Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Twisted Beliefs
"I... may have a slight concussion..."
Is it just a slight concussion?
Nightcrawler helped Warren up, and Warren held his head while checking on Hulk's condition.
Hmm, good. Hulk has been heavily sedated with an extra-large dose of tranquilizers. As long as we maintain the medication, we can keep him detained.
"This syringe is good." Warren glanced at the discarded empty syringe and praised it.
"It was specially made by Overwatch. Mr. Stern was concerned that a regular syringe would be ineffective against this monster."
Nightcrawler, with an ability similar to Magneto, skillfully created a syringe needle in his hand.
"Red Queen, did you bring the web fluid?" Warren had a portable web-shooter with him, as it was very useful.
But they didn't have enough web fluid to contain Hulk completely.
"Yes, sir."
"Package this monster and take him away."
Nightcrawler immediately volunteered, "Why not let me do it?"
"Oh, right, you can teleport. Then, please deliver him to Overwatch Headquarters... Overwatch Headquarters, can you hear me?"
"Received. We're ready to receive him."
"You take him away first, and then come back to pick me up. Red Queen, you can go back now."
"Understood, sir."
Under Red Queen's control, the Black Cat Luna flew back, while Nightcrawler cautiously approached Hulk and poked his skin with his hand, a bit afraid.
After all, he had witnessed how this thing tore apart tanks with its bare hands. If Hulk didn't faint and headbutted him like he did to Warren, Nightcrawler would definitely be killed on the spot.
"Wait!"
A voice came through the communication channel, and a helicopter landed nearby.
A thin general stepped out of the helicopter and walked briskly towards them. After glancing at Hulk, who was no smaller than the helicopter, he said, "Leave him to me!"
"Mr. Angel?" Nightcrawler naturally wanted to consult Warren's opinion first.
Is this guy really so powerful?
"He may be an enemy. Prepare for battle!" Warren had no intention of reasoning with him.
The thin general was taken aback for a moment, then explained, "I'm General Ross. We've talked before."
"Since you're a general, you should follow procedures. This creature is likely a mutant and should be handed over to Overwatch."
"He's not a mutant..."
"Then it should be handed over to S.H.I.E.L.D. In any case, it's not your turn. Furthermore, I suspect you have other malicious intentions. I ask you and the soldiers around you to disarm and cooperate with our investigation."
Warren spoke with conviction.
General Ross was somewhat puzzled by Warren's firmness. From what he knew, this Warren Worthington was not such a serious person. Moreover, the procedure seemed excessively strict. How could it reach the general's level of investigation?
"You suspect me?" General Ross laughed.
"Some mutants have the ability to mimic others. Given your unusual behavior, I ask you to immediately disarm and cooperate with the investigation, or..."
Whoosh!
The intense flames rose from the Flameblades, and General Ross and his soldiers were forced to take a step back from the heatwave.
"I cannot guarantee your safety."
Warren stated this in a calm and declarative tone, while the fiery blades before him served as a final warning.
Ross, who had lived most of his life, felt the absurdity of the situation. He couldn't break this cycle.
In fact, many people knew about Mystique, so it was possible for mutants to impersonate others. And his previous request was indeed out of line. Warren's suspicion had some merit, but because of that, he, a general, should disarm and cooperate with the investigation?
That was impossible!
However, Ross couldn't put on a tough act either. The high temperature rising from the Flameblades, as his subordinates had explained, exceeded 5,000 degrees. This creature that couldn't be penetrated by missiles would easily be pierced by these two weapons. There was no chance for his physical body to survive.
"Listen to me, this creature is a product of our military experiments, so..."
"It's another mutant experiment, right? You damn bugs and your wretched experiments."
Nightcrawler's expression changed, and his gaze towards the unconscious Green Giant became complex.
Another comrade being abused? These despicable bastards...
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Nightcrawler's tail, agile as a third hand, instantly disarmed everyone, including General Ross, and then raised his wrist. Spider-web strands shot out, binding every soldier, including General Ross.
"I used to be part of a circus troupe."
After finishing his work, Nightcrawler said, adding that the web-shooter, a compact and handy gadget, was really useful.
"I really am a general. You can ask Stern or Nick Fury, they are both online!" General Ross, who was tied up, tried to defend himself.
Warren put away his weapons and calmly said, "There's no need to ask. Even if you're a general, conducting such cruel experiments would still require facing a military court."
"This was just an experimental accident! An accident! Listen to my explanation!"
"Nightcrawler, gag him."
Snap!
Nightcrawler shot a web to seal Ross's mouth.
An accident?
Warren knew it was an accident, and he knew Ross was a general, but didn't Ross understand where he went wrong?
Overwatch had only been established for a month, mainly assisting the police in solving mutant-related crimes. They hadn't yet solved any major cases. Today, Hulk wreaked havoc in the city, and many people saw it. Warren sent him flying, and many people witnessed that too.
Therefore, Hulk would be Overwatch's first major achievement after its establishment. Overwatch prevented this monster from harming civilians. Shouldn't this good deed be publicized?
Who did you think you were, trying to take Hulk away? Do you think you have such great face?
First, arrest a general and investigate him thoroughly. Although Warren couldn't completely control Ross at the moment, giving him a taste of his power was still possible.
As for Hulk, forget about it. The plot of the Green Giant had no further development. It would result in too many civilian casualties. Warren would protect Bruce Banner, either letting him live as an ordinary person or merging him with the power of Hulk, just like in Avengers 4.
As for Blonsky—there was no need for the Abomination to appear either. Blonsky had used an incomplete Super Soldier Serum and amplified certain thoughts in his mind, then used Banner's blood to transform himself into the mindless Abomination.
He was originally an outstanding soldier who had dedicated his life to the battlefield. How could he have gone astray just because his body no longer maintained its youthful state?
Come on, old... buddy, I have some excellent original Super Soldier Serum here.
Overwatch Headquarters.
Senator Stern still had that smiley corrupt official face as he welcomed Warren's victorious return.
"Well done. Tomorrow, the ink of various newspapers might not be enough."
"It's the era of the internet now."
"But you shouldn't have arrested Ross."
When Stern said this, he wasn't worried at all.
"He'll be held for 24 hours and then released. It's a matter of whether a senior military officer is at risk of being replaced by a mutant terrorist organization. It's only right to take it seriously, isn't it?"
"We'll face a lot of pressure."
"Can't handle it?"
Stern smiled but didn't answer.
"Then that's fine. When the military asks Congress for money, just say, 'The Eastern countries are about to surpass us, and we need money to develop new weapons.' The old men in Congress will immediately sign the bill happily, won't they?
Now, we're investigating mutant crimes seriously. What's wrong with investigating someone like Ross? As long as they don't block our doorstep with tanks, we won't release him until he's held for a full 24 hours. And..."
Warren took off his helmet and rubbed his slightly dizzy head.
"Even if the military comes with tanks, it won't matter."
Stern's heart skipped a beat. This kind of arrogance, where one could boast and act recklessly because of their power, wasn't it what he aspired to?
Oops, it's the feeling of being smitten.
Warren placed his hand on Stern's shoulder and gave him a strange smile.
"Don't worry too much about them."
As Stern looked into Warren's clear blue eyes, his heart raced faster and faster. He felt his head becoming congested, his thoughts blurred, and he entered a kind of mental trance.
A mysterious psychic invasion, Warren's will was on the verge of completely imprinting itself onto Stern's mind.
Hasn't he been completely twisted yet? The Gold-rarity card isn't that powerful. To directly control others, it should at least be an Epic-rarity card.
So, he launched a lethal blow, leaning close to Stern's ear.
"The world belongs to us. I will lead you to conquer it... hail Hydra."
Softly speaking the slogan, Stern completely succumbed, and a dark glint settled in his eyes, molding his entire being into the shape of Warren from within.
Skill: Twisted Beliefs.
By physical contact, Warren implants his image into the target's mind, becoming their object of faith. It has a weak or no effect on those with strong mental fortitude or resistance.
However, at this moment, Stern was completely defenseless. After Warren softly uttered the slogan, Stern's trust in him instantly reached its maximum. 'Twisted Beliefs' twisted him with no sense of accomplishment.
"Hail Hydra."
The control was complete, and the two separated. Warren whispered lowly:
"From now on, you and your subordinates will obey my orders."
Stern's fanatical gaze was like that of a teenage girl seeing her idol.
"Yes, sir! You will lead us to conquer the world!"
Being stared at by an old man with such eyes also put pressure on Warren. "Calm down a bit, then go and complete the tasks I give you. Also..."
Although he didn't want to, Warren had to do it.
"Give me the list of high-ranking Hydra members you know. I want to have a 'chat' with a few of them."
Oh no, just thinking about having a bunch of old man fans gives me so much pressure.
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