"I really want to know where you people waste taxpayers' money. Oh! Maybe it's all poured into that long, utterly ridiculous name you have."
"You want to know where we spend tax money? Alright, I'll tell you. We spend tax money on cleaning up the messes you super-powered individuals cause all day long. If you want to see a tax bill that can be released to the public, I suggest you stick to being a spoiled playboy."
The verbal sparring continued to escalate. Phil Coulson was already regretting accompanying Maria Hill. She wasn't here to discuss cooperation; she was actively provoking a fight.
To salvage Nick Fury's request, Coulson had to intervene.
"Ladies and gentlemen, could you please exercise some self-control?" Coulson stressed, staring directly at Commander Hill. She had failed her directive and pushed the situation toward an unpredictable outcome, a serious lapse for a qualified Agent.
Maria Hill knew she was in the wrong, but admitting her mistake in front of Mr. Zhou was impossible. She crossed her arms, adopting a cold, silent expression, delegating the rest of the negotiation to Coulson.
This was exactly what Coulson needed. Communicating with people was his specialty.
"Mr. Zhou, I believe my companion is a little emotional. If possible, I will take over to discuss our cooperation."
"Of course! That would be preferable." Mr. Zhou, his throat dry from the argument, picked up his teacup. This was the first time a woman had genuinely infuriated him. In many ways, they were true arch-enemies.
"Since you have reservations about joining us, we can put that topic aside for now. We have a plan you might be interested in reviewing." Coulson smoothly bypassed the previous conflict, pulling a document from his briefcase and handing it to Mr. Zhou.
Mr. Zhou accepted the document. It outlined a special combat team composed entirely of individuals with unique, specialized talents, with Mr. Zhou being one of the planned invitees. This document was the earliest, most rudimentary prototype of the Avengers Initiative he remembered. Currently, it was little more than a concept.
"What is this, your super soldier program? And it's a plan that doesn't even have a basic operational framework?" Due to the intense argument, Mr. Zhou's tone was heavily sarcastic.
Coulson handled Mr. Zhou's sharpness better than Hill. He ignored the sarcasm and responded clearly. "If you join, you will be the first member. And we can quickly fill the ranks with new personnel."
"Are you joking? Because if you are, I don't find this joke funny in the slightest." Looking at Coulson's sincere eyes, Mr. Zhou forced a visibly reluctant smile.
"I am completely serious," Coulson insisted, maintaining his disarmingly cheerful smile.
"Sorry, I've already stated that I don't work for anyone else. A department in this World that can afford my salary simply doesn't exist yet."
Mr. Zhou decisively refused the invitation. Getting involved with the nascent Avengers held no benefit for him yet. Before Tony Stark and others joined, he would stay clear. He simply didn't want to get dragged into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s messy secrets. Until his own problems were fully resolved, he intended to avoid their complications.
"This team is not an agency under our department; it will be fully independent," Coulson countered, ignoring the refusal. "We are only responsible for its formation. Its management will be your own affair; we will not interfere. And, crucially, we will share intelligence with you!"
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence—this was a significant bargaining chip. Since its establishment in World War II, S.H.I.E.L.D. had collected most of the supernatural data in the World, holding numerous secrets, some even they didn't fully comprehend.
However, Mr. Zhou doubted their benevolence. Any intelligence sharing would undoubtedly be heavily filtered.
"To convince me to join, your bargaining chips are insufficient, I'm afraid." This time, Mr. Zhou's refusal was less absolute. This World was riddled with dangers, and he couldn't completely avoid S.H.I.E.L.D. His initial refusal was a test; he wanted to secure as much information as possible.
"Not enough bargaining chips?" Coulson rubbed his chin. He recognized that Mr. Zhou was not completely opposed to cooperation, but finding something to move him would be difficult. "Could you clarify, Mr. Zhou? What is your definition of sufficient leverage?"
"It's simple: an empty shell cannot draw me in without substantial incentive," Mr. Zhou leaned back. "For me to join, you need to have established, capable members. I am not a nanny; I refuse to train your Little fellows. The absolute minimum requirement is that the organization must be able to perform a greater function than I can alone."
"If you can't guarantee that, then there is no need for me to join."
"I understand," Coulson replied, nodding knowingly. This wasn't ideal, but it wasn't a total rejection either. Getting the Dawn Knight to join immediately was impossible, but the possibility remained once they had built a more complete foundation for the Avengers Initiative.
At this point, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s primary objective had been achieved. They hadn't secured a commitment, but they had received a tentative, conditional promise. That was sufficient for their report.
However, humans always seek maximum benefit, even a good-natured individual like Coulson.
"Regarding this special team, I believe we will make rapid progress. At that time, I hope we can resume discussions with Mr. Zhou."
"We shall see," Mr. Zhou replied.
With the primary topic exhausted, Coulson quickly moved to an auxiliary matter. "Then, Mr. Zhou, would you be interested in discussing a trade with us?"
"A trade?" Coulson's question piqued Mr. Zhou's interest, awakening his inner businessman. "Why don't you elaborate?"
"We are extremely interested in the Dawn Knight's armor. We wonder if Mr. Zhou has any intention of selling it. We are happy to purchase the technology or the finished product."
S.H.I.E.L.D. had a robust team of analysts, and Coulson was one of the best. While they believed Mr. Zhou was a naturally mutated, super-rare ability user, they still entertained other conjectures. No one knew the specific functions of the dawn armor or its role. They estimated that this "magical" armor, even if it didn't grant the user powers outright, significantly enhanced them. If their suspicions were correct, the dawn armor would be incredibly valuable.
The US super soldier program had run for almost a century with only a handful of non-replicable successes. If the dawn armor achieved the results they expected, it would unlock a new technological direction. Therefore, some S.H.I.E.L.D. officials valued the armor more than the Dawn Knight himself.
Of course, this attempt was also a subtle measure to contain the Dawn Knight. Understanding the armor's weaknesses would provide leverage if they ever had to deal with him.
Mr. Zhou easily guessed their motives but remained unconcerned. To him, the dawn armor was merely a highly advanced disguise for his other identity. He was not Iron Man Tony Stark; the armor's importance to him was far less than what his covetous adversaries imagined. This fact was his biggest advantage.
"You are serious about this trade?" Mr. Zhou asked, his businessman persona fully active. "My asking price is exorbitant."
"I believe our budget is completely sufficient for this small investment," Coulson smiled, knowing that the real money and decision-making power lay with the unseen council behind S.H.I.E.L.D.
"First, I must state that I will not sell the technology. I will only sell a finished product, with absolutely no guarantees. And, even then, it will only be a next-generation model." Mr. Zhou laid down his non-negotiable terms. He wanted to gauge their desperation.
Coulson displayed an apologetic smile and pressed his earpiece. He needed to report this. A procurement of this magnitude required more than an eight-level Agent's approval; it needed the Director's nod or the council's sanction.
A moment later, after receiving approval, Coulson smiled: "No problem at all. Are there any other requirements?"
"Of course. I am not lacking in funds. Therefore, I require a resource exchange. Can you provide the resources I need?"
"Such as?"
"Adamantium, or raw Vibranium!"