S.H.I.E.L.D. Was Repelled Again

Xiang Qian chose a surprise approach for his entry into the United States this time. Although his itinerary was public, the timing of the disclosure was pushed to the very last minute.

As a world-renowned entrepreneur and billionaire, his Bombardier Global Express had long been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, granting him access to the fast-track lane for international flight applications.

From the moment the flight path was filed to the point he stepped off the plane to undergo security screening, the unsuspecting airport staff followed standard procedure. By the time those in the know had passed the intelligence of his arrival up the chain of command and the authorized decision-makers had finally made a call, Xiang Qian's car was already driving onto the Golden Gate Bridge.

As of now, the only two people who had successfully contacted Xiang Qian were Tony Stark and Nick Fury; both were able to detect his movements immediately for their own respective reasons.

"That little boy, Jimmy. He is the key to the mutant gene serum. You knew about his existence all along, didn't you?" Nick Fury didn't beat around the bush, perhaps aware that time was of the essence.

A smile played on the corners of Xiang Qian's mouth as he picked up a document. This was, naturally, the same file he had previously handed to Zheng Xian to persuade his superiors. Xiang Qian flipped to the second page, where the photo of a bald, white teenage boy stared back at him.

Jimmy was a mutant teenager capable of secreting a mutant gene inhibitor. The so-called mutant serum was, in fact, extracted from this boy's body.

"So what?" Xiang Qian's expression remained indifferent. "The child is a minor, and his parents, acting as his legal guardians, consented to Worthington Industries providing him with treatment. Everything is reasonable and legal."

Listening to Xiang Qian's unwavering tone, Nick Fury felt an inexplicable irritation; his current mood was far from the calm and steady demeanor he projected over the phone.

In the matter of Worthington Industries developing the mutant serum, the department led by Nick Fury had suffered a serious lapse in duty.

For a long time, there had been no shortage of organizations secretly researching mutant genes. Nick Fury's subordinates had failed to give Worthington Industries any special attention, instead treating its research progress as equivalent to that of other institutions. They had completely failed to discover the boy named Jimmy, let alone anticipate that the key to decoding the mutant gene could be found within him.

It wasn't until over a week ago, when Worthington Industries completed the first phase of clinical trials and rumors of the serum's effectiveness began to spread, that Nick Fury was horrified to discover the entire mutant population in North America beginning to stir.

As for the bizarre speech delivered by Worthington II, it was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pot of boiling oil; the mutant community, which had been dormant for nearly a decade, immediately erupted.

By this point, Nick Fury could have eaten Worthington II alive.

The area surrounding the San Francisco Bay was currently a gathering storm. Radical mutants were protesting, while local police and the California National Guard stood on alert—these were the organizations operating in the open.

As for the forces lurking in the shadows, there were so many that even Fury himself couldn't count them all. The most powerful, naturally, was the United States Armed Forces. General Ross, authorized by the White House, was in unified command of the Air Force and Marine Corps stationed on Alcatraz Island and around the San Francisco Bay. However, S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents had discovered a contingent of Army operatives appearing in San Francisco under the cover of darkness, their intentions unclear.

Considering that William Stryker—the former official who had been in charge of mutant affairs before Ross—had spent years leading a secret mutant research facility, this clandestine Army unit suggested that the top brass of the Army likely had designs on the gene serum as well.

It was hard to say if those two sides would end up pointing fingers at each other and calling the other "idiots."

When it came to mutants, the Brotherhood of Mutants and the X-Men were inevitably involved. One might hope they would continue to target each other as they had in the past, but faced with a common crisis, there was no guarantee they wouldn't form a temporary alliance.

The "emotional history" of Magneto and Professor X's constant breaking up and making up was longer than the most vapid soap opera. Yet, with both factions having laid low for years, Nick Fury couldn't quite grasp their respective plans.

Add in the various intelligence agencies under the U.S. government—everyone who could come had come—and the U.S. government's nominal allies and open adversaries had also sent intelligence officers to infiltrate the Bay Area.

The number of factions confirmed to be involved far exceeded the control of Nick Fury and his subordinates. The list of organizations alone filled an entire A4 sheet of paper, a sight that would give anyone a headache.

Worthington Industries had kept its secrets too well, and the news had broken too suddenly. Domestic U.S. intelligence agencies had been unable to manage the situation in time, leaving all stakeholders feeling caught off guard and creating the chaotic stalemate currently unfolding.

But what gave Nick Fury the biggest headache was the man he was currently speaking to: Xiang Qian.

"What I want to know is, in this incident, is there any possibility of cooperation between us and Mr. Xiang?" Nick Fury's tone was somewhat stiff, but for him, this was a rare display of humility. Standing nearby, his deputy Maria Hill was so intrigued that she began to size up her superior.

Xiang Qian maintained a calm tone. "Cooperation requires a common goal. In Mr. Fury's view, do we share a common goal in this incident?"

Nick Fury couldn't help but curse under his breath. Listening to Xiang Qian's tone, he vaguely saw another familiar face: the Director of the Spear Bureau, with his sharp chin, narrow eyes, and enigmatic smile, had certainly left a deep impression on Nick Fury's career as an agent.

The problem was that Xiang Qian was the person he knew to be most closely connected to the X-Men. No matter how much Nick Fury disliked him, he had to swallow his pride and deal with him.

"A goal for cooperation can always be found if one is willing." Nick Fury stared at the electronic map on the command console, which clearly showed a wireless communication signal moving along the Bay Area highway toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

"I know the Five Elements Laboratory has been conducting mutant gene research, and your Wude Group has arranged employment for a large number of mutants. You are committed to solving the survival issues of mutants in your country, which is consistent with our goal—only our goal encompasses mutants worldwide."

"And so?" Xiang Qian asked coolly. He didn't bother discussing whether to solve the problem or the people who created it; Nick Fury was a spymaster, not a mutant leader like Magneto or Professor X. Discussing such topics with a spy was a waste of breath.

"The relevant research can be conducted in partnership. You should be well aware of our scientific capabilities, and of course, I also admire the technical level of the Five Elements Laboratory."

Xiang Qian sneered. "The United States' scientific strength is indeed advanced, but why would I choose to cooperate with you instead of someone else?"

"Because we are more sincere." Nick Fury began to critique the other factions one by one. "The U.S. Armed Forces are consistently aggressive and already have numerous corporate partners domestically. And as everyone knows, Mr. Xiang, you have extensive cooperation with the Spear Bureau and possess a semi-official background; you would never be their partner of choice."

"Then there are the Brotherhood of Mutants and the X-Mansion. We all know their goals are completely different from ours. As for the remaining intelligence agencies and other nations, compared to them, our organizations share a deeper history."

Listening to Nick Fury's eloquent speech, Xiang Qian made no effort to hide his disdain, blowing a loud raspberry through the phone. "Mr. Fury's words are always pleasant, but unfortunately, judging by your personal credit record, I find your sincerity worthless. Research can be a joint effort, but there is only one Jimmy!"

The raspberry over the phone was loud enough for Deputy Hill to hear, and Nick Fury nearly retorted with a profanity. "Mr. Xiang, please consider this seriously. This is the United States, our home turf. You need our help. Do not let personal emotions cloud your judgment."

"Heh heh heh... why don't you go ask General Ross or the White House if they consider S.H.I.E.L.D. one of their own?" Xiang Qian was blunt and arrogant. "I can even say with confidence that in Washington, I am much more popular than you."

Nick Fury said sharply, "I don't believe you would hand over the gene serum to the control of the U.S. government."

Xiang Qian skillfully deflected the pressure, leaving no opening for his opponent. "We have always advocated for win-win cooperation. You can watch from the sidelines and see if I do. Mutants are a global issue that requires sincere cooperation between all nations."

"You are playing with fire," Nick Fury said, each word like a cold blade. "You will not be the final victor."

Xiang Qian laughed insincerely. "No, the gene serum is the key to solving the mutant problem, and successfully solving the mutant problem is a victory for the whole world."

Xiang Qian didn't give Nick Fury another chance to speak and hung up the phone decisively.

"Slippery little fox!" Nick Fury stared at the dial tone, his expression filled with fury.

On the coast of the San Francisco Bay, Xiang Qian's motorcade drove slowly past the throngs of protesters and the cordon of police and soldiers, heading straight for the pier.

Alcatraz Island loomed in the distance across the bay.