Chapter Seventy-Seven: I Just Want to Grow Quietly
With the death of three "battleship-class" in Paris, the Holy General committed suicide by drinking bullets in an underground research institute, and the crumbling Third Reich finally collapsed.
The world war, which lasted for many years, also came to an end.
When the news of the victory reached London and then airwaves to the White House, the top brass of the Central Powers were excited.
Many legislators immediately held press conferences to publicize and win public opinion.
Those who were waiting for peace to come and the smoke to clear up also took to the streets and reveled all night.
It is said that New York was lit up that night, like a bright ocean.
A few days later, however, more attention was drawn to Luke, who was once again in the headlines.
A black-and-white photo that appeared on the front page of the New York Times!
Shocked half the world!
A frenzy of discussion!
In the photo, a young brigadier in metal armor stands tall in the air, his cloak fluttering like a flag.
Due to the good grasp of the angle and light, Luke's face was blurred, and the whole revealed a strong momentum.
It's like the heroes who come out of those mythological epics.
Bathed in golden light, majestic!
"A flying superman!"
"I heard that His Excellency the Brigadier General flew to Berlin and ended the war!"
"I also know that Brigadier General Cavill fought hundreds of Aryan demons summoned by the Führer in Paris for three days and three nights, and finally consumed half of his life before sealing them and sending them back to hell!"
"Hehe, what are you, the latest news is that the mustachioed Führer in Berlin sacrificed millions of lives to transform himself into the King of Hell - without Brigadier Cavill stepping forward, the whole world would have been destroyed."
"Shhh Long live the Allies! Brigadier General Cavill is a war hero! ”
“……”
It didn't take long for similar rumors to spread throughout the United States.
There is even a tendency to continue fermentation and spread outward.
In all taverns and inns, there are people in the streets and alleys who talk about this matter, as if they have seen it with their own eyes, and it is extremely true.
The most outrageous thing is that Luke also used love to influence a certain Aryan female demon named Sieglinde, and the details of emotional entanglements were added.
After this version, the tragic story of "a German country girl was brutally transformed into a demon by the Führer, but fortunately she was helped by the Allied Superman to regain her self-consciousness".
Even the gang in London were not idle, and many third-rate writers put the templates of Merlin, King Arthur, and the Twelve Knights of the Round Table on Luke in order to gain popularity, and made up all kinds of bizarre experiences.
One of the most widely spread is that Luke was born into a mysterious family of witchers, known as the "Walking Piledriver" and "Friend of the Sorceress", and was later inspired by the fairy of the lake to join the Allies to fight against the axis of evil.
With all sorts of news flying around, the general public ignored the most critical information on the key photos.
That is, the Allied Brigadier General, who is a super soldier, can actually fly?
If it comes to punching tanks, kicking Berlin's "battleship-class" soldiers is still within the acceptable range.
But the sudden ability to fly, as well as the never-before-seen metal armor, easily aroused the inquisitive psychology of some people.
"Colonel, I'm just asking you to help promote it, and I'm not going to be the fodder for all sorts of novels - look at the secret past that Brigadier Luke Cavill had to tell with the Aryan devil! And this, deciphering the truth behind Allied Superman! My years as a witcher in London! ”
At Bletchley Manor on the outskirts of London, Luke spread out the recent newspapers, looked at Colonel Phillips with a smug face, and said helplessly: "My uncle Frank called me a few days ago and said that a reporter from the New York Times came to interview him and asked him if he knew that his nephew was actually from a witcher family, and had an indescribable super-friendship relationship with many sorcerers. ”
"That's a good thing, Luke."
In private, Colonel Phillips did not adhere to the strict salutation of superiors and subordinates, and said with a smile: "At least you are now a well-talked young brigadier general, a war hero, and not ignored like Rogers." ”
"We all know the virtues of politicians, they can kneel down and lick your boots when they ask for you, but if they don't have any use value, it's a waste of time to look at you more."
Luke nodded in agreement, the photo that sparked heated discussions was actually a pose.
After he left Berlin, he specifically sought out Colonel Phillips for a photographer.
Afterwards, it was sent to the New York Times in the name of the other party.
In this era, image synthesis technology has not yet been produced, so there is no need to question the authenticity of photographs, and people are happy to believe it.
The reason for this is that the war is over, and Luke has to hurry up and brush up a little more reputation.
But I didn't expect Colonel Phillips to make such a big fuss, and the secret story of the Allied Superman and the Aryan Demon has almost become one of the popular cultures in the United States.
A few days ago, Paramount Pictures asked if Luke would be interested in bringing this experience to the screen, and it would be better if he himself wanted to participate.
Although it is now an embarrassing state where the actors are undecided, the script is not available, and the funds are insufficient, as long as the brigadier general of the allied forces nods and agrees, everything is not a problem.
Paramount patted its chest and assured that it could bring in big stars like James Stewart, Clark Gable, and Katharine Hepburn to join.
"If I write a few memoirs after I retire, or go to Hollywood, I'm sure I'll have a lot of money."
Luke didn't blame Colonel Phillips either, raising visibility was one of the purposes in the first place.
Even if the topic is brought more and more crookedly, it doesn't hurt.
According to Hollywood's commercial operations, it is estimated that these "real deeds" about themselves will be adapted many times and put on the screen.
Maybe you can get an Oscar statuette, and leave a famous film history from now on, and achieve a good story.
"Luke, you should have a bigger future."
After the chat, Colonel Phillips restrained his smile and said in a deep voice: "It's just that we need to lie dormant for the time being, waiting for the right time to soar into the sky." ”
Luke raised an eyebrow, and when he returned from Berlin, he received a commendation from the top of the Allied powers.
Churchill, who left his wartime cabinet and returned to the Prime Minister's Office, called him the liberator of the free world.
And the president, who was far away in the White House, was even more blunt, saying that Luke had changed the course of the war and single-handedly saved the Allies.
It's just that both sides have stayed in lip service and touted vigorously, and have not given tangible benefits.
Presumably, the Allies also have a headache, what practical reward can a brigadier general who is only twenty years old give?
Major general?
Lieutenant General?
Or an admiral?
With such a fast promotion speed, wouldn't Luke be able to sit directly in the position of Minister of Defense when he was thirty years old!
In this regard, Britain has the mentality of eating melons that it is not a big deal to watch the excitement, and the prime minister said that such a merit is nothing to give a five-star general, and if the United States is reluctant, it can let Luke join England, and the empire where the sun never sets is extremely welcome.
The president of the White House has a smile on his face, and his heart has long been fragrant.
"Looks like you've gotten the news, Colonel."
Luke doesn't attach much importance to military ranks, don't look at his current official worship of generals, but he has no real power under his hands, just a false title.
The Allies were now busy liberating Berlin, and when the war was over, they would naturally sit down to share the cake and reward the heroes.
When the time comes, Luke and Captain Rogers will both return to New York to receive the commendation.
"It has been proposed that you continue to lead the Strategic Science Corps."
Colonel Phillips's face sank, and it was clear that the military wanted to isolate Luke from the periphery of the central body of power.
The main reason may be the fear that the young brigadier general's premature entry into the Ministry of Defense will cause a series of problems such as excessive power and difficulty in restraint.
Of course, the more important thing is that Luke does not have enough strong support behind him.
Superman is powerful, but those who are accustomed to thinking in terms of politicians, or the logic of interests, only use the other side as a weapon of the state - this is a very stupid but very real idea.
Even when politicians and capitalists face thugs, the first thing that comes to mind is always to use status and money to ensure their own safety.
But they forget that some people don't follow this set of rules.
"It's just an offer! If you don't want to, no one will force you, and Eisenhower will be happy to lend a hand......"
Luke waved his hand to stop the colonel's kindness, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly, as if he was not angry.
Of course, he knows that the military owes him favors, and those bigwigs are willing to take this opportunity to pay it back to him.
The capture of Rome and the assistance of the Allied forces in landing in Sicily were such a great credit that Luke gave to Eisenhower without blinking.
At the same time, the honor was handed to the president to ease the contradictions at home.
If I want to enter the Ministry of Defense and set foot in the center of the power structure, I will definitely be able to do so.
"It's a pity that I just want to develop quietly."
Luke thought silently.
From the current point of view, the Strategic Science Corps is just a small and insignificant institution.
But when the era of superheroes comes, the behemoth of S.H.I.E.L.D. will emerge - as its predecessor, the Strategic Science Corps is actually very promising.
"The first S.H.I.E.L.D. chief?"
The figure of a boiled egg flashed in Luke's mind, expressing his satisfaction with the decision of the Allied leadership.