HISD Chapter 22 Competing With Mysterio for the Title of Best Actor
Revenge against Stark Industries, wipe out the Avengers?
Quentin Beck's expression shifted constantly. If those words got out, it would cause a worldwide sensation!
He took a deep breath and said gravely, "Aren't you afraid I'll go straight to the Avengers right now and tell them you're still alive?"
The cold, mechanical voice echoed from all directions, laced with mockery. "You won't do that."
In that instant, Quentin felt completely seen through.
Go tell the Avengers? Of course he wouldn't. If he did, not only would his carefully planned scheme to market himself as a superhero collapse, but… deep down, he also wanted revenge against Stark Industries.
He had always believed it was Tony Stark who stole the credit and glory for his advanced holographic technology.
As for the Avengers… yes, Quentin wanted to join them. But if all the other Avengers were dead, wouldn't the entire Avengers legacy fall into his hands alone?
Yi Meng's words had struck right at the hidden desires in Quentin's heart.
Under such circumstances, how could he possibly reveal that Ultron was still alive?
The mechanical voice continued, flat but deadly. "Of course, if you do leak this, I'll kill you first."
Hearing that, Quentin oddly felt relieved. He widened his eyes in feigned anger, his face darkening. "You…"
"Fine."
After a moment of visible struggle, Quentin sighed painfully, then gave a helpless smile. "What do you want me to do?"
"What day is it today?" Ultron asked out of nowhere.
"What?" Quentin blinked, then instinctively replied, "Thursday."
"You've been plotting to take the Stark Industries clearance that Peter Parker inherited, haven't you?" Ultron's voice buzzed. "I'll need your cooperation once you get it."
Quentin's heart jolted. The fact that Ultron knew about his plan meant this really was the artificial intelligence thought long dead.
But then an idea sparked.
If Ultron needed Spider-Man's clearance, didn't that mean he no longer controlled Stark Industries himself?
Quentin's eyes flickered with scheming light.
"It's possible," he said with a troubled look. "But what's in it for me?"
Ultron responded instantly. "You help me, and Stark Industries is mine. The Avengers will be yours."
Quentin hesitated briefly before gritting his teeth and slamming his fist into his palm. "Deal!"
Ultron asked, "What's your plan?"
Quentin chuckled darkly. Since Ultron already knew, he saw no point in hiding details. "I have advanced holographic projection tech, combined with several Stark-manufactured drones. Together, they can create illusions indistinguishable from reality.
"I also know Peter Parker's secret identity as Spider-Man, and I know his school will travel to Europe this summer.
"Then, I'll pose as a superhero from another universe—Mysterio. I'll 'defeat' holographically fabricated monsters, the Elementals, in front of everyone. That will establish me as a world-class superhero, like Iron Man himself.
"After that, with some heartfelt theatrics and setbacks engineered for Spider-Man, I'll trick him into handing over Stark's clearance."
Yi Meng, hidden inside his artificial intelligence avatar, knew that Quentin would succeed.
After all, this was exactly the plot of the Marvel movie Spider-Man: Far From Home.
"Summer break begins next week. I'll wait for your good news," Yi Meng—disguised as Ultron—said before vanishing.
"Pleasure doing business." Quentin smiled warmly.
Even after the factory returned to silence, the smile on his face lingered.
Of course, everything earlier had been his performance.
"Stark Industries for you, Avengers for me?"
"Heh… I want them both."
Quentin sneered inwardly. He had already decided: he would pretend to cooperate with Ultron, then, after stealing the clearance from Spider-Man during the summer trip, eliminate both Spider-Man for 'betraying the Avengers' and Ultron for 'trying to destroy the world.'
When that time came, Mysterio would rise as Earth's greatest hero, inheriting both Stark Industries and the Avengers' legacy!
…
Yi Meng, in his AI form, left the factory and returned to Morgan's family cabin.
Quentin had been acting. And wasn't he acting as well?
"The pieces are already in place. All that's left is to wait for summer."
When the curtain rose, they would see who was the true Best Actor, and who the final victor.
…
The next morning, Yi Meng woke in reality. After yesterday's ordeal, he didn't feel like going to school. But with only two days left before the Federation's college entrance exams, after which high school would end forever, he forced himself.
The carefree, idle life he'd once dreamed of was likely gone for good.
He put on his school uniform and stepped out.
At the school gates, he expected students to shrink back in fear again, after yesterday's viral video of his brutal fight.
Instead, while everyone still stared, there was less fear. Their eyes now held envy, jealousy, and strange, complex emotions.
Some male students' eyes even reddened like enraged bulls, itching to charge at him, only to be held back by their friends.
"You think you can take him?"
Hearing that, the angry ones wilted instantly. Who dared fight him after what they'd seen?
Yi Meng raised an eyebrow. His reputation was shifting far too wildly.
Had something else happened?
Just as he considered scanning their phones with his powers, a massive, broad-shouldered figure nearly two meters tall charged toward him.
"Pan Hu."
Yi Meng greeted casually. But this time, Pan Hu's face looked strange, his eyes blazing with something between fury and excitement.
"You bastard…"
Pan Hu raised his massive fist toward Yi Meng's face—only to stop short, grin, and stick out his thumb. "You're amazing!!"
"Boss, you really scored big. How the hell did you manage to get with Tifa? Tell me everything!!"
Pan Hu's excitement was like a man who had just won the lottery, face flushed, practically trembling with anticipation.
If Yi Meng didn't answer, Pan Hu looked ready to collapse right there on the spot.
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