~Australia, Federal New City~
A black sedan halted before a pristine white architectural complex. Sean stepped out of the vehicle, his gaze sweeping past the cascading staircase toward the copper sculpture of the Milky Way erected above, resembling a slender disc studded with countless stars, its metallic surface gleaming under the sunlight.
Wanda stood behind him, clad in black high heels. Her delicate features had matured significantly. No longer the naive girl from Sokovia, she had gradually transformed into Umbrella Corporation's capable spokesperson.
A black skirt suit accentuated her slender, porcelain-white legs, while the tailored blazer elegantly outlined her graceful curves. Her gentle eyes now carried an air of cool elegance that subtly distanced others.
Time possesses an unmatched magic, constantly driving growth and change, and Wanda was no exception.
"This city was completed two years ago, though preparations began much earlier and were once suspended," she said softly, "The primary obstacle stemmed from the Australian government's resistance. Although the World Security Council passed the land reclamation resolution, it sparked considerable public controversy."
Sean murmured, "From nations to a unified planet, humanity must gradually adapt, eroding longstanding cultural barriers, along with differences in religious beliefs, ethnicity, and skin color."
He had returned to Earth roughly two days prior, traversing back through the interstellar portal.
During his absence, neither Umbrella nor S.H.I.E.L.D. had undergone significant changes. The World Security Council, led by the five major powers, still maintained dominant control over the world.
After the First Fleet officially commenced its expedition, a live global broadcast captured that undoubtedly exhilarating moment. Nations erupted in widespread discussion as people declared the interstellar age imminent. The World Security Council had seized that opportunity to launch numerous initiatives.
The land reclamation project being one. It aimed to construct three new cities in Antarctica, Africa, and Australia, which would serve as technological hubs for the new era and crucial bases and transit stations for space exploration.
The first two locations faced little opposition. The main opposition came from the Australian government, which lodged strong protests. Of course, this was merely political posturing to extract concessions.
Once the five major powers offered sufficient benefits, the ruling party leader, Australia's Prime Minister, readily accepted the construction plan and voluntarily committed twenty percent of the required resources.
Now, under the World Security Council's call for nations to encourage immigration, this single Federal New City in Australia already housed 350,000 residents, of whom only one-third were native-born. The rest were immigrants from every corner of the globe.
Even the slowest observer could feel the world changing. Daily television broadcasts promoted lunar bases, proclaiming the imminent opening of humanity's first space city. Humanity was officially entering the era of great migration, preparing to leave Earth's nurturing embrace and stride into the boundless cosmos...
As Sean ascended the steps, he suddenly turned to meet Wanda's beautiful eyes, saying, "You don't need to worry about Pietro. He's now deputy commander of an assault boarding craft. Quicksilver's reputation has spread throughout Knowhere."
His sudden gaze prompted her to instinctively avert her gaze.
Though they shared the most intimate of bonds, Wanda still resembled a startled fawn whenever alone with him, brimming with shyness and flustered unease.
To Sean, this quality held a uniquely charming allure. For him, returning to Earth to manage affairs and mediate conflicts among interest groups was effortlessly simple.
The real headache came from dealing with those women, some gracefully generous, others coolly proud. Recalling the past two days of intense passion, especially facing the fiery, insatiable Jean, Sean couldn't help but rub his lower back. If not for his superhuman constitution, nearly superhuman, he might well have needed to lean against walls for support.
"To witness the dawn of a new era with one's own eyes is truly wonderful..." Sean remarked, standing beneath the copper sculpture.
He gazed toward the dense crowd encircling the area, the black masses of media personnel with cameras and microphones at the ready to report what was undoubtedly the biggest story in history.
Federal New City had become the focal point of global attention. Heads of state and national leaders had gathered here to attend the World Security Council's Global Summit to deliberate momentous plans for interstellar colonization and the formation of a united government.
This three-day assembly would bring together leaders from across the globe to determine humanity's future.
A moment destined for the history books. Should the Global Summit succeed, every nation and region on Earth would coalesce into a single, colossal political entity.
"It really is wonderful..." Wanda echoed quietly from behind him.
Her beautiful eyes shimmered with barely concealed joy and excitement. As a member of Umbrella, she understood better than most the immense effort this man before her had invested to bring the world to this pivotal juncture.
As the two envisioned the future together, a Cadillac limousine pulled up at the entrance of the building. A stunning blonde woman stepped out, wavy curled hair framing her face, an elegant yet striking blue formal suit adorning her figure.
Her arrival instantly drew the attention of the waiting media horde. Despite a human wall of tall, burly bodyguards in black, reporters surged forward with cameras raised, eager to interview S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newly appointed director.
"Director Lawrence, what are your thoughts on the proposal to establish an Earth Union?"
"If a unified government forms, how will religious beliefs, cultural differences, and national boundaries be addressed?"
"Could global integration lead to the rise of dictators? How will peaceful and stable transitions of power be ensured?"
"…"
One sharp question after another flew her way. Yet the new director maintained a composed smile throughout, answering in a measured tone, "Everything will become clear once the conference concludes. S.H.I.E.L.D. will spare no effort to address every issue and ensure humanity transitions smoothly into the new era."
From a high vantage point, Sean looked down at Mystique, who was now using the alias Jennifer Lawrence, with a faint smile curling his lips.
With General Ross stepping down to focus on organizing the expeditionary forces and fleet logistics, he had voluntarily tendered his resignation to the World Security Council.
Following Sean's arrangements, Raven, previously serving as a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant, smoothly assumed the Director's position, becoming the second female leader after Peggy Carter.
Compared to General Ross, this shapeshifter was far more adept at political maneuvering. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority expanded, she gradually inserted herself into inter-nation power struggles, fully exercising her politician's instincts for alliance and manipulation, treating various political entities and parties as mere pawns or puppets.
With the eras of Nick Fury and Alexander Pierce concluded, S.H.I.E.L.D. had evolved beyond a massive intelligence agency into a global governmental department. Backed by the World Security Council, it wielded extensive authority and could mobilize vast resources at will.
And Umbrella, supported by S.H.I.E.L.D., had risen rapidly, becoming a leviathan of staggering scale.
"Let's go welcome the arrival of the new world." Sean flashed Wanda a brilliant smile and strode confidently toward the conference hall.
In three hours, this world would be forever changed...