Lance did not answer. Meanwhile, Nancy gently pressed the back of Jude's neck. The child quickly fell asleep, his breathing slowing peacefully. Nancy carefully placed Jude in a chair, then stood up, staring at Dr. Redrick. Nancy's eyes were sharp, her voice calm yet cold as metal in winter. "Dr. Redrick. Release the people you have captured... and I will give you one chance to live."
Dr. Redrick swallowed hard, his voice hoarse and fearful. "M-Maxie... I'm not lying to you. If you don't return to the base for treatment... your seizures will worsen. Of the five people we captured... three of them have already experienced genetic collapse..."
Nancy's expression changed immediately. She stepped forward quickly, gripping Dr. Redrick's collar and shouting, "What is their condition?!"
Redrick answered weakly and regretfully. "Their genetic mutations are unstable. They are suffering from progeria and Werner Syndrome. Their bodies are aging prematurely. We have tried many methods, but..."
"You deserve to die!" Nancy seethed. She turned and threw Redrick to the floor with a brutal toss. The concrete floor echoed loudly as the old body hit the surface.
Redrick coughed violently, blood spraying from the corner of his lips. With a choked breath, Dr. Redrick whispered, "M-Maxie... I treated you like my own daughter... I swear... I tried to save them..."
"How dare you say that!" Nancy could no longer contain her anger. She kicked Redrick hard—though she still held back most of her strength. Otherwise, two kicks would have been enough to crush the frail old man's body.
There were still two survivors in AIM's hands. Nancy knew she needed Redrick—at least for the time being.
But before Nancy could fully contain her emotions, Lance stepped forward, his lips curling slightly in a sneer. Without hesitation, Lance plunged his sword into Dr. Redrick's heart.
Nancy gasped. "We can still use him for—"
"Calm down." Lance shook his head slowly, his voice steady. "This way, we ensure that this old man has no ulterior motives."
Nancy frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I will revive this old man." Lance raised his hand. With a single swing of his sword, black energy swept across the conference room, destroying the remaining surveillance equipment.
Then Lance threw a black ring towards Redrick's body.
While Dr. Redrick was not a fighter, he was a world-class biologist. If he could still be controlled... he might be useful.
And in the chilling silence, Dr. Redrick's previously limp body began to twitch. Dr. Redrick's breath returned. His once-empty eyes now flickered back to life—but not with the spark of life, rather something darker.
Nancy took half a step back. For the first time since the beginning of this fight... Nancy felt fear.
Nancy glared at Lance. "What's happening?"
"A spell to bring the dead back to life," Lance replied calmly, his tone heavy, "but not a resurrection as you might imagine..." Lance explained the capabilities of the Black Lantern Ring slowly but firmly, before concluding, "Now, this old man has become my loyal servant. He will carry out my every command without hesitation, without failure."
Nancy was taken aback. "Wow... I need time to process all of this. Your magic, it's... incredibly strange."
"Honorable Master!" Dr. Redrick stood at attention, but his tone was cautious. "I would like to remind you that besides the AIM branch I work for, there are other units sent on this capture operation. Their primary target is not Miss Nancy, but you—the Master."
"Oh?" Lance murmured with a flat smile, showing no surprise whatsoever.
Lance knew. Ever since he displayed his power, too many eyes had begun to watch him. Major organizations from around the world could not remain passive forever. Some were waiting and observing, others were trying to gauge Lance's strength—and of course, there would always be those foolish enough to be the first pawns on the chessboard.
Whether it was Hydra, AIM, or other radical organizations. Only those who were crazy enough dared to take risks without caring about the consequences.
"The branch where Redrick works is just a small branch," Redrick continued, now as the Black Lantern Messenger. "I am not truly loyal to AIM. I am merely using their network and funding to continue my long-dreamed research on the human body. The Manticore base where I am assigned is insignificant in AIM's eyes. Minimal resources, limited personnel. But the main department... they can mobilize great power in a short time. And once they consider you a threat... then it's over for you."
"We've arrived," Lance said calmly, turning to the window.
From behind the glass, the rumble of steel wheels could be heard. A large number of armored vehicles were approaching—personnel carriers with rocket launchers in the hands of each soldier, two M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and two M1131 fire support vehicles from the Stryker series. This siege was more suited for a battlefield, not a hotel in the middle of the city.
Then came a massive, tightly sealed vehicle. No one knew what was hidden inside, but it was clear—this was not a routine capture operation.
Trust me!
Is this really necessary?
Such power... just for one person?
America is indeed outrageous. They even allow terrorist organizations to operate openly, disguising themselves as the military, and now they are driving out local police to take over.
The old forces were forced to retreat, and the new ones—more ferocious and fully armed—broke into the hotel.
Lance grinned. Casually, he snapped his fingers and drew a glowing portal in the air. "You all go ahead. I'll have some fun with these clowns for a bit."
"I'll stay to help you." Nancy opened her palm. The White Lantern Ring on her finger glowed steadily. "I have power too; I won't just stand by."
"No need," Lance replied, his smile thin yet sharp. Where Lance stepped forward, the Golden Dagger in his hand reflected a cold light. "This mob is no match for me. This isn't just a battle. It's about… maintaining my reputation. After this, no one will dare to mess with me—for a very long time. If you interfere, my intimidation factor will diminish."
Nancy gritted her teeth but eventually nodded slowly. "Alright… Be careful." She hugged little Jude tightly, then stepped into the portal.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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