Ch: 15-22
Chapter 15 The final right of interpretation belongs to the "Technical Director"
Inside the observation room of the Danger Room, the air was so awkward you could cut it with a knife.
Agent Duncan's expression went from anticipation at the beginning, to confusion in the middle, and now to... indescribable. He felt like he wasn't watching a superhero tactical exercise, but rather a magic show full of performance art and lucky coincidences?
Professor Charles's smile was already stiff as a mask. His heart was undergoing a magnitude twelve psychic storm. He just wanted to rush into Xiang Tianming's room, grab him by the collar, and shove his monthly paycheck into his mouth.
"Professor." Agent Duncan cleared his throat, trying to express his direct disappointment in the most tactful language. "With all due respect, what I saw... was a group of highly talented but undisciplined children lacking formal tactical thinking. They might be effective in certain specific situations, but with all due respect, entrusting national security to 'luck' and 'coincidence' will not allow me to give a positive evaluation in my report."
These words basically sealed the X-Men's fate.
Charles's heart sank to the bottom.
He knew he had gambled and lost. He had overestimated his students' comprehension and underestimated the deep "poison" of Xiang Tianming's "Slacker Philosophy."
Just as he was about to speak, attempting a last struggle, he made up his mind.
Conventional methods were useless now. Only unconventional methods would work.
He closed his eyes, condensing all his anger, grievances, and a hint of plea into an incredibly powerful mental wave, like a battering ram, smashing it fiercely into Xiang Tianming's mind.
"Xiang! Tian! Ming!"
"Immediately! Right now! Get your butt to the Danger Room!"
"Your salary! Your bonus! Your year-end bonus! All! Of! It! Is! Suspended!"
...In the recreation room.
Xiang Tianming was wearing headphones, sipping cola, and concentrating on a difficult game BOSS.
Suddenly, he felt as if his brain had been hit by a nuclear bomb. Professor Charles's roar, full of capitalist fury, made his eardrums buzz.
"Pfft—"
He sprayed a mouthful of cola onto the screen, and his character instantly fell to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Xiang Tianming yanked off his headphones, a look of panic appearing on his face for the first time.
He wasn't afraid of the Professor's threats, but rather... the loss of his meal ticket!
Money! That was his foundation as a "slacker," his root for settling down in this World!
To cut off someone's financial path is like killing their parents!
"Coming, coming!"
He even lost one slipper, scrambling and stumbling towards the Danger Room... When Xiang Tianming, disheveled and with cola stains on his mouth, appeared at the observation room door, Agent Duncan's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Professor, this is..."
"My... special security Consultant." Professor Charles squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, then desperately winked at Xiang Tianming.
Xiang Tianming panted, glancing at the situation in the observation room: a serious-faced man in black, a Professor about to explode with anger, and below, a group of dejected "interns" on the field, like defeated quails.
He instantly understood.
The interns had messed up a client presentation, the boss couldn't cover it, and he, the technical director, was called in to save the day.
"Ugh, such a hassle." He sighed, an expression of "you useless bunch have caused me trouble again" on his face.
He walked to the observation window, looked at the mostly intact, just paralyzed robots below, then looked at Agent Duncan and asked:
"This client... oh no, Agent, are you dissatisfied with our team's 'destructive power' or 'control'?"
Agent Duncan was momentarily stunned by his "client" and "dissatisfied" jargon, but still professionally replied: "Neither are satisfactory. I saw no overwhelming power, nor absolute control."
"Oh, you should have said so earlier."
Xiang Tianming had an "isn't this simple" expression. He yawned, then, in front of everyone, casually... waved his hand at the training ground below.
It was like shooing away an annoying fly.
The next second.
A scene that everyone present would never forget in their lives unfolded.
Without any sound, without any warning.
On the field below, dozens of combat robots, each weighing several tons, seemed to lose gravity, silently and uniformly floating into the air.
Then, an extreme and silent "industrial deconstruction show" began.
"Click... click..."
Thousands of screws automatically rotated and detached from the robots' armor.
Thick alloy armor plates peeled off gently like petals.
Precise circuits and pipes were perfectly extracted... Dozens of killing machines, representing humanity's top technology, were completely disassembled into their most primitive component states in less than ten seconds!
Thousands of parts did not scatter across the floor but automatically sorted themselves by type, forming slowly rotating "Parts Nebulae" of screws, steel plates, chips, and circuits in the air.
The scene was magnificent, eerie, and full of post-modern industrial aesthetics!
Everyone present, including Professor Charles, was stunned.
This wasn't over yet.
Xiang Tianming seemed to feel this wasn't enough. He picked up Professor Charles's teacup nearby, took a sip, then gently clenched his hand at the "Parts Nebula" below.
"Buzz—"
All the parts instantly converged towards the center!
Under an indescribable, absolute power, metal was compressed, circuits were crushed, chips were fused... Finally, all the parts were forcibly compressed into a perfect sphere, about two meters in diameter, with a mirror-smooth surface, emitting a cold metallic luster.
The sphere silently floated in the center of the Danger Room, like a work of art from an alien civilization.
The entire process, from decomposition to reconstruction, took no more than fifteen seconds.
Throughout, Xiang Tianming didn't even breathe heavily.
Inside the observation room, you could hear a pin drop.
The X-Men teenagers' mouths were wide enough to fit an egg. They thought they had greatly overestimated Advisor Xiang's power, but now they realized that what they had seen was probably not even the tip of the iceberg.
Professor Charles was also deeply shocked. He knew Xiang Tianming was strong, but he didn't know that Xiang Tianming's control over power had reached such an incredible, such... terrifying degree.
And Agent Fred Duncan, this Advanced FBI Agent who had seen many storms, his back was now drenched in cold sweat.
He looked at the perfect metal sphere, then at the lazy young man who was picking his ear, with an expression of "it's done, can I go home now?" He felt his proud Worldview, the Laws of physics he believed in, were utterly shattered at this moment, then thrown to the ground and fiercely stomped into powder.
Overwhelming power?
Absolute control?
This is called... "Creation"!
"So, is this good enough?" Xiang Tianming put down the teacup and turned to Charles. "The final interpretation right belongs to me, the technical director. Now, can the director go back and... continue to save the World (play games)?"
Without waiting for anyone to answer, he yawned, shuffled his flip-flops, and "pitter-pattered" away.
Leaving behind three petrified men in the observation room, and below, the metal sphere radiating absolute power and absolute beauty.
After a long while, Agent Duncan finally managed to ask Professor Charles in a trembling, dreamlike whisper:
"Professor... he... or rather, 'it'... what exactly is it?"
Chapter 16 An Assessment Report on "God"
Inside the observation room, there was a deathly silence.
Agent Duncan, who had worked for the FBI for twenty years, seen gunfights, disarmed bombs, and interrogated the most cunning spies, was now staring blankly at the perfect metal sphere below, like a landlubber seeing the ocean for the first time.
His mind was blank.
His proud experience, logic, and Worldview were completely shredded by a power beyond comprehension in those fifteen seconds.
Professor Charles's heart was also in turmoil. But as the Master, he had to calm down first. He lightly coughed, breaking the suffocating silence.
"Agent Duncan," his voice carried a hint of pride he hadn't even noticed, "Now, do you think... this power is 'overwhelming' enough? Is this control 'absolute' enough?"
Duncan swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
He slowly turned his head to look at Charles, his eyes filled with awe and a hint of... fear.
"Professor..." his voice was a bit hoarse, "With all due respect, this is no longer the Realm of 'power'. This is... a 'miracle'."
"That... Consultant gentleman just now," Duncan paused, carefully choosing his words, "What... exactly is he?"
Charles gave him a deep look. He knew that from this moment on, the fate of the X-Men, and even the entire Mutant race, would be completely changed because of that lazy young man.
He decided to make a big gamble.
"He is a... Mutant we call a 'Transcendent'," Charles explained, half-truthfully, "An almost omniscient and omnipotent being whose power has broken through all known Ranks. He... is our 'ultimate trump card', and also our 'nuclear deterrent' for maintaining peace."
Nuclear deterrent!
This word struck Agent Duncan's brain like a bolt of lightning.
He instantly understood Charles's meaning.
Yes, the X-Men team's abilities were unstable, and they lacked discipline. But when there was a "human-shaped nuclear bomb" in the organization that could crush an army of robots into an iron ball in fifteen seconds, did it still matter if the team was well-trained?
It no longer mattered!
What mattered was that this "nuclear bomb" must, and could only, be in "friendly" hands!
Agent Duncan's expression instantly changed from shock to extreme seriousness and solemnity.
He immediately realized that his purpose for coming today had escalated from "evaluating a team" to "confirming the ownership of a national, or even World-level strategic asset"!
"I understand, Professor." Duncan immediately straightened up. "I need to make a top-priority communication with my superiors immediately. Please... be sure to appease this 'Consultant' gentleman."
...Half an hour later, in the game room.
Xiang Tianming had just defeated the final BOSS and was watching the credits roll on the screen, enjoying the post-game sage time.
Professor Charles and Agent Duncan walked in cautiously, like two villagers preparing to beg a Dragon for Treasure.
Agent Duncan looked at the young man slumped on the sofa, still savoring the game's plot, and couldn't connect him with the god who had "kneaded a Planet" just now.
"Xiang... Consultant Sir." Agent Duncan cleared his throat, his tone the most respectful he had ever used when speaking to someone in his life.
"Hmm?" Xiang Tianming didn't turn his head.
"After our urgent consultation, the U.S. Government hopes to formally hire you as our national security system's... 'Supreme Strategic Consultant'."
Upon hearing this, Xiang Tianming finally turned his head lazily and glanced at him: "Supreme Strategic Consultant? Sounds troublesome. Do I have to attend meetings? Do I have to write reports? Do I have to participate in team-building activities?"
"No, no, no!" Agent Duncan quickly waved his hand, "You don't need to do anything! Your job is to... simply stay here and live the life you want!"
"Oh?" Xiang Tianming became a little interested, "I don't have to do anything, and you'll still pay me?"
"Yes!" Duncan nodded heavily, "We will provide you with a... a salary that you will absolutely be satisfied with, and... meet all your reasonable needs! We only have one request..."
"Request?"
"Please... just don't be unhappy." Duncan said something he himself found absurd.
Yes, this was the only conclusion reached by the highest levels of the FBI and the Pentagon after an emergency meeting:
They could not control, could not understand, and even less could they resist.
Therefore, the only thing they could do was to "worship" him. They would use the most generous treatment to let him live the most comfortable, most "lazy" life, to ensure that this great god always remained in a good mood and never had the boring idea of "destroying the World."
They wanted to buy "peace" with money.
Xiang Tianming fell silent after listening.
He stroked his chin, seemingly seriously considering this "pie in the sky" proposal.
Charles and Duncan both watched him nervously, their hearts in their throats.
Finally, Xiang Tianming spoke.
"Salary and such are secondary," he said with a calm expression.
Duncan and Charles's hearts tightened. Was he not moved by money? What exactly did such a being pursue?
"I, for one, have a small pursuit for quality of life." Xiang Tianming held up a finger.
"First, give me a dedicated submarine optical cable directly connected to the Asian game servers. I want the latency to always be below 5 milliseconds."
Duncan: "...No problem." (Although he didn't know what it was, it sounded cheaper than building an aircraft carrier.)
Xiang Tianming held up a second finger.
"Second, the brand of instant noodles and potato chips I love to eat, have the Strategic Air Force air-drop them to me quarterly. I want them to be the freshest."
Duncan: "...Can be arranged." (Using the Strategic Air Force to transport instant noodles? He felt his Worldview crack a little more.)
Xiang Tianming held up a third finger.
"Third, and most important," he said with a serious expression, "When I'm playing games, even if the King of Heaven comes, don't bother me. Unless the Earth is about to explode in the next second."
"...We completely agree!"
"Then that's fine." Xiang Tianming nodded in satisfaction. "Bring the contract. Oh, and just transfer the salary directly to my card, I'm too lazy to count it."
A "support agreement" concerning World peace, arguably the most expensive in history, was reached in an extremely hasty and absurd manner in a game room filled with otaku vibes.
Agent Duncan held the signed agreement as if it were a priceless Treasure, feeling as if he was holding not a document, but a bridle that could restrain a "World-destroying Vicious Beast."
He left the manor in a hurry, with the relief of having survived a catastrophe.
Professor Charles remained, looking at Xiang Tianming, who was already happily researching his next game, his expression extremely complex.
He felt as if he had... found the strongest guardian for this World.
Although this god... was incredibly lazy and very expensive.
Xiang Tianming looked at the long string of Zeroes that had just arrived in his mobile banking APP, a pure and somewhat lewd smile, characteristic of a commoner who had struck it rich, appearing on his face.
"Not bad, not bad."
He muttered to himself in satisfaction.
"With this money, I can finally hire someone to level up for me and do those boring daily quests in the game."
"Letting others 'grind' for me, while I just enjoy. This, is the highest Realm of a 'lazy bum'!"
Chapter 17: The Retirement Life of the "Salted Fish God"
Ever since Xiang Tianming signed that 'humiliating' (to the U.S. Government) support agreement, the atmosphere at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters became increasingly bizarre.
Before, it was a 'paradise' for Mutants.
Now, it had become Xiang Tianming's 'private resort'.
In the early morning, while the young X-Men were still engaged in 'Zen meditation', their 'daily practice' consisted of watching a CH-47 'Chinook' military transport helicopter roar as it landed on the mansion's lawn.
What emerged was not a SEAL team, but a group of grim-faced, top-tier network engineers from Bell Labs.
Their mission was singular: to lay down an absolutely independent, interference-free, and highest priority military-grade fiber optic network for Advisor Xiang's game room.
"...Senior Scott," the newcomer, Jamie, watched the engineers, who usually only appeared in the news, carefully bypass a bird's nest on the lawn before beginning to lay cables. He couldn't help but ask, "Has our school's security risen to this level?"
Scott looked at him with an expression that said, 'You're still too young,' and said profoundly, "No, you don't understand. This isn't security. This is a 'ritual'."
"A ritual?"
"Yes." Scott pointed in the direction of Xiang Tianming's bedroom. "The Consultant is using this method to show us a truth: when your power is strong enough to change the World, you can make the Worldchange its rules for you. What we see isn't just a network cable, but a symbol of 'authority'."
Jamie nodded, half-understanding, feeling like he had 'enlightened' again.
At this moment, the symbol of 'authority'—Xiang Tianming himself—was wearing pajamas, holding a cup of coffee, and standing on the balcony, impatiently shouting at the busy construction team Captainbelow:
"Hey! Keep it down! Are you going to let a guy get some more sleep or not?!"
The construction team Captain (a high-ranking Army Major General with a colonel's insignia) immediately stood at attention, turned, and roared at his subordinates: "Everyone, lighten up! If anyone wakes up Mr. Consultant, I'll throw them into the Atlantic Ocean to feed the fish!"
...In the afternoon, while the students were practicing 'the power of inaction', a C-5 'Galaxy' strategic transport aircraft, at an unusually slow speed, flew low over the Mansion.
The massive rear hatch opened, and a container-sized airdrop box, attached to a military parachute, was slowly pushed out.
The airdrop box landed precisely on the Mansion's lawn, its impact perfectly absorbed by cushioning Materials.
A group of fully armed soldiers immediately rushed forward, opened the box, revealing inside... neatly stacked, mountain-high piles of... imported instant noodles and potato chips.
Xiang Tianming, wearing his flip-flops, personally 'inspected' his 'military supplies' accompanied by an Army Major General.
He casually tore open a bag of potato chips, and with a 'crunch', put one into his mouth.
He closed his eyes, savored it for three seconds, then frowned.
"This... General, is it?"
"Yes! Mr. Consultant!" The Major General's legs snapped together nervously.
"The potato chips are a bit damp," Xiang Tianming said in a very professional tone. "I suspect that when the transport plane was crossing the clouds, the humidity inside the cabin wasn't properly controlled. This is a serious problem and will affect my gaming experience. I hope that next time, you can use a transport plane with better temperature control, or, put two more desiccant packets in the packaging box."
"Yes! I will immediately report to Air Force Command! I guarantee that this mistake will absolutely not happen again next time!" The Major General nodded and bowed, frantically noting down these 'supreme directives'.
The X-Men in the distance watched the iron-blooded General, whom they usually only saw on television, now being lectured like a misbehaving elementary school student in front of their 'slacker' Consultant.
They gained a deeper understanding of the word 'power'.
True strength isn't about making enemies tremble in fear.
It's about making a nation's violent machinery willingly solve your damp potato chip problem... From then on, Xiang Tianming was practically welded into his game room.
And that former 'entertainment room' officially became the 'Holy Land' of Xavier's Mansion.
The X-Men no longer trained in the Danger Room. Their greatest joy each day was to pull up a small stool, sit at the game room door, and 'eavesdrop' on Advisor Xiang's live gaming sessions.
"Listen! The Consultant's roar just now was full of vigor! It means his Qi breathing technique has advanced again!"
"Look at his micro-operations just now! He dodged three skills in 0.1 seconds! This is a premonition of danger! It's the ultimate manifestation of combat intuition!"
"He's started scolding his teammates again! Listen, his vocabulary for cursing never repeats! This shows that psychological tactics are also an important part we must learn!"
"Most importantly, have you noticed?" Scott suddenly lowered his voice, saying with a solemn expression, "The Consultant... recently started looking for 'power leveling'."
"Power leveling?" The others were stunned.
"Yes." Scott's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "He's entrusting those tedious, repetitive 'daily tasks' to others. This is a higher Realm of 'slacker'! He is teaching us to focus our precious energy on the most core and critical areas! Not to waste our power on meaningless things!"
Everyone again showed expressions of 'we've enlightened again'.
Professor Charles walked silently past these students who had already fallen into 'Qi Deviation', feeling like his heart condition was about to flare up.
He felt that what he had founded was not a school for heroes.
But rather... a mysterious religion... with the core doctrine of researching 'how to scientifically and rationally be lazy'.
And their god was the one currently cursing loudly in the game room because the power leveler hadn't gotten him the equipment he wanted... Xiang Tianming.
Just as Professor Charles began to seriously consider whether he should also get a Doctor for himself, an even more troublesome problem lay before him.
He came to the game room door, looked at the tightly closed door, hesitated for a long time, then plucked up the courage to knock.
"Who is it? I'm busy, don't bother me even if the sky falls!" Xiang Tianming's impatient voice came from inside the door.
"Xiang... it's me, Charles." The Professor's voice was unusually gentle. "There's a... small matter, I'd like to ask for your help."
The door creaked open a crack. Xiang Tianming poked his head out, looking at him warily: "It was agreed, don't look for me unless the Earth explodes. Let me be clear, if it's about fighting aliens, that's extra money, that falls under international... oh no, inter-Planet business."
"No, it's not a combat mission." Professor Charles forced a smile uglier than a cry. "It's about... Erik Lehnsherr."
"Magneto?" Xiang Tianming was taken aback. "That guy hasn't been dealt with yet? Are you keeping him for the New Year?"
"He... ever since he was defeated by you, he's fallen into complete self-isolation," Charles said helplessly. "He won't eat or drink, and he won't communicate with anyone. I tried to use telepathy to guide him, but he now has a huge psychological Shadow of you. As soon as my ability enters, it triggers his strongest fear and resistance."
"So?"
"So," Charles looked at Xiang Tianming, and said in an almost pleading tone, "I'd like to ask you... to talk to him...? Perhaps, the one who tied the bell must untie it."
Xiang Tianming fell silent at that.
He looked at the expectant Charles, then turned back to the World BOSS that had just refreshed on the screen.
Then, he made a suggestion in an extremely serious tone, one that was enough to give Charles a brain hemorrhage on the spot.
"Chatting? That's too much talking."
"How about this, you tell him that as long as he eats well and actively reforms. I might consider taking him on as my... exclusive power leveler."
Chapter 18 Let Magneto be the trainer
Charles Xavier felt that all the wisdom and cultivation of his life had been completely exhausted in the few short months since he met Xiang Tianming.
He, a great mentor dedicated to resolving conflicts with love and peace.
Now, he had to take on a position as a 'game booster' to 'pacify' his greatest rival and closest friend.
If this matter got out, his lifelong reputation as 'Professor X' would be completely ruined.
However... looking at the surveillance footage, at Eric, who sat in the isolation room like a living dead man, completely unresponsive to the outside World, Charles finally gave in.
Face, in front of his friend's 'life or death,' was worthless... In the deepest non-metallic isolation room underground.
Professor Charles controlled his wheelchair, slowly coming before Erik Lehnsherr.
"Eric," he called softly.
The man on the bed, once full of vigor and ambition, who had tried to change the World, now just stared blankly at the wall, unmoving. His pride, his ideals, his unparalleled power, all had been crushed to dust before the man named Xiang Tianming. His life had lost its meaning.
"Eric, I know you can hear me." Charles spoke with difficulty, feeling every word was as heavy as a thousand pounds, "There is a... chance. A chance for you to find a 'purpose' again."
Eric's gaze remained unruffled.
Charles steeled himself and repeated Xiang Tianming's original words in the most tactful way possible.
"...Advisor Xiang, he greatly appreciates your... focus and perseverance. He currently has a very important 'project' that requires a trustworthy person to oversee. This project concerns... the rise and fall of a World."
This was the most insincere and absurd lie Professor Charles had ever told in his life.
However, when the name "Xiang" appeared, a barely perceptible ripple finally appeared in Eric's dead eyes.
Charles keenly caught this, he knew there was a chance!
He immediately signaled the guards to place a specially modified laptop, containing no metal parts, in front of Eric.
The computer screen lit up, and a video call window popped up.
In the window was Xiang Tianming's sleepy Face, still chewing potato chips.
The moment Eric saw this Face, his entire body trembled violently! Fear, anger, humiliation... all sorts of complex emotions erupted in his heart like a volcano! It was this man! This man, who like a god, casually toyed with him, completely negating everything he was!
"Yo, old Magneto." Xiang Tianming greeted him very familiarly, his tone as if he were chatting with Old Man Wang from the convenience store downstairs.
"I heard you've been in a bad mood lately, going on strike?"
Eric stared at him, his teeth grinding, but he couldn't utter a single word.
"Alright, stop with the tragic act." Xiang Tianming waved his hand impatiently, then cleared his throat and switched to 'HR interview' mode.
"Mr. Erik Lehnsherr, correct? I've seen your 'resume.' Your abilities are outstanding, and you're very ambitious, but your last project didn't go so well, almost bankrupting the company (Earth). But it's okay, young people make mistakes."
"Now, on behalf of this company (myself), I'm officially offering you an internship opportunity."
As Xiang Tianming spoke, he switched to screen sharing, and the computer displayed a scene from an extremely gorgeous MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game).
"This is your new project — 'Age of Gods and Demons.'"
"Your job content is very simple," he pointed at a character diligently mining on the screen, "See? It's just controlling this character every day to complete daily tasks, gather resources, clear dungeons... We call it 'Resource Reserve and Strategic Expansion.'"
"As for work hours, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. As for compensation..."
Xiang Tianming pondered for a moment, then said in a tone that implied, "I'm giving you a huge favor":
"Food and lodging included (you're getting food and lodging anyway), no salary. However, if you perform well and meet the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) I set, I might consider sharing half of my instant noodle soup with you."
"This is a very valuable opportunity to observe, learn, and ultimately understand 'God' up close. How about it, will you accept this internship offer?"
Inside the isolation room, there was a deathly silence.
Professor Charles had already covered his Face, unable to bear watching.
He felt that this was no longer psychological counseling.
This was the ultimate, inhumane 'workplace PUA' inflicted on a loser, in the most cruel and absurd way in human history.
Eric, the former Magneto, trembled all over. His eyes, crimson with extreme anger and humiliation, were bloodshot.
He stared at Xiang Tianming's 'capitalist' Face on the screen, then looked at the little game character diligently 'grinding' on the screen.
He felt that his personality, dignity, and even his Soul were being pressed to the ground by the other party, repeatedly trampled in the most contemptuous way.
Killing is but a nod of the head.
But this man was attacking his very Soul!
He wanted to roar, to resist, to use all his strength to tear that hateful Face in front of him to shreds.
But he couldn't.
The thought of that power, like divine might, which left him utterly helpless, plunged him into the deepest despair.
However, at the end of this despair, amidst the ashes burned clean by humiliation and anger, a tiny, pitch-black flame quietly... ignited.
Defeat me... insult me... and still want me... to play games for you?
He, Erik Lehnsherr, how could he possibly... yield!
He glared at Xiang Tianming on the screen, enunciating each word, squeezing out the first sentence in weeks from between his teeth, his voice hoarse but filled with endless malice.
"You... wish..."
"Oh? Is that so?" Xiang Tianming seemed to have anticipated his reaction. He curled his lip, then slowly said:
"I forgot to tell you. I play a Mage in this game. I'm a bit short on cash lately, and I'm looking for a good staff."
As he spoke, he used telekinesis to lift a perfect metal sphere, compressed from dozens of robots, to the video window.
"Look, this Material has good texture. High density, good energy conductivity. I figure if I draw it into threads and weave it into a staff, it should be very handy."
"But, this thing isn't of much use to me. If you're willing to take this job, this lump of scrap metal, I'll return it to you. If you're not..."
Xiang Tianming revealed a devilish smile.
"...I'll roll it into an... 'historically most expensive rolling pin' right in front of you."
Eric's pupils suddenly constricted!
That lump of metal was an extension of his magnetic talent! It was a symbol of his power! Although Xiang Tianming had taken control of it now, it was still a part of him!
And now, this devil actually wanted to use the symbol of his power to... roll a rolling pin?!
This was no longer just an insult!
This was blasphemy! This was desecration!
"You... dare!" Eric let out a roar like a trapped beast.
"See if I dare." Xiang Tianming shrugged and ended the call.
Inside the isolation room, only Eric's heavy breathing remained.
He stared intently at the laptop, the screen still showing the image of the mining character.
His eyes burned with a blazing fire. It was no longer the fire of ideals, nor the fire of hatred.
It was something... purer, more primal, and more terrifying.
It was the fire of a 'Nemesis'!
Charles Xavier, watching all this, sighed deeply in his heart.
He knew that his proud, obsessive friend, Eric, who had been determined to change the World... was back.
Although, it was in a completely unexpected, extremely twisted and... 'petty' way.
His life's goal had changed from "for the future of Mutants" to... "defeat that scoundrel Xiang Tianmingand get my 'rolling pin' back!"
Perhaps... this could also be considered an effective form of psychotherapy?
Chapter 19: Philosophical Thinking on Why Magneto is Obsessed with Mining
Xavier's Mansion's underground confinement room welcomed its first "permanent employee" since its construction.
Erik Lehnsherr, once Magneto, now an "intern power leveler," sat upright.
On the non-metallic workbench in front of him lay a laptop and a "Job Description" handwritten by Xiang Tianming.
[Intern Eric's Daily Work KPI]:
1. Collect 500 Elementary Ore "Noor Iron Ore."
2. Harvest 100 "Howling Wind Wolf" pelts.
3. Complete 5 daily reputation quests in the "Whispering Forest" area.
4. At 8 PM, punctually participate in the guild's World BOSS raid (responsible for cheering and picking up loot).
5. Note: Strictly forbidden to use any company resources (referring to superpowers) for personal gain (e.g., smashing the computer).
Eric looked at this task list, filled with the exploitative aura of a "capitalist," then at the virtual character on the screen, clad in novice cloth armor and wielding a broken iron pickaxe.
He, the mighty Magneto, a man who could manipulate the Planet's magnetic fields and make the Worldtremble.
Today, for a few hundred virtual broken iron Ores, he had to... click the mouse here.
What a humiliation!
This was a spiritual torment ten thousand times more profound than physical defeat!
His hand gripping the mouse was white at the knuckles from excessive force. Each click felt like he was expending all his strength, as if he wasn't clicking on virtual Ore, but on Xiang Tianming's detestable face... Meanwhile, on the Mansion's lawn, the X-Men "Academic Seminar" reconvened.
Today's topic was: "On the Deep Strategic Significance of the Consultant Hiring Magneto as a 'Power Leveler'."
"Don't you all see it yet?" Scott, as the chief researcher of "Xiang Studies," spoke first, his expression radiating the brilliance of a wise man, "The Consultant's move is truly a stroke of Genius, killing three birds with one stone!"
"Firstly, this is the most thorough 'heart-breaking' technique against Magneto." He extended a finger, "He isn't trying to destroy Magneto's body, but his pride, which is built upon 'power.' Making him start with the most basic 'mining' is to make him re-understand this World, starting from 'labor' instead of 'plunder.'"
Jean nodded and added, "Secondly, this is a form of 'house arrest.' The Consultant has poured all of Magneto's energy into a virtual World. This way, he won't have the time or energy to think about how to escape or how to seek revenge. This is a fundamental, spiritual 'cage.'"
"I get it!" Bobby slapped his thigh, excitedly exclaiming, "And, this is also training our mindset! Even a big shot like Magneto is diligently 'mining,' so what reason do we juniors have not to work hard?!"
"Exactly!" Jamie, the newly-minted "Xiang Studies" enthusiast, also said excitedly, "The Consultant is using this method to spur us on! He wants us to understand that no matter how glorious you once were, you must have the courage to start over, to start from the 'novice village'!"
The more they spoke, the more excited they became; the more they analyzed, the more Xiang Tianming's image in their minds elevated from "invincible" to the level of a "deity" who "plays with people's hearts and whose plans are as profound as the stars of the Universe."
Professor Charles, holding a teacup, silently walked past his hopelessly deluded students, letting out a long sigh.
He felt that he might consider opening a new course called "The Dangers of Self-Delusion" in the future... Late that night.
Xiang Tianming stretched, having finished his last game of the day, and prepared for his first "performance review" of his new "intern."
He dialed the confinement room's video phone.
"Old Magneto, how was your work today? Did you complete the KPI?" he asked indistinctly while slurping instant noodles.
On the other end of the screen was Eric's face, clearly expressing, "I want to kill you."
He said nothing, only silently displayed his game character's backpack on the screen.
Xiang Tianming leaned in for a closer look.
"Hmm? 482 Noor Iron Ore? 18 short, KPI not completed."
"91 wolf pelts? 9 short, KPI not completed."
"World BOSS... What the hell, where were you? The guild @'d you for ages, why weren't you there?"
The veins on Eric's forehead began to twitch uncontrollably. He squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "The Howling Wind Wolf's... pelts... drop rate... is too low."
"Excuses! All excuses!" Xiang Tianming immediately switched into "black-hearted boss" mode, saying with feigned heartache, "Xiao Ai, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but young people should have the spirit to face difficulties! If the drop rate is low, can't you think of other ways? Look at Xiao Wang on the server next door, he runs three accounts by himself, one main and two alt accounts, his efficiency is three times yours!"
"You need initiative! You need a wolf-like spirit! With your work attitude, you won't pass probation in my company!"
Eric: "..."
He felt his lungs were about to explode from this shameless rhetoric.
Initiative?
My biggest initiative right now is to rush out immediately and crush you, along with your bowl of instant noodles, into a molecular-level singularity!
After scolding him, Xiang Tianming smacked his lips and added, "Alright, considering this is your first offense, I'll let it slide this time. Tomorrow, I don't ask for much, double KPI. If you don't complete it, I'll take that 'rolling pin' and give it to Auntie Wang in the cafeteria. Hanging up."
The video call abruptly ended.
Inside the confinement room, Eric stared intently at the now-dark screen, his body trembling violently from extreme rage.
Double KPI?
And he wants to take my symbol of power and give it to a cook as a rolling pin?!
He's going too far!!!
However, after the anger, a deeper emotion, named "unwillingness," surged from his heart.
I, Erik Lehnsherr, a man determined to change the World, a Genius strategist.
Could it be that I can't even complete a... small "mining" task?
Am I really going to lose to that so-called... "Xiao Wang next door"?!
No!
Never!!!
That night, Erik Lehnsherr did not sleep.
He dedicated his Genius brain, for the first time, entirely to the research of the game "Age of Gods and Demons."
He analyzed all the update logs on the official website, calculated the optimal route for every quest, studied all the "improving drop rate" metaphysical posts in the forums, and even... began to use the game's economic System to accumulate primitive capital through buying low and selling high.
The next morning, when Professor Charles habitually checked the confinement room's monitor, he was so shocked by the sight that he almost fell out of his wheelchair.
Eric, his eyes bloodshot, but with a terrifyingly bright gaze. He was simultaneously controlling three game characters with an almost insane, scientific, and artistic flair!
One was mining, one was skinning, and another was actually setting up a stall in the game's main city, reselling rare Materials he had bought at a low price the previous night!
He had, in the game, established a... nascent "Commercial Empire"?!
Professor Charles looked at his old rival on the monitor, whose Genius mind was now entirely devoted to "grinding games."
He suddenly had an extremely absurd, yet terrifying premonition.
That bastard Xiang Tianming... he seems... not to be "curing" Eric.
He is... creating a "Game Grinding Emperor" who is ten thousand times more terrifying than "Magneto"!
Chapter 20 When the "hardcore player" steals the "god's" BOSS
A week later, all players on the U.S. server 1 of the game Age of Gods and Demons came to know a name that struck fear into their hearts.
— "Iron Throne."
This was an ID, and also the name of a guild.
No one knew who he/they were. They only knew that this "Iron Throne," like a cold and precise War Machine, completely overturned the entire server's ecosystem in just seven days.
90% of the rare Ore spots on the server were "monopolized" by him 24 hours a day, non-stop.
The prices of all Advanced Materials in the auction house were monopolized by him and sold slowly and steadily at a price that ordinary players simply could not afford.
At every rare elite monster's spawn point in the wild, his people (three characters) were stationed to clear them out.
On the forums, cries of despair filled the air.
"What is the background of this 'Iron Throne'? Has a gaming studio entered the fray? Are solo players not allowed to live?!"
"Damn it, I camped for the BOSS for three days, and as soon as it spawned, before I could even see its health bar, he instantly killed it! I suspect he's using a cheat!"
"Malicious monopoly! Disrupting the market economy! Isn't the GM going to do anything?!"
Ordinary players thought they were facing a huge "gold farming studio."
Only Xiang Tianming, looking at the daily increasing "performance" submitted by his new "intern," which even far exceeded the KPI, felt delighted.
"Not bad, Xiao Ai, you're very ambitious," he praised Erik during their routine "video assessment." "Very wolf-like! I'm optimistic about you, keep up the good work, and I'll give you a big red envelope at the end of the year."
On the other side of the screen, Erik Lehnsherr's face was unperturbed.
He just asked indifferently, "When are you returning that 'rolling pin' to me?"
"What's the rush?" Xiang Tianming pouted. "Once you can help me get the server's first 'Heart of the Fire Devil,' I'll consider it. Alright, keep working hard, I'm counting on you."
After speaking, he hung up the video call and comfortably lay down in his million-dollar gaming chair, preparing to start his own "entertainment time."
However, when he logged into the game, he found that the gaming experience had become extremely poor.
He wanted to mine some Ore to make himself a new set of equipment, but after running all over the map, he didn't even see a speck of iron Ore. All Ore spots looked as if they had been licked clean by a dog.
"Which bastard is so unethical?"
He wanted to buy some Materials at the auction house, but found that the prices of all Materials had more than tripled compared to last week!
"Holy crap! Which profiteer is maliciously speculating?!"
He wanted to fight a rare BOSS in the wild to try his luck, but after waiting two hours at the BOSS spawn point, he didn't even see a single hair.
Xiang Tianming, this "lazy god" who used to be elusive in the server, for the first time, felt the pain of being dominated by "internal competition."
He didn't know that the mastermind behind all this was his "good employee" downstairs, who was helping him "grind."
Erik had completely applied his Genius strategic mind to this game. Not only did he complete the KPI Xiang Tianming assigned, but he also established his own "virtual economic Empire" by "macro-regulating" the resources of the entire game World.
What he wanted was not in-game money.
What he wanted was to use his wisdom to choke the opponent in this World, the only World where he could interact with Xiang Tianming!
He wanted to make Xiang Tianming unable to move an inch in this World!
That night, Xiang Tianming's guild, the server's number one "lazy guild"—[Why Stand When You Can Lie Down]—was preparing to organize an activity to take down the strongest team dungeon BOSS in the game—the Abyssal Lord.
As the "face" of the guild, Xiang Tianming was naturally pulled in as the main force.
"Brothers, cheer up!" the guild leader shouted in the voice channel. "Today we must get the first kill of this BOSS! I heard that the 'Iron Throne' guild is also planning to make a move tonight!"
"What's there to be afraid of! We have Lord Xiang!"
"Exactly! When Lord Xiang makes a move, the BOSS trembles!"
Xiang Tianming yawned, "Alright, alright, let's finish this quickly. I still have new anime to watch after this."
However, when their group of forty people arrived majestically at the entrance of the Abyssal Lord's lair, everyone was stunned.
Outside the dungeon entrance, bodies lay everywhere.
And the huge body of the Abyssal Lord was slowly falling. Beside it, only three people stood.
The three characters all had the same ID above their heads.
— "Iron Throne."
The World channel was instantly flooded with System announcements.
"Congratulations to the guild 'Iron Throne' for successfully killing the Abyssal Lord and achieving the server's first kill!"
Everyone in the [Why Stand When You Can Lie Down] guild stood frozen in place.
Xiang Tianming, in particular, stared intently at the leading Mage character who stood by the BOSS's corpse, calmly picking up the dropped items.
He wore a set of pitch-black Devil King armor and wielded a staff burning with the Fire of Hell. The shape of that staff... was precisely the "Heart of the Fire Devil" he had longed for!
"Iron! Throne!"
Xiang Tianming felt his blood pressure instantly shoot up!
He was not angry because the BOSS was stolen, nor was he mad because the first kill was taken.
It was because this "Iron Throne" had been opposing him everywhere in the game recently, severely impacting his enjoyment of "slacking off"!
"Brothers, charge! Kill them!"
At Xiang Tianming's command, forty "lazy" players rushed forward with red eyes.
The most brutal PVP in the server's history thus erupted.
The result... one minute later, the [Why Stand When You Can Lie Down] guild, forty people, were all wiped out.
The other side used only three people.
Xiang Tianming looked at the gray "You Are Dead" interface on his screen, completely stunned.
He, a Divine Rank player who had spent millions and had sharp controls.
Was actually... slaughtered like a little chicken by someone?!
The coordination of those three people was simply seamless! Their positioning, control, and burst damage—every detail seemed to have been precisely calculated by a computer, perfectly inhuman!
Especially the Mage named "Iron Throne," he seemed to anticipate all of his skills. Every movement he made perfectly dodged his fatal blows, and then he counterattacked from the most tricky angles!
Humiliation!
Unprecedented humiliation!
Xiang Tianming trembled with rage. He suddenly stood up from his gaming chair, didn't even put on his shoes, and rushed out of the gaming room, full of Killing Intent, towards the underground confinement room!
Professor Charles was drinking tea in his study when he suddenly felt a destructive Killing Intent erupt from upstairs. He quickly checked the surveillance and then... spat out all his tea.
Xiang Tianming kicked open the door of the confinement room (which the guards had opened for him).
He rushed to Erik's front and slammed his phone onto the workbench! On the screen was that gray death screenshot!
Erik slowly raised his head, looking at the furious Xiang Tianming, and for the first time, a faint, almost imperceptible smile of victory appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Er! Ik!" Xiang Tianming pointed at his phone, letting out a roar from his Soul.
"I told you to mine Ore! Not to steal my BOSS!"
"Do you not want to work anymore?! Do you still want your instant noodle soup this month?!"
Chapter 21: A Negotiation on Equity in the "Virtual World"
Inside the underground isolation room, the atmosphere was heavy.
On one side was Xiang Tianming, the "big boss behind the scenes," fuming with anger and feeling his "slacker" status severely challenged.
On the other side was Erik Lehnsherr, the "strongest intern," who had just completed a perfect "underdog victory" in the virtual World and regained a shred of his dignity.
Professor Charles, watching these two men who could destroy the World confronting each other over the outcome of a game from the monitoring room, felt his heart being squeezed by an invisible hand.
What kind of situation was this!
"Eric!" Xiang Tianming lashed out first, pointing at the phone screenshot, heartbroken, "I brought you to the company to create value for me, not to steal the CEO's thunder! Look at the good you've done! Now everyone in the company... oh no, everyone on the entire server knows I was taken down! Where do I put my Face?!"
Facing Xiang Tianming's roar, Eric, for the first time, did not choose to remain silent.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes calm, even with a hint of... mockery.
"The contract only states that my job is to achieve KPI," he said, neither humble nor arrogant, "It doesn't forbid me from participating in internal 'competitive activities' of the company."
He had even learned to use contract clauses to shut Xiang Tianming up!
"Moreover," Eric continued, his voice not loud, but every word was like a knife, piercing Xiang Tianming's heart, "in that 'competitive activity,' your tactics were full of loopholes. Your team had no discipline. Your failure was inevitable. As an 'employee,' I merely used facts to show the 'boss' what true efficiency is."
Xiang Tianming was stunned by these words.
He felt as if he wasn't scolding a prisoner, but rather being given a business review by a "hyper-competitive" superior who understood "workplace PUA" even better than he did.
Not only was this kid good at games, but he also learned the skills of "passing the buck" and "reverse PUA" so quickly?!
"Good... very good!" Xiang Tianming was so angry he laughed, "Eric, you've got guts. It seems I underestimated you. You're no longer satisfied with being an intern, what do you want to do? Usurp the throne?"
"I just want to get back what belongs to me." Eric's gaze swept across the corner of the room, where the perfect metal sphere—his former symbol of power—still lay.
Xiang Tianming instantly understood his meaning.
He fell silent.
He knew that the authority of an "employer" could no longer suppress this ambitious "employee." Because this employee had found a new Domain, one where he could contend with him through wisdom, not brute force.
And he... still needed him.
After all, it was absolutely impossible for him to "grind" games 24/7. That went against his fundamental "Dao" as a "slacker."
So, there was only one option left.
"Alright." Xiang Tianming took a deep breath, the angry expression on his Face suddenly transforming into an "amiable," capitalist-like smile.
"Xiao Ai, I've seen your ability and ambition. I appreciate it." He patted Eric's shoulder (of course, only through the screen), "My perspective was too narrow. For a talent like you, just being an intern is indeed a waste of talent."
"How about this, let's talk again."
Xiang Tianming pulled over a chair (from the guard outside the isolation room) and sat down, beginning what he was best at... "painting a grand vision."
"We are now going to establish a brand new project team—the 'Virtual World Strategic Conquest Department.'"
"I, Xiang Tianming, will serve as the 'Chairman' and 'Chief Executive Officer (CEO)' of the project team, responsible for strategic planning and... enjoying the fruits of victory."
"And you, Erik Lehnsherr," Xiang Tianming looked at him, dropping a bombshell, "I appoint you as... 'Chief Operating Officer (COO)!'"
Eric: "..."
"Your responsibility will be to manage all daily operations of the project team. This includes, but is not limited to, resource coordination, market regulation, team management, tactical execution..." Xiang Tianming grew more excited as he spoke, "And I, as Chairman, will provide you with the top-tier 'resource' support (referring to Xiang Tianming's own game character)."
"As for your compensation..."
Xiang Tianming pondered for a moment.
"That 'rolling pin' can be returned to you. It will be placed in your office (isolation room). So you can see it every day and be motivated to work hard."
"Additionally, your meal standard can be upgraded from 'instant noodle broth' to 'instant noodles with seasoning packets'!"
"How about it? Are you satisfied with this new 'equity incentive' plan?"
Professor Charles in the monitoring room had completely given up on thinking.
He felt that today he had witnessed the most absurd yet most efficient "corporate restructuring" in human history.
In just a few words, that scoundrel Xiang Tianming had turned an "employee rebellion" into a "management promotion." He not only lost nothing, but instead, he firmly tied the most unstable factor to his chariot with a vague "COO" title and a packet of instant noodle seasoning!
This ability to get something for nothing was truly textbook level!
Eric also fell silent.
He looked at Xiang Tianming's Face, full of "sincerity," and knew very well that this was another trap.
But... he couldn't refuse.
Because what Xiang Tianming offered was exactly what he needed most right now—a legitimate stage to "showcase his talents," and... the first step to reclaiming his dignity.
"Alright." After a long pause, Eric slowly nodded.
"Pleasure working with you!" Xiang Tianming snapped his fingers happily.
With a slight movement of his telekinesis, the giant metal sphere slowly floated before Eric.
Eric reached out, his hand trembling, and caressed the cold spherical surface. A long-lost feeling of Bloodline connection flowed from his fingertips.
He knew he had lost again.
But he had also won... The next day, players on Age of Gods and Demons U.S. server 1 were shocked once more.
The most terrifying "dictator" guild on the server—[Iron Throne]—suddenly announced a strategic merger with the most "slacker" guild on the server—[Why Stand When You Can Lie].
Furthermore, the guild leader of [Iron Throne], the elusive "Iron Throne," publicly declared that he would forever support the legendary player "Lord Xiang" from [Why Stand When You Can Lie] as the "sole designated spiritual leader" after the merger of the two guilds!
That night, the World BOSS spawned.
All players witnessed a scene they would never forget.
The elite players of [Iron Throne], like a pack of wolves, used the most professional tactics to reduce the BOSS to a sliver of health.
Then, they all retreated, respectfully clearing a path.
"Lord Xiang," the legendary slacker, walked forward leisurely with an arrogant stride, yawned, then conjured a magnificent Fireball, and effortlessly delivered the final blow.
The BOSS fell, dropping Divine Rank equipment everywhere.
"Lord Xiang" didn't even look, just waved his hand casually.
Behind him, the fearsome mage named "Iron Throne," like a most loyal butler, silently stepped forward and picked up all the loot, one by one, placing it into "Lord Xiang's" backpack.
Players across the entire server went wild at this moment.
[Holy crap! What's going on?!]
[Lord Xiang... is the real mastermind behind 'Iron Throne'?!]
[Is this... a paid booster? No, this is like hiring a dad to play the game!]
Inside the game room, Xiang Tianming stretched contentedly, looking at the glittering equipment in his backpack.
He had finally achieved the ultimate dream of all "slackers."
—Someone to conquer the World for him, someone to manage the World for him, and he, only responsible for... reigning supreme.
Chapter 22 God's "Telecommuting"
Ever since Xiang Tianming reached a new strategic cooperation agreement with Eric, the newly appointed 'Virtual World COO,' his 'slacker' life officially entered the 2.0 era.
If he was a 'spiritually' slacker before.
Now, he is a slacker both 'materially' and 'spiritually'.
Because Eric, a Genius-level 'power-leveler,' not only carved out a vast Empire for him in the game but also successfully 'monetized' this virtual Empire.
Through absolute monopoly over rare resources and gold within the game, and then operating through an offshore company in the Cayman Islands, kindly sponsored by Warren's family, Eric single-handedly established a 'gold-farming Empire' for Xiang Tianming in the real World, raking in huge sums daily.
The numbers in Xiang Tianming's bank account were growing wildly every day at a speed that made even him, the 'Chairman,' feel a thrill of fear.
As a result, the ambiance of Xavier's Mansion became even more luxurious and... decadent.
Xiang Tianming used his newly earned money to buy himself a 'Throne' gaming chair worth tens of millions, designed by former NASA engineers, complete with environmental simulation and full-body massage functions. Furthermore, he went insane and had Hank install anti-gravity levitation devices under this chair.
From then on, he lived a blissful life where his 'chair never left him'.
For meals, he would float on his chair to the dining room.
To sunbathe, he would float on his chair to the lawn.
To use the restroom... he would also float on his chair to the restroom door.
In his words: "Legs are a compromise made during human evolution for the inefficient act of 'movement.' I, however, have transcended that stage."
The X-Men students, of course, offered another 'philosophical' interpretation of this.
"Do you see? The Consultant has entered the Realm of 'immobile as a mountain'! His physical body has become an extension of his spirit, no longer needing to waste precious energy through 'walking'!
"This is a 'dimension-reducing' lifestyle! He is telling us through his actions to break free from the shackles of physical rules!"
Professor Charles was too lazy to correct these thoroughly brainwashed children. He just quietly told the school's procurement department to buy a few more bottles of quick-acting heart-relief pills... On this day, Xiang Tianming was floating on his 'Throne', enjoying a massage simulating the sea breeze of the Maldives, while directing Eric in a 'cross-server national war' in the game.
Professor Charles floated in with a solemn expression (in his wheelchair).
"Xiang, we have an emergency."
"Speak," Xiang Tianming said without opening his eyes, "First, let me make it clear, cross-server services will cost extra."
"...It's not a game!" Charles felt his blood pressure rise again, "It's the real World! An 8.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Andes mountains of South America. A small mountain town with thousands of residents is completely trapped. Landslides have blocked the only road and river, and all rescue forces cannot get in!"
"Oh, an earthquake," Xiang Tianming responded lazily, "My condolences. This isn't my responsibility, is it? I'm just a school security guard, not the International Red Cross."
"Xiang!" Charles's tone became heavier, "There are thousands of lives there! Right now, only your power can help them!"
Xiang Tianming finally opened his eyes. He looked at Charles's anxious Face and remained silent for a moment.
Then, he yawned.
"Alright. But, let me be clear upfront. My contract with the U.S. Government is a 'deterrence' contract; I'm paid for 'not acting'. Now, if you want me to 'act', that's a different price."
He said in a very professional, Consultant-like tone: "This kind of cross-national, high-difficulty, purely physical 'project' must be charged by the hour. No upper limit, and a million U.S. dollars in advance payment isn't too much, is it?"
Charles: "..."
He felt that he wasn't facing a Mutant, but a opportunistic... Wall Street Vampire... Ten minutes later, under an urgent telepathic communication from Professor Charles—"if you don't pay, the Consultantwill watch thousands die"—a huge sum of money was transferred into Xiang Tianming's account.
Xiang Tianming looked at the string of Zeroes added to his phone and nodded with satisfaction.
"Alright, since the client (Party A) is so sincere, we can't be negligent either."
He patted the armrest of his 'Throne'.
"Hank, connect the real-time satellite Nebula map of the South American earthquake disaster area to my main screen. Scott, get me a glass of iced lemon Water. Jean, help me pass the potato chips, the barbecue-flavored ones."
The X-Men youths immediately started bustling like the most professional secretarial team.
Soon, the game room transformed into a sci-fi-filled... 'remote disaster relief command center'.
Xiang Tianming leaned back in his comfortable 'Throne', legs crossed, sipping lemon Water, eating potato chips, and watching the apocalyptic scene of the disaster area on the main screen.
"Ah, how tragic," he sighed without much sincerity.
Then, he extended a finger and lightly tapped the screen.
"Alright, finished."
"???"
Everyone present, including Professor Charles, was stunned.
Is that... it?
"Xiang... what did you do?" Jean couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, nothing," Xiang Tianming pointed at the screen, "I just moved that big rock blocking the road. And redirected the blocked river. I also piled up all those scattered rescue supplies for them in the village square."
Everyone immediately fixed their gaze intently on the screen.
Beneath the satellite Nebula map, that distant disaster area on the other side of the World.
It was as if a 'Hand of God' was performing a miraculous 'surgical operation' on that land!
The landslide, as huge as a mountain, blocking the Dao, was lifted entirely and completely into the sky thousands of meters high by an invisible force! Then, like stacking building blocks, it was gently placed in a nearby valley where it would not cause secondary disasters.
Downstream of the river, which was about to burst its banks due to the blockage, a new, wider, and more reasonable river Dao was forcibly 'carved' out of the earth! The surging river Water immediately found an outlet, rushing along the new river Dao, and the crisis was averted!
Hundreds of thousands of air-dropped rescue supply boxes, scattered over tens of square kilometers, flew up from the mountains and forests, from the cliffs, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, then, in neat formations, precisely landed in the town's central square!
The entire process spanned thousands of kilometers, employing a power that could change the World.
And the perpetrator merely moved a finger in an air-conditioned room.
This was... God's 'remote work'?
"Alright," Xiang Tianming clapped his hands and picked up the game controller next to him, "The work is done, and the payment has been made. No one bother me today, I'm going to pull an all-nighter to get back the Face I lost in yesterday's national war!"
He glanced at the clock on the wall.
"From starting the 'business trip' (raising hand) to finishing (lowering hand), it took a total of three minutes. Hmm, efficiency isn't bad."
"Professor, remember to tell Party A to give a five-star review."