Chapter Eight: The Century’s Dilemma—Why Didn’t Captain America Parachute Out of the Plane?

With a sharp "whoosh," the Time Ship transformed from a small mechanical grasshopper into a massive one. The moment its soul was bound to Melinda, she instinctively knew how to operate it.

"After you, Sister Joni," Yang Xin said with a mischievous grin. Melinda shot him a cold glance, then boarded the Time Ship first, followed by the others. She handled the controls with practiced ease.

Nick Fury silently activated his Sharingan, memorizing every move Melinda made. Despite its dazzling and futuristic appearance, the Time Ship operated with remarkable simplicity; after a short observation, Fury deactivated his Sharingan.

The Time Ship began its slow ascent. To be honest, riding it felt much like being on an airplane. Yang Xin and the others could distinctly sense the passage of time as the ship traversed temporal boundaries. To the distant agents watching, the enormous mechanical grasshopper vanished with a single "whoosh."

Melinda had already set the spatial coordinates and chose the temporal destination: fifteen minutes before Captain America's fateful crash. She could not set the time further back—energy constraints limited the ship's capabilities. Yang Xin had no idea what powered the vessel; it was certainly not coal or gasoline. He decided to leave such mysteries to S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Agent Melinda, are you sure about these coordinates?" Coulson, Captain America's number one fan, paced anxiously.

"If our classified files are accurate, the crash site should be right here," Melinda replied, her face devoid of emotion.

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

"Coulson, keep calm," Fury said quietly.

"How can I keep calm? It's Captain America! This is a historic moment," Coulson protested.

"There have been countless historic moments. With the Time Ship, you can witness any era you like," Yang Xin scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"It's not the same," Coulson replied helplessly.

"What's different—wait, look! He’s here, he’s coming, flying the doomed plane right toward us!" Yang Xin pointed into the distance.

"We’re directly in his flight path. The plane’s out of control—quick, move aside!" Coulson urged.

"There’s no need," Melinda said firmly. "That plane can't hit us, can't see us, and we can't touch it. We can only observe. This is the Time Ship."

Captain America’s crippled plane roared past, passing right through their field of vision. The determination in his eyes was clear to all.

"I have a question," Yang Xin said, brows furrowed in deep thought.

"What is it?" The group was startled.

"If the plane is out of control and Red Skull has been dealt with, why doesn’t Captain America bail out? With his physical abilities, he could survive…"

"C’mon, Captain, jump!" Coulson shouted anxiously.

"Don’t shoot, Captain—it’s me!" Yang Xin yelled, stirring chaos.

"Quick, head to the crash site," Fury ordered.

The Time Ship leapt to the crash location like a giant grasshopper.

"Have you found Captain America?" Fury asked.

"Yes, he’s fallen into the sea, being carried by the current," Melinda reported as she navigated.

"Follow him."

The Time Ship pursued wherever the current carried Captain America, until at last he was enveloped in ice.

"So it was the ocean current. That’s why we never found him at the wreckage. Mel, mark the coordinates. Let’s return."

"Yes, sir." Melinda recorded the coordinates and immediately activated the Time Ship to return to their original timeline.

With another sharp "whoosh," the mechanical grasshopper reappeared abruptly where it had been.

"How long were we gone?" Fury contacted the outside S.H.I.E.L.D. agents via headset.

"What? Sir, did you leave? At all?" came the reply.

Fury pondered this, thinking, "This Time Ship may lack offense, but its support capabilities are extraordinary. It’s a perfect tool for reconnaissance—like discovering when S.H.I.E.L.D. became a Hydra division…"

"Sir? Sir?" voices called through the headset.

"Maintain vigilance," Fury instructed. He turned to Coulson, Melinda, and Natasha. "Coulson and Melinda, you're coming back to headquarters with me. Natasha, stay and protect Mr. Yang Xin."

"What kind of protection? Twenty-four hour close-quarters protection, perhaps?" Yang Xin joked, grinning.

"If you wish, it’s not impossible. But you’ll have to trade your precious treasure for it," Natasha replied with a seductive smile, tossing her hair.

"Uh, never mind. My treasure’s irreplaceable," Yang Xin said, rolling his eyes. The Treasure Distribution System allowed only one unique artifact per person.

Uniqueness meant the item existed only once in this world, and only one person could use it. The system would not let someone possess duplicates.

"It was a pleasure working with you," Fury said, shaking Yang Xin’s hand before leaving, a gesture of thanks.

Coulson and Melinda did the same. As Yang Xin clasped hands with Melinda, the Treasure Distribution System’s voice sounded in his mind: "Mission complete. Random skill extraction from Melinda. Extraction successful: Melinda’s driving expertise."

Yang Xin sighed inwardly—finally, the system delivered something reliable. Melinda, known as "the Cavalry," possessed remarkable driving skills—not just with cars, but motorcycles, planes, boats, and more.

Though not a combat power, mobility was invaluable. Yang Xin believed in the principle, "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood." Melinda’s driving skills suited him perfectly; when facing enemies, any vehicle could become his escape.

"Are you sure there aren’t any treasures suitable for me?" Natasha asked, driving, her tone playful but her question earnest.

"None. I didn’t give you the Flower Key; it chose you. And since treasures are unique, you can’t possess another," Yang Xin explained.

"I see," Natasha replied, feigning enlightenment, though a glint flashed in her eyes.

Yang Xin failed to notice Natasha’s subtle shift, casually chatting with her. As a seasoned agent, Natasha’s conversational skills were superb, making Yang Xin feel at ease. Little did he realize their conversation was being relayed, word for word, to Fury’s headset.

Before long, they arrived at the luxury mansion in Manhattan. As soon as they stepped inside, a tall, stunning woman rose to greet them.

"Maria Hill, what are you doing here?"