"Will they hand over this William Striker?"
"They will."
Hovering above Quantico, Hawk listened to Wanda's curiosity with calm eyes, "They have no choice."
Even though he had just caused Quantico billions of US Dollars in weapons and hundreds of personnel losses.
But...
As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new.
At first glance, it's just a few billion dollars in losses, but Hawk had no doubt that once he left, the reported losses would reach tens of billions of dollars.
Having dealt with the Federation Military a few times, Hawk knew all too well the military's way of doing things.
The most important point is this:
While displaying his violence, he stayed controlled enough to let General Ross here, and the other generals know that if they give him what he wants, then the others will be fine.
Unlike Magneto.
He uses indiscriminate AOE skills right from the start. Such methods are violent enough but also enough to eliminate any complacency in everyone.
Hawk's approach is different.
He's violent, but he can negotiate.
So—
"They will give me what I want."
"..."
Listening to Hawk's explanation, Wanda blinked involuntarily, then looked at Hawk beside her, "So, this was your thought process when you chose this course of action?"
Hawk looked at Wanda's expression and chuckled, "Otherwise? Do you really think I did this because I'm kind?"
Wanda nodded instinctively.
She did think so, believing Hawk was kind and reluctant to truly confront the Federation, so he let the military hand over William Striker, and then the matter would be settled.
Hawk snorted.
"I'm never a good person, Wanda."
"Truly not a good person."
"Although I don't want to admit it, there's no denying that, to me, interests are always my primary choice."
Kindness?
Don't be ridiculous.
Good people are all dead, and besides, talking about kindness with someone who can become a 'fourth disaster' at any time as a 'traverser' is itself quite an absurd notion.
Let's put it this way.
The reason Hawk didn't level Quantico was because William Striker hadn't come yet.
His purpose in coming here was to coerce the military into obediently handing over William Striker, whom he couldn't find on his own.
William Striker, he's the one he wanted.
Everything he did upon arriving was in service of that goal.
Whether it was giving Quantico ten minutes to attack him, or negotiating with General Ross here under the guise of his kindness, the ultimate goal was to get Quantico to hand over William Striker.
His kindness was just an excuse.
What's the saying?
You can fool others, but don't fool yourself.
Hawk was very clear-headed, no matter what others or Gwen said about him being a good person, even if he said he was kind, deep down, Hawk knew he was never kind.
In fact, he could be said to be someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Just like most traversers.
He wasn't special either.
Just like when Hawk coveted the World Tree, even when threatened with Gwen, he still chose to seize the World Tree rather than protect Gwen.
So—
Hawk looked at Wanda, his voice faint.
"I was never a hero."
"No, you are."
Wanda shook her head at these words, looking into Hawk's eyes, "I won't comment on others, but to me, you are a hero, a good father who came here without hesitation to save his daughter, regardless of the traps."
Their eyes met.
Hawk smiled.
"Is that really what you think?"
"Not just think, but you are such a good father."
Wanda's expression turned serious, "I believe that if Jean knew you came to save her, she would be very happy, you know, she likes and admires you very much, even though she's spent more time with me."
Hawk smiled slightly.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Wanda said, then changed the topic, "So, do you have an answer yet, is this universe a trap or an accident?"
Hawk withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.
The next second.
He descended into the Little Cosmos.
At this moment in the Little Cosmos, the shadow of Phoenix still enveloped the entire Little Cosmos, with countless stars still twinkling.
Hawk's cosmic energy was always present.
After all, his great power comes from within himself; wherever he is, his Little Cosmos is there too.
Hawk can feel the presence of his immense power, but outside, he can't unleash even a bit of it.
But...
Just like when he was in his universe, he needed to use the Reality Gemstone as a fulcrum of reality to fully manifest his powers.
This universe seems just like before he obtained the Reality Gemstone, as if there's a barrier preventing the manifestation of his Little Cosmos's power.
Whether this barrier is actively blocking or passively obstructing, he's still not quite sure.
But one thing is for sure.
"This universe doesn't welcome me."
"...We don't need this universe's welcome, do we?"
Wanda shrugged: "This universe doesn't welcome us. We didn't want to come here anyway; once we find our daughter, we can leave."
She doesn't like this universe.
Especially after what happened in the Mutant Underground Community, although she is not a mutant, seeing those mutants being slaughtered by the Sentinel agents gave her a feeling of disgust.
But it's merely disgust.
After all, she's not from this universe; she's only here to find her daughter.
So...
Once they find their daughter, they won't need this universe to remind them; their family will leave on their own.
"By the way,"
Wanda thought of Jean and looked at Hawk: "You said before, we don't need to find that Professor X; we can have Professor X bring our daughter to find us. Do you think that Professor X is also on his way here now?"
Hawk heard this and frowned: "This Professor X's mutant ability is similar to telepathy and manipulation. With the Brain Wave Amplifier, he can sense the minds of every mutant and every ordinary person worldwide without leaving his house and invade their mental world."
Wanda thought for a moment: "I haven't sensed anyone trying to invade my mental world."
Hawk shrugged: "Neither have I, but don't worry, let's take things one step at a time."
First, have the Quantico military hand over William Stryker.
Then...
Have the Quantico military hand over Professor X as well, right?
It's that simple.
Anyway, he was too lazy to find out where Xavier Institute for Genius Youngsters is; if he wasn't using violence, he'd actively seek out Professor X. Now that he's using violence, still actively seeking out Professor X is pointless, isn't it?
Wanda looked at the already-planned Hawk and nodded.
Quickly.
As they talked, time passed, and meanwhile, a helicopter appeared in the sky, becoming clear at a visible speed.
It was the Sentinel helicopter, arriving as quickly as possible after receiving orders, carrying William Stryker.
"Tsk tsk, look at you, Stryker, what have you done?"
Adia, in the Sentinel helicopter, looked from afar at the scarlet dome covering the Quantico Base, clicked his tongue, and then looked at Stryker with some emotion: "The Sentinel Special Service Bureau was supposed to be canceled in public to prevent radical mutants from choosing to perish with us, but look at you, causing ten generals to be taken hostage by mutants for your own personal reasons."
Back when the Sentinel Special Service Bureau went underground, on the surface, it seemed like a reconciliation was achieved between humans under Professor X's mediation.
But in reality?
That was because Magneto went to the White Building, brought over a massive stadium, and nearly wiped out all the dignitaries present.
This was the real reason they chose to imprison that little man and publicly shut down the Sentinel Special Service Bureau back then.
Mutants dragging ordinary people down with them was one thing, but dragging down the elite class was absolutely unacceptable.
So—
Publicly choosing to shut down the Sentinel Special Service Bureau was to prevent mutants from resorting to desperate measures, but secretly, the Sentinel Special Service Bureau never stopped running, figuring out ways to capture mutants so they could grasp the genetic code of mutations and create their own mutants.
Then with the passage of time, as Magneto disappeared longer, the annihilation deterrent effect Magneto caused back then weakened, and gradually, the hardliners against mutants resurfaced.
Like William Stryker.
Just as Hawk said.
Barbarians, feared power but not virtue.
When deterrence weakens, the barbarians choose to attack again, and since last year, the attacks against mutants by the Sentinel Special Service Bureau, under William Stryker's orders, started becoming frequent again.
Then—
"You hit the iron board, didn't you."
Adia has also seen Hawk and Wanda standing high in the sky above Quantico, then looking at the now visibly pale Stryker: "You were thinking of having the Sentinel Task Force capture these mutants alive, but now, not only have you failed to capture them, they're about to capture you alive."
Listening to Adia's teasing, Stryker looked at Adia with a sullen face.
"One compromise will make them think we are weak and easy to bully."
"Whatever."
Adia looked indifferent: "As long as you're delivered, I'm going to Washington Memorial Hospital to get treated and hospitalized."
Stay for a month first, then see how things unfold.
If the military wins, he'll still be the new director of the Sentinel Special Service Bureau.
If these two mutants win.
Let's put it this way!
At least he's still alive.
Isn't that right?
Listening to Adia's plan, Stryker became completely enraged: "Coward, weakling, useless..."
Adia stared at Stryker emotionlessly.
"At least I'm still alive, and you, my dear friend, will probably not even see tonight's sunset."
"..."