Sometimes, well-intentioned lies don't hurt, but the truth spoken on impulse is a quick blade.
"..." Mark's face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead. He glanced at his Cousin Russell beside him.
He was embarrassed in front of an alien. He decided then and there that he would train harder when he got back, surpass his Cousin, and prove he deserved that title.
Russell, who had been indirectly praised, remained calm.
"That's all for now. If I don't get fired this time, I'll come see You again when I have time!"
Waving his hand, he quickly flew into the distant Universe, Allen muttering his final words as he left.
"The Alliance will definitely be interested. Earth... is truly a magical Planet. It actually gave birth to several warriors whose strength approaches that of the Viltrumite."
Russell watched Allen's figure quickly turn into a meteor in the distant Universe, disappearing from sight.
The naive Allen didn't know that two of the three people he met were Viltrumite themselves, and only he lacked the Viltrumite bloodline.
[Ability: Flight, Super Strength, Super Speed, Super Endurance, Regeneration, Near-Death Limit Break...]
"The Allen template is acquired. I can try to see if the template power can be further enhanced after replication."
As for how to get himself into a near-death state when even a small nuclear bomb couldn't harm him, that wasn't a worry, though the process might be a bit painful.
Thinking of this, Russell felt a twinge of toothache. He scanned the huge star hanging in the distant void, then flew back to Earth with Mark. Director Cecil and his family were waiting for a response.
It was perfect that Director Cecil came over today; he didn't need to make a special trip to find him!
"I've already told You everything I remember.
No matter how many times You ask me, it will be the same."
"I received the Global Guardians' distress call at the time. When I arrived, everything was normal. Suddenly, I don't know if it was magic or something, but everything went dark. Someone attacked me, and I fought with them until I was severely injured and couldn't get up..."
After a trip to space to overlook Earth, and making an alien friend, the novelty and excitement of Mark and his Cousin Russell returned home. They couldn't wait to share it all with his mother, Debbie, but when they arrived, they saw his father, Nolan, and Director Cecil arguing.
His mother, Debbie, stood to the side, bewildered and confused.
Facing the question about what happened that day being asked again, Omni-Man Nolan showed clear impatience.
"Is that so? Someone who could beat You like that must be a powerful opponent. I've never seen You lose so tragically." Director Cecil frowned, his face barely concealing his displeasure, clearly very dissatisfied with this answer.
"Thank You for your help this time, Russell, Mark."
He said no more, quickly said a word to Russell and Mark, and took his leave.
"Why did Director Cecil leave? We haven't even told him how we sent that alien away," Mark was confused.
Before Director Cecil arrived, the situation seemed incredibly urgent, but now he didn't even ask a single question.
"Satellites near Earth's orbit captured the entire process of You successfully driving away that alien," Debbie explained for Director Cecil.
"So that's how it is."
Mark nodded without much thought, but still grumbled a little about Director Cecil's hasty departure after only saying a brief word.
"This was a space mission outside of Earth, and my Cousin and I completed it beautifully, especially my Cousin. He even fought that alien. Even if he doesn't get a medal, doesn't he deserve a few more words of praise?"
"Alright, stop complaining.
You didn't become a Superhero for others' praise and approval, did You?" Russell patted Mark's shoulder.
"Of course."
Mark patted his chest.
Since the main force, his Cousin, had no opinion, he certainly wouldn't.
"Director Cecil, having heard Omni-Man's explanation just now, is probably in a terrible mood, full of worry, so it's normal that he didn't have the energy to say a few more words."
Outside the door, Director Cecil drove away quickly, and Russell's eyes moved.
His uncle Nolan's explanation was full of holes. Even his Aunt Debbie, who always had a filter for her husband, was startled and instinctively felt something was wrong. How could it convince others?
Omni-Man's face was grim, seemingly also in a bad mood. He hastily praised Russell and Mark briefly.
It was the usually gentle Aunt Debbie who jokingly told them to go upstairs and rest, saying she would cook a table of good dishes for lunch to reward the two hard-working Earth heroes.
Going upstairs to his bedroom, Russell closed the door and walked towards the window.
"With his uncle Nolan's ability, if he wanted to leave, even if he couldn't see anything, he could easily crash through a mountain wall and escape thousands of miles in the blink of an eye. Why would he stay in the narrow Global Guardians' hall under such clearly unfavorable circumstances, and be continuously beaten until he was severely injured and fell to the ground?"
His perfunctory and careless answer undoubtedly increased Director Cecil's suspicion of him. Director Cecil probably felt waves of anxiety, anger, and worry.
If it was truly Omni-Man who did it, Omni-Man killed the Global Guardians he had fought alongside many times, and even killed them as if they were ants that deserved to die by his hand, unwilling to bother thinking of a better explanation.
His coldness and this perfunctory attitude, how could they not cause deep unease?
This proves that Omni-Man probably doesn't plan to hide and pretend forever, letting this matter pass!
The death of the Global Guardians is likely just the beginning!
Raising the window, Russell silently flew out, catching up to Director Cecil's car.
"Russell, is something wrong?"
Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead. Russell's cape fluttered, and he hovered in mid-air, blocking the car's path. Director Cecil turned the steering wheel and stopped by the street.
As the Director of the Global Defense Agency, Director Cecil had a teleportation device implanted in his body. Each use was expensive, so he usually didn't use it. His usual mode of travel was by car.
"There's something I want to tell You, Director Cecil."
"What is it?"
Facing Russell, whom he would have to win over as a main force against Omni-Man in the future, Director Cecil had patience, even if he was anxious and annoyed at the moment. He got out of the car, closed the door, and asked.
"I discovered that my uncle Omni-Man..."
Russell put his arm around his shoulder, as if to speak in a low voice, afraid of being overheard. Director Cecil was a little uncomfortable with this child treating him like a peer.
The next second, a powerful mental force invaded, instantly capturing his consciousness.
Director Cecil's car definitely had a recorder installed, and there might be cameras nearby.
Although he controlled Director Cecil's consciousness and modified his memory, Russell and he also pretended they were just discussing the slightly unusual situation they discovered about Omni-Man, leaving no suspicious signs.
He also made Director Cecil act as if he had never controlled him, as if he was still the Director of the Earth Defense Agency who prioritized Earth's safety above all else.
After a few words, Director Cecil, following his usual style, wouldn't easily reveal everything. He smiled and reassured Russell, the young man, not to overthink things, patted his shoulder, and left.
Watching the car drive away, Russell's expression relaxed slightly.
"The combined strength of Earth is not enough to deal with any single Viltrumite, but with Director Cecil, the Director of the Global Defense Agency, providing cover, at least I will have fewer restrictions.
At the same time, he can also help with some things."
Just now, through physical contact, he had transmitted a memory—about the Viltrumite's weakness.