On the other side.
Through conversations at the banquet, Eddie Brock had successfully recruited Michael and Alexei. With them, four of the Seven were already confirmed.
But the fifth member troubled him. Eddie's vision for the Seven was clear: every member should stand as a symbol of different groups in society.
Michael, the hybrid of wolf and vampire, was leader of the werewolves—possessing immense strength, speed, and self-healing.
Selene, queen of the vampires, stood as both supernatural might and the representation of independent women—swift as a shadow, deadly as the night.
Alexei, the Red Guardian of the old Soviet Union, had once rivaled Captain America himself. His presence symbolized inclusiveness, the blending of nations, even enemies of the past.
Wesley, a pure-blooded American with dazzling gun-kata skills, now empowered further by a symbiote.
Four figures, each distinct, each a reflection of different walks of life. Eddie's idea was that, combined with two or three more chosen through public voting, the Seven could represent all of America. If the media added an Asian and an African-American, then their reach would be unstoppable. Even if not the strongest force on the battlefield, in terms of public influence, they would be unmatched.
Yet he hesitated. Rumors abounded that his boss loathed African-Americans. Eddie had noticed it himself: among the Brotherhood's ranks, their numbers were conspicuously low. Even Capsule Corporation's hiring skewed heavily toward Asians rather than blacks. There had even been protests, but legal loopholes left nothing enforceable. The Brotherhood, being no formal corporation, wasn't bound by employment commissions.
Now Eddie faced the hard truth: within the Brotherhood, aside from John Wick (who refused) and Xu Wenwu (unsuitable), there were few choices left.
He considered Puar and Karin—the nonhuman allies. The cat sage's power was beyond question, but his duties at the Tower left him disinterested in public heroics. Puar, while shapeshifting, was still too whimsical. Eddie preferred human faces for public appeal.
So the solution was clear. The last three would be found outside. The world would choose them.
With that settled, Eddie penciled in his captain recommendation: Selene. Among the four, her strength was unmatched, her battlefield experience second to none.
······
Later, in his office, Smith Dole glanced at the list Eddie had submitted.
"You plan to recruit the other three from outside?"
Eddie nodded.
"Yes, boss. Inside the Brotherhood, no one else fits without overlapping too much. Casting three spots to the public will also stir interest—superpowered individuals will flock to apply. With Selene as captain, we can keep the team stable and focused."
"And if the chosen ones disappoint?"
"We'll replace them. Membership isn't permanent."
Smith leaned back. He had no objections. Selene as captain? Perfectly logical. A woman as leader didn't trouble him—another universe had its own Captain Carter. Here, Selene was more than worthy.
"Very well," he said at last. "Form your Seven as planned."
Eddie's eyes lit up.
"I'll start by leaking the idea to the media, heating it up. Then we unveil the Seven—an entirely new concept of a superhero team. Each member will get their own spotlight, their story pushed into the public eye. Finally, we launch the open call. A dedicated site, videos uploaded by hopefuls, votes from the people. Alongside it, I'll announce the team's benefits."
Smith tapped his desk.
"Good. But remember—this is not just business. When selecting, strength and virtue come first. If a candidate has a dark past, no amount of popularity will save them. The Brotherhood will help you with background checks."
······
(End of Chapter)
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