In the early morning, New York's streets were packed with vehicles, traffic flowing endlessly. When the red lights came on, drivers stopped on both sides of the road and waited for green. Once the lights changed, cars surged forward like a tide, heading toward workplaces and schools. The city's clamor gradually grew as people hurried through the streets. A busy, vibrant city began a new day.
In Hawke Group's office, Nathan Hawke sat in a custom-made executive chair, leisurely drinking milk tea.
A beep sounded from outside.
Andrew floated in, looking refreshed, then immediately collapsed onto the sofa.
"All I can say is, it was fucking amazing."
Andrew still seemed unsatisfied, his face filled with bliss.
The intense collisions, the exploration.
If Nathan Hawke had not called him back, Andrew would have gone completely wild.
Sleeping in the morning, waking up, then getting to work!
All kinds of roles, all kinds of moves, getting to work!
At night, it was a "happy party," a carnival for a whole crowd. Getting to work!
"You were right. I'm getting a little tired of it."
Andrew suddenly felt bored.
Nathan Hawke could only shake his head speechlessly as he drank his milk tea and watched him.
Young people were like that—without restraint, indulging themselves like crazy.
It reminded Nathan Hawke of the night he had summoned Andrew.
Tattered clothes, yet a stance that refused to kneel.
When Andrew had been summoned, he was covered in injuries, so Nathan had Wesker take him to Umbrella Corporation for treatment.
Andrew.
The protagonist of Chronicle.
He had gone from an introverted shut-in who was poor with words to the standout among his superpowered companions. His abilities had continued to grow, but his unrestrained behavior had ultimately led to destruction. The story taught that undisciplined actions could bring irreversible consequences to oneself and others, so one had to maintain self-control while enjoying freedom.
But the truth was—
After Andrew recovered, the first thing he said was—
"I want women."
Whatever.
It was not until today, when Nathan Hawke finally lost his patience, that Andrew obediently returned.
Disobedient?
Wesker had already taught him a lesson.
Besides, being supported with money was genuinely a nice life, and Andrew accepted it with a clear conscience.
"So today's the day you're doing the summoning?"
Andrew crooked a finger, and a cup of milk tea prepared for him flew over.
He caught it and began drinking.
"I knew it. You still need the great me to make an appearance." Seeing Nathan Hawke's calm gaze, Andrew shut up.
A trace of embarrassment then appeared in his smile.
"Though you'd be fine without me."
"I know, I know. Making friends, right? If they don't listen, just beat them up."
Nathan Hawke walked to a corner of the office and tapped the wall with a finger.
An elevator emerged from inside the wall.
Andrew followed behind Nathan Hawke as they rapidly descended together.
They reached the underground level and entered an enclosed chamber.
The summoning began.
The light of a hexagram lit up.
Andrew widened his eyes, watching every detail.
Then the light faded.
"Where's the person?"
Andrew looked at Nathan Hawke in confusion.
He desperately wanted to voice the words in his heart, but remembering that the man before him was his boss, he tightly sealed his own mouth with Psychic Power.
"Where is he?"
Andrew could not hold it in any longer and asked loudly this time.
"Right in front of you."
Nathan Hawke replied blandly.
"In front of us?"
Andrew was even more dumbfounded. In front of them? He wanted to argue, but still kept his mouth shut.
Nathan Hawke gave him a bland look.
Andrew felt deeply uncomfortable under Nathan Hawke's gaze, as though a snake were slithering over his body.
"Focus your mind. Spread out your Psychic Power, and you'll discover what's unnatural."
Before Nathan Hawke even finished speaking, a wave of Psychic Power spread outward.
Through the feedback, Andrew immediately discovered the unnatural spot.
"Here." Andrew instantly pointed in a direction.
"Uh, hello." A voice came from nowhere, yet no figure could be seen.
"Show yourself."
Nathan Hawke's calm voice sounded again.
Translucent, who had raised his hands, immediately appeared naked before the two of them.
Translucent. One of The Seven from The Boys.
His superpower was invisibility, allowing him to become invisible in the material world and remain unseen by anyone.
Translucent's personality was reserved and introverted, and he was not particularly good at interacting with people.
But all that changed after he became invisible.
Voyeurism, reckless boldness, twisted desires—the thrill of peeping at women's bodies caused the evil thoughts within him to erupt beyond suppression.
"Wow!!!" Andrew immediately let out a shocked cry.
"Uh." Translucent was a little embarrassed. If they had been women, he would have gladly shown off his masculine prowess, but Nathan Hawke before him made him think of that "crazy" Star-Spangled Man.
He quietly followed behind the two, awkwardly greeting Andrew with his eyes.
They returned to the top floor together.
After putting on the suit that had been delivered, Translucent quietly sat to one side, inwardly restless.
He looked up at Andrew beside him, who looked utterly carefree, then secretly glanced at Nathan Hawke.
"Generally speaking, I'm very easy to get along with," Nathan Hawke said.
The moment Translucent heard that, he was instantly triggered. He truly feared that his new boss would fire a laser from glowing red eyes.
"Hello, Boss. I'm Translucent. As the name implies, I'm 'invisible.'" With that, he used his ability again.
Then Translucent reappeared and looked anxiously at Nathan Hawke before him.
"Want some?" Nathan Hawke picked up the milk tea prepared for him.
"Thank you, Boss." Translucent immediately held out both hands and accepted it respectfully. He took a small sip, then placed it on his tightly closed knees.
"Your name in this world will be Alex Hassel. Someone will show you around and help you get familiar with this place." Nathan Hawke pressed a button on the phone beside him.
Before long, a tall, beautiful woman appeared before Nathan Hawke.
"Boss, what do you need me to do?" the woman asked with a smile.
"Jenny, this is our new team member, Alex. Show him around and help him integrate into our team as quickly as possible," Nathan Hawke instructed.
"Alright. Alex, come with me." Jenny turned toward Alex and gave him a friendly beckoning gesture.
"Thank you, Boss." Translucent's eyes suddenly lit up as he stared at Jenny's impressive figure.
A sharp pain suddenly struck his head.
He hurriedly looked at Nathan Hawke and found icy coldness in Nathan Hawke's gaze.
That look made Translucent swallow nervously.
"Don't touch the company employees. For the others, you can ask Andrew later."
Translucent could no longer suppress his shock and stared at Nathan Hawke. Nathan Hawke's words had actually appeared in his mind. He quickly nodded and followed Jenny out of Nathan Hawke's office.
Seeing that things were over, Andrew also wanted to leave.
"Not so fast."
Andrew saw only a cold, indifferent gaze, and goosebumps immediately rose all over his body.
Inside Hawke Group's Combat Laboratory, Andrew was slammed violently into the wall by Nathan Hawke, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Nathan Hawke slowly descended from above, looking down at Andrew lying on the ground.
"Look at your combat awareness, your use of Psychic Power, and your spiritual perception. Your current performance is complete garbage."
Andrew panted heavily. He did not argue, nor did he dare to.
"As long as your spiritual power struck the target, you could have easily discovered the invisible Translucent. Yet I had you spread out your Psychic Power instead. Do you know why?"
Faced with Nathan Hawke's questioning,
Andrew paused, then nodded.
"I don't care whether you know or not. Go to Umbrella Corporation and find Wesker. I'll have him train you. When the time comes, I'll find you an opponent."
Watching Nathan Hawke leave the Combat Laboratory,
Andrew wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Young master." The butler took out a handkerchief and handed it over, saying respectfully, "Justin Hammer has sent an invitation."
"Let's go."
Hammer Industries.
"Haha, let me see who's here. The man at the helm of Hawke Group, Nathan Hawke."
"Justin, what do you want with me?" Nathan Hawke got straight to the point.
"Look at this—fantastic news. Incredible news. Lady luck is smiling on us."
Justin Hammer was as excited as a child, waving his arms around as he placed a newspaper before Nathan Hawke.
The entire page featured a handsome, mature man.
"Shocking!!! Tony Stark, the smartest man of the 21st century, has mysteriously vanished."
"Acquire! Acquire! Acquire! I'm going to acquire Tony Stark's company."
Justin Hammer sprayed spit as he spoke.
"Would his godfather agree? He's been guarding against you like a hawk. And as for the shares held by retail investors, do you even care about those?" Nathan Hawke's words instantly calmed Justin Hammer down.
"Then I'll crush them hard. I'll make their stock market value plummet."
A sinister smile appeared on Justin Hammer's face.
"You'll make a move too, right?"
Justin Hammer looked at Nathan Hawke with a smile.
"All the major companies have already acted. Don't tell me you still haven't?" Nathan Hawke's words made Justin Hammer freeze.
Then he burst into laughter.
Watch him build towering mansions, watch him host grand feasts, watch his towers collapse.
"That's right. I received word that all the major companies are using every method they have to ruthlessly suppress Stark Industries' shares. From what I've heard, Stark's dear godfather is running himself ragged right now, desperately selling dreams to their investors."
During this meeting, Justin Hammer spoke extremely happily. He was practically on a high.
Mainly because Tony Stark's disappearance and the situation at Stark Industries had come too suddenly, too unexpectedly. He had once been jealous and resentful of Stark Industries' massive orders and new weapons. That position should have been his. He should have been the one standing there.
Who would have thought—
Who would have thought!
That it would turn out this way.
It would turn out this way!
He decided.
Justin Hammer immediately made the call. He picked up a lollipop, unwrapped it, and put it into his mouth.
"Hammer Industries will develop a new missile too."
"Like Cuba's famous cigars."
"The Ex-Wife Missile."
"EX-Wife."
After getting into the car,
Nathan Hawke looked out at New York's endless traffic and towering skyscrapers.
Who could have imagined that in a few years, this place would become a battlefield against aliens?
Once Iron Monger came online, the plan would officially begin.
He opened the proposal.
"Superhero Project"
That was right.
Based on the capabilities of his Golden Finger,
Nathan Hawke had created this plan.
Influence. He needed influence.
Super Kid, Andrew.
Translucent, Alex Hassel.
They were all part of the plan.
Before you continue