The Bombardier Global Express was a mature business jet model. In other words, its aerodynamic design and other factors related to flight speed weren't easy to change, and even though Xiang Qian had plenty of advanced technology at his disposal, there wasn't much he could do to improve its speed.
The flight from west to east across the Pacific Ocean lasted more than ten hours. The plane slowly descended at an airport outside San Francisco reserved for private aircraft.
After changing her appearance, Mystique slipped away quietly. It was a familiar routine for her. She was going to investigate Magneto's whereabouts. The most powerful terrorist on American soil had vanished for ten years before suddenly returning, and Xiang Qian was very uneasy about it.
Mystique was uneasy, too. As Magneto's friend, she absolutely didn't want to see him rush headlong toward disaster.
After the Trask incident, Mystique had chosen to leave both the Professor and Magneto and go it alone. But she had come to understand that violent action brought no benefit at all; it only made life even harder for Mutants.
Among the people she trusted, aside from the Professor, only Xiang Qian had both the ability and the willingness to help Mutants weather this crisis. So when Xiang Qian offered terms she found acceptable, the foundation for their cooperation was established.
This time, Xiang Qian had entered the United States as a director of Worthington Industries, there to deal with the company's business crisis. As a result, his itinerary had been public from the start. The consequence was that the moment the plane touched down, his phone began ringing nonstop.
"Blackheart." The thing was black from the inside out.
Looking at the familiar name on his phone screen, Xiang Qian wore an amused expression.
"These jackals still have such sharp noses."
From the moment he got off the plane until he climbed into a car and left the airport, more than ten minutes passed, and Xiang Qian never answered the call. Yet the ringing continued. The caller didn't hang up, and the call didn't end automatically like an ordinary one.
The unbroken ringing made one thing clear: if he didn't answer, it would never stop. And, of course, no other calls would be able to get through.
Xiang Qian considered the phone for a moment, then sneered, switched it to silent, and tossed it onto the seat. He turned to admire the city outside the car window.
Thanks to the time difference between the two places, Xiang Qian had taken off before dark, and it was still evening when he landed. Brilliant sunset colors had already spread across the sky, while lights were gradually coming on along the streets and in the towering buildings.
"Take a detour past the consulate," Xiang Qian suddenly instructed.
"Should I pull in?" the driver asked.
"No. Just go past it. I want to take a look, then we'll leave." Without anyone familiar beside him, Xiang Qian was unusually quiet. The expression on his face gradually turned wistful. This city held so many of his memories: from childhood and adolescence, both sad and happy...
Just as the car passed the street where the consulate stood, the bracelet on Xiang Qian's left wrist suddenly vibrated. He raised his wrist and saw a call request. But someone who could call him directly through his Electronic Bracelet was definitely not the same as someone who could only reach his phone.
When he saw the name flashing on the crystal screen, Xiang Qian smiled happily and answered at once.
"James, are you in San Francisco right now?" Before Xiang Qian could say anything, an exaggerated voice came from the other end. "You've really hurt my feelings. You came to San Francisco and didn't even tell me beforehand. If Jarvis hadn't detected that your private plane had just requested an entry route, I wouldn't have known you were here."
Xiang Qian looked at the slightly puffy, mustachioed man on the screen and feigned uncertainty. "You look like you just woke up... Or maybe you should be more upset that you didn't enjoy yourself at yesterday's wild party?"
"What? How did you know..."
"Pepper told me," Xiang Qian said, his eyes innocent as he lied.
Tony looked startled on the screen and turned his head noticeably. Then a slightly husky young woman's voice came through the earpiece, tinged with helplessness. "Mr. James, I'm right here!"
"Hi, Pepper. It's been a while." Xiang Qian greeted her with a smile, entirely unembarrassed at being caught. "Could you come in front of the camera so I can see you? You know how awful middle-aged men look after a hangover..."
"What? Absolutely not!" the hungover middle-aged man shouted furiously. His face seemed about to bulge out of the screen and slam his nose against Xiang Qian's. "Pepper's busy. She has a lot of work to take care of right now..."
Amid the man's shouting, the faint sound of a woman snickering could also be heard.
"It's already past six in the evening. That's after work, and it's Saturday!" Xiang Qian scolded him sternly. "Tony, you really are a heartless capitalist."
Tony Stark on the screen argued just as fiercely. "How is that heartless? Aren't normal working hours from nine in the morning to nine at night? And as my executive assistant, she only has to work six days a week. That's a perk for a worker."
"Oh, oh, oh... I believe you, Tony..." Xiang Qian said in a mocking tone. "Pepper, do you want me to believe your boss? You only work six days a week?"
When he said "only work six days a week," Xiang Qian deliberately held up both hands and made the air-quote gesture Americans often used. Tony Stark glared at him.
Before Tony Stark could speak, Pepper's deliberately puzzled voice came through first. "Normal working hours... six days?"
Tony Stark on the screen looked toward Pepper, frantically gesturing at her as if his life depended on it.
Laughter rang out from both sides of the screen, a man's and a woman's, along with the mustachioed man's grumbling protest.
This kind of teasing was how they greeted each other. When the laughter died down, Tony Stark's expression suddenly turned serious. "James, is the situation at Worthington Industries really that complicated? Do you need to come to the United States in person?"
A lot of people saw this coming, didn't they?" Xiang Qian replied with an easy smile.
"Where are you going now? Worthington headquarters, or their lab on Alcatraz Island?"
"Alcatraz Island," Xiang Qian answered honestly.
"That place could turn into a battlefield at any moment." As one of America's richest men and an arms dealer with close ties to the military, Tony Stark was naturally well informed.
"More and more radical Mutants are gathering around the bay. And that's only the ones from California; Mutants from other states are still arriving. It's not just the police anymore, either. The National Guard has sealed off and placed some areas under martial law."
"California's National Guard has already been deployed? It's been less than forty-eight hours since the press conference. The information I received earlier said only local police were patrolling." Xiang Qian remained calm. "Looks like someone really is stirring things up."
He hadn't just been "catching up" on the plane. He had also analyzed the many pieces of intelligence Mystique had brought him.
Others couldn't pin down the elusive old Magneto, but Mystique was undoubtedly one of the people who knew him best. At this point, Xiang Qian probably had more detailed information about Magneto's movements than any of the various branches of the U.S. government.
Xiang Qian had tried to persuade Mystique not to get involved any further, to avoid putting herself in danger. But given her relationship with Magneto and the Professor, he doubted she would listen.
Xiang Qian remained relaxed, but Tony on the other side of the screen was far more worried than he was. "James, I suggest you don't go to Alcatraz Island. In the next few days, it could well be the most dangerous place in the United States."
Seeing Tony's anxious expression warmed Xiang Qian's heart. He could feel his friend's concern, but he couldn't accept his advice. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Tony..."
Before Xiang Qian could finish, Tony snapped, "Why don't you understand? Listen to me. This isn't just a matter of business competition for Worthington."
"I understand, Tony." Xiang Qian calmly cut off his attempt to dissuade him. "I know very well this is no longer a business matter. It's a conflict between races, and a struggle involving several major powers at the same time—so I have to go!"
Tony glared furiously at him through the screen. After a long silence, he suddenly sighed and lowered his voice. "I'll send you a number in a moment. Call it if you're in an emergency. There's an armed helicopter on standby at a nearby airbase. Once they get your call, they'll reach Alcatraz Island within ten minutes. But remember, their orders are to take you and you alone."
Xiang Qian suddenly felt his eyes grow hot. He quickly drew a deep breath and lowered his voice as well. "Rhodey? You dragged him into this, too? He's in the United States Air Force. This could have a serious impact on him if anything goes wrong."
Tony warned him harshly, "Then be careful. Don't die, and don't let Rhodey end up in a court-martial."
Looking at the fierce Tony Stark on the screen, Xiang Qian smiled brightly. "Don't worry, Tony. I promise I'm just going to take a look. Once I've confirmed my investment is safe, I'll come straight back to shore and hole up in my hotel. I won't go anywhere. I shouldn't need Rhodey's helicopter."
After hanging up with Tony, Xiang Qian's emotions surged, and more memories from his childhood and adolescence came tumbling back. By the time he came to his senses, he could already see the shimmering surface of the sea. In the thin night mist, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge appeared and disappeared amid the brilliant sunset.
Xiang Qian let out a long breath. As he turned his gaze away, he happened to notice that the phone he had tossed onto the seat was still flashing stubbornly.
Xiang Qian gave a mocking laugh and finally answered. "You certainly are persistent, Director."
A deep voice came through the phone. "Mr. Xiang deserves to see us make a sincere effort."
"Then why don't you sincerely tell me, Mr. Nick Fury, what you want to get from me in exchange for that sincerity?" Xiang Qian's voice was cold and sharp. The warmth his friend had brought him had completely faded. All that remained was an icy chill for his opponent.