Mariko

For anyone else, trying to seize the Hellfire Club’s assets would be nearly impossible. But for Wang Bert, it was nothing much, because he had Money Power.

Wang Bert thought to himself, Running into my grandnephew and smoothly turning Angel into an undercover agent—my luck is pretty good today. Looks like those two hundred million dollars weren’t wasted.

Meanwhile, in Hell, Original Sin expended a great deal of origin energy to repair Black King and Angel’s bodies and souls, then transformed them into his emissaries.

Black King was Pride, the foremost of the Seven Deadly Sins, while Angel was Lust, the last of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Though Black King was somewhat unwilling, he did not resist. He asked, "I’m Pride. Does that mean I call the shots among the Seven Deadly Sins?"

Original Sin replied, "You are the strongest among the Seven Deadly Sins, but whether you can make them listen to you depends on your own abilities."

"They’ll definitely listen to me."

Black King was full of confidence. He had already been powerful, and after becoming an emissary, his strength had multiplied several times over. Other than Iron Man, he did not care about anyone else.

Angel said ingratiatingly, "Black King, whatever my status, I will obey your commands."

"Thank you."

Black King smiled, not paying much attention to it. Then he asked Original Sin, "Doomsday Master, when can we kill Iron Man?"

"After Election Day."

Original Sin said, "As long as the plan goes smoothly, I can personally descend upon Earth. When that happens, Iron Man will certainly die."

Black King asked excitedly, "What plan?"

"The God’s City Destruction Plan."

Original Sin said, "Greed is in charge of this plan. Go help him. Black King, help him. If you want to fight over power and benefits, wait until later. This time, we must succeed, because we may not get another chance."

"I understand the bigger picture."

Black King nodded and said, "Please send us over. I’ll do everything I can to patch up any loopholes and raise the plan’s chances of success. I can’t wait to see Iron Man die. No one gets to look down on me and humiliate me like this. I am Black King."

"As you wish."

Original Sin smiled in satisfaction and transferred Black King and Angel to God’s City. He believed that the four emissaries would put the greater good first and cooperate closely.

"Among the Seven Deadly Sins, only Gluttony remains."

Original Sin turned his gaze toward New York. There, a super-fat man was punishing gang members who had betrayed him. Original Sin smiled. That fat man would soon receive the punishment of fate. When the time came, he would surely worship him and become Gluttony.

Next, Original Sin shifted his gaze to Tokyo, where Sloth and Jealousy were preparing to destroy the city. The time was a little tight, but given Jealousy’s status, ten days would be enough.

Jealousy was one of the most powerful people in Tokyo.

Original Sin spread his arms and declared as if making a prophecy, "On Election Day, Iron Man and this world will both be reduced to ashes."

"God’s City? They’re going to destroy God’s City on Election Day?"

Wang Bert’s eyes narrowed slightly. God’s City had several million residents. Original Sin absolutely could not be allowed to succeed, or Earth would be in danger.

"No rush. There are still ten days. I’ll wipe out Original Sin’s four emissaries and a large number of Evil Believers in one go, so they don’t keep stirring up trouble."

After thinking it over, Wang Bert returned to New York with the captives. Then he closed his eyes and focused all his senses on Angel’s situation.

A few days later, Tokyo, Yashida Residence.

Yashida Industries was one of the island nation’s most powerful conglomerates and held an influential position there. Its head was the elderly Yashida Ichirō, who had been staying home for treatment due to a serious illness.

Yashida Ichirō had a granddaughter named Mariko. That day, the kimono-clad Mariko found the family’s guardian ninja, Harada Kenichiro, and asked, "Ichirō, why have those bodyguards been refusing to let me see Grandfather? And why has my father suddenly become such a drunk? He was never like this before."

Harada Kenichiro was the Yashida Family’s guardian ninja. His family had served the Yashida Family faithfully for hundreds of years. At the same time, he was Mariko’s childhood sweetheart—or rather, calling him her simp would be more fitting.

Harada Kenichiro did not answer directly. He said, "Miss, the family head ordered me to take you out of Tokyo and back to our hometown."

Mariko frowned deeply. "Why should I leave? Grandfather is seriously ill. How can I leave at a time like this?"

Harada Kenichiro smiled bitterly to himself. The family head was not only no longer ill, but could also punch a bear to death. He said, "Miss, those are the family head’s orders. We will leave in a couple of days. Your father will go with us as well."

Mariko asked unhappily, "Ichirō, what exactly happened? And where is Yukio? Why haven’t I seen her these past few days?"

"I cannot say, Miss. The ninja clan obeys only the family head’s orders."

Harada Kenichiro said, "As for Yukio, she angered the family head and was locked in the dungeon by him."

"What? You locked Yukio in the dungeon?"

Mariko was furious. Her status was too high, and Yukio was one of the few friends she had.

Harada Kenichiro said, "These are the family head’s orders, Miss. Please stop asking. The family head has arranged everything."

Mariko took a deep breath and said, "Fine, I won’t ask. But you must take me to see Yukio."

Harada Kenichiro said awkwardly, "Miss, the family head has ordered that no one may see Yukio."

"You once said that you would obey me as you obey the family head."

Mariko said unhappily, "I only want to see Yukio. It’s not like I’m asking you to let her go. What’s the problem?"

Harada Kenichiro hesitated greatly, but as a simp, he ultimately agreed to Mariko’s request. He said, "Miss, you may only meet for a short while, and you must meet under my supervision."

"Under your supervision?"

Mariko frowned. After hesitating for a moment, she did not refuse. Harada Kenichiro then sent the guards away and led Mariko into the prison.

Inside the prison, Yukio lay painfully on the ground. Black Light flashed through her eyes from time to time, as if some force were corroding her. She gritted her teeth and desperately resisted that force.

"Yukio."

Seeing Yukio in that state, Mariko was shocked. She hurriedly shouted to Harada Kenichiro, "Open the cell door! I want to go in and see Yukio."

"You cannot go in."

Harada Kenichiro said, "Yukio, Miss Mariko wants to speak with you. She cares deeply about you. Do not hurt her."

Yukio knew Harada Kenichiro was warning her. She barely raised her head and said to Mariko, "Mariko, I’m fine. Leave Tokyo as soon as possible. Don’t stay here."

Mariko could not help asking, "Why does everyone want me to leave? What exactly happened?"

Yukio shook her head and did not answer. Mariko was only an ordinary person. Telling her the truth would only drag her into it.

"Yukio, tell me what happened! You wouldn’t have angered Grandfather for no reason!"

Mariko asked again. Yukio still refused to answer, only urging Mariko to leave Tokyo as soon as possible. Mariko shouted in dissatisfaction, "If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask Grandfather and Father."

"The family head will not see you. As for Lord Nobuharu, he is in very poor condition. I think it would be better if you did not disturb him."

Harada Kenichiro said, "Miss, let’s go."

"I don’t care. I’m going to see Grandfather."

Mariko turned and left in a huff. Harada Kenichiro sighed and asked Yukio, "Yukio, why won’t you worship the Doomsday Master like I do? The family head took you in. Your life belongs to the family head. That is the way of loyalty and righteousness."

Yukio said painfully but firmly, "My life does belong to the family head. If he wanted me to kill myself, I would have no objections. But I will not help him destroy Tokyo, because I am an X-Man."

"You’ve changed. You should never have become an X-Man. We should not have thoughts of our own. We are merely the knives and shields in our master’s hands."

Harada Kenichiro shook his head and turned to leave. Yukio sighed. She desperately wanted to notify the X-Men and Iron Man about the changes here, but unfortunately, there was nothing she could do.

I hope Iron Man and the others notice in advance.

Yukio prayed silently, but she also knew it was nearly impossible—Iron Man possessed many abilities, but foresight was not among them.

After leaving the dungeon, Mariko rushed to Yashida Ichirō’s sickroom to see him, only to be stopped outside by bodyguards. Unwilling to give up, she went to find her father, Nobuharu, but Nobuharu ignored her completely and only kept drinking, looking exactly like a hopeless drunk.

"What exactly happened? Why have you suddenly become so unfamiliar?"

Mariko asked loudly. In her heart, her father had always been imposing. She had never imagined that he would suddenly turn into such a drunken mess.

"I want to know what happened too! He spent all the company’s money buying Adamantium, and I worked myself to death cooking the books to cover for him. Then after he recovered, he actually said I was incompetent and that I wasn’t worthy of the Yashida name!"

Nobuharu abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he cursed. Mariko stared in astonishment and asked, "Grandfather recovered?"

Nobuharu gritted his teeth and said, "He’s become younger than I am. He even said he no longer needs me because he can live forever."

"Younger than you? Immortal?"

Mariko was even more shocked. At that moment, Harada Kenichiro came over and forcibly dragged Mariko out of the room. Mariko demanded angrily, "What exactly happened?"

Harada Kenichiro urged, "The family head will tell you himself in the future. Mariko, do not ask too many questions. The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes."

"I’m part of this family too. Why can’t I know?"

Mariko shouted, but Harada Kenichiro did not answer. He forcibly sent her back to her room.

Mariko paced back and forth in her room, deeply unwilling to accept this. Something must have happened to the family. She could not just leave like this. She had to uncover the truth.

After thinking for a moment, Mariko hid in the bathroom and secretly called Professor X—the phone number had been given to her by Yukio, and she was very curious about the X-Men.

Professor X was greatly surprised. "Yukio has been locked in a dungeon? Your grandfather ordered you to leave Tokyo?"

Mariko said, "Professor, Yukio said you are the wisest person in the world. I hope you can help me find out what happened and rescue Yukio."

"I’ll try."

Professor X sensed that something was wrong. He nodded and said, "Miss Mariko, be careful. Also, do not let anyone know that you contacted me, or you may be in danger."

"I understand, Professor."

Mariko nodded, hoping the Professor could uncover the truth quickly. Something was wrong with this—very wrong.

At Mutant Academy, the Professor put on Cerebro and locked onto Yukio’s location. Then he entered Yukio’s mind. To his surprise, a mass of evil Black Qi was wrapped around her consciousness.

"Evil Believers!"

Professor X was greatly alarmed. After hesitating for a moment, he did not contact Yukio immediately—he was worried that the Black Qi would notice him and alert the enemy.

If he alerted the enemy, Yukio would certainly die. He could not be careless.

After thinking it over, the Professor removed Cerebro and called Nightcrawler and Cyclops back.

A moment later, two clouds of blue smoke suddenly appeared beside the Professor. Nightcrawler had returned with Scott. Nightcrawler asked, "Professor, you called us back so urgently. Did something happen?"

Professor X asked, "I want to make a trip to the island nation. Kurt, is that a problem?"

Nightcrawler said, "No problem. Today is Wade’s shift. That guy is incredibly annoying. I don’t want to spend even a second around him."

Cyclops said, "He’s more than annoying. His mouth practically comes with its own taunting aura. Everyone wants to punch him, especially Hank. His angry hands keep shaking like he has Parkinson’s."

"Wade may be affected by his body. There is something wrong with that body of his."

Professor X shook his head and said, "Kurt, teleport us to the Yashida Family in Tokyo. Something happened to Yukio. I’m going to help her."

Nightcrawler said awkwardly, "Professor, where is the Yashida Family? Do you have a map? A video would be best. I’ve never been to Tokyo."

"Yes."

The Professor had someone find a map and video for Nightcrawler. After watching for a while, Nightcrawler vanished together with the Professor and Cyclops.

At the Yashida Family residence, the Professor and the other two appeared in an empty room. The Professor nodded, telling Nightcrawler and Cyclops to watch their surroundings. Then he closed his eyes and sensed Yukio.

Very quickly, the Professor found Yukio. He quietly entered her mind and said, "Yukio, it’s the Professor. Tell me what happened. Do not let your emotions fluctuate too much, or the Black Qi will notice."

"Professor?"

Yukio was overjoyed. While resisting the Black Qi’s corrosion, she said, "Professor, Yashida Ichirō chose to worship the Doomsday Master in order to survive and became the Doomsday Master’s emissary.

"He and General Anthony are preparing to destroy Tokyo on Election Day. Professor, you must stop them."

"Yashida Ichirō became the Doomsday Master’s emissary and wants to destroy Tokyo?"

Professor X was greatly shocked. He asked, "Yukio, do you have any other information?"

"I don’t know much. I only know that the family head regained his youth and became Jealousy among the Seven Deadly Sins."

Yukio said, "The family head forced me to worship the Doomsday Master. I refused, and he became furious. He used Black Qi to corrode me and locked me up here."

"Jealousy? Isn’t that Human Torch’s codename?"

Professor X was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Yukio, we cannot alert the enemy for now. Hold on for a few days. I’ll discuss this with Bert. Don’t worry, we will never let the Doomsday Master succeed."

"I’ll be fine. Once this is over, I will follow the family head in death. My life was given to me by the family head, so I must return it to him."

Yukio smiled bitterly and said, "If this matter were not so utterly insane, I would never betray the family head."