Chapter 101: Chaos at the Summit
The day of the summit soon arrived.
Li Chen had long known through his Super Hearing that Magneto had arrived in New York, so he had spent the past few days together with Gwen and Mary Jane.
Aside from when they had classes, the moment school let out, the girls would rush over to hang out with Li Chen.
After so much time, the two sisters had long gotten over what happened last time.
Gwen had even felt a bit of regret back then that Li Chenhad left so quickly.
Making up for it this time, Li Chen discovered their chemistry had grown increasingly tacit, as if they had rehearsed it in private.
Although the two beautiful heroines still failed to defeat the wicked dragon,
they certainly gave Li Chen the time of his life.
It was only when Jean called that he reluctantly took his leave.
Gwen had originally wanted to help too, but she had classes to attend; the Ghost Spider ultimately could not break free from the shackles of school.
As early as two days ago, New York had begun imposing traffic restrictions and other controls.
Starting yesterday, leaders from various regions had been arriving one after another.
Naturally, the President of America had arrived even earlier.
A guy named Matthew Ellis, rather than the legendary 'Lucian'.
But whoever it was made no difference to Li Chen and the others.
It wasn't like he would help them make money.
At this moment, everyone was heading toward the United Headquarters, where the summit was about to convene.
Li Chen and his group remained in the shadows.
Looking at Jean Grey clad in her suit, Li Chen couldn't help but reveal a look of admiration.
The X-Men had donned their suits for the first time in a while. Jean Grey wore a green bodysuit paired with yellow boots, and the belt around her waist was also yellow.
This contrast of yellow and green, matched with her fiery red hair, brought an immense visual impact.
It was as if the world had brightened considerably.
"Jean, this outfit looks gorgeous on you."
Li Chen complimented her in front of everyone.
Although Jean was slightly shy, her heart was secretly dancing with joy.
Li Chen even thought about having Jean wear this suit next time.
Sure enough, superhero suits were definitely the sexiest!
No wonder uniforms were always the most popular.
"Thank you."
After Jean replied, Storm suddenly asked, "Is my suit not good-looking, then?"
Storm, Ororo, was clad in a tight black leather suit that exposed her midriff, clearly showing off her toned waistline and even faint abs.
In the past, Li Chen had only scrolled past dark-skinned beauties on the internet; their rich skin tone gave them a striking allure.
Of course, provided that their facial features were attractive.
As it turned out, as long as one was beautiful, skin tone was never a hindrance.
Storm didn't have exaggerated, sausage-like lips, which was why she looked so stunning.
So, Li Chen praised, "You look great, too."
"Thanks. You have good taste."
Ororo was very pleased.
Li Chen had complimented her, not just the outfit.
This made Jean cast a glance at Storm; something was definitely off with this woman.
However, now was clearly not the time to discuss such things. Li Chen didn't dwell on the matter and changed the subject: "Raven has already infiltrated the President's side."
With Mystique's abilities, replacing someone was effortless, leaving no way for others to notice.
At the moment, they couldn't get close, as security for such a major event was extremely tight, completely staffed by Agents from various bureaus.
However, the X-Men still had high technology that allowed them to observe what was happening around the President.
Li Chen glanced over and saw that most of the attendees were almost all present.
Besides delegates from various regions, there were countless 'uncrowned kings'—the media.
The media's cameras and microphones were pointed at everyone present, forcing all of them to put on an act to appear dignified.
"What will Erik and his people do?"
Beast asked at this moment.
"I don't know."
Professor X was very calm. "Whatever he plans to do, we are the contingency."
Seeing how calm Professor X was, everyone cooled down.
All they had to do next was wait patiently.
Right then, the conference was about to begin.
"Here it comes!"
Beast, who had been watching closely, called out.
Everyone looked over.
The entire conference venue was thrown into turmoil.
"What happened?"
"I don't see Magneto."
Cyclops asked immediately.
"Someone triggered an alarm."
Beast quickly figured it out, and Professor X said, "The operation has begun. Get ready."
Then, Professor X closed his eyes and placed his fingers on his temple.
"Raven, take the President away and protect him."
No matter what, Magneto wanted to eliminate the President and have Raven take his place.
Now that Raven had switched sides, victory belonged to them.
Fortunately, Li Chen had found time to recharge Mystique Raven over the past couple of days, so she was very obedient right now.
She walked up to the President: "Sir, someone is planning an attack against you. We have to leave here."
"No, this is the summit! Leaving like this will make Americathe laughingstock of the entire world."
Matthew Ellis struggled briefly, but went along with Mystique Raven's force and walked away with her.
It looked as though he didn't want to leave and was merely being escorted away by his bodyguard.
At least he had made an effort to resist.
At that moment, a reporter hurriedly rushed over, wanting to ask something.
She had blonde hair, and many people recognized her—she was none other than the 'war correspondent' who rose to fame by filming Saitama.
However, Matthew Ellis waved his hand. "Drive all the reporters out. This must never be broadcast."
A humiliating moment like this naturally could not be leaked.
Consequently, the reporters immediately had their phones and cameras confiscated and were escorted out.
Then, a squad of Agents in heavy body armor rushed in, taking charge of maintaining order and calming the room.
The Agent that Mystique Raven had disguised herself as escorted Matthew Ellis all the way out, with the other Agents following his lead.
"Get in the car!"
The President's armored limousine pulled up. Only after escorting Matthew Ellis inside did Mystique Raven breathe a sigh of relief.
It seemed safe for the time being.
Sitting beside the President, she looked outside nervously.
Whatever one feared most was bound to happen; a steel beam flew horizontally through the air and smashed into the ground nearby.
"Drive, hurry!"
Mystique shouted immediately.
Without waiting for the other Agents to board the rest of the convoy, the armored vehicle sped off at once, evacuating the President.
Mystique took out her phone and called Li Chen: "They're here."
"Understood."
Li Chen responded.
"What is going on?"
Matthew Ellis asked.
Mystique parted her lips, but refrained from mentioning the Mutants; otherwise, once Matthew escaped, the Mutants would face grave consequences.
"A group has targeted you. We will protect you, Sir."
Mystique said calmly.
"Alright."
Matthew Ellis held his tongue without further argument.
Yet for them, the pursuit had only truly begun.
Magneto and his crew had already begun intercepting them.
Evidently, they had already realized Mystique's betrayal.
Chapter 102: Bumblebee Strikes
"Captain, unknown vehicles are approaching us!"
Just then, the driver said to Mystique.
Mystique had morphed into none other than the Captain of the bodyguards; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to command the others.
Mystique Raven immediately turned her head to look out the window and saw several mysterious black vehicles closing in.
"Damn it, where is NYPD dispatch?"
she immediately demanded loudly.
"Their dispatch has been disrupted! A flood of people called the police all at once, and they're saying their forces are stretched thin!"
"Shit!"
Mystique knew very well that for the time being, they were on their own.
At that moment, one of the vehicles that caught up rolled down its window, revealing Sabretooth's face inside.
Sabretooth was Wolverine Logan's older brother and possessed similar Mutant abilities, only he was far more evil than Wolverine Logan!
Through the tinted glass, Sabretooth flashed a middle finger at Mystique Raven and shouted loudly, "Bitch, Erikknew you were unreliable!"
This caused Mystique's expression to darken. She had not expected to have such a reputation among this crowd.
Infuriated, she drew the handgun from her waist, rolled down the window, and opened fire in a burst.
Sabretooth was not afraid of bullets in the slightest. Just like Wolverine, he possessed a healing factor, and being extraordinarily fast, he dodged them easily.
On the other hand, Mystique Raven found that her Mutantability left her unable to do anything right now other than shoot.
"Hold on tight!"
Seeing Sabretooth's maneuver, she immediately shouted to Matthew Ellis.
Matthew Ellis was already scared out of his wits, his hands tightly gripping the interior handle of the car.
"Bang!"
Sabretooth and the vehicle on the other side executed a direct pincer attack against their bulletproof car.
This maneuver was known as a 'dual-car cross.'
Fortunately, Mystique and the others had their seatbelts fastened, so aside from some heavy jolts, they were uninjured.
However, continuing like this was clearly not a viable option; she could only pray that Li Chen would hurry to rescue her.
At this moment, all she could think of was how warm Li Chen's embrace was, and how reassuring and filled with safety it felt to be in his arms!
"Vroom!"
Just then, everyone inside the vehicle heard the roar of an engine.
Because today's security arrangements were so rigorous, no other vehicles could be seen on the street—it had long been 'locked down.'
That was also the reason why their escape route had been completely clear of traffic.
Yet right now, a yellow muscle car surged out from a side alley like a bolt of lightning.
"What is that?"
Sabretooth, with a cigar still dangling from his mouth, asked in confusion.
"I know it—it's Bumblebee!"
A Mutant minion beside him shouted, "It's the Autobotsfrom Transformers!"
He exclaimed in amazement, because this car obviously bore the exact same Bumblebee color scheme from the movie, down to the last detail.
Even the vehicle model was identical—a ChevroletCamaro!
Those yellow racing stripes and muscular body gave it an exceptionally distinctive appearance.
People in America simply adored this style.
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
An old relic like Sabretooth obviously had never seen the movie; he merely found it rather bizarre.
"Bumblebee! It's Bumblebee!"
At that moment, another voice was shouting as well.
A blonde female reporter with the professional knack of a 'war correspondent' was currently broadcasting live from a helicopter.
In places like Los Angeles and New York, even an ordinary car thief would be pursued by helicopters for live broadcasts.
That was because those two cities were wealthy and famous; in other cities, police cars were all they could use to chase.
Therefore, a major event like this naturally did not lack reporters.
Ever since gaining fame last time, the blonde reporter had been promoted by Fox Television, and sure enough, she caught onto the breaking news hotspot once again.
The camera stayed locked on the Chevrolet Camaro that had suddenly darted out from the side, completely ignoring the President who was in the middle of a high-speed chase.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the star of this car chase right now is none other than our President, Mr. Matthew Ellis!"
"Yet as you can see, a 'Bumblebee' has barged into the scene! Is it friend or foe?"
The female reporter was extremely thrilled, practically on the verge of erupting with excitement on the spot.
At this moment, the New York Director was losing his mind—he had actually learned from the television that the President was being pursued...
Meanwhile, no one was happier than the executives at Chevrolet.
Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine a vehicle from their brand would make an appearance in a setting like this.
This was the President being hunted down—viewership ratings were bound to go through the roof!
If this 'Bumblebee' performed even better—such as keeping its A-pillars intact after a collision, or flawlessly protecting the driver and passengers upon impact—their sales would absolutely explode.
As for the President, they couldn't care less at this point.
It wasn't as if such things had never happened before in history; someone had even had their 'mind blown wide open.'
Didn't America continue to function all the same?
Nothing was more important than them making money!
Thus, they excitedly watched the Bumblebee on screen accelerate straight toward the convoy.
Its speed was astonishing, catching up to the speeding convoy in merely a few seconds.
This left the Chevrolet executives looking at each other in disbelief: "Are our products really that fast?"
A designer had no choice but to awkwardly save face: "Could it be that we truly are the kings of horsepower?"
"..."
While the group was still in bewilderment, Bumblebee had already caught up with the convoy.
Like a flash of yellow light, and under everyone's astonished gazes, it slammed straight into the black car ahead.
"Thud!"
Anyone who regularly watched police chases would recognize this as a textbook 'American-style interception.'
Bumblebee struck the rear of the vehicle ahead, then violently swung its front end, forcing the car out of control and sending it crashing off to the side.
"Crash!"
With a thunderous crash, the front of the black car was crushed crooked, rendering it completely undrivable.
Meanwhile, the camera remained fixed on Bumblebee.
"Oh my god!"
the female reporter cried out, her chest bouncing: "Bumblebee is actually completely unscathed! I have a feeling Bumblebee is going to sell like crazy tomorrow!"
"As for the manufacturer of that black car... you guys are in big trouble."
Ever since interviewing Saitama, she had known about Starlight Pictures.
Afterward, to avoid being ignorant about anyone in the future, she crammed on Starlight Pictures' works and even tried to interview Li Chen, only to be rejected by Starlight Pictures.
And the reason for the rejection was actually that her chest looked too fake.
She admitted they were indeed fake, but wasn't looking good enough?
Even so, she did not dare badmouth Starlight Pictures, terrified that Saitama might show up at her doorstep.
Therefore, it was completely natural that she recognized Bumblebee; she had already contributed to the box office when Transformers hit theaters.
And just as she had predicted, Chevrolet was overjoyed.
What advertisement could possibly be more hardcore than this kind of crash in reality?
This was a live broadcast watched by the entire world!
Meanwhile, observant netizens discovered that the other black vehicle was from a subsidiary brand under General Motors.
General Motors felt as though the sky had collapsed.
Just like when Mazda was completely shunned back in the day, their stock price suffered an immediate hit.
Chapter 103: Losing the Stars
"Boom!"
The sound of a crash coming from behind startled the others.
Mystique Raven looked toward the Bumblebee that appeared beside her, and her pupils instantly contracted.
Because this speeding Bumblebee was actually empty.
Driverless!
"Holy shit?"
Even Mystique was startled.
But in the next moment, the Bumblebee's windows tinted dark, hiding the interior from view.
The Bumblebee actively slowed down, preparing to ram into Sabretooth on the other side.
Although she didn't know what was going on, Mystiquefelt a warmth in her heart; this was definitely Li Chenmaking a move.
Still, Mystique felt a hint of unease in her heart.
Because even now, Magneto Erik had yet to show himself.
However, the gunfire that erupted shortly after left her with no time to worry about anything else.
"Da, da, da!"
The gunfire rattled like a Chicago typewriter in a continuous barrage, and stray bullets ricocheted erratically, hitting the glass of their vehicle directly.
Fortunately, the President's vehicle was bulletproof; the bullets only left slight marks on the surface without penetrating.
Ever since Kennedy had his "mind blown," America's presidents had learned their lesson: no convertibles, nothing non-bulletproof, surrounded by three-hundred-and-sixty-degree protection with zero blind spots.
Mystique kept Matthew Ellis's head pressed down to prevent any accidents.
She glanced up and saw that the Bumblebee had already pulled up behind Sabretooth's vehicle.
That burst of gunfire was aimed right at the Bumblebee.
Yet, a scene that astonished the whole world unfolded.
The Bumblebee was actually executing some showy maneuvers.
It swayed left and right in complete unpredictability, drifting from time to time as if trying to dodge the bullets.
And surprisingly, it actually managed to evade a great deal of them.
Its sharp S-curve weave completely dumbfounded the female reporter up in the sky.
"I may not be an expert driver, but at least I don't mistake the gas pedal for the brake!"
The wind in the helicopter was strong, blowing her blonde hair everywhere, but she was still thrilled as she shouted, "My God, are these human driving skills? Even the finest professional drivers couldn't pull off maneuvers like this so easily—not to mention it's dodging bullets at the same time!"
"Holy shit, that car has been modified!"
She suddenly gasped.
Two machine guns suddenly extended from in front of the Bumblebee's two front wheels.
"Da, da, da!"
Like a Gatling gun spitting blue Fire, they instantly punctured the tires and fuel tank of the car ahead.
"Pffft!"
The tires of the lead vehicle went completely flat, causing it to slow down uncontrollably.
The President's crisis was immediately averted.
The female reporter screamed wildly, "General Motors' stock is finished!"
Right then, she received a warning telling her not to mention the car brand.
Because the top brass at General Motors were already going berserk.
In a head-on clash, two of their cars had been completely wiped out in a one-versus-two by a Chevrolet Camaro—this was an absolute disaster in automotive history!
Yet they couldn't avoid this catastrophe, so all they could do was their utmost in public relations.
Before long, General Motors released a lengthy statement.
The gist of it was that this Chevrolet Camaro was clearly a heavily modified vehicle, not stock, whereas their General Motors cars were unmodified, which was why they couldn't compete.
However, nobody cared.
The entire world was keeping its eyes glued to the Bumblebee.
Even as the President's vehicle sped away into the distance, the helicopter didn't pursue it; instead, it kept its lens locked on the Bumblebee.
The Bumblebee didn't stop, immediately pivoting and driving off in another direction.
"Master, the helicopter overhead keeps following me."
The Bumblebee said to Li Chen in utter bewilderment.
Li Chen replied, "Shake it off."
"Yes."
Having received the order, the Bumblebee was instantly delighted.
Li Chen only demanded that it must not transform in front of the public, but other maneuvers were fair game.
Then, as if it had played that famous game, the Bumblebeecompletely abandoned ordinary roads, drove onto the railway tracks, and drove straight into a tunnel to lose its wanted stars.
Sure enough, the helicopter lost its target and could no longer spot the Bumblebee.
After all, they couldn't fly into a tunnel.
The female reporter was filled with regret, almost ready to dive right in to look for the Bumblebee herself.
Even if it were a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, she was determined to venture in.
...
"Agent Black Widow, what are the odds that this is the Bumblebee?"
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria Hill was on a video call with Black Widow Natasha, paying close attention to the Bumblebee's recent maneuvers.
"I'm certain this is no ordinary car."
Black Widow Natasha could only reply this way.
If it had been before, she would have told everything she knew without the slightest hesitation.
But now...
She subconsciously touched her belly, thinking back to when Li Chen suddenly "changed cars" some time ago.
It was indeed a Chevrolet Camaro, in a Bumblebee color scheme.
Maria Hill noticed her abnormality.
"You seem to have developed some... emotions you shouldn't have."
"Although we are Agents, we should still have personal lives, and I support that."
Maria Hill began gently, but quickly changed her tone. "However, Li Chen is your mission target. This is hardly professional conduct."
Black Widow replied with a calm expression, "I know."
Maria Hill said nothing more; Black Widow's situation was special, so she didn't dare speak too harshly.
Still, she had made her decision: "Fury is tracking down another matter right now, so I will take over the mission involving Li Chen entirely. I want to meet him in an official capacity."
Not long ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. received word from the Arcticexpedition team that they had found a shield bearing the Union Jack in the Arctic.
Nick Fury attached immense importance to this, which was why he handed Li Chen's matter over to Maria Hill.
Upon hearing this, Black Widow Natasha knew her mission was over.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was also worried she might be whisked away by Li Chen, which would be a massive loss.
"I need you to arrange it."
"No problem, I'll return to New York."
Black Widow had no choice but to agree.
After hanging up, Natasha drifted into a daze, recalling Li Chen's "sweet talk."
She had to admit that Li Chen's "child theory" had indeed breached her defenses.
Furthermore, with the Bumblebee's recent display, Black Widow also believed that what Li Chen said was true.
"What if... such a thing really exists?"
She couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope.
There was nothing in the world that could restore something that had been excised, especially inside a human body; it was simply unheard of in the medical field.
Yet astonishing marvels like Saitama and the Bumblebeehad successively appeared around Li Chen.
Natasha felt that it might not be impossible after all.
However... she would soon have to reveal her identity. Would Li Chen feel betrayed? Would he stop liking her...
At this moment, Black Widow was like a rookie recruit, beginning to worry about gains and losses.
In all her past missions, she had never felt as anxious and unsettled as she did now.
Chapter 104: A Self-Directed Play
Just as Bumblebee was evading pursuit and clearing his wanted stars, the President's vehicle had also escaped from danger, but it was quickly intercepted.
Because Magneto and his group had finally shown themselves.
Li Chen only knew Magneto, so he waited for Professor Xto confirm.
"It's them, no one is missing."
Professor X sensed them and nodded.
Now that the main culprits had appeared, it was time for them to reveal themselves as well.
When they arrived, Magneto and his group had already blocked the President's car.
In fact, at this point, their plan had already failed.
Yet Magneto still had a confident, "everything is under control" expression on his face.
It seemed as though he was waiting on purpose, as if he had known all along that the X-Men would show up.
Therefore, Magneto merely gave Li Chen a deep look.
"You should have been on my side."
"Pfft."
Li Chen let out a scoffing laugh.
"In this world, the strong rule. You are far too weak."
Magneto didn't lose his temper either, but said with deep meaning, "Fists don't represent all power."
Li Chen didn't reply to him, instead turning his gaze toward President Matthew Ellis.
Something was wrong!
He immediately used his Super Vision.
At the same time, Magneto said to Mystique, "Raven, you've disappointed me greatly."
"I gave you a chance, yet you still betrayed me."
Mystique Raven said expressionlessly, "None of you ever respected me. Li, on the other hand, is different."
"Heh."
Magneto looked at Professor X and said, "Charles, my plan has failed, so there's no need for us to fight."
He glanced at the X-Men. "You don't want tomorrow's headlines to be about us Mutants again, do you? They will think we've become a threat once more."
Professor X narrowed his eyes, instinctively sensing that something was amiss.
By now, Li Chen had figured it out.
In front of his Super Vision, a person could maintain no disguise whatsoever.
Even if he was a Mutant.
Li Chen suddenly began to clap.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
His actions drew everyone's attention. Both the X-Men and Magneto's group turned to look at him.
"What is it?"
Jean Grey was, after all, the closest to Li Chen—or so she believed—so she asked.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."
Li Chen spoke up, "Erik, I must admit, you actually have some skill."
He had always thought Magneto was just a brainless brute...
...but only now did he realize that Magneto actually had schemes as well!
"You believed all along that Raven would betray you, so you didn't tell her your entire plan at all. I must say, I really feel sorry for Raven."
Li Chen first drove a wedge into Mystique's mind.
All to prevent this brainless woman from potentially betraying him.
Sure enough, upon hearing Li Chen's words, Mystique Raven's complexion changed drastically as she glared with hatred at Magneto Erik.
Putting facts aside, even if she had been thoroughly subdued by Li Chen, wasn't Magneto's side in the wrong at all?
Magneto's lack of trust only made her feel more certain that she was right.
Women were all like this; they would find excuses to convince themselves, and then enjoy it all with a clear conscience.
Then, Li Chen continued, "After all, who could have guessed that the President of America was actually a Mutant all along?"
Upon hearing Li Chen's words, everyone present experienced a sudden shift in expression.
The X-Men and the others looked at Matthew Ellis in astonishment. Magneto's subordinates were no exception, their eyes wide as if watching drama unfold.
Only Magneto looked as miserable as if he had swallowed sewage.
"How did you see through it?"
He didn't deny it; denying it at this point was completely pointless.
He just wanted to know how Li Chen had accomplished it.
Could Li Chen be like Caliban, with his special ability being sensing the powers of Mutants?
"No one can hide from my eyes."
Li Chen smiled calmly.
Although Matthew Ellis's Mutant power was not obvious—one could even say it was completely useless—Li Chencould still see it.
This was definitely massive news. If exposed, Matthew Ellis would lose his presidential seat in less than an hour.
Which was why he currently looked like his mother had died.
"A Mutant!?"
Professor X was also shocked. He looked at the President, then back at Magneto.
Why didn't you mention such a huge thing earlier?
"So... this whole thing was staged?"
However, Professor X quickly realized the truth.
Since Matthew Ellis was a Mutant, didn't Magneto Erik's so-called plan look like a joke?
That was why Li Chen said Mystique had been played from the very beginning.
By now, Mystique Raven had realized it as well, glaring furiously at Magneto.
"Precisely."
Li Chen nodded. "Erik's true goal was never the Presidentof America, but everyone left behind over there."
Only at this moment did Magneto's plan finally come to light.
He didn't want to control the President of America.
After all, a presidency lasted four years per term. With good luck, one could serve two terms. With bad luck? Once the four-year mark was up, he'd have to scram—only one year longer than Xiao Yan's three-year agreement.
Relying on someone who was only President for a few years, Magneto naturally couldn't complete his grand design.
Matthew Ellis was willing to help him because Matthew also wanted to do something for Mutants.
His Mutant power was very weak and virtually useless, but he didn't dare reveal it, so he could only pretend to be a normal person and move about in society.
It wasn't that he had never thought about appearing before the world as a Mutant.
He just didn't dare to.
And undoubtedly, it was precisely because Magneto knew his identity that he secretly helped him.
However, prior to this, Magneto had never exposed this fact.
Of course, for Matthew Ellis to take down 'Lucian' and become the President of America, he certainly had skills of his own.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Because Magneto's goal wasn't just him alone, but to control the top figures of every major nation in the world...
It had to be said, it was crazy.
Still, Li Chen was curious as to how Magneto planned to pull it off.
For now, though, he didn't pay much attention to the other side, walking instead toward Matthew Ellis.
"Mr. Ellis, I admire that you want to do something for Mutants, but your approach is wrong."
Li Chen spoke up, "It is practically impossible for Mutants to overthrow human rule, but you can build your own kingdom."
"That is what America and the rest of the world should be doing."
Matthew Ellis subconsciously glanced at Magneto.
However, Li Chen smiled and said, "Of course, a smart man won't refuse—unless you want the whole world to know you're a pathetic Mutant."
Li Chen's words were somewhat of a broad insult, considering everyone present was a Mutant.
Yet come to think of it, they truly did feel pathetic.
They just wanted to live like normal people, nothing more.
Unfortunately, Mutants in America were like Black folks—discrimination was everywhere.
"Enough!"
Magneto finally lost his temper.
Chapter 105: Why Didn't You Mention You Had a Pretty Daughter Earlier?
Magneto was a man of grand theatricality; though he had a fiery temper, he did his best to restrain himself.
Yet Li Chen had repeatedly poached his people and undermined his plans, pushing him past his limit.
"You are too soft, young man."
Magneto hovered into the air. "Softness like yours will only lead to humanity devouring you whole."
"That's just because you are too weak."
Li Chen looked toward Magneto.
Matthew Ellis averted his gaze at Magneto's words; clearly, he had already made his choice.
Although he was a Mutant, his identity as the President of America was far more important to him.
For a political animal like him, political death was true death.
He then turned to Li Chen and said, "Please, prove your strength to me."
When stripped down to its core, Mutant internal affairs ultimately came down to brute force.
Magneto claimed that fists didn't decide everything only because his own weren't tough enough.
Without his Adamantium helmet, he couldn't even deal with Professor X.
Magneto was also well aware that a victor had to be decided between him and Li Chen.
It was a struggle for power.
At once, both sides faced off in a tense confrontation.
"The others will arrive within five minutes. That's more than enough time."
Li Chen glanced into the distance.
Although security personnel had been diverted, the response was still exceptionally swift for the President of America.
Of course, this was also because someone was stirring up trouble in the shadows.
Aside from Magneto, Matthew Ellis had other enemies.
They probably wished for nothing more than to see Matthew Ellis assassinated...
"Insolent!"
Magneto flared with rage; no one had ever dared claim they could defeat him within five minutes.
He struck first.
The presidential limousine lifted straight into the air and was hurled violently toward Li Chen.
Countless utility poles were ripped out of the ground, converging into a cage designed to trap Li Chen.
Magneto's ability was in fact the manipulation of all forms of magnetic fields.
Just like now, Li Chen felt everything around his body becoming sluggish.
The magnetic field was being warped.
However, Li Chen's physical constitution was far too overwhelming; his eyes unleashed Heat Vision directly.
"Sizzle!"
This was the very first time Li Chen displayed his power before outsiders.
The ferocious Heat Vision surged forth, slicing the armored vehicle cleanly in half and sending the two pieces hurtling past his sides.
The X-Men and the members of Magneto's Brotherhood, who were locked in a standoff, were both drawn to this duel.
After all, this now looked like a personal showdown between the two.
There was no need for the rest of them to fight to the death.
After all, if an all-out brawl erupted, it wouldn't be resolved within five minutes.
Seeing this scene, Cyclops suddenly felt a dryness in his eyes.
Storm also turned to Cyclops. "Isn't that your ability?"
Cyclops stayed silent; before Li Chen, he truly seemed outmatched.
Even this unique Mutant power of his was something Li Chen possessed.
And it appeared far more potent than his own.
It required no visor to restrain and burned with scorching heat. Just standing nearby, the onlookers felt a wave of blistering air, like standing on black asphalt baking under the summer sun.
Li Chen's Heat Vision severed every restraint instantly.
Yet when he looked up, Magneto was nowhere to be seen.
Magneto had turned invisible.
Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four could bend light waves and alter force fields to achieve invisibility.
Similarly, Magneto could manipulate specialized magnetic fields to cloak himself.
In the comics, even Black Bolt, with his cosmic awareness, could not detect him.
Yet Li Chen didn't rely on awareness; he relied on his eyes.
Li Chen turned his head and locked eyes directly with the invisible Magneto.
Magneto was taken aback, his heart skipping a beat.
What kind of joke was this? He was invisible, yet Li Chencould meet his gaze?
In the next moment, he realized Li Chen wasn't joking—he was reaching straight for him.
Surprisingly, Magneto's reaction speed was remarkably fast.
Because he could use magnetic forces and fields to enhance his physical capabilities, his strength and endurance surged immensely within that short window, allowing his reaction speed to reach fifteen times that of an ordinary person.
Seeing Li Chen reach out, he immediately tried to evade.
Yet to Li Chen, that was still far too slow.
Only The Flash could rival his reflexes.
In an instant, Li Chen seized Magneto by the throat, reducing him to strangled gasps.
He couldn't utter a single word.
When the others caught sight of them again, Magneto was dangling in Li Chen's hand like a helpless chick.
He had no power to resist whatsoever.
Having bathed in the sun for nearly a year, Li Chen was an absolute dimensional strike against them.
What could be done? Who told Los Angeles to have such wonderful weather?
Even in winter, Los Angeles remained cloudless for thousands of miles, the sun shining into every corner while Li Chen grew stronger every second.
He was glad he wasn't in Gotham, or he would have been finished.
With a figure as brooding as Batman around, one might not catch a few days of sun in an entire lifetime.
Of course, the main reason was Gotham's awful weather—either raining or overcast.
"It's already over?"
The X-Men and the rest stood in a state of utter daze.
Magneto had made such a grand entrance, bending magnetic fields and turning invisible.
Yet... Li Chen brought him down in a single move.
At the end of the day, Magneto's physique was simply too frail.
Just like in any sport, physical conditioning was what truly mattered; otherwise, even the mightiest mage was finished once someone closed the distance.
Gandalf was an exception, of course, because he was a Maia.
That man was a genuine demigod.
Li Chen brought Magneto to eye level. "You lost, Erik."
"I will prove your plans to be laughable. The kingdom I will build is the true great endeavor."
"One more question... Why didn't you mention such an important thing earlier?"
"What?"
Magneto was released by Li Chen, or he would have suffocated to death.
Still, he couldn't comprehend what Li Chen was getting at.
"Why didn't you say earlier that you had a pretty daughter?"
Li Chen spoke with complete seriousness, though finding out now wasn't too late either.
Magneto's expression shifted drastically.
His earlier attack had merely been a deliberate ploy to buy time.
Yet as it turned out, Li Chen had seen right through it.
"I've failed."
He muttered, crestfallen.
Since Li Chen was aware of his plan, it was already doomed.
As it happened, Magneto had another squad of operatives.
And the person leading that squad was none other than his daughter.
Li Chen cast his gaze toward the summit venue. Aside from the President of America who had escaped, everyone else had stayed behind; with such a large crowd, fleeing immediately wasn't the best choice, making it safer to rely on the protection of the on-site Agents.
Little did they suspect that these very Agents were the problem.
Their minds had long been compromised!
Thus, once the situation was secured, a squad clad in Agent uniforms marched in. The leader removed her helmet, revealing delicate facial features and long green hair.
Chapter 106: Polaris and the Cuckoo Sisters
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lorna Dane."
With her green hair, Lorna looked valiant and dashing, her features both alluring and dangerous.
She was the daughter of Magneto, inheriting abilities similar to his, known to Mutants as 'Polaris'—Lorna Dane.
"Not that it matters whether you know who I am or not. From now on, you will do as I say."
Lorna certainly hadn't come to deliver a speech.
She shot a glance at the five identical young girls behind her.
They were Celeste, Esme, Sophie, Phoebe, and Mindee—known among Mutants as the Stepford Cuckoos.
The Cuckoo Sisters could establish a unique psionic link, instantly combining their individual Telepathy abilities into a powerful super-mind.
As a result, their psionic power was extraordinarily potent, allowing them to easily alter others' perception of reality.
The more of them there were, the greater their power grew.
With the five Cuckoo Sisters exerting their power together, a potent wave of Telepathy washed over the room, placing everyone present under their control.
Next, they prepared to implant mental suggestions into these people according to Magneto's plan.
They would overthrow human tyranny—the world belongs to Mutants!
But at that moment, Li Chen had already arrived.
"Ladies and gentlemen, how about hearing my plan instead?"
Magneto had only himself to blame for not holding out long enough.
Having realized his own plan was doomed, he figured they might as well give Li Chen's plan a shot.
After all, when it came to their ultimate goal, both wanted what was best for Mutants.
"Who are you?"
Polaris, Lorna, reacted instantly, aiming her hands—now glowing with green light—straight at Li Chen.
Donning his Batman mask, Li Chen said in a deep voice, "I'm Batman."
"That's not funny."
Polaris remained expressionless.
"Fine, I am your king."
Li Chen could only state solemnly.
"Who do you think you are?"
Polaris was furious, and the Cuckoo Sisters also turned their eyes toward him.
They were truly identical—all blond with charming facial features.
It was just... why did they look somewhat familiar?
Then Li Chen realized: what the hell, why did they look so much like Emma Frost?
"I am the king of you Mutants."
Li Chen replied, "Your father just lost to me, and he sold you out to me."
"What do you mean?"
Hearing that Magneto had been defeated by Li Chen, Polaris grew extremely wary.
If what Li Chen said was true, things were bad.
Even Magneto was no match for Li Chen, and her powers, inherited from Magneto, were weaker than his.
It was essentially a diluted version of his powers.
Li Chen walked toward Lorna, triggering a defensive reaction from her. "Don't come any closer, or I won't hold back."
"And what exactly could you do?"
Ignoring her warning, Li Chen stepped directly up to her and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
Polaris stood around 1.75 meters tall, though she seemed a bit gaunt, clearly lacking much of a figure.
This made Li Chen feel a twinge of pity. Damn Magneto, he couldn't even bear to feed his own daughter properly.
Fortunately, her captivating features were unaffected.
With Li Chen pinching her chin, Lorna felt deeply humiliated, yet found herself unable to resist.
The man in the Batman mask before her was simply too strong.
So strong that she couldn't even summon the will to fight back.
"You'll need to eat more meat in the future. Erik has already sold you to me."
"In other words, you are the king's woman from now on."
Li Chen's words made Polaris's face flush crimson.
Magneto was certainly taking an indirect route to save his people.
If he couldn't become the king of the Mutants, he'd settle for being the king's father-in-law...
Lorna naturally couldn't accept being sold off like this.
Although she wasn't particularly fond of that deadbeat father of hers, he was still her biological father.
But Li Chen didn't pay her much mind. Letting go of her chin, he commanded in an indisputable tone, "Save whatever little temper you have for later. Don't interfere with my plans right now."
And so, humiliated, the young Polaris obediently stood aside.
Li Chen then walked over to the Cuckoo Sisters.
The five sisters looked completely identical—from height to appearance, from hair to eye color, as if perfectly replicated one-to-one.
This gave Li Chen a unique sense of excitement.
How many times the pleasure was this? Fivefold pleasure!
All five sisters stared blankly at Li Chen without the slightest ripple of emotion, no different from androids.
Li Chen spoke, "Now, I want you to submit to me."
Among them, Celeste, the 'eldest sister', said, "Impossible."
"Nothing is impossible."
As Li Chen spoke, a wave of powerful psionic energy surged straight toward him.
Connected in mind, the five sisters wasted no words and sought to take control of his mind directly.
But even Emma Frost couldn't manage that, which meant Li Chen had no reason to fear any Mutant's Telepathy.
Sure enough, even combined, their stacked Telepathyfailed to affect Li Chen in the slightest.
Conversely, Li Chen could see right through them.
His Super Vision combined with Super Hearing practically laid bare their every secret.
Their expressions shifted, and each of the five sisters promptly turned themselves into 'diamonds'.
Diamond Form!
This was another ability belonging to Emma Frost.
Without question, they had deep ties to the White Queen.
But Li Chen showed no softness. As his strength grew greater, so did his confidence.
Money gave courage to a hero, and so did power.
He clamped his hand directly around Celeste's neck and hoisted her into the air.
"You cannot hurt me."
The five of them actually spoke in unison.
"Is that so?"
Li Chen smiled, applying pressure with his hand.
*Crack!*
Immediately, a hairline fracture appeared across Celeste's diamond neck.
At that moment, they finally panicked.
Though they felt no pain, being killed in their Diamond Form meant true death.
Hard as diamonds were, they were by no means indestructible.
After all, even Vibranium could be damaged.
"Submit, or die!"
Seeing the identical look of fear appear on all five faces, Li Chen had an epiphany.
It seemed that once their minds were linked, all sensations were amplified accordingly.
That meant their current terror was multiplied five times over.
What if it were pleasure?
*Hiss!*
Li Chen hadn't expected Telepathy to offer this kind of perk.
The five sisters were truly terrified. After a brief telepathic exchange, Celeste said, "We submit."
They lacked strong emotions, but they were far from foolish.
Given the choice between life and death, they naturally chose the former.
Setting Celeste down, Li Chen said, "Now, implant new mental suggestions in them. They will support our establishment of a Mutant kingdom, as well as free trade."
"Understood."
The five of them immediately began a new round of mental suggestions.
Chapter 107: The Whole world Owes Them
Psychic suggestion is not mind control.
It merely plants a subconscious influence to make them accept the outcome.
Of course, since it is not forced control, those who harbor an extreme hatred for Mutants inevitably feel that something is wrong.
Their consciousness remains unaltered; they are still themselves, so no one would notice anything amiss.
However, someone in the crowd who harbored an extreme hatred for Mutants immediately questioned, "Why should we agree to let Mutants found their own nation? We should wipe them out entirely!"
Hearing this, Polaris Lorna's expression instantly turned cold, wanting to use coins to blast hundreds of holes through the guy.
But Li Chen stopped her.
Li Chen knew that the reason these people were not afraid of Mutants was simply that Mutants were not strong enough.
If Mutants could destroy Earth at any time, those wishing to harm them would hesitate to act for fear of consequences.
Peace would be inevitable!
So, Li Chen had everyone step outside.
At this moment, everyone still retained their self-awareness and didn't know what was about to happen.
But under the suggestion of the Cuckoo Sisters, they still walked out.
Li Chen took a look, confirming that there was no one left inside the building.
"You want to know why?"
"Because we can easily destroy Earth."
Li Chen had been wearing a mask the whole time, looking somewhat arrogant.
But next, he gathered energy directly in front of himself, aiming straight at the United Building.
"Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon!"
Li Chen did not use his full power, as this move could obliterate a planet directly.
Yet even with just a fraction of its force, the sky and Earthsuddenly changed color, as if turning into a flash of bright white.
"BOOM!"
The violent energy cannon blasted straight into the United Building.
There was no collapsing sound or grand spectacle as imagined, because it was instantly reduced to ruins.
This was vastly more powerful than ultimate moves used by Mutants, which often required a long charging time.
Of course, the most important thing was that Li Chen did not have the scruples that Mutants had.
If not for the fact that these people couldn't go into space, he would have loved to demonstrate how to destroy a planet.
But even so, the people present had to consider whether Li Chen really could destroy Earth with such an attack.
Looking at this guy wearing a Batman mask, they became extremely wary.
"We will agree to let Mutants found a nation."
At this moment, someone spoke up.
"We have also always supported world peace."
"As long as the Mutants sign a non-aggression pact."
...
They immediately voiced their opinions one after another.
As for the person who had expressed hatred toward Mutants earlier, he immediately shut his mouth.
But Li Chen had already remembered him.
Dealing with him would be easy, but it couldn't be done in public.
Simply put, Mutants should learn from the Jews: directly or indirectly control world public opinion, publicize the 'persecution' they suffered back then worldwide, paint themselves as victims, and then, naturally, follow the classic playbook.
Only in this way could they create the illusion that the entire world 'owes' them.
As everyone knows, Westerners owe Jews a life from the moment they are born.
Their lives belong to the Jews, so naturally, everything else does too.
The psychic suggestion, combined with the deterrence of Li Chen's strength, proceeded smoothly, and Li Chen and the others left quickly before reinforcements could arrive.
After they left, the people at the scene finally broke free from the influence of Telepathy, and when they tried to recall carefully, they realized they couldn't remember what Li Chen and the others looked like.
This was Telepathy, capable of achieving an 'invisibility' effect even on a mental level.
But looking back at the former United Building, it was now reduced to ruins with a massive crater.
Standing at the edge of the crater felt like standing at the edge of an abyss.
They had no doubt that if Li Chen truly went all out, he could punch a hole right through Earth.
As for whether he could destroy Earth?
That was unknown.
Thus, they knew very well that Mutants were not to be provoked.
...
Under the Telepathy of the Cuckoo Sisters, Li Chen and the others departed without hindrance.
The backup forces rushing over were like blind men, failing to notice them at all and automatically stepping aside.
"Have you joined the Hellfire Club?"
Li Chen asked Lorna and the others beside him.
In fact, there were other Mutants besides them, though Li Chen didn't recognize them.
He only noticed an Asian beauty among them, but why did she look so much like Fan Ye?
Li Chen had long felt that Fan Ye was a truly top-tier beauty, flawless in both bone structure and features.
Polaris Lorna Dane shook her head: "No."
"Then you belong to the Hellfire Club now, and you are my first batch of subjects."
Li Chen took them in without hesitation.
Lorna had no way to refuse, and even the simp who had a crush on her didn't dare to speak a word at this moment.
Li Chen's 'Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon' not only shocked normal humans, but also terrified the Mutants.
They knew clearly that they could not resist the man before them.
So, Li Chen led them straight to the Hellfire Club in New York.
It was only after they left that the situation began to ferment.
First, the President of America was pursued, and then the United Headquarters was 'flattened to the ground'.
This was massive news across the world.
People were desperate to know who exactly had done it.
However, everyone kept silent about Mutants, speaking only of threats to humanity.
Higher-ups around the world knew more or less about certain secrets—they knew aliens existed in this world.
Thus, various conspiracy theories quickly emerged.
For instance, that aliens had invaded Earth and blown up the United Headquarters first.
In truth, Li Chen did this simply because he disliked America.
America wouldn't even pay a single cent every year—wasn't that just squatting on the toilet without shitting?
If it were to be rebuilt, America couldn't possibly refuse to part with a single cent again, right?
Humanity had a certain 'yearning' when it came to aliens.
The aliens in their imagination had both good and bad kinds, but without a doubt, this type of conspiracy theory found a huge audience.
This also posed a new question for humanity: what if aliens really came to invade Earth?
At a time like that, Mutants would be needed to step up.
This was also the best approach chosen after their discussions.
To get humanity to abandon their fear of Mutants, a far more powerful enemy had to be established.
Only then would humanity remember that Mutants were human too.
But for now, this was just the warmup; they expected to complete it within three years.
This would also depend on Li Chen's speed.
After all, a major issue with founding a Mutant nation was where the Mutant Kingdom should be established.
They needed a'sovereign territory' of their own.
They couldn't just directly seize land like the Jews did, could they?
Under these circumstances, only a select few knew that what happened in New York was related to Mutants.
And this news was leaked through certain channels.
It even reached the Moon.
Chapter 108: Black Widow Shows Her Hand
In the Marvel World, not only do people live on the moon, but an entire city exists there as well.
Long ago, the Kree came to Earth and established an ancient base on the moon.
They began studying the genes of ancient Earthling, thereby creating the Inhumans.
However, as war erupted between the Kree Empire and the Skrull Empire, for unknown reasons, the Kreeabandoned these research achievements, and the base fell into ruin.
It was not until the Inhumans moved their capital, Attilan, to the moon that they arrived at this ancient base and rebuilt upon its ruins.
Attilan was a mobile city constructed by the Inhumans.
The origins of the Inhumans can be traced back fifty thousand years, while Attilan itself was built seven thousand years ago, originally situated on the Island of the Gods in the North Atlantic Ocean.
However, with the advancement of human technology, the Inhumans feared discovery, so they first relocated Attilanto the Himalayas, and subsequently moved it directly to the moon.
After so many years of development, the Inhumans had long developed a unique social structure; they possessed royalty, and much like human society, their social hierarchy was rigid, with no one able to change their station.
Their social hierarchy was determined by the abilities that manifested upon exposure to the Terrigen Mist.
Moreover, the Inhumans had many regulations, such as being forbidden to intermarry with other races.
The current king of the Inhumans was Black Bolt.
Black Bolt possessed the ability to unleash destructive quasi-sonic waves, which made him like a mute; under normal circumstances, he never spoke, nor did he dare to speak.
Consequently, all decisions for the Inhumans, large and small, were made by the long-red-haired beauty beside him.
She was the queen of the Inhumans, Medusa.
She was also the wife of Black Bolt.
"The Mutant attacked the upper echelons of humanity. Using Telepathy and the threat of force, they forced the human leadership to submit."
An Inhuman was reporting on what had occurred on Earth.
Possessing formidable powers, learning of these events was not difficult for them.
The reason they kept an eye on the Mutant was that they were adversaries.
To some extent, Mutant and Inhumans were quite similar.
Both possessed extraordinary abilities, and both had their own distinct populations.
Their roles in the Marvel Universe were identical as well.
It was precisely because of this that Mutant and Inhumanshad become rivals.
"What do they intend to do?"
Queen Medusa asked with majesty.
"They want to establish a Mutant kingdom."
Hearing this, Medusa's gaze instantly hardened.
"A Mutant kingdom?"
She turned to look at Black Bolt beside her.
Black Bolt's expression turned solemn as well.
"My King, the threat of the Mutant is already considerable. Previously, their strength was divided, so they posed little real danger to us."
Queen Medusa spoke up, "However, things are different now. If they establish a Mutant kingdom, it will be like gathering scattered fingers into a clenched fist; their might will become completely different."
Black Bolt could not speak, but he nodded, conveying his thoughts to Medusa.
For Medusa could communicate with him via brainwaves.
At this moment, Black Bolt made his stance unequivocally clear: "We must stop them."
"A powerful Mutant kingdom is not something we wish to see."
Even setting aside their inherent conflicts, he would never want to see others grow stronger.
This was simply human nature.
They did not wish for other powerful beings to exist in the world; remaining the strongest themselves was all that mattered.
If others grew strong, they would instinctively perceive danger and consider the other party a threat.
"Indeed."
Queen Medusa nodded as well. "Crystal, head to Earthfirst to make some preparations."
She looked toward her younger sister, who was also a member of the royal family.
Crystal had beautiful short orange hair and possessed immense power, able to control the four elements of Earth, air, Fire, and Water.
Her only vulnerability was susceptibility to environmental pollution, requiring regular doses of serum to maintain her health.
"Yes."
Crystal wore an excited expression; she loved visiting Earth, which felt far less dull compared to life among the Inhumans.
...
What had transpired did not have much of an impact on Li Chen.
After all, although Bumblebee had shown up, it had not transformed in front of the public.
Thus, the public's discussion centered around the Chevrolet Camaro.
Li Chen could not help but complain, "If Chevrolet wants to invest in the next Transformers movie, they will definitely have to raise their stakes."
"Just how much money did they lose?"
One look at the stock market told him everything: Chevrolet's value was soaring, whereas General Motorsseemed to have hit a crash, plummeting uncontrollably.
Right now, General Motors was cursing their heads off, wondering which son of a bitch was driving their car to stir up trouble...
Nevertheless, Li Chen had plenty on his plate as well.
Magneto had proactively backed down, and Lorna and the others had stayed behind, requiring him to reassure them.
Of course, the most pressing matter remained Black Widow Natasha.
She had called, stating that someone wished to see him, and in an official capacity.
Li Chen knew full well that Black Widow was about to lay her cards on the table.
Therefore, he did not refuse; he wanted to see what was going on, and besides, he could not let a cooked duck fly away.
Thus, Li Chen climbed into Bumblebee and headed off alone to the meeting.
Not a scratch remained on Bumblebee's chassis; it looked brand new.
It turned out that mere bullets could not harm it in the slightest, unless humanity resorted to heavy weaponry.
Yet Bumblebee was no fool and would evade danger.
The location Natasha had chosen was a relatively private café.
Maria Hill and Natasha were seated by the window.
Right at that moment, a yellow car pulled up.
They glanced outside, and sure enough, it was a 'Bumblebee'.
Li Chen stepped out of the driver's seat, pushed open the door to enter, and instantly spotted Black Widow Natasha.
This woman, who had shared a pillow with him countless times, now seemed rather unfamiliar.
Clad in a form-fitting black uniform, she appeared sharp, valiant, and striking.
Li Chen's acting began the moment he pushed the door open.
He froze at first, then put on an expression of sheer disbelief.
"Honey, what kind of uniform roleplay is this?"
He asked, pretending to remain calm.
Natasha caught the other emotions in his eyes, and a slight pang touched her heart.
Yet she had no choice; she had to reveal her true identity to Li Chen.
Thus, she said impassively, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. You may call me Black Widow."
"No!"
Li Chen yelled dramatically—if only there were background music right now.
'Snowflakes drifting...'
"You will always be my Natalie!"
Natasha pursed her lips, her gaze softening with tenderness.
Seeing Li Chen's 'emotional breakdown', Maria Hill, who had remained quiet until now, finally stood up: "Mr. Li, I am the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.. We need to talk."
Only then did Li Chen appear to notice the other person beside her.
She was also dressed in uniform, and her chin-length hair gave her a sharp, formidable presence.
Chapter 109: Even the Black Widow Must Fulfill Her Contract
Li Chen was no stranger to Agent Hill.
Because he used to love watching an American TV show called How I Met Your Mother.
Agent Hill shared the exact same face as the beautiful journalist Robin from the show.
She was a truly independent woman—a very likable character who had left a deep impression on Li Chen.
"And you are?"
Li Chen looked at her warily. "Are you the one trying to take my Natalie away?"
"No, no, no, we won't take her away."
Maria Hill observed him carefully and realized that Li Chentruly had feelings for Natasha.
"I just want to confirm whether you have the ability to protect her."
Only upon hearing this did Li Chen take a seat opposite them.
Natasha then stood up and brought over a few drinks, just as she used to do at the company.
And what was placed before Li Chen was a cup of tea.
This made Li Chen chuckle inwardly; routines truly were the way to go.
Yet on the surface, he remained unruffled. "What do you mean by that?"
"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Maria Hill."
Agent Hill said with a smile, "We at S.H.I.E.L.D. are responsible for handling supernatural events and global crises. The reason we contacted you is because of Saitama's appearance."
"If I'm not mistaken, that's the real Bumblebee, isn't it?"
She looked toward Bumblebee parked outside the window.
Li Chen did not answer, but instead looked at Natasha. "So... was everything a lie?"
His gaze locked tightly onto Black Widow, causing her resolve to waver slightly. She had no choice but to say, "No, not all of it."
She then lowered her head, not daring to look at Li Chenagain.
Li Chen made her feel as if all the blame lay with her, as if she were a heartless woman...
This was precisely the effect Li Chen wanted to achieve; only when Natasha felt guilty would she be obedient in the future.
Then, Li Chen deliberately adopted a cold demeanor and looked toward Maria Hill. "What do you want?"
Maria Hill said, "I hope we can cooperate, Mr. Li."
"You know Natasha's identity now. She longs for a life in retirement, but retirement for an Agent isn't so simple."
"They must live incognito; otherwise, they can easily become targets of attacks by old enemies."
"And as her family, you will also face retaliation."
This was an Agent's dilemma.
They had done far too many unspeakable things—dark and bloody—and made countless enemies.
Seeing Li Chen remain silent, Maria Hill continued, "We at S.H.I.E.L.D. can provide you with a safe haven and protection."
"I don't need it,"
Li Chen replied decisively.
"Of course. After all, you have Saitama protecting you."
Maria Hill smiled.
She tucked her short hair back and looked intently at Li Chen. "Mr. Li, you also know that this world is becoming increasingly dangerous."
"If a global crisis occurs, even with Saitama's protection, you might be safe, but what about others?"
"Humans are social creatures, and being alone is lonely. Therefore, we can work together to protect Earth's safety."
"We have a plan: to assemble the world's strongest heroes."
She briefly explained the Avengers Initiative.
Li Chen understood: so she wanted to invite Saitama to join the Avengers Initiative.
He shook his head and said, "He won't join you, but if the world is truly in danger, he won't stand idly by either."
Maria Hill felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this, but could only say, "That would still be wonderful."
"What about you, though, Mr. Li?"
She looked at Li Chen with keen interest. "I don't believe you're an ordinary person."
Li Chen was far too mysterious. Even after lurking for so long, Black Widow hadn't managed to uncover his secrets.
He was like a mysterious black hole, bringing forth new things every once in a while.
And there was still that ultimate question:
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The works Li Chen had invested in and produced all turned out to have real-life prototypes now, making Maria Hillcertain that Li Chen was anything but ordinary.
Yet Li Chen merely looked at her coldly. "I don't trust you women anymore."
This prompted Black Widow to glance up at him, but seeing Li Chen's cold gaze sent an instant shudder through her heart.
Maria Hill also knew that negotiations couldn't proceed under these circumstances.
She hadn't anticipated that Agent Black Widow's charm would be so powerful...
This was simply due to her lack of experience; she couldn't tell who was the prey and who was the hunter.
Yet her curiosity about Li Chen grew, and she couldn't resist the urge to explore further.
Perhaps that was also why Agent Black Widow had fallen for him.
Who doesn't love exploring a mystery?
Maria Hill then reined in her curiosity, stood up, and said, "Since that's the case, let's leave our conversation here."
She extended her hand, and Li Chen stood up as well to shake it.
As if possessed, Maria Hill actually scratched the palm of his hand lightly.
Li Chen shot her a surprised look, but Agent Hill said in all seriousness, "We can keep in touch often in the future."
At this, three words almost slipped out of Li Chen's mouth.
"'You're quite...'"
He released his grip on Maria Hill's hand without saying a word,
simply watching as Maria Hill prepared to leave.
However, just as Natasha Romanoff walked past, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Agent Black Widow."
Hearing this form of address, Natasha's heart trembled with an agonizing pang.
It felt as if Li Chen was distancing himself from her.
"What is it?"
She could only force herself to look calmly at Li Chen.
Yet unlike his past tenderness, Li Chen showed only coldness now.
"Our contract isn't over yet."
Li Chen spoke up, "You are the female lead of Lucy. You must fulfill the contract."
Natasha replied, "You can recast."
"No. Surely you people at S.H.I.E.L.D. don't lack the spirit of contract, do you?"
Li Chen looked toward Maria Hill.
Maria Hill was just about to say that the one who signed was Natalie, which had nothing to do with Natasha...
After all, she had used an alias.
This was a common tactic among Agents.
However, considering the need to maintain a connection with Li Chen, Black Widow was clearly a good choice—otherwise, she would have to offer herself up instead.
"Of course not,"
Maria Hill said. "Agent Black Widow will fulfill the contract."
Natasha felt helpless; she hadn't expected to still have to shoot a movie after laying her cards on the table.
Yet thinking about how her identity was out in the open gave her an odd feeling.
It was like an uncomfortable itch all over her body.
And seeing Li Chen's cold gaze and strictly business expression made her heart ache a little.
Even though she had never experienced it before, she knew that this was what love was.
Li Chen let go of her hand, watching the two beauties depart, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he had seen plenty in Hollywood and could pull off some acting.
It shouldn't be much of a problem.
Outside the window, Maria Hill was indeed curious about Bumblebee; she even deliberately walked over to take a look.
"Bumblebee?"
She called out, but received no response.
Was this really a transformer after all?
Chapter 110: His Majesty the King
In New York's Hellfire Club, Li Chen had come here to relax.
Lorna and the others had already joined the Hellfire Club, becoming a part of it and officially becoming the first subjects of King Li Chen.
Therefore, some clever people would address Li Chenupon seeing him as: "Your Majesty."
Li Chen turned his head to look, and it was none other than 'Fan Ye'.
No matter how he looked at this face, he liked it more and more.
Li Chen waved his hand, signaling her to come over.
'Fan Ye' obediently walked over, and Li Chen directly pinched her chin, making her raise her head.
Only then did Li Chen see her clearly; there was a square pattern between her eyebrows, and there were also delicate lines above and below her eyes.
This wasn't the appearance of those rune warriors, as rune warriors generally wouldn't tattoo their faces.
But this made her look very pretty, possessing a unique aesthetic beauty.
Obviously, this was a change brought about by her Mutantabilities.
"What is your name?"
Li Chen asked aloud.
'Fan Ye' immediately replied: "My name is Clarice Ferguson, Your Majesty, and you can also call me Blink."
She was Blink, and she could create a Portal by distorting space, allowing her to move people and objects within a regional space she set.
Of course, she could also carry people with her. After strengthening her superpower to its peak, she could even teleport between Earth and the Moon, a terrifyingly overpowered ability.
"Blink?"
Li Chen remembered that in "Days of Future Past", Fan Yeplayed Blink, but unfortunately she only appeared for a few minutes...
But now, this 'Fan Ye' belonged to him.
"Be a bit more confident."
Li Chen spoke: "From now on, you are the king's woman."
He discovered that Blink was good in every way, except that she was too unconfident; whenever she faced Li Chen's gaze, she would always dodge it, not daring to make eye contact with him at all.
Personality is often related to one's past life experiences.
Of course, this didn't affect Li Chen enjoying his spoils of war.
Pulling Blink along just like a king inspecting his territory, he brought her into the dance floor.
In clubs in America, music and alcohol were never lacking.
In the center of the dance floor, Li Chen's hand wrapped around Blink's waist, beginning to teach her how to dance.
Although Blink blushed heavily, she didn't dare to refuse Li Chen.
She felt so happy she was about to faint.
In the corner, Lorna Dane was drinking in sullen silence.
Watching the two people in the center of the dance floor, for some reason, an inexplicable anger welled up inside her.
Didn't he agree to take her in?
Originally, Lorna hadn't cared too much, and was even somewhat angry that Magneto had sold her out just like that.
Although she didn't have much emotional connection with Magneto, and the father and daughter had nothing to talk about.
But now, seeing Li Chen ignore her and instead approach her junior sister, Lorna felt somewhat unconvinced.
When the song ended and Li Chen temporarily stepped away, Lorna immediately walked over.
"Hey, Clarice."
Lorna put on the airs of a big sister boss.
Blink was startled: "Big Sister?"
"What are you doing? Why are you dancing with him?"
Lorna said in exasperation, perfectly hiding her own thoughts.
Blink immediately replied, feeling wronged: "His Majesty wanted me to dance with him."
"His Majesty!?"
Lorna widened her eyes; she had always thought Blink was timid, but she hadn't expected her to be so scheming.
Which man could withstand such a form of address?
"If he asks, you just give in?"
Blink blinked. What else could she do?
She couldn't refuse His Majesty anyway.
At this moment, Li Chen returned holding two glasses of wine.
He handed a glass to Blink, and then wrapped his arm around Polaris Lorna: "Lorna, do you want to dance too?"
"No, I wouldn't dance with you for the world."
Lorna immediately acted coyly.
Li Chen didn't mind either; he no longer cared about other people's thoughts.
His own gratification was the most important thing.
Thus, he held Lorna with one hand and Blink with the other.
Other Mutants seeing this scene all pretended not to see it.
Even the Mutants who had a secret crush on Lorna acted as if they were blind.
Not knowing what she was thinking, Lorna surprisingly didn't break away.
She just called over a bunny girl and continuously drank in sullen silence.
Li Chen didn't care about her either, simply chatting with Blink and getting to know her a little bit.
He still preferred having a little bit of emotional connection; otherwise, just going at it without knowing anything, what difference would that make from visiting a prostitute?
Blink's experiences weren't anything special—she just discovered her superpower, terrified everyone, and then decided she would never use her superpower again.
But obviously, she still failed to do so.
This kind of superpower was innate; who could possibly refuse it?
Li Chen checked the time and felt it was about time.
"Let's go, Lorna is drunk."
He took both women by the arm and stood up, heading straight deeper into the club without even needing to open a room at a hotel.
One had to say that Polaris's alcohol tolerance was indeed poor; drinking in sullen silence by herself had actually made her drunk.
But what was interesting was that Blink's face was even redder than Polaris's.
Obviously, she knew what was about to happen.
Arriving in the room, Li Chen threw Polaris onto the sofa.
As for someone who was drunk, of course he had no interest.
Moreover, seeing Blink's Fan Ye face, he became fired up.
Fan Ye was indeed supremely beautiful, and possessed a seductive charm; seeing her felt like looking at a ravishing and alluring character like Su Daji from Huaxia's history.
Therefore, it wasn't hard to understand King Zhou of Shang...
Of course, from a modern perspective, these stories were very fake, and the truth was likely not as depicted in the myths, but there was no helping it, as history was written by the victors.
"Come here."
Li Chen pressed Blink's head down.
When it was almost done, he saw Blink looking at him with disheveled hair and saying: "Your Majesty, please show mercy."
Li Chen laughed heartily: "I get to play the role of Li Zhi for once."
Back then, Wu Zetian played by Fan Ye made countless people yearn for her day and night.
One could only say that with such a Wu Meiniang, it really couldn't be blamed on Li Zhi for relinquishing power.
...
As time passed, the drunk feeling slowly dissipated, and Lorna sobered up a bit.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on the sofa.
Muffled groans came from time to time by her ear, as if someone was suppressing themselves.
She dazedly opened her eyes and instantly saw the scene before her.
Her face instantly turned red, as if she had gotten drunk all over again.
That fellow Li Chen actually brought her in?
What was he doing?
Then she discovered that Li Chen was walking towards her: "Awake? Then join in together."
She couldn't resist; being drunk, she had no strength at all, and was tossed over by Li Chen.
Turning her head, she found Blink looking at her with a smile on her face.
"Mmph!"
Before she could say anything, her mouth was covered.
But what made Lorna widen her eyes was that the one covering her mouth wasn't Li Chen, but Blink.
Naturally, this was at Li Chen's demand; someone with Blink's personality had been completely conquered by him and couldn't possibly harbor the slightest bit of betrayal.
Therefore, toward Li Chen's command, Blink executed it without the slightest hesitation.
For the rest of her life, the only thing she needed to do next was to satisfy His Majesty the King's demands.