[Third Person]
After a few minutes of bringing in the cars, Jhon's friends and his new acquaintances parked them next to the containers—those that were being used as homes.
Though he was frankly hopeful that the supposed boss wasn't some second-rate villain or the damn Kingpin.
But of course, he'd find out soon enough. In the meantime, everyone he'd come with was walking behind, observing the surroundings.
As Jhon passed by, people stared at him—especially the women. Ahem, he figured it was because of his tactical suit.
"..."
Parallel to our protagonist's episode of narcissism, Riri pulled away from Kamala and Kate, startling them. Worried about what might have happened, they were about to ask her; but she didn't give them time, heading straight to Jhon. The two of them, seeing her go toward their friend, just shrugged and continued talking.
Jhon obviously sensed the movement, so he waited for her to stand beside him to see what she had to say. He yawned a little, feeling the need for some blood. Maybe Kamala's?
The girl in the back shivered and started looking around. For a moment, she felt two holes in her right buttock. Was she going crazy?
"Hey," Riri whispered, already next to Jhon.
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"Do you have... enough yet? You know, accumulated emotions to grant a big wish?"
Though Riri still doubted that whole emotion thing a bit, she wasn't as closed-minded as before. Her mind had opened more when she saw Jhon granting a wish to Alexei.
Jhon looked visibly disappointed when he heard the question. A professional detective could probably see through his acting—it was almost like Eiji Seiya performing. Sighing, he said, "No... it's not enough yet."
Riri got disappointed too, but then asked another question. "A-at least 60%?"
He seemed to think about the answer, getting her hopes up. If it was 60%, everything would be easier!
Jhon didn't meet her expectations. Instead, he explained the "process."
"Listen... sigh. It's not as simple as percentages." He shook his head.
She frowned, asking, "Then how would you quantify something like emotions?"
"Well... look at it this way." He created 5 small spheres of Wakfu in front of them both. "These are 5 different emotions: Joy, anger, hatred, love, sadness."
Riri watched the spheres spinning in circles, nodding to show she was paying attention to the explanation.
"As you can see, some are bigger than others, meaning each emotion has a different value." The joy sphere was larger than the hatred one, proving his point.
The love one pulsed gently, while the hatred one spun erratically, as if rejecting the others.
"The problem..." Jhon continued, "is that they don't work alone."
With a slight gesture, he made two spheres collide. Instantly, both deformed and dissipated into a cloud of bluish particles.
Riri's eyes widened a bit. "Do they... cancel each other out?"
"Sometimes. Others explode or, worse... grant the wish in a way you don't want." He said calmly, though even Jhon didn't know how anyone could believe that bullshit. "A big wish needs a specific composition. It's not enough to have a lot of emotion—it has to be the right kind and in balance."
The remaining spheres began reorganizing, forming something like a small solar system.
"For example," he added, "joy amplifies, love stabilizes... but hatred and anger speed up the process. Too much of that and I lose control."
Riri put her hand to her chin, thoughtful.
"So... even if you have a lot of emotions, if they're not well combined, you can't use them."
He nodded slowly. "Exactly, little Riri. That's why I don't talk in percentages. Today I might seem 'full,' and tomorrow practically empty for certain types of wishes."
The spheres faded one by one until they disappeared.
A vein popped on Riri's forehead, but not wanting to fight, she didn't comment on the nickname. She let out a low sigh at how complicated the wish-granting process seemed.
Jhon saw her helpless expression and frowned with concern. "Is something worrying you?"
"No..." She turned her head upon seeing the "tell the truth" look he gave her. "Well... yes."
She finally admitted, looking at the people with their children around. "You know, if you hadn't been there... I can't help thinking that we would have... died in the valley."
She turned her head to look at his face, allowing herself to be vulnerable; her eyes showed gratitude. "So thank you, Jhon. Thank you for being there for us, even if we haven't known each other for long."
Jhon stared at her bewildered, still walking. If you asked him how he felt right now, he'd say: embarrassed. He didn't know how to respond, since he never expected a thank you—and least of all from Riri, who had distrusted him from the start.
"I... don't know what to say." He scratched his head awkwardly.
There was a comforting silence for 3 seconds. Having nothing to say, he could only do one thing: he put his arm around Riri's shoulders, pulling her toward him for a hug.
Riri was surprised, but unlike before, she didn't pull away. Jhon's right side touched her left, maintaining harmony as they walked. He directed his intentions toward his friend seriously. "I didn't do it to be thanked..." He finished with a smile. "But I'm glad it was you who did."
He let a small smile form on his lips. Having a friend in the apocalypse is... nice.
Suddenly, a head poked into the space between their bodies, catching them off guard. Well, not Jhon.
"Is it hug time?!" Kamala asked excitedly, in the middle of them.
Jhon and Riri looked at each other, then chuckled lightly. "Sure."
"Yay!"
She got out from where she was and then jumped in, hugging both of them. Jhon caught her easily—for him, it was like holding a pencil.
But there was one who didn't like being left out. Kate approached, slinging her bow on her back. Then she looked at the three with a slight blush on her cheeks. "Can I join?"
"Come here," Jhon said, opening his free arm.
Kate approached slowly and joined, inhaling Jhon's scent in the process.
The others behind watched them with smiles. Katy Chen discreetly looked at Shang-Chi. He noticed and nervously avoided her gaze. In the end, the girl gave up waiting for the young Chinese guy to take the initiative, so she pulled him into a hug.
The cop next to them looked at the ninja dubiously. He was seriously thinking: *Does this guy's boat get wet or what?* So he walked faster to avoid catching it.
Alexei's eyes watered thinking about his daughter Natasha. Then he opened his arms and pulled his two sugar lumps into a big hug, startling them. Melinda shook her head and returned the hug. Yelena chuckled lightly and returned it too.
And Jhon... well, taking advantage of the moment, he placed his hand lower on Kamala's back, making her eyes widen. Without giving her time to react, he squeezed her butt, feeling how well-shaped and soft they were.
"Mm~" Kamala moaned a little and blushed.
She immediately slapped his hand, looking around to see if anyone noticed. Seeing no one had directly, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Her friends were focused on the hug, so they didn't pay attention either.
Then she looked up and glared at Jhon. He didn't flinch—he gave her a provocative smile. Seeing he felt no guilt, Kamala pouted, annoyed.
What Kamala didn't know was that she was wrong: someone did see them. It was Yelena, who after separating from her father's hug, noticed them. That's when Jhon grabbed Kamala's butt. 'Hehe, I knew it, that's a sexual quartet,' she thought.
Who would believe that 3 newly adult teenagers could resist a sexy and strong guy like Jhon, when she has to control herself not to throw him to the ground and ride him?
So she ran toward them, with a malicious smile. Once close, she asked in a suggestive tone: "So, is this the quartet that's going to repopulate the world?"
Kate and Riri quickly separated, blushing. "I-it's not what you think," they stammered.
And Kamala? Kamala stayed hugged. She can be a bad girl sometimes too! Her friends stared at her, embarrassed. Doesn't she have any shame?
"Pff," Yelena laughed, enjoying teasing them. She was sure that if her sister were here, she'd tease them too. Though who knows—probably she'd already slept with Jhon. Her sister could sometimes be... provocative.
They were about to keep arguing, but a voice interrupted their fun.
"Hey!" The man's shout made them turn in his direction.
All the people waiting to board the submarine looked the same way.
"Everyone pay attention!"
The guy was standing on top of a container. He was wearing simple jeans, along with a long-sleeved purple jacket. His hair was combed to one side. Just the appearance of an expert bootlicker.
Seeing everyone paying attention, he smiled. Then he said with a contemplative look, opening his hands: "Your baron has arrived!"
Slowly, he stepped aside, and behind him appeared a man in similar clothes—this one seemed of German descent. He looked at his future "crew" calmly, as if everything was under control.
"I want everyone to listen," he said, scanning the group of our protagonist in particular with his eyes. "There are heroes among us who do heroic things."
A slight disdain appeared on his face. "CREATING problems and noise."
The official bootlicker approached the baron and whispered in his ear. "Baron, do you see the one with the rings?"
The baron nodded.
"Well, that's the one who brought the cows."
The baron fixed his gaze on Shang-Chi. The guy kept whispering: "I know I don't have a vote, but if I did... they'd have mine."
Then he stepped back to the side as if he'd said the deal of the century.
As for the group, everyone frowned at the supposed baron's comment. Well, everyone except Jhon. He... instead, had a look of: seriously?
'The fucking Baron Zemo?' He cursed in his mind.
This confirmed that this submarine was a total trap. If Namor is a zombie, he was sure he wouldn't let them roam his sea. Either they brainwash the crew, or... feed them to the zombies.
His eyes widened, deducing how the submarine maintained order. 'Son of a bitch.'
Baron Zemo, on the other hand, had no idea that Jhon was already planning to end him. He finished listening to his simp and asked Shang-Chi: "You brought the cows?"
"Yes, your majesty," Shang-Chi said, nodding. Though he hesitated a bit on the last part. What he didn't know was that his father would roll in his grave if he heard him call someone else "your majesty." "We're seeking refuge in these... difficult times." He finished.
Katy Chen beside him nodded, supporting what he said.
"I've heard of you," Zemo nodded, smiling. "Heroes of the open road, protecting your own with enchanted rings."
"Exactly, that's right!" Katy pointed at the Baron with a smug smile.
Zemo's quickly faded. "I hate heroes."
"Oh..." She scratched her neck, uncomfortable.
Zemo continued, scanning them again: "They always hide dangerous ideas behind their powers and ridiculous... masks."
The cop looked at the ninja beside him. He whispered: "Not you."
The ninja moved 3 steps to the right.
"So?" A voice interrupted, startling the normal people, who opened their eyes wide. Who would dare interrupt the person who has the way to keep you safe!?
It was Jhon, already fed up with the farce. "Are you letting us in or not?"
Zemo frowned, annoyed by the interruption. He turned his face to the Chinese guy. "Does he come with you?"
Shang-Chi cursed Jhon in his mind for making it harder. He didn't even know his name! "Uh... yes, they come with us."
"I see." Zemo turned, giving them his back. "If he comes, you don't."
He was about to walk toward the submarine, but Jhon spoke again.
"Are you sure? You'd be delaying the rise."
The German stopped, frowning. *Could it be?* He looked at his lackey. "Get close to him."
The guy nodded and climbed down from the container, approaching.
The others were confused. How did the drama develop like this? Are they from the same gigolo agency?
Kamala, who had slipped out of Jhon's hug a while ago, touched his shoulder. He turned to look at her. Knowing she had his attention, she whispered: "What was that?"
He whispered back: "I'll tell you now. Be ready for anything."
Kamala was bewildered, but obeying, she went to her friends to tell them—also those from the base.
The guy, now closer, got a bit nervous from Jhon's unfriendly face. But he couldn't look bad in front of his lord, so he composed himself. At one meter, he said: "What's up?"
Jhon signaled him to come closer. The simp didn't want to, but since the order was to listen to him, he had to.
Now closer, Jhon leaned to his ear and said: "Hail Hydra."
The guy's eyes widened and he looked at Jhon. Seeing him nod, he swallowed hard. News like this meant a lot! They thought they were the only ones alive!
Happy, he ran to the baron, who was facing away giving a mysterious air. Approaching his ear, he said: "Hail Hydra."
Zemo's eyes widened. He held a contemplative gaze toward the ocean for a few seconds, then spoke loudly: "You may enter."
With that, he walked forward, disappearing from the container.
From the ocean emerged a gigantic submarine, surprising the normal people, who smiled happily and approached the shelter.
"Bro, what did you tell him? He let us in right away!" Shang-Chi approached Jhon happily. He thought he'd have to sell his friend to board!
Katy, beside him, sneezed. She thought for a moment. Was someone talking about her? Hehe, it must be that handsome guy.
Jhon gave him a smile too, gesturing like it was no big deal. "It's fine, it's someone I knew who didn't recognize me at first."
"Really? Hahaha, what luck!" Shang-Chi thanked his good luck. He'd helped a friend of the owner! They surely had the best beds secured now.
"Guys, let's go inside!" The son of the Mandarin quickly told his group to enter. They were happy too.
In the end, Jhon's group remained; he quickly lost the smile he had.
"What happened?" Yelena asked seriously, approaching his side.
"The supposed baron is Baron Zemo," Jhon said, looking at them all.
"Who's that?" Kamala asked confused. Kate and Riri backed the question.
Melinda, who is usually quiet, frowned, thinking. Then she said: "Hydra?"
"Oh?" Yelena finally understood the problem. "Then why are we going in?"
"What the hell? Are you going to keep talking in code or tell us what Hydra is?" Riri finally spoke. That communication with just a few words wasn't helpful. They didn't know about the Winter Soldier movie!
"You know about the war Captain America was in, right?" Melinda commented before continuing.
The girls nodded.
"Well, that whole war happened mainly because Hydra wanted to rule the world—starting with white Americans, surprisingly. They were supposed to be extinct, but a year ago it was discovered they were operating inside a government organization, waiting to destroy it from within."
She pointed where Zemo went. "That guy is a Hydra commander."
"Wait! Does that mean the great Alexei will handle something Captain America couldn't? HAHAHA, it's time to show who's superior!"
Alexei had understood it was time to prove why Captain America was useless. What better moment than when he got his shield?
Everyone ignored Alexei.
"Exactly," Jhon continued the conversation. His arms crossed—the compact suit highlighted his muscles. "Basically, this submarine could be a trap."
"Okay, I've heard enough. Let's go." Riri was already turning the other way, pulling Friday.
Jhon didn't let her, pulling her back instead.
"Jhon! Staying is fucking crazy. We're walking into the lion's den," she argued against the one who pulled her back.
"Lion? Hehe."
"Riri... I think you don't get it." A yellowish energy appeared in his eyes as he looked at her. "There's only ONE fucking lion here."
He let a predatory smile form on his face as he leaned closer to her. "And that's me."
Kamala, paying attention to the conversation, had stars in her eyes hearing something so cool. If Jhon weren't a bastard, he'd surely become her role model. He's cooler than those Avengers!
But one thing gnawed at her mind: if Jhon is the lion, what is she? The lioness? Images of lions mating passed through her mind, and she slowly blushed.
"Pff," Yelena laughed directly at that comment, receiving a glare from Jhon. Was he not joking?
"The point is..." he continued, capturing Riri's attention—she also embarrassed by that chuuni comment her friend made. And Jhon? He simply had no shame. What was that? Is it edible?
"He won't be able to do anything without me noticing. Keep that in mind. As soon as I see something wrong, I'll tell you."
Riri sighed. "Are you sure?"
He nodded, but he wasn't done. "Besides, unless you want me to fly you on energy ropes across the entire ocean, this is the only solution."
Riri, Kate, Kamala, Yelena, and even Blade—who was like a ghost in the group, following the behavior: you don't talk to me, I don't talk to you!—all imagined dangling from a rope across the ocean and shuddered. The ocean is immensely vast! Who knows what zombie sharks are out there!
As for Alexei, ahem, that was one of his dreams, but better no one knows.
"Okay," Riri responded. Everyone nodded together. Friday was just for show—besides having the memory Jhon needed, he hasn't done anything else.
The widows, who are usually quiet, followed them.
....
They were already entering the submarine when suddenly Melinda pulled Yelena aside to talk to her. Our protagonist, who generally never turns off his perception of Wakfu, saw them.
He frowned, evaluating the continuous change in Yelena's expressions. How she went from listening attentively to turning pale. Then, from pale to nodding neutrally to her mother.
He respected their conversation, not wanting to eavesdrop on two people talking privately. But he's not a damn idiot—he never lets his guard down with someone who was once a Black Widow, least of all with her mother. Even if he could kill her like an insect.
He hoped it wasn't what he thought it was.
Then Yelena separated from her mother, ready to enter the submarine.
Jhon, on the other hand, seeing they were done talking, quickly turned away. Then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
A minute later, they were inside.
....
Hello, this is your author.
This is a simple chapter, no action or dopamine, here we just set up several future emotional plots.
The Marvel arc will end soon, I'd say next week Jhon will return to the store. Hehe, I'm excited to enter another world.
Hope you enjoyed the chap.
[JhonDaoist]