Though he found no staff remaining on the third underground floor, Richard had no intention of leaving without making his mark.
"Firaga!"
Without hesitation, he summoned a fire spell, conjuring fierce orange-red flames that began to engulf the entire level. Soon, every corner of the third underground floor was consumed by raging fire.
The inferno devoured precision instruments and equipment alike, transforming the entire floor into a sea of roaring flames. After briefly surveying the destruction he'd wrought, Richard used Blinkstep to return to the second underground floor.
He found Sabretooth and his clone still locked in combat, neither gaining a decisive advantage.
With a resigned sigh, Richard raised the Masamune in his hand and swung it casually toward the clone.
Slash!
A crescent-shaped energy blade—purple on the outside, white within—flew toward the clone like lightning. It passed through the duplicate's waist as easily as a knife through a cucumber, splitting him cleanly in two.
"Hurry up and finish this," Richard called to Sabretooth. "I've set a fire downstairs, and the smoke will be rising soon."
Had he not ignited the third underground floor, Richard wouldn't have minded letting Sabretooth continue his battle with the clone. But circumstances had changed. Thick smoke and hungry flames had already begun spreading upward through ventilation ducts and elevator shafts.
If Sabretooth continued this grudge match any longer, both would find themselves trapped in an inferno. Richard didn't care if the clone burned to ash, but he had no desire to see Sabretooth caught in the blaze.
Hearing Richard's warning, Sabretooth wasted no time. He lunged at the clone's upper half and seized his neck with both hands. With a savage twist and pull, he tore the duplicate's head clean off.
Richard expected Sabretooth to discard the severed head after his victory. He was mistaken.
Instead of tossing the grisly trophy aside, Sabretooth carried it as he approached Richard.
"Take me to the plaza outside," Sabretooth demanded, holding up the clone's head.
"Fine."
Though curious about Sabretooth's intentions, Richard asked no questions. He simply grabbed the feral mutant's shoulder.
Blinkstep!
With a thought, they both vanished from the second underground floor, materializing instantly in the plaza before the office building.
Upon arrival, Sabretooth wordlessly strode to the flagpole in the square and lowered the American flag. With methodical precision, he tied the clone's head to the banner, then hoisted both back to the top of the pole.
Richard stared in surprise. He'd assumed Sabretooth wanted to keep the head as evidence. Instead, the mutant had created a macabre display—a bloody statement of defiance against the powers that had created and deployed the clone.
As Sabretooth admired his "masterpiece" with evident satisfaction, Richard approached from behind and again grasped his shoulder.
Blinkstep!
He teleported them both from the plaza, returning to the rooftop where Clarice waited with the rescued children.
The moment they materialized, Sabretooth noticed the freed mutant children and shot Clarice a questioning look.
"They were locked in cages on the third underground floor," she explained immediately. "Richard asked me to bring them out."
Hearing her answer, Sabretooth turned to Richard.
"What are you planning to do with these little ones?"
"We'll discuss that later," Richard replied. "Take them away from here first. I have some personal business to finish."
"You're not coming with us?" Clarice asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I'll return later."
"Alright. Don't linger unnecessarily—we're leaving now."
With those parting words, Richard used Blinkstep to return to the plaza in front of the office building.
As they watched him vanish, both Sabretooth and Clarice frowned in unison. From their perspective, tonight's objective had been perfectly executed—there was no reason to remain any longer.
They couldn't know that for Richard, tonight's mission was far from complete. He needed to eliminate twelve mutant agents to fulfill the "Son of the Devil (II)" Mission and acquire Virgil's phantom sword. So far, he had only killed Benjamin, leaving him far short of his goal.
Though the system hadn't specified he must complete the task tonight, this was the optimal opportunity. More importantly, Richard had no desire to make a second trip.
"Why put off until tomorrow what can be done tonight?" he reasoned.
This mindset reminded him of online writers back home. Many could easily complete their daily writing quota during daylight hours yet chose to procrastinate until late evening before beginning their "eleventh-hour writing battle." Even more maddening was how these writers kept no backlog of chapters, forcing themselves into a daily "life-or-death race against time."
Although the system had granted him three days to complete his mission, Richard refused to postpone what could be accomplished now. Procrastination was a habit he despised.
Upon returning to the plaza, Richard neither entered the office building to hunt down remaining staff nor set fire to the structure. Instead, he approached the wreckage of the Sentinel robots.
With deliberate care, he arranged the mechanical remnants into a makeshift "throne." He planted the Masamune beside this improvised seat, then settled himself upon it, to await the arrival of additional mutant agents.
While Mutant agents rushed toward the Los Angeles branch, major television stations throughout the city received reports of the attack. Despite the lack of advance notice, these networks immediately dispatched news helicopters and reporters to the scene.
Simultaneously, news of the assault began spreading across the internet like wildfire.
Before long, news helicopters from every major network hovered above the Los Angeles branch. Without exception, their searchlights and cameras focused on Richard, enthroned upon the Sentinel robot debris.
Far from driving away these news helicopters, Richard welcomed them. He hoped the reporters would broadcast the coming battle live. Though this would certainly make him a wanted criminal in the eyes of both the U.S. government and the Department of Mutant Affairs, he remained unconcerned.
In truth, from the very first day he arrived in this world, Richard had mentally prepared himself to become "infamous." Unless he intended to serve as a "lapdog" for the government and the Department, conflict between them was inevitable given his personality.
"You should become famous as early as possible. If fame comes too late, the satisfaction isn't as sweet!"
These words from a renowned female writer resonated with Richard. He wholeheartedly agreed.
The image of him lounging on his throne of Sentinel wreckage, arms and legs sprawled casually, went live within moments.
Less than a minute after the broadcast began, countless viewers and internet users recognized him as the "protagonist" from the viral video that authorities had scrambled to take down days earlier.
"Why is it him again?"
"Didn't the Department of Mutant Affairs issue a Class A warrant for his arrest?"
"He must have seen the wanted poster and decided to attack the Los Angeles branch!"
"Have you noticed his hair is much longer than a few days ago?"
"Though he's not as handsome as me, I have to admit his hairstyle and silver hair look pretty cool."
"Silver hair is definitely stylish. I'm dyeing mine that color tomorrow!"
"Where are all the mutant agents from the branch? Are they dead? Why hasn't anyone come out to arrest him?"
"Is he really sitting on the remains of Sentinel robots?"
"That can't be right. Sentinels are the 'natural enemies of mutants.' No mutant could defeat a Sentinel!"
"They can't even catch Magneto and they call themselves the 'Nemesis of Mutants'?"
"Where are all the mutant agents in the Los Angeles branch? Is the Department of Mutant Affairs just wasting our tax dollars?"
Before the Mutant Operations agents even arrived, online discussions had ignited into heated debates. Though opinions varied widely, most commenters viewed Richard's actions as suicidal.
Many mutants were among those watching the broadcast, but they refrained from joining the public discussions. Instead, they observed Richard on his throne of Sentinel parts with complex emotions. Many had once fantasized about such a scene themselves, but lacked Richard's strength and courage to make it reality.
While the broadcasts originated from Los Angeles television stations, viewership wasn't limited to the city. Audiences across every state could tune in to witness the unfolding drama. And online streaming expanded the reach even further.
In Westchester, New York, at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Scott Summers—dressed in a jacket and jeans—knocked on the principal's office door. Without waiting for a response, he pushed it open and entered.
"Professor, the Los Angeles branch of the Department of Mutant Affairs is under attack."
Without further explanation, Cyclops grabbed the television remote and tuned to a Los Angeles news channel.
Like other mutant viewers, Professor Xavier didn't immediately recognize the Sentinel robot remains, merely frowning slightly at the scene. But within moments, he realized that Richard was sitting upon the wreckage of a Sentinel robot, and shock transformed his expression.
Even among the X-Men, few could face Sentinel robots alone—let alone multiple units simultaneously. As founder of both the X-Men and the school, Xavier understood the Sentinels' capabilities better than most mutants. Moreover, he was intimately familiar with how advanced the government's current Sentinel generation had become.
As stunned realization dawned on Xavier's face, Cyclops's voice cut through the silence.
"His name is Richard Wesley, the only son of Los Angeles billionaire Roy Wesley."
"Roy Wesley established a mutant organization called 'Crimson Manor' near Los Angeles."
"A week ago, Roy Wesley was confirmed to be an unregistered mutant and was arrested by agents from the Los Angeles branch."
"A few days later, the branch dispatched three agents and a special forces team to capture Richard and other mutants at Crimson Manor."
"In Santa Ana, those agents and special forces were killed by Richard and 'Sabretooth' Victor Creed. A restaurant patron captured the incident on a cell phone and uploaded it online."
"The footage went viral instantly. Though websites quickly removed the videos, countless people saved copies."
"That same day, the Los Angeles Division issued a Class A warrant for Richard's arrest."
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