The Promise Is Always Good

Sunspot trembled with anger, not knowing what was happening.

He could only release all his stored energy at once, forming what looked like an intense "sunspot." That single black hole-like, flickering thing possessed a force of 20 tons.

Yet Li Chen caught it effortlessly, holding it as if it were no different from a basketball.

At that moment, Sunspot knew he had been thoroughly defeated.

He was not the only one. Every member of the Hellfire Club watching the fight knew the outcome as well.

The defiance that had lingered in some of their eyes vanished in an instant.

They were familiar with the sight, because the Black King, Sebastian Shaw, could do the same thing.

It had to do with Black King Shaw's mutant ability: he could absorb energy in any form, convert it into his own, and release it.

Of course, everyone had limits, and mutants were no exception.

They thought Li Chen had the same ability as Black King Shaw.

The White Queen's eyes lit up. No wonder Li Chen wanted to become the White King. He really had the ability.

This was America. As long as your fists were strong enough, you could earn the respect of others.

Li Chen, however, did not stop. After taking so many hits, he naturally had to return them. He was no saint.

So he said, "I'll just return this to you. Otherwise, people might say I'm picking on you."

With that, Li Chen threw the black mass in his hand.

The black mass, weighing 20 tons, flew toward the exhausted Sunspot.

Sunspot instantly felt the hairs on his body stand on end. That thing weighed 20 tons, and he did not dare take it head-on!

He dodged immediately, but strangely, the thing seemed to have its sights set on him, as if it were homing in. No matter which way he ran, it "turned" after him.

That was [Blessing of First Strike], a conceptual skill that guaranteed the first attack would hit.

"Help!"

The bizarre sight frightened Sunspot into crying out.

Fortunately, as the Hellfire Club's Black Rook, the Black Queen naturally would not stand by and watch him suffer a serious injury. She stepped forward.

She extended her black-gloved hands and gently pinched at the black mass.

Under the influence of her ability, space itself began to warp. Yet Sunspot's ball of light was unaffected. It slipped straight out of the warped space and continued hurtling toward him.

The Black Queen, Selene, widened her eyes. "Incredible."

She flashed in front of Sunspot, only for the black mass to seem to "go around" her, as if it really had locked onto him.

She reached out, caught the 20-ton ball of light, and crushed it.

"Interesting."

A wisp of heat rose from her black glove.

She was immune to the damage, but her clothes were not.

She did not care, though. Looking solemnly at Li Chen, she said, "I agree to Li becoming the Hellfire Club's White Rook."

After that, no one brought up seniority again.

All voices of opposition vanished at once.

It was as if everyone had become a good person, smiles on all their faces.

The White Queen, Emma Frost, said proudly, "I had a party prepared. Everyone, let's go upstairs."

During the Hellfire Club's private party that followed, everyone came over to introduce themselves to Li Chen.

After all, he was now the White Rook, having vaulted into the Hellfire Club's upper ranks.

But there was no defiance in anyone's eyes, because Li Chen had proven his strength.

Proving yourself through strength was the fairest thing of all.

Li Chen dealt with them for a while, then promptly went to sit in a corner.

Before long, the Black Queen, Selene, came over and sat down too. But before she could speak, the sharp-eyed White Queen followed her over.

"Li and I still have something to discuss."

The White Queen said this directly.

She took Li Chen by the arm and made to leave, so the Black Queen had no choice but to transmit her voice to him. "Li, my promise is always good."

The Black Queen sipped her red wine and winked at Li Chen.

Although Li Chen was the White Rook and nominally on the White Queen's side, who said he could not change sides?

There was no harm in trying to entice him.

Li Chen took a discreet look at the Black Queen's whip. That was not his thing.

The other way around was more like it.

Li Chen followed the White Queen onto the Hellfire Club's balcony.

"So much has happened tonight that I haven't had the chance to congratulate you."

"Thank you."

Li Chen clinked glasses with the White Queen.

Becoming the Hellfire Club's White Rook meant he was entitled to use the club's resources.

For one thing, the Hellfire Club had branches and personnel in nearly every major city in the world. That alone was an important resource.

The two took a sip of wine, and only then did Li Chen notice that the White Queen was wearing blue lipstick.

He still thought this color suited the White Queen better.

Emma Frost noticed his gaze, and something stirred within her, but she did not show it.

"I heard about what happened with the Hand, but Psylocke has disappeared?"

She looked at Li Chen as she asked.

Psylocke was a powerful mutant too, and the White Queen had always wondered whether she might have a chance to recruit her.

"She's mine now."

Li Chen spoke up.

The White Queen, Emma Frost, rolled her eyes at him. "Men. You all like pretty women."

Come to think of it, Psylocke had an even better figure than she did.

At 1.8 meters tall, Longlegs was astonishing. Even the White Queen was two centimeters shorter than her.

"No."

Li Chen looked at Emma Frost and said, "I like women who are like diamonds."

His words had a pointed meaning: Emma Frost's ability was Diamond Form.

Emma Frost gave him a strange look. "I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it."

In Diamond Form, her entire body became like diamond. An ordinary person could not get inside her; even bumping against her would hurt.

"How would I know without trying?"

Li Chen spoke calmly.

The two looked into each other's eyes, then both set their glasses on the edge of the balcony and drew closer and closer.

Just as Li Chen lowered his head, the White Queen, Emma Frost, decided to play a little trick.

Her entire body turned into sparkling diamond in an instant. When Li Chen touched her, all he felt was hardness and cold.

He looked down at Emma Frost and saw a hint of amusement in her blue eyes, which had also turned to diamond.

"Well? Do you still think you can do it?"

Diamond was the hardest naturally occurring mineral. Ordinary people could not even hurt her, let alone get inside her.

Li Chen could not admit defeat, of course. "Actually, it's not bad."

When the White Queen saw Li Chen still wanted to kiss her, she chose to push him away.

Diamond Form was actually very uncomfortable.

Besides, she could not let Li Chen have her too easily.

She had spent so long in Los Angeles that she naturally knew how to manipulate people's hearts. She was no longer the naive sweetheart she had been in her youth.

"Maybe another time, darling."

The White Queen, Emma Frost, spoke with aloof beauty. "For now, you should go enjoy everyone's cheers."

After all, Li Chen was the star of this party. He could not keep hiding off to the side.