[Marvel : Mutant God] Chapter 51 - 55

Chapter 51: Sebastian Shaw, the "Black King"

Despite the limited information at his disposal, Richard already knew where to begin.

He doubted the system would issue a mission to rescue Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver without reason, nor did he believe his encounter with the King of Cards at the casino was mere coincidence. Beyond that, his intuition suggested that the invitation Gambit mentioned was, barring any unexpected developments, extended by the Hellfire Club.

Gambit's Mental Shielding ability prevented Richard from using telepathy against him directly. However, there would undoubtedly be more mutants invited beyond just the Cajun card-thrower.

More importantly, these other mutants likely wouldn't possess mental shielding.

This meant Richard needed only to employ his telepathy to locate other mutants in Las Vegas to determine whether Gambit's invitation related to the Hellfire Club. With luck, he might even identify Hellfire Club members through the same telepathic sweep.

After brief consideration, he initiated his telepathic scan without hesitation.

With minimal effort, he detected two to three hundred mutants throughout downtown Las Vegas. Disregarding Epsilon and Delta-class mutants, he concentrated on Beta and Alpha-class individuals.

Though uncertain whether Gambit's invitation pertained to the Hellfire Club, it stood to reason that mutants of insufficient power would unlikely receive such an invitation.

Compared to the Brotherhood of Mutants and the X-Men, the Hellfire Club possessed less worldwide recognition. Nevertheless, the organization's strength nearly matched theirs.

If nothing else, those who attained official membership in the Hellfire Club were, without exception, prominent figures in the Marvel Universe.

Beyond the four characters who appeared in the film—"Black King" Sebastian Shaw, "White Queen" Emma Frost, "Red Devil" Azazel, and "Riptide" Janos Quested—the comics featured numerous notable members. Magneto, Dark Phoenix, "Captain Britain" Brian Braddock, "Son of Mephisto" Blackheart, "Son of Satan" Hellstrom, "Son of Apocalypse" Holocaust, Madame Hydra, and "Red Queen" Jean Grey's clone Madelyn Pryor had all held membership at various points.

Where the Brotherhood of Mutants welcomed virtually anyone who endorsed their philosophy of forcibly claiming power for mutant kind, the Hellfire Club existed as an exclusive organization that recruited only elite mutants.

Therefore, those invited by the Hellfire Club would never be ordinary Epsilon or Delta-level mutants—unless they possessed exceptionally rare abilities.

After excluding Epsilon and Delta-class mutants, Richard's pool of candidates abruptly decreased to fewer than fifty.

Without delay, he initiated deeper telepathic probes on the remaining mutants, silently accessing their memories.

Among those remaining, more than half served as mutant agents for the Department of Mutant Affairs. After eliminating these agents, only fifteen mutants remained.

Of these fifteen, only eight had received invitations.

As Richard suspected, the Hellfire Club had indeed extended those invitations. However, the recipients remained ignorant of the club's intentions. Their invitations contained only a time and location, without any specific details.

The day after tomorrow at 8 PM. Atomic Nightclub.

Besides determining the time and place, Richard also identified the current Hellfire Club leader.

Though this wasn't the X-Men cinematic universe, the Hellfire Club still operated under "Black King" Sebastian Shaw. Additionally, "White Queen" Emma Frost, “Red Devil” Azazel, and "Riptide" Janos Quested maintained their membership—exactly as portrayed in the film.

Upon discovering Sebastian Shaw's leadership, Richard immediately made his decision.

Black King Shaw's X-gene mutant power "Energy Absorption" is determined!

Though not an Omega-level mutant, Shaw's energy absorption capability surpassed many with similar powers.

Typical energy absorption usually allowed for assimilation of one or several energy forms. Shaw's power enabled him to absorb all energy except psychic energy—including but not limited to kinetic, thermal, electrical, and nuclear varieties.

More significantly, his ability allowed him to directly absorb energy from enemy attacks. Whether struck by fists, bullets, shells, lightning, or shock waves, his body would assimilate the energy contained within those assaults.

Furthermore, he could not only release this stored energy but also use it to enhance his physical attributes.

Though his energy absorption exceeded many similar mutants, weaknesses remained. Both absorption and storage carried limits—he couldn't absorb infinitely or store permanently. Exceeding these thresholds would cause severe damage to his body.

Had he possessed unlimited absorption and storage capacity, he would have qualified as a true Omega-level mutant.

Without stored energy, Shaw essentially existed as an ordinary person with somewhat enhanced physical resilience. However, during combat, he could rapidly elevate his physical attributes to superhuman levels—provided his enemies attacked him, giving him energy to absorb.

Of course, he could also stockpile energy before battles, as shown in the films when he absorbed nuclear reactor energy in preparation for confrontations.

With energy absorption alone, Shaw proved difficult to defeat through conventional means. Nevertheless, he wasn't invincible—his most significant vulnerability lay in his inability to resist telepathy.

Without his telepathy-blocking helmet or the White Queen's protection, he remained defenseless against psychic assaults.

Shaw's defeat in the film occurred precisely because Magneto removed his mind-isolating helmet, giving Professor X an opportunity to immobilize him telepathically, ultimately facilitating Magneto's revenge.

Additionally, Shaw's cinematic demise related directly to his underestimation of his opponent. Put more colorfully, the villain perished because he talked too much.

Beyond energy absorption, Shaw also possessed a regeneration ability. While unable to regenerate as rapidly as Sabretooth or Wolverine, his healing capabilities still defied scientific explanation compared to ordinary humans.

This regeneration effectively slowed his aging process. With sufficient energy absorption, he could achieve a measure of rejuvenation and practical immortality.

After reviewing Shaw's "Energy Absorption" ability, Richard's desire to claim this power intensified considerably.

He also found himself particularly interested in the White Queen's telepathy. Successfully plundering Frost's telepathic ability would immediately elevate his own telepathy to Alpha level. Though perhaps not equaling Professor X after the upgrade, he would nevertheless rank among Earth's foremost psychics.

Beyond her telepathic abilities, Richard found himself interested in the White Queen herself.

During his telepathic information gathering about the Hellfire Club from the invited mutants, he unexpectedly discovered that both Shaw and Frost appeared younger than their film counterparts.

In the film, Shaw was thirty to forty years older than Magneto, while Emma Frost approximated Magneto and Professor X's age.

Though the eight mutants couldn't provide exact ages, their knowledge suggested Shaw wouldn't exceed fifty years, while the White Queen remained under forty.

Upon learning of Emma's relative youth, Richard's mind immediately conjured images of the various white ensembles she'd worn in adaptations—white clothing, white skirts, white boots, white swimwear, white lingerie...

Had the White Queen matched her cinematic age, placing her in the same generation as Magneto and Professor X, Richard would have lacked interest in Emma Frost—just as he felt no attraction toward the grandmother-aged Mystique.

However, a White Queen in her twenties or thirties presented an entirely different scenario.

After consideration, Richard temporarily removed the White Queen from his kill list.

Though eliminating her would upgrade his telepathy, individuals with psychic abilities weren't particularly rare in this world. Even without killing the White Queen, he could eventually elevate his telepathy to Alpha level through other means.

...

Chapter 52: Suit Thug

Miami
Sun deck of a luxury yacht

The White Queen—blessed with blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, a statuesque figure, and long, elegant legs—reclined on a lounge chair, sunglasses perched on her face as she basked in the ocean breeze and warming rays of the sun.

Though the Hellfire Club's dinner would commence at 8 PM the day after tomorrow, neither the White Queen, Black King Shaw, Red Devil Azazel, nor Riptide had traveled to Las Vegas, preferring to remain in Miami. With Azazel's teleportation abilities at their disposal, they could arrive at any destination instantaneously, eliminating any need to stay in Las Vegas beforehand.

As the White Queen contentedly enjoyed her sunbathing session, Riptide—Janos Quested—approached in his pristine white suit and addressed her:

"We've received word from Las Vegas. Our contact spotted both Remy LeBeau and Richard Wesley at one of the casinos."

Richard Wesley?

Hearing Riptide's report, the White Queen removed her sunglasses and frowned slightly.

"Wasn't he still in San Francisco earlier today?"

"Evidently, he's since departed. Given his teleportation abilities, his swift arrival in Las Vegas isn't particularly surprising," Riptide explained.

"Does Shaw know about this?" The White Queen sat upright, her attention fully captured.

"He's the one who instructed me to inform you. He wants you and Azazel to travel there immediately and extend an invitation to our dinner." With that, Riptide extracted a Hellfire Club invitation from his jacket pocket and offered it to the White Queen.

"Why should I be the one to go? Azazel can handle this kind of errand independently."

The White Queen made no move to accept the invitation, her confusion evident.

"Because Wesley is also a telepath. Shaw believes your presence alongside Azazel would provide additional security," Riptide replied evenly.

Richard is a telepath?

The White Queen's frown deepened at this revelation.

While telepathic abilities weren't exceptionally rare, they certainly weren't commonplace. When Richard had attained S-class wanted status with the Department of Mutant Affairs, the Hellfire Club had begun collecting intelligence on him. The White Queen had personally reviewed this information, yet she couldn't recall any mention of telepathic capabilities.

"Where did this information about his telepathy come from?" she questioned. "The Department of Mutant Affairs? The Avengers? Perhaps the X-Men?"

"Don't ask me—I'm as much in the dark as you are. Shaw simply informed me," Riptide admitted.

Like the White Queen, Riptide had only learned of Richard's telepathic abilities today—specifically when Shaw had handed him the invitation. As for Shaw's information source, he remained ignorant. The Black King had volunteered nothing, and Riptide hadn't inquired—a mutual understanding they maintained.

After a moment's contemplation, the White Queen conceded:

"Leave the invitation. I'll accompany Azazel later."

"Excellent."

Riptide placed the invitation on the table before the White Queen. As she replaced her sunglasses and resumed sunbathing, his gaze involuntarily lingered on her alluring form, his appreciation unabashedly evident.

Despite no shortage of female companionship in his life, this did nothing to diminish his interest in the White Queen. This attraction wasn't unique to him—both Black King Shaw and Red Devil Azazel harbored similar fascinations with her.

Such interest in beautiful women represented a fundamental masculine trait, encoded in DNA itself. Exceptions existed, of course—men with certain physical conditions or those whose preferences aligned differently—but any typical man would naturally appreciate feminine beauty.

The primary distinction lay not in the attraction itself, but in whether one acted upon it and how one approached the object of desire.

Though Shaw, Azazel, and Riptide all found the White Queen captivating, none entertained notions of coercion. Partly, this stemmed from her status as their colleague. More importantly, the White Queen wasn't a defenseless woman lacking power.

Her telepathic abilities alone posed significant challenges. Beyond that, she possessed the capacity to transform into living diamond. Simply put, unless she proved willing, any attempt to force themselves upon her would inevitably fail.

Riptide made no attempt to conceal his admiring gaze.

The White Queen remained indifferent to his attention—or rather, she had long since grown accustomed to such regard. In truth, she rather enjoyed it, as it affirmed her beauty and magnetic appeal.

After allowing his eyes to linger appreciatively on the White Queen's form, Riptide departed the sun deck. He disembarked from the yacht, intent on spending time with his lover in downtown Miami.

Las Vegas

Richard remained unaware that the White Queen and Azazel would soon deliver him an invitation.

At present, he stood in an exclusive bespoke tailor shop that accepted only private commissions, having his measurements taken for a custom suit.

Though suits lacked the convenience of casual or athletic wear, they remained essential attire for the mature gentleman. Suits served as modern armor for men of sophistication!

In certain settings, a perfectly fitted suit effectively showcased one's character and charm. Additionally, even combat conducted while wearing a suit—provided one's appearance remained sufficiently handsome and movements adequately graceful—conveyed the unique charisma of a "suit thug."

Richard's decision to commission custom suits stemmed from a simple realization. After reviewing footage of his battle with Hulk earlier that day, he'd identified a previously overlooked issue: his attire!

His clothing had been disappointingly casual!

Sephiroth's immense popularity derived not solely from his formidable strength and attractive features, but also from his distinctive appearance—silver pauldrons, flowing black coat, and subtly visible muscular chest.

Given the option, Richard wouldn't hesitate to don attire identical to Sephiroth's for his visit to the Atomic Nightclub. Unfortunately, acquiring such unique garments proved currently impossible.

In the film, when the "thought form" Kadaj merged with Jenova's cells to resurrect Sephiroth, both Sephiroth's clothing and his Masamune blade had been conjured from pure energy.

Richard had previously attempted to manifest Sephiroth's outfit through magical means. However, whether due to insufficient template fusion or inadequate mastery of mana manipulation, he currently lacked the ability to transform energy into Sephiroth's signature clothing.

Since perfect replication of Sephiroth's ensemble remained beyond reach, custom-tailored suits would serve as an acceptable alternative. Adorned in an expertly crafted suit while wielding the six-foot Masamune, he could execute the "suit thug" aesthetic with considerably more panache than if clothed in casual or athletic wear.

Unlike his time playing Texas Hold'em at the casino, Richard wore no disguise now. The tailor shop contained only the elderly master tailor—reportedly formerly employed by the British royal family—a handful of assistants, and himself as the sole customer.

Upon entering, Richard had employed telepathy to alter his appearance in the minds of everyone present. Though unable to simultaneously influence the perception of thousands, affecting a dozen or so individuals posed no challenge.

Such exclusive establishments — accepting only private commissions and led by a former royal tailor — catered to a remarkably small number of clients each year. Yet despite their limited clientele, they embodied a simple principle: “Closed for three years, earn enough for three years the moment they reopen.”

Before his transmigration, Richard had never patronized such an establishment, though the original Richard had visited several times. After all, as the quintessential wealthy heir, he had accompanied his father to numerous formal dinners and galas since childhood.

Time passed gradually.

The measuring process alone consumed nearly thirty minutes—and this represented merely the beginning. Fabric selection, collar style, button materials, and numerous other details awaited his consideration.

After spending over an hour in the tailor shop, Richard completed all necessary processes for his bespoke suits.

Peaked lapels, double-breasted cut, Prince of Wales check pattern...

Black double-breasted striped jacket, crisp white shirt, black twill tie, polished black Oxford shoes...

To receive his suits within two days—a process typically requiring one to two weeks—Richard paid a substantial expedition fee. The total for two suits reached $12,000, effectively depleting his casino winnings in a single transaction.

Though expensive, he regarded the expense trivially. For him, acquiring money now proved easier than quenching thirst. Should he desire, billionaire status remained perpetually within reach.

After providing his hotel room number, he departed the tailor shop, donned his sunglasses and baseball cap, and strolled leisurely toward a nearby casino.

...

Chapter 53: The Azazel and the White Queen

Shortly after departing the tailor shop, Richard arrived at the entrance of another casino.

Just as he prepared to enter and secure some additional "living expenses," he abruptly halted and gazed upward toward a building several kilometers distant from the casino.

More precisely, he focused on the building's rooftop.

Someone was attempting to telepathically locate him!

Though uncertain of the telepath's identity, the moment they locked onto his mind, Richard could reverse-trace their exact position.

While psychics could detect and prevent mental intrusions, they remained perceptible to other telepaths. To illustrate more vividly, individuals with psychic abilities possessed a "mental firewall" that ordinary people lacked.

More specifically, only those with complete telepathy or Mental Shielding powers maintained such mental defenses.

Other psychic abilities—mental charm, illusion generation, hypnosis, and similar powers—provided no protection against telepathic invasion.

Although these abilities couldn't prevent telepathic intrusion, mutants possessing such psychic powers exhibited significantly greater sensitivity to telepathic contact than those lacking any psychic capabilities.

Enhanced Senses!

To clearly observe the rooftop scenario, Richard activated his enhanced visual powers.

It's actually them?

Through his telescopic and penetrative vision, he pierced the visual obstructions of intervening buildings and discerned two "familiar" figures.

One was a statuesque blonde beauty with azure eyes, wearing a form-fitting white skirt that accentuated her curves and elongated legs.

The other was a man in a black suit with crimson skin and a tail, whose demonic appearance set him apart from ordinary humans.

Richard recognized both individuals instantly.

The White Queen and the Red Devil!

Neither the White Queen nor the Red Devil possessed Enhanced Senses and couldn't perceive Richard through the buildings separating them.

Nevertheless, the White Queen sensed that Richard had detected their presence.

Though she couldn't visually locate him, she clearly discerned that he had halted his movement and was actively blocking her telepathic probe.

He truly is a telepath!

Despite Riptide's advance information, she had harbored doubts until confirming this firsthand.

Telepathy wasn't particularly rare among X-gene mutations, but neither was it commonplace.

Complete telepathy remained exceptional, and even single-effect psychic abilities weren't guaranteed during mutant awakening.

Additionally, a crucial factor in the White Queen's skepticism toward Black King Shaw's intelligence was Richard's demonstrated array of abilities.

Thus far, the number of distinct powers he had publicly displayed exceeded ten.

Moreover, these powers represented remarkably diverse categories.

Though some mutants possessed multiple different abilities simultaneously, the White Queen had never encountered anyone like Richard—a mutant commanding more than ten entirely disparate powers.

After realizing Richard had located them, the White Queen turned to her companion.

"I've found him, and he's found us."

"Where is he now?" the Red Devil inquired directly.

"In front of the Vasilis Casino, several kilometers from here," she replied.

"Very well. I'll transport us there."

With that, the Red Devil extended his right hand toward the White Queen.

Seeing his gesture, she raised her delicate left hand without hesitation.

Just as their hands were about to connect, the Red Devil's expression shifted dramatically. He withdrew his hand abruptly and unsheathed the twin scimitars at his waist, pivoting to scan behind them with heightened vigilance.

Teleportation!

He had detected the spatial distortion indicative of teleportation!

Unlike the Red Devil, the White Queen perceived nothing unusual.

Though both powers required mental energy, teleportation and telepathy represented fundamentally different applications.

Teleportation involved manipulating space through mental power, while telepathy encompassed various mental manipulations.

Though the White Queen hadn't sensed the spatial fluctuations, the Red Devil's reaction immediately placed her on high alert.

As they maintained their defensive posture, Richard materialized before them, appearing from thin air like a specter.

Recognizing the arrival, the Red Devil sheathed his weapons.

Simultaneously, the White Queen spoke.

"We harbor no hostile intentions. We're merely delivering an invitation."

With that statement, she extracted a black invitation from her handbag, approached Richard, and presented it to him.

Though he already knew the invitation contained only the dinner's time and location without additional valuable information, Richard accepted it and briefly examined its contents.

"I don't believe I have any connection to your Hellfire Club," Richard addressed the White Queen calmly.

"Just because no relationship existed previously doesn't preclude one developing in the future," she countered swiftly.

After this response, she regarded Richard with a subtly flirtatious glance and smile.

Despite having reviewed various reports about Richard and videos uploaded online, the White Queen found him even more striking in person than in recorded footage.

Most captivating was his lengthy silver hair—longer than most women's—silky and smooth as it danced gently in the breeze.

This young man is absolutely stunning! she mused inwardly.

Richard disregarded her appraisal and continued, "Even if future association were possible, I see no reason to attend a meaningless dinner at present."

"While I cannot divulge the dinner's specifics now, I assure you that your attendance will prove worthwhile," the White Queen replied with earnest intensity.

What exactly are they planning?

Richard doubted the Hellfire Club distributed invitations purely from boredom.

The caliber of invited mutants alone indicated substantial machinations—no minor affair.

Perhaps I should simply subdue them both?

Regarding the White Queen and Azazel before him, Richard contemplated his options seriously.

Though both possessed formidable abilities, he remained absolutely confident in his capacity to defeat them simultaneously.

For most individuals, the White Queen and Azazel's powers presented significant challenges.

For Richard, however, they posed negligible threat.

The White Queen's telepathy couldn't penetrate his defenses.

Her diamond form offered even less concern.

As for the Red Devil—his teleportation matched Richard's own ability.

Beyond that, the Red Devil's strength and physical constitution only marginally surpassed ordinary humans, incomparable to Richard's enhanced strength and physiology.

Unless struck directly in the eyes by the Red Devil's scimitar, Richard could withstand any assault even while remaining stationary.

Observing Richard's momentary silence, the White Queen and Azazel assumed he was considering the dinner invitation.

After several seconds' contemplation, Richard addressed the Red Devil directly:

"Let me ask you something. Have you ever raped Mystique?"

What?

Hearing these words, both the White Queen and Azazel frowned simultaneously.

"I'm not obligated to answer that," the Red Devil responded with visible hostility.

"You'd be wise to respond," Richard continued, "as your answer determines whether you leave here alive today."

...

Chapter 54: The Sixth Alpha Level Ability

The Red Devil instantly drew the scimitars from his waist, regarding Richard with grave intensity.

Were he alone, his decision would have been immediate—either teleport away or attempt to eliminate Richard without hesitation.

Unfortunately, he hadn't come alone.

More problematically, the White Queen now stood directly in front of Richard.

As the Red Devil contemplated how to extract the White Queen before Richard could act, Richard summoned his Masamune blade and lightly tapped the White Queen's fair cheek with its flat edge.

"If you wish to avoid harm, I suggest you step aside," Richard instructed the White Queen.

Feeling the cold metal against her skin, the White Queen regarded Richard with a complex expression.

Several thoughts raced through her mind simultaneously.

Is he friends with Mystique?

Did the Red Devil truly assault Mystique?

When Richard pressed the blade against her face, the White Queen's initial reaction wasn't fear. Instead, she frowned and looked toward the Red Devil, genuinely wondering whether he had committed such an act against Mystique.

Though she and Azazel belonged to the same organization, she harbored no illusions about the moral character of the Red Devil, Riptide, or Black King. None could be considered men of principle.

This didn't mean she remained indifferent to certain matters.

As a woman, she maintained a natural aversion to sexual violence against women.

Moreover, if the Red Devil had indeed assaulted Mystique, it implied he might attempt similar actions against her.

The White Queen could never have guessed that Richard's question about Mystique stemmed from his desire to determine whether Nightcrawler in this reality was Mystique's son.

The Nightcrawler from the films coincidentally shared Mystique's blue skin.

In the comics, Nightcrawler was explicitly Mystique's offspring.

When the Red Devil noticed his colleague regarding him with suspicion, his displeasure intensified.

"I never assaulted Mystique!" he declared, barely suppressing his mounting anger.

Though uncertain of the Red Devil's truthfulness, Richard had no intention of employing telepathy to verify his claims.

The millennia-old Azazel, possessing teleportation abilities, understood precisely how to thwart telepathic intrusion.

Even without teleportation, he needed only to continually shift positions, denying a telepath the opportunity to establish a mental lock, thereby preventing any invasion of his thoughts.

"One final question," Richard addressed the Red Devil. "Have you ever heard the story of 'I don't eat beef'?"

I don't eat beef?

What story is this?

What could be his intention?

Both the Red Devil and the White Queen, who had retreated to the side, regarded Richard with utter confusion.

Chronologically, both significantly predated Richard.

Yet in this moment, neither could follow his mental trajectory.

"Boy, you—" the Red Devil began, but before completing his sentence, a powerful premonition of death seized his consciousness.

This is wrong!

He's deliberately distracting me!

Though uncertain of Richard's exact intentions, the Red Devil wasted no further time, resolving to teleport away immediately.

As for the White Queen—her fate no longer concerned him.

The Red Devil's intuition proved accurate, but unfortunately, it arrived a moment too late.

While questioning whether the Red Devil had heard the "I don't eat beef" story, Richard had already mentally initiated Judgement Cut End.

Judgement Cut End!

As the Red Devil prepared to teleport, Richard executed the Judgement Cut End.

Like Richard's Blinkstep technique, teleportation required a brief "skill preparation" interval.

Though this window lasted mere tenths of a second, it provided Richard ample opportunity.

Before the Red Devil could complete his teleportation, the Judgement Cut End had already taken effect.

The Red Devil, caught at the technique's epicenter, felt an inexplicable binding force as the space around him distorted unnaturally, immobilizing him.

Simultaneously, crescent-shaped energy blades materialized from thin air, delivering devastating slashes from all directions.

Schick-schick-schick-schick-schick!

Neither the Red Devil's body nor his scimitars could withstand the Judgement Cut End's assault. Without time to react, the crescent energy blades passed through his form as effortlessly as through cake, reducing him to variously sized fragments.

Regardless of whether he had violated Mystique, Richard had never intended to allow the Red Devil's departure.

The Red Devil's possession of teleportation sealed his fate.

Azazel died? Just like that?

Emma recognized Richard's formidable power. She had witnessed his livestreamed confrontation at the Los Angeles branch, observing his use of Judgement Cut End against mutant agents.

Yet she never anticipated the Red Devil's complete inability to resist Richard.

How powerful is he?

Could he truly be an Omega-level mutant?

The White Queen stared at Richard in disbelief.

Richard paid no attention to her stunned gaze, calmly beginning his power assimilation.

[Gain new abilities: Teleportation, Immortality!]

[Compatible abilities detected; fusion initiated!]

[Teleportation enhanced!]

...

Examining the information panel before him, Richard frowned slightly.

Though teleportation and immortality constituted the Red Devil's primary powers, the comics depicted him with additional abilities.

Beyond teleportation and immortality, the comic version of the Red Devil possessed time-space freezing, paralysis, shapeshifting, and mental manipulation.

[Immortality: Extreme longevity, current level: Alpha level]

After briefly reviewing the Immortality ability description, Richard closed the information panel and approached Emma Frost, Masamune still in hand.

Soon he stood before her.

After appraising her figure, he spoke deliberately:

"Being a woman grants you chance of surviving compared to Azazel."

"First, how old are you?"

"Second, what purpose motivates the Hellfire Club's dinner invitation to Alpha and Beta mutants?"

"Third, have you captured mutant twins named Wanda and Pietro?"

"Consider carefully before answering. These three questions likewise determine whether you leave here alive."

Richard openly acknowledged his interest in the youthful White Queen.

This did not, however, guarantee her survival.

Should she attempt deception, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate her and claim her telepathic abilities and diamond form for himself.

Hearing Richard's words, the recently composed White Queen immediately frowned.

Of the three questions, the first and third caught her by surprise.

His interest in the Hellfire Club's plans seemed natural enough.

But his curiosity about her age proved unexpected.

Additionally, she wondered how Richard had learned about Wanda and Pietro's captivity.

After more than ten seconds of deliberation, she replied:

"I am twenty-six years old."

"We invited other mutants to strengthen our organization's core membership."

"Regarding Wanda and Pietro—yes, they are indeed our captives, but I don't know their exact location."

"Only Shaw possesses that information."

"Furthermore, Shaw personally led the operation to capture them. I neither participated nor received details about it."

Sebastian Shaw alone knows their location?

Upon hearing Emma Frost's response, Richard's initial reaction suggested deception.

However, after further consideration—particularly noting her subtle, involuntary trembling—he concluded she likely spoke truthfully.

"Since you don't know where they're being held, then you—" Richard began.

Before he could complete his statement, Emma Frost interjected.

"Don't kill me! I can prove far more valuable to you alive!"

"Whatever you require—anything within my capacity—I won't refuse."

...

Chapter 55: I'm Very Angry Now

Is she begging for mercy now?

Is this the benefit of being handsome?

Or perhaps she has a preference for silver hair?

Richard regarded Emma Frost with mild surprise.

Though she had surrendered in the film adaptation, she had at least put up resistance initially, capitulating only when Magneto had nearly shattered her diamond form.

Yet now, not only had Emma Frost refrained from assuming her diamond form, she displayed no intense emotional reaction whatsoever.

"You'll refuse nothing?" Richard inquired, his gaze traveling deliberately across her striking features and alluring physique.

Though accustomed to male attention, Emma Frost sensed something distinctly different in Richard's appraisal.

In her experience, men typically regarded her with raw desire, their thoughts focused solely on carnal gratification.

Richard, however, studied her with the calculating intensity of a predator assessing prey—as though contemplating consuming her entirely.

Despite this unsettling impression, Emma Frost responded without hesitation:

"Yes, anything!"

Upon hearing her affirmation, Richard raised his right hand and firmly grasped her shoulder.

Teleportation!

In the next instant, he transported them both to his business suite at Caesars Palace Hotel.

"Demonstrate sufficient value, and I'll spare your life," Richard stated. "For example—"

As before, Emma Frost interrupted before he could finish.

"Don't worry. I understand what's required."

With that declaration, she knelt directly before him, raised her hands, and reached for his zipper.

I'm very angry now!

Witnessing Emma Frost's actions, this classic line involuntarily flash through Richard's mind.

Though no longer inexperienced before his transmigration—having engaged with several university classmates—he had no intention of allowing Emma Frost to "relieve his anger" at present.

At least not before concluding their business!

Just as her fingers touched his zipper, Richard immediately teleported several meters backward.

"If that's all you're offering, I might as well kill you," he declared coldly. "You're undeniably beautiful, but there are many women more attractive than you in this world."

"If this represents the entirety of your value, I see no reason to preserve your life."

Richard regarded her with stern intensity.

Hearing his rejection, Emma Frost immediately countered: "Your first question concerned my age. Wasn't that because you intended to sleep with me?"

Richard offered no denial, responding directly:

"That's merely one aspect, not the entirety."

"More importantly, even if intimacy were my objective, the timing would be mine to determine, not yours."

Emma Frost frowned thoughtfully, then rose and settled onto the sofa.

"What exactly do you require of me?" she asked.

"Something quite straightforward. Simply become my subordinate," Richard explained as he seated himself on the sofa opposite her.

"Subordinate?" she echoed with a sardonic smile. "Aren't you concerned about potential betrayal?"

"What's there to fear? Should you betray me, I'll simply eliminate you."

"Though your point reminds me..."

Richard raised his right hand, channeling mana to manifest a technique he had developed.

Under Emma Frost's watchful gaze, an egg-sized sphere of mana, radiating blue-white luminescence, materialized above his palm.

"What is that?" she inquired, brow furrowed.

"Merely an energy construct," he replied casually. "More specifically, a remotely controlled energy construct that responds exclusively to my will—essentially a wireless explosive."

"The energy contained within remains perfectly stable. Unless deliberately detonated or externally disturbed, it poses no danger."

"However, any attempt to neutralize it would disrupt its internal equilibrium, triggering a detonation similar to a conventional explosive."

"While not extraordinarily powerful, it possesses more than sufficient force to reduce you to fragments."

As Richard provided this explanation, he directed the magical construct—which he had named "Contract Bomb"—to hover before Emma Frost. Before she could formulate further questions, Richard guided the “Contract Bomb” into her chest, positioning it near her heart.

Had Emma Frost removed her white attire and undergarments at that moment, she would have discovered a light blue circular mark, approximately fingertip-sized, centered on her chest—resembling a tattoo.

This azure circular emblem represented the “Contract Bomb” marker, specifically designed by Richard.

"Is this your method of ensuring my compliance?" Emma Frost asked evenly.

"No, this represents just one mechanism," Richard clarified.

"Beyond this, I'll employ telepathy to modify your subconscious, rendering you more 'cooperative.'"

"You possess telepathic abilities yourself, superior to my own."

"Consequently, altering your subconscious requires your voluntary participation."

Richard explained methodically.

With anyone else, simple telepathic influence would suffice.

Unfortunately, Emma Frost's telepathic capabilities exceeded his own.

Without her cooperation, even basic mental processes like thought-reading or memory-scanning would prove impossible, let alone subconscious manipulation.

"The world perceives you as fearless, yet you display remarkable caution," she observed, frowning slightly.

"Not content with implanting a 'remote detonator,' you intend to reconfigure my subconscious as well."

Though possessing telepathic abilities herself, detecting subconscious alterations would prove equally challenging for her.

Subconscious manipulation, memory alteration, and personality suppression all presented similar detection difficulties.

Jean Grey provided a perfect illustration.

Professor Xavier had suppressed Phoenix for decades, yet Jean, despite her formidable telepathic abilities, never discovered this intervention.

Without the subsequent incidents that enabled Dark Phoenix to break through Xavier's barriers, Jean would have remained perpetually unaware of Xavier's concealment.

Given any alternative, Emma Frost would never permit Richard to manipulate her subconscious.

Unfortunately, no alternatives existed.

In truth, she had mentally prepared herself the moment she chose to plead for mercy.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have surrendered so readily.

After several moments of silent contemplation, Emma Frost spoke with resignation:

"Proceed. I won't resist your telepathic intrusion."

"Excellent!"

Richard nodded and immediately deployed his telepathy, penetrating Emma Frost's mental defenses to access her subconscious.

Though he had never previously attempted subconscious manipulation, he swiftly completed the alterations to Emma Frost's psyche.

After implanting subconscious directives such as "avoid betrayal," "obey all commands from Master Richard Wesley," and "Sebastian Shaw is untrustworthy," he additionally erased portions of Emma Frost's memory.

Specifically, he deleted all recollection following the “Contract Bomb” integration into her body.

Though he could have eliminated her memory of the “Contract Bomb” itself, he deliberately refrained.

As long as the “Contract Bomb” remained within her, the light blue circular mark on her chest would persist.

Mission accomplished!

Having completed these modifications, Richard observed the unconscious White Queen as he terminated the telepathic connection.

Her unconsciousness proved brief, lasting merely two or three minutes before she regained awareness.

"Care for a drink?" Richard inquired as she opened her eyes, finding him savoring whiskey.

"Any wine available?" Emma Frost asked softly, glancing at the whiskey on the table.

"Certainly."

Upon speaking, Richard employed telekinesis to summon the wine bottle, glasses, and corkscrew from the suite's cabinet.

Under Emma Frost's attentive gaze, he opened the bottle and poured her a glass.

"Thank you," she murmured, accepting the wine.

"You're welcome," he replied. "Now, where is Sebastian Shaw currently located? And who else comprises the Hellfire Club's core membership besides yourself and Azazel?"

...