Su Yi finalized the details for the cooperative mission with Nick Fury and Natasha. To maintain secrecy and avoid detection by HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D., only the most trusted personnel would be involved. The operational team consisted of the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Natasha and Hawkeye Clint Barton, and Su Yi's core group: Spider-Man Peter Parker, Ghost-Spider Gwen Stacy, and Iron Man Tony Stark.
The plan was set for the upcoming weekend. Su Yi's team would not travel with the S.H.I.E.L.D. contingent but would instead Teleport directly to the target area—a hidden facility used by the Red Room abroad.
Aboard Tony's private plane, heading toward a jump point, Peter was practically buzzing with nervous energy.
"Wow, I'm actually going overseas for a mission, and with Mr. Stark and you, Su! But... won't this cause international disputes? We're vigilantes acting on foreign soil, and our actions might not be permitted by law."
Su Yi, relaxing in a plush seat, calmly addressed Peter's ethical concerns. "Peter, this Red Room uses highly trained assets—the Black Widows—to carry out assassinations, sabotage, and state-sponsored terrorism. Do you genuinely believe an organization that harms countless innocent people and disrupts global stability should exist?"
"Of course not," Peter immediately replied.
"Then we should stop them. It's that simple."
Peter still struggled with the legality. "But even if it's the right thing, what if we become outlaws?"
Su Yi leaned forward, his expression serious. "Peter, you're still thinking in black and white. If they want you to be an outlaw, you already are one the moment you put on that mask. They don't need a reason; they need a narrative."
Tony Stark, a veteran of such political battles, wholeheartedly agreed. "Su is absolutely right. Why did the Senate push for that ridiculous hearing against me? Because I am Iron Man Tony Stark—the one they couldn't control. If I were anyone else, they wouldn't have debated; they would have just confiscated the armor."
The words had a profound and unsettling effect on Peter.
Su Yi pressed his point. "So, in the future, when you face choices that define your identity, you need to understand the side you're standing on. You can choose to be a tool of the system, or you can choose to be a force that protects the vulnerable from the system."
"What exactly do you mean by that, Su?" Peter asked, confused.
To illustrate his point, Su Yi decided it was time to drop a massive piece of foreshadowing—the legend of the Superhuman Registration Act and the subsequent Civil War.
"Tony," Su Yi said, taking a dramatic pause, "you've already received an invitation from the bald egg, Nick Fury, to join the Avengers, right?"
Tony, sipping his drink, waved dismissively. "Yeah, but I'm only interested in being a consultant. Those guys are too much paperwork."
Su Yi smiled knowingly. "Let me tell you a small story from a certain parallel universe. In that reality, the Avengers became the core force protecting the world, virtually unstoppable."
Su Yi began his "spoiler class," captivating his audience.
"The seeds of their downfall were planted when a group of young, inexperienced heroes—the New Warriors—tried to livestream the capture of a villain. The last villain, Nitro, chose to self-destruct. The blast leveled several city blocks and killed nearly a thousand people."
Peter gasped, horrified.
"The public outcry was massive," Su Yi continued. "The narrative shifted. People blamed the New Warriors, then the Avengers for failing to supervise them, and eventually, all Superheroes became targets of public fear. Heroes were suddenly the new public enemy, the 'witches' of the modern age."
"And that's when a piece of legislation called the Superhuman Registration Act was born. It required anyone with powers to register, reveal their identity, record their abilities, and operate under government approval. Refuse, and you became a criminal to be hunted."
Peter was appalled. "An act like that is outrageous! It strips away all privacy!"
"The Avengers split over this," Su Yi explained. "The faction led by Iron Man chose to support the act, believing that supervision was necessary for safety. The other side, led by Captain America, worried that heroes would become political pawns and refused to sign."
The room was silent. Tony was leaning forward, hanging on every word.
"To gain support for the act, Iron Man tried to bring over the most popular hero, Spider-Man. When Spider-Man publicly unmasked and supported the act, the pro-registration side gained massive momentum."
"But Captain America didn't back down. He took his people underground, forming the Secret Avengers."
Su Yi continued, painting the picture of betrayal and escalating conflict. "To force compliance, Iron Man led the pro-registration forces to hunt down the Secret Avengers. He even created the 'artificial sentient robot Thor,' which accidentally killed a hero on the anti-registration side."
The tension was palpable.
"The fighting intensified. The rift became a chasm. Iron Man grew so desperate to win that he began recruiting known Super Villains to help him pursue his former friends. The final battle was a destructive war fought across the city."
"It wasn't until Captain America almost delivered a killing blow to Iron Man that he saw the destruction he was causing. He realized their noble intentions had devolved into open war against the people they swore to protect. Captain America surrendered to stop the violence, choosing peace over freedom."
Peter, utterly shaken, looked to his mentors. "Su, what was the right choice? And Tony, what would you do?"
Tony, surprisingly reflective, answered immediately. "I support the registration act. Heroes need supervision. If safety can be achieved by sacrificing some personal freedom, then it's a necessary step."
Su Yi gave his nuanced answer. "There is no absolute right or wrong in that situation. I agree that Superheroes require supervision. But that specific Registration Act was deeply flawed, and I have absolutely no trust in the politicians—your council members—who would enforce it."
The moral dilemmas are set, and the team prepares for the mission.