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Starting in 'The Boys' to Become the Ultimate Lifeform_chapter_0440_en
Chapter 442
Chapter 440: Xia Shang's Offer! The High Price of Superheroes!
In an instant, piercing screams and cries continuously flooded into Mystique's ears.
Mystique turned her head and saw a girl who had fallen to the ground, being trampled underfoot by others. Crying and shouting, she tried to get up, but no one around her offered a helping arm; everyone was only concerned with escaping with their life.
At this moment, Mystique saw helplessness and despair on the girl's face.
"Everyone, get out of my way!" The entirely blue Mystique walked straight towards the girl. She pushed her way through the chaotic crowd, bent down, and pulled the girl up from the ground. "Are you alright? Do you need me to take you to the Hospital?"
"Th-thank you..." The girl's gaze towards Mystique held obvious fear. She hastily let go of Mystique's hand and plunged back into the crowd without looking back.
Seeing this, Mystique was momentarily stunned. However, when she saw her own blue arm, she understood why the girl felt fear towards her.
Just as Mystique was considering changing her appearance, she saw the girl from before, holding a Woman's hand, running towards her.
"Mommy, this blue-colored big sister saved me," the girl called out in her tender voice.
The girl's mother, looking nervous, repeatedly thanked Mystique.
"Mommy told me not to go near Mutants, but I feel like you're a good person. Do you know where Homelander is? He can definitely protect us."
"But Homelander is a Mutant, just like me."
"No, he's not a Mutant, he's a Superhero." The incredibly awkward Woman beside her pulled the girl, who had just finished speaking, and hurried away, walking towards the distance.
"Superhero..." For some reason, Mystique suddenly recalled her time as an X-Men.
She returned to her original position and raised her head, shouting loudly at Magneto in the air: "Erik, our true enemy are the government officials involved in Mutant research and experiments, not the ordinary humans who know nothing about this."
"Once a war begins, it cannot be stopped. If we don't give humanity a painful lesson, they will never know the consequences of provoking Mutants."
Magneto continued to lift the building. Metal products like windows and railings detached from the building's main body under the influence of the magnetic field and flew towards Magneto. Even the cars on the ground floated up uncontrollably.
"Butcher, please try to persuade Magneto. There are still thousands of ordinary humans in that building. They absolutely cannot die by Erik's hand. His actions are undoubtedly declaring war on the United States, and even the world."
Seeing that her persuasion had no effect, Mystique placed her hope in Xia Shang.
But how could Xia Shang possibly stop Magneto at this moment? He knew that the more chaos there was, the more Fantasy Value he could obtain. Furthermore, based on his understanding of Magneto, unless Charles himself was present, no one could persuade Erik.
However, he really couldn't let Magneto make the situation too ugly. He only wanted to increase the US Government's reliance on Superheroes, not provoke a war that would lead to an endless conflict between humans and Mutants. Such a result would bring him no benefit at all.
After all, he still needed to fuse Charles's ability. There was no need to set the mission difficulty to Hell mode. In fact, completing Charles's Analysis Condition wasn't difficult for Xia Shang, because some time ago, Hank had already developed the Temporary Compound V for him, and it was even a version without aftereffects.
Once it was promoted, everyone would have the chance to possess superpowers. Who would still discriminate against Mutants then?
"Why persuade him? I think Magneto is right," Xia Shang, wearing black robes, said in a cold tone.
At this moment, surrounded by a group of Guards, Defense Department Head Gaston walked out from another building. He first asked the assistant beside him when Mr. Jervis's Superheroes would arrive.
"According to the latest information from the CIA, Mr. Jervis and the group of Superheroes under him took a private airplane to Wiziel Academy for Gifted Youngsters in New York this morning. They should still be there now."
The assistant said in a low voice.
"Also, our people have contacted Mr. Jervis." At this point, the assistant paused, saying with an awkward expression: "Mr. Jervis's reply was that he has no obligation to help us solve our troubles. If we need the Superheroes' help, we have to provide his company with a sponsorship fee."
"Sponsorship fee?" Gaston's complexion instantly turned incredibly ugly, as if he had just swallowed a fly and was utterly disgusted.
"Jie Er Company is a private enterprise. We really can't force them to do anything." The assistant's voice was even softer than before, afraid that Gaston's anger would affect him.
"Have the Federal Tax Bureau thoroughly investigate this company. I refuse to believe it has no tax issues at all," Gaston said angrily.
"Uh... Minister, the top priority right now should be finding a way to rescue the public trapped in the building by Magneto."
"Shetty! That guy Mr. Jervis has angered me so much my sanity is a bit unclear." Gaston took the megaphone from the assistant's hand and said, suppressing his anger: "How much sponsorship fee does Mr. Jervis want? If it's below twenty thousand US dollars, just agree to it directly."
After hearing this, the assistant fell into a strange silence.
Seeing his appearance, bulging veins popped out on Gaston's forehead, and he said through gritted teeth: "Could it be over a hundred thousand? Where does he get the nerve to ask us for so much money!"
"Not a hundred thousand..." The assistant subconsciously shrank his neck back and said cautiously: "He said the quote for each Superhero is different, but based on this being our first cooperation, he's willing to give a discounted price, a package deal... fifteen million US dollars."
"Fuck!"
Gaston, who prided himself on his good upbringing, instantly swore after hearing Xia Shang's quote. "If I had that kind of money, I'd rather add a few tanks to the Army."
"Minister, if we use tanks to deal with Magneto, I think that idea is a bit..."
The assistant raised his head and looked at Magneto in the air. He saw torrents of steel, as if endowed with life, swirling around Magneto. He had no doubt that even if tanks came here, they would be unable to withstand Magneto's strength and would only become part of the steel torrent.
"Fuck! Fifteen million is fifteen million, but Mr. Jervis's Superheroes must get here in the shortest possible time, otherwise I won't pay him a single hair." Gaston's tough remarks at this moment were his only stubbornness as the Defense Minister.
(end of chapter)
In an instant, piercing screams and cries continuously flooded into Mystique's ears.
Mystique turned her head and saw a girl who had fallen to the ground, being trampled underfoot by others. Crying and shouting, she tried to get up, but no one around her offered a helping arm; everyone was only concerned with escaping with their life.
At this moment, Mystique saw helplessness and despair on the girl's face.
"Everyone, get out of my way!" The entirely blue Mystique walked straight towards the girl. She pushed her way through the chaotic crowd, bent down, and pulled the girl up from the ground. "Are you alright? Do you need me to take you to the Hospital?"
"Th-thank you..." The girl's gaze towards Mystique held obvious fear. She hastily let go of Mystique's hand and plunged back into the crowd without looking back.
Seeing this, Mystique was momentarily stunned. However, when she saw her own blue arm, she understood why the girl felt fear towards her.
Just as Mystique was considering changing her appearance, she saw the girl from before, holding a Woman's hand, running towards her.
"Mommy, this blue-colored big sister saved me," the girl called out in her tender voice.
The girl's mother, looking nervous, repeatedly thanked Mystique.
"Mommy told me not to go near Mutants, but I feel like you're a good person. Do you know where Homelander is? He can definitely protect us."
"But Homelander is a Mutant, just like me."
"No, he's not a Mutant, he's a Superhero." The incredibly awkward Woman beside her pulled the girl, who had just finished speaking, and hurried away, walking towards the distance.
"Superhero..." For some reason, Mystique suddenly recalled her time as an X-Men.
She returned to her original position and raised her head, shouting loudly at Magneto in the air: "Erik, our true enemy are the government officials involved in Mutant research and experiments, not the ordinary humans who know nothing about this."
"Once a war begins, it cannot be stopped. If we don't give humanity a painful lesson, they will never know the consequences of provoking Mutants."
Magneto continued to lift the building. Metal products like windows and railings detached from the building's main body under the influence of the magnetic field and flew towards Magneto. Even the cars on the ground floated up uncontrollably.
"Butcher, please try to persuade Magneto. There are still thousands of ordinary humans in that building. They absolutely cannot die by Erik's hand. His actions are undoubtedly declaring war on the United States, and even the world."
Seeing that her persuasion had no effect, Mystique placed her hope in Xia Shang.
But how could Xia Shang possibly stop Magneto at this moment? He knew that the more chaos there was, the more Fantasy Value he could obtain. Furthermore, based on his understanding of Magneto, unless Charles himself was present, no one could persuade Erik.
However, he really couldn't let Magneto make the situation too ugly. He only wanted to increase the US Government's reliance on Superheroes, not provoke a war that would lead to an endless conflict between humans and Mutants. Such a result would bring him no benefit at all.
After all, he still needed to fuse Charles's ability. There was no need to set the mission difficulty to Hell mode. In fact, completing Charles's Analysis Condition wasn't difficult for Xia Shang, because some time ago, Hank had already developed the Temporary Compound V for him, and it was even a version without aftereffects.
Once it was promoted, everyone would have the chance to possess superpowers. Who would still discriminate against Mutants then?
"Why persuade him? I think Magneto is right," Xia Shang, wearing black robes, said in a cold tone.
At this moment, surrounded by a group of Guards, Defense Department Head Gaston walked out from another building. He first asked the assistant beside him when Mr. Jervis's Superheroes would arrive.
"According to the latest information from the CIA, Mr. Jervis and the group of Superheroes under him took a private airplane to Wiziel Academy for Gifted Youngsters in New York this morning. They should still be there now."
The assistant said in a low voice.
"Also, our people have contacted Mr. Jervis." At this point, the assistant paused, saying with an awkward expression: "Mr. Jervis's reply was that he has no obligation to help us solve our troubles. If we need the Superheroes' help, we have to provide his company with a sponsorship fee."
"Sponsorship fee?" Gaston's complexion instantly turned incredibly ugly, as if he had just swallowed a fly and was utterly disgusted.
"Jie Er Company is a private enterprise. We really can't force them to do anything." The assistant's voice was even softer than before, afraid that Gaston's anger would affect him.
"Have the Federal Tax Bureau thoroughly investigate this company. I refuse to believe it has no tax issues at all," Gaston said angrily.
"Uh... Minister, the top priority right now should be finding a way to rescue the public trapped in the building by Magneto."
"Shetty! That guy Mr. Jervis has angered me so much my sanity is a bit unclear." Gaston took the megaphone from the assistant's hand and said, suppressing his anger: "How much sponsorship fee does Mr. Jervis want? If it's below twenty thousand US dollars, just agree to it directly."
After hearing this, the assistant fell into a strange silence.
Seeing his appearance, bulging veins popped out on Gaston's forehead, and he said through gritted teeth: "Could it be over a hundred thousand? Where does he get the nerve to ask us for so much money!"
"Not a hundred thousand..." The assistant subconsciously shrank his neck back and said cautiously: "He said the quote for each Superhero is different, but based on this being our first cooperation, he's willing to give a discounted price, a package deal... fifteen million US dollars."
"Fuck!"
Gaston, who prided himself on his good upbringing, instantly swore after hearing Xia Shang's quote. "If I had that kind of money, I'd rather add a few tanks to the Army."
"Minister, if we use tanks to deal with Magneto, I think that idea is a bit..."
The assistant raised his head and looked at Magneto in the air. He saw torrents of steel, as if endowed with life, swirling around Magneto. He had no doubt that even if tanks came here, they would be unable to withstand Magneto's strength and would only become part of the steel torrent.
"Fuck! Fifteen million is fifteen million, but Mr. Jervis's Superheroes must get here in the shortest possible time, otherwise I won't pay him a single hair." Gaston's tough remarks at this moment were his only stubbornness as the Defense Minister.
(end of chapter)
