Chapter 300: Time Magazine Person of the Year
The Exoskeleton Display
In a square in Metropolis, Tesla was hosting a product promotion event.
An acrobatic performer wearing an exoskeleton armor moved deftly across the stage, executing high-difficulty maneuvers that surpassed human limits. Onlookers cheered and gasped in amazement, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.
Siobhan was captivated by the exoskeleton armor. She couldn't help but say,
"What an interesting piece of equipment, Linda. Should we buy a set?"
Linda, disguised as a street girl, sneered.
"Only fools would be interested in a hunk of metal with no real technology."
Siobhan looked displeased. "This is the latest technology! Look at that person—without the armor, he's just an ordinary man, but once he puts it on, he can climb walls and leap across roofs."
"What's so great about that?"
Thinking of Phantom-1, Linda couldn't help but curl her lip.
"It's just useless junk. You simply haven't seen the truly good stuff."
Siobhan was puzzled. "What good stuff? Do you mean Luke Shaw has even better armor in his hands?"
Linda didn't bother to reply, turning her head to walk away. Siobhan quickly followed, chattering incessantly.
"We've known each other for a while now. I've told you all my secrets, but you keep hiding your identity from me. What exactly is the relationship between you and that Luke Shaw?"
"We have no relationship."
"But you know him!"
"I don't know him!"
"Linda!"
The girl turned around, speaking carefully, word-by-word. "I don't want to discuss this issue. And please, don't mention that name in front of me. I hate him."
With that, she walked off without looking back.
Siobhan was speechless, thinking, If you don't care about him, why do you constantly check for news about Tesla?
Luke's Financial Success
Siobhan was also extremely curious about this emerging tech company. Logically, a product like the exoskeleton armor, which could change the dynamics of warfare, should have been immediately classified as a military secret and not available for private sale.
Yet, the U.S. government had been slow to issue any related orders, allowing the exoskeleton armor to flow into the market. Even some overseas companies could acquire the armor through official channels.
The price, of course, was exorbitant.
According to information published on the official website, Tesla had launched two types of exoskeleton armor: the Mat S, priced at $170,000, and the Glory I, priced at $220,000.
The price was ridiculously high, more expensive than most luxury cars. Oddly enough, sales were surprisingly good. The first batch of 3,000 orders was sold out in less than two minutes.
Calculating at an average price of $200,000, 3,000 orders meant $600 million in revenue.
My God!
This wasn't just earning money; it was outright theft!
Siobhan was secretly astounded. That guy was making too much money. At this rate, the world's richest person would change in a few years.
The convergence of all this information gave Siobhan intense curiosity about Tesla and Luke. Unfortunately, Linda consistently refused to yield any information.
For the next month or so, the two continued their aimless search, circling Metropolis every day, relying on Siobhan's so-called "magical intuition" to locate the ancient book's hiding spot.
During this period, numerous injury incidents occurred. For two ladies with powerful combat abilities and little capacity for mercy, this was perfectly normal.
Gradually, the moniker of the "Two Rākṣas (Demonesses) of Metropolis" began to spread. This soon attracted the attention of the police, but that was all; capturing them was impossible. Not even Superman would be able to stop them.
The current Linda was no ordinary Kryptonian. She had already gained initial mastery of the Inner Breath technique, allowing her to freely mobilize her internal energy for different forms of attack. Coupled with the ruthless methods taught by Lingxu Zi, not even one Clark Kent, or even two of him, would necessarily be her match.
A Kryptonian who knows martial arts? Even a god couldn't stop her!
A Christmas Reunion
Time passed slowly, and before they knew it, it was Christmas.
Christmas is the most important holiday in the West, a time for family reunions. Siobhan couldn't contact her family, and Linda had no family, so the two girls decided to celebrate the holiday together.
On the morning of December 23rd, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Siobhan quickly opened the door. The person standing outside was not Linda, but an unfamiliar young man of seventeen or eighteen.
"Luke Shaw? How... how are you here?"
Luke glanced at her. Through the mask, he could vaguely make out the skull-like face.
Silver Banshee—Siobhan McDougal!
A poor soul cursed by a demon!
Information about her flashed through his mind before being pushed aside.
"You know me, so that makes things easier. I'm here to find Linda."
"She's not here?"
"I know she went out to buy things, which is why I'm here. May I come in?"
"Of course!"
Siobhan smiled and invited Luke inside, subtly observing him as he entered. He was young and handsome, his face slightly immature, but his demeanor was very composed. His eyes, in particular, were sharp and piercing, giving off a strange sense of pressure.
He truly lives up to his title as Person of the Year! Siobhan mused. She walked into the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee, placed it on the table, and asked with a smile,
"Mr. Shaw, do you know Linda?"
"Just call me Luke. 'Mr. Shaw' is too formal and doesn't suit me."
"Alright, then I'll call you Luke. What's your relationship with Linda?"
"Friends."
"And your reason for coming today is..."
"To pick her up and take her home for Christmas."
Luke spoke with a smile, then shifted the focus to the girl in front of him. "Miss McDougal, what's your relationship with Linda?"
Siobhan's expression shifted slightly. "You know my name? Did Linda tell you?"
"Of course not."
Luke shook his head slightly. "It's not difficult to get information on you. After all, the U.S. FBI, British MI6, and Russian KGB are all hunting you. They've classified you as a terrorist with extremely high danger and formidable destructive power."
Upon hearing this, the smile instantly vanished from Siobhan's face, and her eyes turned icy.
"Who exactly are you?"
"I already told you: Luke Shaw. As for anything else, it's none of your concern." He paused, then added,
"Don't worry, Miss McDougal. I'm not interested in you, nor am I your enemy."
Siobhan could not relax. Her Banshee instincts told her that the boy in front of her was very dangerous and not as simple as he appeared.
Luke smiled, ignoring her vigilance. He picked up the copy of Time Magazine on the table and casually browsed it.
He was on the cover of the magazine—an artistically enhanced profile shot that made him look handsome, powerful, and intimidating.
To be honest, despite being named the Person of the Year, Luke hadn't bothered to read the contents of the magazine. This was his first time browsing it. After a rough look through, he couldn't help but shake his head.
True to its reputation as a globally famous magazine, they had even included details about his grandfather and the Hongmen organization, going so far as to label him the "Son of the Underworld."
"Those editors are truly ungrateful. I dropped a million dollars on them, and they still dared to write this."
Luke narrowed his eyes. Perhaps he should find a way to teach them a lesson.
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