The aftermath of this farce swept the globe at an unprecedented speed via the internet and television signals.
Scandal of the Century: The FBI and a Mysterious Agency Fight Each Other in the Face of a Monster!
Government incompetence! Who will protect us? The Vought Act may be our only hope!
The Mysterious Swordsman: Who is he? Where did he come from? Humanity's new guardian, or a deeper nightmare?
Inside a senator's office in Washington, D.C..
"Bang--!"
The valuable antique vase was smashed against the wall and shattered into pieces.
Senator Kelly's eyes were bloodshot, like a Beast trapped in a cage. He stared intently at the image playing on a loop on the television screen—the indifferent back of the man sheathing his sword.
And amidst the mess, there were the terrified and bewildered faces of his own agents.
His political career was already dead the moment the live broadcast began.
He portrayed himself as a dragon-slaying hero.
The result proved to the world that he couldn't even touch the dragon's scales, and he almost got burned to death by the dragon's breath.
In the end, they had to rely on a "wild god" who appeared out of nowhere to save the day.
His office phone was ringing off the hook.
Instead of support and cooperation, these have all turned into angry questioning and endless ridicule.
He locked himself in his office and smashed everything he could.
He eventually collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant.
He lost.
He lost to an opponent he didn't understand at all, and to an era he couldn't comprehend.
The Vought Tower.
Lynn stood quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city that was restless with fear.
Motoko Kusanagi is giving a presentation.
" Senator Kelly has shut himself off; all his political allies cut ties with him within thirty minutes."
Motoko Kusanagi reported calmly.
"The discussion surrounding the mysterious swordsman has surpassed the event itself, becoming the hottest topic globally."
Every news item, every headline, contributes to Vought's grand narrative.
However, Lynn was lost in thought.
He recalled the new achievement he had activated earlier.
[ Binary Shines ]
[Condition: You must have two superheroes under your command whose fame reaches the "City Hero" level simultaneously]
[Comment: From going it alone to having the beginnings of a team, your hero business is starting to take shape. You're no longer just selling a single idol, but have begun to sell a brand portfolio called "Hope."]
[Reward: One chance to draw]
Starlight, with its pure and perfect image, has captured the approval of mainstream values.
Wei, with her rebellious and wild Iron Fist, ignited the Flame in the hearts of the younger generation.
Their popularity finally reached a certain threshold in the script.
And the results of this draw...
Lynn's gaze fell on the blurry figure in the newspaper.
The man dressed as Ronin, carrying a gourd of sake.
Yasuo, the Unforgiven.
A perfect accident.
A variable that wasn't part of the script, yet made the whole script more exciting.
Lynn's original plan was to have S.H.I.E.L.D.. and the FBI expose the existence of a " Hydra modified soldier" during this chaos.
Then Vought's team of heroes stepped in and "difficultly" resolved the situation.
Thus, they naturally took over everything.
Yasuo's appearance elevated the entire drama to a whole new level.
He is not a national weapon like Soldier Boy or Human Torch.
He is not a perfect idol like Starlight.
He wasn't even a street rebel like Wei.
He is a ghost.
A powerful, free, and unbound "outcast" superhuman.
His existence sends an unmistakable signal to the world.
In this world, there exists a terrifying force that even the most elite forces of a government cannot deal with, and which is not even recorded on the list of heroes of Vought International.
Fear is the best salesperson.
" Motoko."
"Yes, boss."
"Initiate the second phase of public opinion guidance."
"All reports about the 'mysterious swordsman' are directed towards keywords like Ronin, lone wolf, and unbridled dangerous force."
"We want to create a myth, a powerful individual who exists outside of all systems."
Lynn picked up the black tea on the table and gently blew on it to cool it down.
"At the same time, have the public relations department contact our spokesperson in Congress."
"Tomorrow morning, I want to see the expedited bill for the Metahuman Registration and Management Act on every member's desk."
"Yes, boss."
Washington, D.C.., Capitol Hill.
Voting on the Metahuman Registration and Management Act is proceeding at an unprecedented pace.
There was no debate.
There was no lengthy hearing.
The expressions on the lawmakers' faces were a mixture of fear and a desperate desire to get rid of the hot potato.
That disastrous live broadcast in Illinois left an indelible mark on the minds of every person in power.
The government's most elite forces are as vulnerable as a group of children wielding sticks in the face of a real monster.
"323 votes in favor."
"82 votes against."
"Give up, 30 votes."
In the corner, Senator Kelly's seat was empty.
No one mentioned him.
The wheels of history roll ever onward, crushing the futile efforts of a mantis, and no one will remember them.
The Metahuman Registration and Management Act was passed with lightning speed.
A brand-new agency, led by Vought and authorized by Congress, was officially established: the "General Bureau of Registry and Management of Superman Affairs".
The director is concurrently held by Lynn Morris, CEO of Vought International.
One month later.
A run-down bar by a desert highway in New Mexico.
Several burly truck drivers were surrounding a voluptuous waitress, telling her obscene jokes.
In the corner, a man dressed in blue Ronin attire was drinking cheap whiskey by himself.
He was completely oblivious to the noise around him.
Occasionally, I would look up at the yellow sand whipped up by the wind outside the window.
"Hey kid, what are you looking at?"
A burly man, his face flushed from drinking, noticed Yasuo's long sword swaying as he staggered over.
"It's not fashionable to bring these kinds of toys out anymore."
He reached out his large hand to grab Yasuo's sword hilt.
Yasuo didn't look at him.
He simply finished the last drop of wine in his glass.
A gust of wind suddenly swept through the cramped bar.
The burly man's outstretched hand was pushed away by a gentle yet irresistible force.
He stumbled and knocked over the table and chairs behind him.
Seeing this, the other truck drivers stood up cursing and pulled out folding knives hidden in their pockets.
Yasuo stood up.
He didn't draw his knife; instead, he tossed a coin into the air.
The coin tumbled through the air.
The sound of the wind suddenly became sharp.
"Bite."
The coin fell, and Yasuo caught it easily.
He placed the coins on the bar as payment for the drinks.
Then he walked straight out of the bar, his figure quickly disappearing into the swirling sandstorm.
By the time people realized what was happening, the folding knives in the truck drivers' hands had become twisted and unusable.
Similar rumors began circulating through various unofficial channels.
Someone at a Las Vegas casino saw him use the wind to stop a shootout caused by cheating.
Someone saw him rescue a girl from several gangsters on a rainy night in Seattle.
From beginning to end, his knife remained unsheathed.
He never deliberately hid himself, nor did he form deep friendships with anyone.
He is like the wind, omnipresent yet elusive.
A powerful, mysterious, and extraordinary individual who is not controlled by any organization.
He became the perfect prey in the eyes of all ambitious people.
Peggy Carter looked at the compiled report of all the sightings of the "mysterious swordsman" in her hand.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. defeat in Illinois caused S. H. I. E. L. D.'s reputation to plummet.
She needs an opportunity, a powerful ally, to prove S.H.I.E.L.D..'s worth to the world once again.
Yasuo, that's the opportunity.
He rejected us three times.
Barbara Minerva stood to the side, her tone grave.
"The first time, our men couldn't even get within ten meters of him."
"The second time, our agents tried to negotiate with him in the name of national security, but he only replied, 'My sword is not wielded for any flag.'"
"The third time, we sent our best psychological profiler to try and understand his motivations... but when that profiler returned, he submitted his resignation, saying he had seen nothingness."
Peggy was somewhat troubled.
This man was more difficult to deal with than any enemy she had ever encountered.
Because he has no desires.
Money, status, honor... these worldly shackles meant nothing to him.
On the other side.
Inside an ancient castle.
A high -Hydra officer was kneeling on one knee, reporting to the Shadow on the throne.
"Leader, our envoy to contact ' Windrunner ' has failed."
"He rejected our invitation to establish a new world order, and... severed the envoy's arm as a warning."
A cold snort came from the Shadow.
"A mere mortal who doesn't understand the true meaning of power."
"Continue to monitor him. Since he can't be used by us, let's find a way to make him a nuisance to our enemies."
It's not just S.H.I.E.L.D.. and Hydra.
The military's secret weapons division.
Ancient aristocratic financial groups in Europe.
Even some small groups of newly emerged Metahuman were born out of the "SOMS" crisis.
Countless olive branches reached out from every corner of the world to that lonely wanderer.
Without exception, they were all broken.
Yasuo used his actions to declare his stance to the world.