In the room where only the two of them were present, Ada and Liu A'dou, the newlyweds, discussed Liu A'dou's purpose for this mission.
Liu A'dou took the Arc Reactor, which was about the size of a steamed bun, out of his pocket. "This is what it's for."
Ada took the reactor, inspecting it from every angle, before finally saying, "So this was made by the Russian who attacked Iron Man?"
"Exactly, and right now, Iron Man and Black Widow must be worried sick," Liu A'dou laughed. "Now, you hold onto it, and take it back to the U.S." Liu A'dou knew that neither Iron Man nor S.H.I.E.L.D. would allow something this dangerous to be stolen, so transporting it through normal means was impossible. But Ada, as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, wouldn't be checked, and no one would suspect her.
Ada secured the reactor. "No problem..." Before she could finish, Liu A'dou had already kissed her lips.
A soft sigh escaped Ada as her cheeks flushed. Liu A'dou then said, "Wife, I'll see you in America."
"Mm!" Liu A'dou put on his mask and left the room, while Ada quickly placed Ivan's belongings in a cart and returned to the racetrack.
After leaving the police station, Liu A'dou didn't leave immediately but instead used his phone to check the latest news. Kaitou Kid's trip abroad had caused quite a stir online.
Previously, Kid had only committed crimes in Gotham City, but now he was in Europe. Some of Kid's fans felt betrayed, but others believed that there were no longer any worthy treasures or rivals left in Gotham, so it was time for Kid to conquer a wider world.
Fans supporting Kid thought he should face off against other superheroes. They were eager to find out just how powerful Kid really was.
Liu A'dou was pleased. While he had lost a portion of his fans, overall, the support from his fans remained strong. However, there were some fans who weren't satisfied. They felt that going to Europe was too rushed, and that visiting the Louvre without stealing anything wasn't cool. Liu A'dou was still open to hearing opinions from these fans. But this attempt had proven that even after leaving Gotham, he could still make an impact.
Now, preparing to steal from the Stark Industrial Expo, he knew he had to be well-prepared so that he wouldn't disappoint his fans.
Liu A'dou continued searching for information on the movie. Promotion for Frozen had already begun, and the official website was full of high-definition promotional images. In particular, the snow-capped castle at the peak had become the most downloaded image, while the second most downloaded image was of Elsa in her blue snow outfit, with her arms open wide as she welcomed the sunrise.
During the promotion, Liu A'dou had been careful to avoid attracting backlash from radical groups. Therefore, only Elsa was publicly labeled as a mutant, and the other mutant staff members were not mentioned. Sure enough, the official website was bustling with activity. Though people had known about mutants before, it was rare to know where they were. Now there was a mutant openly declaring, "I'm here," and even starring in a movie. Even among mutants, Elsa stood out, as mutants were usually very cautious. It was the first time anyone had seen a mutant so bold.
Looking through the comments, it wasn't clear whether they were from mutants or regular people, but there were both criticisms and praise. The criticisms were harsh, with people telling mutants to "get lost." These comments were filled with insults, and there was no constructive criticism—just pure discrimination.
On the other hand, the praises came in many forms. Some praised the scenery, others the lead actress, but most were commenting on Elsa's courage. It was rare and admirable for someone to boldly declare their mutant identity, without fearing the judgment of society.
Indeed, "a gentleman can disagree but still discuss with courtesy; a petty person agrees but never harmonizes." Though opinions differed, a gentleman could discuss them in peace, whereas petty people, despite having the same opinions, would never be harmonious. The comments proved the correctness of ancient Chinese wisdom. Liu A'dou felt that many mutants were also criticizing, showing that being a mutant didn't automatically mean supporting other mutants.
Elsa's boldness reignited the debate surrounding mutants. Some mutants feared that Elsa's actions might lead their kind into irreversible ruin. As a result, some mutants also started to resist Elsa.
However, Liu A'dou knew very well that this was a world where looks mattered. Just look at Elsa—her cold, beautiful face, her golden hair that shone like the sun, her small but curvy figure—such a stunning beauty could never be resisted. Liu A'dou aimed to make Elsa the spokesperson for mutants, even though her abilities were magical and not due to genetic mutations.
What Liu A'dou didn't know was that, in order to promote the movie, Professor X had even put his last savings into the project. It was no surprise that Professor X was interested in Liu A'dou's plan. He was old and didn't have many years left. But the situation for mutants had not changed, and he was desperate. So when Liu A'dou presented his plan, the professor was immediately moved. He also wanted to see a different world before his time ran out—a world where mutants could openly use their powers. Therefore, this plan had to succeed, no matter the cost.
From the current situation, things were looking optimistic. Many people were now discussing the issue, arguing for a fair approach toward mutants, which was a good start. It showed that Liu A'dou's method was indeed effective, and soon everyone would see the power of the diehard fans.
After putting his phone away, Liu A'dou prepared to head back to the U.S. before Ada. Meanwhile, Ada was still at the racetrack, handling the aftermath, which was very important work.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Ada, the preliminary assessment has been completed, but Ivan's Arc Reactor still hasn't been found."
"I know. I'll contact the Director," Ada replied. Director Nick Fury had already been informed of the situation by Black Widow and had personally called Ada, stressing the importance of finding the reactor.
In addition to informing Ada, Director Fury had also contacted the President of Monaco, demanding strict checks on border crossings. So, the police were stationed at the airport, train station, and bus terminals, performing thorough inspections. But by then, the reactor was no longer in Liu A'dou's possession. He had swaggered out of the small country.
In the end, Ada returned empty-handed. The reactor had been stolen, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Iron Man, frustrated, visited the imprisoned Ivan. The Russian was locked in a cement room with no windows, his limbs shackled.
"You lost," Ivan's first words upon seeing Tony were, even though it was he who had been captured.
"Tell me, who else knows about this operation?" Tony asked. "Who took your reactor?"
Ivan laughed. "I've shown the world that you're not invincible. They responded so quickly to me. Hahaha! You lost, and your enemies will tear you apart."
Ivan hadn't planned to defeat Iron Man with his crude equipment. His goal was simply to prove that Iron Man wasn't unbeatable, that he wasn't invulnerable. If enough strength was applied, he could be defeated. Ivan was the first to challenge Iron Man directly.
"You didn't have any accomplices?"
"No!"
Tony knew that stealing the reactor wasn't Ivan's plan because Ivan wouldn't stoop to telling such a lie. "Why target me? Did we have any past grievances?"
"You and the Stark family are thieves and butchers. You may not have heard of Anton Vanko, but he was just one of many lives destroyed by your family," Ivan said.
Tony remembered the name and then turned to leave.
"Remember, you better hang in there. I want to see you torn apart by your enemies, not die from poisoning. Palladium poisoning may be painful, but it's nothing compared to being left in pieces," Ivan laughed.
"Enjoy staring at your walls," Tony snapped back, his anger rising. "I'll send you soap—enough for you to last a lifetime."
"Hahaha," Ivan laughed maniacally, and their feud was far from over.