The Oval Office, White House.
Steve Rogers stood on the oak floor. Portraits of past U.S. Presidents hung on the wall behind the President.
At that moment, Roosevelt was on the phone, idly playing with a commemorative pen, a smile on his lips. "Single-handedly wiped out the entire garrison? That's simply marvelous."
Hearing the conversation, Steve pricked up his ears.
Single-handedly wiped out the enemy? Who is this heroic soldier?
Roosevelt spoke in an approving tone, "Your Super-Soldier project is a great success!"
Super-Soldier? Steve's mind immediately conjured a familiar figure. Could it be him?
Faint sounds came from the other end of the phone. Roosevelt continued, "What? Defied orders, attacked without authorization, and Major William wants him disciplined?"
"Hahaha! Courage in a young man is a good thing. Major William is making a mountain out of a molehill. I'll inform the Pentagon. Phillips, don't worry about this."
"Just tell Jeno to keep up the good work and produce results. Next time, I'll host a victory banquet for him at the White House!"
"And... initiate the 'Star-Making Project.' We need a spiritual banner to inspire our troops!"
Hearing Jeno's name, Steve felt his head buzz. It really is Jeno!
Then, Steve grew curious. How many enemies did Jeno kill to earn the President's favor like this?
Roosevelt hung up the phone and turned his attention to Steve and the senator. However, Steve could sense the President's gaze lingered more on him, which made him feel a bit pressured.
"Hmm, now, young man, your name is...?"
"Steve. His name is Steve, Mr. President!" The senator smiled, pulling Steve forward. Standing across the desk from the President, the senator patted Steve's well-developed pectoral muscles. "He is the other super-soldier from the Super-Soldier project."
Roosevelt's eyes lit up. "Can you fly?"
Steve looked embarrassed. Fly? He could jump maybe two meters high, but that wasn't flying. So he shook his head and answered honestly, "I'm sorry, Mr. President. I cannot fly."
Hearing Steve couldn't fly, the President looked slightly disappointed. He tapped his desk, then asked, "Can you shoot heat vision from your eyes?"
Steve's expression grew even more awkward. He shook his head again. "No, I cannot shoot lasers from my eyes."
(In truth, after seeing Jeno's ability, Steve had secretly tried in private. But until his eyes grew dry and irritated, he couldn't manage to shoot any lasers.)
The President's expression became inscrutable. He tapped his desk once more. "Then, what are your abilities?"
It feels like... this Steve is a bit... underwhelming. Did he and Jeno really use the same serum?
"Ah, then what can you do? Can your body withstand bullets?"
Steve remained silent for a long moment before shaking his head dejectedly. "No."
An awkward silence descended upon the three. The President sighed. He decided not to ask further. It was becoming impolite.
Finally, the anxious senator broke the silence. "Ahem, Mr. President, I intend for Steve to sell war bonds for me. That is also a form of serving the country."
The President glanced at Steve, feeling somewhat displeased. A fine young man, not going to the front lines to win glory, but selling war bonds?
So the President asked, "Is this what you want, Steve?"
Steve thought of Jeno fighting on the front lines while he was supposed to dance and perform for civilians. This wasn't the outcome he desired.
So, with determination in his eyes, Steve shook his head. "No, this is not what I want. I wish to go to the front lines and fight, just like Jeno Wilson!"
Hearing this, the senator panicked. "Steve, you're mad! You're just stronger than the average person, not a super-soldier like Lieutenant Jeno! Going to the battlefield means death!"
Steve's expression remained firm. He raised his head, his eyes filled with profound resolve. "Although I lack those powerful superpowers, I have the heart to fight for my country!"
Seemingly moved by Steve's spirit, the President pondered for a moment. "Then, go to the front lines, Steve. I approve your transfer to join Lieutenant Jeno's unit, 'The Boys'!"
Hearing the President's words, Steve was overjoyed.
Join 'The Boys'? That means I can fight alongside Jeno!
A fighting spirit ignited in Steve's eyes. This is the life I want!
.....
Meanwhile, at the Pentagon...
"Gentlemen, take a look at this."
A silver-haired general tapped two telegrams on the table. "These are the latest reports from William's unit."
"They state that Lieutenant Jeno Wilson of the Strategic Scientific Reserve defied orders and led soldiers on an unauthorized raid against Peleliu Island."
In the conference room,
another star-adorned old officer asked, puzzled, "Hmm? The Strategic Scientific Reserve? Isn't that Phillips's department? Why would his man be at Peleliu Island?"
"Perhaps related to the President? I recall the SSR has some Super-Soldier project?"
Those seated here were all high-ranking officials, privy to varying degrees of inside information.
"However, since he defied orders, just execute him. Why send a telegram asking us? This William fellow is getting more foolish with age."
The general holding the documents looked strange. "But here's the problem. Jeno Wilson did indeed defy orders and attack Peleliu Island on his own initiative. The result, however, is that he single-handedly killed every enemy soldier on that island."
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in chatter. The star-adorned officials crowded around the old general to read the telegrams.
"Good God, wiped out the garrison by himself?!"
"How did he do it?"
The officials pulled out the detailed report.
"Modified by the Super-Soldier project? Can shoot lasers from his eyes!"
The more the generals read, the more excited they became. They all thought of the same idea: if they could replicate thousands of Jenos, not just the Japanese, but even the mustached man in Germany would be forced to his knees.
"Contact the Strategic Scientific Reserve immediately! Demand they provide the Super-Soldier serum!"
"We must replicate the miracle on Jeno and crush the damned Japanese and that mustached man!"
The generals began fantasizing about America ruling the world. However, the leading elder remained calmer, saying slowly, "Sending someone to inquire about the serum is fine. Our current discussion is how to handle Jeno Wilson's insubordination."
The generals' expressions instantly shifted. One spoke up:
"Ahem, insubordination? What insubordination? Lieutenant Jeno took the initiative to attack the enemy. That's the mark of a courageous fighter!"
"Correct! Not only should we not punish him, we should promote him!" Another short, old man waved his fist.
The other generals nodded in deep agreement. That's exactly what they thought.
But how exactly should they promote Jeno?
As the old men debated, a soldier brought in a field telephone. "Generals, the President is on the line."
"The President says he has something important to discuss."
The generals quickly stood up to listen to Roosevelt's address.
"Lieutenant Jeno Wilson's achievements are astonishing. The feat of single-handedly wiping out the enemy deserves ample publicity."
Roosevelt's voice on the other end trembled with excitement.
There was a time when people fantasized about immense strength, invulnerability, and the ability to fly.
Now, such a legend had truly appeared in America. Roosevelt's feelings were understandable.
"Increase your propaganda efforts! I want all of America to know of Lieutenant Jeno's deeds!"
"Of course, Mr. President. We were thinking the same," the leading general chuckled in agreement.
After hanging up, the generals sat together sipping tea, sighing with emotion. "Even the President has received news of Lieutenant Jeno."
One general rubbed his nose and stated bluntly, "William dared to slander America's hope. Remove him from command. He is unfit to lead the great American military!"
Anyone with eyes could see the political winds shifting around Jeno. Therefore, William, who had slandered the hero Jeno, had no place in the military.
"Let William retire!"
"Yes, he's getting old anyway."
Soon, the old men settled on the next steps.
A stenographer bent over, furiously writing down the arrangements for both individuals.
Then, an encrypted, urgent telegram was hastily dispatched to Peleliu Island.
....