FBI: Chapter 168/169

Chapter 168: Say Hello

Peggy Carter's funeral was quickly arranged.

After all, Captain Britain and Nick Fury were in charge of the entire arrangement, so the efficiency couldn't be low.

As an outstanding Agent who had rendered great service in both countries, and moreover, as the first Director of the America General Bureau, the number of people who came to pay their respects to Peggy Carter was unbelievably high.

Dante even acted as a driver, not only opening portals to pick up all the main members of the X-Men, but also all the elite Agents with names and surnames from the America General Bureau.

Batch after batch of people came through the portal, but Wolverine was late.

Just as Dante was about to use his personal terminal to contact Wolverine, he found that the usually carefree man was rushing over, pushing a wheelchair.

Dante looked closely, and the person in the wheelchair was...

Wasn't it Bucky Barnes?

Because HYDRA's hypnotic effect was too strong, all the captured Winter Soldiers were placed under protective custody.

The prototype Winter Soldier, was naturally among them.

"Logan, has the hypnosis in Bucky's mind been completely eliminated?"

"It was eliminated a few days ago. Except for those who were die-hard HYDRA loyalists before becoming Winter Soldiers, all other Winter Soldiers have been assigned to positions in their home country's Federal Bureau of Investigation." Wolverine pushed the wheelchair in front of Dante and shrugged. "However, Bucky was hit pretty hard by Steve in the last battle, and his legs still haven't fully recovered."

After speaking, he glanced at Bucky Barnes, who remained silent in the wheelchair, and then deliberately "whispered" in a voice that all three present could hear:

"But mainly, some people felt too ashamed to face Steve Rogers, so they stayed at the recuperation center for a few more days. But who would have thought that Peggy would pass away at this time? Even if one is too ashamed to see anyone, they still have to send an old friend off for the last time."

Dante nodded with a smile.

Although Wolverine appeared relaxed, his smile didn't reach his eyes, and a deep sadness also enveloped the depths of his gaze.

After all, both Wolverine and Baji were members of the Howling Commandos, and they were truly Peggy Carter's soldiers.

The passing of this leader, colleague, and friend, even for Bucky Barnes, who had only recently been freed from brainwashing and whose emotions had not yet fully recovered, still caused him to feel...

Sadness.

But what he was more worried about was Steve Rogers.

He had just returned across time not long ago, and immediately faced the death of his beloved.

"...How is Steve?"

Bucky Barnes was silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"He's alright. He danced his last dance with his girl, and she fell asleep in his arms forever... It's a sad and imperfect ending, but... it's already very good."

"That's right, that's right... Peggy has waited too long, it's time for her to rest." Bucky Barnes nodded thoughtfully, then lowered his head and murmured to himself.

Seeing him enter his own world again, Dante didn't say much, just nodded to Wolverine, and then they walked into the portal together.

And on the other side of the portal was the famous Westminster Abbey.

Which is Westminster Abbey.

As one of the most prestigious Catholic churches, Westminster Abbey is both the Royal Church of England and the burial place of distinguished figures from various fields in England.

And undoubtedly, Peggy Carter absolutely qualified to be buried here.

The main hall of Westminster Abbey was incredibly vast, easily accommodating all the attendees even with the space reserved for the funeral ceremony.

Dante even saw Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, they had just expressed their condolences to Steve Rogers when they saw Dante.

"Dante, how have you been these past few days? To be honest, I'm not very good at attending funerals, because they're a bit too... sad."

"Thanks to you, not bad... I'm glad you didn't come in that flashy suit of yours."

"Oh, come on, I admit I'm a bit unruly and even scornful of worldly conventions, but sometimes I do pay attention to the mood." Tony Stark shook his head, and although he was joking with Dante, a deep sadness was visible in his eyes. "It's hard to imagine, Aunt Peggy just... left."

Dante looked at Tony Stark with some surprise.

Aunt Peggy?

But upon closer thought... there was nothing wrong with calling her that!

His father, Howard Stark, was originally a good friend of Peggy Carter, and later even worked in the same unit.

After Howard Stark was rescued by The Legends, Tony's mother was saved, but she couldn't hold on for too long and eventually passed away.

At only seventeen years old, with both parents gone, even a genius like him, cursed by knowledge, faced immense resistance when taking over the family business.

And at that time, Peggy Carter was still the Director of the America General Bureau, so she definitely took good care of her old friend's son.

Otherwise, given Tony Stark's personality, would he have helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation improve the Helicarrier just because Nick Fury, with a few beautiful Agents, sweet-talked him?

It was merely the gratitude of that seventeen-year-old boy towards Aunt Peggy.

"Peggy Carter was indeed a great woman. After my parents passed away, although the Wayne Group wasn't as complicated internally as Stark's family, Peggy Carter still helped the Wayne Group a lot with external conditions." Bruce Wayne patted Tony Stark's shoulder. "So, I didn't hesitate to sign another thirty-year outsourcing cooperation contract with the America General Bureau."

"Your family is complicated! Your whole family is complicated!"

Dante watched the two top bosses from New York and Gotham reminisce, and couldn't help but feel deep admiration for Peggy Carter!

So it turns out...

Suddenly, the corner of Dante's eye caught a very familiar figure, but he was wearing a hat, and his face couldn't be seen clearly.

So, waving to Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, Dante walked towards the direction where the figure had flashed.

Looking left and right, he found the hat-wearing guy huddled in the right corner of the church seats.

For now, he was the only one there.

Dante walked over without hesitation and sat in the neighboring seat.

After getting closer, Dante finally confirmed the identity of this guy.

How to put it... it wasn't very surprising.

"Is this your first time attending a friend's funeral?"

"If you're talking about after the war... yes, this is indeed the first time." The man in the hat shook his head, sighing with a hint of melancholy, "I'm still young, but my friends have grown old and even faced death... So this is what it feels like."

"Alright, stop pretending to be profound."

Dante reached out and took off the man's hat, then continued:

"Howard Stark, aren't you going to say hello to your son?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 169: You Guessed Right

Howard Stark looked at Tony Stark from afar.

He was chatting with Bruce Wayne.

Then he shook his head and continued:

"I'm already dead in history, so it's better not to meet... Otherwise, when I go back, Captain America will hold a meeting to criticize me."

"Did you specifically come this time because you found this point in history?"

"No, The Legends happened to be resting in this era. After I got the information, I asked for leave to come and see."

Howard Stark said it very casually, but Dante knew that this man was probably the second saddest person present.

Second only to Steve Rogers.

After all...

Who told Peggy Carter to be Howard Stark's true love?

Howard turned his head, seeing Dante's ambiguous gaze, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Agent Dante, I know what you're thinking... But that's Peggy Carter, who wouldn't love her?"

Dante nodded, expressing deep agreement.

That was Peggy Carter, a woman who combined beauty, elegance, strength, and wisdom.

She was truly a goddess in the military.

It has to be said, Steve Rogers had it too good.

"Yes, who wouldn't love her?"

"...But let me make it clear to you, I only loved her when I was young. My true love is still Maria! Don't ruin my reputation!"

As soon as Dante heard Howard Stark mention his wife, he turned his head and asked:

"Howard, tell me honestly, regarding Maria... don't you want to save her?"

"Isn't your topic jumping around too much..." Howard Stark looked at Dante strangely, and finally, all his words turned into a sigh. "Sigh... How could I not save her? But time is much more resilient than we imagined, and the inertia of time is much greater than we imagined."

"My repeated attempts to save her couldn't stop Maria from dying in the year I left." Howard took the hat back from Dante's hand, then shook his head. "Later I understood that Maria just didn't want to stay in a timeline without me."

Seeing Howard Stark suddenly fall into a self-pitying mood, Dante lost interest in continuing the conversation.

Since his future self formed The Legends and had Sarah recruit Howard Stark, it meant that Howard Stark was necessary for safeguarding historical security.

Although he didn't know why he was necessary, but...

He trusted his future self, one hundred percent.

If he couldn't even trust himself, then there was nothing left to trust in this chaotic Universe.

Just as Dante was thinking this, a strong voice came from beside his ear.

"Oh, isn't that Howard? You've become so weak after a few days?"

The two looked up, and it was Captain Carter in a black dress.

However, Captain Carter's face was covered with a black veil.

"Captain Carter? Luckily you covered your face, otherwise, this funeral would really explode."

"My age is even much older than your Peggy Carter, could I not think of such a situation?" Captain Carter sat beside Dante, stretching her neck. "To be honest, I've experienced many things across various timelines and Universes, but Peggy Carter's funeral is truly a first... It's a magical experience."

Dante's mouth twitched.

How could this experience not be magical?

Attending one's own funeral?

Leaving aside that most people don't have this ability.

Among those who might be able to, who would idly go to see how they died?

"Alright, you two special individuals, stay put in this corner! The funeral will begin soon."

Dante stood up and walked towards the front of the church.

As a member of the funeral committee, he was to be present at the very front with Nick Fury.

His expression gradually became solemn and dignified.

...After all, it was a funeral, so it was best not to smile if possible.

England also didn't have the custom of a joyful funeral.

As the melodious and sacred singing of the choir began, the funeral started.

The coffin was draped with the national flags of America and England, symbolizing Peggy Carter's outstanding achievements.

The six pallbearers were Captain America Steve Rogers, Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, Wolverine Logan, Iron Man Tony Stark, Batman Bruce Wayne, and Coulson.

Although Coulson was also recruited into the Federal Bureau of Investigation by Peggy Carter, at this time he mostly represented Nick Fury and the entire America General Bureau.

As the coffin was carried into the depths of the church, the resting place of a nation's heroes, the funeral had just begun.

After all, a funeral is for the living, to express their grief.

And this funeral ultimately concluded with Sharon Carter's speech.

Nick Fury and others still needed to handle the aftermath of Peggy Carter's death, while Dante once again opened a portal...

Since he brought people here this way, he had to send them back this way.

After all...

Who in their right mind carries a passport with them!?

Including the Coulson Team and the Star Team, they all returned to the Team Base in Washington.

"Aren't you coming along?" Ada raised an eyebrow, the purple Lantern Ring on her ring finger gleaming. "Or are you keeping a mistress in England?"

"Serious business!"

"It better be serious business." Ada said, biting Dante's lower lip. "Otherwise, you'll be in for it!"

Dante couldn't help but frown.

It was bleeding.

Ada smeared the trace of blood across her lips, making the scarlet even more alluring.

But this action made Dante shake his head.

Why did Ada like to bite people too?

Couldn't she learn less from Harley Quinn!?

Dante felt that in the future, whether it was his lips or his neck, he would suffer greatly.

After sending off the team members, Dante suddenly remembered that Captain Carter hadn't left yet!

So Dante immediately went to look for her, but found that Captain Carter and Howard Stark were not in the corner where they had been.

"Hey, soldier, did you see the two people sitting there just now? A man and a woman, the man had a small mustache, and the woman was very tall and strong."

Dante asked a security guard at the funeral.

"Let me think... Oh, those two just spoke with a few people and then left together."

Dante frowned and immediately chased after them.

As soon as he stepped out, a hard object pressed against Dante's waist.

"Don't move, come with us."

Dante rolled his eyes.

Chaos Magic quietly drifted out, instantly immobilizing the person behind him.

Then he turned around and looked at White Canary Sarah Lance, who had an expression of "Oh dear, how was I discovered?" and asked helplessly:

"What do you want with me?"

"Don't tell me there's a huge problem with the timeline, so big that you need my help."

Then he dispelled the Chaos Magic.

Sarah Lance stretched her wrist and said:

"Teacher, you guessed right!"

(To be continued.)