Two Goddesses Return to Claim Credit: Lynn's Cold Scrutiny and Reprimand

The pitch-black spatial rift, like a hideous scar in the universe that will never heal, stretches across the clear sky above Manhattan.

The fervor of victory and the anticipation of claiming credit surged within Wanda and Hela. They emerged almost side by side from that Chaos void, ready to greet their king, with his approving gaze, the gaze unique to the victor.

They're back.

With an unparalleled achievement that could crush any competitor—an entire Mutants Academy!

However, the stage they were envisioned to be theirs alone, the stage that would be the center of attention, was now occupied by an unwanted character.

A pale blue, precarious energy Force Field, like a fragile fishing net, trembled as it supported the terrifying weight of the aerial Bastion.

At the source of that Force Field, on the top floor of the Baxter Building, a blond figure was kneeling on the ground, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his body trembling like a leaf, yet he still desperately maintained the operation of the Force Field.

It's Susan Stone!

"Oh."

Hela's dark green eyes instantly turned cold, and her soft snort was filled with the ultimate contempt of Deity for a thief.

This woman, who hid in the rear while they fought valiantly and brought back their spoils, now wants to get a share of the spoils with this ridiculous, self-sacrificing performance? Or perhaps... even wants to claim all the credit for herself?

"You really know how to... snag a bargain."

Wanda's Scarlet eyes narrowed as well. She glanced at the Academy's foundation, which was crumbling due to Susan's unstable energy, and her voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. "Staying in such a crude way will only tarnish the King's collection."

Their anger and murderous intent almost materialized.

But at that very moment, all their emotions were instantly extinguished by the slight sound of a door opening.

"Squeak--"

The bedroom door opened.

Lynn slowly emerged from the shadows.

He didn't change his clothes; he was still wearing that simple black casual suit. His expression was calm, and his eyes were indifferent, as if he had no interest whatsoever in the spectacular sight outside the window that blotted out the sky.

But the moment he appeared, the air in the messy living room seemed to freeze.

All the women's gazes, whether of Wanda and Hela in the sky, or Gwen Stacy, Jean, Natasha on the ground, as well as Susan was on the verge of her limit, were fixed on him at this moment, like iron filings attracted by a magnet.

Anticipation, jealousy, fear, fervor, despair...

Countless extreme emotions intertwined and collided wildly in this small space, ultimately transforming into a deathly silence that judged the man.

Lynn's gaze didn't linger on the floating city in the sky for more than a second.

He walked straight to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, his steps unhurried.

His gaze, as calm as a supercomputer performing precise calculations, swept coldly over the floating Academy, over the ugly spatial rift, and finally landed on Wanda and Hela, who had just emerged from the rift, their faces still showing a hint of expectant pride.

"This is... the 'perfect' asset you brought back?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like an icicle, piercing Wanda and Hela's hearts.

The smugness and anticipation on their faces instantly froze.

"Wang..." Hela was about to explain.

"Shut up."

Lynn coldly interrupted her. He raised his hand, pointing to the massive complex of buildings in the sky, his voice filled with undisguised, icy disappointment.

"The Academy's foundation was torn apart by your brutal energy, shattering into at least seventeen gigantic fragments, each weighing over a hundred tons, with more than sixty percent of the structural connections lost."

His finger then pointed to the main building of the Academy.

"The main structure, due to your unrestrained energy collisions, has experienced over two hundred and seventy critical stress fractures. If Susan hadn't foolishly held it up, it would have completely disintegrated under its own weight within five minutes."

Finally, his gaze seemed to pierce through the thick walls and rock layers, locking onto the unconscious Mutants inside the Academy.

"I can sense the vital signs of at least thirty-four high-value 'assets' inside. Because of your barbaric spatial teleportation and meaningless aura battles, you have fallen to a dangerous critical point."

Lynn slowly withdrew his hand, turned around, and for the first time, his unfathomable black eyes looked directly at the two goddesses in the sky.

No approval was given.

There was no joy.

Only scrutiny, and a cold, almost soul-freezing beating.

"Your arrogance and childish competition nearly turned a top-tier Living Genes Bank into a pile of worthless construction waste and corpses."

"Is this the 'efficiency' you wanted to show me?"

"Is this... your 'value'?"

Boom!

Every word was like a merciless hammer blow, striking Wanda and Hela's hearts hard.

The color drained from their faces at a visible rate.

The elation and pride of that triumphant return were ruthlessly crushed, replaced by a deep-seated fear and coldness.

It was a disaster.

They disappointed him.

This realization terrified them more than any form of torture.

Wanda's body even began to tremble slightly. She instinctively wanted to explain, to shift the blame to the Goddess of Death beside her who only knew how to use brute force.

Hela bit her lip hard, and for the first time, a trace of fear appeared in her proud, dark green eyes. She had conquered the Nine Realms and slaughtered countless Deity, but never before had she felt so... insignificant and powerless under the gaze of a man.

Lynn ignored them.

His gaze shifted to Susan, who was kneeling on the ground, almost crushed by the weight of the weight.

A gambler's hope still lingered in Susan's eyes. She had risked her life to demonstrate her "management" value; she had stabilized the assets; shouldn't she... finally gain some recognition?

"And you," Lynn's voice was equally cold, "You're willing to sacrifice your life just to perform your laughable 'management skills' in front of me? If this Academy ultimately collapses because of your incompetence, you will bear the consequences of that failure as well."

"..."

The last glimmer of light in Susan's eyes went out.

This isn't approval, it's... a warning.

"Puff!"

Her mental Defense Line completely collapsed, and she could no longer hold on. She suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the huge pale blue Force Field flickered violently, with the cracks on it instantly expanding several times over!

"Rumble..."

The Xavier's School in the sky emitted an even more dangerous groan, on the verge of complete collapse!

Just then, Lynn finally delivered his verdict.

His voice, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of every woman present, carrying an unquestionable, tyrannical absolute will.

"Hela, your power tore it apart."

"Wanda, your control failed to save it."

"Susan, you're trying to take over."

"Very good."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Lynn's lips.

"Now, the three of you, cooperate."

He pointed his finger at the sky Bastion that was about to crash.

"Immediately, right now, fold this entire Academy, down to the very ground Negative Zone of the Baxter Building, leaving not a single blade of grass or a single survivor."

"I don't want to see any extra piece of debris fall, nor do I want to sense any further decline in the vital signs of any 'asset'."

"And I..."

Lynn slowly sat back on the Throne that symbolized absolute power, crossed her arms, rested her chin on her hand, and coldly gazed at them.

"I'll be here, watching over you."

In an instant, it was as if the air had been sucked out.

Wanda, Hela, and Susan —three women who had just been itching to tear each other apart—all froze in place.

They slowly, mechanically turned their heads, their eyes meeting in the air.

Scarlet, dark green, and azure—three pairs of eyes churned with overwhelming jealousy, resentment, and deep-seated hatred.

cooperate?

With this bitch?

With this thief?

But when they caught a glimpse of the figure on the Throne, coldly watching everything, all their emotions were suppressed by a stronger emotion called "fear."

They had no other choice.

This is a... uncontested, yet more brutal than any battlefield, forced... ultimate involution.

Under the king's gaze, who is the most valuable tool?