Marvel: Alchemist

Chapter 37: Laying the Foundation of the Hero Association

Edward Lin sat in the towering Golden Enterprise headquarters, gazing out at the city below. The skyline of New York stretched before him, a testament to human ambition and ingenuity. But beneath its shimmering facade lurked chaos, crime, and the ever-growing presence of superpowered individuals struggling to find their place in this evolving world.

The world was changing rapidly. The emergence of Tony Stark as Iron Man was merely the beginning. Soon, more heroes would follow—some publicly, others in the shadows. And with their rise came an undeniable truth: the world needed structure. It needed guidance. It needed an institution that could provide heroes with protection, legal backing, and financial stability while ensuring they didn't become pawns of governments or corporate interests.

Thus, the World Heroes Association was born.

Structuring the Association

Golden Enterprise mobilized its best minds. Edward knew that creating an organization of this magnitude required a flawless foundation. Legal teams worked tirelessly to draft ironclad regulations that would define the jurisdiction, responsibilities, and benefits of the Association. It wasn't enough to simply give heroes a banner to operate under; they needed a global framework that would ensure their rights, security, and professional representation.

Mission and Vision Statements were crafted:

Mission: To support, manage, and protect superheroes worldwide, ensuring their contributions to society are recognized and legally safeguarded.

Vision: To create a world where superheroes can operate professionally, free from unnecessary persecution or exploitation, while serving the greater good.

A hierarchical structure was necessary, with regional headquarters worldwide to handle localized matters. Heroes would be classified by their skills, experience, and threat levels, ensuring that assignments were appropriately distributed. Ranking systems, funding allocations, and contractual obligations were all carefully designed to balance autonomy with accountability.

Securing Superhero Support

Reaching out to active superheroes was the next critical step. Golden Enterprise utilized its vast network to make discreet contact with vigilantes, rogue metahumans, and government-sanctioned heroes alike.

Meetings were held in neutral locations—private estates, underground bunkers, even offshore facilities—to guarantee secrecy. Some heroes were hesitant, wary of corporate interference. Others saw the potential: a centralized support system that provided legal defense, medical care, resources, and financial stability.

Edward himself addressed select groups personally, ensuring them that the Association would not be another tool for government oversight but a neutral body that fought for their rights. Heroes like Daredevil, Luke Cage, and even some international figures showed cautious interest. They had spent years fighting alone, often against a system that refused to recognize them. Now, Golden Enterprise offered them something tangible: legitimacy.

Political Maneuvering & Securing Legislation

While heroes were the backbone of the Association, legal and political backing was equally crucial. Without proper legislation, the WHA would be nothing more than a glorified mercenary network.

Edward's longtime ally, Jonathan Caldwell, remained a key figure in navigating the political landscape. As a member of the World Security Council, Caldwell wielded influence that extended far beyond national governments. Through carefully orchestrated discussions, he introduced key proposals to legalize superhero activities, establish international cooperation agreements, and create liability protections for registered heroes.

Senators, diplomats, and policymakers were courted, their support secured through financial incentives, strategic promises, and undeniable logic: without proper regulations, the rise of superpowered individuals could lead to unchecked chaos.

Funding and Strategic Partnerships

No endeavor of this scale could be undertaken by Golden Enterprise alone. The financial burden was immense—securing training facilities, building infrastructure, hiring legal teams, establishing crisis response units, and compensating heroes for their work.

Edward understood that while absolute control was essential, monopolizing the WHA outright would lead to opposition from governments, corporations, and rival power players. Instead, he structured the Association as a joint venture, allowing influential elites to invest while ensuring Golden Enterprise retained controlling interest.

Major corporations, private defense firms, and technology conglomerates were invited to participate. The likes of Rand Enterprises, Roxxon, and even select Stark subsidiaries were approached, each offered a carefully measured stake in exchange for funding and resources. This approach not only spread the financial burden but also reduced resistance from external entities that might otherwise oppose Golden Enterprise's growing power.

Ensuring Golden Enterprise's Absolute Control

Though others were given a share, Edward designed the WHA's bylaws to guarantee Golden Enterprise remained the dominant force.

The executive board, responsible for all major decisions, would always have a 51% majority controlled by Golden Enterprise.

All critical technologies, patents, and proprietary resources used by the WHA were licensed exclusively from Golden Enterprise, ensuring dependency.

Key leadership positions were filled with Golden Enterprise loyalists, ensuring that even if external entities tried to exert influence, final decisions would always align with Edward's vision.

This way, while governments and corporations saw a lucrative investment, they remained bound by the invisible chains Edward had woven around them.

The Road Ahead

With legal backing, financial security, and a growing roster of heroes, the World Heroes Association was no longer just a concept—it was a movement. A powerful force that would reshape the way the world perceived superheroes.

Edward sat back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.

This was just the beginning.

The era of uncontrolled vigilantes was over. Now, heroes would have a place, a purpose, and most importantly—a guiding hand.

His hand.