Marvel Comics: The Sentinel(Sentry)

After handling his affairs, Sean headed to Washington D.C. by car, accompanied by his secretary, Yukio, and the unruly Ivan Vanko...

The Russian brute had toned down his aggressive demeanor slightly since witnessing the Sentinel in action, he no longer carried himself with the same arrogant swagger as before.

Gifted geniuses were often cut from the same cloth... unyielding pride and confidence in their areas of expertise, and a sense of superiority derived from their intellect that made them look down on ordinary people.

Whether it was the mild-mannered Reed Richards or the narcissistic Tony Stark, they were all the same.

And Ivan, who saw Tony Stark as his lifelong rival and a generational enemy of his family, was no exception. In the original timeline, Justin Hammer had tried every means to recruit him, but the Russian had never been tamed or bought. Instead, he had outmaneuvered Hammer, leaving the unfortunate man to rot in prison.

The common flaw among geniuses was their disdain for the ignorant and incompetent. A fool like Hammer would never earn Ivan's respect.

But Sean was different. He wasn't an authoritarian figure who refused to listen, though Ivan had noticed his subtle yet well-controlled desire for dominance. Coupled with his formidable background and unfathomable power, this made the Russian feel secure enough to stay at Umbrella, abandoning his earlier schemes.

As the car rolled forward, Sean caught a glimpse of a small crowd gathered outside Umbrella's gates through the window. They held up signs and chanted slogans, though no one paid them much attention. The dutiful security personnel kept them firmly outside.

After the disappearance of the anti-mutant crusader, Senator Kelly, public fervor over mutants had gradually faded with time.

Not long ago, however, the Vice President had revisited the issue, delivering a public address on the Mutant Registration Act... but this time, the stance and tone were entirely different.

Vice President Underwood, a seasoned politician with formidable skill and ambition, had masterfully displayed his charisma. In a brief but powerful speech, he had spoken out against the injustices mutants faced, his stirring and impassioned rhetoric moving many in the audience.

At the time, Sean had been in New Mexico, so he missed the Vice President's captivating performance...

Following the prearranged plan, Umbrella and Oscorp had jointly issued a statement expressing sympathy for mutants' plight and advocating for the necessity of the Mutant Registration Act. They had also announced the public recruitment of mutant employees, who would receive the same salaries and rights as ordinary workers.

This series of moves had reignited public discourse on mutants, but unlike the previous condemnations, the narrative had shifted. A slew of experts had stepped forward to explain the concept of mutants, assuring the public that this was neither an incurable disease nor a divine curse.

Umbrella's reputation had always been solid. Specializing in biopharmaceuticals, its two flagship products, the Metis serum for degenerative brain conditions and the Chrysalis serum for limb regeneration, had been met with enthusiastic market reception. The latter had even secured numerous military contracts.

Recently, however, anti-mutant groups had begun organizing protests outside Umbrella's gates, attempting to block the hiring of mutant employees.

These sporadic criticisms had little impact on the corporation. Without backing from influential figures, these loosely organized civilian groups lacked the cohesion and support to cause any real waves...

"This is your chance to restore your family's honor, Ivan." Sean glanced at the Russian, who was dressed in a formal suit.

Despite the attire, he looked more like a bodyguard than a weapons specialist.

"Prove to the generals at the Pentagon that Ivan Vanko is no less than Tony Stark." Sean spoke like a fisherman dangling bait, "If Tony can build an Arc Reactor, so can you. If he can become Iron Man, then you'll create those flashy suits of armor."

"So I'm supposed to prance around like a monkey for those big shots to inspect?" Ivan scowled.

He disliked these convoluted games, preferring straightforward, brute-force methods.

Sean chuckled, giving the Russian a sidelong glance, "Tony's father was Howard Stark, a founder of a military-industrial empire, a participant in the Manhattan Project, a colleague of Oppenheimer, and a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D... With the military's full backing, his connections run deep, and his foundation is unshakable..."

"...Tell me, Mr. Ivan Vanko, what achievements do you have under your belt? A father deported for espionage, fifteen years in prison… How exactly am I supposed to convince those military brass that the man standing before them isn't a dangerous ex-con, but a brilliant weapons designer?"

Sean raised a hand, cutting off Ivan's retort. His previously mild tone turned sharp, an invisible pressure radiating from him. The fierce Russian gradually lowered his head.

"Even geniuses need patrons, Ivan. The Stark family is already a towering tree, while you're just sprouting. To earn respect, you don't just need to deliver results, you also need to learn how to deal with those powerful men."

Watching Ivan's deflated demeanor, Sean allowed a faint smile. His voice softened, "Iron armor might be flashy and impractical, but if it makes the Department of Defense happy, serves as a propaganda tool, and projects an image of government strength... that's enough..."

"...To defeat your rival in a fair fight, you first need to stand on equal footing with him." He patted Ivan's shoulder in a friendly gesture.

The car entered Arlington, along the Potomac River. The nation's highest military command soon came into view... the Pentagon, its distinctive five-sided structure often symbolizing U.S. military might. In the 1960s, it had been the epicenter of anti-Vietnam War protests.

Instead of immediately meeting with Pentagon officials, Sean first rendezvoused with General Ross in the 'Hall of Heroes' on the third-floor corridor. This level housed the offices of the Secretary of Defense and the Department of the Army, a place ordinary citizens couldn't even step foot in.

The so-called 'Hall of Heroes' commemorated recipients of the Medal of Honor since the Revolutionary War.

Sean, with a now much more subdued Ivan in tow, surveyed the surroundings. Over 3 000 brass plaques lined the walls, each engraved with the names, origins, and records of distinguished servicemen. The adjacent memorial corridor displayed the exploits of three legendary generals; Marshall, Eisenhower, and MacArthur...

General Ross arrived late, offering a slightly apologetic smile, "An unexpected delay. I hope you haven't been waiting long."

Sean shook his head, returning a faint smile. His relationship with Ross had begun as a transactional alliance, but over time, it had deepened into something inseparable.

"We've located Banner in Brazil. After this energy weapons symposium, I'm deploying a team to capture him." Ross got straight to the point, making no effort to conceal his intentions.

"...I've assembled an elite unit. There's no way that big green bastard is slipping away this time!" The old man brimmed with confidence, steadfast in his belief that every cell in Banner's body belonged to the military, "With your energy weapons, our odds of success would be even higher."

Sean could see Ross was consumed by a fervent obsession. The Hulk had become his white whale.

Silently, he pitied Dr. Banner for a second. Being relentlessly pursued by his future father-in-law, a general with real power, couldn't be pleasant.

"Good luck," the young man said quietly.

The two stood beneath a portrait of Douglas MacArthur. Ross instinctively reached for a cigar but quickly put it away, his expression one of deep reverence for the late general.

As he read MacArthur's illustrious achievements, a hint of nostalgia flickered in the old man's eyes...

The legendary general held the record for most medals in U.S. history, was the only one to serve in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, and had been the youngest brigadier general, superintendent of West Point, and Army Chief of Staff. Many called him "the old soldier"...

"Old soldiers never die; they just fade away"... This was a famous line from MacArthur's farewell address.

Every serviceman dreamed of becoming such a legend.

"I'll make them see... this country doesn't need costumed superheroes to keep its people safe," Ross declared firmly.

Sean nodded, a shadow passing through his eyes. If the general didn't fail at capturing the Hulk at least once, how would he ever learn to value their alliance?

He was rather looking forward to it... a clash with that green, rage-fueled beast.

Sentinel (Sentry) vs Hulk...

Now that would be a spectacle...