Ch: 159-164 - Fanfics to read

Chapter 159 Spider-Man Loses His Power

Coming before the glass display case, Steve and the Cloak of Levitation stared at each other.

The Cloak in the display case was very anthropomorphic, also striking a human pose to stare back at Steve. It just lacked a humanoid body, making it look both funny and amusing.

Steve opened the display case. The Cloak before him was red on the outside, with a mottled pattern on the inside.

This was Doctor Strange's exclusive equipment. If he took it, what would Strange use?

However, after thinking about it, Steve no longer felt guilty. Who cares? Better a dead friend than a dead me.

At least, he hadn't seen any of Strange's impressive abilities. He had many flashy magic spells, but few useful ones.

He extended his hand, making an inviting gesture.

"Interested in living with me?"

The hem of the Cloak of Levitation folded into a hand-like shape, rising to its chin. It seemed to be thinking.

Its feelings towards Steve were neither good nor bad; it had a little interest, but not much.

"Look, I also have a weapon with self-awareness, and I treat it very well!"

Steve took out mjolnir. This hammer was incredibly powerful; whether it was combat effectiveness or auxiliary functions, it could be maximized.

With his strength, his need for the Cloak of Levitationwasn't great. The Cloak's functions were having self-awareness, being able to fly and levitate, and slightly resisting some magic.

But when the magic was too powerful, the Cloak also had the potential to be damaged.

How to put it?

It was better to have it, but it didn't matter if he didn't.

mjolnir erupted in a burst of lightning. The hammer vibrated slightly, seemingly excited to see another sentient item.

Most objects had no sentience; sentient items were all very unique.

Precisely because they had sentience, their auxiliary abilities were very strong, much stronger than many, many other items. They could be understood as artificial intelligence-like existences.

The Cloak of Levitation very humanely reached out and patted mjolnir, then came behind Steve and automatically adjusted itself to him.

With a thought, Steve flew up.

There was no discomfort in his neck; the Cloak's flight and levitation did not rely on the neck connection to forcibly lift him.

This was more like achieving it with natural force fields, magnetic fields, or magic. This was amazing, truly amazing!

"Oh, it seems she likes you, congratulations, husband."

Ancient One said these two words without any shame. For a woman of her age, shame was merely an emotion.

She was not swayed by external things nor saddened by her own misfortunes. Whether it was sadness, happiness, or shame, they were just emotions; they could exist, but one didn't necessarily have to be affected by them.

"You did well. I agree to your request. I'll take you to see Hill and the others. If you have any questions, talk to them.

They are helping me handle worldly affairs; they are the women who truly hold power."

Steve wasn't cut out for that. Instead of wasting his time and spending important hours on such matters every day, it was better to hand things over to professionals.

"Okay, thank you."

Ancient One's humble and obedient demeanor truly made it impossible to be angry with her.

"By the way, husband, the Cloak of Levitation has the ability to shapeshift. It can transform into any item, helping you to disguise yourself better.

I'll teach you how to use it. It's magic, a small spell, not difficult to learn."

Evening, safe house Villa with sea view.

Hill, who had been busy all day, returned to the Villaand played with her daughter.

Her daughter was very smart, but very mischievous. Whatever she was told to do, she would have her own temper and do the opposite.

Every time Hill was about to hit her, her eyes would well up with tears, and she would act pitiful. This made Hill unable to bring herself to do it. After all, it was her own child, what could she do!

She had been quirky since childhood; when she grew up, she would surely become a little demoness!

Seeing her husband bring back a bald woman, Hill's eyelids twitched. Was she not attractive enough, or had Steve's taste changed?

"Hill, this is Ancient One, the current Sorcerer Supreme, the administrator of Kamar-Taj. Um, she is a magic-user.

She manages supernatural affairs and will cooperate with us. Kamar-Taj will also gradually come under our jurisdiction.

I brought her here to connect with you. This matter is not urgent; take your time to understand. Ancient One, show Hill your abilities."

Steve went over and embraced Hill. This was his first wife, who had been with him from the very beginning.

She was the first woman to accept his seventy-year gift, and it could be said they shared hardships. During public relations crises, she never wavered or abandoned him.

So now that he had achieved something, he would grant her a corresponding status and respect.

A wife doesn't necessarily have to be beautiful, but she does need to be virtuous!

With a virtuous wife, the home can be peaceful. With an unvirtuous wife, the home will be chaotic and restless.

Ancient One nodded and began to cast magic. The first was naturally the Mirror Dimension, pulling the Villainto it.

The next second, she was stunned. She found that the spatial structure here was exceptionally stable, tens of thousands of times more stable than titanium alloy or Adamantium!

It was simply unshakeable!

Seeing Ancient One raise her finger, but with no movement around. Hill's expression was somewhat suspicious. She looked at Ancient One, then turned to look at Steve.

"My dear, have you been drinking?"

Meaning, was Steve drunk? Or had he drunk fake alcohol?

Ancient One was a bit embarrassed. She then demonstrated the illusionary clone technique, which succeeded this time.

Crimson Bands, magic shields, magic weapons, and portals, etc.

She could open portals, but this required consent.

If Steve didn't agree, Ancient One couldn't open it either. Sometimes, rules trumped everything, even magic.

Hill was not surprised. She had witnessed many Strange things during her many years at S.H.I.E.L.D., so when magic truly appeared before her, she showed no reaction.

She lightly stroked her chin with her jade hand, making a thoughtful gesture.

"Ancient One, is it? Please sit.

Edith, please call Sharon for me; tell her I need to see her."

Soon, Sharon arrived, jumping down from the second-floor railing. She was wearing a pair of high-heeled crystal sandals, yet still managed such a difficult movement.

Was it difficult for her, with her Super Soldier physique, to do something like this?

"Hill, what's up?"

Sharon leaned against Steve on the other side, smiling radiantly, without a hint of displeasure on her face.

"This is Ancient One. She is a magic-user who just showed me magic, and she was introduced by Steve."

Hill began to explain her plan, specifically mentioning the portal.

Steve listened from the side, feeling a bit bored. Let him fight and kill, he might be good at that, but asking him to strategize made him very sleepy.

In many people's eyes, portals were just a convenient means of passage and rapid movement.

But Hill saw other uses for portals; they could make many things theirs!

Many mineral resources are stored in natural mines. What if a shadowy figure secretly took things away without anyone knowing?

Wouldn't that make people furious?

HYDRA, the Military, and the CIA had all obtained quite a few Chitauri Legion remnants and were all beginning their respective research.

What if they could directly reach the opponent's research Base, and after confirming the location, go to the laboratory and take away the researched data?

This was making others work for them, while they seized the fruits of their labor!

Good, good, playing dirty, huh!

One could only say, well done!

Steve also perked up. He looked at Hill's fair and beautiful profile, her vivid red lips, and the mature charm she possessed after having a child. She looked like a fox, a beautiful and dangerous fox spirit!

Fortunately, she was his wife. If she were his enemy, he might wake up screaming at night!

It wasn't that it was bad, but rather very good.

As an enemy, it was very bad, but as a wife and one of his own, it was simply too good!

It was as if he was seeing another side of Hill for the first time. When a woman was gentle, she could make a king miss his morning court.

If she were cunning, what moral bottom lines? In her eyes, they were just jokes.

As for whether there was enmity with the other party?

This couldn't be explained by hatred. Sometimes, those who don't stand in your way aren't necessarily not enemies. The best way is to weaken your opponents as much as possible, turning them into wild boars without teeth.

Towards the end, Hill glanced at Steve. Her husband had already fallen asleep and was even snoring, which was quite exasperating.

Osborn Manor.

Peter was invited here for a drink. His identity had been revealed to Green Goblin, and he, in turn, knew Green Goblin's identity.

They had many conflicts when they were still anonymous, to the extent that neither recognized the other.

Now that they knew each other's identities, coupled with the deaths of Harry and Mary Jane, it brought them together.

Green Goblin took a glass of whiskey and leaned on the sofa. Outside, it was still raining heavily in the dark night.

Rainwater could wash away sins and cleanse the filth of the city.

"Harry is dead. As his father, I will never tolerate the murderer getting away with it. Peter, can you understand how I feel?"

Peter wasn't in a good mood either. His first love, the goddess, had died in front of him. That feeling of powerlessness had plunged him into self-doubt.

His abilities had temporarily disappeared, and he was now wearing thick glasses.

"I know, but I've lost my powers. I can't help you."

This was the truth. He wanted revenge, but his powers had disappeared very strangely. He didn't even know if there was a possibility of recovery. From this moment on, he was no longer Spider-Man.

"I know, I know, that's why I'm here to help you. Otto, what do you think?"

Green Goblin turned to ask. Peter looked up and saw Dr. Octopus inspecting books on the second floor.

Mechanical arms gripped the floor, moving Dr. Octopusfrom the second floor to the first. Another mechanical arm picked up a wine glass. He read a book while drinking, needing only a thought; this was a leisurely life.

"I've read many books, and none describe the recovery of your abilities.

Overall, this isn't something that can be solved physically; it's more about here!"

Dr. Octopus pointed to the location of the heart. This was a knot in the heart; a heart ailment required a heart medicine.

In Western terms, it would be finding a Doctor for psychological counseling.

"Then how to treat it?"

Green Goblin heard this and thought of a wicked idea. Although it was unethical, doing so might not be useless.

Morality? That was not even a consideration. As long as one had no morals, one was invincible!

Otherwise, his progress in being elected as a senator wouldn't have been so fast. If they disagreed, he'd expose their dirty secrets. If that didn't work, he'd poison or assassinate them.

Sometimes these methods aren't clever, but they are certainly effective!

What could you do to someone who didn't even have a son? This was an invincible person!

Fearless, unconstrained, and therefore powerful!

"I found some interesting information. According to Captain, Black King Shaw was rescued by a fallen rogue magic-user named Kaecilius.

This magic thing is very Strange; they don't seem to follow any scientific laws at all!

Hehe, Otto, if we capture him and dissect him, I wonder if we can use scientific methods to decipher magic?"

Green Goblin's smile was incredibly sinister, his eyes revealing cruelty. He didn't treat dissection, such a cruel act, as a big deal at all.

"Perhaps that's a good suggestion. What did Captainsay?"

Dr. Octopus was now considered a member of the Avengers. The reason they were called Dark Avengerswas because they were ex-criminals, essentially super-heroes who had been whitewashed.

"He's busy with the movie. I've seen the finished product; it's quite good and will definitely be a box office hit."

Green Goblin couldn't quite understand what Captain America wanted to do. He had different women around him every day. If one said he was merely a man lost to pleasure, it seemed somewhat incorrect.

This must be Captain's way of misleading others!

Only by deceiving oneself first can one successfully deceive the enemy! Is this what great wisdom looks like, appearing foolish?

Green Goblin couldn't help but feel a sudden respect for Captain America. No wonder he was Captain; this outstanding insight clearly marked him as a leader. No wonder he was the leader!

A Captain not busy punishing evil, but instead busy making movies, was somewhat neglecting his proper duties!

But even if Captain was slacking off, it was still righteous! Even someone like Green Goblin would actively make excuses for Steve; people just thought Captain was right, what could be done?

"Peter, are you sure you'll kill Black King Shaw to avenge Harry?

Don't forget how Mary Jane died? Harry said you loved her very much, but she died in front of you.

She died in front of Spider-Man! You probably don't know, but Mary Jane actually liked Spider-Man very much."

Green Goblin's words, like a devil's whisper, echoed repeatedly in Peter's mind.

"Mary Jane liked me? Impossible! How could it be! How could she like me!

Impossible! Impossible!"

Peter clutched his head in agony. He couldn't believe it, and completely refused to believe it was true!

This meant he couldn't protect the people he loved. His usual good deeds, saving children who couldn't dodge, rescuing refugees from fires.

These seemed like great achievements, but in reality, he was a useless person who couldn't even save the one he loved!

What was the use of being powerful normally?

If it wasn't useful at the critical moment, then it wasn't useful, it was useless!

Only the result matters, not the process!

Chapter 160: The Avengers Movie Released to Boost Reputation

Striking while the iron was hot, Edith was instructed to edit the combat footage, extending the battle duration to sixty minutes, which would allow the audience to watch it to their heart's content in one go!

Continuing to promote individual and team fame by filming movies, and building statues and memorials to commemorate the Battle of New York, these were all necessary tasks.

Tony was quite unconventional now, and he didn't like being constrained by worldly frameworks.

Having experienced the Battle of New York and witnessed the power of alien civilizations, Tony suffered from some post-war trauma.

Coupled with Whiplash's excellent suggestion to him, which was to build an Iron Man Legion!

Controlled by artificial intelligence, these were weakened versions of Iron Man Suits, Iron Man Soldiers! These were the Iron Man Soldiers Whiplash had created and displayed at the Stark Expo!

Although it seemed a bit unreliable, with artificial intelligence managing them, it was still worth a try.

Moreover, the U.S. Military's combat effectiveness was unprecedentedly weak. Setting aside the fact that the opponents were aliens, did they have no counter-attack capability at all?

Logistics couldn't keep up.

The front lines were weak. This war received significant media coverage regarding the U.S. Military, even raising doubts about whether they could be called an army.

Steve's idea of building prestige was absolutely supported by everyone. Who doesn't like being treated as a hero?

Never mind if they hated being a hero before, just ask if you are a hero!

Whether to be a hero in the future is something to consider later; what needs to be considered now is how to enjoy the deserved treatment.

Some things, if not demanded now, will be very difficult to obtain later.

Whiplash, Green Goblin, Abomination—these criminals could apply for a presidential pardon, which is a privilege of every President.

With this pardon, any crime could be absolved, and the Court of Justice and prosecutor's office could no longer pursue it!

The original intention was good: to compensate for some unjust judgments and to embellish the United States' so-called beacon of civilization.

But now it had been somewhat misused, and with elections underway, this was a good opportunity for the President's power to be realized.

Everyone was busy with their own affairs, but the division of interests became inevitable.

As the war's fervor subsided, the Avengers movie was released!

Distributed by Horn Daily, this time movie tickets were charged, but it was available both online and offline.

Those without money could watch it on TV, and those with money could go to the cinema.

As mentioned before, they did not rely on box office revenue to make money. The movie was merely a promotional tool, used to enhance fame and spread the name of the Avengers and individuals!

How much money was the box office worth?

Subsequent development of individual merchandise, figurines, autographs, etc., that was the real source of income!

Casually endorsing some clothing, shoes, and products could bring in a fortune, to the point of counting money until their hands ached!

Truly smart people always have a long-term vision, playing the long game.

"Oh my god! Another free movie! I love superheroes!"

"Hey, John? What! You're working overtime? Work your ass off! Captain America's new movie is out!"

"Front row selling sunflower seeds, soda, and beef noodles!"

When the movie was released, even busy politicians and Military generals couldn't help but pay attention. This was good for superheroes, but not so good for them.

The villains all gathered at Green Goblin's mansion to watch the movie and see what it was like to be the protagonist!

Protagonist?

Supporting actor was more like it!

The first scene was the opening, with S.H.I.E.L.D.researching the secrets of the Tesseract. This mysterious cube, containing immense energy, had the power to change the World.

At a research Base, the Tesseract suddenly activated, opening a portal to another dimension, and an evil force stirred.

Loki appeared, killed the S.H.I.E.L.D. special forces, swayed Hawkeye and Magneto, and severely injured Professor X.

The Mutants were barely seen, their abilities hardly displayed before they were taken down.

After Loki's massacre, he swaggered away with the mind-controlled individuals and the Tesseract. Before leaving, he unleashed an energy explosion with the Tesseract.

This explosion completely destroyed the entire research facility, leaving no trace!

Fury realized the urgency of the situation, immediately strengthened the protection of the Tesseract, and summoned forces from all sides.

The scene shifted.

Captain America Steve was hitting a sandbag, and the movie flashed through scenes from Captain America 1: the plane with explosives, him saying goodbye to Peggy, and finally crash-landing the plane.

Then came the scenes of him being dug out of the glacier and realizing he was still alive.

Afterward, there were scenes of rescuing a freighter, encountering the Mutant Black King Shaw, and attacks by the Rockefeller Family-instigated Second Fleet.

Fury came to Steve, asking for his help on a mission to find the Tesseract and gather other super-powered individuals.

Steve agreed, but the scene shifted, and he was seen having dinner with Sharon, the two not discussing work but where they would go on a date later.

It even revealed that Steve usually lasted two hours, and Sharon couldn't handle it, suggesting he find other women, serving as a reasonable explanation for his philandering.

Then came Black Widow's famous scene of interrogating an arms dealer: high heels, an evening gown, exquisite makeup, and black stockings.

Seeing Black Widow's beautiful face with a charming smile after the phone call, she made Coulson wait a moment, then, while tied to a chair, how she fought three men and turned the tables.

This scene excited all the men, showcasing the Agent's virtues of beauty, intelligence, and bravery to the fullest!

The scene changed again; this time, physicist Bruce Banner was living incognito in India.

He was researching how to control the Hulk's power within him, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Natasha and Captain America Steve found him. After some discussion, he reluctantly agreed to join.

A suspenseful element was left here: when Bannerroared, outside the house, a special forces team with live ammunition was on alert, ready to engage at any moment! This made people very curious about the consequences of Dr. Banner's anger.

Coulson recruited Iron Man, and the two discussed future clean energy, serving as an advertisement for Stark Industries.

More efficient, more affordable prices, definitely beneficial to humanity!

General Ross watched super-criminals—Abomination, Green Goblin, Whiplash, and the leader Mr. Blue—in the Raft prison. He offered them a cooperation agreement: they would work for the Military, undertaking the most dangerous missions in exchange for reduced sentences.

"Can we trust criminals?"

"Wait, Abomination is a criminal? My god, he's my idol!"

"What's the big deal? Haven't you heard that the current presidential candidate, Obama, used to be a drug addict? This is nothing!"

Amidst a flurry of questions, the movie continued to progress.

The opening introduced the villains and the crisis; now it was about recruiting superheroes and the initial skirmishes with the villains.

The next scene was the heroes assembling.

Besides capturing Loki, there were also scenes of Loki's minions brutally murdering wealthy individuals and seizing their assets.

The bloodshed and cruelty were one thing, especially Loki's deliberate provocations later, forcing humans to kneel, which truly angered the masses.

The Avengers arrived, subdued Loki, and took him back for interrogation, but then encountered Thor.

There were also modified combat scenes in between, with Iron Man fighting Thor and being utterly defeated.

Later, Captain America joined the battle and finally used his shield to withstand Thor's attacks. With a large explosion, everyone was blown away.

The three of them laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie after their fight.

The scene shifted, and a classic famous moment appeared.

Everyone was blaming Loki's wrongdoings, but only Thor proudly stated that no matter how many mistakes Loki made, he was still an Asgardian, not someone the people of Earth could judge!

Black Widow innocently watched the screen, her pretty face a bit helpless.

"Loki killed over 120 people in two days, causing significant casualties and property damage!"

Thor took a step back, his arrogance from earlier gone, subconsciously distancing himself.

"He's just adopted!"

After this scene, everyone burst into laughter, and the audience roared with laughter.

The plot continued.

Next, Loki's minions attacked the S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft carrier, led by the veteran Agent Hawkeye.

With a familiar insider's betrayal, the seemingly impregnable aircraft carrier was easily compromised.

The turbine engines were damaged, facing the danger of falling from high altitude, threatening the lives of nearly two thousand staff members!

There was also Dr. Banner's first transformation, the uncontrollable ferocity of the Hulk, who fought Thor to a standstill.

Thor, who wasn't fighting at full strength, was beaten incredibly miserably, making people think he wasn't Thor at all, but the God of Getting Beaten!

How could Thor be so weak! This was just a joke!

A sudden attack clearly showed the current state of the Avengers, where no one respected anyone else.

If they couldn't even unite, how could they talk about cooperation?

Captain America and Iron Man went to repair the damaged engine, and both encountered mishaps.

Captain America almost fell from tens of thousands of meters, while Iron Man was almost churned into meat paste by the turbine.

Hulk and Thor experienced the same high-altitude fall; one was nowhere to be found, and the other narrowly escaped.

Hawkeye was knocked back to his senses by Black Widow Natasha, regaining control.

The first mission ended in a dismal failure.

Coulson sacrificed himself, and Director Fury gave a speech to inspire and uplift spirits, offering motivational platitudes.

Before they could adjust, the Tesseract was activated, opening a portal, and aliens began to invade.

The next plot was the return of catastrophe: without the protection of superheroes, how citizens were slaughtered, and how incompetent New York's police were.

It was a full-blown disaster movie, this scene lasted for ten minutes, solely to send a brainwashing signal to everyone.

Without superhero protection, they simply couldn't live in peace and contentment, let alone practice yoga and light meals; light her mother would be more like it.

Immediately after, the Avengers appeared, and General Ross also dispatched the Dark Avengers to join in.

Each person was given a close-up shot, announcing the official assembly of the Avengers.

The iconic, thrilling music, coupled with Captain America picking up Mjolnir and his shield, and saying,

"Avengers, assemble!"

Nearly an hour of battle footage, visceral and realistic, all filmed live on site.

It also included a brief scene of Captain America seeing something through the portal, but it was very short and not described in detail.

However, the discussions it sparked were endless, as high-level information like aliens had always been kept secret, completely unknown to civilians!

Interestingly, the Security Council's order to bomb Manhattan Island with a nuclear missile was included, as was Director Fury's firm refusal and strong support for the Avengers.

But the Security Council still bypassed fleet management and directly transmitted the execution order to the lower levels.

Disregarding the large number of citizens still present, they rashly used nuclear missiles. At that time, not only citizens but also the Military were fighting there.

This directly tarnished the Security Council's reputation, reigniting the previous controversies.

When news of the strange deaths of the council members came, with the movie's negative portrayal, their deaths were in vain; no one would sympathize with these cold-blooded beasts!

The audience, having watched the movie, remained deeply affected.

But after the movie, there was an Easter egg: in the Universe, a man sitting on a throne calmly listened to the Chitauri Elder recount the intelligence of their war failure.

This man was Thanos!

This again sparked intense discussion, because the plot in the movie was merely a replication of events that had actually happened in reality.

In other words, all of this had truly occurred!

The only drawback was the lack of Mutant combat scenes, aside from Wolverine and his team fighting valiantly. Other Mutants didn't even have screen time; in fact, they didn't have much screen time at all.

The heroes were portrayed more positively, and the villains were whitewashed. Conversely, the council members went from being high and mighty to being universally reviled!

The bill originally intended to restrict these superheroes was also postponed indefinitely.

Who would dare propose a restrictive bill at this time? Wouldn't that be asking for the Kennedy treatment?

It's all about making money, not about faith. Faith is for suckers; nothing beats cold, hard cash!

Some things won't get better; the conflict will only become more intense.

The bodies of deceased Mutants were recovered and taken to a laboratory in San Francisco.

The short-statured dwarf scientist, Bolivar, was researching Mutant genes. Besides scrambling and reorganizing genes to create new Mutants, he also created a robot designed to identify Mutants, including the ability to hunt them.

This project had been on hold due to material limitations.

But with the arrival of the Chitauri Legion wreckage from the Battle of New York, this shelved robot project was revived, codenamed—Sentinel.

Stryker, who hadn't been seen for a long time, appeared here. He had escaped last time. It was rumored he went to Europe, but it turned out he played a trick and ran to San Francisco, seeking refuge with Bolivar.

Two men who harbored immense hatred for Mutants and super-powered individuals could be said to be birds of a feather!

Chapter 161 Danica is a qualified maid

Coincidentally, someone had recently contacted them. This person held a high position and was an insider at S.H.I.E.L.D. His only request was to provide a method for detecting Mutants.

For Bolivar, this involved no loss at all, and cooperating with him was stress-free.

Stryker was recruited entirely because his son was also a Mutant, a comatose patient with powerful but uncontrollable psychic abilities.

Half a month ago, in front of a dilapidated house on the outskirts of New York.

Toomes stood in front of his dilapidated house, looking at the rusty truck in the yard, his brows tightly furrowed.

The pressure of life was like an invisible mountain, making him breathless.

His wife was frail and sickly, his daughter was in her rebellious teenage phase, and his small moving company barely scraped by, while bills piled up like mountains.

The U.S. system was like this; even though technology allowed for electronic payments, they still used mailed paper bills.

Why? Steve had also curiously asked Hill this question.

Hill didn't answer directly at first; only after their intimate moments would she look at Steve with a face still flushed with lingering passion.

"Bills have a lag, and there's a lot of room for manipulation. A hundred-dollar medical bill can snowball into thousands, or even tens of thousands, potentially.

If electronic payments were used, many people wouldn't be able to make money.

Hehe, I misspoke, it's the black-hearted capitalists who wouldn't make money."

However, the New York Battle, when the Chitauriinvaded, brought a glimmer of hope to Toomes.

The city was scarred, with Chitauri wreckage everywhere. These alien technologies, emitting mysterious light, were, in Toomes' eyes, the key to changing his fate.

He knew these remnants held immense value; if he could utilize them properly, he could not only pay off his debts but also provide a good life for his family.

Toomes gritted his teeth and decided to mortgage all his assets, including his house and company, to raise funds and assemble a team to salvage the Chitauriwreckage scattered across New York.

He told his wife, full of anticipation.

"My dear, this is our chance to turn things around. As long as we succeed, everything will be fine."

His wife also supported him unconditionally; a man with ambition, who dared to fight and strive, even if he made mistakes, was always better than doing nothing at all.

Acting on his thoughts, for the past half-month, Toomes, with his carefully selected team, toiled day and night in the ruins of New York.

They carefully collected every piece of Chitauriwreckage. Although the process was arduous, seeing the valuable items gradually accumulating in the warehouse, Toomes felt all the effort was worth it.

However, fate played a cruel joke on him. Stark Industries announced the establishment of a specialized department responsible for cleaning up and recovering Chitauri wreckage.

Relying on their vast financial resources and advanced technology, Stark Industries, Morgan Financial Group, and Citigroup, in conjunction with the U.S. Military, quickly monopolized this field.

Congress also enacted policies, entrusting all wreckage recovery work to joint ventures and prohibiting private participation.

Toomes' team instantly lost their jobs, and the large amount of money invested was completely lost.

His company went bankrupt, and his house was repossessed by the bank because he couldn't repay the mortgage. His family was forced to move into a cramped, dim apartment, and their lives plunged into desperation.

An enraged Toomes confronted the person in charge, but this heavily made-up old woman, a bitch, told him to go find her superiors, the city council, and Congress.

Watching the well-dressed employees of the Disaster Control Department drive in and out in luxury cars, resentment began to fester in his heart.

"Why? Why can they so easily take everything from me?"

Toomes wandered the streets late at night, the anger in his heart burning hotter and hotter.

Returning to the rented abandoned factory, his subordinate reported that there was still a truckload of Chitauri weapon wreckage that hadn't been turned in.

A crazy glint flashed in his eyes, and he decided to use this wreckage to build weapons and seek revenge on the Disaster Control Department.

"No more turning it in! Times have changed, and we need to change with them!"

Thus, Vulture was born!

Ocean View Villa.

The morning sun shone, and several beautiful women lay sprawled in the room.

As his biological clock struck, Steve opened his eyes promptly.

The room door opened, and Danica, dressed as a maid, walked in to help Steve wash up.

Her pale feet, clad in ten-centimeter high heels, moved silently across the floor. Her tall figure in the maid's outfit was striking.

"Master, two of our factories were attacked last night. Someone used ultraviolet grenades and special bullets to hunt our people.

The number of Vampires killed is 566, and the financial loss is around thirty million."

To be able to specifically create weapons against Vampires, they must be familiar with Vampireweaknesses.

Either they were enemies from Nissa and their Vampireera, or someone obtained relevant information from S.H.I.E.L.D.

After integration, the current Vampires are rarely allowed in nightclubs. They don't need to engage in grey area businesses, so they don't need nightclubs or cabarets.

They are all assigned to factories, and of course, some are rebellious.

Pick out a few troublemakers and let them bask in the sun for a while. Then, paint a rosy picture for the remaining Vampires, give them a tiny bit of welfare, not much, just a little.

They would all howl and stomp on the sewing machines until they smoked!

Gradually moving onto legitimate channels, earning money through their own labor. In the severely hollowed-out U.S., financialization has led to continuously rising labor costs.

These Vampires are incredibly cheap labor, and now someone is deliberately targeting Vampires for slaughter?

"What is Blade doing?"

Steve hadn't seen Blade for a long time. He had previously said he was tracking a powerful Vampire, then went to Europe, not even participating in the New York Battle.

"We can't contact him, so it shouldn't be him. Last night's attack was by a group of people with strange and varied abilities. I've brought a video of their fight."

Danica played a video, and after Steve sat down, she squatted and crawled under the table.

The video showed a group of eight thugs, completely covered in black clothes. Their abilities were indeed diverse; some used sonic attacks, and others could emit beam attacks.

Hiss!

Steve first gasped, his eyes intently watching the video.

"They look like Mutants? Strange, do they have a grudge against us?"

After a long while, the White Queen, Emma, who had been sleeping behind him, slowly woke up. She stretched her arms, yawned, and stretched.

Her pristine hand took the coffee from the cabinet and sipped it, then took a cigarette from the pack. After giving birth, she had to make up for all the cigarettes she missed!

She glanced at Danica, then walked to Steve's side to watch the video. Holding a lady's cigarette between her fingers, she raised her hand and took a deep drag, slowly exhaling a perfect smoke ring.

"These should be Mutants, and they should be controlled. Do you remember Ajax, whom Deadpoolmentioned? He specialized in creating Super Slaves."

The White Queen immediately saw something unusual. In the year prior, she had accidentally become pregnant because she hadn't used safety measures, so she stopped her mission to find Mutants and focused on her pregnancy.

She had rested for too long, but her mind hadn't lagged; she was still the strong and intelligent White Queen.

Earlier, Deadpool wanted to save his fallen girlfriend and asked Steve for help dealing with Ajax. As a result, Deadpool shot Ajax in the head, and the subsequent tracking came to nothing.

The original experiment involved finding marginalized individuals—bankrupt people, homeless people, and the like—to conduct experiments, subjecting them to a series of cruel tortures.

Burning, drowning, electrocution, live burial, even beating, and stabbing, all used to activate their abilities through extreme pain.

Those whose superpowers were activated would be fitted with special bomb collars. If they showed any disloyalty, the collars would be detonated, completely blowing off their necks.

Then they were sold to other wealthy individuals. These were not Super Heroes; they were selling Super Slaves!

People with superpowers should be high above, enjoying resources and adulation, with countless beautiful women and money.

But the reality was that they had to be slaves, exploited and dominated, to be dogs for their buyers!

"I remember, who was behind Ajax?"

Steve remembered. He had even abducted Ajax's assistant, Sand Dust Angel, to be his bodyguard.

The White Queen continued to puff smoke, flicking the ash from her cigarette, her eyes filled with a smile.

"I don't know yet. I'll look into it today when I have time."

Conventional interrogation methods were useless. With the White Queen, she could easily probe others' minds and thoughts, and nothing could be hidden.

Even deliberate misdirection wouldn't work. Because this kind of thought-reading was completely from a third-person perspective, reliving the other person's experience, whether it was intentional or not was immediately clear.

Unless the other person was also kept in the dark, things they didn't know, the White Queen naturally couldn't discover.

The White Queen had this confidence because of the Cerebro. An amplifier that allowed her to contact any place in the World from her Villa.

Wasn't finding people simple? The only cost was time.

If such a method were in the hands of ambitious people, they would probably already be busy conquering the entire World!

In fact, the White Queen did have this idea, but she hadn't had time to execute it yet. She just focused on Steve's adversaries, planning to deal with them first.

Plus, her daughter was still young and needed her care. While Aunt Mei could look after her normally, feeding still had to be done by her personally.

Mountaintop Castle in Sokovia.

Pierce made a secret visit and handed the Mind Stone to Baron Strucker.

"Oh, this is a good thing, a wonderful thing. Pierce, you've truly given me a huge surprise!"

Baron Strucker looked at the scepter before him, especially the gem embedded at the top, which was very profound and very captivating.

They already knew this scepter could control people's abilities. If they could develop this ability, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance their strength!

Now is no longer the age of science, nor the age of strength, but the age of miracles!

The Iron Man Suit is a miracle, the Super Soldier Serumis also a miracle, so developing power from the gem is also a miracle!

"I've given you the item. Where's what I want?"

Pierce was expressionless. He wanted to seize power quickly with this opportunity. Steve had taken everything he owned; if his wife hadn't already died, he probably wouldn't have been spared either.

It was agreed that if Steve had the ability, he would hand over HYDRA to him. But now that Steve had truly achieved it, Pierce was unhappy!

The old white men of Anglo-Saxon civilization never knew what it meant to keep a promise; they only knew how to write the words 'treachery and betrayal'!

He had already gained Fury's absolute trust. Since the path through Hill was blocked, he could only use Fury.

As long as the new aircraft carriers could take flight, combined with the Zola Algorithm, he could eliminate everyone who threatened him in one go!

The Iron Man Suit is very powerful, true, but who can guarantee that Tony will wear the suit all the time?

And Steve's wives, if they died, I wonder if Captainwould go crazy? Haha, how exciting!

Baron Strucker took out a chip and handed it over, not forgetting to continue boasting.

"This is the chip we upgraded for you according to Chitauri technology. Dr. Zola was a genius, but it's a pity he died a bit early."

Pierce took the chip and carefully put it away.

"Since the transaction is complete, I'll be leaving first."

"Won't you stay for a meal? I've also prepared some dancers; I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Baron Strucker's smile was very arrogant. He himself had little interest in such things, not that he didn't want to, but he simply wasn't interested.

When they were young, they were wilder and crazier than anyone else.

Having had enough fun when young, now that they were old, it was time to settle down and focus on their careers.

Pierce couldn't help but sneer, his hands in his pockets, his aura as a former Secretary-General still present.

"Do you think I still have the energy for that now? Get to business quickly. Soon S.H.I.E.L.D. will discover the gem is stolen, and you'll face more than just S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Haha, good. Someone, see our big client out."

Baron Strucker looked at the scepter with adoration, picked it up, and handed it over.

"Dr. List, it belongs to you now. Study it carefully. Research our theory of evolution and implement it soon. I will arrange test subjects for you."

From this, it's not hard to see that Baron Strucker's philosophy is different from other villains.

They are all villains, all wanting to gain power or high technology.

But he pursues evolution! He doesn't see people like Steve as monsters, nor as heroes, but as a direction for evolution.

Serving in S.H.I.E.L.D., he also knew about Mutants.

Steve had a special commando unit called the Vanguard.

It was entirely composed of people with superpowers, all from the lower strata of society, insignificant nobodies.

Why did they gain superpowers?

Is it genes?

No!

This should be evolution! Glorious evolution!

Three-Handed Viktor: You also want glorious evolution?

Chapter 162 Mystique's Invitation

Xavier Manor.

Steve, White Queen, and Polaris came to visit Charles. Three months had passed since the New York Battle, and those who were injured had recovered.

Only Charles remained in a coma, which seemed a bit strange.

If Mystique Raven hadn't gone to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters to find him, Steve really wouldn't have come; he wasn't particularly familiar with Charles.

There were too many women, so his interest in Mystique Raven wasn't as fervent.

Having her was certainly best, but not having her didn't matter, it didn't affect anything.

Since Mystique had spoken, it would be inappropriate for him not to come.

Polaris, who had just given birth, also followed along after hearing about it. Besides getting out and about, she also wanted to see her father.

Recently, Magneto had been searching for his long-lost lover and children. While still concerned about Mutantsurvival, he no longer had that same obsession.

He'd rather have his wife and children warm at home, occasionally doing things and earning some money, living a plain life like that forever.

Polaris was still as beautiful after giving birth, her figure hadn't changed or gained weight. The Super Soldier Serum not only enhanced her physique but also maintained her body shape.

This was what they talked about most enthusiastically; what woman doesn't love beauty?

Aunt Mei was the same, still charming, a mature woman.

If someone really wasn't pretty at all, then unless the other party was very rich, this 'soft rice' wasn't impossible to eat.

The vast manor had bluestone slab paths, and the plants in the green belts on both sides were neatly trimmed, making it a pleasant sight.

Mystique transformed into Big Sister's appearance to greet them. When she saw Steve, her expression was even more tender and excited.

"Long time no see, Steve!"

Mystique excitedly held his hand, and only after a while did she react and shake hands with White Queen and Polaris.

Both women were used to it; their husband's charm was irresistible to both men and women.

His athletic build, solid muscles, and smooth lines made him a walking perfume, attracting attention wherever he went.

A suit worn on him was no different from a leotard, showcasing a unique and distinctive charm.

There were still many Mutants in Xavier Manor, all brought there by Charles. There were adults and children.

"Charles said he wanted to transform the manor into an academy to teach children knowledge and how to use their abilities. But Charles hasn't woken up, and the hospital can't find anything wrong."

Mystique briefly introduced the situation, then led them to a master bedroom.

Magneto pushed the door open at this moment, looking somewhat haggard, as evidenced by the dense beard on his chin.

People with cheerful dispositions always keep themselves clean and tidy. One's mental state can be seen from their appearance, so it seemed Old Magnetohad some things he hadn't figured out.

Although he was controlled before, in the latter half of the New York Battle, he didn't appear and didn't do many heinous things.

The New York Battle, which could have made him famous, instead turned him into a mere bystander with no presence.

"Father, you don't look well?"

Polaris asked with a smile. She was married, had a daughter, and cherished family affection even more.

"I'm fine. Oh, by the way, congratulations, Lorna, you're a mother. This doll is my gift to your daughter."

Magneto forced a smile through his tired expression. With a wave of his hand, a exquisitely packaged box automatically flew into his hand.

"Thank you, she's very good. She eats more than I do every day, and sleeps after eating, like a little piggy, hehe!"

When Polaris talked about her daughter, her eyes were filled with happy smiles.

No matter how strong a woman is, after having a family, a husband, and children, she will change a lot.

In front of outsiders, she would always be the unyielding Polaris. Like a hedgehog with its quills, only to protect herself.

In front of her family, she would lower her guard and disguise, revealing her vulnerable side.

"That's great. I'm relieved to see you happy."

Magneto felt he owed his daughter, having never raised her since birth. There were some things he couldn't say, and now as long as his daughter was happy, he didn't care.

Steve, meanwhile, looked at the unconscious Charles. He hadn't expected Charles to be so weak.

The New York Battle, even with Black King Shaw, wasn't a high-level game, was it?

At best, it was a low-end game. The Chitauri Legion, though strong, weren't particularly powerful as individual soldiers; they were only slightly stronger than humans.

But even pistols could penetrate their defenses. From this point of view, they really weren't strong.

It was just their modified structure that allowed them to adapt to various harsh battlefields, and they were cheap. As long as materials were sufficient, they could be manufactured.

Yet, in such a low-end game, Charles was instantly defeated before even entering the fray!

Every time a team fight was about to start, Charles was singled out and eliminated!

Magneto was controlled by Loki. How about you examine your own problems?

Charles always widened the team fight. How about you examine your own problems?

"Honestly, Charles's performance is really disappointing. The New York Battle was your best chance to show off. As long as you displayed your prowess, you could all be praised as heroes.

He constantly talks about making things better for Mutants, but what is he doing?

He's useless. With all due respect, even if he's saved this time, he'll be the same next time, with no change whatsoever. In that case, I think it's better to stay away from him.

This kind of person, who harbors ideals and is kind to others, is timid and submissive towards enemies, but absolutely aggressive towards his own people."

The more Steve spoke, the angrier he got, glancing at Charles with disdain. This guy's performance in the movies was really pathetic.

It's not that his abilities weren't strong; on the contrary, his mind control ability was truly superb, killing people invisibly.

But Charles's most crucial flaw was his lack of resolve. He strictly disciplined his own people, but was timid and submissive towards the taxi soldiers and Military who came to capture Mutants.

The common people don't fight officials?

Are you a law-abiding citizen?

Magneto frowned, listening. This son-in-law spoke without any politeness! What happened to Captain America's traditional kindness? He was so blunt!

Mystique was a bit awkward. On one side was the man she liked, and on the other was the brother who treated her like a sister. She was in a difficult position, caught between two sides.

"Emma, see why he hasn't woken up."

After Steve finished scolding, he felt much better. He pinched Mystique's cheek and smiled mischievously.

"Raven, I want a coffee with sugar."

"Oh, okay. What would you all like to drink?"

Mystique was a little dizzy. Captain America didn't seem so hard to get along with after all!

"No need, thank you."

Polaris was a germaphobe and didn't use other people's cups when out. And ever since trying the gourmet food in the safe house kitchen, she no longer liked eating out.

The food prepared in the kitchen was first-class. She didn't know the principle or how it was made. Anyway, it was delicious, truly clean and hygienic!

"I don't need anything either."

White Queen's germaphobia was even more severe; she always brought her own water bottle. Having grown accustomed to delicacies, she no longer cared for other food. In her eyes, those so-called delicacies weren't food at all, no different from bran.

Concentrating her mind and using her psychic power to probe, she discovered a mass of consciousness struggling with Charles's consciousness.

"It seems something is fighting him for control of his body. This mass of consciousness is very rare, and seems to be related to the Mind Stone."

White Queen didn't say it was the Mind Stone. They had all studied it and felt that the Infinity Stones were just so-so.

After extracting some energy to develop isotopes, they simply tossed it aside.

Isotopes could be used to ensure they wouldn't be controlled, but as for the Infinity Stones, they truly had no interest.

Steve saw that the system hadn't given him a mission, so he threw the Infinity Stones aside.

If the system had given him a mission related to the Infinity Stones, he certainly wouldn't have thrown them away casually.

What if bad people got them?

That would be even better! It would excite him even more!

If the villains aren't bad enough, and their abilities aren't strong enough, how can a big event not be staged to showcase the Super Heroes' abilities?

Without villains and antagonists, there are no heroes.

A full meal versus always being full, Steve could still tell the difference. Using human rights as an excuse, then let them do as they please.

"Is there a way to fix it?"

"Yes, Zhao Hailun and Betty just had a breakthrough in their research."

White Queen's smile was brilliant, like a blooming peach blossom. This mass of consciousness was the power of the Mind Stone, attempting to control Charles, but it was automatically counteracted, resulting in a stalemate.

What's more interesting is that the Mind Stone's energy has never dissipated, still maintaining the level that can suppress Charles.

This completely defies the law of conservation of energy, and it has piqued White Queen's interest and attention. Is there anything more interesting than this?

Besides playing poker with Steve.

White Queen found a chair and sat down, taking out a deck of poker cards. The cards flowed smoothly through her hands.

It wasn't that she wanted to play poker; this was a way for her to concentrate. It was a peculiar habit; she always liked to fiddle with something to maintain her focus.

Mystique quickly brought in the coffee, followed by the Mutant Beast Hank.

"Hi, Hank, long time no see. Tony said it's a shame you're stuck here. If you have time, come with him to research Iron Man Suit upgrades. That kid is probably still researching anti-magnetic field armor."

Steve went over and shook his hand. This Hank was undoubtedly the intellectual powerhouse.

Every movie series has its intellectual leader. For the Avengers series, it's Tony and Banner.

For the X-Men, it's Hank. Basically, all the machinery, big and small, was made by his hands.

From wheelchairs to transport fighter jets, everything had to pass through his hands.

His ability was Beast transformation, a physical enhancement.

Greater strength, stronger defense, thick skin, and more resistant to blows.

"Hello, Captain Steve, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Hank greatly admired Steve, especially his fearlessness of power. After he said that the Security Council were all idiots, his admiration grew even stronger.

Fearless of power! Such a person, wherever they are, deserves respect.

"Wait, can Charles be saved?"

Magneto, standing nearby, had to interrupt their mutual flattery. He was more concerned about whether his good friend could wake up.

It wasn't purely concern; he just wanted Charles to help him find his long-lost daughter and lover.

Magneto hadn't officially stepped onto the stage yet, but he was already thinking about retirement.

"He's being saved right now."

Steve pointed to White Queen, who was staring at Charles, constantly shuffling cards in her hands. It didn't look like she was performing treatment at all.

But Mutants cannot be viewed with common sense, because they are not ordinary people to begin with, so naturally, they cannot be viewed with normal eyes.

"Eric, what are your plans for the future? I mean, don't go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. is about to undergo a major purge."

Steve wasn't afraid of this information leaking out. He already knew about Pierce giving the Mind Stone to Baron Strucker.

If he didn't let Pierce, that old fox, make a move, how could he find Baron Strucker, who was hiding?

If he didn't find the Baron, how could he find Wanda?

Fair! Big! Waves!

Who could refuse Wanda, this broad-minded Witch? As for Quicksilver? Either give him to Magneto or the Avengers; it doesn't matter.

Anyway, he didn't need him, nor did he care.

With Wanda, plus Jean Grey, he was already in an unbeatable position, alright!

In the future, he only needed to supervise their training, one to maximize Chaos Magic, and the other to maximize the Phoenix Force. He could completely lie flat and slack off.

What could be a better job than being a kept man?

Everyone laughs at men who marry rich women and live off them, but everyone wants to marry rich women and live off them!

Pierce thought he was very clever, wanting to rely on the Insight Project to turn the tide and reclaim the power Steve had taken from him?

But he didn't know that he was being used as a pawn by Steve, a human detector, helping him find Scarlet Witch.

This feeling is a bit like a plan within a plan; what you think you think, is actually not what you think.

"Then what do you suggest?"

Magneto had previously worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., helping transport supplies. Magnetic field control was simply too useful.

The dignified Magneto, Marvel's biggest showman, reduced to being a porter. One wonders if it's a moral decay or the tears of an era.

Listening to advice is a virtue, and he had a bit of that, at least Magneto still had this advantage.

"Go to the industrial park. I'll have Pepper help you arrange a job.

As a security guard, the work pressure isn't high; you just need to guard against thieves and petty criminals.

Don't feel pressured. If there are people with ill intentions, kill them first, then judge. A portion of the money earned by this industrial park is for Lorna's child's startup capital when she grows up."

Steve treated all his wives equally, never feeling he favored one over another.

In terms of treatment, he was always fair, at least maintaining the necessary attitude.

As for who he spent more time with, that didn't matter.

He earned so much money, not only for himself but also to leave some funds for his daughters.

Ever since they learned that the safe house could be used as a warehouse, the kitchen could stock ingredients, and the laboratory could stock materials, they all started their hoarding activities.

Money earned was just waste paper. Converting waste paper into supplies and resources—

Oil, natural gas, ore, medicinal herbs, ingredients—that's what was truly effective.

Chapter 163 Going on a mission with Hill

Magneto as a security guard? That must feel very safe, and occasionally moonlighting as a mover, perfect!

And living in seclusion is exactly what Magneto needs. Now, besides finding Black King Shaw and killing him to avenge his parents, there are no other obsessions.

The only thing he can't let go of is his children, whom he hasn't found yet.

Looking at it from an outsider's perspective, Magneto's somewhat incomprehensible behavior can be explained; he is just an ordinary person, an ordinary person with a mortal mindset.

He can have grand ambitions and also thoughts of retreating from the World.

People change, and each period has its own ideas.

When young, one might declare, 'My fate is mine, not heaven's!' But when old, one only begs heaven to spare them, admitting their mistakes and asking for forgiveness!

As the two were chatting, Charles suddenly sat up.

"Ah!"

He suddenly opened his eyes, then abruptly sat up, his wide eyes still appearing somewhat ignorant and bewildered, filled with endless terror.

"Charles, how are you?"

Mystique was the first to ask with concern; no matter what, he was her good friend.

Charles didn't answer, just gasped for air, cold sweat constantly overflowing from his forehead, visibly drenched in sweat.

White Queen put away her cards, took out a lady's cigarette, and tossed one to Polaris and Steve.

Click! She took a deep drag, walked to the window, and looked at the scenery outside.

Blue sky, white clouds, bright sunshine—it was a good day!

Captain America smoking and drinking looked a bit strange no matter how you saw it.

Magneto's gaze swept back and forth between Captain America and his daughter, always feeling a bit odd, as if it was somewhat Subverting three views .

"I'm fine."

Charles weakly raised his hand, his face full of fatigue; he was indeed fine, just very tired.

"I feel like I had a very long dream. I dreamed that we failed, that we failed under the Chitauri Legion's offensive."

Magneto wasn't pleased to hear that, because he had been playing a minor role throughout the New York Battle.

If it weren't for his magnetic field control, the Militarywouldn't have lost so badly. That was an underground influence, only needing to affect the speed of shells, tanks, and planes.

It was easy to wipe out an army, and later he alone controlled Iron Man, Whiplash, Green Goblin, and War Machine, rendering them immobile.

There were no grand, memorable scenes, and no contribution at all; it was entirely a side effect.

"We've already won, won this war, won the war with the help of the Avengers."

Mystique was undergoing training at the time, learning how to kill with bare-hand combat.

Her ability was to transform into anyone, male or female, and she could disguise herself perfectly, making her the most suitable Agent.

But with White Queen's mind control, Agents seemed less important.

Compared to the time-consuming and laborious methods of infiltrating enemy camps, gathering intelligence, capturing, and interrogating information using various techniques.

She only needed a thought to know the information she wanted, an almost god-like ability.

Whether for interrogation or for business expansion, it was equally flawless!

Could her mind control be defended against?

Not really!

Only a few limited items and abilities could do it, involving the spiritual realm, which science couldn't handle.

Science is just a means of explanation, not omnipotent.

Cancer, science cannot cure. Mental illness, science cannot cure. Vegetative state, science cannot cure.

This shows that there are many things for which science is completely useless.

Charles was somewhat dazed; in his coma, he subconsciously saw scenes of the future.

Aliens invaded, Blue Star's resistance failed, and it became a colonized Planet. All Super Heroes died in battle, and those who luckily survived were transformed into captives.

Everyone he knew died, and Magneto also died! When Charles wanted to go examine, Magneto suddenly had a moment of clarity.

"It's all because of you that we lost the war!"

That's why Charles was drenched in sweat after waking up; it was the horror of the mind, the release of fear from the depths of his soul!

"We must act efficiently, we must unite, and not be a scattered mess anymore."

"He's a bit deluded, it's hard to explain; he must have had the idea of unifying the World."

White Queen exhaled a smoke ring, showing disdain for this idea. Not that she disagreed, but she looked down on Charles. If it were her husband doing it, she would definitely support it with both hands. This is a woman, double standards! Her husband could do it, but others couldn't. To say she was bad? Not necessarily, just deeply in love.

Steve's expression was a bit strange; he was quite curious about what Charles could do.

"Since you're fine, we'll head off first. Raven, do you want to come back with me?"

Steve was still thinking about Mystique; since they had come all this way, wouldn't it be too hurtful not to take something back?

Little Elder: Hurt the lemon's head!

"Alright, I also need to finish the rest of my training, so I'll just hitch a ride back with your car."

Mystique glanced at Charles, who didn't try to keep her, so she had no choice but to go with Steve.

This departure would be a long separation; by then, Mystique might even be a mother of a child.

Magneto didn't leave but stayed, intending to chat with his good friend.

Returning to the safe house.

White Queen plunged into the laboratory, connecting the Cerebro to search for personnel and gather intelligence.

The traces of those Mutants were hard to conceal, unless their area could block such brainwaves.

After a while, she opened her eyes and left the laboratory.

She happened to run into Steve and Polaris playing poker. She didn't join them but sat on a sofa nearby, pouring herself a cup of black tea.

"I found a place in Los Angeles with a barrier that isolates mental detection. I'm very curious, so I'm sending someone to bring that place back to study it thoroughly.

Next time we encounter such isolation methods, we won't be at a loss."

"Alright, I'll go in a bit. Send me the address."

Steve's expression remained unchanged, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

Polaris remained silent. As long as she wasn't embarrassed, others would be.

The Vampire factory attack happened on the West Coast, but those people were hiding on the East Coast?

Attacking across both ends of the country? But it couldn't be guaranteed that it was them; it was just that the place could block mental probing, so there must be a problem.

According to normal logic, it should be undefended, with no obstacles at all.

But in Los Angeles, no other place had it, only that one house, making it hard not to be suspicious!

Even with one's toes, one could tell there was definitely a problem here.

"By the way, has that Pierce been checked out?"

Steve promptly changed the subject again, but his actions didn't stop.

White Queen gave her husband an annoyed look. In front of others, he was Captain America, the standard of justice and morality, but behind closed doors, he was a beast in human clothing.

Yet, compared to those corrupt and evil scumbags, he was infinitely better.

This was a person, a living person, flesh and blood, with emotions and loyalty. Not a lofty, ethereal biblical myth; this was the man she knew.

"I've checked, and he's still thinking about his Insight Project. He's currently trying to create problems to keep the Avengers busy."

White Queen was good at this; she would do things thoroughly and meticulously.

Wanting to turn the tables with the Insight Project?

Pierce firmly believed this was the most crucial plan, and he had been promoting this plan to Hill.

Hill had told Steve that after discussion, she handed the plan over to Pierce and Fury and didn't manage it herself.

She had also been busy recently pushing new Security Council candidates to serve as nominal oversight councilors for S.H.I.E.L.D..

"What are they all busy with? What's there to be busy about?"

Steve had no time to think, nor did he have time to think.

Gently caressing her forehead, White Queen was a bit helpless; it seemed her husband never really did anything serious. He married them to be his secretaries; when there was work, the secretary did it, and when there was no work, he...

"My dear husband, Chitauri debris is not only in Manhattan but also in other areas of New York.

Many also flew to other cities, and scattered debris, after being collected by some forces and organizations, was transformed into laser weapons, making the situation very chaotic.

The South is also not peaceful, with organizations related to HYDRA constantly appearing.

Black King Shaw and Kaecilius are also constantly causing trouble; they are stirring up unrest in North Africa.

The EU is also requesting assistance and is willing to pay high operating fees."

To be fair, the aftermath of the great war affected every industry from top to bottom. Even ordinary citizens who had nothing to do with it were affected; they might be killed by an alien weapon one day.

Various heinous crimes emerged endlessly, many people died every day, but still, many immigrants and illegal immigrants entered New York daily.

Hell's Kitchen had been particularly lively during this period; Daredevil and Punisher were both too busy to handle it all.

From the end of the Avengers 1 war to the period of Iron Man 3 and Captain America 2, there were simply too many things happening.

Steve only knew how to live a life of debauchery, not at all the busy, hardworking Super Soldier he was, so he naturally knew nothing about the outside World.

Every day was either dating or playing poker, or at worst, playing parent-child interactive games with his daughters, with no time to manage other matters.

This was also what made White Queen speechless; her husband was good in every way, except he was a bit too laid-back.

Who said Captain America had to conform to American values?

An hour later.

Steve took Jean Grey and Hill to Los Angeles.

Hill hadn't had much to do recently; S.H.I.E.L.D. was busy, but what did that have to do with her as Secretary-General?

Working a two-point-line commute, after Ancient Onejoined. She also began to learn magic, not interested in defensive spells, but learning how to use the Sling Ring.

Ancient One, who was single-mindedly eager to join, was an open book, teaching everything she could. She wouldn't miss a chance to slack off. Life was too rotten; if possible, she would be more laid-back than Steve.

When the King of Lying Flat meets the King of Passive Work, it's a match of equals.

High heels, combat attire, long hair neatly pinned up, delicate pretty face with light makeup, emerald eyes full of charm.

Hill stood by, the air carrying a unique scent of perfume.

"It's been a long time since I've been on a mission with you."

"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, Hill. After we finish up, shall we go for a walk?"

Steve embraced her, his face full of pride. His wife was beautiful, and he had face bringing her out. She was presentable in public and passionate in private.

Hill chuckled; she had long lost any feelings of jealousy. They were married, she had found true love, and they had children; all that remained was warmth and family affection.

"Okay, I want to go to the beach later. When we go home, I'll try to set up a beach there too, so our whole family can play."

"Good point! Before that, let's pick out swimsuits. Edith, help me find a suitable changing room at a clothing store."

Steve nodded in agreement, deeply convinced. Bikinis were good, he had to buy them!

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

Hill understood instantly and laughed gaily.

Only Jean Grey was somewhat oblivious, completely unaware of what they were talking about or what was so funny.

It was just buying clothes, wasn't it? She had no interest in shopping, preferring to research all sorts of strange experiments with Zhao Hailun and Betty.

"Steve, what are you talking about?"

"We'll buy some clothes when we get back; it's been a long time since I bought any. This time, we'll do business first, and after we're done, we'll go buy some clothes."

Steve explained earnestly. Jean Grey had a great figure, even more standard than a model's.

The three chatted and laughed, following the marked location.

It was a farmhouse in the countryside, surrounded by farmland. It was summer, awaiting harvest, and corn was planted in the fields.

Stalk after stalk of corn formed a verdant, golden ocean, paired with blue skies and white clouds; perhaps this was the retirement life Thanos desired.

Outside the farmhouse, a sedan and a pickup truck were parked, and not far away, there was a tree stump, an axe, and a pile of unchopped firewood.

Jean Grey focused her gaze, dressed in a red gown with wine-red hair, her fair complexion complementing the wine-red.

She was using her telepathy to investigate the situation, slightly less specialized than White Queen's talent.

But she excelled in versatility, able to control objects with her mind and probe memories, though she needed to touch the target. She couldn't explore from a distance like White Queen, with the investigated person completely unaware.

"Two guard posts outside the warehouse, and inside, it's all agricultural products. Wait, there are two bodies, they should be the original farm owner couple!

Damn it, how dare they do this! That woman was tortured before she died, these scumbags!"

A powerful aura spread from Jean Grey, faintly possessing the power to destroy everything.

The pure-hearted Jean Grey was not a saint, but seeing innocent people die tragically, she still couldn't bear it.

Humans cannot, at least they shouldn't!

Steve ignored her pressure and gently embraced her.

"You have me by your side; we are family."

Hill glanced sideways; she had truly seen Jean Grey's abilities. She knew Steve wouldn't choose a mere pretty face, and even Aunt Mei, who seemed like a pretty face, was a qualified nanny who could take care of children!

Chapter 164: Jean Grey's Rampage and Crush

Hearing Steve's words and feeling the warmth of his hand, Jean Grey's rage gradually subsided.

This was her boyfriend; she had no family left.

Although they hadn't taken the next step, she already considered Steve her family.

He would inevitably become her husband in the future, and he had never pressured her.

Should she call Steve a true gentleman, or a clueless idiot who didn't understand romance?

Hill opened her watch beside them, projecting a map onto the wall.

It was a perfect farm map, even showing the marked locations of people.

"Let Jean take care of those people.

After clearing the perimeter, be careful of the thugs in the Underground Room; they might be trafficked super slaves.

Steve, you assist Jean, and I'll monitor the perimeter to prevent anyone from escaping or reinforcements arriving."

"Yes, Officer!"

Steve squeezed his eyes, loving the idea of a subordinate outranking a superior.

Hill suppressed a smile; work was work, no other thoughts.

In the farmhouse warehouse.

Two armed thugs were grilling beef, drinking and chatting about inappropriate topics.

Men's conversations were always about bragging and more bragging, and aside from that, it was about women's trivial matters.

"After this job, we can take a break.

This damned place, it's a godforsaken hellhole; I hate it here."

"Hey, if you hadn't killed that old woman, we'd still have some fun to play with!"

"You're talking about me? You're no better! At least I had the lights off; you did it right in front of her man, ptui!"

Jean Grey listened to the two thugs' conversation and decided to kill them with even more brutal methods!

Uh!

Their words stopped abruptly.

The two thugs looked to be in their thirties, with full beards and average physiques.

It was clear they had served in the military, even on battlefields.

As mercenaries, they were good hands, and if they were to join a gang, they would have a place.

Unfortunately, they had offended Steve, attacking his factory and going against him.

Steve would surely treat them well and make them regret being born into this World.

"Don't kill them yet; see if they have any family, and mark them.

Give the special forces something to do; don't let them get too idle."

As soon as he said this, the two thugs' eyes widened, as if they wanted to kill Steve with their gaze!

Misfortune should not extend to wives and children, nor to family members.

You have no martial ethics!

Martial ethics?

They were armed thugs who attacked a factory and harmed civilians.

Talking about martial ethics with them was like advising the ladies of Portland Street to work in a factory screwing screws!

If it were before, Jean Grey might have thought about it.

She wasn't a cold-blooded killer, but witnessing a tragedy unfold before her eyes, it was difficult for her to calm down.

Not long after, these two were dismembered, dying in extreme agony.

Anger elevated Jean Grey's abilities to another level; extreme emotions were often the best catalyst for Mutant abilities.

The red dots on the farm were cleared instantly, and their family information was acquired by Jean Grey and uploaded to Edith to be recorded.

Edith, following her Master's instructions, organized the information about these thugs' families and began assigning tasks.

Before transmitting, she sent the organized content to Steve for review.

Only after confirmation would it be transmitted.

This step could not be skipped; he had to personally review it.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Edith, but some procedures couldn't be directly bypassed.

If such incidents happened too often, it would be difficult to ensure Edith wouldn't bypass him to issue commands directly.

Artificial intelligence should serve its Master, not become another 'Ultron'!

Arriving at the warehouse, Jean Grey waved her hand, and a Phoenix Fire incinerated the remains of the tragically killed farm couple, giving them some final dignity.

The warehouse had an Underground Room, originally used to store some crops.

Almost every farm would have such an Underground Room to store items that needed a cool place, extending their shelf life, and so on.

A jade hand with bright red nail polish reached out, grasping something in the void, and twisted it hard.

The iron cover outside was directly torn off and twisted into a ball of scrap metal by an indescribable force!

The Mutants in the Underground Room reacted quickly; as soon as the iron cover opened, several fireballs and laser beams arrived in an instant!

Under Jean Grey's cold gaze, all the energy dissipated into nothingness!

She entered a state of rage, and her previously difficult-to-control abilities became effortless.

Before the Mutants could rush out, their limbs were twisted in screams.

Their four limbs became like pretzels, strangely intertwined and tied in a knot!

Even if they could be saved, they would likely be crippled!

Steve watched from the side, a cold sweat running down his back.

His girlfriend was a bit too violent!

No!

He had to find a way to make Jean Grey have a child for him!

With a child, there would be a connection, and he wouldn't worry about her running away.

Even with the system's guarantee, he still had to find other ways to tie down Jean Grey; she was a top-tier Mutant, a peak combat force!

A woman on par with Wanda was not to be trifled with!

Moreover, if he had a wife and didn't have children, wouldn't that make him a eunuch?

If he didn't have children, then finding a girlfriend was just finding a long-term poker buddy, wasn't it?

Then why bother spending so much effort? It was superfluous!

What was the difference between that and Tony looking for Playboy magazine cover girls, where feelings vanished as soon as the transfer stopped?

Iron Man: It seems someone is badmouthing me behind my back?

Jean Grey had no idea what Steve was thinking; she couldn't possibly probe his mind.

As for being promiscuous, she didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it.

Not to mention her, even Hill and Sharon, who held higher positions and status as strong women, didn't find anything inappropriate.

Extremely angry, Jean Grey didn't forget her mission.

After subduing the Mutants, she began to dismantle the entire secret room with her psychic power.

A moment later, a portal opened.

Ancient One looked at Jean Grey with a strange expression.

This type of psychic Mutant was simply the bane of mages!

If Jean Grey was given a little time to further refine her psychic attack methods and achieve instant casting, she could essentially instantly kill ninety-nine percent of mages!

Anyone could practice magic, but the upper limits varied.

Some people remained apprentices their entire lives, while others were born Sorcerer Supreme.

But whether an apprentice or a Sorcerer Supreme, they all required casting time; it was impossible to cast out of thin air.

A mage with a casting wind-up encountering a psychic Mutant who could attack from a distance without a casting wind-up was simply a disaster!

Thinking of this, Ancient One couldn't help but feel fortunate.

At least she had put aside her pride and dignity to curry favor with Steve.

She even went so far as to put herself in the game, risking the possibility of pregnancy.

This move seemed to have been the right one.

The stronger Steve's wives were, the more stable his power would be, and the more so, the more at ease she could be in lying flat.

Compared to shedding heavy burdens, enjoying life, and living a life of wealth and honor without worries, what was dignity worth?

After moving the secret room through the portal to the safe house, Betty and Zhao Hailun came out yawning to conduct analysis and sample collection.

Looking at their tired, yawning expressions, it would take more than a few days to recover.

Eating was good, but eating too much was no longer enjoyable.

If it weren't for their sisterly bond, helping to share the 'firepower,' they would now be in deep sleep recovering, not still having the energy to conduct scientific research.

After dealing with the most important matters, Jean Grey finally turned her attention to these Mutants.

They all wore collars around their necks, containing special explosives that, once activated, could blow them apart.

With Jean Grey's current psychic control, it was not enough to remove the collars without triggering the activation device.

Regardless of whether she could do it, she wouldn't.

These people, whether willingly or unwillingly, were doomed from the moment they attacked the Vampirefactory.

Steve was not a bleeding heart, and Jean Grey was not a bleeding heart.

Debts must be paid, it was a matter of course; blood for blood was the same principle.

Learning the 'redemption' mindset promoted in Hollywood movies?

That was for fooling idiots; true capitalists were never soft-hearted.

If they were merciful to them, what about the diligent Vampire employees who worked hard in the factory? Did they die in vain?

"They were sold to a man named Mandarin; he was orchestrating the operation, and that's all I know."

Jean Grey turned her head and happened to kiss Steve.

"Hill, did you hear that? Look into this Mandarin."

Steve finished speaking and continued his unfinished work.

As for these Mutants, just kill them all.

A few days later, War Machine sent a distress call.

It turned out Tony was in trouble.

Recently, when they had dinner together, he was found to be suffering from anxiety, seemingly still unsettled by the New York Battle.

In addition, Tony's driver and bodyguard, who was also the head of security for Stark Tower, was attacked!

He was severely injured and was still in the hospital, in the intensive care unit for several days now.

"We'll meet at Tony's Villa later."

Steve ended the call.

He had just finished his workout, drenched in sweat.

Whatever it was, he'd shower first.

Soon, the crisp sound of high heels clicking on the floor came.

Hill leaned against the room door, her right high heel resting on the doorframe, holding a tablet computer.

"My dear, a woman claiming to be the Captain of the Wakandan Royal Guard called you, saying your friend's brainwashing imprint has been completely cleared and he can be sent back."

A long time ago, Steve had contacted T'Challa, informing him about Ulysses, the arms dealer secretly selling Vibranium, and his cousin Killmonger.

In exchange, T'Challa helped Winter Soldier Buckyclear his brainwashing imprint.

Now, the time was about right.

If it weren't for his sister Su Rui suggesting they add some time to prevent re-brainwashing, Bucky would have returned long ago.

"When can he be sent back?"

Steve changed into his stealth suit; this combat suit still looked the best.

After incorporating nanotech, it not only fit better but also had an automatic recovery function.

Similar to Iron Man's nanotech suit, when damaged, it could use materials from other areas to repair the damaged parts.

It had a 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' feel, but even so, it could be life-saving at times!

"Tomorrow night, T'Challa will personally bring him over.

If you're free, I'll help you schedule a time."

Hill's eyes held a hint of infatuation and extreme love.

Her husband was always so sunny, strong, and cheerful.

Even doing nothing, just quietly watching him, was a pleasure.

Watching was fine, but eating was out; she was full and wouldn't have any thoughts of playing poker for at least half a month.

"Okay, let's schedule it for seven o'clock.

You arrange the location; it's best if we can have dinner together, there are still some things I need to discuss with him.

You and Sharon, Nissa, as my wives, should also attend."

Steve finished speaking, pinched Hill's chin, and then asked Ancient One to open a portal to send him out.

It wasn't until Steve left that Hill's gaze changed from seductive back to calm, but the upturned smile on her lips was uncontainable.

Wife?

Married, a wedding held, a formally wedded wife.

But Hill was still very happy, very excited.

This was attending a meeting of other forces in her official capacity as a wife.

Even after being an Agent for so many years, she still felt a surge of emotion.

This was an acknowledgment, and she was never forgotten!

Betty, Zhao Hailun, Polaris Lorna, White Queen Emma, plus Mystique Raven and Jean Grey, who were recently taken in, easily brought to mind the saying, 'the new generation surpasses the old'!

But now, it seemed like pure nonsense!

At least not with Steve; he liked the new but didn't tire of the old, which was the best.

She couldn't resist calling Sharon and Nissa, originally thinking they would be very happy.

Unexpectedly, they directly abandoned their work, not caring about it, and ran back to chat with her.

They discussed what clothes to wear, what style of high heels, whether to wear makeup, and so on.

It was clear they were all very excited, not because the other party was Wakanda.

Rather, it was because this was a technologically advanced force, worthy of a formal negotiation, which represented their appearance.

This was an acknowledgment of status; sitting at the table meant status.

As for whether the other sisters would have opinions, that was Steve's concern; they just needed to be beautiful.

It was also fortunate that Edith, the artificial intelligence, was still there, otherwise, with Sharonabandoning her duties and Hill starting to slack off and distance herself.

Otherwise, the situation would indeed be quite bad.

No one watching, wouldn't that be a disaster!

Slacking off, lying flat, relinquishing power, and under the inducement of the Insight Project, pulling out all the lurking people like the old fox Pierce.

Then, take the opportunity to clean up S.H.I.E.L.D. and completely seize power.

Sometimes, you didn't need to do anything, nor did you need to try too hard; the enemy would jump out on their own.

The competitor is an idiot; this statement wasn't just said casually.

Pierce might have noticed, but he didn't have many years left to live, and with the only opportunity before him, even the calmest person would fall for it!

Chapter 9 - Ch: 159-164