Ch: 498-505
498. Jessica: I'm stronger than Captain America.
Carrie remembered her first time too.
Back then, a demon had been tempting her, promising to guide her.
Luckily.
Locke arrived at that moment.
And… the first time they met, Locke wasn't really Locke.
So.
Carrie figured her first supernatural contact with Jessica should follow the same pattern; she didn't know the exact mechanics, but precedent was precedent.
With that in mind, she changed outfits, erased her presence, rose slowly into the air, and hovered at the broken window of the warehouse, peering inside.
What met her eyes…
Amid the sporadic rumbling, she saw Jessica shrug off her jacket, roll up her sleeves, stack three derelict cars, and hoist the entire heap overhead with arms that looked anything but powerful, like some Olympic weight-lifter.
A long moment.
Bang!
Jessica stepped back half a pace; the triple stack crashed to the concrete in a thunderous cloud of dust. Clapping her hands clean, she walked to a small table and jotted down the day's lift.
Then… as though picking up a block of tofu, she raised another junked car overhead, testing whether she could manage four stacked.
But…
It was effortless.
Half-crouched, drawing a measured breath, she tensed her arms—and the four-car tower couldn't resist the monstrous strength of this pretty girl.
"Excuse me—what exactly are you doing?"
"…"
Jessica, still holding the four-car tower, blinked toward the voice. A few yards away, a cool-faced woman sat—impossibly—on a railing, arms folded, watching with open curiosity.
Wait.
Jessica hesitated, showed no fright, stepped back, and lowered the stack. Not a bead of sweat on her brow, she studied the uninvited guest. "Hold on… I know you."
Carrie looked at Jessica.
Jessica stared back. "You're… Syndra, Dark Sovereign Syndra—the Witch who wiped out Doran Church, right?"
Ever since waking up, she remembered everything.
And she was grateful to Dark Sovereign Syndra; in a way, Syndra had avenged her.
So that was it.
For a moment Carrie feared Jessica had seen through her disguise, but hearing those words, she turned, landed lightly, and glanced at the four-car stack. "Yes. So—what are you up to?"
Jessica collected herself, looked at Carrie, and didn't hide it. "You saw: I think I've mutated."
That was the first thing she'd realized upon waking.
Her strength… had sky-rocketed.
And it wasn't just strength—speed and stamina had spiked as well.
The last two were easy to notice whenever Sam Malik was around.
Everyone knows why.
Carrie smiled. "Don't you know you're the only person since Captain America to successfully merge with the super-soldier serum?"
Locke had told her that.
Betty and Kem didn't know; Locke had sworn her to secrecy. Now the subject stood in front of her—tell or don't, it was the same.
Jessica blinked. "You know?"
Carrie nodded. "Of course—I'm a Witch."
Jessica considered; it made sense. Ever since New Orleans' Witch Academy burst into the open—and a Hollywood star admitted she was a Witch—witches remained mysterious to most folks.
Carrie stepped over, glanced at the logbook listing every lift, and asked curiously, "You've been training here for half a month?"
Jessica nodded, then shook her head. "Not training—getting familiar."
"Mm?"
"At first I couldn't control the strength; people thought I was trying to kill myself."
"…Really?"
A bitter smile tugged at Jessica's lips. The first hint something was wrong came right after she woke: in the Shower she accidentally snapped the faucet, then yanked the lock off the door in panic.
Which made Sam Malik, right outside, think she was attempting suicide.
And the worst part…
After that, Jessica was still convinced she'd simply mutated; there was no other explanation, so she had to accept the idea that she'd actually meant to self-harm and even kill herself, all while receiving Sam Malik's tireless care and concern.
Of course.
And that cathartic version of Sex!
Only then did Sam Malik tell her that, while she was unconscious, she had perfectly merged with the super-soldier serum, becoming—after Captain America—the second human to fully integrate it.
But… Jessica looked at Carrie. "Only, it feels… different from what the serum's supposed to do."
As she spoke,
Jessica pressed her lips together, then, under Carrie's gaze, slowly rose from the floor and hovered half a meter above the ground.
Maybe because she came from a family of witches, people who were already extraordinary, and who had helped wipe out the Doran Church, Jessica felt—though this was their first meeting—that Carriewas someone she could talk to.
Jessica lowered her eyes to the floor half a meter below her, then looked at Carrie.
"Can Captain America do this?"
"The Powerpuff Girls can."
"…"
Carrie, watching the stunned Jessica, thought she might not have heard of the show and laughed. "Powerpuff Girls is a cartoon."
Jessica touched back down. "I know. I watched it when it premiered seven years ago."
Carrie said, "I only started recently."
Back in Augusta—no, even before she reached high school there—the first season had already aired, but Carrie had had no childhood then. When she first came to New York she still had none; only after time eased the pain did she begin hunting down the things she should have seen long ago.
Powerpuff Girls was one of the shows she was catching up on.
Blossom.
Bubbles.
And Buttercup.
But she was getting off track.
Thinking that, Carrie refocused on Jessica. "So you don't think it's just the serum?"
Jessica nodded. "And I feel stronger than Captain America."
She had studied every scrap of data she could find on the man who had also received the serum. Captain America might be hailed as the first successful recipient, but in every metric—strength, speed, stamina, reflexes—his body had only doubled or tripled at most.
And her?
Jessica pointed to the stack of four cars she had lifted. "I doubt even Captain America could manage that."
"That's an illusion."
"Huh?"
Carrie shook her head. "Captain America's real power is something we can't grasp. He's as weak—or as strong—as he needs to be. No matter the foe, even a god, he can fight to a standstill. That's the true might of the Captain."
The power of the fifty-fifty.
Of course,
Carrie had learned that from Locke after discovering Jessica had also fused with the serum. She had asked, "So Jessica's the second Captain America?"
Locke had snorted. "Captain America—Steve Rogers—can go toe-to-toe with a god."
As she spoke,
Carrie flicked her right hand.
Then she opened it, letting the magic that had lifted Jessica drop her back to the floor. Once Jessicalanded, Carrie gave a satisfied hum. "See? If that had been Captain America, my spell wouldn't have touched him."
Locke hadn't told her that.
Agatha had. Agatha had already been ancient before Steve Rogers was even an embryo. When Carriedoubted Locke's claim, she asked Agatha, who said evil witches once served the Führer, yet their spells crashed against Captain America like waves against a mountain—utterly useless.
Jessica, feeling that moment of absolute helplessness, lowered her head.
"But…"
"Hmm?"
Jessica looked up. "But what?"
Carrie frowned. "I don't recall Captain America ever flying."
Jessica blinked. "I already said—"
She had just finished explaining that being able to fly was why she suspected the serum wasn't the whole story.
Carrie's eyes glowed faint violet as she studied Jessica.
After a moment
the light faded. "You're an ordinary human—at least, I don't sense any trace of extradimensional power."
If the flight wasn't from the super-soldier serum,
then it had to be some other kind of extraordinary ability.
And…
Chapter 499, Carrie: Captain America's Not Dead?
It's the same old saying.
In this World, no power can come from thin air.
Unless you are a god!
Or, you are Locke, a Male God Dimension who possesses a cheat but strives tirelessly through hard work!
So... if Jessica's power had another source, Carrie believed she would definitely be able to sense it, and perhaps even follow that power to locate its dimension.
Then... with Locke, she would take them down!
But.
There was none.
Jessica Jones was just Jessica Jones, an ordinary person.
As for where this flight ability came from?
Carrie thought for a moment, looked at Jessica Jones, and said, "This is the first time I've encountered such a situation. I can't explain it, but I think a friend of mine should have an answer."
Locke should know what's going on... Carrie thought to herself.
Jessica was slightly stunned by the first half of Carrie's sentence, then, hearing the second half, her eyes seemed to light up: "The Peerless Assassin?"
Carrie looked at Jessica curiously and didn't ask how she knew; after all, the Peerless Assassin was already a legendary urban legend in New York City.
She was just curious why Jessica seemed a bit unusual when mentioning that name.
As for that question?
Jessica explained, her eyes brightening: "I'm a huge fan of the Peerless Assassin. So, is Mr. Peerlessreally around? Can I meet him?"
Carrie blinked.
A die-hard fan of the Peerless Assassin?
Meow?
What's the situation?
Seeing this, Jessica told Carrie that she actually became a fan of the Peerless Assassin after she woke up. During that time, because she was diagnosed with moderate depression and had self-harming and suicidal tendencies, she was being strictly cared for by the General Rosses and Sam Malik, so she could only go online to relieve her boredom.
She wanted to look for her classmates, but after opening the chat software and seeing the 99+ unread messages of concern, it made Jessica sink back into the fact that her parents' death was caused by the younger brother she saw as her own blood.
Coincidentally, she learned about the Dark Sovereign Syndra's rage and her summary execution of the New York Dolan Church. Then, after learning about Syndra's story, she also learned about the Peerless Assassin in New York City—an urban legend who only ever killed those the law could not judge.
Subsequently... after Jessica watched two interviews regarding the Peerless Assassin specially edited by New York TV, as well as Locke's attitude toward evil, she instantly became a fan of the Peerless Assassin.
"And..."
Jessica told Carrie: "I even wrote to the email address New York TV set up specifically for the Peerless Assassin, but unfortunately, the Peerless Assassin never replied to my messages."
Carrie opened her mouth, feeling like her brain couldn't keep up.
The most important point.
Carrie looked at Jessica with a sense of wonder: "You learned about me first, and then you started idolizing the Peerless Assassin. Why is that?"
Although she also idolized Locke.
But... the one she truly idolized was Zero. However, that wasn't the point. The point was that Jessica's words were like telling a celebrity that you liked another celebrity because of them.
On what basis?
Even Carrie couldn't figure this out.
Jessica glanced at Carrie: "You're too mysterious. Compared to you, the Peerless Assassin is more down-to-earth."
Down-to-earth?
Carrie opened her mouth, then shook her head and turned to walk outside.
Why don't you just say I'm too beautiful, so beautiful I don't seem human?
Carrie thought to herself, but didn't forget to tell Jessica that they would meet at the same time and place tomorrow, and she would bring the answer.
Then... after stepping out, Carrie concealed her form. Just as she was about to leave, she raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
Carrie's eyes fell on several port workers collapsed on the ground nearby. She frowned and walked over, slightly stunned: "This is..."
As she spoke.
The magic around Carrie swirled, and with a boom, the aggressive aura that seemed to linger in the air was instantly swept away.
The next second.
Carrie rose into the air, five dark orbs spinning around her at high speed as she scanned the surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, she found nothing.
Was it unexpected?
Carrie glanced back at the abandoned warehouse where Jessica was. After some thought, she returned to the warehouse and, with her hands weaving like a flower-spinner, crafted a magic bracelet and handed it to Jessica.
"This is..."
"A psychokinetic bracelet."
After putting the magic-woven psychokinetic bracelet on Jessica's wrist, Carrie said to her, "It's just a magic shield. I'm off."
With that.
Carrie turned and vanished instantly.
Jessica, left behind, was stunned. She raised her wrist and looked at the invisible but definitely perceptible psychokinetic bracelet, unable to understand what Carrie was doing.
Carrie couldn't explain it herself either.
But... her teacher was Locke, the "better safe than sorry" Locke. Although she couldn't say what it was, doing a little more was better than doing less and regretting it later.
Evening.
Locke and Gwen had just returned home when they heard the doorbell ring.
"Did you order takeout?"
"Carrie?"
Gwen, who was about to go upstairs, glanced at the door, turned back, and walked down. Heading toward the door, she looked at Locke sitting at the bar and asked curiously, "It's so late, why would Carrie come here?"
Locke, at the bar, raised an eyebrow.
Goodfellas.
You're already making it this obvious, not hiding it at all?
You knew it was Carrie before the door even opened?
Locke thought to himself, but was also curious. It was ten o'clock at night; what was Carrie doing here now?
The door opened.
Carrie smiled and lifted a case of thunder bourbon in her hand: "Good evening, Gwen."
Gwen greeted her with a smile: "Carrie."
Carrie walked in and handed the case of six bottles of thunder bourbon to the approaching Locke: "Chester asked me to bring this over. He insisted I deliver it to you right now."
Locke raised an eyebrow, looked at Carrie, and smiled: "Alright, thank Chester for me."
Chester sending him wine?
Heh.
Let's put it this way.
Locke could go to Chester's house to drink, and even if he finished all of Chester's collection on the spot, Chester wouldn't say a word. But if Locke dared to drink and then take some home, Chesterwould blow a fuse.
So... something was up.
Gwen watched the two of them excitedly unboxing at the bar, shook her head, and headed upstairs: "Carrie, you and Locke chat. I'm going up to change."
Carrie turned and gave an affirmative hum to Gwen as she went up the stairs.
Then... Carrie turned to Locke and whispered, "Jessica can fly."
Locke laughed, having thought Carrie came so late for something mysterious: "That's normal."
Carrie was slightly stunned.
"Normal?"
"Jessica Jones's life level has evolved, just like Captain America's. I remember telling you about that, right?"
"...Right, but Captain America couldn't fly."
"Duh."
Locke laughed outright: "Captain America was born from the fusion of CPH4 and the super-soldier serum in his body. In terms of quantity and quality, can it compare to the life potion I gave Jessica?"
If the quantity and quality of CPH4 in Captain America's body was a three, then the super-soldier serum was a constant two—except that this two could be used for multiplication.
So, after Captain America's CPH4 and super-soldier serum fused, it became a six.
Whereas Jessica's CPH4 quantity and quality was at least a nine. After fusing with the super-soldier serum, that's eighteen.
How can six compare to eighteen?
Carrie blinked: "Wait, I remember you saying that Captain America could go toe-to-toe with gods. Why is it now that Captain America is inferior to Jessica? Isn't that a contradiction?"
Locke took a bourbon from the case, checked it to confirm it was good stuff, then looked at Carrie: "It's complicated. To put it simply, just assume Captain America has a big shot looking out for him behind the scenes."
Carrie was stunned, then curled her lip: "If he had a big shot looking out for him, then how is Captain America dead?"
Locke laughed, put the bourbon into his wine cabinet, turned, and looked at Carrie: "Who said Captain America is dead?"
Carrie's pupils dilated in shock.
"...Captain America isn't dead?"
"Of course."
Locke opened the remaining bottle of bourbon, poured himself a glass, tasted it, and then looked at Carrie: "If you have time, take a trip to the South Pole or North Pole. Maybe you'll find him. Captain America is sleeping soundly in the ice right now."
"...South Pole? North Pole?"
"Yeah."
Locke nodded: "Whether it's the South Pole or North Pole specifically, I don't know."
Let's put it this way.
To this day, Locke's concept of north, south, east, and west is very vague. He only remembers one phrase: north is up, south is down, west is left, and east is right. No matter which way he faces, he uses that phrase. So, he has no impression of north or south and isn't interested.
The reason no one has discovered this yet is entirely due to his memory palace-style recall; otherwise, Locke would have gotten so lost on his first mission he wouldn't have found the emergency exit.
Carrie blinked.
Locke looked up toward the spiral staircase and said to Carrie, "In short, Jessica is like this because her life level was elevated. As for why she can fly, just think of it as her unlocking a genetic lock."
However, it's not like the genetic locks in novels.
The ones here?
No matter how many genetic locks are unlocked, an ordinary life is still an ordinary life. The highest peak one can reach is like that of the Sorcerer Supreme Gu Yi..."
500. The military was the first to breach the contract.
Carrie was a little dazed listening to Locke's words.
After all… she came tonight to ask about Jessica, and unexpectedly, Jessica's matter was resolved, and she also got another shocking piece of news.
Captain America isn't dead?
He's just sleeping in the ice of the South or North Pole?
Oh my god!
Carrie's eyes lit up, then she frowned: "That's not right, Agatha said that Captain America is dead. She said a divining witch claimed it, and that witch didn't detect any signs of Captain America being alive. If his aura isn't there, what else could it be but death?"
Locke took a drink: "Have you heard of the human cryopreservation technology that's been popular recently?"
Carrie nodded.
To put it simply, human cryopreservation technology is about freezing a dying person, and then, when technology advances in the future, thawing them out to treat their illness.
But… anyone with an IQ over a hundred would know that this is a scam, and a very obvious one at that.
However, life is priceless, and a person is willing to lower their IQ for their own life. Very few people can remain calm in the face of life and death.
The next second.
Carrie's mouth slightly opened: "You mean, he was frozen?"
Locke smiled and nodded… Captain America is still waiting for a fated person to dig him out and thaw him.
Before, that person was Nick Fury.
Now… who knows.
Carrie seemed to want to be that fated person.
However, before Carrie could speak, Gwen, who had changed into her loungewear upstairs, appeared at the spiral staircase, her lips curving upwards: "Who was frozen? What are you two talking about, one minute it's the South Pole, the next it's the North Pole. Locke, you're not planning to put our summer vacation trip on the polar continents, are you?"
If that were the case, Gwen felt she would get angry for the first time.
Locke chuckled, saying, "How could that be?" Then he said to Gwen, "Carrie and I were just discussing the latest cryopreservation technology in the medical field. She was saying that if you want to be frozen, it's not that complicated. Just go to the South or North Pole, dig a hole, and bury yourself. Wouldn't that freeze you? And they don't even charge any storage fees."
Carrie looked at Locke with a hint of awe, marveling at his quick wit, then nodded: "Exactly! And for cryopreservation technology, anyone who isn't stupid knows it's a scam. Why does that company claim they've already received fifty thousand reservations?"
Gwen walked over, glanced at Carrie, shook her head, and smiled: "If they didn't say that, how would that company get funding from those venture capitalists on Wall Street?"
"But, it's fake."
"Exactly."
Gwen nodded seriously: "From a biomedical perspective, as of now, so-called cryopreservation for immortality is basically illusory. But, Carrie, that's a company; they're not playing with genuine technology, but with a concept."
"A concept?"
"Mm."
Gwen crossed her arms and said at the bar: "And, because you're at Midtown High, you think everyone is smart, but stupid people are the mainstream in the federation. This cryopreservation company proposes a concept, hypes it up, then Wall Street venture capital firms enter, then they fool ordinary people into entering, and then, the venture capital firms take their money and leave. Guess who will make money and who will lose."
Carrie blinked, then shook her head and turned: "I'm leaving."
Society was too complex; she was just a high school student and didn't want to get involved with these things too early.
Moreover, her purpose for coming here had already been achieved.
She didn't want to stay here as a third wheel.
Locke escorted Carrie to the door: "Do you want me to give you a ride?"
Carrie waved her hand and walked towards the elevator: "No need, I'll go back by myself."
Locke nodded: "Take care."
The elevator closed.
Locke turned around, then smiled at Gwen, who was sitting on a high stool at the bar: "You know more than a little about investment. Speaking of which, you have quite the capitalist demeanor."
Gwen smiled: "It's all thanks to Pepper's good teaching."
Pepper was Wall Street's little pepper, after all.
When it came to capital, Gwen absorbed all her knowledge from Pepper. As for the library and the few books she bought, she threw them all away.
In Pepper's words, do you think a capitalist would write their true secrets to success in a book?
To put it bluntly.
A capitalist publishing a book is actually just harvesting leeks.
Whoever buys it.
Gets harvested.
"Oh, right."
Gwen seemed to remember something and looked at Locke: "Locke, I plan to sell the Long Island villa after the apartment is renovated."
Locke returned to the bar: "Sell it? Why?"
Gwen said: "Just like I told you, I've learned some things from Pepper that I didn't know before. I have a feeling that if we don't sell it soon, the real estate market might crash."
If they didn't sell it at a high price now, it might end up stuck in their hands.
After all, the Long Island villa was bought by Gwen and Locke as an investment, not for living. If they couldn't sell it at a high price, then the investment would be meaningless.
Locke, however, shook his head: "Don't sell it, keep it. We're not short on money. We need to be ethical capitalists, Gwen. We can't do things like letting others take over at a high price. If it really comes down to it, I'll pay for it and buy it."
Gwen rolled her eyes at Locke: "You're the capitalist."
Locke's lips curved upwards: "Every penny I have is honestly earned."
Capitalist?
Gwen was a capitalist, but he couldn't possibly be one.
All his money came from his hard work. It was no exaggeration to say that Locke was a well-deserved laborer.
Gwen looked at Locke, whose face was full of the glorious expression of a laborer, wanted to laugh, and shook her head: "Alright, if you don't want to sell it, then don't. Let's talk about serious matters."
Locke raised an eyebrow and looked at Gwen.
"Serious matters?"
"Yeah, what were you and Carrie talking about just now?"
"Just talking about human cryopreservation."
"Really?"
Gwen smiled: "Talking about human cryopreservation, would that lead to talking about Captain America and Jessica?"
Locke's expression remained unchanged: "You heard that?"
Gwen shrugged: "I suddenly realized my hearing seems to have improved a tiny bit."
You're playing your cards so openly.
But… I'm not playing along.
Locke thought to himself, downing his drink: "Carrie and I talked about Jessica successfully fusing with the super soldier serum. Carrie didn't believe it, so, while I was delivering the drinks, she asked me again."
Gwen was slightly stunned: "You told Carrie? We signed a non-disclosure agreement, did you forget?"
Locke's lips curved upwards: "I don't recall receiving any hush money from the military."
Gwen: "…"
Their hush money was paid by Mr. Nobody from the CIA.
As for the military's?
There was absolutely none.
Anyway, in his bank account, there was no record of any monetary transfers from the military.
So, theoretically speaking.
It was the military who breached the contract first.
Locke and Gwen signed a non-disclosure agreement, but the military's hush money had been delayed. Since the hush money hadn't arrived, it meant the agreement hadn't been established. So, what was the problem with Locke telling a third person about it?
Taking it to court, Locke would be completely in the clear.
Locke chuckled: "If the military finds out and wants to sue me, perfect! I can countersue for signing an agreement and not paying, which would complete my annual tradition of suing someone."
In his first year in New York, Locke sued the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
In his second year, Locke sued MI6 and MI5 in federal court.
This is his third year, and he hasn't started yet.
The previous lawsuits earned Locke nearly 200 million in compensation. This time, if the military decides to try, Locke plans to increase that amount to 300 million.
After all… his net worth has changed, so naturally, the compensation amount should also keep up.
"Moreover…"
Locke kissed Gwen and smiled: "Carrie is my sister, and we have no secrets between us. Of course, our little secrets are an exception."
With that.
Locke stretched, then went straight upstairs along the spiral staircase.
Gwen, standing still, only came to her senses after a while, then her expression became somewhat serious, and she followed Locke upstairs.
For no other reason.
Gwen now strongly suspected that it wasn't Carrie who came to ask at all, but Locke who directly told Carrie. His purpose, as Locke just said, was to let the military know, thereby causing the military to arrest Locke, and then Locke would complete his "robbery" of the military.
This… was very much Locke's style.
But.
This won't work!
Gwen hurried upstairs: "Locke, don't be impulsive! Don't forget, we have a month until summer vacation. If you make me unable to go anywhere for the summer and have to stay in New York to fight a lawsuit with you, I won't be happy."
Locke: "…"
The next day.
Locke and Gwen appeared at the Midtown High School parking lot right on time.
After a while.
Carrie's car appeared in sight.
The next second.
Just as Carrie parked her car and was about to open the door and get out, with a bang, a serious-faced Gwen directly opened the passenger door, got in, and spoke to a bewildered Carrie about the seriousness of the situation, urging her to keep it a secret, not to let the military know, and likewise, not to give Locke the opportunity to "rob" the military.
Locke, standing outside, looked at Carrie, who was giving him a confused look, and shrugged helplessly.
God is my witness.
He just said it, and he didn't expect Gwen to actually take it seriously.
Soon.
Carrie nodded, agreeing to keep it a secret for Gwen, then got out of the car, and the three of them walked towards the classroom.
At the classroom door.
Carrie suddenly stopped.
For no other reason.
She suddenly remembered something.
Telekinetic bracelet… Shit!
Chapter 501: Carrie: Wait, Jessica (Happy New Year's Eve!)
The Psychic Power Bracelet that Carrie created using magic was a single-use item.
This was mainly because, yesterday, after she left the warehouse, she had felt a bit suspicious about that seemingly aggressive aura, but she couldn't be sure. So, she simply used magic to create a single-use Psychic Power Bracelet for Jessica.
This Psychic Power Bracelet was primarily a warning mechanism that would allow Carrie to detect it immediately if anyone intended to use supernatural powers against Jessica.
Similarly.
It was a one-time thing; by their second meeting, the Psychic Power Bracelet would return to its original owner.
However... Carrie had forgotten one thing. Or rather, yesterday, she had completely immersed herself in the role of the Dark Sovereign, forgetting that the Dark Sovereign was just a persona, while Carrie was the one who actually existed.
Therefore.
Carrie originally thought she would meet Jessica in the afternoon today. But she forgot that while the Dark Sovereign might have a second meeting with Jessica this afternoon, she herself was scheduled to meet Jessica in the morning... Sure enough.
Almost the moment Carrie's right foot stepped into the classroom, Jessica—who was already in her seat not far away, and who this time wasn't resting her chin on her hand looking out the window but was instead seriously reading the notes Gwen had given her yesterday—suddenly froze.
Then... Jessica felt the invisible bracelet detach from her wrist. Subconsciously following the movement of the invisible bracelet, she looked toward where the bracelet—which she had developed a slight connection with after wearing it all night—was heading.
The next second.
Jessica was stunned as she watched Carrie, who had her head lowered and was swinging a book with her right hand to mask the motion of catching the invisible Psychic Power Bracelet.
So... Carrie is the Dark Sovereign Syndra?
This thought flashed through Jessica's mind instantly, causing her to freeze up, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Locke, walking in front, naturally noticed as well. After all, how could he not recognize the energy he himself had bestowed?
Similarly, Gwen, who was beside him, also seemed to sense something.
Locke looked at Gwen, who was subconsciously trying to look for something, and spoke up: "How about those of us participating in the Student Union Knowledge Competition get together at noon? Although the first team championship is a sure thing, I heard there's another team that's quite capable. Let's meet at noon and see if we need some intensive training?"
Gwen listened to Locke's words: "That works. Holy Trinity lost to us in the High School Knowledge League and has been very indignant about it; they're planning to defeat us in the Student Union's Knowledge League team competition."
Locke smiled: "If they lose once, there'll be a second time. Once they win again, they'll get used to it."
Gwen smiled and sat down. She told Cindy in front of her about the meeting at noon and also mentioned it to Zhao Helen, who was also a good friend.
Interrupted by Locke like this, the slightly startled feeling Gwen just had was temporarily forgotten.
Locke sat in his seat and gave Carrie a casual glance.
Carrie, feeling Jessica's gaze peeking from the corner of her eye on the left, felt a bit helpless. She didn't look at Locke, only giving a subtle shake of her head.
Jessica watched Carrie's unconscious head shake and felt that her guess was correct.
Locke wore a faint smile.
Locke didn't care too much about this. After all, yesterday he had intended for Carrie and Jessica to make contact, though it seemed to have happened differently than he imagined.
However, it was more or less the same.
After a while.
Carrie found an excuse to speak with Locke. Then, with a pleading expression on her face, she looked at Locke as if asking what she should do since it seemed she had messed up her first time being a guide.
To this, Locke could only give Carrie an 'I can't help you' look.
Speaking of which... back when Locke led Carrie onto the path, his mindset had completely shattered. Even now, the number of times the Witch Rococo had come out could be counted on one hand.
And Carrie this time?
What kind of trump card was this?
This was simply the kind of plot twist one dreams of.
In a word.
Fine, you found out.
Then I won't pretend anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table. Yes, that's right, it's me. Surprised?
So, Locke felt that Carrie was humble-bragging, but he had no evidence.
Moreover, in order to get Carrie out of the awkward situation just now, he had also ended up involving himself.
Nothing else.
At noon, during the lunch meeting, with Gwen's final decision, the Knowledge Competition group would enter a life of self-disciplined practice questions after watching this week's High School Super Cup football game, in order to fully prepare for the upcoming first Student Union Knowledge Competition team event.
Everyone was very enthusiastic.
After all, the prize money for first place in the Student Union Knowledge Competition team event was twice as much as second place, and it was more than the prize money for this year's already super-increased High School Knowledge Competition.
That was because the financial backer behind the Student Union Knowledge Competition was the Maria Stark Education Fund.
There are few people named Stark who aren't rich; every single one of them can treat ten years of someone else's salary as pocket money.
So... don't say Locke didn't help; Locke had already helped a lot.
Carrie, also a member of the inner circle, gave Locke a grateful look when she heard Gwen's decision for another intensive training session during lunch.
Locke is a good boss.
No doubt about it!
In the afternoon.
It was still that abandoned warehouse.
Carrie got out of the car. Looking at Jessica's vehicle parked in front just like yesterday, she felt a bit melancholy. She felt that the suggestion Locke finally gave—the whole 'not pretending anymore, laying cards on the table' thing—was a bit too showy.
But... it felt like it should still be quite good.
After a moment.
Buzz!
Carrie appeared silently in the warehouse, floating in mid-air, with five dark orbs rotating clockwise around her.
The next second.
Carrie landed. Her Syndra outfit began to dissolve like melting snow, starting from her knee-high boots, and then receded into the special bracelet on her wrist as she returned to her original appearance.
Jessica, watching this scene from the side, stared wide-eyed.
"It really is you, Carrie."
"..."
Carrie stood there without speaking. After a 0.5-second silence, she decided to take Locke's advice. She spread her hands, let out a somewhat helpless laugh, shrugged, and looked at Jessica: "You caught me. Fine, I won't..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
Carrie was stunned. She watched as Jessica ran over and hugged her, leaving her dumbfounded.
Wait.
I haven't finished my lines yet.
Jessica stood up with an excited look, looking at Carrie from up close: "Ever since you started school, I felt like you were a bit different."
"Meow?"
"But a feeling is just a feeling, I didn't expect you to actually be, wow."
Jessica was very excited.
Carrie, on the other hand, was a bit frozen.
My lines.
Let me finish my lines.
To be honest, the reason Carrie used the Dark Sovereign to meet Jessica for the first time was partly because she looked forward to Jessica's expression upon discovering her true identity.
But... it seemed this had gone completely off the rails.
After her excitement, Jessica looked at Carrie seriously and then hugged her again: "Thank you, Carrie. Thank you!"
Originally, she thought it was the Dark Sovereign who had avenged her.
She was also grateful to the Dark Sovereign, but after all, she wasn't very familiar with her, and the other person might have just avenged her in passing.
But if it was Carrie, then it was different.
Clearly.
Carrie had gone to wipe out the Doran Church only after hearing about her situation.
Even though Carrie was the Dark Sovereign.
In Jessica's eyes, the meaning was completely different. It was precisely because of this that after Carrierevealed her identity at this moment, the emotions Jessica had been suppressing for so long finally burst forth.
After a while.
Carrie looked down at her clothes, which were wet with tears, and her lips twitched. These clothes were bought specifically for her by Locke on her first day in New York.
However.
Carrie looked up and saw the pile of tissues at Jessica's feet. She pulled out another tissue, handed it to Jessica, and changed the subject, looking at the layout of the abandoned Room behind the warehouse: "I didn't expect the things you prepared here to be so complete."
Moreover... on that table which looked old but was spotless, there was actually a bottle of vodka.
It was a bottle with only one-third of the vodka left.
Carrie couldn't help but look at Jessica: "You've been drinking?"
Jessica rubbed her eyes, which were red from crying just now, and laughed. She looked at Carrie: "I can't help it. Sam Malik cares about me too much. I know he means well and also wants me to cry, but I can't cry. It just so happened that during this time, Sam's football training became more intensive. When I first found this place, it felt like I had found a haven and I had a good cry. At first, there was an abandoned bottle of vodka here, so I drank it, and then..."
It felt addictive.
Then... one bottle, two bottles, and by now, she had finished nearly twenty bottles.
Carrie looked at the vodka bottles lined up one after another in the corner, blinked, and felt it was amazing: "Then Sam didn't notice at all? The smell of alcohol is so strong?"
Jessica burst out laughing and shook her head: "No."
"No way, he cares about you so much, how could he..."
"No..."
Jessica quickly explained: "After I leave here, I do some exercise to sweat it out. When I get back, I hurry and take a shower. It happens to be just in time for when he finishes training. I've kept it hidden very well. Sam still thinks that after I absorbed the super-soldier serum, there hasn't been any change at all."
Listening to Jessica's explanation, Carrie couldn't help but laugh.
"Then, you don't plan on telling Sam?"
"Have you told anyone else?"
"Uh..."
502. The Persistent Purple Man (Happy New Year's Eve!!)
Did you tell anyone else?
Does Locke count?
Yes.
But... this definitely can't be told to Jessica, at least not now, and if Locke wants to tell her, he will definitely contact Jessica himself.
Besides,
Cero's identity is a little secret between her and Locke, and she won't allow a third person to know.
Carrie thought to herself.
Then... Carrie shook her head: "You and I are different. I am a witch. For a long time, we witches could only live in the dark and dared not expose ourselves."
This is also why the Dolan Church was destroyed... and at the same time, witches rose up.
Otherwise, try it, would you be able to see the New Orleans Witch Academy overflowing with people now?
And... fortunately, witches are female. Try it, if male witches suddenly appeared all over the world, hehe, Carrie felt that they would definitely not receive the same treatment as they do now.
Jessica shook her head: "Let's forget it."
Although someone already knew she had injected the super soldier serum, she wasn't planning on telling anyone else about her abilities.
Reason?
Some people are born to like standing in the spotlight, while others don't like being watched. Jessica belongs to the latter.
Carrie saw this and nodded: "It's fine if you don't tell them. I'll keep this secret for you."
Jessica looked at Carrie: "I'll keep yours too."
Carrie smiled, then remembered the real reason she came today and told Jessica that she had consulted about her problem, which was a qualitative change caused by the different content and quality of CPH4.
"Your ability comes from the fusion of the super soldier serum. As for why you can fly, it's entirely because the CPH4 content and quality in your body are far superior to Captain America's."
"CPH4, I know, I've also checked, but why do I have it? I've checked, and it seems this substance only exists in pregnant women, and I'm not pregnant."
Jessica asked Carrie with some confusion.
Carrie smiled: "Who knows."
Speaking of which... yesterday Locke told her that the reason Captain America, as a mortal, could fight gods equally was because someone was backing him.
But... wasn't Jessica the same?
To put it bluntly, wasn't it Locke who gave Jessica CPH4? From a certain perspective, wasn't Jessica also backed by someone, and it was Locke?
I wonder who is stronger, Locke or the big shot behind Captain America.
Carrie bet Locke would win.
Don't ask.
If you ask, it's blind faith!
The next day.
The High School Alliance Football Super Bowl finals began.
Upon arriving at the stadium, Carrie found Locke and brought up the matter.
Locke raised an eyebrow: "Jessica's backer is me, how come I didn't know?"
Carrie said: "Jessica was able to successfully fuse with the super soldier serum because of the CPH4 you gave her."
"That was an accident."
Locke shook his head. At first, he just saw Jessica was about to die, so he helped her. Who knew that the core to perfectly fusing the super soldier serum was CPH4?
If Locke had known earlier... he would have directly given Jessica ten bottles of life potion.
In that case, Jessica might have been able to pin that Wonder Woman to the ground and beat her up.
What a pity.
Locke thought to himself.
Carrie looked at Locke: "So, if Jessica gets into big trouble, you won't help?"
Locke laughed: "Don't you still have me?"
What help did he need to give?
Carrie, with his authorization and seemingly endless energy, what trouble couldn't she handle? At least, Locke couldn't think of any trouble that Carrie couldn't handle.
Besides,
Locke smiled: "If you really can't handle it, don't I have me? Don't forget, you are Jessica's guide, and I am your guide. I might help out of friendship if I see it, but I will always be watching you."
Carrie smiled slightly.
After a while.
After Carrie and Locke entered the stadium, they both sat in their seats and asked curiously: "Where are Gwen and the others?"
Locke pointed to the passage where the football players would come out later: "They're backstage."
"Didn't you go?"
"No."
Locke took out his phone, searching for air ticket prices to France, without looking up: "I'm a cowboy. The only thing that can attract me is Texas-style sports. Football, hehe."
Carrie shrugged: "Chester said the same thing."
When she left home this morning, Chester scoffed when he heard she was going to watch football, saying that only cowboy sports were true sports, and everything else couldn't be called a sport.
Carrie suddenly felt a moment of realization. She felt that she seemed to have found the reason why Texans were disliked by people all over the federation.
Just this, with words that directly disparaged all sports outside of Texas as worthless, the fact that Texas could still exist was largely due to its fierce folk customs.
Carrie thought to herself.
After a while.
Just as both football teams were about to enter, Gwen, Cindy, Betty, Ken, and Jessica walked out of the VIP customer channel.
Locke glanced at Ken, who had offended him again on the way, and showed a brilliant smile.
He had already bought the ticket to France.
If Ken didn't go to France this summer, he would tie Ken up and send him on the plane.
Ken noticed Locke's gaze, and it felt strangely cold.
The next second.
Ken complained to Gwen again: "Darling, look at Locke, I feel like he's thinking of some perverted idea again."
Gwen patted Ken, then sat down and looked at Locke beside her: "Hmm, he is quite perverted."
Locke: "..."
If it weren't for the possibility of contradicting himself by sending Gwen to Paris, Gwen would also be unavoidable on this trip to Paris.
Gwen leaned closer to Locke's ear and whispered: "It's true, you're an old pervert in bed."
Locke's mouth twitched.
Cindy and Ken, sitting next to them, exchanged glances, then made a gesture as if their goosebumps were falling off, and said with a "Ew": "Come on, you two, this is a public place, please be mindful, okay?"
Gwen gave her two best friends a dirty look: "Watch the game, no talking."
Cindy and Ken looked at each other.
The next second.
They burst out laughing.
Locke silently lowered his head, took out his phone, and pondered whether to also put Cindy's name on the same flight to France as Ken.
Jessica, sitting next to Ken, stood up: "I'm going to the restroom."
Gwen looked up: "Do you want me to go with you?"
Jessica smiled, perhaps because she had found someone to confide in yesterday and had thoroughly vented, she seemed even brighter than yesterday: "No need, I'm going to change something."
Gwen raised an eyebrow: "Got it, then hurry up. Don't let Sam lose this game because he can't find you."
Jessica's face flushed slightly: "I'll be quick."
Saying that,
Jessica turned and walked along the aisle towards the restroom.
In the distance, among the New York citizens who came to watch the game, a man in a suit and sunglasses watched from afar and also stood up from his seat.
Locke glanced at the man's movements out of the corner of his eye.
He smiled.
Then... Locke looked at Carrie and directly transmitted a message: "The guy you mentioned before is also here, and he's after Jessica."
When they met this morning, Carrie had told him about encountering something with an aggressive aura after leaving the warehouse.
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was attentive.
The name of the London spy, Purple Man, who escaped from the military base and had not yet been caught, immediately appeared in Locke's mind.
Then, Locke searched a bit, and lo and behold, that person was also in the stadium.
It was no longer a question who he was after.
Fortunately.
Carrie went that day, otherwise, it's estimated that the Purple Man would have long since controlled Jessica and taken her back for training.
It's estimated that the day before yesterday, the Purple Man had just found Jessica and was about to control her to trick Jessica out of the warehouse, but then he saw Cindella, felt that he would be smashed by Cindella with one punch, so he gave up.
Then, after Carrie left, he found that Jessica had the telekinetic bracelet left by Cindella on her, and he didn't dare to act, fearing that Cindella would be attracted again and he would be smashed again.
It was the same yesterday.
Today... he probably finally couldn't hold back and thought that Cindella might not show up in such a crowded place, so he planned to see if he could find an opportunity to abduct Jessica.
However.
Speaking of which, why is this Purple Man so obsessed with Jessica?
The military and S.H.I.E.L.D. are both hunting him throughout New York City, and this guy is so bold as to insist on abducting Jessica?
Why?
Could it be that, from a certain perspective, the reason the Purple Man is the Purple Man is because he got Jessica's CPH4, and from a very absurd and strange perspective, is it because some kind of maternal emotion is at play?
Locke didn't quite understand, but for the Purple Man to try and abduct Jessica in front of him was completely dreaming.
What if Sam loses this game because he can't see Jessica?
Locke is the student council president of Mid-Town High School. If Sam Malik wins the championship during his term, it would also be a glorious achievement for Locke.
However... a mere Purple Man wasn't worth him personally dealing with.
Carrie was enough!
Moreover... Carrie was also Jessica's guide...
503. SHIELD Without Evidence (Happy New Year's Eve!!)
"I'm going to the restroom too."
"..."
Carrie paused after receiving Locke's message, then stood up and said something to Gwen, who was sitting next to her.
Gwen blinked, looking at Carrie.
Carrie hummed in affirmation.
Cindy said at this moment, "Gwen, why don't we go to the restroom too?"
Gwen was a little tempted. Although she didn't need to use the restroom, girls often prefer to go in groups.
However... Carrie looked at Locke. If so many people went, it would be strange if they weren't exposed, especially since Gwen was among them.
Locke smiled and pointed at the field, "Wait a bit. They're about to enter. If Sam comes out and sees none of us, he might think we got bored and left early, or that we ran off somewhere with his girlfriend."
Gwen thought about Locke's words and agreed, putting her half-lifted bottom back on the chair. "Then let's wait..."
Cindy shrugged and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Carrie also walked down the aisle towards the distant restroom.
Just then.
Gwen, who was watching the field slowly clear to make way for the football players, brightened. She looked at a few people in suits, sunglasses, and earpieces walking down the aisle opposite her, and blinked.
"Locke?"
Gwen nudged Locke, who was looking down at his ticket, with her elbow, gesturing in the opposite direction. "Look over there, aren't those Ms. Hill's people?"
Locke looked up.
Black suits.
Sunglasses.
Earpieces.
Locke raised an eyebrow and hummed, "Pretty much."
They were either from S.H.I.E.L.D. or the FBI.
But considering the Purple Man's presence here, S.H.I.E.L.D. was highly likely.
Just as Locke and Gwen spotted the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, the S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite, which had been directly focused on the stadium, also picked up the two of them.
New York S.H.I.E.L.D. Center.
"Commander!"
A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, after seeing the S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite notice Locke and Gwen and place a distinctive red tag on Locke, blinked, then turned to Maria Hill and Victoria Hand, who were both there because it was the weekend and were talking. "Look?"
Victoria Hand turned to look at the large screen, where Locke's enlarged image appeared. She paused for 0.005 seconds.
Then... Maria Hill winced, taking a sharp breath. "Why is he there? I remember, isn't this guy about to participate in some knowledge competition he organized, which also has a partnership with Stark Industries? It's the weekend, why isn't he studying at home, what's he doing here?"
As she spoke.
Maria Hill walked directly to the console, pressed the communicator, and very assertively told Barbara Morse, who was in the stadium, "Barbara, the Purple Man is definitely in that stadium. Find him quickly. Locke Broughton is also in the stadium."
Barbara Morse, in the stadium, was slightly taken aback. "What... Broughton? Okay, I understand. Have everyone outside come in. The target is here."
As for why she would say, if Locke Broughton is here, the Purple Man is here?
This seemed to lack any logic.
But... it was still the same old story. Locke had already proven one thing to Maria Hill through his experiences, a concrete fact: wherever I am, there is disaster.
Considering the Purple Man's special abilities, and then because Locke was here.
Without a doubt.
Maria Hill had already guessed what this attribute of disaster would be, frankly speaking.
"Found him!"
"What?"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had just spoken said to Maria Hill and Commander Victoria Hand, "Today is the high school Super Bowl football league final, and Midtown High is one of the teams. It might be because of this that Locke Broughton is here."
Maria Hill shook her head. "His appearance now is the key. If we don't catch the Purple Man, I estimate disaster will strike."
Saying that.
Maria Hill took out her phone and directly dialed Locke's number.
"Ring-a-ling!"
"Who is it!"
"Cao Cao!"
"Cao..."
Under Gwen's gaze, Locke looked at the incoming call, answered the phone, and then immediately said, "Ms. Hill, God can attest, I and..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
Maria Hill had already directly said, "You'll get the honorary citizen title this summer."
Locke stopped. "Huh?"
Maria Hill, with one arm crossed, watched Locke on the big screen, who was on the phone with a very confused expression, and directly stated the condition for the honorary citizen title this summer: "Now, immediately, leave the stadium, and you'll get the honorary citizen title right away."
Locke raised an eyebrow.
The next second.
Locke seemed to realize something, his face slightly darkened. "Ms. Hill, you really misunderstand me. I just came out to watch my classmate's game. According to what you're saying, does that mean, besides school and home, I can't go anywhere..."
Hill interrupted directly, "There's a sixty percent chance the Purple Man, who escaped from the military base, is in the stadium. No, after seeing you, that chance is one hundred percent."
What kind of logic was this?
Although Hill was right, the Purple Man was indeed here.
But... what kind of ridiculous reasoning was this?
Although Locke knew the Purple Man was here, listening to Hill's very assertive and confident explanation made him feel a sense of powerlessness to complain.
What the heck.
The result was correct, but please, you're a law enforcement agency, albeit an unofficial one. Can't you have some basic qualities that a law enforcement agency should possess?
Law enforcement agencies focus on the reasoning process, okay? You can't skip the process and directly arrive at the conclusion. What's the difference between that and just writing the answer without any steps during an exam?
It's clearly plagiarism.
Locke complained silently in his heart, but that didn't stop him from listening to Hill's words with excellent acting skills, his eyes scanning his surroundings, as if confirming what Hill said.
Gwen next to him saw this. "What's wrong?"
Locke said to Gwen, "Ms. Hill said that the Purple Man who escaped from the military base is also here..."
Before he finished speaking.
Locke raised an eyebrow, seeing a hooded man walking towards him with his head down.
As he spoke.
The hooded man walked directly to Locke's row, then, with a whoosh, pulled out a dagger from his embrace and prepared to stab Locke.
"Thud!"
"Oh, shite!"
"What's going on?"
A few classmates around hadn't even reacted when they saw Locke had already kicked the hooded man down. They stared, stunned, at the dagger that had fallen to the ground.
Maria Hill, in the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. Command Center, was also stunned.
Gwen quickly pulled Locke away.
"What's happening?"
"What's going on?"
Several police officers responsible for security in the stadium also arrived promptly at the scene and immediately grabbed the hooded man who had fallen to the ground.
The hooded man also seemed bewildered, looking at the two police officers. "Wait, officer, what are you looking at? I'm here to watch my son's game, wait..."
His fear, unease, and confusion seemed genuine.
"Purple Man!"
Locke narrowed his eyes, then was a little unclear why the Purple Man would inexplicably control someone to stab him. What kind of operation was this?
Just then.
Ah!
A scream echoed from the seats not far away. Several people turned to look, and saw a panicked woman, her hands covered in blood, standing still, looking at her boyfriend whom she had just stabbed with a fruit knife, and screaming hysterically.
It seemed she also didn't understand at all why she had just done that.
The next second.
Similar incidents were happening in various corners of the stadium.
"Shit!"
Maria Hill, who was watching the stadium through the S.H.I.E.L.D. satellite, immediately realized that the Purple Man had discovered them and was creating chaos to escape.
"Barbara!"
"On the way. The target just passed through surveillance and seems to have gone to Sector A."
"Speed!"
"Understood."
Barbara Morse, in her combat uniform, put down her hands and, with several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents behind her, hurried towards the Sector A corridor where the Purple Man was suspected to have been seen.
At this moment.
In the Sector A corridor.
The Purple Man waved his right hand. A couple standing in the corridor, chatting with his girlfriend, dropped their popcorn and phone with a thud after the Purple Man walked past. Then, with blank expressions, they walked shoulder to shoulder, joining the silent procession walking in front of the Purple Man, all seemingly heading in the same direction.
The Purple Man's face was grim.
He couldn't wait any longer; the pursuers had caught up. He hoped the chaos he had just created would delay them for a while.
Almost there!
The Purple Man's eyes lit up as he saw the restroom sign appearing not far away.
Just then.
Jessica, who had just changed her bread and tidied her hair, walked out of the restroom. From a distance, she saw the vast, silent army controlled by the Purple Man approaching.
"What's going on?"
Jessica was slightly stunned, watching the dozen or so people walking silently towards her, and blinked. "Some kind of parade?"
Just then.
Jessica saw the Purple Man following behind the crowd.
The next second.
Jessica's eyes narrowed after seeing the Purple Man.
For some reason, a familiar and fearful emotion instantly welled up in her heart.
The most important point was.
Jessica recognized the Purple Man!
504. The Purple Man Who Upgraded His Own Death Method (Happy New Year!)
Actually, there was one main reason why Jessica didn't want to tell anyone, not even Sam, that she had mutated.
That was because Sam had told her about the fate of another person, similar to her, who had also integrated the Super Soldier Serum—the Purple Man.
And Sam had even shown her pictures.
In Sam's description, the Purple Man's experience was nothing short of tragic—he was subjected to three blood samples a day and one tissue slice every three days at a military base.
It was precisely because of this that Jessica didn't want to tell anyone.
After all, she didn't want to be taken away by the military and cut into pieces. Moreover, when Sam told this story, he didn't tell Jessica that his surname, Malik, was enough to ensure that even if Jessica flew, she wouldn't be targeted by the military.
Sam didn't tell Jessica the weight the name Malik carried in Washington D.C.
The reason?
Perhaps Sam wanted to find a girl who loved him purely, who knows? Or perhaps Sam didn't want to flaunt his Malik status and act like a fox borrowing a tiger's prestige?
Meanwhile!
At the stadium, chaos had also erupted... Let's just say, perhaps this year's high school football Super Bowl wasn't the most anticipated, but now, and likely in the future, it would become the most unforgettable Super Bowl game ever.
The players from both teams, who were in the middle of their entrance ceremony, had just emerged from the tunnel. At first, they thought the screams outside were for them, but after walking out of the tunnel and seeing the somewhat chaotic and crowded scene in the stands all around, they were all dumbfounded.
Buzz!
In the stadium, the emergency evacuation alarm also sounded. Patrol cars in New York City, upon receiving reports of a riot at the stadium, rushed towards the scene with their sirens wailing.
"Ah!"
"Help!"
"Run!"
In the chaotic stadium stands, it seemed the entire situation was teetering on the brink of a stampede.
Locke and the others, leveraging their VIP seats, avoided the stands and instead went against the flow of people stubbornly trying to get through the emergency exits, heading directly onto the field.
Cindy, Kim, and the others, still shaken, looked at the scene before them, exchanging glances.
"What happened?"
"Purple Man."
Locke heard Gwen's whispered question beside him and said to her, "Remember the Purple Man's special ability, don't you?"
Gwen glanced at Locke, slightly stunned.
Locke sighed inwardly.
It seemed his title of "walking disaster" was truly going to be anchored and fixed in the minds of Maria Hill and her S.H.I.E.L.D.
Damn Purple Man!
Locke felt a bit speechless and said into the phone, which he hadn't hung up, "Actually, you know, this should be blamed on you, it has nothing to do with me."
Maria Hill, who was already walking towards the helicopter prepared on the rooftop, paused slightly.
Locke complained, "It's been a week! Seriously, is it that hard for you to catch a fugitive? If you had acted faster, none of this would have happened!"
Maria Hill: "..."
Although Locke knew his "walking disaster" title was irreversible, it didn't stop him from wanting to struggle a bit and see if he could shift the blame.
As for the Purple Man?
Heh.
That guy... just his act of controlling someone to assassinate him sealed one thing: Locke would personally entertain the Purple Man.
"Bang!"
"Wait a minute."
"Boom!"
Jessica, who had just walked out of the restroom, pushed away two strangers who had silently lunged at her, and retreated repeatedly, "What are you doing?"
The same dozen or so strangers, controlled by the Purple Man, remained silent, uniformly surrounding Jessica, forming a circle.
Although he had escaped from prison, the Purple Man, dressed quite gentleman and sporting a full beard, looking like a middle-aged hunk, showed Jessica a terrifying smile.
"This time, that witch isn't with you, is she?"
"What?"
Jessica was slightly stunned by the Purple Man's inexplicable words.
The next second.
The Purple Man waved his right hand, intending to easily control Jessica, who had powerful physical defenses but practically zero magic resistance, with his special ability.
Jessica's body suddenly stiffened.
Seeing this, the Purple Man revealed a hint of a smile.
Just then.
With a thud.
The Purple Man suddenly staggered, taking a step back, and gasped in surprise as he felt the control line on Jessica break, "What?"
Thump!
The Purple Man's eyes narrowed slightly, then he noticed that in front of Jessica, the space seemed to shatter like a mirror, and then, a figure seemed to emerge from this mirror.
Carrie... no.
It was Cindra!
The Purple Man was slightly stunned, "It's you!"
Carrie extended her right hand, and in an instant, invisible purple chains materialized, appearing around the Purple Man. With the sound of locking clicks, she directly sealed the surrounding space with magic.
The next second.
Seeing this, Carrie then turned, and with a swipe of her right hand, she wiped away the aggressive and controlling aura from Jessica, looking at Jessica, whose eyes had regained clarity, "Are you alright?"
Jessica was stunned for a moment, then looked up, her eyes gradually showing a hint of liveliness, and nodded.
Carrie breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, she had already arrived, but just as she did, the Purple Man caused a disturbance in the stands. Carrie, out of curiosity, went back to take a look, and incidentally, she also heard another piece of information from Locke.
Let the Purple Man play, give him hope, and then, after hope, directly annihilate him. Afterward, take him away; Locke would personally entertain him when he returned.
So... Carrie was a little late.
Now?
"Ah!"
"Thump!"
"Boom boom boom!"
The Purple Man, whose space around him was directly sealed by Carrie's magic, now realized something was wrong. He violently pounded on the seemingly transparent glass that confined him within a step, making loud banging noises.
But... it was utterly useless.
And almost as soon as Carrie directly sealed the Purple Man with magic, those strangers controlled by the Purple Man instantly recovered—both those in the stands and the dozen or so here.
"What?"
"I..."
"How did I get here?"
"Wait..."
"Dark Overlord!"
Several young people, after their initial confusion, saw Carrie and couldn't help but gape, shouting out Carrie's nickname.
Carrie was expressionless, "It's not safe here, you all should leave quickly!"
"Okay, okay, okay!"
"Leaving now!"
"Hurry, hurry!"
Soon.
The dozen or so strangers controlled by the Purple Man exchanged glances, then quickly headed towards the nearby emergency exit.
The Purple Man furiously hammered the air wall, raging impotently, "Ah!"
Damn it, why does magic, such an unreasonable thing with no scientific basis, exist?
Realizing that he had become a bird in a cage, the Purple Man lost all his previous gentlemanly demeanor. His expression was twisted, like an animal that knows it's doomed but wants to put on a desperate fight.
Carrie looked at the Purple Man with a sympathetic gaze.
Originally... Locke hadn't intended to get involved in this. From a certain perspective, the Purple Man, if not alive, at least could have died peacefully, without illness or disaster.
But what happened?
The Purple Man, by his own actions, managed to escalate his fate.
Good gracious.
What was he thinking?
You couldn't even beat me, so what made you think of provoking Locke?
Carrie thought to herself, then crossed her hands, preparing to throw the Purple Man into the magic doll cage and take him back to Locke.
As for what kind of torture the Purple Man would face at Locke's hands... Carrie didn't even want to think about it, because just imagining it made Carrie feel cold all over, even starting to tremble.
Just then.
Barbara Morse and a group of agents, who had been tracking the Purple Man through surveillance, also arrived at the scene.
Then... "Dark Overlord?"
Barbara Morse was not unfamiliar with Carrie, who, like the Peerless Assassin, was almost... no, had already become an urban legend in New York City. She glanced at the Purple Man, who was impotently raging at an invisible wall, gestured for the agents to lower their weapons, and looked at Carrie, "Ms. Cindra, this person is ours."
Carrie, seeing the polite and friendly Barbara Morse, nodded as if in greeting, "This guy ruined my mood for watching the game."
"Understandable!"
Barbara Morse fully holstered her sidearm, "If Ms. Cindra can, please hand him over to us. He will receive the punishment he deserves."
Carrie relayed the situation here to Locke, then, listening to Barbara Morse's words, asked curiously, "If I give him to you, can you control him?"
This guy can control others.
If Carrie hadn't used magic to create a cage, directly preventing any of the Purple Man's energy from being transmitted, even Barbara Morse and the others would likely have been controlled.
This question... uh.
It stumped Barbara Morse.
Just then.
Locke's reply came through.
Carrie listened to the message transmitted from the Dimension of Light, blinked, muttered, "As expected of you," and then said to Barbara Morse, "No, you can't have him. However, if you want to draw blood or take slices, you can have as much blood and as many slices as you want. Do it right here. I'm taking the person. He's very dangerous, not someone you can control."
Barbara Morse: "..."
505. Peerless Ate Something Bad (Happy New Year!!)
Giving the person to S.H.I.E.L.D.? That was impossible.
Unless S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted to try and see if they could take him by force.
Otherwise... there was never a time Locke didn't get what he wanted.
Besides... putting aside whether S.H.I.E.L.D. even had the ability to take the Purple Man away, even if they did, Locke could guess with his eyes closed what S.H.I.E.L.D. would do after getting him.
In a word.
They would do nothing; likely, in a year's time, the Purple Man would still be alive and well.
After all, the Federation didn't have any custom of holding three generations accountable; forget three generations, even in the current one, as long as you were capable, you could be ignored no matter how many people you killed.
Barbara Morse was stunned upon hearing this... "Lady Syndra..."
"You have ten seconds to make your choice. Either take the blood and samples you want, or you get nothing. Or, you can try and see if you can snatch the person we want from my hands."
"..."
Barbara Morse took a deep breath, said "one moment," and then waited quietly for instructions from Maria Hill, who was on the other end of the earpiece and could make the choice.
The Purple Man, who was angrily pounding on the air wall, felt a glimmer of hope for survival when he saw Barbara Morse bringing people over.
Because the Purple Man knew that even if he was taken back, he would just be treated as a lab rat again.
But... being a lab rat was better than losing his life.
While banging on the wall, the Purple Man looked at Barbara Morse with a longing and expectant gaze as she stepped aside, nodding occasionally, seemingly talking to someone.
After a while.
Barbara Morse told Maria Hill on the other end that she understood, then walked over, glanced at the Purple Man first, and then looked at Carrie: "Our equipment is on the way, about five minutes."
Carrie was expressionless: "I can give you twenty minutes."
"Thank you."
"No need."
As Carrie said this, she turned her head and glanced at the members of the NYPD who had arrived late but right on time nearby, then looked at Barbara Morse: "I assume you'll help me deal with the NYPD."
After all, the Dark Sovereign Syndra, like the Peerless Assassin, was wanted by George Stacy, who was now considered a titan in the NYPD.
Barbara Morse spoke to a nearby Agent, and then that Agent walked directly toward the NYPDOfficers over there, showing his ID: "FBI!"
The approaching Police Officers looked at each other in confusion.
But the Purple Man was completely shell-shocked.
My God.
What was he seeing?
This law enforcement agency, which had a different relationship with the Military, was actually backing down?
"No!"
Seeing the test tubes being brought out and the thick needles, the Purple Man immediately felt unwell and said to Barbara Morse: "fuck, you're a law enforcement agency! I have value! I know the names of many spies in London! I know where the branch is! I'm useful, I'm really useful! Arrest me, and I'll tell you everything!"
When the Purple Man was previously held by the Military, although he was also used as a lab rat, he hadn't mentioned a word about London because he knew that with his special ability, the Military was even less likely to kill him.
And now?
It's the same saying.
Any creature only reveals its true nature in the face of life and death; before that, no matter how you disguise yourself, it's not real. Only in the face of life and death is it a time when any creature cannot disguise its instincts.
And now, it was time for the Purple Man to reveal his instincts.
Several S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents holding syringes ignored the Purple Man, who was almost spitting as he spoke, and just turned to look at Barbara Morse, curious about how they were supposed to collect the Purple Man's blood.
Snap!
Seeing this, Carrie snapped her fingers. Instantly, chains formed of magic materialized with a rumble, firmly locking the Purple Man's body. They even hung him upside down in mid-air, head down and feet up.
Very thoughtful.
Carrie smiled and said, "I heard that when you're upside down, the blood flows a bit faster."
The faces of several S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents twitched, and then they quickly got to work. As for the upside-down Purple Man's various drooling and such, they had long since become accustomed and immune to it.
Just then.
Maria Hill's helicopter landed directly in the middle of the stadium.
Now that such a violent incident had occurred and over a dozen people had been taken for emergency treatment, this final battle definitely couldn't continue—at least not today.
By the time Maria Hill reached the tunnel, Locke, Sam, Gwen, and the others had also arrived.
"Jessica!"
Sam shouted and rushed to Jessica like he was robbing a bank, giving her a tight hug and calling out God's name: "Oh, God, you're okay. That's great."
I could punch you into the distance right now.
Jessica, held tightly by Sam, felt his explosive strength. Hearing his words, she couldn't help but think this, but then, feeling Sam's heart thumping wildly with excitement, she showed a warm smile and didn't say such hurtful words that might also damage Sam's self-esteem.
Gwen also saw Maria Hill coming up from the other side and said thank you.
Because they had wanted to come up just now but were blocked by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents. It was then that Maria Hill had spotted them while landing and told the two guarding Agents to let them through.
Maria Hill smiled and said you're welcome. Then Hill, whose principle was always to "make as many friends as possible," stepped forward and extended a hand of friendship to Carrie: "Hello, Ms. Syndra. I'm Hill, Maria Hill, from the Department of Homeland Security."
Carrie looked at Hill, who showed no hostility and even radiated an "I want to be your friend" vibe, and shook her hand: "Hello."
Hill acted as if they were old acquaintances, looking around: "By the way, Ms. Syndra, is your friend, the Peerless Assassin, not here?"
He's right behind you, and he's very familiar with you.
Carrie thought to herself and laughed: "He ate something bad yesterday and had diarrhea all night. He went to the hospital today for an IV drip."
Hill's eyes lit up first as she silently recorded this clue, then her expression turned regretful: "Is that so? That's unfortunate. Please give him my best wishes."
Carrie smiled: "I will."
Locke, standing not far away, blinked.
Me? Diarrhea? IV drip?
When?
In this life, the number of times Locke had been to the hospital for actual business couldn't even be called "countable on one hand"; it could only be said to be zero.
Hill opened her mouth, then frowned and pointed toward the Purple Man, who was still screaming shrilly with a distorted voice: "That tape, seal it up."
Barbara Morse nodded.
Soon.
The noise vanished.
Maria Hill smiled and said it was much quieter now. Then, watching the work of drawing blood nearby, she asked Carrie with a hint of curiosity: "By the way, Ms. Syndra, do you mind if I ask a more personal question?"
"We all communicate with magic. If you want to find me, you can contact the Witch Academy in New Orleans."
"I know."
Maria Hill smiled: "I didn't come to ask for your contact information. Rather, I wanted to ask if Ms. Syndra and Mr. Peerless were in New York over a month ago?"
Carrie raised an eyebrow: "Ms. Hill wants to ask why we didn't come out when that big spider was causing trouble, right?"
Maria Hill smiled: "If you can't answer, it's fine."
Carrie waved her hand: "Peerless and I went to Europe then. Besides, I remember someone from the Witch Academy came, right? Didn't you guys solve it too?"
As they spoke.
Those S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents looked at the full vials of blood that still glowed with purple light and said, "Officer, it's done."
Maria Hill looked back and nodded.
Carrie asked curiously, "Don't you want to take a few slices?"
Maria Hill looked at Carrie with some curiosity: "You don't want him alive?"
Carrie shrugged: "He's not the one I want."
Maria Hill was slightly stunned.
Carrie's eyes darted around, she leaned in slightly, and whispered, "Guess why Peerless ate something bad yesterday and had to go for an IV today?"
Maria Hill was stunned again.
The next second.
Hill's pupils quaked slightly. She looked up at Carrie, who seemed to be sharing a little secret with her, and opened her mouth.
Carrie put a finger to her lips: "Shh, if you see him, don't say I told you."
Hill nodded and gave Carrie an OK gesture!
Locke, standing behind, couldn't help but roll his eyes internally.
Someone who knew the truth would know that Carrie was helping him create a more vivid persona for the Peerless Assassin.
Someone who didn't would think Carrie was retaliating against Locke.
Carrie, you've learned some bad habits.
As expected.
It's all Kem's fault!
In the whole of Midtown High School, looking across the entire campus, the only person who could joke with Locke and completely kill the conversation in one sentence, besides Kem, was no one else.
Carrie moved her right hand.
The next second!
Ah!
A miserable scream rang out.
An arm fell directly to the ground.
Immediately after.
Purple light spread.
Three dark orbs spun directly above the head of the now one-armed Purple Man.
The next second.
They instantly began to spin!