The transformation of the Avengers was inevitable.
The organization had always been a product of coincidence; even Nick Fury never intended for the Avengers to be a long-term institution. Now that Tony Stark was working to formalize it, the many issues surrounding this special response team needed to be brought before the Five Permanent Members for discussion—even if there were no disputes over new energy initiatives. No one felt comfortable letting a group of independently acting individuals, all with immense personal combat power, run around unchecked. Even someone like Natasha Romanoff, who appeared to be the weakest in terms of sheer firepower, made many nervous—her ability to destabilize bureaucratic systems far exceeded that of airborne Tony Stark.
A team that was obedient, well-funded, and professionally trained to counter extraterrestrial threats had become the preferred solution for many nations. Due to cost-saving considerations and political lobbying, the Avengers were chosen as the prototype, which made transformation urgent. If the Avengers accepted the terms, all the better. If not, then they would be disbanded. No organization on Earth could stand against a united front from the Five Permanent Members—at least not for now. What happened behind the scenes after bringing the Avengers under control was another matter entirely. Solomon could guess with ease: if the agreement was accepted, the Avengers would never again be allowed to leave the Western world. Every nation had seen what powerful individuals could accomplish without deploying large armies—and with the political conditions that accompanied the Avengers, sovereign states would rather decline their help than allow them unregulated freedom.
Natasha Romanoff's solution was to unite the Avengers.
She vacillated between the Immortal City and the Avengers, just as she would during the coming civil divide. No one could say for certain what she truly thought, but one thing was clear—regardless of the transformation, she did not want the Avengers to fracture. After acquiring that set of documents, she took the elevator back to the surface city, along with several improved conventional weapons from the Immortal City's armory, some explosives, and a set of light exoskeleton combat gear.
One assault rifle, two handguns, a large-caliber sniper rifle, and over two hundred rounds of ammo—all modified for reliability and untraceability. She also took an optical camouflage cloak, equipped with servo motors, high-strength composite cables, and specialized arrowheads—an armguard system that could be attached to her signature bodysuit or hidden beneath a coat for covert operations. All of this, along with the explosives, was packed into a large case. Donning the cloak and raising the hood, she used the exoskeleton's assistance to carry the weapons crate herself.
She intended to strike first—hunting the Winter Soldier alone, the very element she believed could tear the Avengers apart. She was well aware she might fail. With less than three days before Steve Rogers and the other Avengers would arrive in Europe, she might only have enough time to catch a glimpse of the Winter Soldier's trail—especially since she was operating without any intelligence support. Solo recon would take longer, and she didn't expect her blind attempt to succeed. That's why she left Solomon with a message—to ensure her actions would have meaning even if she failed.
"Some people want to know who that silver knight was during the Battle of New York," she said. "Some believe Maria Hill knows—and she does. I don't know what the others will do, but I'm certain they won't keep quiet."
Her meaning was clear: the only reason Solomon's identity remained secret was because Maria Hill had obeyed Nick Fury's orders and was now under Tony Stark's protection, shielded from pressure. But if the Avengers split, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents aligned with Stark might face renewed interrogation—and Maria Hill might no longer be able to keep the secret. During the Chitauri invasion, Solomon had been the most dazzling, most powerful figure on the battlefield, and that made him the greatest source of unease for those seeking to place the Avengers under government oversight. Not to mention, he later fought alongside Thor in London against the Dark Elves—further proof that the Avengers deserved to know who this mysterious figure truly was.
What had to come would come. But Lorna couldn't detect a hint of tension on Solomon's face.
Natasha Romanoff had seriously underestimated him and the Immortal City. While he couldn't stand against a united Five Powers, if the threat came from within the U.S., the Malik family could handle it. Political lobbying wasn't free. A congressman's price was roughly equivalent to an M1A2 SEPV2 main battle tank. Some key politicians charged even more. But under Stephanie's frugal budgeting, the Immortal City always got its money's worth. There was no politician who couldn't be bought—if one failed, it just meant the offer wasn't high enough. Raise the price, and the problem would go away. Even the president had a market rate.
And if even the president couldn't be bought, then just replace them with one who could. That was how oligarchs chose their spokespersons.
"Mr. Malik," Solomon said as he dialed the phone, "I need a favor."
"Lady Minerva!" Lorna had been sent back to her apartment and immediately began venting to Athena everything she'd seen.
Everything Solomon had shown her today was overwhelming for a high school freshman. First, the Middle Eastern refugee children receiving centralized education, the strict academy system, the terrifying corporal punishments (Solomon had even taken her to visit the hospital where the flogging victims were treated). Then, the blunt political transactions and spy games being openly discussed. No matter how precocious she was, there was no way she could fully grasp the logic and hidden connections behind it all. So her adoptive mother, Miranda Minerva, became the only person left who could explain things after Solomon left—he didn't have time to babysit her. "Why did Solomon become someone like this?" the girl asked angrily. "Does he really have to use such cruel methods, like it's the only answer he knows?"
"Because he's trying to save people, darling. Even light can be born from darkness," said the goddess of wisdom with a raised brow.
She loved when children asked questions. So even when Lorna had barged into the kitchen and nearly knocked over a pot of beef ragout, Athena hadn't been angry. In fact, she'd known about these things long before Lorna did—especially the education of war orphans taken from the Middle East. That plan had been in motion since the founding of the Immortal City, and it had received Athena's full support as a core strategy to train Solomon's inner circle. The Sisterhood's early efforts to rescue human trafficking victims in Eastern Europe had been a mere trial run. Now, the real program was underway. Even future members of the Sisterhood would be recruited from within the academy itself, ensuring their qualifications (Solomon may have approved the current use of androids, but it was only a matter of time before he subtly reformed the Sisterhood altogether).
The formal establishment of the academy signaled that the Immortal City had evolved beyond a ragtag operation into a self-renewing, vital organization. While it would take time for the system to fully bear fruit, its eventual benefits were already foreseeable.
"He's seen the dark future ahead. For the sake of hope, he must shoulder greater responsibility without hesitation," Athena said. "Imagine one day having the power to decide the fate of all humankind—that's a crushing weight no human mind should bear. He has to give up the things he holds dear. In enslaving others, he enslaves himself too—and he's fully aware of it."
"Like what?"
"Like those who can't keep up. That's why he doesn't want anyone left behind," Athena said, gazing meaningfully at Lorna. "Those who can't keep up might face a fate worse than death. What you see as brutality is, in truth, his mercy—because he's urging everyone to survive."
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