Chapter 286: Asking for Monthly Tickets at the End of the Month (6000)
Federal New York, Raccoon City. A light blue Quinjet pierced through the clouds and swooped down towards Raccoon City. It descended directly towards the Artificial Lake in the center of Raccoon City, blue flames spewing from its fuselage, and the aircraft, painted with the black and white eagle emblem of S.H.I.E.L.D., came to a stop on the Helipad of Lake Heart Island Manor.
The Quinjet's hatch opened, and Frank, clad in a blue polymer combat uniform, stepped onto the Helipad with his high-top boots. The Black Jade bracelet that had been on his wrist was gone at some point.
Frank looked up, only to see a black light already flying towards the Manor like an arrow.
"Welcome home, Mr. Frank. Boss is waiting for you in the botanical garden!"
At this moment, two fair-faced Asian maids walked over and bowed slightly to Frank.
Frank's gaze lingered on the two maids, not because he had any particular thoughts about them.
Having spent a long time in an Organization like S.H.I.E.L.D. with its Agent nature, he had grown accustomed to habitually scanning everyone he saw.
Although the two maids before him were wearing black and white Japanese Maid Outfits, judging by the calluses on their hands and the abrasions on the webs between their thumbs and forefingers, they were clearly not ordinary maids.
They must be the batch of female Ninjas Storm Shadow had recently trained in Japan! Frank nodded to the two, indicating he understood, and then walked towards the botanical garden.
Along the way, Frank noticed that compared to his last visit, the Manor's Security had significantly increased. The Black-clothed Bodyguards wearing earpieces had nearly doubled, and they were all well-trained experts.
In the misty botanical garden by the Lakeside, a figure seemingly composed of White Mist was bending over, holding a Pickaxe and digging a ditch in the hard Earth to channel water from the Artificial Lake to irrigate this small garden.
"Hiss hiss!"
"Meow!"
In the middle of the botanical garden, beneath the apple tree sapling that had grown to nearly a foot tall, a plump Big Orange was confronting an arm-thick Black Snake.
However, from Big Orange's aggrieved meows, it was clear that the Big Cat was at a disadvantage.
The Black Snake flicked its tongue, catching a Dewdrop dripping from the tender leaves of the apple tree. The expression of enjoyment, eyes narrowed, made the Big Orange next to it drool.
"Boss!?"
Frank, arriving at the botanical garden, was startled by the white mist-like figure before him. But upon closer inspection, he could vaguely discern the Boss's figure within the White Mist.
"You're here! How are things at the Forward Base?"
Tang Song straightened up, leaning on the Pickaxe beside him. On the head of the White Mist composed of Spiritual Energy, Boss Tang's handsome face was vividly materialized.
Tang Song saw Frank staring at his Spirit Mist body condensed from Divine Sense and said with a chuckle, "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that my Main Body hasn't Emerge from Seclusion yet. This body is just a little trick condensed from Divine Sense!"
Frank suddenly understood, "It's good that you're alright. I saw that the Manor's Security had increased significantly, and I was a bit worried about your Safety. The safety of Leon Base is temporarily fine; the Intruders have been repelled. However, Professor Charles has been confirmed Brain Dead, and Jean Grey, the Minister of Education of Utopia, is in a Vegetative State. Magneto thinks they were injured protecting the World Security Council's Property and has been demanding an Explanation from the World Security Council nations! He has already taken a Private Jet to the World Security Council building!"
"The Security increase is because Lane noticed some small Mice making trouble in the gutters recently and was afraid they would interfere with my Cultivation," Tang Song waved his hand, explaining.
Frank frowned, "Boss, are those Freemasons? Wasn't the lesson we taught them last time enough!? Should we clean them up completely?"
The Freemasons had previously competed with Tang Group for Space Mining Rights and Boycotted Tang Group in various fields. Boss had ordered them to act ruthlessly.
Within half a year, seven High-level Staff members of the Freemasons died from sudden Illnesses, and the Freemasons had been quiet for over a year. He didn't expect them to dare to make a comeback.
"The Freemasons, we scared them enough last time. But people often only care about profit. For merchants, if the profit is sufficient, they can even sell the rope to hang themselves! Greed is something that cannot be cleaned up."
"This time, it's not just the Freemasons. Many people are just using the Freemasons' name. A descending Angel and an empty promise exposed them all. But it's also good; we can just weed out these troublesome guys like weeds and make room for planting crops!"
Tang Song bent down and used the Pickaxe to remove a weed, root and soil, then casually sprinkled a handful of seeds and covered them with his Foot.
"Boss, do you need me to use S.H.I.E.L.D. Manpower?" Frank watched as the Boss, condensed from White Mist, used the Pickaxe to dig a water ditch, and the water from the lake meandered to irrigate the newly buried seeds.
He hesitated to speak.
Tang Song looked up at him, "Use our own people. I've asked Adam to handle this. Using S.H.I.E.L.D. Manpower will eventually leave a Pretext!"
"Yes, Boss!" Frank nodded in agreement, but his Gaze didn't leave the Pickaxe in Tang Song's hand.
Tang Song was a little puzzled and couldn't help but look at his usual pickaxe, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Boss, before joining the Special Forces, I used to run a Farm. Your Method of planting is wrong. Seeds that have just been planted cannot be directly irrigated with water. Also, if you dig a ditch directly between the Artificial Lake and the Earth, the Water Flow will wash the ditch wider and wider, eventually flooding these lands!"
Tang Song raised his Head, and a pair of vivid eyes materialized in the White Mist, blinking as he looked at Frank. Frank nodded solemnly to Tang Song.
"Then you do it!"
In the White Mist, Boss Tang's face twisted, showing a hint of embarrassment turning into anger. Was he planting? He was cultivating his sentiment! Tang Song directly threw the Pickaxe to Frank, walked to the apple tree sapling, bent down, scooped up Big Orange, and began petting the cat and teasing the snake.
Frank held the Pickaxe and was quite earnest. He carried the pickaxe directly to the Lakeside, intending to first block the ditch and water channel the Boss had dug.
Just as he reached the Lakeside and was about to bend down to dig soil, his Eyes met the Lake Surface. In the water, a pale human face surfaced, a pair of resentful Eyes staring directly at him.
The bizarre scene made the hairs on Frank's back instantly stand on end. His Heart pounded like a drum. With an instinctive reaction that left no time for thought, his Qi and Blood surged, and he directly entered the Zhu Yan Transformation state. His Muscle bulged like Flood Dragons, and blood-red hair sprouted from the Pores all over his Body. In the blink of an eye, a Zhu Yan-red Human Form Monkey, four to five meters tall, appeared by the Lakeside.
Frank, in his Zhu Yan Transformation, had golden-red Eyes, faintly burning with Crimson Flames. This time, he finally saw clearly what was in the lake water. Beneath the Lake Surface was a Monster that was half-human and half-fish-tailed. Its upper Body was a pale-faced blonde Beauty, and its lower Body was a colorful fish tail.
The Siren under the lake water was startled when Frank transformed from a human into a large monkey. With a flick of its fish tail, it tried to dive underwater.
Frank instinctively reached out a hand, and an eight to nine-meter-long, bowl-thick black-gold rod appeared out of thin Space in his furry Palm. He swung the rod and smashed it towards the Lake Surface.
This rod of Frank's was specially Refined by Tang Song for him. The Materials were primarily Vibranium and Adamantium Alloy, with the addition of many Magic Metals.
The biggest characteristic of this rod was its weight, even ten times heavier than a Main Battle Tank. Even Frank, transformed into the fierce beast Zhu Yan, couldn't swing this rod freely.
However, Boss Tang had Refined various Restriction Formations into this rod, such as Size As One Wishes and effortless weight handling. This hundreds-of-tons rod felt as light as a reed in his hand.
But swinging it at others was another matter. Before the rod even touched the lake water, the immense wind pressure directly tore the Lake Surface apart, rolling up two waves over ten meters high on either side!
The waves surged, instantly flipping the Siren that had dived underwater into the air.
Frank swung the large rod, feeling quite spirited.
Back when Tang Song first Refined this rod as a Weapon for him, he was very reluctant. Compared to a seemingly harmless rod, he would rather use a Dagger.
However, after Boss Tang's Refined rod was finished and he specifically taught him a set of Eastern rod Kung Fu, Frank felt it was truly amazing.
Since getting this rod, Frank always wanted to swing it a couple of times when he encountered an Enemy, feeling like he was holding a Hammer and everyone looked like a nail.
Whoosh! Swinging the large rod, Frank could even clearly see the helpless, panicked Expression on the Siren's pale face.
No, seeing that one swing was about to smash the Siren that had scared him into meat paste, a trace of clarity suddenly flashed in Frank's Bloodthirsty Eyes. This was Lake Heart Island Manor, and the Lake Bottom was where the Boss cultivated in his Meditation Room. Therefore, this fish was raised by the Boss.
Frank, who had understood, found that the large rod in his hand could no longer be stopped.
Just as the black-gold rod was about to swing onto the Siren, a Giant composed of billions of tons of Water Flow suddenly stood up on the Lake Surface of the Artificial Lake. After the Water Giant stood up, the water level of the entire Artificial Lake seemed to drop by three meters.
The Lake Water Giant spread its large hand and easily pinched Frank and the black-gold large rod in its hand, with a relaxed posture, like pinching a small chick.
No matter how Frank swung the black-gold large rod in his hand, the surrounding Water Flow, layer upon layer, like a whirlpool at the Seabed, made it impossible for him to exert his strength, even with immense power.
"Boss! I was wrong! Boss!"
Frank looked through the Water Giant's Palm at the familiar face, how could he not understand what was happening.
As Frank's plea for mercy echoed, the hundred-meter-tall Giant composed of Water Flow collapsed with a roar, stirring up a huge wave across the entire Lake Surface.
The lake water surged towards the botanical garden on the shore. When the three to four-meter-high wave approached the botanical garden, it was immediately blocked by an invisible Barrier.
Tang Someone, with his hands clasped behind his back, secretly made Hand Seals and raised an Eyebrow at Frank, signaling: See, even the lake waves can't come in, let alone digging a water channel.
A crimson Flame rose from Frank's Body, steaming his Clothes dry. He smiled bitterly in his Heart. With his keen Five Senses just now, if the Boss hadn't shielded his Perception, how could he not have noticed something under the Lake Surface?
Clearly, the Boss was retaliating against him for mocking his inability to plant just now. The Boss was still the same as before, petty and vengeful.
Of course, he only dared to complain inwardly. If he actually said it out loud, with the Boss's Personality, he wouldn't truly get angry, but with the Boss's scheming Personality, he had to be careful of pranks like the one just now.
"Boss! The Siren in the lake is...?" Frank dried his Clothes in a few shakes, shrunk the black-gold giant rod, and put it back into his Five Yin Pouch. "Oh, that was sent by The Collector Tivan. He recently took a group of archaeologists to excavate pirate remains in the Caribbean Sea and caught a nest of Sirens, so he had someone send them over. I thought they were quite pleasing to the eye, so I'm keeping them in the lake!"
Tang Song waved his hand without looking back, as if he wasn't the one who had just used his Nascent Divinity power to condense floodwater into a Water Giant.
"Come back and rest for a couple of days. I've had someone prepare a Feast of your favorite dishes..."
Frank looked at the tricky Boss, and could only leave dejectedly.
In the botanical garden, Tang Song's White Mist arm waved, and the seeds that had just been buried in the soil were plucked into his Palm out of thin Space. He muttered to himself in confusion, "Do I really have to wait until the Plants sprout before watering?"
Not long after Frank left the botanical garden, a blue Portal vortex appeared out of thin Space on the Lake Surface, and two Shadows walked out of the vortex.
The golden Shadow, upon stepping out, sank directly into the Lake Bottom like a Metal Sculpture.
"Boss!" Kane stepped onto the Water Surface, walking directly across the ten-meter-wide lake and arriving before Tang Song.
"The matter is settled!"
Kane handed several White Bone Banners to Tang Song and reported everything that happened in the Heaven Dimension to Boss Tang.
"Professor Charles, that's a pity!"
Tang Song sighed, then immediately cast the Bald Head Professor's figure out of his Mind. He shook the White Bone Banner in his hand, and a virtual woman's Soul appeared before him. Looking at the Phoenix Force overflowing from the woman's Soul, Tang Song drew with his fingers. Soon, Talismans formed out of thin Space, sealing Jean Grey's Soul within them. Soon, a Jade Tablet, clear as jade, appeared in Tang Song's white mist-like Palm.
Holding the Jade Tablet, Tang Song said to Kane, "Frank is back. You two haven't seen each other for a long time. Go catch up with him!"
Kane nodded to Tang Song and walked out of the botanical garden.
Tang Song played with the Jade Tablet sealing the Phoenix Force in his hand, looking up at the Horizon, at the World outside Yggdrasil that ordinary people could not see.
Dense Light Spots were spread outside the Nine Realms, their number like the sands of the Ganges, stretching as far as the Eye could see.
That was the Angelic Legion transmitted to the Reality Dimension through Heaven's Gate. However, such a large number of Angels were not the thousand or so stragglers that his Great Evolution Formation had shot down.
Millions, even tens of millions, of the Angelic Legion wanting to cross the Nine Realms, wanting to break into Asgardian territory and enter Earth, was not a simple Matter.
Odin was still alive now, and coupled with the two great Gifts he had recently given Odin, he believed these Angels were just a piece of cake for King Odin, right!?
Tang Song thought for a moment, casually tossed the plant seed in his hand, and before the yellow seed could land, his white mist-like figure drilled into the seed.
A Golden Light flashed, and a figure identical to Boss Tang appeared in the botanical garden. He drew a Portal shimmering with Firelight in his hand and stepped into it.
Vatican Central Cathedral. A group of Black-clothed Bodyguards surrounding a Giant nearly two meters four tall brutally pushed open the closed Church Gate.
Inside the Gate, a team of The Church Knights wearing silver Armor were about to step forward to block them. Looking at the White Radiance emanating from their Armor, and remembering Brother Lane's instructions, Adam imitated Brother Frank, pinching his ring finger against his thumb and snapping his fingers with a crisp sound.
Before the bewildered The Church Knights could react, a thick plasma Light Beam blasted down directly from above their Heads.
The Central Cathedral, which had stood in the Vatican for hundreds of years, had its roof blown off, and a Hole tens of meters deep was blasted through the Ground.
The few surviving The Church Knights, looking at their companions who had disappeared before their Eyes, and then looking up at the huge Warship above their Heads, couldn't help but feel their legs turn soft.
A bolder Knight rushed back into the Church, wanting to notify the Bishops in the Secret Room.
"Kill them all!"
Adam placed his finger on his thumb, and a silver Adamantium Steel Ball, crackling with fierce white Electric Current at his Fingertip, shot out. After piercing through the bodies of two The Church Knights and the Holy Artifacts on them, it directly blasted the Head of the Knight who had run to report the news.
The group of Bodyguards behind Adam swarmed forward. Having been injected with the Hive Laboratory's Lizard Type 3 Serum, their Combat Strength was off the charts. Even without transforming into Lizard Form, their Physical Quality alone was no less than Captain America's back then. They quickly dealt with the remaining The Church Knights.
"They dare not torture the Pope, but they have Mind Readers! Don't forget, His Holiness the Pope's memory contains the list of attendees from that meeting!"
Hearing the Voice from below the stage, the cardinal in charge of hosting this Secret Meeting frowned and looked at the Crowd below.
Unfortunately, due to The Church's foolish Operation, many Freemasons were extremely disappointed with The Church.
Their so-called Method to seize Control of the Space Gate was to simply snatch it by force? Even Colonel Gaddafi wasn't as brave as The Church when he was alive. Do you really think it's still the Middle Ages, the era when The Church held power?
Upon hearing this Information, the Freemasons and some insightful individuals who had participated in the anti-Tang Action lamented, "One cannot plan with such fools."
Many people didn't even come in person to attend this Secret Meeting. Less than a third of the people from the last meeting were present at this Venue.
This meeting had to become a Video conference.
However, thanks to Tang Group's outstanding contributions in the field of Virtual Projection, the Images projected virtually looked indistinguishable from real people.
The cardinal presiding over the meeting didn't immediately find the person who raised the question. He quickly defended himself to the Crowd below, "As God's representative, His Holiness the Pope carries several Holy Artifacts of our Church, including a Cross that can shield against Mind Perception. The Mind Reader's Ability is useless against the Pope!"
Hearing the cardinal's Explanation, the panicked Crowd below finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, attacking the World Security Council's Military Base was a serious crime. Even if everyone present was wealthy and powerful, they couldn't bear this Responsibility.
"However, this Matter involves many parties. To be safe, I hope everyone can work together, use the Energy in your hands, rescue His Holiness the Pope, and cover up this Matter!"
As soon as the cardinal finished speaking, the Crowd below exchanged flickering Gazes, thinking about how to perfectly extricate themselves from this Matter.
The Gate leading to this Secret Meeting Hall was suddenly violently pushed open, and a group of Black-clothed Bodyguards surrounded Adam as he walked in.
"I have a suggestion!"
Adam walked directly onto the high platform in the center of the hall, and very unreasonably used his Shoulder to heavily bump the cardinal's Body.
This instantly sent the cardinal staggering.
Clearing his throat, Adam didn't use a Microphone like the cardinal, but clapped his hands towards the Crowd below.
"My Father expresses his gratitude for everyone's kindness. To thank everyone for their kindness, he has specially prepared a Gift for you all. I hope you like it!"
A stir went through the hall as many Freemasons members looked at the suddenly appearing Giant.
"Which Family/Clan are you from?"
An elderly white man stood up, glaring at this young man who didn't understand the Rules.
"Family/Clan?" Adam tilted his Head, looking at the Bodyguard beside him, "My Father's surname is Tang. Are we the Tang Family/Clan?!"
Tang. Hearing the surname Adam mentioned, in an instant, all the Freemasons members felt as if their Necks had been choked.
The large Meeting Room fell silent instantly.
After speaking, Adam ignored the Expressions of the Crowd in the Venue, threw the Microphone in his hand, and walked towards the Door with his many Bodyguards.
"Stop him!" The cardinal, in horror, shouted at the Guard Knights.
At this moment, Adam had already reached the Gate. He turned back and lightly snapped his fingers, "I hope everyone likes the Gift my Father prepared!"
Just as his figure disappeared into the Secret Room, the cannon muzzle of the Level 1 Tang Heavy Battleship above the Central Cathedral emitted a pale blue Radiance.
A blue particle stream rolled up a plasma gas mass tens of meters thick, hitting the rock layer a hundred meters deep at the designated Coordinates and completely Melting it. The particle stream shot into the Secret Room, and huge Firelight erupted from the Secret Room. The powerful Shockwave killed and injured over a hundred Freemasons members inside the Secret Room.
More than a dozen Holy Knights of The Church in the Secret Room simultaneously cried out in agony. Their Armor suddenly flashed with dazzling White Light, and the protective Formation on their Armor automatically activated. A foot-thick Holy Light shield rose around the Holy Knights' bodies.
Relying on the dozen or so Holy Artifacts on their bodies, they tried to protect the cardinals and archbishops. But facing the bombardment from the Level 1 Tang Heavy Battleship's Energy Ship Cannon, let alone Holy Artifacts, even Angels descending would be blasted into Corpses and Bones.
"Brother Lane told me before he came that we have a batch of Allies in the Vatican. He told me to find them. Is there any Method?"
Adam, walking out of the Central Cathedral, looked at the crowds and tourists running in all directions due to the sudden Incident. He suddenly remembered something and frowned, asking the Bodyguard beside him.
(End of chapter)