Angel Warren

"Ororo, what happened over there? I was about to rush over when Jean said Firebird was already dead."

Seeing Storm fly over, Cyclops hurriedly asked. Storm nodded. "Firebird is indeed dead. Things are a little troublesome. We’ll discuss it in detail after we get back."

Cyclops nodded. "All right."

Next, Storm, Human Torch, and Iceman teamed up to put out the fire. They were extremely efficient, and the flames throughout the neighborhood vanished in huge swaths.

The survivors stared in shock. Unfortunately, the fire had burned for too long. Even with Storm and the others’ powerful firefighting abilities, they could not save the houses—the wooden homes had all been reduced to ashes.

After inspecting the surrounding area, Wang Bert flew back with Psylocke. Looking at Human Torch and Iceman as they put out the fire, he smiled. "What a pity. Those two would be perfect as firefighting Super Heroes."

Psylocke was stunned. "You can be a Super Hero by putting out fires?"

"Why not? As long as it benefits the public, it’s heroic."

Wang Bert smiled. In Marvel World, Firefighter Hero Chen Haoran had never become wildly famous, but his popularity had always remained steady. He had never dropped out of the top ten.

"If you say so."

Psylocke asked curiously, "Boss, why do you say it’s a pity? Given your relationship with the professor, he should agree to let you sign those two kids, right?"

"That’s not why."

Wang Bert shook his head. "America’s fire departments are privately run. Once firefighting Super Heroes appear, fire departments will be downsized. In other words, firefighters will lose their jobs. When that happens, trouble is inevitable.

"Besides, those two kids down there are only high school students. They haven’t seen much of the world. They can’t shoulder something this big."

Iceman Bobby was all right; he was very steady. But Human Torch John was practically a miniature Human Torch. If he became a Super Hero, there would definitely be endless trouble.

"That’s true."

Psylocke nodded and asked, "Boss, with more and more things happening lately, are you planning to develop new Super Heroes?"

"I am." Wang Bert smiled. "I’ve been contacting a mutant online. If he joins us, the image of mutants will improve considerably."

Psylocke did not understand. "Why contact him online?"

"Because his father won’t let him leave the house."

Wang Bert said, "His father thinks his son is a freak."

Psylocke said unhappily, "Again?"

"It’s not the worst situation. At least he hasn’t been kicked out of the house, right?"

Wang Bert shrugged. "The reporters will be here soon, so I’m leaving first. Things have been a little busy lately."

"All right."

Psylocke nodded. Unlike Wang Bert, she could not leave whenever she wanted, because she needed popularity and exposure. Only then could she become more and more famous.

As for Wang Bert, his popularity would never decline, because he would always be the center of the world.

The reporters worked quickly. That very day, the Firebird incident appeared in detail on television and in newspapers. After reading the reports, the public had only one thought: could the American military please stop causing them trouble? The entire incident had been caused by the military, and Firebird Geri had even been a military major. If General Cassol had not already been burned to death, the public would definitely have staged protests.

Besides that, the public was deeply worried about the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator. There were countless people in this world filled with hatred. If that Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator was not eliminated, monsters like Firebird would surely keep appearing.

The problem was that Iron Man and Ms. Psylocke could not arrive so promptly every time, and they generally only operated in New York.

In response to the public’s concerns, the president repeatedly assured everyone at a press conference that America was capable of protecting its citizens. The military also took the opportunity to show its face, declaring that it would do everything possible to protect the people.

Unfortunately, no one believed the military, which was covered in dark scandals. People were more willing to believe in Super Heroes.

"Humanity needs mutants. Under these circumstances, mutants’ living conditions will improve somewhat, though only somewhat. The more attention mutants receive, the more uneasy humanity’s upper class will become."

Wang Bert secretly shook his head. At that moment, Yuriko called and said, "Boss, the person you arranged to meet has arrived."

Wang Bert said, "Send him in."

Soon, a handsome blond young man in an oversized suit entered Wang Bert’s office. He looked slightly hunched over. He had originally been very restrained, but the moment he saw Wang Bert, he became extremely excited. "Hello, Mr. Wang. I’ve always admired you."

"Thank you. Have a seat. You don’t mind if I call you Warren, do you?"

Wang Bert smiled. This blond young man was Angel from X-Men 3, Warren Worthington III—his father was Worthington, the man researching the Mutant Cure.

Warren hurriedly waved his hands. "Of course not."

"Don’t be so nervous. I’m not a tiger. I don’t eat people."

Wang Bert smiled, then went straight to the point. "Warren, ever since I learned about you, I’ve wanted to train you to become a Super Hero."

Warren was somewhat surprised. "You want me to become a Super Hero?"

"Yes."

Wang Bert nodded. "Warren, you look exactly like the angels from mythology. Once you become a Super Hero, the image of us mutants will improve dramatically.

"You know that ordinary people discriminate heavily against mutants. Some even call mutants demons. Your appearance will expose those vicious lies and clear our name."

Warren said uncertainly, "Am I really that important?"

"You are. Warren, you’re very important."

Wang Bert nodded with great certainty. "Besides, after becoming a Super Hero, you’ll be able to help many people."

Whether it was improving mutants’ image or helping others, both deeply moved Warren. However, he had one concern: his father would never agree to let him become a Super Hero.

Just as Warren thought of his father, his father’s roar sounded from outside. "Move aside! I’m going in to find my son!"

Yuriko shouted, "Mr. Worthington, please conduct yourself properly. This is Mr. Wang’s office. You will not behave outrageously here."

"Get her out of my way!"

Warren’s father, Worthington, roared. Then the sounds of fighting came from outside. Warren hurriedly stood up and shouted, "Mr. Wang, we need to stop my father quickly, or your secretary might get hurt."

"I think the one who gets hurt won’t be her."

Wang Bert smiled. He stood and led Warren out of the office, only to see poor Mr. Worthington held high in the air with one hand by Yuriko, while all the bodyguards lay on the ground groaning.

Warren stared in astonishment. He had never expected Ms. Yuriko to be so formidable.

Seeing Wang Bert emerge, Worthington roared, "Bert Wang, do you know who I am? How dare you treat me like this?"

"Yuriko, put him down."

Wang Bert waved his hand and said to Worthington, "Mr. Worthington, this was self-defense. Also, don’t emphasize your status to me. I don’t care."

Worthington owned the enormous Worthington Pharmaceutical Group. With a net worth of tens of billions, he was one of America’s famous ultra-rich tycoons.

After Yuriko put him down, Worthington glared fiercely at Wang Bert, then shouted to Warren, "Warren, come home with me. You shouldn’t have run outside."

Wang Bert sneered. "Sorry, Mr. Worthington, but how old is your son? Does he not even have the right to leave the house by himself?"

"He’s a patient. He can’t just wander around."

Worthington said angrily. In his eyes, all mutants were patients. That was why he wanted to research a cure—to save his son and save other mutants.

Warren silently clenched his fists. He clearly did not agree with his father—when he was young, he had indeed hated his wings, but now, he had long accepted his identity as a mutant.

Unfortunately, Warren was somewhat timid by nature and did not dare defy his father.

"Mutants have never been a disease. Yuriko, clean this place up. Mr. Worthington, let’s go into the office and talk properly."

Wang Bert snorted and turned back toward his office. Not wanting his son’s affairs to become public knowledge, Worthington followed Wang Bert inside.

Once the office door closed, Worthington slammed his hand against Wang Bert’s desk and threatened, "Bert Wang, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but stay away from my son. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude."

Wang Bert smiled and waved his hand. Worthington suddenly vanished. Warren was shocked and hurriedly shouted, "Mr. Wang, where’s my father?"

"Ten thousand meters up in the air. Don’t worry, he won’t die. I’m just scaring him."

Wang Bert smiled. "Warren, have you ever tried flying freely to your heart’s content?"

Warren shook his head. "No. I’ve only secretly flown around in my room."

"You’re wasting the gift God gave you, Warren. Go out and fly freely. Let your father see just how outstanding you are."

Wang Bert said, "Warren, stop hiding your wings. You’re not a freak. You’re Warren, a mutant."

Warren fell silent for a moment. He turned to look at the floor-to-ceiling windows, and a longing for the sky surged up inside him—countless times, he had wanted to soar freely through the heavens, but every time, he had backed down at the last moment.

"I want to fly."

Warren suddenly said. Then he took off his suit and removed the straps binding his wings. After that, he straightened up, and with a swish, a pair of pure white angel wings emerged from his back.

Wang Bert applauded. Warren was handsome and strong, and with those wings, he looked exactly like an angel.

It would be such a waste if someone like him did not become a Super Hero.

"Here I come!"

Warren shouted and charged toward the window. Then he leaped with all his strength, soaring straight out more than ten meters.

Pulled by gravity, Warren rapidly fell downward. He took a deep breath and flapped his wings with all his might, lifting himself into the air. A passerby below happened to look up and see the sight, and instinctively covered their mouth. God, an angel had appeared.

"So this is what it feels like to fly freely. I love it so much!"

Warren cheered loudly as he flew hard toward the sky. At that moment, he finally understood that he belonged in the heavens.

"I will never lose these wings. I am Angel Warren!"

Warren shouted. From this day onward, he was a mutant—an angel.

Bert Wang actually dares to kill me?

As Worthington fell from the sky, the muscles on his face constantly caving in under the fierce wind, he shouted in disbelief in his heart. He was a billionaire tycoon worth tens of billions. Killing him was no different from killing the president. How could Bert Wang dare? Just as Worthington thought he was finished, a snow-white figure rapidly flew toward him from below. He froze. Was it an angel? Once the figure came closer, Worthington discovered that it was not an angel, but his son Warren—flying toward him with an excited expression he had never seen on his face before.

"Dad!"

Warren flew over and grabbed Worthington. Then he carried his father downward and landed on the rooftop of the building.

Worthington came to his senses and hurriedly shouted, "Warren, put your wings away immediately! Look at what you look like!"

"Like an angel, Dad. I feel better than I ever have before. I even feel like I wasted the past decade or so of my life. I was born to belong in the sky."

Warren was clearly overwhelmed with excitement. He flew around as he shouted.

Worthington yelled, "No, you’re just sick! I’ll cure you and turn you back into an ordinary person."

"No, I’m not sick, Dad. I’m Angel Allen. I want to become a Super Hero. I want to save mutants and save ordinary people."

Warren shouted, "This is the meaning of my birth into this world. This is the mission God gave me."

"A Super Hero? What kind of nonsense did Bert Wang fill your head with?"

Worthington said angrily, "Warren, get down here. I’ll cure you. Then you’ll inherit my tens of billions and become the ruler of this country."

"What’s the point of having so much money if I’m unhappy? Dad, I won’t give up flying, and I definitely won’t give up my dream."

Warren shouted, "I’m going to be a Super Hero. An angel is what I’m determined to be."

Angel Warren was no longer the cowardly Warren he had once been. Flying had not only given him freedom, but also courage.

Worthington was nearly furious. At that moment, Wang Bert appeared on the rooftop and said, "Warren, go fly for a while longer. I’ll talk with your father."

"Thank you, Mr. Wang. I’ll sign with you and become a Super Hero."

Warren nodded, then cheered as he shot into the sky. Worthington turned to Wang Bert and said angrily, "Bert Wang, are you trying to get my child killed?"

As a member of the ruling class, Worthington understood very well how humanity’s upper class viewed mutants. Wang Bert making Warren into a Super Hero was no different from sending him to his death.

"I’m setting his nature free, Mr. Worthington. You only care about yourself. You’ve never considered what Warren wants."

Wang Bert said coldly, "And do you really think humanity’s upper class would spare Warren? How could they possibly allow a mutant to stand alongside them?"

Worthington did not explain. The Cure Project was classified above all else. Until it succeeded, he would not tell anyone else about it. He said, "Bert Wang, how much do you want to leave Allen alone? Name your price. I’ll pay it."

"Do I look like I’m short of money? Why do all of you keep trying to buy me off with money?"

Wang Bert was somewhat irritated. Trying to buy him off with money was no different from insulting him. Perhaps the plan to become the richest man should be moved forward. He was Wang Bert, the god of wealth—he had once possessed the greatest fortune in the entire universe.

"One billion dollars. Let me take Warren home."

Worthington said fiercely, "Bert Wang, don’t push me. Otherwise, your Universe Recycling Company will go bankrupt tomorrow."