Persuasion

Setting aside the schemes of Black King and Original Sin for now, inside the factory, Wang Bert waved a hand, and Brigadier General Lance vanished. Treece shouted, "Iron Man, I still have plenty of questions for that scumbag, like that so-called Human Supremacy Organization."

After a pause, Treece continued, "I never expected Acton to be such a despicable man. I thought he supported mutants, just like President Richard."

"Exactly. He deceived everyone. He’s just as disgusting as the military. I’ll never vote for him."

Cameraman Keli shouted as well. Many viewers in front of their screens nodded at the same time. They would never cast their votes for a despicable man like Acton.

At the White House, President Richard smiled so broadly his eyes were nearly gone. He had won. For the next four years, he would still be president.

I wonder how much money I can make in four years?

President Richard’s eyes gleamed. After leaving office, he might even become one of the tycoons. Haha, Richard would become the most successful president in history!

"You can know a face, but not a heart."

Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Treece, Keli, the fire is getting bigger and bigger. It isn’t suitable to continue the live broadcast. I’ll send you out."

"Iron Man, I don’t mind continuing the broadcast."

Treece hurriedly shouted. With Iron Man here, what danger could there be? "Safety comes first. Besides, some of what comes next may not be pleasant to watch."

Wang Bert smiled and waved his hand. Treece and Keli vanished at the same time, returning to New York TV Station.

"I really didn’t mind."

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Treece sighed. Then, he said to the camera, "Dear viewers, the live coverage of this operation has officially ended. See you next time."

Inside the factory, Wang Bert smiled at Wade. "Pretty ruthless. You even dug out his heart."

"Of course. Who doesn’t know that I, Wade, am a tough guy?"

Wade said arrogantly. Wang Bert snapped, "Mr. Tough Guy, do you know you almost screwed everything up? Get out there and help Logan finish the fight. Other than our own people and those mutant slaves, I don’t want to see anyone else alive."

"Yes, BOSS!"

Wade gave a theatrical salute and disappeared. Wang Bert shook his head and walked toward the room where Translucent was.

"Everything okay on your end?"

Wang Bert walked to the doorway and asked Translucent, "Huh? Francis didn’t turn into an Evil Believer?"

"Even if he did, it would be useless. There isn’t much blood left in his body."

Translucent sneered at Francis, who was still dripping blood and pale as death. "Did you think I couldn’t torture you just because you can’t feel pain? How does it feel to have your life slowly drain out of your body?"

Francis did not even have the strength to curse. He could only stare hatefully in the direction of the voice.

Leaning against the doorframe, Wang Bert said, "Not a bad method, though it’s a little too refined."

"I have less refined methods, but he’s about to die. BOSS, lend me some money. I’ll send him to the hospital, heal him up, then keep torturing him."

Translucent said. Francis’s eyes flew wide open. Are you a demon?

"No, I’m not the demon. You are."

Translucent saw through Francis’s thoughts and gritted his teeth. "Do you know how many times I wanted to give you Death by a Thousand Cuts? I will never let you die easily."

Wang Bert shook his head. It seemed Translucent had really been holding it in this time. He took out five banknotes and tossed them to Translucent. "One banknote restores him once. Just burn it."

Translucent was overjoyed. "Wow, BOSS, you’re practically God reincarnated!"

"Why do I feel like you’re insulting me? Uh, I nearly forgot something."

Wang Bert took out a stack of Banknotes. Translucent’s figure abruptly appeared in the office. Staring at his own hands, Translucent looked stunned, then thrilled. Heaven had finally taken pity on him—he had not seen his own hands in more than ten years. Uh, they were a little dirty.

"I’m starting to regret making you visible."

Wang Bert looked Translucent up and down and clicked his tongue. Translucent laughed. "Looks like I really am handsome."

"No matter how handsome you are, you only have one day. Figure it out yourself."

Wang Bert left with a smile. Translucent rolled his eyes. His boss really did have an awful personality.

Not long after, the battle in the factory ended, and even the blaze was extinguished. Wang Bert walked up to the mutant slaves and said, "You’re free. What you do afterward is up to you.

"You can go home, work for me, or join the Mutant Guardians. Any of those are fine. Also, I have a Psychological Treatment Room that can treat your psychological issues for free."

As he spoke, Wang Bert took out a banknote. The next second, the collars around every mutant slave’s neck fell off, clattering to the floor.

"Thank you, Iron Man."

The freed slaves wept with joy and instantly became Iron Man’s biggest fans. Having an Iron Man like this was truly a blessing for mutants.

After dealing with the mutant slaves, Wang Bert said to the Security Team, "There are seven more bases. We’ll take them down as quickly as possible."

"Yes, BOSS."

Everyone nodded. Half an hour later, this utterly disgusting and utterly criminal mutant-manufacturing operation was completely destroyed.

But this was not the end. It was only the beginning. Countless people took to the streets, demanding severe punishment for the military and the arrest of General Anthony. Some particularly radical citizens even demanded that the army be disbanded and that Iron Man’s Security Company protect America instead.

President Richard immediately dispatched the Secret Service to arrest General Anthony, but he had disappeared. At the same time, the Secret Service discovered that Acton had committed suicide.

The public was extremely dissatisfied by the news of General Anthony’s disappearance, believing the military had hidden him away. As for Acton’s suicide, the public had only one thought: that despicable man had gotten off too easily.

In an attempt to restore its reputation, the military held a press conference and stated that it would thoroughly investigate the matter and deal with the rotten elements within its ranks. Unfortunately, with General Anthony missing, no one believed the military’s words. The spokesperson was nearly attacked.

The reputation of America’s military had fallen to a historic low. More than a few people were demanding its dissolution.

At that moment, President Richard stepped forward and loudly announced before the reporters, "I will thoroughly reform the military and eliminate all its evil and darkness. In addition, I will nominate Iron Man as Secretary of Defense and have him take control of the military."

"Iron Man as Secretary of Defense?"

The reporters and viewers were utterly shocked, but no one objected. In fact, many felt this was President Richard’s wisest decision.

"Iron Man! Iron Man…"

Reporters, viewers, and protesting citizens all cheered loudly. Only Iron Man could save the military and save America.

That very day, Iron Man Bert Wang accepted an interview. "I agree to serve as Secretary of Defense. Soldiers, you can rest assured that I will not fire you. I believe most American soldiers are innocent. I will only remove those high-ranking officials and the soldiers they have corrupted.

"I believe America will become bright again under my leadership."

"Long live Iron Man!"

The public cheered again. Countless people waited for Iron Man to take office and make America bright once more.

"So Bert’s target was the entire military."

The Professor exclaimed, "I underestimated his ability and determination. A mere Acton was never worth him putting in this much effort."

"What an enormous scheme. He brought down both Acton and the military."

Jean was equally shocked. "For the next four years, Iron Man will call the shots in America."

"It can’t be that simple, can it? The Human Supremacy Organization definitely won’t just sit back and do nothing. Things might descend into chaos next."

Storm said worriedly. Then she thought of something and sighed. "I never expected Acton to be a member of the Human Supremacy Organization too. I used to trust him so much that I even got my friends to vote for him."

"Just as Bert said, you can know a face, but not a heart."

The Professor shook his head. "Ororo, there won’t be any great chaos, because no one can defeat Iron Man. Those human leaders will not seek their own deaths."

After a pause, the Professor added, "Iron Man possesses invincible strength. All he lacked was an excuse—an excuse to openly take control of the military. And the military handed that excuse to him itself."

"That’s true. With Iron Man’s abilities, if those human leaders dare rebel, they would simply be seeking death."

Storm nodded. "If that’s the case, we mutants will have better days ahead."

"Without human leaders stirring up discord and plotting against us, mutants and ordinary people will surely be able to coexist peacefully."

The Professor said excitedly, "Something I failed to accomplish after decades, Bert accomplished in less than a year. It seems I can retire."

Jean hurriedly said, "Mutants can’t do without you, Professor."

The Professor smiled. "No. What mutants cannot do without is the Mutant Savior."

At the Mutant Brotherhood, Quicksilver was blasted out of Magneto’s room. Magneto roared, "Are you my son, or Iron Man’s son? Why are you desperately speaking up for him?"

"I wouldn’t mind being Iron Man’s son. The problem is, he wouldn’t take me."

Quicksilver spread his hands. Magneto was so furious he nearly controlled a robot to smash Quicksilver to death. Was this brat really his biological son?

"Old man, can you stop being so stubborn? Iron Man has swallowed up even the military. The facts prove he really is the Mutant Savior."

Quicksilver shouted, "There’s no need for us to keep being a terrorist organization. I know Iron Man well. I’ll go see him, and he’ll help clear our name."

"You’ve only met him twice. You know him my ass!"

Magneto cursed. "Iron Man’s move truly caught me by surprise, but the human leaders will never give up so easily. There is still plenty of fighting ahead.

"More importantly, peaceful coexistence does not work. Humans are not worthy of trust. Sooner or later, they will betray mutants. If mutants want freedom and dignity, the only way is to eliminate ordinary people."

"This again? Old man, how are you any different from the Human Supremacy Organization?"

Quicksilver cursed, "Wouldn’t it be great if everyone lived peacefully, had fun, and enjoyed themselves together? Why must it always be fighting to the death? Iron Man is the one who is right. He is the true Mutant Savior. Old man, you can’t sacrifice the brothers of the Brotherhood for power."

"Get out!"

Magneto was so furious he nearly had a heart attack. With a wave of his hand, the iron door slammed shut with a BANG.

Outside the door, Quicksilver cursed loudly, "Old man, you’ll regret this someday."

Magneto ignored Quicksilver. It was one thing for that brat not to believe in his ideals, but he actually dared accuse him of being obsessed with power? If he were not his biological son, Magneto would have broken his legs.

"Iron Man has indeed done an excellent job, but his method is wrong at its root. Sooner or later, humanity will turn on him."

Magneto shook his head and focused on studying the Mutant Transformation Device. His method was the right one: transform all ordinary people into mutants. Then there would never be discrimination again, and mutants would decide everything.

Through Magneto’s efforts, the Mutant Transformation Device had become a completely new version—Magneto truly could not find the problem, so in a fit of rage, he had scrapped everything and started over.

Outside, seeing that Magneto was ignoring him, Quicksilver left while grumbling. That old man was too stubborn. If he were not his father, Quicksilver would not even bother with him.

"Failed again?"

Domino leaned against the wall and said to Quicksilver, "Magneto has suffered too much pain and too much betrayal. No matter what you say, he will never trust humans."

"Humans may not be trustworthy, but Iron Man absolutely is. I can’t just watch the old man lead everyone into a pit of fire."

Quicksilver said, "Once Iron Man completely controls the military, he’ll definitely turn around and deal with the Mutant Brotherhood. This is our only chance to clear our name."

Domino was greatly surprised. Thinking of something, she shouted, "Who are you? Where did you take Pietro?"

Quicksilver snapped, "What are you talking about? Aren’t I Pietro?"

Domino said warily, "You’re not. Since when was Pietro this smart? His brain capacity is smaller than a chimpanzee’s."

"In your eyes, I’m worse than a chimpanzee?"

Quicksilver was deeply dissatisfied. Domino nodded as if it were only natural. "That’s right. Pietro’s IQ isn’t even one chimp."

Quicksilver gritted his teeth in fury. After a moment, he said helplessly, "Fine, I didn’t come up with those ideas. The Professor told me."

"I knew it."

Domino suddenly understood. Quicksilver grew even more annoyed. I really want to hit someone. What should I do? Domino asked, "What are you going to do next?"

Quicksilver sighed. "What else can I do? Keep persuading the old man. He’s my real father, after all. He won’t actually chop me to death."

"It’s useless. Magneto won’t change."

Domino shook her head and said, "From what I’ve observed, quite a few mutants have wavered. You should organize them, make them your people, then overthrow Magneto and become the master of the Brotherhood."

"You want me to betray the old man?"

Quicksilver angrily said, "You really are a traitor."

Domino spread her hands. "I was an undercover agent to begin with. What’s the problem?"

Quicksilver was speechless. He snorted. "Although I strongly disagree with the old man’s methods, I won’t betray him. No matter what, he is my real father, and he treats me well."

"He still hasn’t chopped you to death, so yes, he treats you well."

Domino smiled. "Pietro, the better he treats you, the more you need to overthrow him. Otherwise, Iron Man will kill him sooner or later.

"Iron Man is a good person, there is no doubt about that, but he has never been softhearted. Once he begins wiping out the Brotherhood, he will never spare Magneto, because Magneto’s powers are too terrifying.

"Magneto’s future will be the same as Human Torch’s. Neither you nor the Professor will be able to stop Iron Man.

"If you want to save him, there is only one way: overthrow him."