"Client dispute?"
Jessica Jones poured the last sip of whiskey from her glass into her mouth, and the ice cubes clinked crisply in the empty cup.
She looked at William with a "you've got to be kidding me" expression.
"I've seen a lot of disputes. Usually, they don't involve laser cannons sweeping everywhere."
"Strictly speaking, those are energy beams."
William corrected her without batting an eye.
"And that's precisely why I gathered you all here. To handle… unexpected situations that regular security can't cope with."
He surveyed his team of "problem children."
The two young people's faces were filled with a mix of tension and eagerness.
Morris Bench, meanwhile, hid behind them, staring intently at the metal monster, the air around his body growing humid.
Before William could even give instructions, the battle on the distant lawn changed.
Thor, the Asgardian who had been knocked back to reality by a window, was now displaying astonishing courage.
He was like an enraged bull.
Again and again, he charged at the Destroyer, trying to shake the steel giant with his mortal fists and feet.
Thor wasn't a fool; his brain told him that his strength could solve many problems, which was why he didn't like to think too much.
But his father would never maliciously destroy Earth.
It was obvious who was controlling the Destroyer at this moment.
"Loki! I know it's you!"
He roared, his voice full of the fury of betrayal.
"Come at me! Don't harm these innocent people!"
The Destroyer's response was simple and efficient.
It merely swung an arm casually, and Thor was easily flung away like a broken sack, tumbling over ten meters across the lawn before coming to a stop, blood spilling from his mouth.
Yet, he still struggled to get up, his eyes showing no sign of retreat, only an increasingly firm Fire.
William watched this scene, his mind calculating rapidly.
Theoretically, Thor only became Thor, the God of Thunder, after coming infinitely close to death and re-acquiring his hammer.
But what if?
He couldn't die.
At least not on his island.
This not only concerned his future "divine power wool."
It also concerned the endless subsequent troubles that might arise from Asgard.
More importantly, every time that tin can fired another shot, his balance sheet gained another alarming deficit.
No, it couldn't be allowed to keep tearing things apart!
William's gaze instantly sharpened. He was no longer the insurance salesman making the best of a bad situation, but a capitalist defending his property.
"Everyone."
He spoke, his voice not loud, but clear to everyone.
"Now, I announce a temporary company benefit."
Everyone's eyes focused on him.
"A special team-building activity."
William's expression was solemn.
"The target is that big guy outside. The rules are simple: whoever causes the most damage to it gets double their bonus this month."
He paused, then added: "Jessica, I'm hiring you now. If you can take off one of that guy's arms, I'll give you a million!"
Jessica Jones's eyes lit up.
She knew that with her ambiguous relationship with William, if she just asked, that pervert would definitely give her money.
But she, Jessica Jones, was not one to live off others!
Money earned herself was the sweetest!
Tandy and Tyrone exchanged glances, seeing each other's excitement.
Even Morris Bench's fear seemed to recede a bit, replaced by a sense of eagerness.
Only Emil Blonsky, he stood quietly watching from the closest point to the Destroyer the entire time.
But William could feel the suppressed power within him, already stirring like a volcano about to erupt.
"Alright, everyone."
William cleared his throat and began to give orders.
"Now, listen to my command."
"Jessica, you're the main attacker. Its joints are weak points. Don't go head-to-head with its metal skin. Hit its knees and elbows to make it unstable."
"Tandy, concentrate your Light blades' energy, aim for its face, that glowing slit. Disrupt it, don't let it fire comfortably."
"Tyrone, use your Dark Dimension to restrain it, make it move like it's walking in a swamp. Or, teleport the rocks, sprinklers, anything on the lawn, under its feet to make it trip."
"Maurice!"
William looked at Water Man.
"Give it a Water treatment, the bigger the better! Even if it doesn't hurt it, extinguish the Fire on its body!"
"As for Emil..."
William's gaze finally fell on the calm-faced man.
William recalled the "special insurance" he had sold him earlier, and a smile played on his lips.
"Have fun."
As William spoke, Emil Blonsky felt a surge of power erupting wildly within him.
It's back!
It's all back!
His body expanded and twisted at a visible rate, his skin turning a coarse yellow.
In just a few seconds, a monster even taller and more ferocious than the Hulk suddenly appeared before everyone—that was Abomination!
Tandy and Tyrone also showed shocked expressions, clearly not expecting William's "team building" to be like this.
Abomination, carrying a violent aura suppressed for too long, charged straight into the battlefield!
"Time to work!"
Jessica shrieked and followed close behind.
Tandy and Tyrone also immediately sprang into action, two figures, one White and one Shadow, like a concerto of light and Shadow, outflanking from the sides.
A chaotic yet unique "team building" officially kicked off on the lawn of North Brother Island.
Jessica Jones was the first to arrive. Wearing a bikini, she leaped high and kicked the Destroyer's knee joint with all her might.
"Clang!"
With a loud bang, the Destroyer's massive body swayed violently, but Jessica was also bounced back by the immense recoil, rolling several times on the ground before the force dissipated.
"Damn it, William, this guy is much harder than you!"
She cursed as she got up.
William, watching from a distance, was adjusting his attire; as the boss, he couldn't easily enter the battle, certainly not because he was too weak.
Hearing Jessica's sudden, out-of-nowhere remark annoyed him somewhat.
But now was not the time for bickering.
Several sharp Light blades whistled in, accurately embedding themselves in the Destroyer's faceplate, exploding into blinding flashes of light.
Tandy's attack, though causing no substantial damage, successfully drew the Destroyer's attention.
The Destroyer's faceplate cracked open, and scorching energy began to gather.
"Maurice!"
A massive Water spout rose from the sea, slamming violently into the Destroyer.
The high-temperature energy collided with the cold seawater, instantly generating a large expanse of White mist, temporarily obscuring everyone's vision.
Abomination, the silent Beast, had already charged into the mist.
He used only the purest strength and speed, transforming himself into a living weapon.
He agilely circled behind the Destroyer, his hands tightly gripping its joints.
His bulging muscles erupted with terrifying power, and he suddenly heaved upward!
After Tyrone silently enveloped the other leg with Dark energy, causing momentary imbalance, that arrogant steel giant was actually, truly, forcibly flipped to the ground!
Boom!
The Destroyer's massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the entire island.
"Well done!"
William couldn't help but pump a fist.
He watched his group of "employees" cooperate for the first time, a strange sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.
The battle was far from over.
The overturned Destroyer glowed intensely red.
It propped itself up with one hand, and a powerful energy Impact wave erupted from its body, simultaneously knocking back Jessica and Abomination, who were surrounding it.
It slowly stood up, its head rotating three hundred and sixty degrees, seemingly re-locking onto a target.
This time, its gaze bypassed everyone and directly locked onto William, who was observing the battle from the rear, constantly issuing commands.
The Destroyer's faceplate cracked open again, and an energy beam, thicker and more scorching than any before, shot towards him!
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