Eliminate all dangers in their infancy.
This has always been Hawk's attitude.
This time he killed a Sentinel agent, would William Stryker possibly send more Sentinels, more enemies to try to attack him, or even attempt to capture him alive?
It's possible.
And it's quite likely.
So...
He must die.
If William Stryker doesn't die, Hawk's mind cannot be at peace.
As for where William Stryker is, whether he can be captured, that's not Hawk's concern, but a problem for the Federation Military.
"My name is Phoenix, Hawk Phoenix!"
"I want William Stryker."
"You have four hours to bring William Stryker before me."
Hawk looked calmly at General Thaddeus Ross of this universe: "After four hours, every ten minutes you don't bring William Stryker, I will start killing people."
Having said that.
Hawk looked up.
"Wanda!"
"Buzz!"
Accompanied by Wanda silently appearing beside him, instantly changing into that deep red jumpsuit, paired with black pants and black boots, the Crimson Chaos Power spread continuously between her hands.
In an instant.
The vast Quantico Military Base was shrouded under the Crimson Chaos Magic.
Crimson Barrier!
A use of magic.
Hawk's Wanda is different from other Wandas.
His Wanda, having integrated the memories of the Wanda from the 616 Cosmos, plus systematic teaching from Witch Agatha in this universe, has already mastered the Crimson Chaos Magic.
So...
Creating a magical barrier covering the Quantico Military Base is very simple.
After all, Hawk, seeking transcendence, is disliked by the local forces of Marvel, but Wanda is not among them.
This is why, earlier, when Wanda wanted to go with him to find her daughter, Hawk chose to acquiesce.
As the saying goes.
It's better to be prepared than to fix things after trouble arises.
And now it's coming in handy.
He is temporarily without extraordinary energy, but Wanda has it.
And just as Wanda's Crimson Barrier quickly enveloped the Quantico Military Base, several family members who had already run to the edge of the base were bounced off the moment they touched the Crimson Barrier.
As for a helicopter attempting to fly out of the base, as soon as it collided with the Crimson Barrier, it turned into a dazzling fireball with a boom.
Hawk looked up at the helicopter wreckage, now a fireball plummeting down, chuckled softly, then looked at the alternate version of Thaddeus Ross: "You have four hours, four hours later, either you give me an explanation, or I'll demand one from you."
After saying this, he and Wanda once again stood in mid-air, then closed his eyes.
The entire Quantico was entirely shrouded in the Crimson Barrier.
Only entry.
No exit.
Almost as Hawk and Thaddeus Ross's conversation echoed throughout the Quantico Military Base, the surviving soldiers and family members, even the generals in the base building, all looked up, watching the crimson dome seemingly covered with runes over their heads and Hawk standing blatantly above them, only giving them four hours to provide an explanation.
General Thaddeus Ross's face looked grim.
But...
He looked at Hawk above, took a deep breath, then turned back into the command center of the building behind him.
Personnel inside the base were conducting a grid search for Hawk's identity.
But to no avail.
"Nothing."
"Europe has nothing either."
"Sir."
Upon seeing General Ross return, an officer immediately said, "No data in the known database matches this intruder."
"Connect to the Sentinel Special Service Bureau."
"...Yes."
General Ross remained expressionless.
At this point, what is the point of finding out who Hawk Phoenix is, where he's from?
Even if it's discovered, what does it matter?
This is a ruthless man!
General Ross looked at the big screen at the broken tanks, burning helicopters, and severed limbs, without doubting that if they didn't hand over William Stryker, Hawk would kill them all with uncompromising resolve.
This is someone even more ruthless than Magneto.
Soon.
The Sentinel Special Service Bureau's video connected, and William Stryker's face appeared on the big screen.
His expression was also grim.
"Sir, Sentinel..."
"Enough with the nonsense."
General Ross said expressionlessly: "Stryker, I want you at the Quantico Base within an hour. The trouble you've caused, come clean it up yourself."
Stryker's face changed immediately at these words.
"Sir, the Sentinel Strategic Division is already en route, once they arrive, they can definitely handle this cursed mutant..."
"Are you confident?"
"I have!"
"Haha."
General Ross glanced at the confident Stryker, couldn't help but chuckle softly, and said calmly, "You mean to say that the lives of ten generals here are a gamble you, Stryker, can afford?"
Stryker's face changed again upon hearing this.
The same went for the nine other generals, either stationed here or visiting for business, standing beside General Ross; their expressions also changed.
"Adia!"
"Here, General!"
As the Deputy Director of the Sentinel Special Service Bureau, Adia, who was beside Stryker, responded immediately upon hearing General Ross's call.
General Ross maintained a stoic expression: "From now on, all of Stryker's authority is frozen, and you are responsible for all affairs of the Sentinel Special Service Bureau."
Adia's face burst with joy.
Sitting at home, and a promotion fell from the sky.
"Yes, General!"
"General Ross, I disagree!"
Stryker's expression changed again, and he hurriedly exclaimed, "The Sentinel Special Service Bureau is jointly managed by the Pentagon and the White House, you don't have the authority..."
General Ross didn't even bother to respond.
"Adia, within one hour, I want to see Stryker at the Quantico Military Base, you will personally escort him here."
"Understood, General!"
Adia saluted without any hesitation, indicating that he received the order.
General Ross then made a throat-slash gesture.
The video call instantly ended.
A joke.
You, a mere colonel's life, can it be more precious than the lives of the ten generals currently at Quantico Base?
Confidence?
What confidence do you have, it's not your life that's being gambled.
Besides.
If the Sentinel Strategic Force is useful, fine, deal with the immediate crisis first, and discuss eliminating the mutant outside after safely getting all these generals into the safe house.
Anyway, what the opponent wants isn't the Sentinel Strategic Force; they just want you, William Stryker.
So—
Your only purpose, William Stryker, is to hurry here as quickly as possible, and then be taken away by that mutant at the door, giving that mutant no excuse to massacre them.
This was General Ross's thought.
Also the thought of the other nine generals and, at this moment, the real thought of all the soldiers trapped in the Quantico Military Base.
Using the life of you, William Stryker, to swap for the life of our entire base.
This is your honor.
"You should think like this."
"What the hell should I think!"
After the video was cut off, William Stryker, who was taken by two of Adia's men to take the elevator to the rooftop to board a helicopter, shouted angrily, "This damned mutant is coercing us, we should launch a counterattack."
Adia, who had been the deputy, curled his lips and paid Stryker no attention.
At this moment, Adia felt a sense of relief.
Initially, he was pondering how to get rid of William Stryker and become the Director of the Sentinel Special Service Bureau himself.
He even found a way through to the Chief of Staff of the President.
The other party promised that as long as the formalities were in place, he would put in a good word for him with the President.
Adia originally thought it would just be a few days.
Unexpectedly...
The formalities could be skipped.
However, Adia also decided firmly that once in charge, he wouldn't provoke those mutants like a mad dog as Stryker did.
If by any chance, another mutant blocks the military's gate, next time it might be his turn.
"Adia, wait."
"Trust me."
"This is weakness, this is compromise, it will only make that damned mutant more rampant, thinking he can easily deal with us."
"Trust me, authorize the Sentinel Strategic Force immediately, believe me, as soon as they act, that damned..."
Even when exiting the elevator, heading to the already started helicopter on the helipad, Stryker hadn't given up persuading his former deputy, Adia.
Adia was unmoved.
Until—
William Stryker was taken onto the helicopter by two of Adia's loyal men, Adia followed after, waiting for the helicopter to take off from the rooftop before interrupting the still chattering William Stryker.
"Forget it, the Sentinel Strategic Force's operation has been stopped."
"What, this..."
"This is a direct order from the Pentagon."
Adia glanced emotionlessly at Stryker: "Moreover, whether the Sentinel Strategic Force will resume operations, these matters are no longer your concern, Stryker, you have been suspended."
Stryker instinctively stood up.
But the next second, he was restrained by the two Sentinels next to him, who were afraid Stryker might jump out of the helicopter to commit suicide, so they handcuffed Stryker tightly to themselves.
After all, Quantico still hoped to use Stryker to exchange for an entire base.
So.
Stryker must not die.
At least not before reaching the Quantico Military Base.
...