Chapter 185: King
As Li Chen observed, he relayed the location of Dreykov's base to Natasha.
A voice came through Natasha's earpiece, and she replied softly, "Got it."
"By the way, how do you view the Black Widows?"
She then asked another question.
"You?"
Li Chen was slightly puzzled.
"No, the other Agents of the Red Room."
Natasha said in a low voice, "If we destroy the Red Room, we have to make arrangements for them. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine what will happen."
Li Chen thought to himself, 'This fits right into my plans.'
But he didn't show it, saying seriously instead, "You're right. How about... letting them join S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Li Chen asked tentatively.
But Natasha strongly rejected it, "No way, how would that be any different from the Red Room?"
"They shouldn't be treated as tools anymore."
It was obvious Natasha had mixed feelings about S.H.I.E.L.D.
After all, she had merely jumped from one cage into another.
Being in it herself, she naturally didn't want the other Black Widows to suffer the same fate.
Only then did Li Chen say, "Alright then, I'll figure something out."
"Thank you."
Natasha was unaware of Li Chen's scheme; she now trusted Li Chen completely.
"Why thank me? You'd be better off learning a few more moves with me."
"Bah."
Natasha blushed and spat playfully.
This left the other Black Widows astounded.
Was this really the ice-cold Natasha Romanoff?
"Yelena, what's wrong with her?"
Michel asked Yelena in a low voice.
Yelena shook her head, "She's done for. She's fallen in love."
...
Meanwhile, Li Chen was surrounded by socialites.
Russian socialites were no different from those in the U.S.—equally glamorous and strikingly gorgeous.
Moreover, perhaps due to Slavic genetics, each of them possessed a model-like physique.
Li Chen had heard before that Slavs were extremely likely to become models, and they loved modeling mainly because it paid well.
So any girl with a bit of looks wanted to enter this industry.
Of course, competition in this field was fierce.
Just like right now, they were competing to get Li Chen's attention.
Those who could enter the Hellfire Club were already somewhat famous, yet they still had to act this way.
To the powerful and wealthy, celebrity and models were nothing special.
Li Chen's hands were constantly busy, yet in his heart he was criticizing this world.
Wait, the powerful and wealthy person is me? Never mind then.
His fingers grazed over these young bodies, sensing the strength and muscles within them.
He had to admit, it was more interesting than soft, limp bodies.
"Anna, you're included."
Li Chen said after feeling for a moment.
"Lord White King, my name is Maria."
"Okay."
Li Chen didn't care about her name; while choosing his harem, he kept an eye on the Black Widows' side.
The base Dreykov had relocated to wasn't very far away.
He hadn't built a Helicarrier yet; otherwise, that would be real trouble.
Unlike now, where they could just attack directly.
"Girls, break time."
With a wave of Li Chen's hand, the selected socialites and models cheered, swaying their bodies as they followed him inside.
Other members watched this scene with envy, though they mostly admired the White King's physical stamina.
They could call over just as many girls, but they couldn't handle them with such ease.
Upon entering the room, things quickly turned chaotic.
Amidst the chaos, a small hand seemed to try to unmask Li Chen.
Li Chen immediately grabbed it and pinned her to the ground.
"You're the first one."
...
Natasha waited for a long time; she wanted to chat a bit more with Li Chen, but got no response.
"Hmph, who knows what he's doing."
She grunted in dissatisfaction.
Skye immediately raised her hand and said, "Boss, I know! What else could a man be doing?"
"You sure talk a lot!"
Natasha thought of something inappropriate and instantly glared at her.
Skye shrank her neck, realizing she had been too blunt.
Crystal asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"
"Just that meaning."
Skye hadn't expected their Princess Crystal to be so pure.
"We've arrived."
Yelena immediately interrupted them.
Now was not the time for such chat.
As everyone knows, a group of women together can be even dirtier than men.
If they kept chatting, the mission would never get done.
"Let's head down first and move closer."
"They've already mobilized."
Natasha immediately spoke up, "Let's assign tasks. Yelenaand I will launch a feint attack to draw all their firepower. Skye, you guys hold onto the antidote and look for an opportunity to use it."
"Alright."
After the previous mission, Skye wasn't as nervous anymore.
Natasha then continued making arrangements, telling the other Black Widows to stay hidden as well.
After all, Dreykov didn't know they already had the antidote.
"Yelena, once we get inside, we'll gather all our controlled sisters together."
Hearing this, Yelena nodded.
They were going to act as human magnets.
At this moment, Natasha pushed open the jet door, and cold wind roared inside.
"Go!"
"Move, move, move!"
2B and A2 went down first and immediately began hacking the entire base's surveillance system.
Dreykov was furious that even the best hackers of the Red Room couldn't withstand them.
"How on earth are they doing this?"
Both sides instantly engaged in a tug-of-war.
This caused the surveillance feed to flicker erratically, working one second and failing the next.
Dreykov simply stopped trying to fix it and took control of the controls, "Bring out all the weapons. If we can't capture them alive, shoot to kill immediately."
In the movie plot, Dreykov believed he was in total control of the situation, so he hadn't ordered the Black Widows to use lethal weapons.
But things were different now; Natasha and her team were charging in directly, stripping Dreykov of his confidence in controlling everything and robbing him of any'sense of security'.
Melina remained silent on the side; her intuition was indeed correct—Natasha and the others were striking back.
In truth, she hadn't been certain before, yet she had still left the antidote in the base.
She only hoped her two daughters would find the antidote she had left behind.
While she was lost in thought, Dreykov walked over and pinched her chin.
"My dear Melina, what are you thinking about?"
Dreykov then tied Melina up right then and there.
Judging by how proficient he looked, it was as if he had taken advanced classes in Japan.
"Don't blame me, Melina. If things escalate to an unsalvageable point, you'll be my final bargaining chip."
Dreykov whispered in her ear, "You won't betray me, right?"
Although Melina felt a tickle near her ear, she still nodded, "That's right."
She had never been loyal to Dreykov in the first place, so how could it count as betrayal?
Dreykov had forced Natasha away; she wished for nothing more than Dreykov's death.
Melina thought to herself, hoping only for her daughters' success.
For that, she didn't mind sacrificing herself.
Consider it compensation for all the things she had done in the past.
Chapter 186 Red Widow
Before long, everyone disembarked from the aircraft.
Skye had indeed come down with Crystal, which drew a lot of attention to them.
The Black Widows were all envious of their abilities.
Who wouldn't want to possess a superpower?
Then, they dispersed according to the Black Widow's plan.
At this moment, 2B and A2's eyes flashed with red light, and soon, the base's gate was blasted open.
"Enter!"
Natasha and Yelena rushed in directly, followed by the others, who then dispersed according to the previous plan.
The Red Room base was like a maze; even Natasha and Yelena couldn't find their way for a moment.
Just as they were pondering, Yelena shouted, "Watch out!"
She hurriedly tackled Natasha to the ground.
The next second, bullets struck exactly where they had been standing.
"Shit!"
Both sisters cursed, but they didn't draw their weapons to retaliate.
Whether they killed the opponents or other Black Widows killed them, both outcomes would please Dreykov.
They couldn't do that.
"Go!"
The two waited for the gunfire to pause and for the controlled Black Widows to get closer before they lunged out.
Yelena performed a sliding tackle on the ground, knocked down the controlled Black Widow, and then knocked her unconscious.
"It's Julia Roberts."
Yelena took a look.
The controlled Black Widows were left with only combat instinct and had no critical thinking ability; in reality, they were severely weakened.
But their only advantage was that they were obedient and fiercely loyal to Dreykov.
That was why Dreykov controlled them without hesitation.
Thinking back on the days she had endured, Yelena felt intense hatred for Dreykov.
In that state, she had completely lost her sense of self; she wouldn't refuse anything Dreykov asked her to do.
Fortunately, she hadn't been forced to do anything shameful.
After all, Dreykov only treated them as killing machines; if it were someone else, these Black Widows might have already fallen into depravity.
"Continue!"
Yelena and Natasha exchanged a glance; it had been a long time since the sisters fought side by side, so they became quite excited.
They continued to move forward.
Soon, Skye and the others caught up and administered the antidote to them, spraying a red mist at the tips of their noses.
"Cough, cough!"
Julia Roberts and the others were immediately jolted awake.
"Julia Roberts, are you feeling better?"
"Michel?"
"You guys..."
Michel immediately said, "Yelena saved us; she administered the antidote."
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately owed Yelena a favor.
This was something Natasha couldn't do.
Because Natasha had betrayed them.
"We must follow and rescue the other sisters."
The Black Widows nodded firmly.
Julia Roberts smiled broadly, "That is how it should be."
Regardless of past grievances, none of it mattered now.
They had only one enemy, and that was Dreykov.
Thus, they first split up, and then a team followed.
After all, Yelena and the others didn't have time to do much else.
Their primary goal was to find Dreykov.
This was easier than Natasha had imagined because they had someone showing them the way.
Li Chen would remind them from time to time, though his tone was a bit strange, as he kept gasping for air.
"What is he doing?"
Yelena suddenly asked.
"Maybe he's running."
Natasha said after a moment of silence; she certainly knew what Li Chen was doing, that bastard.
But she also knew just how impressive the Russian girls were.
Anyone who came here would want to get a taste of the local specialty.
Yelena chuckled, "How does he do it?"
"Who knows?"
Natasha truly didn't know.
She had been by Li Chen's side for so long, but Li Chen had never shown anything; he had always been like an ordinary person.
Only at times like this would he reveal his uniqueness.
However, at a time like this, Natasha had no mind to worry about that.
"There is a powerful enemy ahead, be careful."
Just then, Li Chen warned them.
This brought them back to their senses, and sure enough, at the next corner, it was as if a gatekeeper stood in the passageway ahead.
Natasha frowned, "Red Widow?"
"It's her."
Yelena was also very solemn.
The person blocking the way was dressed entirely in a red bodysuit, wearing a red cape, and had wrapped herself in a red hood.
Others might not recognize her, but the sisters knew her; this was the Red Widow, secretly trained by the Red Room.
She had once used the Super Soldier Serum and was the ultimate product of the former Red Empire!
The two slowed their pace, and upon closer inspection, they saw that the Red Widow's bodysuit was tied with several red ropes, and she held a spear in her right hand.
It was a weapon from the age of cold weapons, a spear taller than she was.
The Red Widow was completely covered, making it impossible to see her appearance or features.
When the two approached, she finally spoke, "Traitors."
"You have betrayed the Red Empire."
"It died long ago."
Natasha also took out her batons as weapons, her expression very serious.
The Red Widow remained unmoved, "It exists forever, and you have betrayed it."
"We have a chance to rebuild it, as long as you return to the right path."
Yelena chuckled, "Dream on."
They had no loyalty to that thing.
In fact, they only felt hatred for the Red Room.
It was the Red Room that trained them into killing machines.
Did they expect them to thank the Red Room?
"Then die!"
The Red Widow suddenly attacked, thrusting the spear in her hand towards Yelena.
Yelena had been prepared for her, so she immediately rolled backward to dodge, while Natasha took the opportunity to close in.
"Bang!"
In an instant, the two began to fight.
But unfortunately, the Red Widow's spear was too long, and Natasha could only defend for the moment.
Every time she tried to get close to the Red Widow, she would be driven back by the spear, forcing her to retreat.
In the age of cold weapons, an extra inch of length meant an extra inch of power.
"Natasha, she doesn't seem to be controlled."
"I can feel it; she is truly loyal."
Natasha replied.
The Red Widow was not loyal to Dreykov, because Dreykov didn't deserve it.
But she was loyal to the former Red Empire, and also to the current Russia.
"You two traitors don't deserve to discuss me."
The Red Widow became even angrier, sweeping the spear toward the two.
Natasha and Yelena were suppressed for a moment.
They had no chance to get close to the Red Widow; even if they got slightly closer, it would become even more dangerous.
Just as they were preparing to find a way to deal with the Red Widow, more footsteps came from ahead.
"Over there!"
"Catch them."
More controlled Black Widows rushed over, and all sorts of things like lassos were thrown toward Natasha and Yelena.
Obviously, they wanted to capture the two women alive.
This was also Dreykov's requirement; only if it proved impossible would he order them to be killed.
Dreykov wanted to humiliate them one more time before they died, to let them know the price of betraying him.
Chapter 187: The End Is Near
"Bring it on!"
Natasha wasn't afraid; on the contrary, her eyes lit up.
Yelena understood her intention immediately and whispered, "Michel, come closer to me quickly."
"Okay."
A voice came through the earpiece.
Michel, Julia Roberts, and the others weren't idle either; with the help of 2B and A2, they rescued several more Black Widows.
Skye, on the other hand, wasn't of much use.
Because her ability was too dangerous for the Black Widows, and it was easy to cause casualties among them.
So, Skye could only use the combat techniques she had just learned, which resulted in her getting beaten black and blue by the Black Widows.
Even though these Black Widows were controlled, they could bully Skye relying solely on their combat instinct.
Regardless, they were the products of the ultimate crucible; perhaps they couldn't compare to Natasha, but they were stronger than other Agents.
Ordinary S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were no match for them at all.
Hearing Yelena's call, they gathered and immediately headed towards Yelena and Natasha.
By this time, Natasha and Yelena were already surrounded.
More than twenty Black Widows surrounded them, and the Red Widow couldn't even be bothered to take action herself.
Two fists are no match for four hands; even the best Black Widow or the record-breaking White Widow couldn't possibly handle so many Agents.
Let alone them, the Red Widow reckoned that even she herself probably couldn't defeat so many Black Widows.
After all, they were still just human.
Sure enough, Natasha was quickly knocked down, and then a Black Widow pinned her down, controlling her torso, while other Black Widows immediately restrained her limbs.
Now, no matter how skilled Natasha was, she couldn't move.
Seeing this, Yelena tried to save Natasha, but she was quickly struck by a baton, forcing her to her knees.
"Hold her down!"
The Red Widow shouted immediately.
So what if you can fight? Do you have the numbers?
By the time Skye and the others ran over, Natasha and Yelena were already restrained.
A group of Black Widows surrounded them.
"Boss!"
Skye panicked and wanted to use her Quake.
Crystal immediately stopped her.
Hearing her voice, Natasha immediately shouted, "Quick, good opportunity!"
They had allowed themselves to be controlled on purpose; only in this way could they get the other Black Widows to gather together.
Fortunately, Michel and Julia Roberts reacted in time.
"Where is the antidote?"
Upon hearing this, Skye immediately handed over a red vial.
Michel took it and asked Julia Roberts directly, "Are you ready?"
"Hurry up!"
"Then I'm throwing it."
Subsequently, Michel threw the antidote forward.
She threw it with quite some force, and when it flew over, it was right above the crowd's heads.
"Isn't that too much force?"
Just as Skye was confused, Julia Roberts fired her gun.
"Bang!"
Having aimed for a while, Julia Roberts pulled the trigger, and the bullet accurately hit the antidote in mid-air.
The bottle exploded above their heads, and the red mist instantly showered down; everyone 'inhaled' it deeply.
The neurotoxin controlling them was instantly neutralized, allowing them to regain their memories.
"Tatiana, let me go."
Yelena shouted, and these Black Widows one by one came to their senses.
Although they still harbored hostility towards Natasha, they still said, "Thank you."
"This is what we should do."
"Now it's time for revenge."
Natasha and Yelena both flexed their wrists, looking at the Red Widow who had retreated two steps.
"Now the tables have turned."
Yelena sneered, "Sisters, subdue her."
The Black Widows looked at the Red Widow, who realized things were going south and wanted to turn and flee.
But the Black Widows pounced on her directly; utilizing their numerical advantage, they quickly tackled her. The Red Widow was just a Super Soldier, and after being subdued, her hands and feet were pinned down, rendering her unable to move.
"Keep her restrained, and let's go find Dreykov!"
At this moment, Dreykov also realized something was wrong.
The Black Widows he had sent out were gradually being 'eliminated', and the Agents under his command were becoming fewer and fewer.
Agents of the Red Room were spread all over the world, so there were only about a hundred Black Widows in the base.
Now, almost half had lost their control.
He immediately realized what happened, looked at Melina, and said, "It was you who gave them the antidote!"
There was no point in denying it now, so Melina admitted, "That's right."
"Why? Are you going to betray me too?"
Dreykov instantly flew into a rage, his face turning beet red.
"You bitches are truly untrustworthy; you have no concept of loyalty, and faith means nothing to you."
Dreykov raved in frustration, but he also knew it was true.
Melina didn't think so and shouted, "You're wrong. You forced me to do these things; it's you who couldn't control them and couldn't earn their loyalty."
"You are nothing but a loser; how could you possibly lead the Red Room?"
This caused Dreykov to snap completely; he wished he could just shoot Melina dead.
But he managed to control himself in the end, merely slapping Melina hard across the face.
"Slap!"
Melina's pretty face was left swollen and bruised from the blow.
But she didn't care; she still stared at Dreykov and said, "Your end is near."
"Oh?"
Dreykov immediately calmed down: "You bitches cannot kill me."
He was very confident because he had paranoia and had developed a type of pheromone.
This pheromone was on him; as long as others smelled the pheromone on him, they couldn't harm him.
Soon, the remaining Black Widows were all called back by Dreykov.
These Black Widows had dull eyes and cold expressions, all a result of being controlled.
He counted; there were only thirty or so Black Widows left by his side, more than half having been freed from control.
This enraged Dreykov, because it would be very difficult to control them again.
These Black Widows weren't stupid; once they realized they couldn't take him down, they would leave.
It could be said that he had permanently lost control over these Black Widows.
He knew he lacked personal charisma and couldn't expect them to listen to his orders again.
Just then, Natasha, Yelena, and the others had arrived at the center of the base.
The base had many security measures and even lethal weapons, but what annoyed Dreykov was that these had all been destroyed.
2B and the others' technology was overwhelming for this era; even though 2B and A2 were combat androids and lacked 9S's assistance, they still possessed hacking capabilities.
"Dreykov, your end is near."
Natasha stepped forward, crossed her arms, and said, "If you release the control, we might spare your life."
"You bitches think you can kill me?"
Dreykov sneered and had the Black Widows move aside; he was holding a pistol, and he also had a hostage.
"Melina!"
Seeing this, Natasha and Yelena exclaimed in shock.
The other Black Widows frowned as well.
They still respected Melina, and they hadn't expected Dreykov to be so despicable!
Chapter 188: Meeting the Mother-in-Law
Dreykov's pistol was aimed right at Melina's head, leaving Natasha and the others hesitant to act.
Melina, on the other hand, said calmly, "Natasha, ignore me. Kill him and end all of this."
"Shut up, you bitch."
Hearing this, Dreykov instantly grew furious and struck Melina with the butt of his gun.
He was truly afraid that these Black Widows wouldn't care whether Melina lived or died.
That would be troublesome.
Fortunately, even if the other Black Widows didn't care, Natasha and Yelena would never let Melina come to harm.
"Stop!"
Natasha said murderously, "If you dare touch her again, I'll tear you into a thousand pieces."
Yelena also said with a cold face, "If you hit her once, I'll break one of your hands."
The threats from the two elite Agents were effective.
Sure enough, Dreykov shuddered.
Then, Julia Roberts tossed the antidote out directly, just like before.
Michel didn't hesitate and shot to shatter it in midair.
*Pfft!*
The red mist diffused downward and was instantly inhaled greedily by the other Black Widows.
Seeing this scene, Dreykov hated Melina even more.
He wanted to slap this bitch again, but he didn't dare to.
"Bitch, you ruined everything of mine,"
he could only curse.
"Heh, you're not a real king anyway. You're just a thief,"
Melina couldn't help snapping back.
Just as she said, Dreykov regarded himself as the king of the Black Widows, demanding that they obey him implicitly.
But unfortunately, in Melina's eyes, he was merely a thief who usurped power.
Just as said in game of thrones, anyone who puts a crown on their own head isn't a king, but a bastard.
Now, all the Black Widows were glaring at Dreykov.
Dreykov felt immense pressure, and right at that moment, a gunshot rang out.
*Bang!*
With a gunshot, the hand Dreykov was holding the gun with directly exploded.
Natasha immediately looked back and saw that 2B had fired the shot.
"Master said it takes just one shot; don't waste time,"
2B said coldly.
Dreykov's pheromones only affected those who got close to him, but a long-range shot could solve it easily.
However, considering their emotions, Li Chen hadn't instructed 2B to finish him off with one shot right away.
Ultimately, he wanted to let them settle it themselves.
"Get him!"
Yelena didn't hesitate at all, directly leading everyone to seize Dreykov.
Then they wanted to beat Dreykov up severely.
But they found themselves unable to strike him.
"Dreykov has pheromone protection; anyone who gets close to him cannot harm him."
This made even Li Chen think it was ridiculous.
The Red Room actually had this kind of tech? Who could believe it!
But next, Natasha broke her own nose bridge without hesitation and swung her fist at Dreykov.
*Bang!*
"Ah!"
Dreykov never expected Natasha to be so ruthless.
And all the Black Widows were just as ruthless; the others followed suit and beat Dreykov mercilessly.
By the time everyone was tired, Dreykov had been beaten to death by the Black Widows.
Melina did not participate in their violence, instead walking over to the equipment to begin operating it.
"The Red Room has Black Widows all over the world; we can't abandon them,"
Melina said to Natasha, who walked over.
Yelena was directing the Black Widows to start emptying the base.
They had to leave this place.
Natasha spoke up, "Someone will help us."
Melina raised an eyebrow. "What is his relationship with you?"
Melina looked at 2B and A2. They clearly weren't taking orders from Natasha, and the 'Master' 2B mentioned made Melina curious.
This made Natasha smile shyly. She turned her head away and said, "My boyfriend."
"Oh?"
Melina was incredibly curious about who could possibly capture Natasha's heart.
"He must be someone special."
"You'll see him in a moment,"
Natasha said. "He will take us away."
"I hope so, otherwise we won't be able to leave here."
Melina nodded.
In this region, there was more than just the Red Room.
And the fall of the Red Room would inevitably attract the attention of other organizations, who would want to divide up its carcass.
Without Dreykov, relying solely on a few Agents like them, they wouldn't be able to hold onto any of this.
In the eyes of those at the top, agents were merely tools. If they disobeyed, they'd be replaced; the next batch would always be obedient.
The Black Widows didn't bring much with them, leaving daily necessities behind and taking only useful equipment from the base.
Then, under Melina's urging, they prepared to depart.
Important files had been downloaded, and all records of other Black Widows were intact. Once they left, they just needed to search the world for them.
Those Black Widows hadn't been freed from mind control yet, so they still needed to be found.
This process might be a bit dangerous, but it was necessary.
They couldn't imagine those mind-controlled Black Widows wandering outside without any 'mission', numb like the living dead.
"Have the bombs been planted?"
"The timer is set for thirty minutes."
Melina and Natasha conferred briefly, then gathered all the Black Widows together.
There were over a hundred in total, plus the stubbornly resisting 'Red Widows'.
Taskmaster hadn't been developed yet, so the Red Widows were the Red Room's high-end combat force.
Bound tied up, the Red Widow cursed viciously, "You traitors! You betrayed the organization and the people! You will die a horrible death..."
Nobody listened to her, only thinking she was a pathetic woman.
After being treated like this, what bullshit loyalty was there to speak of?
Not to mention they never cared much about such things in the first place.
"The aircraft is here."
When they came outside, Hellfire's fighters were already waiting for them.
They were transported in batches to a safe place, then boarded a passenger plane to leave.
At this time, Li Chen also emerged from his realm of tender warmth.
"No wonder some people's dream is to experience local flavors around the world. Every place truly is different."
The impression here gave Li Chen was that there were more aloof and cold women, oozing mature elegance.
Perhaps because the weather was so harsh with low temperatures year-round, people naturally couldn't be very passionate.
Thus, there were more ice queens here.
It was fine at first, but when Li Chen rested, he found it boring.
Everyone was cold as ice, failing to arouse any interest in another round.
But that was a characteristic of Russian girls after all.
Unlike people in Los Angeles, most of whom were passionate as fire.
The environments they lived in were starkly different.
On the passenger plane, Melina finally met the man Natasha had talked about.
A man with a Huaxia face, looking very handsome, charming, and most importantly, quite young.
He seemed like a 'perfect match' for Natasha.
"Darling, this is my mom,"
Natasha came over, holding Li Chen's arm as she introduced her.
"Melina, this is Li. He arranged all of this."
Natasha had a happy smile on her face.
It let Melina know that she was genuinely happy.
Chapter 189: Still Attractive
Li Chen had never anticipated meeting his mother-in-law under such circumstances.
Still, he remained very relaxed; after all, he was exceptionally confident in himself.
There was no better son-in-law than him.
"Melina, hello."
"Dear Li, you are remarkable."
Melina shook hands with Li Chen.
Li Chen also sized Melina up. She appeared to be in her forties, still possessing plenty of charm and elegance.
She looked like a lady from an intellectual family—highly educated, polite, and refined.
Yet the tactical suit she wore created a striking, alluring contrast.
Moreover, because of her life as an Agent, Melina had never had children of her own, which meant her figure was remarkably well-maintained.
Natasha and Yelena were both adopted by her, though they were no different from her own flesh and blood.
"Thank you, Melina."
Li Chen released her hand after a brief clasp, and Melinagot straight to the point: "Li, what are your plans next?"
"There are at least thousands of Black Widows across the world. That's not something an ordinary organization can handle."
They would not only have to accommodate them, but also give them things to do so they could live proper lives.
That meant at least thousands of jobs.
After all, being human meant possessing free will and self-awareness.
Natasha spoke up, "Li is a big shot in Hollywood."
Li Chen shook his head. "Hollywood employs a lot of crew members, and a single production often requires hundreds or even thousands of people."
"But their backgrounds would be difficult to handle."
Of course, it was still an option.
If push came to shove, they could be sent to learn on film sets.
Whether they would be willing was another matter entirely.
Besides, it would be a bit of a waste of talent.
They were all Black Widows refined through brutal crucible training, each exceptionally skilled, and should be engaged in more important endeavors.
"Let's see what their personal wishes are first,"
Li Chen said. "I'll arrange for you to join the Hellfire Clubfirst. You can use the club's resources to locate them all, and then ask what they want to do."
"We will fully respect their individual preferences. Those who want to remain an Agent can continue, and for those who wish to return to a normal life, I can arrange that as well."
Li Chen's words filled the surrounding Black Widows with deep gratitude, their eyes fixed intently upon him.
What was it like to be stared at by so many beautiful women? Li Chen felt as if he were walking on air.
He had to admit, the Red Room certainly had great taste.
Every single Black Widow's looks were well above average; with a bit of makeup on short videos, they'd easily pass for goddesses.
The particularly gorgeous ones possessed unique charms—some had full lips, captivating eyes, or other voluptuous features...
There was every type imaginable.
That old bastard Dreykov had truly been squandering treasures.
Such outstanding Black Widows couldn't just end up benefiting someone else.
"Of course, this offer stands for everyone here as well. Think about it. If you no longer wish to be an Agent, I can even promote you to become a celebrity."
Li Chen's words stirred excitement among the Black Widows.
They actually had the chance to become a celebrity?
What woman wouldn't relish being the center of attention?
Indeed, some were genuinely tempted.
However, that was only a minority. Michel spoke up immediately: "I don't know how to do anything else. I only know how to kill. I can't handle anything else."
These words served as a wake-up call to many.
Though they possessed diverse skills, they had never lived independently. If they left the organization... would they really be able to manage?
With such thoughts, the Black Widows' enthusiasm waned.
Most still preferred to remain an Agent; after all, they were accustomed to it.
Habit was the most terrifying thing in the world.
Asking them to do something else now was simply beyond them.
"Thank you, Li,"
Melina added. "But I think I can't do anything else either."
Li Chen pulled Yelena into his arms as well. "Then you and Yelena can continue managing them together."
"Yelena?"
Melina was stunned by the sight.
Yelena leaned obediently against Li Chen's chest; two sisters who had clearly been somewhat at odds moments before were now completely at peace.
This came as quite a shock to Melina, and was a bit hard to process.
These were both her 'daughters.'
To the other Black Widows, however, it was an intriguing sight to watch.
Natasha didn't seem to mind at all.
That made things very interesting.
At that moment, the Black Widows were experiencing the'suspension bridge effect.' Li Chen had saved them, so they all felt a degree of affection toward him.
Earlier, knowing he was Natasha's man, they had kept those feelings tucked away.
Now that they saw Natasha didn't care about Li Chenhaving other women—and that his relationship with Yelenawas also unusual...
Then others could be welcomed too!
Instantly, the way the Black Widows looked at Li Chenchanged.
It was as if tigresses were eyeing their prey.
It actually made Li Chen a little nervous.
Individually, a Black Widow might not be overwhelmingly powerful, but they knew how to coordinate.
Fortunately, nothing happened during the flight.
Li Chen was, after all, far more interested in Melina.
Melina had taken excellent care of herself, looking hardly older than thirty-something, and unlike other white peoplewomen, her skin wasn't rough at all—she was in great condition.
She had only had an undercover husband during a past mission, and had actually remained single all this time.
Most importantly, her relationship with Natasha and Yelena made things quite enticing to Li Chen.
Who wouldn't appreciate a mother-daughter package deal?
Throughout the journey, Li Chen kept chatting with Melina, quickly making her laugh.
Melina found Li Chen witty and charming, and his subtle touches let her catch on to his intentions.
For instance, Li Chen would lightly hold her hand or brush gently against her.
Rather than pulling away, Melina felt her heart race.
It had been years since she felt this way, and being at an age of peak desires, she could hardly suppress the stirrings in her heart.
In this manner, the plane flew directly toward Los Angeles.
Only then did Natasha and Yelena walk over.
The two sisters had been talking among themselves the whole time, giving Li Chen and Melina their chance.
"What were you two chatting about so happily?"
Natasha asked as she returned.
Melina smiled. "Li was talking about Hollywood. It's quite fascinating."
For example, Li Chen had told her that film sets in Hollywood often had 'production spouses' who played couples on camera and ended up acting it out for real.
And once filming wrapped, they would immediately terminate the romance.
Hearing this had made Melina's heart skip a beat.
She felt Li Chen was hinting at something.
Namely, that they could be casual with each other.
"Really?"
Natasha said, "I don't think it's fun at all. It's more exhausting than doing missions."
Yelena chuckled, "Melina, Natasha is a big celebrity now."
"I didn't want to be,"
Natasha rolled her eyes. "Li forced me into it."
She explained the reason behind making movies to Melinaand Yelena. Upon hearing it was part of mission parameters, both Melina and Yelena grew intrigued, asking her about life on set.
Natasha shared some insider details that outsiders never knew.
One thing was certain: being a celebrity was indeed delightful, with the entire crew catering to your every need—a true luxury to enjoy.
Chapter 190: Sister Says Purple Has a Special Charm
Hellfire Club.
The White Queen looked at a flock of chattering women, and her gaze towards Li Chen held a hint of helplessness.
"The Hellfire Club will sooner or later become your harem."
Hearing the White Queen's words, Li Chen was a bit surprised. "What? Isn't it already one?"
The White Queen rolled her eyes at him. "The Black Queen is the actual ruler."
Although Emma Frost held great power, internally within Hellfire, she was inferior to the Black Queen.
Her words were also a reminder to Li Chen that if he wanted to truly be king, he had to win over the Black Queen at the very least.
It was just that the Black Queen was far too mysterious; Li Chen hadn't seen the other person for a long time.
The Black Widows quickly joined Hellfire, counting as unofficial personnel of the Hellfire Club.
"Where did they all come from?"
The White Queen asked curiously, seeing that these women obviously weren't simple.
"Do you know the Red Room?"
"The Black Widows?"
As expected, the White Queen knew a lot of things.
After all, the Hellfire Club itself was not simple.
"Interesting. Did you round them all up in one sweep?"
The White Queen's gaze towards Li Chen carried a seductive lingering fondness.
Who wouldn't want the power under their control to grow stronger and stronger?
"Not yet. There are thousands of Black Widows worldwide, and perhaps even more."
Li Chen told the White Queen.
This made the White Queen's breathing stall for a moment.
"If they all join Hellfire... and even become part of our Mutant kingdom in the future, we won't need to train our own."
The White Queen was extremely excited, her voice even trembling slightly.
Which faction doesn't employ Agents?
Especially in the place of the Squid, this set of tactics has been played to the absolute limit.
After the Mutant kingdom is established in the future, Agents will definitely be needed. After all, they need to know the world's secrets; otherwise, if others are already preparing to deal with them and they don't have a single bit of news, it would be too embarrassing.
Moreover, the more secrets they know about others, the better things they can get at the negotiating table.
Therefore, an intelligence organization was needed no matter what.
The appearance of the Black Widows undoubtedly made up for this shortcoming.
They wouldn't need tense training; they could directly have the Black Widows step up.
"You certainly think quite far ahead."
Li Chen smiled and shook his head; he hadn't thought nearly that much.
However, he also understood; after all, a Mutant kingdom was the cherished desire of all Mutants.
Right now, even Professor X supported this plan.
They already had the justification, they just still needed territory.
Of course, it was impossible for them to casually find a place and found a country, because resources and such were needed.
The most important things were water, land, and even mineral deposits. If they had nothing and built a Mutantkingdom, everyone would just end up starving to death...
But places with resources were all already claimed lands nowadays.
They only hated that they weren't a Squid, otherwise they could have just robbed it directly.
Anyway, the U.S. would support them.
"I'll leave them to you."
Li Chen spoke. "Treat them well."
"Rest assured, I will treat them as my own people."
The White Queen smiled, then walked toward Melina and the others.
Natasha's team still had to return to S.H.I.E.L.D., after all, she hadn't retired yet.
Therefore, the leaders of the Black Widows were Melinaand Yelena.
The mother and daughter were very grateful to the White Queen, knowing that it was the White Queen who had taken them in.
"From now on, everyone is family."
White Queen Emma smiled and said, "Li is your king."
Upon hearing this, Melina and Yelena did not refuse, but instead nodded. "We understand."
Compared to Dreykov, at least they liked Li Chen a lot.
And they were also very clear that, being Agents, it was impossible for them to ever be truly free.
They always had to depend on the strong, so why couldn't it be Li Chen?
After taking a brief rest, all the Black Widows followed the previous information, left Los Angeles, and began searching for other Black Widows all over the world.
They each brought along the antidote; as long as they found those controlled Black Widows, they just needed to find a way to administer the antidote to them.
Melina made a slight improvement—it didn't necessarily have to be sprayed; it could also be put into water and food.
As long as they ingested it, the Black Widows would be freed from mind control.
This also avoided a lot of danger.
Controlled Black Widows possessed only instinct and wouldn't let anyone approach them casually, not even fellow Black Widows.
As for Natasha, she bid farewell to Li Chen and returned to New York.
Skye and Crystal also said goodbye to Li Chen, Crystal's expression being somewhat complex.
She had seen so many Mutants!
But these Mutants were all very nice to her, not like her sister said, where conflicts would erupt.
As for Li Chen, he went home.
Although he hadn't been away for more than a few days, he still missed home very much.
In his past life, Li Chen was like this: no matter what he did at home, he felt relaxed, but once he left home, even just taking a car ride made him feel 'very tired'.
Obviously, this was psychological fatigue. Sure enough, the moment he returned home, he instantly felt relaxed.
He happened to run into Bayonetta and Jeanne coming back from outside.
They were carrying bags of all sizes.
"Yo, did you guys go shopping?"
Li Chen asked curiously.
"We are women too."
Bayonetta casually replied, "And wearing that outfit is too conspicuous; people always ask us if we are Bayonetta and Jeanne. So annoying."
Although she had Witch Time, Bayonetta still liked showing off in front of people.
"Then what did you buy?"
Li Chen asked curiously.
This directly opened up Bayonetta's conversational floodgates.
"I bought several dresses. Let me show you my favorite dress."
Bayonetta, who was usually dressed entirely in black, pulled out clothes of entirely different colors from the bags.
Her most beloved dress was purple.
Right in front of Li Chen, the black clothing on her body instantly shrunk upwards into her hair, and she stood before him completely naked, before slipping straight into the dress.
Li Chen didn't avert his eyes either. Since Bayonetta didn't care, what was there for him to mind?
Sooner or later, she would be his.
Then he felt a sudden sentiment: "As expected, sister says purple has a special charm."
Not just Bayonetta, Nami and the others also looked over. "Which sister?"
"Oh, these are lyrics to a song."
Li Chen shrugged.
However, they also kept it in mind—next time they would wear purple too!
Then, Bayonetta treated Li Chen as if he were a mirror.
She immediately let this outfit slide down and pulled out a second one.
"This is my second favorite dress."
It was a white dress resembling a wedding gown; worn on Bayonetta, it unexpectedly radiated a full sense of holiness.
It was just like an Angel descending to the mortal world.
But in reality, she was a witch.
"How is it?"
"Extremely gorgeous."
Li Chen gave a thumbs up.
Meanwhile, Jeanne on the side grew jealous. She also behaved with poise and elegance in front of Li Chen and changed into the clothes she had bought.
Jeanne didn't like dresses; she liked tight leggings that hugged her long legs tightly, looking extremely alluring.
"This suits you very well; they look even longer than Bayonetta's."
At Li Chen's instigation, Bayonetta immediately placed her long legs right in front of Li Chen. "Whose are longer?"
"Are you really going to compare this too?"
Jeanne was full of unconvinced defiance.
Chapter 191: Iron Man Premiere
Time moved into June.
The popularity of Lucy had noticeably waned; its box office last week ranked eighth in North America. Although still in the top ten, its weekend box office was down to just a few million dollars.
Its overall box office was quite substantial, however, approaching nearly four hundred million dollars worldwide.
For Ridley Scott, it was undoubtedly another resounding success.
So when Li Chen asked him if he wanted to continue directing sci-fi movies, Old Lei immediately declined, saying, "I have an idea for an epic film."
Li Chen instantly went silent.
Anyone who knew Old Lei's epic films knew what that meant.
Back then, 20th Century Fox had ambitiously backed him to direct Kingdom of Heaven.
As a result, despite the massive investment, it took twenty years for its global box office to finally reach two hundred million dollars...
20th Century Fox suffered a catastrophic loss.
One must realize that the budget for this movie was as high as 130 million dollars, requiring at least 400 million dollars in box office returns just to break even.
Then there were his later epic films like Exodus: Gods and Kings and Napoleon; Li Chen didn't dare touch this genre of Old Lei's at all.
It was basically guaranteed that whoever invested would lose money.
But helplessly, Ridley Scott was extremely fond of epic films.
Sci-fi movies seemed to be just a job to him, while epic films were his life.
On June 14th, Li Chen put on a custom-made black suit, looking tall and upright, with Mary Jane standing beside him in a red evening dress.
Coupled with Mary Jane's exquisite makeup and eye-catching red lipstick, she looked like a stunning scarlet enchantress.
Today was the day Iron Man premiered.
Mary Jane looked very excited.
She had watched Lucy last month and knew how popular the female lead had become, being idolized as a goddess by many.
But Natasha didn't want to make public appearances; otherwise, she would evoke cheers wherever she went.
That was exactly what Mary Jane yearned for, yet others cast it aside like trash.
Now, it was finally her turn.
Although she was only a supporting character in Iron Man, this was Iron Man, after all.
In this world, Iron Man actually existed, and a movie starring Iron Man Tony Stark himself had already sent shockwaves around the world during its months of promotion.
Everyone wanted to know what an Iron Man movie starring Iron Man himself would actually be like.
"How much box office can we hit?"
In the car on the way to the premiere, Mary Jane nervously asked Li Chen.
"At least one billion."
Li Chen said casually. He didn't care much about the box office anymore, as long as it didn't lose money.
But he wasn't boasting either.
On Earth, Marvel was near death and made a desperate last gamble by producing Iron Man to save itself.
In the comic world, Iron Man's popularity was no match for Spider-Man or Batman, but it was still quite high among B-tier characters.
As a result, Iron Man was a massive success that single-handedly revived Marvel and served as the starting point of the Marvel Universe.
A movie that succeeded even on Earth went without saying in the Marvel World.
This was Iron Man's home court.
The whole world knew Tony Stark was Iron Man, making its popularity far greater than on Earth.
Therefore, a one-billion-dollar box office was a conservative estimate.
The premiere of Iron Man was held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, with a red carpet extending over a hundred meters.
The electric atmosphere was palpable, with passionate fans cordoned off on both sides of the red carpet, holding all kinds of Iron Man figures and merchandise.
Tony Stark truly lived up to being a businessman; he held the copyright to Iron Man, so all the merchandise was produced by Stark Industries.
Just by manufacturing merchandise, Stark Industries had gained a valuation in the tens of billions.
This served as a bit of compensation after shutting down their weapons division.
Tony Stark was also trying every possible way to make money to make up for Stark Industries' deficit.
This included making the movie this time—the box office didn't matter at all; what mattered was the movie merchandise.
How much was a single movie ticket?
But a piece of movie merchandise, even just a keychain, sold for more than a movie ticket.
Not to mention buying figures and scale models—those were the real money-makers.
Stark Industries was operating at maximum efficiency just to cash in on this surge.
If the profit was high enough, Tony surely wouldn't refuse future collaborations.
Soon, after the slow-moving cars ahead passed, it was finally Mary Jane's turn.
As the car door opened, Mary Jane, who had been leaning into Li Chen's arms, instantly put away her romantic demeanor and put on a charming smile.
However, her hand was still tightly holding Li Chen's, showing a hint of nervousness.
Li Chen patted her hand. "Relax a little."
"You look beautiful tonight."
Hearing Li Chen's words of encouragement, Mary Janefinally stepped out of the car.
Li Chen didn't get out with her; he didn't like being photographed by a crowd of people with cameras, feeling like a monkey on display.
Sure enough, as soon as Mary Jane stepped out, cameras flashed frantically, and the crowd began shouting loudly.
Everyone knew she was the female lead, and she had already become popular based on just a few film stills.
After all, this was the female lead of Iron Man.
This title made many people green with envy, wondering why Starlight Pictures had cast a newcomer.
But anyone who knew the relationship between Mary Janeand Li Chen wouldn't be surprised.
Li Chen chose to enter from the other side, actually getting into the theater earlier than Mary Jane.
Behind her, a burst of intense cheering erupted.
"Tony!"
"Iron Man!"
The waves of shouting marked the arrival of the movie's main star.
This was where Mary Jane's lack of professionalism showed.
Seeing that the media was no longer paying attention to her, she immediately picked up her pace and went inside the theater instead of lingering on the red carpet.
If it were any other veteran, they would definitely move like a tortoise—as if wearing a heavy shell, refusing to leave even if shooed away—just to get a photo op with Tony Stark in front of the media.
This sort of thing was quite common among female stars; many washed-up actresses used this method to 'leech off' the red carpet.
Taking photos with top stars was a tactic to boost exposure.
Mary Jane was clearly still too green.
After Li Chen pointed it out to her, Mary Jane didn't mind: "It still comes down to the movie's quality."
"What's the use of taking so many photos? You only get famous if the movie is a hit."
She actually had a clear head about it.
Tony Stark, on the other hand, was cocky as ever, standing in the media zone with open arms toward the reporters, looking completely in control.
Every single move of his oozed 'confidence'.
This drove the fans wild; if the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) hadn't dispatched a large force to maintain order, the fanatical fans might have broken through the barricades.
There was no helping it—Tony's status was too unique. He was not only a superhero but also a trillionaire, holding a noble status while simultaneously harboring many 'enemies'.
Ever since revealing his identity as Iron Man, Tony Starkhad lost count of how many attacks he had faced.
He had managed to turn all those dangers into safety, however.
Therefore, the officers on site didn't dare slack off for even a second, fearing his enemies might be hiding among the fans.
Chapter 192: Bold Scarlett
"Li, long time no see."
Tony Stark finally made it inside without danger.
The security this time was very tight; Li Chen even called over a few Black Widows.
These Black Widows disguised themselves as fans and observed the crowd everywhere to see if there were any attackers.
It had to be said, the Black Widows were indeed very useful.
Moreover, after a month, the team of awakened Black Widows had expanded to over five hundred people.
If placed in Africa, they could probably overthrow several places...
With the Black Widows around, indeed no problems arose.
"Tony."
Li Chen shook hands with him.
"How do you feel?"
"Fantastic."
Tony Stark laughed, "Although it was exhausting during filming, it feels amazing now, especially this feeling of being the center of everyone's attention."
He was naturally someone who liked to show off, and this feeling of being a celebrity now perfectly matched Tony's fantasy.
Li Chen smiled and didn't say much more.
Afterward, they separated and went to find other people.
Li Chen met old acquaintances like Scarlett Johansson and Megan Fox.
Iron Man was too popular, so these female celebritynaturally tried every means possible to come walk the red carpet.
What's more, there was also a chance to get to know Tony Stark.
Therefore, not only female celebrity, but male celebrityalso scrambled for it.
What if... Tony liked men?
This was a very common situation in Hollywood; because the pressure was too immense, people often took extreme actions.
Many people considered this to be art...
After exchanging pleasantries, Mary Jane had to part ways with Li Chen.
Before this, she had kept a tight eye on Li Chen, preventing other bitches from taking advantage.
The way those bitches looked at Li Chen was as if they wanted to devour him like prey.
This was something Mary Jane would never allow under any circumstances.
Only she and Gwen could eat him!
Unfortunately, now she had to return to her spot with the film crew.
And so, Scarlett Johansson walked over with a hint of melancholy.
"Hey, Li."
Scarlett said softly, "You haven't contacted me in a long time."
Li Chen smiled, "I've been too busy."
"Then tonight?"
Li Chen looked ahead at Mary Jane's position; he had already made plans with Mary Jane and Gwen.
How could Scarlett alone compete with that?
Even if she was a young ScarJo, it wouldn't do!
"Sorry, I have plans tonight."
Li Chen politely declined, gesturing for Scarlett to look ahead.
That woman named Mary Jane was indeed very hot; not only was her figure insanely good, but her looks were also perfect.
"Then in a little while."
Scarlett's eyes suddenly flashed.
Li Chen didn't understand what she meant, but the movie started soon after.
The result of the movie edit was somewhat different from what Tony Stark had envisioned.
He originally wanted to play an upright and grand Tony Stark...
But for a movie, that lacked drama and was unreal.
So the final effect presented was still what Li Chen had envisioned.
A confident, arrogant, and somewhat paranoid Tony Starkappeared on the screen.
And a playboy as well.
Tony Stark suddenly blushed a little.
He felt as though his life had been stripped bare and laid out for the whole world to see.
He felt a slight hint of regret.
But soon, that hint of regret vanished.
Because compared to what he gained, what he lost was truly nothing.
Ever since he chose to announce to the whole world that he was Iron Man, his life was destined to be like this.
This, however, got the audience at the venue deeply engaged, feeling as though they truly understood Iron Man.
Right at this engrossing moment, Scarlett suddenly pulled Li Chen's hand and whispered, "I'll leave first. Come find me in the restroom."
"?"
Looking at Scarlett's alluring face, Li Chen's blood boiled instantly.
He knew what Scarlett wanted to do, but he hadn't expected her to be so bold.
But it seemed that was just Scarlett's personality.
She was, after all, someone famous for the 'Elevator Gate' rumor.
Did anyone really think of her as a chaste lady?
Scarlett quickly got up and left, and after waiting a few minutes, Li Chen followed.
Apart from the people right next to them, no one paid attention to their departure.
Because the movie was extremely captivating.
They didn't want to take their eyes off it for even a second.
Upon reaching the restroom, Li Chen was grabbed by Scarlett and pulled into a stall.
"Shh!"
Scarlett signaled him to stay quiet.
Li Chen looked at her and realized Scarlett had changed a bit.
She had come here a few minutes early to touch up her makeup, mainly applying a vivid lipstick—her fiery red lips were immensely seductive.
Afterward, Scarlett slowly knelt down.
...
*Clap clap clap!*
When the movie ended, it drew unanimous applause.
Tony Stark stood on stage, declaring to all media that he was Iron Man, giving everyone a deep sense of immersion.
It really felt like it was adapted from real life!
It was so interesting.
Li Chen and Scarlett had just returned not long ago and were also clapping along.
However, Scarlett only clapped briefly before hastily touching up her lipstick.
Her lipstick was completely gone, leaving the whole thing smeared red; thinking about the situation made her want to laugh.
The applause lasted for a long time. By the time it died down, the production team had already taken the stage.
Next was the acknowledgment segment.
Tony Stark and Mary Jane received all the attention, conversing eloquently.
As for the others, they were all supporting roles, with all the limelight drained by the two of them.
This was normal; if Mary Jane hadn't been so hot, she might not have received a single bit of attention either.
This was Iron Man—wherever he went, he was the 'focus'.
Tony Stark appeared increasingly confident, displaying his unique 'witty humor' on stage.
Li Chen, meanwhile, observed the real audience members.
Those present were lucky audience members, generally die-hard fans and the like.
Looking at their expressions, one could see they were very satisfied, but this didn't represent other groups.
After the acknowledgments ended, it was time for the party.
Organized by Starlight Pictures, many people would attend.
However, Li Chen and the female lead Mary Jane did not plan to participate.
Escaping through the back door, they got into the car, where Gwen was already in the passenger seat.
"How does it feel?"
Gwen asked her best friend.
To tell the truth, she felt a little envious.
Who wouldn't want to be the center of attention?
It was just that she also knew she wasn't suited to be a celebrity.
Mary Jane, on the other hand, had outstanding qualities in every aspect—a natural celebrity.
"It feels amazing."
Mary Jane's face was still flushed, and her smile at this moment looked extremely happy.
She had dreamed of a day like this, and today, that dream had come true.
All of this was brought to her by Li Chen.
And so she kissed the corner of Li Chen's mouth.
"Why does it taste a bit sweet?"
She was a little puzzled, but didn't think much of it.
It seemed... to be the flavor of a certain lipstick.
But she took a look, and there was no lipstick residue.
Li Chen didn't know what she was thinking and ruthlessly said to Jubilee, "Head to the Hilton."
"Okay."
Jubilee pouted—why couldn't one more be added?
Chapter 193: Get the Mind Scepter First
Early the next morning, which was still Friday, Li Chenarrived at the company.
Lorna was surprised not to see Gwen, but she didn't think too much of it.
She followed Li Chen into the office.
Ever since Gwen arrived, she hadn't had much chance to spend time in the office.
Unlike before, when she could stay as long as she wanted.
"The preview box office numbers for 'Iron Man' are out."
Lorna's eyes were filled with shock.
"How much?"
Seeing her expression, Li Chen couldn't help but ask.
"Fifty million!"
Lorna swallowed hard.
Times weren't like the future yet, where more than a decade later previews could be watched as early as Wednesday or Thursday.
So the numbers weren't as exaggerated as they would be later on.
Like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" back then, which reached $72 million in previews, that was how it operated.
It was essentially equivalent to releasing a day earlier than other movies.
Of course, that was also because Spider-Man was popular enough.
If it weren't Spider-Man... it wouldn't have gotten that kind of treatment.
It was just that doing this wasn't trendy right now; otherwise, Li Chen would have wanted to do it too.
What was wrong with breaking records while making money?
Of course, the record had been broken now anyway.
Mainly because Iron Man's hype was just too high.
Starring Tony Stark himself, plus him promoting it everywhere, the entire world had been looking forward to it for a long time.
Whether people liked watching movies or not, they were all anticipating it.
They wanted to see what kind of performance this playboy could pull off.
And now, with the high quality of "Iron Man" and Tony Stark essentially 'playing himself,' the movie blew up.
It was far more popular than back on Earth!
After all, one was real and the other was fictional; the difference between the two was immense.
If Earth had a real Iron Man back then, making an "Iron Man" movie would have certainly been a massive hit.
"Not bad."
Hearing this number, Li Chen also smiled.
Breaking the record was easy now.
He pulled Lorna into his arms. Looking at it now, a billion-dollar box office wouldn't be the limit for "Iron Man."
He had thought his own prediction was already quite exaggerated.
But now it seemed he had still underestimated the power of making an Iron Man film in the Marvel World.
He deserved to make a fortune!
"Boss, we're at work."
Lorna immediately acted coy.
"What are you afraid of? There's no one else here."
Li Chen didn't expect Lorna to play innocent with him.
"Gwen hasn't arrived yet. What if she notices I'm missing?"
"Gwen won't be coming today."
"Oh~"
Lorna understood instantly, so she didn't hold back anymore.
She acted a bit huffily toward Li Chen.
Her movements became a bit bold.
Taking only Gwen and not her, huh?
...
Loki felt his luck was pretty good.
When he fell from the Bifrost, he had once thought he was finished.
Even Asgardians couldn't survive in space.
But soon he discovered that he didn't die right away.
Because he wasn't an Asgardian; he was a Frost Giant.
The bloodline he had once despised so deeply actually saved his life at a moment like this.
In fact, in the Nine Realms, giants were creatures even more ancient than Asgardians.
Long before Asgardians existed, giants had already been living in Jotunheim.
In fact, not just giants—elves were also more ancient than Asgardians.
Especially the Light Elves living in Alfheim; they possessed striking looks, formidable strength, and a deep love for nature and peace.
Even Odin did not dare to easily provoke them.
In terms of innate talent, giants and elves were far stronger than ordinary Asgardians.
But the Odinforce was truly too absurdly powerful.
So in the end, it was the Asgardians who ruled the Nine Realms.
Although saved by his Frost Giant bloodline, Loki still hated it deeply.
Thousands of years of life had long caused him to identify as an Asgardian, not some Frost Giant.
That was why he had wanted to destroy the realm of the giants, erasing them from existence.
Just like Superman, raised on Earth, considered himself an Earthling rather than a Kryptonian.
Environment shaped their perception.
During the period that followed, Loki wandered through space.
He had lost his purpose, didn't know what he should do, and no longer had any ambition.
Until a group of mysterious people found him.
"My Master wishes to see you."
A person wearing a black robe approached Loki.
Loki keenly noticed that the other party was a Chitauri.
The Chitauri were a very deformed race, extremely weak compared to the rest of the universe.
Their physical constitution was weak, perhaps not even matching that of ordinary humans, but their unique trait was being controlled by a mothership, possessing a hive mind.
Thus, their physical strength couldn't even compare to that of Asgardians.
Therefore, Loki looked down on them somewhat.
However, it was precisely because they were weak that they had to align themselves with the strong.
They demonstrated a few things that sparked Loki's curiosity about the master behind them.
Thus, he agreed to board their ship and traveled to a cosmic asteroid to meet their master.
The moment he saw the Lord of the Chitauri, Lokinarrowed his eyes.
"A Titan?"
Appearing before his eyes was none other than the Titan, Thanos.
In the universe, he was even known as 'Thanos'.
Actually, Titans didn't look like this; even among Titans, Thanos was an extremely unique existence, as if he had mutated entirely.
He had a different skin tone, looking like a Purple Sweet Potato Sprite.
"The Second Prince of Asgard."
Thanos knew nothing of Asgard's dirty laundry; he only knew Loki was Thor's younger brother.
And so, Thanos smiled: "Are you interested in showing a different side of yourself to your royal father?"
Loki's expression instantly shifted: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I know how you feel; I understand you very well,"
Thanos spoke, "Rejected by your people, forced to come out and prove yourself."
His voice possessed a hypnotic, enticing quality.
Loki was no fool and remained cautious: "Then what do you want to do?"
"It's not what I want to do, but what you want to do!"
Thanos raised his voice slightly.
This hit Loki with a shock, leaving him somewhat bewildered.
"I can help you prove yourself. You can become the Crown Prince of Asgard, instead of an Outsider."
Hearing this, Loki's expression changed slightly.
"With what?"
Loki feigned an interested demeanor.
Thanos then pulled out a scepter.
"This is the Mind Scepter."
The Mind Stone on the scepter glowed with light, causing Loki to narrow his eyes.
"The Mind Stone?"
He had already recognized what it was.
Rumor had it that Odin had collected the Infinity Stonesback in the day and had been on the verge of gathering them all.
The Infinity Gauntlet placed in the vault proved this point.
Though he hadn't realized it was fake...
But for some reason, Odin later abandoned all of it, and no one in Asgard dared to bring up such things again.
Of course, what Loki heard was just rumors, and the true reality was lost to him now.
Back at that time, Thor hadn't even been born yet.
At this moment, he accepted it without the slightest hesitation.
Whatever the case, get hands on the Mind Stone first.