Winning Big, Losing Badly

[Emotional Value from New York citizens... +300 total]

[From...]

He dispelled the Freddy he had created using the Clone Technique and Transformation Technique.

Then he infused a small portion of the Rooster Talisman's power back into the shield.

Watching the entries of emotional value roll across the system's notification screen, Jiang Xiang grinned from ear to ear.

His emotional value soon broke past ten thousand.

There probably would not be much more coming in, though. S.H.I.E.L.D. would suppress the news.

This incident had earned him more emotional value than Kidd's heist.

In terms of sheer scale, the museum incident was clearly smaller than Kaitou Kid's.

But their nature was different. The Wraith at the museum was a supernatural incident, which naturally drew attention. Besides, those following it were powerful officials or wealthy, influential business leaders.

Naturally, the returns were high.

The Kaitou Kid incident had only attracted the attention of the New York police, the media looking for a story, and curious bystanders.

The returns had been nothing special.

Of course, the biggest gain was still...

[Incomplete Special Incarnation Card-Fire Demon (Rooster)]

[Rank: A (C)]

[Special effect: Grants an additional incomplete incarnation-Fire Demon Remnant]

[Skills: Levitation, Flame Control (beginner), Dragon Magic (beginner)...]

[Description: The Rooster Talisman, a power left behind by the ancient Fire Demon, underwent a tremendous transformation when an unknown consciousness sacrificed itself to it...]

Few things in life were more satisfying than counting money until your hands cramped. To Jiang Xiang, cards and emotional value were his wealth.

Seeing the newly acquired card and the emotional value that kept trickling in, even as the flow slowed,

Jiang Xiang felt immensely pleased.

Once he had finished basking in his success, Jiang Xiang carefully examined the card's contents.

"A-rank."

Nothing on this card stood out more than the letter A.

Jiang Xiang had yet to see a B-rank card, but he had already gotten his hands on one rated A.

"With only one card, I can't figure out the criteria for the different ranks."

Next!

Fire Demon?

Wouldn't that be Shendu?

And it can even manifest as an independent incarnation.

That's incredible!

Jiang Xiang steadied his breathing and attempted to manifest the Fire Demon incarnation.

"Wait!"

Just as he was about to manifest the Fire Demon Remnant, something suddenly occurred to Jiang Xiang.

Kamar-Taj!

The Sorcerer Supreme!

The Ancient One!

The past couple of days had only involved minor trouble. She might not have paid it any attention.

But if a demon appeared, how could she possibly ignore it?

Better hold off.

Once I draw a demon Character Card, I'll send it out and see what happens.

I have to play it safe!

After mentally reminding himself to be cautious for a while, Jiang Xiang began tallying his emotional value. "Ones... tens... hundreds... thousands... ten thousands... Over thirteen thousand emotional value. Tsk, tsk."

What a massive win!

I can open a [Gold Box] now!

Previously, he had saved up ten thousand, but for various reasons, he had not opened a [Gold Box].

Now that his follow-up plans were more or less in place, he could open a Gold Box and get its guaranteed reward!

Tsk!

A supernatural incident affecting just two streets had earned this much. What if I planned one that affected all of New York, or even the world?

Of course, Jiang Xiang was only indulging in a little fantasy.

The larger the incident, the more careful and cautious he had to be when planning it. Throwing something together carelessly would cause trouble.

He only had a handful of incarnations in total.

If someone reviewed the whole supernatural incident afterward and discovered that only a few people had appeared at the same time,

wouldn't that be a problem?

"My first major supernatural incident was a great success."

An irrepressible smile tugged at Jiang Xiang's lips as he sat upright in his seat and practiced the Chakra Refinement Method to strengthen his mental power.

I'll pick an auspicious day to open the [Gold Box]!

As delighted as Jiang Xiang was, S.H.I.E.L.D. was equally miserable.

"Coulson."

Coulson sat up on the couch.

Nick Fury waved a hand weakly.

Meetings and discussions of every size had continued without pause from evening until the early hours.

In another two hours, he would have to begin a fresh round of meetings.

He was not good at this sort of thing. His former superior, Pierce, had always helped him handle it.

But Pierce happened to have gone to Mexico over the past two days.

Although he had returned in the early hours, Nick Fury could hardly send an exhausted old man into a meeting when he knew nothing about what had happened.

It had been a long time since he had dealt with those high-and-mighty officials. Today, he had once again learned just how difficult those lawmakers could be.

"Sir."

"Give me the rundown."

Nick Fury rubbed his forehead wearily and drank some water.

Seeing this, Coulson quickly organized and condensed the information in his head.

"Eleven agents killed in action. Five civilians dead, several dozen injured."

There were always people on duty at the museum. The five who had died were naturally those staff members, while most of the injured had been spectators who gathered to watch.

Nick Fury nodded, unmoved by the casualty figures. What battle came without bloodshed?

He nodded for Coulson to continue.

"We had no way to deal with the Wraith. In the end, we relied on Mr. Cheng's magic to defeat him..."

Coulson reported the previous night's events as concisely as possible while still providing sufficient detail.

Nick Fury said nothing.

Silence suddenly settled over the office.

Nick Fury was under immense pressure. If it had only been last night's black fog, he could have handled it, even though it had alarmed many people, particularly the military and politicians.

The trouble lay in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s activities in New York over the preceding days.

Once the politicians higher up read the report, they could no longer sleep soundly.

So there wasn't just one Wraith, but a whole group?

And they had already killed a lot of people?

Pressure came crashing down on S.H.I.E.L.D. from every direction.

On top of that, the police and the FBI were kicking them while they were down, waiting to laugh at S.H.I.E.L.D.

They were even waiting for S.H.I.E.L.D. to become a laughingstock.

When he first heard that Old Man had successfully destroyed the Wraith with seemingly little effort,

Nick Fury had considered trying to send some agents to learn magic from him.

Even though Old Man had never indicated that he was willing to teach outsiders.

Nick Fury was simply that confident!

But after hearing the rest of Coulson's account-the advice he had given the Wraith and the change in Old Man's attitude-

he could only put that idea aside for now.

"You're dismissed."

"Yes, sir."

Nick Fury rose to his feet and faced a display screen.

The screen lit up, showing a series of photographs and brief profiles.

They included Ah Xing, Old Man, Alice, and others.

They were marked with the year 2004.

That indicated the year these people had appeared.

There were also brief introductions for each of them.

This list contained superhumans who had committed no crimes.

In Nick Fury's eyes, these superhumans were not frightening.

Most were people he could cooperate with, or even recruit. They were also candidates for Nick Fury's Avengers Initiative.

After all, they could be reasoned with. They had reservations, had consciences, and were good people.

What worried S.H.I.E.L.D. and the politicians were those lawless superhumans who refused to fully abide by their rules.

Especially the burned man who had appeared at the end.

Because he called himself Freddy!

Nick Fury, with his persecution complex, was not thinking about how to handle the aftermath or deal with Freddy. Instead, he was considering how to get that shield with its miraculous powers back from Old Man.

It really was hard to be a good person in this place!