Xiang Qian's arrival in the United States had been a surprise attack. Although his itinerary was made public, it was released almost at the last possible moment.
As a world-famous entrepreneur and billionaire, his Bombardier Global Express had been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration long ago, giving him expedited access to applications for international flight routes.
From the moment the plane applied for an entry route until Xiang Qian himself stepped off and underwent the security inspection, airport staff who knew nothing about the situation went about their jobs as usual. By the time those in the know had passed the intelligence about his arrival up the chain and someone with the authority to make a decision had finally acted, Xiang Qian's car was already driving onto the Golden Gate Bridge.
So far, only Tony Stark and Nick Fury had managed to contact Xiang Qian. For different reasons, both had been able to spot his movements right away.
"That little boy, Jimmy. He's the key to the Mutant Gene drug. You already knew he existed, didn't you?" Nick Fury didn't beat around the bush. Perhaps he knew time was short.
Xiang Qian smiled and picked up a file. It was, of course, the same one he had given Zheng Xian to use in persuading his superiors. He turned to the second page, revealing a photograph of a bald white teenage boy.
Jimmy was a teenage mutant who could secrete a substance that suppressed the Mutant Gene. The so-called Mutant Serum had actually been extracted from his body.
"So what?" Xiang Qian replied calmly. "The boy is still a minor, and his parents, as his legal guardians, agreed to let Worthington Industries provide him with treatment. It's all legal."
Hearing Xiang Qian's utterly unruffled tone, Nick Fury felt inexplicably irritated. His emotions at that moment were nothing like the calm, steady voice he used on the phone.
Nick Fury's department had been seriously negligent in the matter of Worthington Industries developing the Mutant Serum.
There had always been plenty of organizations secretly researching the Mutant Gene. Nick Fury's subordinates hadn't paid Worthington Industries any special attention, treating its research as no different from that of other organizations. They had failed to notice the little boy named Jimmy, let alone realize that he could provide the key to decoding the Mutant Gene.
A little over a week ago, Worthington Industries completed the first phase of clinical trials for the serum. When rumors began spreading that it really worked, Nick Fury was horrified to discover that the mutant community across North America was growing restless.
Then Worthington II gave that inexplicable speech, like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pan of hot oil. The pot of mutants, dormant for nearly ten years, immediately boiled over.
By then, Nick Fury wanted to eat Worthington II alive.
At present, the area around San Francisco Bay was a gathering storm. The radical mutants were staging protests, while local police and the California National Guard stood on alert—all of them were forces out in the open.
As for the forces lying in wait in the shadows, there were so many that even Fury had lost count. The most powerful, naturally, were the United States Armed Forces. General Ross, authorized by the White House, had been placed in unified command of the Air Force and Marines on Alcatraz Island and around San Francisco Bay. But S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents had discovered a contingent of Army operatives appearing in San Francisco in secret, their intentions unknown.
Given that William Stryker—a former Army man who had once handled mutant affairs under Ross—had led a secret mutant research organization for years, the Army team's covert arrival suggested that its top brass wanted a piece of the Mutant Serum, too.
Who knew whether the two sides would end up pointing at each other and shouting, "Baka!"
With mutants involved, the Brotherhood of Mutants and the X-Men were bound to get involved as well. Perhaps they could be counted on to go after each other as they had in the past, but with mutants facing a common crisis, there was no guarantee they wouldn't join forces for the time being.
Magneto and Professor X had an "on-again, off-again relationship" that was longer than even the most over-the-top soap opera. But both groups had been lying low for years, and Nick Fury couldn't yet figure out what either of them had in mind.
On top of that, every intelligence agency under the United States government that could come had come. The U.S. government's supposed allies and its openly declared rivals had also sent agents to infiltrate the Bay Area.
The number of factions confirmed to have intervened in the matter far exceeded Nick Fury and his subordinates' ability to control them. The list of organizations alone filled an entire sheet of A4 paper. Anyone who saw it would get a headache.
Worthington Industries had kept its secrets too well, and the news had broken too suddenly. U.S. intelligence agencies had had no time to take control of the situation. Every party with a stake in the matter had been caught off guard, creating the chaos unfolding now.
But the person giving Nick Fury the biggest headache was the one he was currently speaking with: Xiang Qian.
"I want to know whether there's any chance of cooperation between us and you, Mr. Xiang, in this matter." Nick Fury's words were stiff, but for him, this was an unusually humble approach. His deputy, Maria Hill, standing nearby, was so surprised that she looked her superior up and down.
Xiang Qian kept his tone calm. "Cooperation requires a shared goal. In your view, Mr. Fury, do we have one in this matter?"
Nick Fury couldn't help cursing silently. From the way Xiang Qian spoke over the phone, he could almost see another familiar face: the pointy chin, narrow eyes, and faintly smiling expression of the Spear Bureau director had left a deep impression on Nick Fury during his career as an agent.
The problem was that Xiang Qian was the person with the closest ties to the X-Men out of anyone Nick Fury knew. No matter how much Fury disliked him, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and deal with him.
"Shared goals can always be found, if you're willing to look." Nick Fury stared at the electronic map on the control console. It clearly showed a wireless signal moving along a Bay Area highway toward the Golden Gate Bridge.
"I know the Five Elements Laboratory has been researching the Mutant Gene, and your Wude Group has found jobs for large numbers of mutants. You're working to address the plight of mutants in your country, which aligns with our goal. The difference is that our goal concerns mutants around the world."
"And?" Xiang Qian asked coolly. He didn't bother discussing whether to solve the problem or the people who caused it. Nick Fury was a spy chief, not a mutant leader like Magneto or Professor X. Discussing such things with a spy was a waste of breath.
"We could collaborate on the relevant research. You should know the strength of our scientific capabilities, and of course, I have great respect for the Five Elements Laboratory's technical expertise."
Xiang Qian sneered. "The United States is certainly advanced in scientific research. But why should I work with you instead of someone else?"
"Because we're more sincere." Nick Fury began listing the other factions one by one. "The United States Armed Forces have always thrown their weight around, and already have numerous corporate partners here in the United States. As everyone knows, Mr. Xiang, you work extensively with the Spear Bureau and have semi-official ties. You're definitely not someone they'd partner with."
"Then there's the Brotherhood of Mutants and X-Mansion. We both know their goals are completely different from ours. As for the other intelligence agencies and foreign countries, our organizations have deeper ties to each other than we do with them."
As Nick Fury continued to make his case, Xiang Qian made no attempt to hide the derisive snort he sent through the phone. "Your words are always persuasive, Mr. Fury. But unfortunately, based on your personal credit record, I don't think your sincerity is worth a cent. We can collaborate on the research, but there's only one Jimmy!"
The snort over the phone was loud enough for Deputy Hill to hear. Nick Fury nearly shot back with a curse of his own. "Mr. Xiang, please think carefully. This is the United States, our home turf. You need our help. Don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment."
"Heh. Why don't you ask General Ross or the White House whether they consider S.H.I.E.L.D. one of their own?" Xiang Qian's reply was blunt and brazen. "I can even say with complete confidence that I'm more welcome in Washington than you are."
Nick Fury said sharply, "I don't believe you'd hand the Mutant Serum over to the U.S. government."
Xiang Qian deftly parried the accusation, giving him no opening to exploit. "We've always advocated cooperation for mutual benefit. You can watch from the sidelines and see whether I do. The mutant issue is a global problem and requires sincere cooperation between nations."
"You're playing with fire." Nick Fury spoke each word with the chill of a blade. "You won't be the last one standing."
Xiang Qian laughed without a trace of sincerity. "No. The Mutant Serum is the key to resolving the mutant issue, and successfully resolving it will be a victory for the whole world."
Xiang Qian gave Nick Fury no chance to speak again. He hung up without hesitation.
"Slippery little fox!" Nick Fury listened to the dead line, his face full of anger.
Along the San Francisco waterfront, Xiang Qian's convoy moved slowly through the crowds of protesters and the lines of police and soldiers, heading straight for the docks.
Alcatraz Island stood in the distance across the bay.