenty soldiers.

Excluding those who died of overwork and died of casualties, there are probably fifteen people whose whereabouts are unknown.

They had the same experience as Bucky, who was escorted to an isolation ward in a military factory and never came out again.

Moreover, a British soldier was working as a laborer in a munitions factory when he heard Dr. Zola mention the name "Baron Straker".

As it happens, Luke knows what it means.

As a result, he concluded that Bucky was most likely transferred to another location by Hydra.

"I hope so. Bucky doesn't know yet, I'm already on the front line. It would have been a well-prepared surprise! ”

Rogers said, looking down.

He had always wanted to tell Bucky the good news in person, admiring the other party's surprised expression.

Before Luke appeared, only Bucky was with him, and the two had a deep relationship.

"Don't think about these unsolvable problems. It's better to prepare well, Colonel Phillips will have a celebration party in the evening, and there will definitely be many girls who will invite you to dance. ”

Luke digressed the subject and deliberately quipped, "I heard that you were hugging a civilian in the afternoon, that enthusiastic girl, to thank you for the family of the captured soldier......"

Rogers blushed, coughed twice, and said with some embarrassment: "This ...... It was an accident. I don't have much experience, and then she just hugged me, Luke, you know, I'm not always very good at saying no......"

Listening to Captain America's stammering pale defense, Luke smiled and continued to tease: "That's right, who would refuse a beautiful girl with a hot kiss." By the way, Steve, don't tell me this is your first kiss, or I'll despise you. ”

"How is that possible!"

Rogers blushed, streaks of green ribs protruding from his forehead, arguing, "Me and Janice, and Amy......"

"But Bucky said, that's all when you were eight or nine years old, is it okay to play with girls?"

Seeing that Captain America was trying hard to find out his emotional experience, Luke laughed, and the barracks was full of joy.

When Rogers recovered and left the barracks to prepare his clothes for the celebration, Luke, who was sitting alone, had his eyes twinkled, as if he was thinking about something.

He was thinking about the "Baron Straker" mentioned by Dr. Zola.

The other party's real name is Wolfgang von Straker.

Bavaria, who was born in Germany, was a confidant of the Führer along with the well-known "Baron Zemo" in the Nazi Party.

Unlike the Red Skull's ambitions, Straker still has a deep affection for the Third Reich, and is bent on defeating the Allies and helping the Axis win the war.

It is worth mentioning that although Baron Straker is a high-ranking member of Hydra, he is not in the same camp as Red Skull.

He has his own research institute and scientific and technological power, and once created a virus weapon called "Death Spore", which harvested a large number of lives in the Allies.

"Thinking about it this way, the Allies are really miserable, being pressed to the ground and rubbed by all kinds of black technology of the Axis powers......"

Luke thought silently.

No wonder a certain German major would shout the slogan "German science and technology is the first in the world"!

……

……

After a simple wash and a new military dress, Luke and Rogers walked into the tavern in a nearby town.

Loud noises hit the air, the aroma of malt filled the air, and the pale blue mist of burning inferior tobacco.

The captured soldiers, who managed to escape and make their way back, desperately poured glasses of spirits, or gathered around to play cards and wrestle their wrists.

Some people are even ready to come to a wrestling match on a whim.

The GIs who crowded the tavern erupted in laughter from time to time.

The loud sound made the ceiling above him vibrate slightly, and the light bulbs hanging above shook for a while.

"Our hero is coming!"

Dugan, who was sitting on the edge of the bar, caught a glimpse of Luke standing in the doorway and immediately shouted loudly.

He slammed his glass on the table at the bar, like a rhythmic drum beat, attracting everyone's attention.

The GIs spontaneously stopped everything else and all stood and applauded.

The whole tavern looks like it's going to be overturned!

Those adoring glances, grateful glances.

Turned into a cheer and gave it to Luke.

This is a tribute to the heroes of war!

"They're so welcoming!"

The applause and cheers continued for two minutes, and Rogers sat down next to his friend and handed him a glass of whiskey on the rocks.

"Wait for the prom, have you chosen your dance partner?"

Luke lifted his glass, and the cold, hot liquid poured into his throat, causing a sensation of relief.

"How did I not know?"

Rogers' eyes widened, hadn't he heard that there was dancing at the celebration?

Captain America still thought that in the barracks, Luke was joking, and it was a bit too much to hold a ball before the war was won?

"Howard told me the news. He's already chosen his target for tonight's hunt. ”

Luke laughed, gently bumped Rogers on the shoulder and said, "That is the lucky one who took Captain America's first kiss?" Looks pretty good, with nice blonde hair...... See, she's staring at you with affectionate eyes. ”

"Steve, you're in danger tonight."

The teasing of his friend made Rogers feel ashamed.

After all, in terms of American customs, a twenty-year-old boy has no emotional experience, which is comparable to a pure blank paper, which is really a bit unreasonable.

"Not everyone is like Howard Stark!"

Rogers lowered his voice and raised his glass to hide his embarrassment.

"Okay, no kidding."

Luke cleared his throat with a serious expression.

Then, it didn't take long for him to lean his head over and ask with a smile, "Then Captain America, are you going to sacrifice your chastity tonight?" ”

Burst!

Rogers, who was drinking, squirted the whiskey out of his mouth in one gulp.

The commotion caused everyone in the bar to laugh.

"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to ......"

Rogers scrambled to explain to the innocent bartender as he looked at Luke angrily.

However, the latter had already slipped away and disappeared into the staircase on the second floor of the tavern.

"Bastard!"

Rogers, who has always been serious, rarely broke out a foul word.