Exhausted, Howard returned to New York with Captain America, to prepare for the upcoming wedding.
Luke had to go to the White House to attend a meeting first, because of the appearance of Apocalypse in Nevada, and the Phoenix.
The economic losses and casualties in Las Vegas were not small and a credible report must be given.
Then again, the international situation was tense.
Any trouble would arouse the vigilance of the White House.
'Feels like coaxing a child.'
This was how Superman really felt inside.
To him, the President in the White House and the Generals in the Pentagon seemed like frightened children.
'I better go into space before it's too late.'
After 2 hours of recollections, Luke left the White House and flew to the headquarters building near the Potomac River.
Las Vegas suffered heavy losses. The National Guard had sent out search and rescue teams and S.H.I.E.L.D wasn't far behind.
Several teams of agents, led by Nick Fury, were on their way there.
"Apocalypse is not alone. He's surrounded by a large number of followers."
Peggy pushed open the door to the Director's office.
She sat down in her chair with a graceful gesture and pushed the papers over to him.
"Sixteen mutants, that's a lot of power."
In America, Luke, who just got off the plane and attended the White House meeting, opened the file and glanced at it.
Apocalypse was gone now, but his followers were still roaming the land.
Right now, no one knew what their abilities were and who they were.
The only thing that was clear was Caliban, who he once met in Cairo.
It was he who, with the warlord's personal weaponry, blew up Apocalypse's pyramid, sparking the battle that followed.
He was later taken under Apocalypse's wing.
According to the temperament of the god of mutants, whenever he encountered a compatriot, he would give the other a boost to enhance their strength.
Presumably, all the followers and believers who followed Apocalypse would benefit.
"They have to be kept under control. Who knows what kind of trouble they might cause."
Luke closed the file and whispered.
He had been pushing for a mutant registration bill recently.
They couldn't afford to have any incidents of a 'terrorist' nature at this critical moment.
Moreover, mutants did come under the jurisdiction of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As a large institution, it had a specialized facility to shelter mutants.
In addition to the White Queen's Cavill Academy for the Gifted, Stryker's Task Force and other related medical departments under S.H.I.E.L.D.
That's right.
Before, when he grabbed benefits from Congress...
Luke specially applied for first-class medical facilities and medical staff for those mutants with genetic defects.
On the one hand, it could win people's hearts so that those mutants who lived in poverty could accept S.H.I.E.L.D's management and have a sense of belonging.
On the other hand, he didn't pay for it himself, so it didn't matter if he did something nice.
"Just send Logan and Victor out. They have had nothing to do recently. Emma has called me several times to complain about the Real Men's Club and the mess it has made in school."
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. in Washington, D.C., Luke had a lot of work to do.
First of all, Logan and Victor, the two troublesome guys organized a 'Real Men's Club' as teachers.
To join the club, one had to prove that they were a real 'man'.
For example, after smoking a cigar, do 50 push-ups in one sitting.
It looked like a replica of the 'fraternity' in traditional American universities.
Most of the tests were pranks or jokes!
This unhealthy trend spread rapidly in the academy.
Two days ago, Emma, the White Queen, was furious because they had gone too far.
Using mind control, Logan and Victor engaged in a 'wrestling game' in front of the entire student body.
The scene was said to have spiraled out of control and almost resulted in a disaster.
"They ... really aren't fit to be teachers."
Peggy grimaced as she remembered the two tall, hairy, strong men wrestling together.
"Beasts are suitable for the battlefield. Schools are no place for them."
Luke nodded in agreement.
The main reason for this was that the Mutant Academy had only recently been opened, and there was a shortage of teachers.
Otherwise, Logan and Victor, two foul-mouthed, uneducated guys, wouldn't have made it into the teaching staff.
"All right. It's time to kick them out of school and throw them where they belong."
Luke shrugged his shoulders and said so.
He guessed that, with Apocalypse's discerning eye...
The potential of those who follow him would never be low.
'I wonder if Magneto would be there.'
The Director's eyes flashed. Young Charles had become his student...
What about Magneto?
Together, they were the best of the best. The future of mutants was in their hands.
Moreover, these two friends and rivals could also form a bond.
"What else should I be looking at in the near future?"
Now, S.H.I.E.L.D was a big family. Even with Peggy's share, Luke still needed to deal with a lot of work.
Sitting in this position, not only could he get benefits from Congress, but he also had to shoulder certain responsibilities.
He gradually realized the hard work behind the bald Director's misappropriation of public funds.
"Hydra."
Peggy turned over the schedule, looked up, and said, "Dr. Zola and Baron Strucker. What are you going to do with these two Hydra brains combined?"
"Of course, it's Hydra against Hydra."
Luke thought for a moment and turned to reply.
Hydra was a great tool to get a Kryptonian ship.
He's been eyeing that quest reward for a long time.
Letting Baron Strucker, together with Dr. Zola, take over the other factions of Hydra and finally consolidate their forces.
That's how you get the most out of a tool!
The most admirable thing about villains was that they were efficient and suitable for doing dirty work.
"What about the vampire you brought back? She went to Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, the family is expanding fast, what's S.H.I.E.L.D going to do about it?"
Peggy asked with a somewhat bemused look.
"There's no conflict, right?"
Luke raised an eyebrow, knowing that the vampire clan of the North American continent, which had quietly developed the 'familiars', had deep roots that would be hard to shake for a while.
Plus, the two vampire families didn't see eye to eye with each other, and a blood feud could easily develop.
"At first, there was a little friction. Later, your vampire destroyed several clan strongholds ... she killed her kin, even more ruthlessly than hunters."
Peggy showed some rather gory photos of the scene and continued, "Silver bullets, holy water, ultraviolet lights, all sorts of things were used to scare the Council into making peace."
As the second-in-command of S.H.I.E.L.D, she knew a lot of secrets.
Kamar Taj, the three sanctums...
Vampires and werewolves, various clans and covens...
Even Wakanda and Asgard's Nine Realms.
Luke didn't hide anything; he mentioned everything.
"Selene is such a character. I've heard that the underworld people call her the 'Goddess of the Moon'."
Luke wasn't surprised to learn that the Vampire Council in the North American continent had developed a large 'familiar clan' with ties to many politicians.
Unless they were tired of living or looking for some excitement...
If not, it was impossible for them to actively mess with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Superman.
"For the expansion of the Corvinus family, S.H.I.E.L.D will turn a blind eye and wait until the Magic Congress is fully established, and all the rules will be settled."
Luke went on and on, taking care of all the accumulated work.
He felt like a student waiting until the last day of the holidays to work on his summer homework.
About the trade channels of Atlantis, the placement of vampires and werewolves, the deep cooperation with the three sanctums, the Hell Group's hotel chain...
He needed to give the final word on all these matters.
'I'm obviously Superman, but I'm doing Batman's job.'
Luke helplessly thought so.
"Do you have a new project?"
Peggy, who had been busy until mid-afternoon, was tidying up the papers on her desk when she suddenly looked up and asked.
"Why do you ask?"
Luke was slightly surprised.
"You usually hate these tedious tasks and usually don't bother to ask questions, but today you listed clear rules and regulations on how to deal with them... are you planning on leaving?"
As one of the people who warmed his bed, Peggy's intuition was very keen, and she could detect something strange.
"Don't worry, I won't leave without a word, like last time."
Luke chuckled lightly.
There was still some time before his journey through the sea of stars.
"No matter where you go, I will take care of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Peggy's lips slightly parted as she held the documents and whispered the words.
"The three of us... tonight ... Hey, don't go so fast, it's not like you've never tried it before."
Luke watched Peggy, who had quickened her pace and pushed her way out of the door, and withdrew his smile.
Soon, it was time for Steve's wedding.