Only after Magneto and his followers had disappeared from sight did Xiang Qian lower his gun.
Facing a veteran terrorist—one who also had a personal grudge against him—Xiang Qian hadn't been nearly as relaxed as he'd seemed.
After shooting Pyro John, he'd kept his P226 trained steadily on Magneto. Though Xiang Qian had taunted him without a care in the world, he'd actually been on edge the entire time. If even a single screw had moved in the lab, he would have opened fire without hesitation.
After Magneto left, Mystique immediately followed. Xiang Qian used the large number of American troops outside the island as an excuse to ask Raven if she wanted to stay with him, but she flatly refused.
"The Hilton's practically become a global intelligence agencies' party. There are more agents watching you than soldiers on the other side of the bay." Mystique grumbled, then changed her appearance and left the lab.
Xiang Qian idly watched the copy progress bar inch forward, while using his electronic wristband's projection feature to monitor the drone footage.
More and more rubber boats appeared on the water, heading toward Alcatraz Island from all directions. The bridge was now clear of Mutants, replaced by armed personnel advancing in skirmish lines.
Zooming in, he could make out the insignias identifying the different agencies represented among the armed personnel: the Army, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the FBI, SWAT, and others. Only coordination from the highest levels of power could bring so many armed agencies together.
Xiang Qian knew the riot stirred up by Magneto and the militant Mutants had struck a nerve with the United States government. Though this riot involved only American domestic affairs, its consequences were no less serious than those of the Statue of Liberty Incident at the turn of the century.
Once the American soldiers in the footage began boarding Alcatraz Island, the noise outside the door grew louder. A hole Juggernaut had smashed through the floor of the third-floor corridor let the sounds from below pour in as well.
At first, the noise was just Mutants rampaging through the building. Then someone shouted, "The army's here! We're surrounded!" Soon after, panicked curses rang out in growing numbers.
Then the gunfire grew denser and closer, mixed with the screams and desperate pleas for surrender from the Mutants, as well as the military's tactical commands.
Xiang Qian ignored it all. He swiftly pulled out the USB drive once the copy was complete. Hearing the heavy footsteps in the corridor, he stepped back through the portal and returned to his hotel room. The soldiers charging into the lab didn't even see the portal's closing sparks.
As soon as he was back in the room, he heard a heated argument outside the door. Even the presidential suite's excellent soundproofing couldn't block it out.
Xiang Qian methodically put away his gear and changed into ordinary home clothes. Just as the argument outside reached its peak, he yanked the door open.
"Mr. Manager, what's going on? Is this the comfort and VIP treatment your hotel promises its guests?" Xiang Qian didn't even look at the cluster of black suits practically reeking of agent. Instead, he directed his anger at the hotel manager who had come up with them.
The manager had none of the composure he'd shown when checking Xiang Qian in. He knew that if this wasn't handled well, the hotel's reputation would plummet, and he would almost certainly lose his job, with an indelible stain on his résumé to boot.
There was no search warrant and no emergency. If law enforcement agents were allowed to harass the hotel's VIP guests—its most valued customers—what would become of the hotel's business?
The manager didn't have time to wipe the fine beads of sweat on his forehead before hurriedly explaining himself. "Please forgive us, Mr. Zion. Riots have broken out across the bay targeting Worthington Industries. These FBI agents were sent to protect you. After all, you're an important business partner of Worthington Industries, and they're concerned you might be targeted by the rioters too."
Xiang Qian gave the agents crowding outside his door a meaningful look. They wore FBI badges, but he could easily smell S.H.I.E.L.D. on them.
The FBI took its orders directly from the United States government. The situation on Alcatraz Island was still unclear, Worthington Industries hadn't yet been confirmed as finished, and the cooperation agreement he'd reached with the White House hadn't yet fully collapsed. The FBI would have to be out of its mind to come looking for trouble with him.
"My security team is professional enough. They can keep me safe."
Seeing Xiang Qian about to close the door after saying that much, the lead "FBI" agent panicked. "Mr. Zion, I don't think you understand the situation. Your personal safety is under serious threat—"
"I think you're the biggest threat to me." Xiang Qian impatiently cut him off. "Listen, I'm doing my best to be patient with you, but I have no interest in wasting my time. Unless you have a search warrant, get lost!"
The agent replied sternly, "The California government has just declared martial law. San Francisco is in a state of emergency."
"Your temporary authority under the state of emergency applies only to public areas. Is this a public area?" Xiang Qian asked the manager with a cold laugh. "Or are you planning to kick me out, Mr. Manager?"
"No! No! No!" The manager was practically wetting himself. He'd already made the biggest concession possible by letting the FBI agents come upstairs to meet Xiang Qian. He could practically be held up as a model of cooperation with government agencies. But was he supposed to risk his career by offending a valued hotel guest and taking the blame for the government?
If he had that kind of nerve, he wouldn't be a salaried manager and member of the middle-class elite.
"Mr. Zion is a valued guest of ours..." The manager struggled to find the words. "I'm truly sorry for our hotel's failure. I'll have them leave at once!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the manager picked up his internal radio and called hotel security.
The lead "FBI" agent panicked. "Mr. Zion..."
Xiang Qian raised a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, making no effort to hide his annoyance and even disgust.
"I'll remind you: my bodyguards are from a security company I registered in the United States. They're all licensed to carry firearms, and they're the most professional, disciplined team in the industry. If you keep this up, I can't guarantee they won't take more drastic measures."
"I spend tens of millions of dollars a year on a bunch of top lawyers. So if you don't have a legal reason to be here, my bodyguards could shoot one or two of you dead and I'd still keep them out of trouble. On the other hand, if they get so much as a scratch, I can ruin your careers."
"Are you threatening me?" The agent's expression darkened.
Xiang Qian gave a dry laugh, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Yes, you guessed right. I'm threatening you—in the name of the law. If being allowed to carry a gun openly is the first reason I love the United States, then this is the second."
"Free America, I love free America—especially how much freer it lets rich people like me be."
Xiang Qian slammed the door shut, leaving the agents with nothing but a mocking smile.