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[Frog] Chapter 167: Are You Having an Affair?
🕑 Added 2024-11-20 18:07:16 +0000 UTCS.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury stood at the command platform, with a stack of files on the Brotherhood of Mutants in front of him. These documents mainly contained detailed descriptions of each member’s abilities and strategies to counter them.
On top of the pile was the dossier on Mystique, Magneto's trusted confidante.
“Director, we have our people monitoring them closely. If any member of the Brotherhood makes a move—”
“Our agents will act immediately,” Fury said.
“Mystique didn’t return to their base last night, did she?”
Hill shook her head, “No, after she left Alan's apartment last night, there was no trace of her.”
“Where could she have gone?” Fury’s eyes scanned the city-wide surveillance feed, trying to locate any sign of Mystique. But he knew it was futile.
If Magneto was the most formidable of all mutants, then Mystique was the most elusive. Her shape-shifting ability didn’t just alter her appearance but also changed all her physiological information, including DNA. Without absolute certainty, trying to find Mystique in a sea of people was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Nick Fury, visibly weary, stepped down from the platform. Just one night had upended the tenuous balance he had painstakingly maintained between mutants and humans. Even he didn’t know what was going to happen next.
Hill followed Fury into his private office. On the wall-mounted screen, footage of last night’s battle, captured by satellite, was being replayed. Fury had already watched it countless times through the night. His instincts told him that there was something in that footage he hadn’t yet noticed.
Standing beside him, Hill curiously watched the replay as well. No matter how many times she saw it, the scene felt surreal. Were these beings really still part of Earth?
When Magneto was struck down by the Emperor's wind blade, Hill muttered, “I never expected Magneto to be killed just like that.”
“Sigh...”
“I thought he would fall at the hands of the X-Men.”
It was this comment that caused Nick Fury, who had been silently staring at the screen, to tremble.
“Hill, what did you just say?”
Hill blinked, then replied, “I thought Magneto would die at the hands of the X-Men. After all…”
Fury interrupted her abruptly, “The previous sentence!”
Hill thought for a moment and repeated, “I never expected Magneto to be killed just like that.”
“Is there a problem, Director?”
Fury pressed the pause button and looked at the image of Magneto impaled by the wind blade, then shifted his gaze to the Emperor.
“How did I only just realize that the issue lies in Magneto’s death?”
Hill, puzzled, asked, “Director, are you suggesting that Magneto isn’t dead?”
They had seen too many cases of mutants faking their deaths. But Magneto couldn’t be among them; Fury himself had examined the body. The powers displayed at the time of death also matched Magneto’s known abilities.
To date, no two mutants with identical powers had ever appeared, leading human scientists to believe that each mutant power was unique.
But even if Magneto hadn’t died, why would he fake it?
Fury glanced at Hill and, while speaking, pulled a set of documents from his cabinet.
“Magneto is indeed dead, but his death is the strangest part of this battle.”
Hill, still somewhat confused, took the documents and listened as Fury explained.
“Since the Emperor came into our view, have you ever seen him adopt a ruthless, kill-at-all-costs approach against an enemy?”
“In the sewers, he helped the NYPD subdue the Lizard.”
“Outside the NYPD, he toyed with the Green Goblin until the latter fled with severe injuries.”
“Even when the spaceship crash-landed and the Green Goblin appeared, he was merely scared away.”
The screen in front of Fury displayed the Emperor’s impressive feats each time he appeared, ultimately returning to the image of Magneto's lifeless body.
“So why did he kill Magneto this time?”
Hill looked at the documents in her hand, then turned to the screen: "Two people fighting, one getting killed—isn't that normal?"
"Besides, Magneto has always shown a lethal intent towards Emperor."
"Logically speaking, it would be impossible for Emperor not to kill Magneto."
"Exactly, and because this seems so normal, I've overlooked it until now."
"As I mentioned earlier, Emperor doesn't appear to be someone who kills indiscriminately."
"But why did he have to kill Magneto?"
After Nick Fury's explanation, Hill gradually became aware that something was amiss.
She had witnessed everything from start to finish; Emperor had been present around the apartment ever since Magneto arrived.
"Director, are you suggesting that Emperor and Magneto might have a connection we don't know about?"
Nick Fury nodded, then added, "It's not about Magneto—it's about Emperor!"
"Get someone to investigate who Magneto has crossed recently!"
"Even if he accidentally bumped into someone on the street, I want to know about it!"
Saying this, he looked at Emperor on the screen: "Perhaps, we’re about to uncover the true identity of this powerful Emperor."
To Nick Fury, there was only one reason why Emperor would be driven to kill Magneto.
Magneto must have provoked him first!
Mutants had looked down on humans for a long time, especially zealots like Magneto. To him, ordinary humans were no different from ants. Anyone who dared to offend him or even make him uncomfortable could be killed on the spot.
Hence, Nick Fury reasoned that Magneto's arrogance must have offended someone.
And that someone might very well be Emperor himself!
Given that Emperor hadn't been in New York for long, Nick Fury instructed Hill to start the investigation from recent events.
Hill, upon receiving Nick Fury's orders, stood there, momentarily stunned.
"Why aren't you moving? What are you standing here for?"
Hill responded, "Director, I don’t think we need to investigate."
"I know who you're looking for."
Nick Fury looked at Hill, and what she said next made his breath quicken.
"Considering the timeline of Emperor’s appearance until now."
"The only person Magneto has offended—or is about to offend—is one."
"Alan Ford!"
Hearing Alan’s name again made Nick Fury’s pupils contract as he recalled his last visit to Alan’s home.
Back then, Nick Fury had offered protection to Alan as leverage to recruit him into S.H.I.E.L.D.
He hadn't expected Alan to refuse, even under pressure from the Brotherhood of Mutants.
At that time, Nick Fury thought Alan’s arrogance would eventually result in him being taught a harsh lesson by the Brotherhood, forcing him to beg for protection.
But now...
If Alan was indeed Emperor, then his unflinching attitude towards the Brotherhood was not only justified but modest!
In that case...
Nick Fury’s face darkened further.
If this were true, then the fool in the situation would be none other than himself.
"Hill, conduct a full investigation into Alan’s background and determine his whereabouts during Magneto’s death."
"No matter the cost, find out!"
"Understood, Director."
After Hill left the office, Nick Fury put on his leather coat, intending to seek out another individual.
To see if they could provide any other clues about Emperor.
Nick Fury wasn’t the only one harboring such suspicions.
At Alan’s home.
Anna sat on the sofa, with Gwen beside her, happily explaining the layout of their new home and the preparations made for Anna’s room.
After the mutant attack on Anna, Gwen wasn’t about to let her continue living at her old place.
Seeing the house’s layout and the hidden laboratories, Anna—unlike Gwen, who had limited outside exposure—knew the approximate value of most of the items in the house.
She didn’t know all the details, but she understood their general price range.
Some of the lab equipment, in particular, was of a rarity that couldn't be bought, even with money.
Yet, here, in Alan's place, they were all present.
"Gwen, you mentioned Alan bought stocks in Stark Industries?"
"Do you know how many he bought?"
Gwen thought for a moment and shook her head: "I’m not sure. He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask."
"All I know is that Stark Industries’ stocks are very profitable now."
Anna looked at her naive sister, momentarily at a loss for words.
The stock of Stark Industries can no longer be described as simply profitable.
It’s practically a money-printing machine!
No, even a money-printing machine can't keep up with the pace at which Stark Industries' stock grows.
Gwen might not have noticed, but Anna had clearly seen that Alan's holdings in Stark Industries' stock were no small amount.
Alan’s current net worth had likely already surpassed that of most wealthy individuals.
“Cousin Anna, let me introduce you to someone you already know.”
“Hmm?”
Anna looked at Gwen with curiosity.
Gwen let go of Anna’s hand, stepped aside, and said, “Red Queen, say hello to Cousin Anna.”
The Red Queen’s figure was projected immediately, standing in front of Anna. “Hello, Miss Anna.”
“I am the AI housekeeper of this residence—Red Queen!”
“We’ve met before.”
Seeing the projection of the Red Queen before her, Anna’s eyes were filled with even more astonishment. “Is this the AI that was in the computer earlier?”
Alan’s AI butler had developed to this extent already?
Gwen nodded. “Yes, she’s now part of the household.”
“You can ask her if there’s anything you don’t understand.”
“Come on, let’s go back to the living room. Alan should have some food ready for us.”
Led by Gwen, Anna soon found herself in the living room, where they enjoyed a hearty meal.
“Alan, sorry for the trouble, but I’ll be staying here for another couple of days.”
Alan smiled and said, “It’s fine, an empty room is just that—empty.”
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“This house is so nice, I’d love to stay, but I need to fly to Germany for a research conference in a few days.”
Hearing this, Gwen looked at Anna, a bit reluctant. “Cousin Anna, you’ve only just come back and now you’re leaving again.”
“We haven’t even gone out to have fun together.”
Anna sighed helplessly, “Who would have thought that I’d run into such a tricky case as soon as I got back to New York?”
“Now that it’s almost resolved, Germany is calling me over.”
“When will you be back?”
Anna thought for a moment and said, “I’ll come back to find you as soon as I’m done.”
“Alan, remember to keep my room ready.”
“No problem, from now on, that room is yours.”
Anna smiled, but then her expression sharpened, and her previously relaxed demeanor took on a hint of intensity.
Gwen, with her keen senses, immediately asked, “What’s wrong, Cousin Anna?”
Anna ignored Gwen and looked at Alan, “Alan, I have something to ask you.”
Facing Anna’s sudden shift in tone, Alan responded with a calm smile, “Go ahead.”
Gwen recognized this side of Anna—it only appeared when she was interrogating suspects.
But now, the person she was questioning was Alan.
Had Pikachu been discovered?
Or had Anna’s sharp observation skills uncovered Gwen’s identity as Spider-Woman, leading her to confront Alan?
Gwen felt a bit guilty and shifted closer to Alan. “Cousin Anna, did something happen?”
“Why did you suddenly become so serious?”
Seeing Gwen's protective stance, Anna couldn’t help but chuckle, “Relax, Gwen.”
“My next question will interest you as well.”
Gwen looked at Alan with curiosity and cautiously asked, “Alan, did you find another girl outside?”
The words dropped like a bomb.
The intense atmosphere Anna had built dissipated instantly, turning the scene awkward.
Anna: “...........”
Alan: “...........”
Both turned to look at Gwen with strange expressions...
So, that’s what you thought the problem was?
Gwen felt embarrassed under their gazes and realized she might have said the wrong thing.
“I, I, I….”
“What I meant was… was…”
“Did Alan do something bad outside, which made Cousin Anna react this way…”
Even Gwen herself didn’t believe her words, and she looked down in embarrassment.
Her fingers fidgeted awkwardly.
Anna pressed her hand to her forehead, her imposing manner completely gone, and asked Alan bluntly, “Alan.”
“What’s your relationship with the Emperor?”
…
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