Raven's expression darkened.
"Yes."
"Then aren't the factory that manufactures these bullets, the scientists who research this technology, and the arms dealers who sell the bullets to the Military even more terrifying than a single bullet?"
Lin Ent pressed on, step by step.
"We can use money to buy that factory, fire that scientist, and bribe that arms dealer. We can make all weapons that threaten Mutants flow to where we want them to go."
"Magneto is strong, but the Brotherhood members under him also need to eat, live, and gather intelligence."
"We can use money to create internal strife, making his subordinates suspicious of each other due to unequal distribution of spoils."
"We can hire the best mercenaries in the World, not to assassinate him, but to take down his strongholds and seize his resources."
"Let him be constantly bogged down by logistics, instead of thinking about how to destroy the World."
"And Professor X, does he not need money to run his school?"
"Does maintaining that Cerebro machine not cost money?"
"We can establish a Mutant Rights Foundation to poach his students, luring those wavering ones with better treatment and resources."
Lin Ent's speech accelerated, and his eyes gleamed with a light Raven had never seen before.
It wasn't desire, but a self-assured confidence in strategizing, a madness that treated the entire World as a chessboard.
Raven was completely stunned.
She had never considered the problem from this angle.
In her struggles with Charles and Eric, everything revolved around power, ideology, and the survival of their species.
They were like ancient gods and monarchs, conquering with divine power and armies.
But what Lin Ent proposed was a method of war completely unfamiliar to her, yet one that sent chills down her spine.
Pulling the rug out from under them, a dimension-reducing attack.
"It sounds… interesting."
After a long while, Raven found her voice, but she was still full of doubt.
"But all of this requires a precondition."
She pointed out the core issue incisively.
"Is your money enough to buy a single screw from Stark Industries?"
Lin Ent smiled.
That was exactly what he was waiting for.
"So, we need startup capital."
He looked at Raven, his gaze frank and direct, with a hint of undeniable certainty.
"And isn't our printing press right here?"
He didn't walk towards Raven; instead, he turned and headed straight for the bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.
"For our great capitalist endeavor, it seems we'll have to work overtime tonight."
He pushed open the bedroom door, turned back, and gestured to Raven, who was still frozen in place, inviting her in.
Raven stared blankly at his retreating back.
For the first time, a mix of absurdity, annoyance, and excitement flickered in her amber pupils.
This man was trying to transform from her pet into her partner.
And he was doing it using the very means she had given him.
She licked her lips and followed him in.
"Tonight, what kind of woman do you need?"
"My dear Raven, I need exactly the kind of woman you are."
In the aftermath, the scent of gunpowder still lingered in the bedroom air.
Lin Ent felt completely drained.
No, it was more like being drained and then thrown into a tumble dryer for a hundred cycles of dehydration.
He was now a human-shaped dried salted fish, too tired to even move a muscle.
For a Mortal to withstand the impact of a Mutant and survive, he was lucky to be so resilient.
But the woman beside him, that blue-skinned enchantress, was the complete opposite.
She looked as if she had just finished a full set of the finest spa treatments; every inch of her azure skin glowed, as if magma flowed within her, and even her breath carried scorching heat.
"Stronger again… this feeling…"
Raven's voice was hoarse, filled with extreme satisfaction, and she turned to coil around him like a snake.
Her long fingers leisurely traced circles on Lin Ent's sweaty chest.
Her gaze wasn't that of a lover but of someone examining a newly acquired power bank, exclusively hers.
Lin Ent was too lazy to even lift his eyelids; his entire focus had retreated into the system panel in his mind.
[Dual cultivation complete! Host's overall qualities improved!]
[Partner 'Mystique' Raven Darkholme's overall qualities improved!]
[U.S. Dollar reward settlement in progress….]
[Detected partner's power rating has increased!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have received U.S. Dollars: $10,000!]
Lin Ent silently watched the numbers on the panel.
[Yin-Yang Joyful Buddha Physique]
[Host: Lin Ent]
[Physique: Pure Yang Buddha Physique (Initial Stage)]
[Overall Quality Assessment]: (Current enhancement multiplier 1.1)
Strength: 9.68
Speed: 10.89
Stamina: 8.47
Spirit: 18.15
[Available Funds: $30,000]
[System Evaluation: Congratulations, you have evolved from a relatively durable weakling into a relatively fast weakling. Don't get carried away; a single peanut can still send you to the afterlife.]
Lin Ent's mouth twitched violently.
That damn system's mouth was getting more venomous!
However, despite the insults, the physical benefits were tangible.
The original host's body, ravaged by indulgence, was now being filled in by these enhancements.
Strength, speed, stamina—all increased across the board!
His neural reaction speed was unbelievably fast!
At least, he was no longer that useless rich second generation.
But looking at the thirty thousand U.S. Dollars in his account, Lin Ent couldn't feel happy at all.
Thirty thousand dollars, what the hell could he do with that in New York?
It wasn't even enough to buy a decent bag!
And he was talking about a capitalist path?
This wasn't a money printing machine; this was a damn manual pencil sharpener!
And a defective one at that, breaking the lead after two turns, requiring coaxing the pencil to continue producing lead!
Even more critical was the woman beside him.
Her possessiveness was so thick it could almost drip like Water.
That look in her eyes was like a dragon guarding the brightest gem in its cave; whoever dared to look twice would be incinerated.
He was that golden-egg-laying goose, kept in captivity.
His life was in the hands of his keeper.
This feeling was so damn awful!
No, he had to break free!
He couldn't put all his eggs in Raven's basket alone!
He needed more partners, more money, and even more, a bargaining chip!
A bargaining chip that would allow him to breathe a little in this pathological relationship!
Beside him, Raven slept contentedly.
The newly acquired power gave her an absolute sense of security; her breathing was steady and long.
An opportunity!
Lin Ent used all his acting skills, carefully, inch by inch, to extricate himself from her octopus-like embrace.
His movements were as light as a mouse stealing cheese.
He tiptoed, hunched over, and slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
He plopped onto the cold toilet seat, pulled out his phone, and with a series of complex operations he almost couldn't remember, entered a completely black browser interface.
The dark web.
In his previous life as a dissolute young master, he was better than anyone at navigating these gray areas.
Information was the most valuable commodity in this World.
He wanted to buy information, information about all the powerful women in this World worth "investing" in!
He held his breath, diving into various encrypted forums, like a ghost, browsing through posts.
The content within was a blatant exchange of desires.