Chapter 83: Hunted #83
The Skylux Tower, an epitome of opulence towering over New York, boasted of luxurious apartments fit for the elite. At its pinnacle sat the prestigious penthouse, a haven of extravagance complete with its own pool and a sprawling veranda.
A young man reclined on a pool chair, clad in nothing but shorts, his gaze fixed upon the twinkling stars above. Nearby, a regal rat nibbled on a morsel, occasionally shooting disapproving glances at the man as if deeply disappointed.
Unfazed by the rodent's judgmental stares, the young man remained lost in his stargazing reverie until the tranquility was shattered by the thunderous roar of approaching helicopters.
Three choppers closed in on the penthouse, their blades slicing through the serene night air. With a resigned sigh, the young man rose from his chair, his expression tinged with apathy.
"Already a year..." he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with irritation. "Don't you people know when to throw in the towel?"
As the helicopters hovered over the penthouse, a cadre of men clad in combat gear jumped off, landing before the young man and surrounding him.
With effortless grace, the first assassin leaped into action, his movements fluid as he retrieved a handful of gleaming shurikens from his concealed robes. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the deadly blades slicing through the air toward the young man.
Yet, before they could reach their target, the man's form blurred and vanished, leaving behind only a ripple of distorted space. In a blink, he reappeared behind the startled assailant, his presence unsettling.
The young man regarded the assassin with a quizzical expression as if mildly inconvenienced by the attempt on his life. "Is this really the best you've got?" he mused, his voice laced with a hint of boredom.
With a casual flick of his hand, he touched the assassin's back, causing the very fabric of space to contort and twist around him until he vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
Meanwhile, the other assassins wasted no time, capitalizing on the distraction to deploy small devices around the penthouse. In an instant, these devices sprang to life, erecting a shimmering purplish barrier that sealed off the area.
Undeterred, the young man calmly attempted to manipulate space once more, only to find his efforts futile against the barrier's resistance. Annoyance flashed across his features as he raised both hands, grasping something no one else could see.
With a sharp yank, a cacophony of shattering glass reverberated through the air as the barrier crumbled before him, dissipating like smoke in the wind.
"Space stabilizing devices... now you've really pissed me off...." he remarked, his tone tinged with irritation. With a dismissive flick of his wrist, the assassins were forcefully expelled from the penthouse, their forms hurtling through the air before plummeting to the ground below.
Turning his gaze toward the hovering helicopters, the young man's expression hardened. "Killing you would only cause too much damage," he declared coolly. "Consider yourselves lucky and leave while you still can."
The helicopter drivers wasted no time in heeding the young man's warning, swiftly retreating from the vicinity of the penthouse. With a nonchalant shrug, Micah strolled over to one of the devices left behind by the assassins, eyeing it with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
It was a peculiar contraption, a fist-sized sphere crackling with green energy, its surface pulsating with electric arcs.
Ever since acquiring the Astral Void Beholder bloodline, Micah had sought solace in seclusion, retreating to a remote cabin nestled deep within the mountains. It was his sanctuary, a place where he hoped to find peace away from the chaos of the world.
Yet, fate had other plans for him.
His involvement in thwarting the Secret Society's recruitment efforts, particularly in saving Poison Ivy from their clutches, had inadvertently drawn their attention. Despite his attempts to vanish into obscurity, Micah found himself relentlessly pursued by the organization's agents.
The tranquility he sought was shattered by the persistent threat of assassination attempts.
Initially, Micah had dispatched the first wave of assassins with ease, hoping to dissuade further incursions. But the Secret Society proved relentless, sending subsequent waves to hound him in his mountain retreat. Frustration simmered within him as he realized that hiding was no longer viable.
Reluctantly, Micah decided to return to the city, hoping that the presence of so many people would better the Secret Society. Little did he know, however, that not only would the Secret Society remain undeterred, but he'd find himself facing even more troublesome situations.
Arnold Wesker, once the Ventriloquist and now the man Micah had entrusted with his company, finally tracked him down. He launched into a tirade about Micah's sudden disappearance during a critical phase for the company.
Despite his newfound apathy, Micah couldn't brush off Wesker's concerns. After all, he had placed a considerable burden on the former villain's shoulders.
Enduring an hour of Wesker's complaints, Micah listened intently as he recounted the events that had unfolded within the company during Micah's four-month absence.
Deathstroke had delivered on his promise by sending his own daughter to oversee the company's security — Rose Wilson, known as Ravager. Initially failing to find Micah, she had struck a deal with Wesker in his absence, officially assuming the role of chief of security.
Unlike her infamous father, Rose was not a wanted criminal, facilitating her smooth appointment. Despite the hefty price tag attached to her services, Rose proved to be an invaluable asset, effectively safeguarding the company and thwarting numerous attempts to steal the formula for the cancer cure.
In the realm of medical breakthroughs, the company had struck gold with the cancer cure. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Wayne Industries, the cure sailed through its testing phase, and sales skyrocketed. Despite its affordability, the cure generated substantial revenue for both companies, paving the way for expansion and prosperity.
Dr. Victor Fries, rebranded simply as Dr. Fries, found redemption and legal absolution with the assistance of Jean-Paul Valley, also known as Azrael. With his wife, Nora, now cured and revived, Dr. Fries emerged as the leading scientist in the company's medical research division. Leveraging his vast network and the company's resources, Dr. Fries assembled a team of top-tier researchers to aid in his endeavors.
With the aid of the Father Box, a cutting-edge piece of technology, they ventured beyond the confines of the cancer cure, developing treatments for a myriad of ailments. Their success propelled the company into the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry, drawing envy and ire from established players.
Acknowledging the shifting landscape and mindful of their partnership with Wayne Enterprises, Wesker made a strategic move. He authorized the release of the cancer cure formula, extending an olive branch to competitors while cementing the company's reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Wesker's strategic move yielded a plethora of benefits. Firstly, it facilitated the global distribution of the cancer cure, ensuring its accessibility as pharmaceutical companies worldwide began manufacturing and selling it.
With the original cure available at an affordable price, competitors couldn't hike their prices too high without facing backlash.
Moreover, the company's name, EternaCures, spread like wildfire across the globe, earning praise and admiration from the masses. With Livewire championing the company and its medicines, marketing expenses dwindled, bolstering sales and attracting top-tier researchers to join their ranks.
In Micah's absence, Wesker proved himself a capable leader, evolving from a former gangster and eccentric to a savvy businessman capable of steering the company to success. His decisions consistently benefited the company, earning him the respect and trust of all employees.
Meanwhile, Livewire's talk show soared to new heights of popularity. After Poison Ivy's appearance, numerous villains and vixens clamored for a spot on the show. Some discussed their causes, while others indulged in shameless self-promotion.
Despite the diverse array of guests, the show remained highly anticipated worldwide, with Wesker ensuring its accessibility through multilingual translations and dubbing.
Poison Ivy became a recurring guest on the show, advocating for environmental protection with each appearance. While her impact seemed gradual and subtle, it wasn't without effect. Slowly but surely, her advocacy resonated with some viewers, inspiring them to join the cause and take action.
Although it didn't save the environment overnight, it marked a significant shift from Ivy's previous terrorist activities, leading her to dial back on her radical endeavors.
Of course, not everyone applauded the notion of eco-terrorists and villainous celebrities gracing talk shows. Some governmental agencies attempted to exploit the platform to apprehend the villains, Ivy included, but their initial efforts fell flat.
In response, Rose Wilson, acting on Wesker's instructions, arranged for the show to be conducted in clandestine locations, thwarting any further attempts at interference.
As the sole proprietor of both the company and the talk show, Micah's bank account swelled with hundreds of millions of dollars over the past year.
Despite his prolonged absence and minimal involvement, his wealth skyrocketed, catapulting him into the ranks of the super-rich without lifting a finger besides recruiting Wesker and the others before his disappearance and setting some long-term plans and goals.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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