Demanding Power

Bert Wang’s words caught the reporters off guard, but on second thought, he had a point. With guns as widespread as they were in America, pulling out a gun during a bar fight was perfectly normal.

What was that saying again? Free America, shootings every day.

Another reporter asked, "Mr. Wang, do you think Human Torch is qualified to be a Super Hero?"

"He isn’t a Super Hero. I prefer to call him a Super Professional."

Bert Wang said, "Super Hero has two parts: super and hero. Human Torch is super, but he isn’t a hero."

The reporter asked, "Is that why you refused to let him become a Super Police officer?"

"I merely told the Director that Super Police officers possess law enforcement authority, and it cannot be casually granted to others."

Bert Wang said, "Super Police officers have obligations and responsibilities to match their authority."

The earlier reporter said, "Good thing you rejected him. If that Human Torch became Super Police, he would definitely get a lot of people killed."

The reporters all nodded. One reporter whom Bert Wang had bought off said, "I think that anyone who wants to become Super Police in the future must pass a joint review by the police commissioner and you, Mr. Wang."

"That’s right. It must pass your review, Mr. Wang."

The reporters nodded again. Compared to the police commissioner, they trusted Bert Wang more.

"I am very willing to shoulder that responsibility. After all, I was the one who proposed Super Police."

Bert Wang said. He wanted to use the Human Torch incident to seize review authority. Once that happened, he would have the final say over who could become a Super Hero.

"We will appeal to the government and the police department on your behalf, Mr. Wang."

The reporters said. They were not fools; they could see some of the maneuvering involved. But it was not a big issue, because they trusted Bert Wang greatly, and he had always been generous with his money. Once this matter was settled, they would certainly receive gifts from him.

At that moment, the reporter from New York TV Station brought up another matter. "Mr. Wang, how do you plan to deal with the Evil Believers?"

"You think too highly of me. I am only a Super Hero. Protecting New York is no problem for me, but protecting all of America is truly beyond my ability. Besides, I have no law enforcement authority elsewhere. I am only New York’s Super Police."

Bert Wang sighed and said, "This matter still needs to be coordinated and organized by the government."

A reporter asked, "So you will only protect New York and not other places?"

"No. If other places ask me for help, I will rush over immediately to provide support."

Bert Wang shook his head. "I will do my best to protect everyone, but one person’s strength is limited. I am still only human, not a god."

The reporters said they understood. The question was, could the American Government be trusted? In the presidential office, the president watched Bert Wang speaking eloquently on television and said to his aide, "Our young friend is demanding power."

"Though Mr. Wang is young, he is very seasoned in his dealings. He proceeds step by step."

The aide looked at the television and said, "With him around, mutants are fortunate. He truly deserves to be called the Mutant Savior."

"That is why so many people fear him. If his strength were not so overwhelming and his reputation not so high, some lunatic gunman would have tried to kill him long ago."

The president leaned back in his chair and said, "Of course, that has nothing to do with me. All I know is that I will soon have another source of income. Bert is truly generous when it comes to money. What a pity I am about to leave office. Otherwise, my fortune could at least double."

The aide looked at the president speechlessly. America having a president like this was truly… wonderful.

Of course it was wonderful. The aide received money from Rebirth Group every month. As far as he knew, the president’s bodyguards and advisers had similar income.

"Mr. Wang wants two kinds of authority."

The aide analyzed, "One is the authority to review Super Police officers. Once that succeeds, all Super Heroes will become his people.

"The other is the authority to enforce the law nationwide. He wanted that authority from the beginning, but you were worried that others would object, so you restricted it to New York."

The president rubbed his chin and said, "So I can collect payment twice?"

The aide was speechless. After all that, was that the only thing he had thought of? He said, "One and a half times, perhaps. You already agreed to the second authority before."

"That is true. The first matter will not be difficult. I will establish a Super Hero Review Committee, with Bert Wang as its chairman."

The president nodded, then said, "As for the second matter, with the Evil Believers posing an imminent threat, most states will agree. As for the remaining states, we can deal with them after the next president takes office."

The aide smiled. "Mr. Acton will probably be very busy after taking office."

"Who told him to become the next president? Once I leave office, I will enjoy myself properly. What do you think about buying a ranch down south and raising horses? I have loved riding since I was young…"

The President went on and on, and the aide reminded him, "Mr. President, do not go too far from New York. New York has Iron Man protecting it. Other places do not."

"That is true."

The president nodded. Just then, the phone rang. It was Yuriko, Bert Wang’s secretary. The president and the aide exchanged smiles. The money was here.

It was fortunate that no one else was in the office. Otherwise, they would surely have said: America was probably finished.

The public had no objections to the establishment of the Super Hero Review Committee. On one hand, it had little to do with them. On the other, its chairman was Iron Man, who was far more reliable than those bureaucrats.

The public—or rather, the people of New York—were more concerned with something else. Iron Man was going to protect people in other states, and New York residents were very unhappy about that. They felt Iron Man should remain in New York and devote himself to protecting them.

As for whether people in other states lived or died, what did that have to do with them?

People in other states were deeply dissatisfied with New Yorkers’ selfishness. Both sides cursed each other viciously online, and the argument grew extremely heated.

The chaos outside had nothing to do with Human Torch John. His heart was now filled with madness and hatred, for one simple reason: everyone had abandoned him.

First, Iron Man had abandoned him. If not for Iron Man, he would never have ended up here, much less been denied bail.

Second, Mutant Academy had abandoned him—Hank had only sent a lawyer to see him and had shown no intention of using his authority. In John’s eyes, that meant Hank had abandoned him.

Hank was the Minister of the Mutant Affairs Department. If he wanted to save him, would it not take just one word?

Third, Happy Entertainment Company had abandoned him. William was deeply disappointed in him and announced that he was terminating his contract. Moreover, William said he would hire Iceman as the second Firefighter Hero. It enraged John so much he nearly went insane. If he had had flames, he would have burned that bastard to death.

John hated not only William, but Iceman as well. He believed his friend had betrayed him.

Finally, his fans had abandoned him.

When William visited, he had shown John some news reports and comments. In short, all of America was cursing him, including fans who had once loved him to death.

In fact, that was also why William had terminated John’s contract. John no longer had any value.

John’s dream of becoming a superstar had been completely shattered.

"Why? Why have all of you abandoned me? What have I ever done to wrong you? Why are you treating me like this? I hate you! I’ll burn you all to death!"

John screamed hysterically inside the holding cell. The police officers outside rolled their eyes. Even now, he did not think he was at fault. He truly deserved to die.

"Good thing Iron Man rejected his application. What right does someone like that have to become Super Police?"

The officer looked disdainful. Iron Man, Psylocke, Angel—which of them was not approachable? Moreover, they treated the police well. Whenever there was danger, they always went in first. Because of them, police casualties had fallen sharply.

There were indeed people within the police department who were dissatisfied with Super Heroes, but there were just as many who approved of them.

After venting for a while, John sat weakly on the ground. At that moment, he saw a large number of ants form a line of English words on the floor: "John? Do you regret it?"

John froze, then asked quietly, "Who are you?"

"I am the Insect Controller of the Mutant Brotherhood. John, humans are not worthy of trust. The Professor’s methods are wrong."

The ants began forming English words again. Because there were so many words, they had to form the sentence several times before it was complete.

John cursed in a low voice, "Neither humans nor the Professor can be trusted. They tricked me. I should never have become some damned Super Hero."

Insect Controller: "That’s right. The Brotherhood is where you belong, John. Join us, and together we will overthrow humanity."

John said with a savage expression, "Get me out of here. I am willing to join you. I want to burn those ordinary people to death. I want to burn Iron Man to death. I want to burn Mutant Academy to death."

Insect Controller: "Very good. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, we will rescue you."

John said bitterly, "Remember to bring me a lighter. I want to burn down this police station."

Insect Controller: "We need your flames."

Then Insect Controller controlled the ants and left. John leaned against the wall, his face full of savagery. He would make those who had abandoned him pay the price. He would burn them all to death.

At that moment, a voice rang out in John’s mind. "Human Torch John, I can sense enormous hatred within you."

"Who?"

John was startled and hurriedly asked. What was going on today? Why were so many people coming to find him?

"I am Greed, High Priest of the Doomsday Church."

Greed said, "Human Torch John, are you willing to destroy the world with us?"

"You? No. Get out of my head."

John shouted. Though he was full of hatred, he only hated Iron Man and the others. He had no intention of destroying the world.

Come on, the world was such a wonderful place. Why destroy it? Besides, he had already found a new backer and had no interest in becoming an Evil Believer.

"You are unwilling now, but one day, you will be willing. When that time comes, as long as you call out the name of the Doomsday Master, He will bestow His blessing upon you."

Greed did not press the matter. After leaving those words behind, his consciousness withdrew from John’s mind.

"He left? He really left?"

John was somewhat suspicious. He did not dare do anything else and obediently leaned against the wall, waiting for the Mutant Brotherhood to rescue him.

Meanwhile, in a mysterious location somewhere in America, Greed, whose shriveled body resembled a mummy, slowly opened his eyes. Wrath, who was only the size of a child, asked impatiently, "Did that guy agree?"

Greed and Wrath’s injuries had never healed. That was one of the reasons they had remained quiet during this period.

"He did not agree, but that does not mean there is no good news."

Greed smiled. "Tomorrow, the Mutant Brotherhood and the X-Men will engage in a major battle. They will have no time to deal with us."

Wrath said in delight, "So we can act?"

Greed said with fervor, "Yes. Everyone will move at once—America, Great Canada, and neighboring Mexico. We will strike in all three countries simultaneously and offer My Lord countless deaths. Then My Lord will surely help us recover our strength."

Wrath laughed loudly. "Excellent. I have been waiting so long that I am sick of it. Tomorrow, this little city will become history."

"Killing is not the problem, but tomorrow, we cannot be too conspicuous, and we absolutely cannot let anyone recognize us. Otherwise, Iron Man will certainly come after us. Even at our peak, we were no match for him, let alone now."

Greed said, "We must gamble with Iron Man on probability. As long as we win, we can recover our strength, and your wife and children can truly be resurrected."

"Iron Man is simply too powerful."

Even Wrath had no choice but to bow his head before Iron Man. The other man’s strength was utterly crushing.

Greed let out a breath and slowly said, "Everything depends on tomorrow."

At the New York branch of the Mutant Brotherhood, Magneto listened to Insect Controller’s report, then called outside, "Pietro."

"I’m here, old man. What do you need me to do? I’ve been cooped up here for half a month, and I’m going crazy. Oh, right, that senator locked up downstairs seems to have gone crazy already."

Quicksilver suddenly appeared in front of Magneto and rattled off, "You people lock him up all day, fine, but you will not even turn on the lights for him. Isn’t that going too far? Even if you are an evil organization, evil organizations need standards too."

Veins bulged on everyone’s foreheads, including Magneto’s. If this were not his biological son, he would definitely have killed him.

The reason Magneto had not taken action these past days was that he had been trying to get used to working with his son. The result was that Quicksilver had nearly driven him to death.

"I am your father, not an old man. You have completely messed up the family hierarchy."

Magneto cursed, then said, "You know about Human Torch, right?"

Quicksilver nodded. "Yes. He deserved it. It was bad enough that he stole someone else’s job, but he even went after someone else’s wife. A guy like that does not deserve to be a Super Hero. If he had not been locked up, I would definitely have beaten him up."

"His greatest mistake was that, as a mutant, he chose to help ordinary people. This outcome was inevitable. Humans are not worthy of trust."

Magneto said, "Fortunately, he has now seen the truth and decided to join our Mutant Brotherhood."

"No way, old man. You are taking in trash like that too?"

Quicksilver cried out, then seemed to remember something. "Uh, right, I forgot. This is an evil organization. Taking in trash like Human Torch is perfectly normal."

Sabretooth and the others all glared at Quicksilver angrily. If he were not Magneto’s son, they would definitely have taught him a lesson.