However, what Wos didn’t know was that less than half an hour after he left Radiance Press, a middle-aged man in a dark blue jacket pushed open the door and walked into the editorial office.
“Phil! You’re back!” Editor Osk looked up, a smile he hadn’t worn in a long time spreading across his face.
“How was the trip out to sea this time?”
“Don’t even get me started. The waves out there were huge, and it was either wind or rain the whole time. I almost threw up my breakfast.”
Phil Coulson took off his hat, revealing a face that always wore a gentle smile.
“The haul wasn’t bad though, at least enough for me to rest for a while.”
Osk put down the manuscript in his hand and pointed at the chair across from him.
“Sit, sit. I was just worrying. While you were gone, these manuscripts nearly drove me crazy.”
Coulson looked around and saw that the pile of manuscripts on the desk was even taller than the last time he came.
“Looks like business is good, with this many submissions.”
“Business is good, but the quality…” Osk shook his head.
“If one in ten is decent, that’s doing well. Most of them are whiny romance novels, or third-rate fantasy copying *The Lord of the Rings*.”
Coulson sat down in the chair and habitually glanced over the manuscripts on the desk.
“Has anything good been published lately? I’ve been bored stiff on the boat and was hoping to find something good to read.”
“Good books?” Osk gave a wry smile.
“You’re dreaming. Not a single decent one this month. There are a few traditional literature titles, but you know, that’s not your thing.”
Coulson nodded.
As a huge fan of Captain America, he preferred stories full of heroism.
Traditional literature had its value, but it always lacked that feeling that set your blood on fire.
“Then let me help you look through these new manuscripts.” Coulson rolled up his sleeves.
“I’m free anyway, and you know I’ve got a decent eye for this stuff.”
“That would be wonderful!” Osk felt like he’d been saved.
“Your advice is always on point. Last time, when you pointed out the logic holes in *Love of the Wolf Ghost*, it really helped a lot.”
The two began dividing the work.
Osk continued reading the manuscript in his hands, while Coulson started going through another pile.
“*Love in the Rainy Season of New York*… another romance novel.” Coulson flipped through a few pages and set it aside.
“*Secrets of the Magic Academy*… I’ve seen this setup in *Harry Potter*.”
“*Interstellar Adventure*… hmm, this one’s a little interesting, but the writing is terrible.”
Coulson read fast.
As a senior S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent, he had trained in absorbing information quickly.
And years of reading experience let him judge a book’s quality at a glance.
Of course, Coulson could never tell Osk about his identity as an agent, as it would only bring unnecessary trouble to his friend, which was why he had disguised himself as a sailor who went out to sea to fish.
“*Reborn in World War II, I Became Captain America’s Comrade*?”
Coulson’s eyes lit up instantly.
As a devoted fan of Captain America, anything related to the Captain could spark his interest.
“Osk, when did you receive this manuscript?” Coulson held up the printed pages.
“Oh, that one.” Osk didn’t even look up.
“Just this afternoon, from a young man. He looked pretty poor, didn’t even have a phone.”
“A young man?” Coulson turned to the first page.
“What did he look like?”
“Twenty-something, white, blond hair, with two big dark circles under his eyes, like he’d been up all night writing,” Osk recalled.
“But his spirits were good, and he was very confident about his work.”
Coulson nodded and began reading carefully.
“My name is John Smith, an ordinary military enthusiast. If someone had told me that I would transmigrate to America in 1942, become a mutant, and become comrades with Captain America, I would have been sure they were insane…”
With just the first few sentences, Coulson was hooked.
The first-person narration was very immersive, and the protagonist’s setup was interesting too.
He kept reading, getting more and more absorbed.
The author’s descriptions of 1942 America were detailed, from the buildings on the streets to the way people dressed, all with a strong sense of the era.
And John Smith’s inner thoughts were written realistically.
The complex mix of confusion, excitement, and fear of a modern man suddenly thrown back seventy years was portrayed vividly.
“This guy really knows his World War II history.”
Coulson thought to himself.
As a S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent, he was familiar with that period of history too, and he could tell the author had put a great deal of effort into the historical details.
What interested Coulson even more was the author’s portrayal of Steve Rogers.
In this story, Steve hadn’t yet become Captain America, and was just a frail but strong-willed young man.
“Steve was still that frail little guy, but there was an unshakable sense of justice in his eyes. I knew this man was destined to become a legend…”
Reading this, Coulson couldn’t help smiling knowingly.
This reverence for Captain America was exactly like his own feelings.
“Osk,” Coulson said without looking up, “this manuscript is interesting.”
“Oh?” Osk stopped what he was doing.
“How so?” Get faster updates on g.com.
“The author is very familiar with World War II history, and has a deep understanding of Captain America.” Coulson turned to the next page.
“Even though it’s only twenty pages, you can already tell this is a story with potential.”
Osk was a little surprised.
“Really? I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. That young man did seem sincere, but you know, there are so many people writing superhero themes these days, and most are just jumping on the bandwagon.”
“This one’s different.” Coulson said seriously.
“This new author isn’t simply cashing in on Captain America’s fame, he’s seriously building a story. The protagonist’s setup is clever, with both a modern person’s knowledge advantage and a mutant’s special ability, but not so powerful that it breaks the balance.”
Coulson kept reading and found that the pacing of the story was very well controlled.
The protagonist’s meeting with Steve felt natural, and the process of the two going from strangers to familiar friends was very convincing.
Especially John’s inner struggle: he knew what Steve was going to go through and what would happen in the future, but he couldn’t say it outright, because he feared the “butterfly effect.”
This setup of “knowing the plot but being unable to spoil it” filled the story with tension.
“And the author’s prose is good too.” Coulson continued his evaluation.
“The dialogue is natural, and the descriptions are vivid. There’s still room for improvement, but he’s already far better than most new authors.”
Osk put down the manuscript in his hand and walked over to Coulson.
“Let me see.”
Coulson handed him the manuscript, and Osk quickly skimmed a few pages.
“It really is good.” Osk nodded.
“Much better than the other manuscripts we got today. This… John Smith’s story really is appealing.”
“And this is only the beginning.” Coulson pointed at the manuscript.
“If the later plot can maintain this standard, this book is absolutely worth publishing.”
Osk thought it over.
“Then I’ll go talk to this author tomorrow. I’ll see how the rest of his manuscript turns out.”
“Tomorrow?” Coulson thought for a moment.
“Can I go with you? I’m very interested in this story and want to meet the author in person.”
“Of course.” Osk smiled.
“But are you sure you want to go? The place that young man lives might not be so nice, and a grown man just back from the sea going to a place like that, wouldn’t you…”
“It’s fine.” Coulson waved his hand.
“I’m not some delicate person. Besides, someone who can write a story like this must be interesting.”
Seeing the glint of excitement in Coulson’s eyes, Osk knew his old friend had once again run into a work he was truly interested in.
“Then it’s settled.” Osk carefully put the manuscript away.
“Tomorrow morning we’ll go visit this… Mr. Wos together.”
Coulson nodded, filled with anticipation for tomorrow’s meeting.
As a huge Captain America fan, he really wanted to know what kind of adventures this young author would arrange for Steve Rogers.