"It feels so cool to act cool in front of my mother!" Franklin was speeding through the space-time tunnel, his childish pride and excitement practically overflowing from his chest. It completely erased the seriousness and mystery he carried when attending Illuminati meetings. His laughter echoed, the upward curve of his lips betraying the innocence and rebelliousness beneath his confident exterior.
After all, he was still just a teenager—and the scene just now had been way too entertaining for him to keep a straight face.
Yes, his name was Franklin—Franklin Stone. He was the son of Susan Storm, better known as the Invisible Woman, and had taken her surname. His uncle was Johnny Storm, the infamous Human Torch, who was loud, reckless, and perpetually on fire—both literally and figuratively.
However, Susan had never told him who his biological father was. Some believed it was Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic, since he and Susan had once been romantically involved. But Franklin wasn't so sure. After all, Reed didn't even exist by the time he was born.
Others speculated it was Alex Ray, the so-called "Lord of Hell." After all, Alex had taken extraordinary care of their family ever since he appeared in their lives. But Franklin stubbornly refused to acknowledge Alex as his father!
This time, driven by a mix of mischief and desire to help, Franklin had swiped two of Alex's Infinity Stones—just to give his mother a surprise and a leg up in the upcoming conflicts. According to rumors from the future, Reed would die in an approaching battle.
While Franklin was still lost in thought, a sudden voice cut into his mind like a knife.
"Franklin, you are so dead. I'm telling your father and your mother that you traveled through time without authorization."
The voice belonged to Emma Young.
Her threat drained the color from Franklin's face instantly.
"Emma, please! Don't! I'll go fix it right now!" Franklin begged as he accelerated through the space-time stream.
But Emma's reply offered no comfort—only further doom.
"Hahaha, too late! Uncle Stephen already knows. Just wait till you get back—you're going to get your ass kicked!"
. . . . . .
Illuminati Headquarters
Franklin's childish ideas were far too naive—even though he'd given the Stones to Susan.
Sure, everyone present was part of the Illuminati. But how could Franklin be so foolish as to think they'd all resist temptation?
The power of the Infinity Stones was immense. Who wouldn't want to possess such godlike artifacts?
And how could he believe that Susan, standing alone, would be able to hold off the greedy ambitions of the council?
At this moment, every member of the Illuminati was staring hungrily at the two glowing gems in Susan's hand. Their power drew eyes like a magnet pulling on iron. Even Black Bolt and Black Panther, paragons of discipline and self-restraint, found it difficult to completely mask their intrigue.
There was curiosity in their gazes… and something darker: the gleam of subtle greed.
Then, a human torch—literally—blazed across the room.
Johnny Storm rocketed to his sister's side in a trail of flame, his fiery form building a wall of heat between her and the others.
He glared at each of them with fierce contempt, his words blazing hotter than his body.
"You hypocritical bastards, listen up! Anyone who dares to mess with my sister has to go through me first! You want a piece of her? Try getting through a goddamn firestorm!"
He pointed aggressively. "What are you looking at? Get your filthy, greedy eyes the hell off her! Yeah, I'm talkin' to you, bat-face! And you—Mr. 'I Rule the Jungle'! And you too, fish-breath sea-witch! All of you—back the hell off!"
His crude words and unfiltered rage shook the room. The temperature rose. The air went tense. Every molecule seemed ready to combust.
The mood was explosive.
Reed Richards, leader of the Illuminati and formerly Susan's lover, finally broke the silence, restraining his own greedy gaze.
"We're all on the same side," he said diplomatically. "Let's not let this divide us. Think about it—this could all be a trap, a ploy by an unknown enemy to sow discord among us. We don't even know if those two Stones are real."
He glanced at Susan, eyes narrowing slightly. "And who exactly was that stranger who gave them to you? You expect me to believe someone just gave away Infinity Stones?"
Reed's analysis cooled the atmosphere slightly. The others slowly pulled back their overt hunger.
But then another voice spoke, echoing across the round table.
"All the more reason we need to verify them. Susan should let us test the Stones, make sure they're not fakes. What if they're laced with a trap and she gets hurt?"
"Exactly," another added. "We're a team. Risks and rewards should be shared!"
"I don't want to lose a teammate to some mysterious curse," said a third, feigning concern.
Their words came in a wave—ostensibly caring, but Susan wasn't fooled. Their eyes still shimmered with greed.
Reed sighed. He knew this wasn't going away. Eventually, he looked at Susan.
"Well?" he asked. "Do you have anything to say?"
Susan's gaze swept across the table. Disappointment flared in her eyes. She had hoped that, as a teammate, she might find some shelter among them.
But reality had slapped her across the face. She stood alone in this room.
That disappointment hardened into resolve.
Only by standing tall could she protect herself in this swirling storm of power and ambition.
"I understand your concerns," Susan said clearly. Her voice cut through the room like glass. "Yes, I have two Infinity Stones. Real or fake—that's not the point. What is important is trust. And cooperation."
She stepped forward.
"For the sake of unity, I'm willing to place one Stone here as a sign of goodwill. I trust the Illuminati to handle its distribution fairly."
And with that, she placed the Soul Stone on the table.
The room fell silent.
Everyone stared at the orange gem in awe and disbelief.
No one had expected such a move from Susan—a woman many had underestimated.
By surrendering the Stone, she had cut off their excuses. To press further now would make them look like cowards.
Black Panther, Black Bolt, and others quickly caught her intention. By giving up one Stone voluntarily, she made it socially unacceptable for them to covet the other—at least openly.
The room's focus shifted from Susan to the Soul Stone.
Susan, meanwhile, relaxed slightly. Her gambit had worked. She had protected the Reality Stone—at least for now.
She still felt that this Stone was real. And she had a strange trust in the young man in the black robe—the one who had handed it to her.
But what she didn't expect—what she couldn't have predicted—was that even after surrendering one Infinity Stone...
Someone still wanted the other.
And that someone… was her closest friend.
Reed Richards.
---------
🎇🎇 Check out new Fanfiction 🎇🎇
🎊 Naruto : Tsunade You're Really Drunk 🎊
---------
Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------
📚 Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
👉 https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
-------------