The final agreement was struck: Zhou Yi would supply two complete sets of the dawn armor in exchange for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division providing roughly 200 pounds of adamantium and what was believed to be the last remaining 5 pounds of raw Vibranium in the World.
Both parties walked away highly satisfied. Each had successfully traded resources that were relatively low-value to them for materials they desperately needed. For Zhou Yi, this was an especially massive win.
He needed the adamantium to refine the latest Alpha nanometal and to stockpile sufficient reserves for forging his personal weaponry. His half-finished spear was merely a stopgap. He required superior metals to craft truly sophisticated weapons of war.
This plan had stalled due to the scarcity of adamantium. But since S.H.I.E.L.D. had come knocking, he was perfectly willing to use this behemoth of an organization to extract the metal from Major General Stryker, its current possessor. As for how the General would react to the immense pressure from the powerful individuals behind S.H.I.E.L.D., that was simply not Zhou Yi's problem.
After personally escorting Coulson and Maria Hill to the gate, Zhou Yi clapped Coulson on the shoulder with a look of pure triumph.
"I'm extremely pleased with this exchange," he declared. "Compared to the 'cooperation' you mentioned earlier, I think this transaction is the only meaningful consensus we reached today!"
"Uh, I still maintain that our previous talks about cooperation were more strategically important," Coulson responded, trying to maintain an official air. "I look forward to inviting you to join us again when we have the satisfied teammates you require."
"We'll see about that once you actually find those suitable teammates," Zhou Yi waved dismissively. He highly doubted Coulson could resolve this issue quickly. The Avengers he knew were either still asleep or not yet born. He was in no rush.
"Well then, it's settled. See you next time." Coulson extended his hand warmly.
"Of course!" Zhou Yi returned the handshake, then turned his gaze to Maria Hill. "Young Miss Hill, I hope that the next time we cross paths, you might drop the prejudice you hold against me, even though I still have no idea where it stems from."
Maria Hill merely offered the briefest, most perfunctory touch to his outstretched hand—a cold, fleeting gesture—before turning and walking away without a backward glance. Though icy, her attitude was marginally better than their earlier clash.
For Zhou Yi, this was enough. He had no desire for a deep relationship with this sharp, frosty Agent. Normalizing their dynamic was simply a practical measure to prevent further friction with the powerful organization she represented.
Coulson seemed visibly embarrassed by Hill's frigid behavior. "Perhaps Commander Hill was dealing with some personal stress today. You know, she's not usually like this."
"Relax, I don't make a habit of bickering with women." Zhou Yi smiled, patting Coulson's shoulder, and glanced at Commander Hill already in the car. "It's not easy for a woman to rise to that rank; they have to sacrifice a lot. You don't need to explain anything; I understand."
Coulson pursed his lips, relief washing over his face. "It's great that you understand. Well then, we won't intrude on you two any further. Goodbye."
"Don't bother seeing us out!"
Watching Zhou Yi and his Vampire assistant disappear back inside, Coulson finally exhaled. He adjusted his tie, then looked at Commander Hill, who was driving with that infamous icy expression.
"May I ask why you were so hostile?" he asked cautiously.
"It's best not to ask," Commander Hill said, her voice remaining a block of ice. "It was my personal issue, and I will submit a self-criticism. Don't worry, there won't be a repeat."
"That would be for the best," Coulson mumbled to himself. "My palms were sweating back there. Honestly, I was worried he'd literally throw us out. You know, he's the type of guy who can lift a giant airliner."
"He wouldn't do that. I know him well enough." Commander Hill offered no apology, only a bare explanation.
"That's what worries me most," Coulson thought, swallowing his observation about her unusual familiarity with the Dawn Knight. These two were going to be a problem.
"That Young Miss's attitude was truly bizarre," Serana said, hugging Zhou Yi's arm with curiosity. "Did you do something to offend her that I missed?"
"I wish that were the case," Zhou Yi shook his head. "But I'm afraid I've only just made her acquaintance."
"Then it can only be that your horoscopes clash," Serana mused. "It's a pity I don't know that lady's birth details; otherwise, I could check." Serana, a Vampire, harbored a strange and specific hobby: horoscope divination. Zhou Yi often feared she would attribute global events to conflicting zodiac signs.
He had his own method of distraction for the Vampire girl, however.
He flashed a wicked smile. "You want to know about horoscope issues? Excellent. Let's find a quiet place and study them thoroughly."
"Wait, you rascal! What are you doing?" The Vampire girl cried out shyly, running away in mock panic.
Zhou Yi simply smiled. The Vampire girl was his now; there was no need to rush matters. Flirting had become a daily routine for him.
Meanwhile, far from Zhou Yi's pleasant domestic life, Major General Stryker was deeply engaged in his own routine: torturing captured Mutants and relentlessly seeking methods to eradicate their species.
William Stryker, a relatively unknown US Major General, rarely appeared in public or before arms dealers. Yet, he was far from powerless. The opposite was true: he commanded a highly specialized black-ops organization, reporting directly not to the President, but to the powerful Security Council that operated behind S.H.I.E.L.D. These council members were the true wielders of power, holding terrifying authority far exceeding that of elected officials.
Stryker's organization was a mere pawn to the Security Council, not comparable to S.H.I.E.L.D., yet he still commanded immense resources.
Typically, powerful men pursue personal gratification, but Major General Stryker was an anomaly. He had no particular fondness for women, was not greedy for wealth, and possessed no discernible special hobbies. His military style was rigorous, and he treated his subordinates well—a rarity among high-ranking American military officers.
However, he harbored one consuming passion: an extreme, dedicated hatred for Mutants. His life's mission was their total eradication, no matter the means. This hatred stemmed from a devastating tragedy: his own son.
Mutant genes are transmitted recessively through the paternal line. Many remain latent for generations. But when those descendants Awaken, they break the restriction and become Mutants. William Stryker's son, Jason Stryker, was a Mutant who manifested terrifying abilities.
Jason's power was the creation of hyper-realistic illusions, influencing others purely through his brainwaves. He could force them to see endless, inescapable fantasies, the content of which was determined by the chaotic thoughts of a child.
This ability was monstrous, especially when wielded by a mind not under its own control. The Stryker family was repeatedly driven to the brink of collapse by their son's illusions. To save his shattered family, William took Jason to Professor Charles's school, seeking help from the World's most powerful psychic.
At the time, William Stryker was involved in anti-Mutant military programs, but purely by assignment. Due to his son's plight, he still held a sliver of sympathy for most Mutants. He knew Professor Charles's power and held desperate hope that he could manage Jason's ability.
But he was wrong. Jason's power was too immense; even the Professor was somewhat helpless. Jason's illusions could affect and destabilize the Professor's own psychic abilities. Despite wanting to sway William toward the Mutant cause, the Professor had no choice but to send Jason home, as keeping him posed an unacceptable threat to the other students.
This act solidified William's tragedy. Unable to cope with Jason's increasingly powerful and terrifying illusions, Mrs. William suffered a complete mental breakdown and drilled through her own temples with an electric drill.
The perfect family was instantly shattered. William lost not only his wife but, in a sense, his son as well. When this profound tragedy consumed him, William made a permanent, unforgiving decision: he would dedicate his life to completely eradicating the evil Mutant race from the World, by any means necessary.