Awakening

It's like a lyric says, the most terrifying thing is when the air suddenly goes quiet.

So awkward. They'd just finished stealing from someone's home, only to turn around and run smack into the owner. Could anything be more pathetic?

After a moment of silence, the Claw Woman snapped back to reality. Her gaze fell on the vial box in Marvin's arms, and her pupils instantly constricted.

Their target was Compound V!

This stuff was strictly prohibited from circulation. If Vought International found out, her life would be over!

"Put it down!"

The Claw Woman possessed immense strength. In her agitated state, she stomped, shattering the floorboards.

Leaving deep gouges in the wood, she lunged like a leopard towards the three people inside the apartment.

Fortunately, Butcher reacted quickly, slamming the door shut with all his might.

BANG!

The apartment door was a good four to five centimeters thick, but it was still pierced by a bone spike.

A mere door couldn't stop a berserk superhuman. The cement around the door frame was rattling violently, clearly about to give way.

"What the hell are you waiting for?!" Butcher shoved a nearby cabinet over to block the door, hoping to buy them time. He yelled at the two stunned people, "Quick, go out the window, jump! If you're any slower, we're all dead!"

The wooden door behind them had already been broken open, splintered wood flying everywhere.

The Claw Woman squeezed through the gap, veins bulging on her face. She glared ferociously as the three of them jumped out the window.

Her apartment was on the third floor, a drop of nearly six meters to the ground, with no cushioning area nearby. Jumping would definitely result in injury!

There's still a chance! She still has a chance!

As the Claw Woman thought, her body erupted with astonishing strength, tearing through the last of the obstruction.

But by the time she rushed to the window, leaned out, and looked, she saw a black van directly beneath where the three had fallen.

Despite the rough landing, the three of them still scrambled into the van. She could only watch helplessly as the black van sped away with them, leaving behind only her unwilling roar.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Marvin, sitting in the car, spewed beautiful vocabulary, cursing Butcher's entire family.

He angrily grabbed Butcher's collar and slammed him hard against the car door, his eyes seemingly bloodshot. "I should never have agreed to this, Butcher. What do we do now?"

"Hey, man, calm down!"

Butcher tried to keep his tone even, not wanting to provoke him further. "It's not that serious. Didn't we all get out? It'll be fine, trust me!"

"I trust your mother's c***! I'll fuck your whole family, Butcher!"

Marvin was still furious, grabbing Butcher's collar and roaring, spittle flying onto his face. "That woman saw our faces! Vought International will find us soon!"

"No, you're wrong, Marvin."

Butcher wiped the spit from his face and said calmly, "Vought International won't find out about this, because I bet that bitch won't dare tell Vought."

"Why?"

Marvin calmed down slightly upon hearing this but was still suspicious.

"Compound V is Vought's top secret."

Butcher pried Marvin's fingers off his collar and calmly straightened his rumpled shirt. "Her Compound V didn't come through legitimate channels. Remember? She's The Train's underground girlfriend. The Train must have stolen those compounds and given them to her to keep. So, do you think she'll tell Vought?"

Looking at Marvin, who was gradually calming down, Butcher smiled. "No, she won't tell Vought. If she does, I guarantee she'll die even faster than us!"

That's why he wasn't afraid of them seeing his face.

Compound V's origins were already murky. Everyone had dirty hands.

If this matter were brought to light, how would the Claw Woman explain it to Vought? Where did she get her Compound V?

Some things weigh nothing on a scale, but a thousand pounds when you put them on. It's that simple.

"What about The Train?" Marvin's brow furrowed, still uneasy. "If Compound V is lost, The Train will definitely find us. What then?"

"I'll figure something out about this."

Although he said he'd handle it, Butcher was actually unsure. But if he dared say that, Marvin's iron fist would be waiting for him.

After a few seconds, he added, "Right, for the time being, you guys should have your families go into hiding until this is resolved."

"What about you?"

Marvin and Frenchie glared through gritted teeth at this despicable bastard.

He kept saying it was fine, then turned around and told them to hide their families. They shouldn't have agreed to this bastard's plan in the first place!

"I'm going to find someone to help resolve this."

Butcher dropped the sentence and patted Hughie, who was driving. "Pull over, I need to get out."

"Butcher, you better resolve this," Marvin gritted out, glaring fiercely at him. "Otherwise, I swear I'll use a steel pipe to ram your ass!"

But Butcher had already slipped into an alley and disappeared.

Marvin's anger still hadn't subsided. He glanced at the stunned Hughie, finding him more and more annoying. "Drive, fuck! You idiot, do you want us to get caught?"

Alvin drove to the location indicated in the text message. It was a long-abandoned factory.

A place like this wouldn't attract attention and few people would come here, making it perfect for a transaction.

Touching the "Deflection Field Generator" in his pocket and confirming it was active, Alvin finally relaxed and strode into the derelict factory.

Butcher sat on the factory steps, struggling to control his emotions. A hint of excitement flickered in his eyes, mixed with a chilling coldness.

"Stop! Stay right there, don't move!" Butcher immediately shouted upon seeing Alvin.

"Okay, I'll stay right here."

Alvin stood calmly at the factory entrance, about fifty meters from Butcher.

"The Compound V you want is right here." Butcher opened the medicine box. Inside lay six blue vials: "Now it's your turn. Tell me where Rebecca is!"

"I need to check, Mr. Butcher."

Alvin chuckled lightly and said, "Only after I confirm it's Compound V can I tell you about your wife, right?"

Butcher hesitated for half a second, took a vial from the box, and carefully rolled it over.

"Mutual trust is a great start." As the vial rolled to his feet, Alvin smiled, bent down, and picked it up, examining it for half a second.

It looked very similar to how it did in the story. The sea-blue liquid flowed within the vial, seemingly exuding an invisible charm.

[Item Detected: Compound V (Temporary)]

[Product of genetic engineering, capable of altering human hereditary gene sequences and inducing superpowers, but only lasts 24 hours when diluted.]

[Energy Provided: 0 units]

"Can you confirm it now?" Butcher asked nervously.

"No, not quite yet."

Alvin pressed the bottom of the vial, and the syringe popped out from the other end.

Under Butcher's horrified gaze, Alvin, smiling broadly, plunged the syringe directly into his own skin. The liquid inside was squeezed by the air and flowed into his body.

"Oh, no, you son of a bitch!"

Butcher's face was filled with horror. He wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

Almost without thinking, he decisively followed Alvin's lead, took a vial from the box, and pressed the syringe to pop out.

But just as Butcher was about to inject himself, he suddenly felt an invisible force forcibly stop his action!

Immediately, the temperature in the entire factory seemed to drop to freezing point.

A thin layer of frost covered the factory floor and abandoned facilities, and chilling wails seemed to echo in the air, sending shivers down one's spine!

Butcher's fingers, gripping the syringe, were pried open by an invisible force!

He was completely powerless to stop it. Under the influence of that force, he could only watch as the syringe slowly floated towards Alvin.

Around Alvin, one could even vaguely see chilling flames flashing with a faint blue light, and dazzling electrical sparks occasionally erupting from the void!

"Mr. Butcher, I told you there was no need to be in such a hurry."

Alvin's deep brown pupils seemed to reflect brilliant colors as he lightly reached out and caught the vial: "I'm not a bad person, and I won't break our deal. I just did this to test the authenticity of 'Compound V.' I'm sure you can understand, right?"

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