Marvel Comics: The Sentinel(Sentry)

Upon returning to New York, Sean found himself once again buried under a mountain of documents and meetings; Umbrella's energy initiatives, military contracts with the Pentagon, budget reviews and financial reports for various labs...

And this was with the artificial intelligence, Skynet, handling a significant portion of the workload...

Sitting back in his office chair, Sean exhaled deeply. The reason he had sponsored Jane Foster's research was to serve as a wake-up call for humanity.

The vast depths of the universe were not barren. Earth was not the only planet harboring intelligent life. When the Chitauri army eventually descends, people would realize that their endless infighting and internal strife had only weakened the human race.

Instead of endlessly squabbling over resources and territory, why not shift their gaze toward the stars? This blue planet could serve as a launching point for cosmic exploration, much like the "Age of Discovery" in the 15th century.

Back then, transoceanic voyages and breakthroughs in geography had opened new trade routes, connected continents, and sparked fierce cultural collisions between East and West.

Those explorers had braved life-threatening dangers, sailing into uncharted waters in pursuit of legendary treasures. It was undeniable proof that when presented with sufficient incentive, humanity never hesitated to pay the price.

In today's world, nations were locked in a frenzy of resource plundering, while dwindling energy supplies signaled that conflicts would only escalate. That was why Tony Stark was so committed to promoting clean energy... compared to the arms industry, that was the true inexhaustible goldmine.

But Sean believed that establishing contact with advanced civilizations across the galaxy could trigger a technological explosion...

Like the Europeans of old, humanity needed to look beyond their own planet. Once interstellar colonization became viable, issues like resource scarcity, territorial disputes, and population growth… all of humanity's pressing problems would naturally fade into obsolescence.

Of course, it was still too early to discuss such things. Humanity's inherent flaws ensured that in times of peace, they would never set aside their conflicts of interest to unite in pursuit of a greater cosmic future. That was why Sean had prepared his first warning... Asgard.

Of course, as long as Asgard showed no signs of hostility, humanity might still remain indifferent. But when the Chitauri arrived with their army, and the world witnessed the overwhelming might of extraterrestrial life, then they might finally start questioning why they had wasted so much time and energy on endless internal strife.

A sense of impending danger... that was the best way to spur human civilization forward.

Tapping his fingers against the desk, Sean set aside this grand vision for now. Rome wasn't built in a day...

Before the Asgardian prince arrives with his Chitauri horde, Sean still has more immediate matters to handle... like the soon-to-assemble Avengers, or a certain troublesome mutant.

Leaving his office, the young man stepped into a private elevator that descended into a classified sector. In Umbrella's security hierarchy, this area was designated as a Black Zone. It was accessible only to him.

A massive chimp sat on the floor with headphones over his ears, his rough, gravelly vocal cords hummed along to Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone'.

Sean's lips twitched. He had originally given Caesar the headphones to help him learn human speech faster, but the musically inept chimp had instead developed an obsession with music...

Catching the scent of pizza, Caesar pulled off his headphones and turned his head. The moment he spotted his young mentor, the man who had taught him language and knowledge, the fierce glint in his eyes softened into docile obedience.

Sean set down a towering stack of pizza boxes, and nodded in satisfaction.

The chimp, which was built like a small giant, was clad in an exoskeleton-like mechanical suit. His right arm was equipped with a pulse cannon, while a jetpack was strapped to his back. The power core embedded in his chest could even generate a semi-circular defensive force field.

This enormous chimp was the guardian of the Black Zone. Aside from the Red Queen and Sean himself, no one could command him.

Caesar lowered himself, pressing his face gently against Sean's palm in a gesture of respect and submission... though his eyes never strayed far from the hefty pile of pizza boxes.

Originally just a test subject for the Metis serum, Caesar had, under Sean's deliberate nurturing, developed learning capabilities rivaling that of a human. Later, Skynet had modified a failed version of the Goblin Formula and injected it into the chimp, transforming him into a super-intelligent primate.

"Stay here and behave. When I have time, I'll have the Red Queen take you out for some fun." Said Sean.

Caesar's dark green eyes gleamed with joy at the promise. Still mentally immature, he sat on the floor like a small dark mountain, his thick arms pressed tightly against his body as if to say, "I'll be good."

Aside from guarding the Black Zone, Caesar was also the warden of a secretly established mutant prison. Under his rough management, even the most unruly members of the Brotherhood had been thoroughly subdued.

Sean had given only one command: Just don't kill them...

Stepping into the vast shadowy space beyond, Sean surveyed the prison. Unlike Magneto's underground cells, the Brotherhood members here were housed in spacious enclosures complete with free food, water, electricity, and private suites.

Aside from regular inhibitor serum injections and a lack of freedom, their treatment wasn't bad at all.

This unexpected disparity left many Brotherhood members baffled. They couldn't fathom what the young man who had nearly wiped out mutantkind in one fell swoop actually wanted from them.

Sean's arrival stirred unrest in the prison. Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, bared his fangs, slamming his powerful fists against the reinforced glass until it vibrated.

Toad crouched in a corner, his expression sullen and silent. Other Brotherhood members hurled curses, taunts, and even crude gestures his way.

"Red Queen, silence them."

A sharp crackle of electricity surged through the collars around their necks. In an instant, the once-rowdy prison was now filled only with twitching bodies writhing on the ground.

"Next time, if anyone makes noise without my permission, I'll blow their head off." Sean's tone was mild, belying the cold lethality of the threat.

At the far end of the prison, Mystique remained quiet, sparing herself from the same fate as her foolish comrades.

"I've been waiting for you to walk right into my hands," Sean said with a faint smile, "Later, I'll arrange a meeting between you and Magneto. The agreement I reached with the Professor includes guarantees for both your safety."

The shapeshifting mutant's golden-yellow eyes flickered with wariness. She couldn't understand why Charles, who had always despised scheming, would collaborate with this shadowy young man.

As if reading her thoughts, Sean murmured, "Don't doubt the Professor. Everything he's doing is for the future of our kind. Just like Magneto, they may take different paths, but in the end, they'll converge on the same road..."

"...I can release Magneto and the Brotherhood. But you'll have to pay the price."

The young man's gaze darkened as he studied Mystique. Her abilities held immense value to him. In contrast, Magneto would be far more useful if redirected toward distant lands... like the African continent.

The Professor would cultivate a benevolent image for mutants, while Magneto embodied unyielding defiance. Working in tandem, they would push forward side by side.

That was Sean's vision for the future of mutantkind...