Chapter 187 - 184 | You Know Me, Team America, And Uncle Wolf.
Luke had been a little busy recently.
On the one hand, as a negotiator, we should quickly reach a preliminary agreement with Atlantis and the Hellfire Club to prepare for the peace summit later. ??
Otherwise, when the time came, if there was no agreement and someone directly flipped the table, wouldn't it be embarrassing?
The former was easy to say since Namor, the hapless child, was badly broken.
The marine people were inclined to peace talks, and their willingness to fight was weak.
The sudden catastrophe that occurred tens of thousands of years ago had left an undeniable trauma on the Atlanteans.
The original martial and heroic character had turned conservative and closed-minded.
If Namor hadn't lost his mind and listened to Sebastian Shaw's advice, there wouldn't have been this inexplicable war between civilizations.
For 10,000 years, Atlantis had never even wanted to set foot on land, let alone have in-depth contact and communication.
Therefore, Luke specially formulated a series of measures called the 'cultural integration plan.
Although the land people and the marine people had different skin colors, other biological organs, and different levels of civilization,
But for entertainment culture, Atlantis was still in a very backward stage of development.
Their biggest leisure and entertainment activity in the whole country was to go to the arena to watch gladiatorial fights —— these were the leftovers of the Roman Empire many years ago.
Poor Atlanteans!
To promote mutual friendship and cultural exchange between the two civilizations, Luke decided to have S.H.I.E.L.D. prepare several cultural products to be exported in future cooperation.
For example, Nintendo, song collections, Hollywood action movies, variety shows … Anyway, things that could attract the public were packed and sent to Atlantis.
He believed that those undersea people who had no leisure life and had to endure the exploitation of the noble class, besides physical sports and watching gladiator fights every day, would be interested in these items.
Even the terrorist leaders who hate American imperialists and plan various suicide attacks, the leaders of Al Qaeda, still played Final Fantasy 7 and watched Tom and Jerry.
Therefore, positions and ways of thinking didn't conflict with personal hobbies.
Luke always thought that the only thing that people on earth may have had a lead-in from other cosmic civilizations was probably the entertainment industry.
After all, games, movies, and the soda industry were moneymakers.
Star-Lord, the son of a Celestial, is a loyal fan of the classic golden oldies, plus the King of awkward dancing.
One of the five gods, the daughter of Galactus, has a special liking for fried chicken, hamburgers, and soda.
Thor, the prince of Asgard, indulged in Fortnite and eventually degenerated into a slob.
Thus, when it came to eating, drinking, and having fun, people on earth were quite competitive.
"Are you sure you want to put these … plans into the file?"
Carter, who was sitting across the table, did the secretarial work.
As Luke spoke, she took quick notes.
However, could this so-called 'cultural integration' really work?
The female Commander of S.H.I.E.L.D expressed her doubts.
"Believe me; sometimes some seemingly insignificant entertainment is no worse than a tank or a cannon."
Luke nodded his head and turned the people of Atlantis into loyal supporters of land world 'culture'.
From time to time, some illicit goods would be included, showing the strongest means from the country of 'Liberty' to promote the universal value of 'freedom and democracy.'
If the French Revolution and Marxist principles were exported to Atlantis, there might be hope for an unprecedented democratic and affirmative action campaign for the undersea people.
Luke's mind was made up. He intended to use Atlantis as a huge gold mine.
It would be better to let S.H.I.E.L.D. jump over the constraints of each country and hold the trade exchange between the two sides to become a dominant middleman.
However, the conservatism in Atlantis was too strong. The establishment of preliminary diplomacy and superficial trade was as close as they could get after repeated negotiations.
"If you can't get anything from the negotiation table, you can use other means."
Luke said.
"What about Hellfire Club?"
Carter thought about it but chose to remain skeptical.
She couldn't understand the amazing functions that common leisure items and recreational activities could play.
"Emma Frost accepted my suggestion and decided to become a 'hero' and save her compatriots from the mire."
Luke's lips picked up a smile and lightheartedly said, "Working with S.H.I.E.L.D. is the most suitable way out for mutants. The White Queen should be able to grasp this opportunity."
"But wasn't she hostile to humans before?"
Carter stopped writing and looked up at Luke with a questioning look.
"What kind of bewitchment did the Director put in her head so that an Alpha-level mutant could easily put aside her prejudices and risk becoming a mutant traitor to work with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Especially since she's the one with psychic manipulation and mind control abilities."
Luke's smug expression froze instantly as he asked tentatively, "What have you heard?"
Carter shook her head and sneered, "All I know is that the White Queen of the Hellfire Club knocked on the door of the Director's room after the negotiation meeting at Liberty Island."
"Honestly, I'm a little curious; what did you talk about that lasted for over an hour?"
Luke was a little embarrassed and coughed lightly, "Just discussing the development of a mutant program. Peggy, you know me. If I wanted to do something, it would never be just 1 hour."
Carter froze. For a moment, she couldn't refute it.
After thinking about it, she felt that Luke's arguments made sense and were simply impeccable.
This wasn't enough for the tireless and insatiable demands of the Director on that particular 'battlefield.'
"What should we do about the Hellfire Club?"
Carter skipped that personal subject and continued, "Emma Frost, she may not be able to convince people."
Luke wasn't worried about this. There weren't many Alpha-level mutants, especially when the White Queen had a rare psychic ability.
She had the strength to compete with almost anyone.
Many people had misgivings about the White Queen, considering her to be a traitor and a snitch even among the Hellfire Club members.
But when Sebastian Shaw's dark history was exposed, their voices became much smaller.
"Those opposing views didn't make much of a splash."
Luke said confidently.
He was well versed in the future of the entertainment industry. To eliminate the scandals on a person, it wasn't necessary to whitewash their past; making the opponent look worse was more than enough.
People always compare things. When news on Sebastian Shaw, who originally led the mutants, came out that he was a cold-blooded butcher who persecuted his fellow countrymen, the White Queen's information was a traitor, and a snitch was no longer important.
"Well, anyway, if there is any problem, you can always find a solution."
Carter closed the document and whispered, "The proposal for the Peace Summit has been approved. The place is set at the Palace of Versailles at 3:20 in the afternoon. The President asked you to attend as a representative, in the capacity of a Lieutenant General in the Army and S.H.I.E.L.D's Director."
Luke raised an eyebrow, somewhat apathetically.
In less than a year, he reached the peak of his career development.
How boring!
Wanting to continue to win the five-star General, as a 'General of the Army,' would be impossible.
Under the current rank system, the highest permanent rank was only Lieutenant General. For example, 'four-star General' and 'five-star General' are temporary ranks awarded only in wartime.
Therefore, Luke's rise to the top was considered a short one.
"Then remember to help me write my speech."
Luke chuckled.
"By the way, Steve? Why haven't I seen him?"
Carter covered her forehead with a helpless expression.
"Colonel Rogers and the two wild things under your command don't like each other very much; they… fought yesterday."
Luke was surprised. Captain America had always been a good-natured old man.
He fought with people?
Wait…
Was it Sabretooth and Wolverine?
That's all right.
The mutant brothers were the kind of people to get irritated easily.
Wolverine —— Logan, was a little better; he could still maintain his sanity.
Even though Luke had been ruthlessly educating him, his brother Sabretooth—— Victor, still had the bloodthirsty nature in his bones.
When they met Captain America, a good man in the traditional sense, there would be some conflicts.
After all, the former couldn't even accept swearing.
Iron Man—— Tony Stark only said 'Sh*t' and was lectured.
"Ok, I'll deal with it."
Luke stood up and returned to Washington, D.C. He had a long list of work to complete.
'It's time to find myself a secretary and free up some time.'
…