The Agreement Becomes Scrap Paper, and a Third-Party Sanctuary

The shadow of the Sokovia Accords loomed over the Avengers. Deeply affected by the Battle of New York and the Ultron Incident, Tony Stark leaned toward accepting oversight; Steve Rogers, meanwhile, firmly believed the agreement would turn the Avengers into tools for certain political agendas and adamantly opposed it. A rift had already formed. Both sides were trying to win allies, and the atmosphere was taut with hostility.

On the eve of this internal dispute escalating into an open conflict, every Avenger—including Captain America's faction, who were still on the run—and all representatives of the World Security Council simultaneously received a formal communication request from the "Myriad Realms Secret Society."

There was no option to refuse. The holographic conference was forcibly initiated.

The conference's virtual space was modeled after the main council chamber of the Myriad Realms Secret Society's Sky City, a place blending technology and magic. Li Wei sat at the head of the table, with Phantom Shadow guards behind him, enhanced by Terminator Technology and now carrying an even colder air. His image appeared before every attendee, calm yet invested with unquestionable authority.

"Everyone," Li Wei said without preamble, not even bothering with pleasantries, "I have noticed that you are locked in an endless dispute over a document called the Sokovia Accords."

His gaze swept over the differently composed crowd before finally settling on Tony Stark and the World Security Council representatives.

"Stark, Council, you wish to restrain superpowered individuals through external oversight and prevent another Sokovia tragedy. The intention is understandable, but the method is utterly foolish." Li Wei's tone did not fluctuate, as though he were stating an objective fact. "You intend to hand the power that determines the world's safety to an organization governed by political maneuvering and bureaucracy? Do you think this world does not face enough threats already, or that they are not complicated enough?"

Tony opened his mouth, intending to retort, but recalling Li Wei's unfathomable power, elusive methods, and that bill which made his heart ache, he swallowed his words.

Li Wei then turned toward the projections of Captain America and the others. "Captain Rogers, you insist on personal freedom and independent judgment, unwilling to become pawns. Your conviction deserves respect, but it is overly idealistic. Completely rejecting oversight and responsibility is equally irresponsible."

He paused, then presented his central point.

"Your dispute essentially concerns 'who should oversee you' and 'how you should be overseen.' Yet you have overlooked one premise—are you qualified to decide oversight rules for yourselves on territory I have claimed?"

The entire room was stunned! Not even Ancient One or Odin had ever so domineeringly proclaimed "ownership" over Earth!

"When I saved New York from interdimensional invaders, the Council was still arguing over budgets."

"When I eliminated the threat of the Extremis Virus, your agreement did not even have a draft."

"When I repelled the Kree Empire's Purifiers, your fleets did not even know where the enemy was."

Li Wei listed them one by one, every sentence striking like a heavy hammer.

"In maintaining this planet's security and stability, the Myriad Realms Secret Society's tangible contributions far exceed the combined contributions of everyone present and the organizations behind you."

He leaned forward slightly, and invisible pressure spread through the projections.

"Therefore, I hereby announce:

First, within the jurisdiction recognized by the Myriad Realms Secret Society, the Sokovia Accords are nothing but scrap paper. Any attempt to use that agreement to impose compulsory jurisdiction over superpowered individuals or organizations dedicated to protecting Earth, including the Avengers, shall be regarded as a provocation against the authority of the Myriad Realms Secret Society.

Second, effective immediately, the Myriad Realms Secret Society's Sky City and its surrounding waters are formally designated the Superhuman Affairs Autonomous Zone. The authority to handle and adjudicate any incidents involving the supernatural, superpowers, alien technology, and the like shall be assumed or supervised first by the Myriad Realms Secret Society. All national governments and the Security Council must cooperate unconditionally and provide necessary informational support."

This was no longer intervention. This was a seizure of power! By sheer force, he had directly stripped national governments and the World Security Council of their core jurisdiction over superpowered incidents!

"You are creating a state within a state! This is a grave challenge to global sovereignty!" a Council member could not help roaring.

"A challenge?" Li Wei smiled faintly, a trace of mockery in his expression. "No, this is a notification. If you believe this is a challenge, feel free to see whether you can enforce your laws upon my Sky City. Or try to see whether your armies can breach my defenses."

He snapped his fingers. The Crimson Empress immediately projected a simulated combat recording into the conference space—showing how the upgraded Phantom Shadow forces effortlessly annihilated a simulated modern fleet, as well as Sky City's powerful energy barriers and spatial-distortion defense systems.

That display of military force, far beyond Earth's current technological level, instantly silenced every opposing voice. Before absolute power, all protests appeared pale and helpless.

"Of course," Li Wei shifted his tone, his voice softening somewhat, "the Myriad Realms Secret Society does not intend to make enemies of the entire world. We welcome all superpowered individuals of goodwill who are willing to abide by the Basic Law of the Autonomous Zone, drafted by the Myriad Realms Secret Society, to settle here, exchange ideas, or seek asylum. Avengers—whether you, Stark, or you, Captain Rogers—if you are weary of meaningless political entanglements, the gates of my Sky City are open to you. There, you need only focus on facing real threats, rather than bureaucratic paperwork and hearings."

These words carved out a third path between the deadlocked sides—a "sanctuary" beyond national disputes, guaranteed by absolute power.

Li Wei's position could be summarized as follows:

Transcendence: He stood above the dispute over the agreement and directly rewrote the rules through strength.

Pragmatism: He took neither side, yet offered both sides—especially those dissatisfied with the status quo—a new choice.

Expansion: Using this incident as an opportunity, he formally brought the Myriad Realms Secret Society into the spotlight and established its leading position in Earth's superhuman affairs.

The conference was forcibly ended.

What remained for the Avengers and the World Security Council was endless shock, humiliation, and... a faint, indescribable sense of relief—especially for some of the Avengers. Because of the forcible intervention of a stronger external force, the foundation and focus of the civil war had been completely altered. The pro-Accords and anti-Accords factions suddenly realized that the point of their dispute—whether to accept government oversight—had lost its meaning, because there was now a more direct and powerful "overseer" and "protector" above them.

And Li Wei, without shedding a drop of blood, had used this internal crisis to successfully make the Myriad Realms Secret Society the indisputable arbiter and central force behind all superpowered incidents on Earth. His Sky City was about to become the focus of every superpowered individual across the globe.