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*****
Establish a company, provide for more mutants, accumulate capital, use that to gain influence and a voice, release evidence, garner sympathy and resonance, and win the support of neutral and peace-seeking individuals.
Silently reciting his next steps in his heart, Erik revealed a smile.
This should make their situation better… right?
Elsewhere, Mike had already left the Brotherhood's island base and returned home.
He was eagerly anticipating the changes this would bring to the mutant community.
And as for him—after the battle in New York, his utterly unremarkable system finally showed that his abilities were on the verge of leveling up.
Host: Mike Kent
Newbie Gift: Assassin Time
Ability: Memory Visualization Manifestation
Upgrade Rewards:
Eternal Cigarette Case
Dimensional Pocket
Kryptonian Bloodline
Current Ability Level: LV4
Current Upgrade Progress: 99%
Son: Clark Kent (Kryptonian)
Son: Erik Kent (Mutant, Awakened)
Son: Charles Kent (Mutant, Awakened)
Daughter: Gwen Kent (Spirit of Vengeance Contract Holder)
Through the battles with the Whiplash Iron Soldiers, the vampire incident, the treacherous hell invasion, the giant war, and the New York battle…
Thanks to the relentless efforts of Clark, Erik, and Charles, his powers were finally on the brink of leveling up.
Mike glanced at his system and started to get excited.
Now then…
He checked the time.
Gwen would be out of school soon. He needed to go buy groceries and start preparing dinner.
The supermarket had resumed normal operations after a day's closure. Although large parts of the city were still under reconstruction, daily life remained mostly unaffected.
Just as he stepped out of the house, he ran into Bruce, who wore glasses and a tracksuit.
"Going grocery shopping?"
Bruce pushed up his glasses, looking like he saw right through everything.
Mike nodded.
"I'll go with you. I need to buy some ingredients too," Bruce said, scratching his head. "Speaking of which, during those years I was hiding out, I lived alone and cooked for myself. Why don't you and the kids come to my place for dinner tonight?"
"Hm?"
Mike looked at Bruce in surprise.
This time… he wasn't coming over to mooch?
Mike grinned. "No problem!"
…
Clearing the rubble.
Because of the war, this had become one of the most sought-after jobs recently.
An engineering team contracted to clean this area was hard at work, clearing the building debris.
Although this job wasn't the highest paying among all the post-war reconstruction work, it often brought surprises.
If someone found a Chitauri corpse or weapon among the ruins and turned it in, they would receive a large reward.
So, the workers often joked that their job was more like treasure hunting.
Clang!
A sharp sound echoed—something had caught the digging machine's claw.
The excavator driver paused, a hint of joy flashing across his face. Carefully maneuvering the machine to push aside the debris, he climbed down and picked up a shovel. He walked to the spot where the anomaly had occurred and began digging.
After a few shovelfuls, a faint, dark gleam emerged.
Delighted, he dug faster—until he froze.
It was a severed arm, wrapped in black combat gear.
The break was jagged, as if it had been violently torn off after an injury.
"This… is strange."
The driver frowned.
If the excavator had struck it, it should have been mangled—but it wasn't even scratched.
Realizing this, his eyes lit up with excitement.
If it wasn't ordinary… could it be alien?
He tapped it lightly with the shovel—no obvious reaction. But when he struck it harder, the metal shovel dented with a loud clang.
Shocked, he quickly knelt down, took off his jacket, and carefully wrapped the severed arm. Acting as if nothing had happened, he placed it in the excavator and resumed work.
…
On a hidden island, known by almost no one.
The island wasn't large, but it was covered in lush forest.
Forests, rivers, wildlife—it had everything.
Curiously, the island wasn't marked on any map.
Other than a few shipwreck survivors who had washed ashore by accident, no one had ever discovered it.
Because… it was the headquarters of Mr. Sinister, his secret base.
Since his last plan failed and he was resurrected using a clone body with a backup consciousness, he had remained in hiding, biding his time and building strength—waiting for the perfect moment to act.
And now, finally… that moment had come.
The Battle of New York.
Yes, that battle!
In the war led and won by superheroes, the entire world witnessed the power and significance of superheroes.
Superheroes had become the symbol of this era.
They had countless supporters, immense power, and even held a kind of unspoken authority—the right to judge and to use violence.
So then, if superheroes were the hallmark of this era…
If he controlled the superheroes—wouldn't that mean he controlled the era itself?
Nathaniel Essex, Mr. Sinister, felt his heart pound with excitement.
Because, in his eyes, superheroes could be made—and it was even quite easy.
People with superpowers solve crises that ordinary people cannot, save civilians, earn their praise, then protect a region…
The process was so simple, it could be replicated endlessly.
Hero Manufacturing…
Mr. Sinister thought of his clones and smiled.
Under his direction, a great number of superheroes would soon emerge.
And what did a large number of superheroes represent in this era?
Mr. Sinister looked at his hand, turned it over slowly, and smiled again…
He walked into his collection room, where rows of naked bodies floated in nutrient tanks. The sight filled him with satisfaction.
But when his eyes fell on the empty tank labeled "001", he felt a wave of disappointment—and even a hint of loneliness.
After all this time, he still hadn't acquired the perfect specimen he longed for. If he could, it would greatly boost his plans.
Just then, a man with heterochromatic eyes walked in.
Jason Stryker.
With excitement on his face, he couldn't help but blurt out as soon as he entered:
"Sir! We've found it!"
(End of Chapter)