When Sean arrived at the Pentagon, he learned that General Ross was in the middle of a briefing and couldn't meet with him immediately...
It seemed that the failed operation to capture the Hulk had subjected the stubborn and tough old man to considerable criticism... after all, the incident had escalated into a major debacle.
The young man had seen the footage circulating online... a green giant standing in the middle of the road, casually flipping cars, with bullets bouncing harmlessly off his impenetrable skin. The creature radiated an indescribable sense of raw power, like an ancient Titan from mythology.
Sitting in the waiting room, Sean couldn't help but wonder... if he were to clash head-on with that monstrous green beast, who would emerge victorious?
Based on the available information, the Hulk was undoubtedly one of the strongest beings on the planet. Rage was his source of power, and his only real weakness was his lack of higher intelligence. If the Hulk could somehow merge with Banner's mind, the resulting chemical reaction would be incalculable.
'A smart Hulk?' Sean chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the fleeting thought.
Before he could meet with General Ross, the door opened, and a short rough man in formal military attire walked in, exuding an aura of disciplined ferocity. The man seemed momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself and took a seat, his back rigidly straight.
"Colonel Blonsky?" Sean eyed the man, who refused to meet his gaze, with an odd glint in his eyes.
Emil Blonsky who was sitting stiffly looked genuinely startled, "Have we met?"
He did vaguely recognize the young man who was frequently featured in New York newspapers and various magazines... He was once hailed as the "second Tony Stark", and now proclaimed as a rising star surpassing Iron Man.
This Sean Cyphers guy had risen at an astonishing speed...
"General Ross mentioned you. Specifically, during the failed operation. He requested the most elite soldiers from the Department of Defense to track down Dr. Banner, and you were the best among them."
Sean cleared his throat, then recited the man's decorated service record, "Born in Russia, raised in the UK, transferred from the Royal Marines to the Special Operations Command, participated in numerous classified missions. With your record, you could easily be a full colonel by now. A truly admirable soldier."
Blonsky was taken aback once more. He was here today to serve as a witness in General Ross's briefing, providing supplementary testimony before the Military Committee.
The failed operation had cost the lives of thirteen elite soldiers, and footage of the Hulk had spread across the internet, causing an uproar. Even someone as well-connected as General Ross, the scion of a prestigious military family, had to offer a formal explanation... after all, the Department of Defense wasn't a monolithic entity.
"Mind if I ask... have you ever considered retiring? Or perhaps transitioning to a civilian officer?" Sean leaned back in his chair, studying him with interest.
"No. I'm a soldier. As long as I can still fight, I will never leave the battlefield." Blonsky's reply was firm, each word deliberate.
He wasn't the type to settle for mediocrity, content with a quiet retirement, and waiting for his body to wither away while clinging to fading glory. Especially after witnessing the green giant in Rio de Janeiro... Blonsky's blood had boiled.
If only he still had the body and stamina of a decade ago, he wouldn't have barely escaped with his life.
"You're brave, and full of fighting spirit. But time spares no one. How old are you?" Sean gradually steered the conversation.
"Thirty-nine." Blonsky's weathered face betrayed the toll of years spent in combat.
A lifetime of warfare had aged him beyond his years.
"War ages a man fast, huh? You look like you're in your forties." A faint gleam flickered in Sean's eyes as he deliberately stoked the fire in Blonsky's heart.
This man had an unyielding spirit, one tempered like steel. After his brief encounter with the Hulk, he had become obsessed with the raw power of the green behemoth.
As a soldier, Blonsky didn't see the Hulk as a monster... he saw it as a magnificent force of nature that radiated an unrivaled aura of dominance.
Sean could see the fire burning within him. The declining physicality, the frustrating limits of training... a true warrior would never accept dying in bed, plagued by illness. That was the worst torment imaginable. Blonsky was exactly that kind of man... he'd rather die in battle than rot away in old age.
He was a fearless, iron-willed soldier. Endless combat and the rush of battle were the only life he truly craved.
"Life offers many choices, Blonsky. Sometimes, opportunity knocks on your door." Sean handed him a business card, his tone laden with implication, "Come see me at Umbrella. I know what men like you truly desire… For you, a peaceful life is the greatest suffering."
Blonsky almost reflexively accepted the card, but froze for a moment...
This soon-to-retire soldier was indeed troubled. He believed he still had more to give, but as Sean had said, time was merciless. His declining stamina, and the occasional aches in his bones... they were all silent reminders that his military career was nearing its end.
"You know what I want?" Blonsky stared at the young man's composed smile, perplexed.
"The Hulk. That big green monster." Sean's gaze burned with intensity as he locked eyes with the veteran, "It's not just General Ross who wants the Hulk. I'm interested in him too."
Blonsky pocketed the card and was about to say more when the secretary entered, reminding him that the Military Committee's briefing was about to start.
The hardened soldier left with countless questions swirling in his mind. Before stepping out, he glanced back at Sean, who remained seated with an enigmatic smile, his eyes deep and inscrutable. Recalling their conversation, Blonsky felt something stir within him...
If he retired normally, he could live comfortably; find a good woman, start a family, raise children, and enjoy a peaceful, happy life. No more gunfire ringing in his ears, no more life-or-death battles.
His calloused hands, which once gripped rifles, would spend the rest of their days mowing lawns, changing lightbulbs, and brewing coffee.
It didn't sound so bad…
But that wasn't what Blonsky wanted. Deep down, he craved battle and yearned for strength. Only with adrenaline surging and his heart pounding could he truly feel alive.
Touching the card in his pocket, Blonsky strode out of the conference room...
A man like him, a soldier molded by war, one who thrived in the chaos of battle, couldn't bear the thought of a future where he'd dull his senses with alcohol just to get through the day.
In truth, many veterans suffered from this kind of psychological trauma. For those who had adapted to one extreme environment, transitioning to an entirely different one often left them feeling alienated, especially special forces soldiers who had spent years deployed overseas.
The tranquil life of ordinary people was unbearable for them. Imagine one moment fighting for survival in a warzone, bullets flying, completing missions under fire... and the next, thrust back into a peaceful city, surrounded by laughter and sunshine, while you alone felt like an outsider.
That abrupt contrast was impossible to reconcile. The laughter and serenity of civilian life felt like they belonged to another world.
Watching the door close, Sean allowed a faint smile to curl his lips. He hadn't lied... Umbrella did have a special project in mind for the Hulk.
Skynet's surveillance network was already tracking Samuel Sterns, the man communicating with Bruce Banner under the alias 'Mr. Blue'...
When the time was right, Sean would obtain the Hulk's serum. At the same time, the young man also had his hands on the failed Goblin Formula and the reverse-engineered Super-Soldier Serum.
Combined with the final derivative, the Hulk's gamma-infused blood... he had a feeling the end result would be something extraordinary...