The door to the safe house creaked open.
Allen was sitting at the dining table eating bread when he heard the noise. He instinctively looked up and almost slipped off his chair.
Chen Mo strode into the living room, his coat still slightly damp and his hair a bit messy from the wind. He looked much more disheveled than before he left, but the inexplicable sense of oppression emanating from him was many times stronger!
He simply walked in, without even raising his hand, yet the living room felt like a volcano had sprung up. It didn't actually catch fire, but it sent every nerve in everyone's body into overdrive.
"No, wait a minute."
Allen stared at Chen Mo, his voice lowered, "Have you mutated? Do you still remember us, Chen Mo?"
Chen Mo rolled his eyes at Allen speechlessly and tossed him a bag of instant coffee.
I'd completely forgotten about you! I'm going to kill you right now!
Allen, holding his instant coffee, gave a sheepish chuckle.
Mia, on the other hand, wasn't afraid at all. The little girl, clutching the blue-headed, goofy cat plushie, jumped off the sofa, her slippers slapping loudly, and ran to Chen Mo.
"You're back."
"Yes, I'm back. I kept my word." Chen Mo looked down at her, the dark red light in his eyes slowly fading.
Mia turned and ran to the kitchen, quickly returning with a glass of warm water. The glass was a bit large, so she carried it with both hands, walking carefully, afraid of spilling the water.
Chen Mo took it, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then stretched his shoulders back.
" Allen, look at him, how well-behaved he is! The first thing you asked me when I came back was whether I'd mutated yet?"
Allen's eyelids twitched as he listened.
"I was scared, and this kind of plot is classic, okay?"
"Come on, you're not even as sensible as Mia."
As Chen Mo spoke, he placed the cup on the table and patted Mia's head. "Little friend, your service was excellent. Five stars for you."
The little girl squinted her eyes, enjoying the caress.
Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa, half-closing his eyes, savoring the memory of the battle.
The living room fell silent for a few more seconds.
Looking at his expression, Allen finally couldn't help but ask, "So, you killed Homelander?"
Chen Mo opened his eyes and slowly looked at him.
"Yeah, that's terrible."
"Have eaten?"
"Have eaten."
How does it taste?
Chen Mo stroked his chin, his expression quite serious.
"The taste? I have to say, Homelander was absolutely amazing. I'll probably reminisce about this battle for the rest of my life."
Allen was silent for two seconds.
"Listen to yourself, is that something a human being should say?"
Didn't you insist on asking?
Chen Mo yawned and leaned back lazily. "Alright, stop giving me this philosophical interview."
He pointed to the doorway, then to the window.
"Keep the door locked for the next couple of days and don't wander around. It's going to be lively outside for a while."
Just as Allen was about to speak, he saw Chen Mo's eyelids drooping, and he choked.
"You're just going to sleep like this?"
"Nonsense." Chen Mo closed his eyes. "I'm exhausted."
The living room fell silent instantly.
Allen looked at Chen Mo, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, and then at Mia, who had a calm expression beside him, before lowering his voice after a long while.
"He just fell asleep like that?"
Mia nodded and placed the blue-headed cat next to Chen Mo.
He's tired.
Allen opened his mouth, but swallowed back all his complaints.
Okay.
After such a devastating fight, it's understandable that they were exhausted.
The next morning, Chen Mo was woken up by the television.
When he opened his eyes, the living room curtains were half-drawn, and the morning light shone through the gap, falling on the glass of water on the coffee table that had already gone cold.
Allen sat on the sofa, holding a coffee in his hand, watching TV intently, while Mia sat beside him, taking small bites of toast.
On the television, the female news anchor was delivering the news in a tone that suggested she was trying hard to remain calm.
[A multinational investigation team has approached the depths of Carnival Island. The Pentagon has expressed extreme concern over the mysterious dark red figure and has demanded that the Vought International cooperate with the multinational investigation.]
The scene then shifts to several high-ranking representatives in suits.
They stood before a row of national flags, their expressions increasingly solemn, declaring that they would form a joint fleet to explore the giant abyss in the waters near Carnival Island.
Chen Mo sat up and stared at the TV for two seconds.
What the hell?
Allen handed him a breakfast.
"You're just in time; they've been analyzing you all morning."
"Analyzing me?" Chen Mo rubbed his temples. "Are they talking about me?"
Allen looked up at him. "Otherwise? Are you saying I drank too much coffee last night?"
On television, experts are frantically analyzing a blurry screenshot.
The screenshot shows only a dark red shadow, with faintly visible unfolded metal wings behind it.
Pointing to the image, the expert said in a somber tone, "Judging from his appearance, this unknown individual is clearly highly dangerous. We cannot currently confirm his motives, nor can we confirm whether he possesses stable rationality."
Chen Mo was completely bewildered.
Are these people just bored and have nothing better to do? There's not even a trace of Carnival Island left, what's the point of exploring it now!
He rubbed his temples, picked up a slice of toast, and took a bite.
"No, what could they possibly discover by exploring the abyss?"
Chen Mo mumbled indistinctly, "The ashes of the Homelander mixed with sea salt?"
Allen choked on his coffee and sprayed it a meter away through his nose.
Mia glanced up at Chen Mo, then looked down and continued eating her toast, already used to his thunderous pronouncements.
The news is still ongoing.
Sources say the military has designated the dark red figure a top priority. Meanwhile, Vought International has yet to issue a direct response regarding Homelander's appearance and death in combat.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo stuffed the rest of the toast into his mouth and took a couple of sips of milk.
You all stay home, I'm going out for a bit.
Allen immediately put down his coffee.
"Now? Where are you going?"
I need to go to the company.
Allen stared at Chen Mo in shock.
"You're going to Vought now? There are people looking for you everywhere, aren't there?"
"They're looking for a mysterious, dark red figure." Chen Mo stood up, draped his coat over his shoulder, and said, "What does this have to do with me Chen?"
Allen looked at his self-righteous face and his lips twitched.
"What you're saying is rather shameless."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Half an hour later, on the top floor of the Vought Tower.
When Chen Mo pushed open the office door, Edgar was working.
He was still wearing a sharp suit, his tie was neatly pressed, and his cuffs were buttoned up perfectly, as if nothing had happened.
The screen in front of him was divided into more than a dozen windows.
Military secret telegrams, high-level meeting minutes, news surveillance, and stock price fluctuation curves are all scrolling simultaneously.
Chen Mo glanced at it, then walked straight to the boss's chair and sat down.
" Old Ai, you look pretty busy."
Edgar stood up, nodded to Chen Mo, and then began to explain the situation.
"Sir, last night's events have been classified as a top-level threat by several countries."
"Such a strong reaction?" Chen Mo leaned back in his chair. "Continue."
Edgar showed the ruins of Carnival Island on the screen. "Sir," he said, "I think their actions have been restrained in the face of this destructive power."
Chen Mo leaned back in his chair and waved his hand. "Okay, it's my fault. You can continue."
Edgar raised his hand and opened a new file.
"The military and several high-ranking representatives believe that the Vought International is concealing Superman projects capable of altering the global balance. They demand that we release all files and submit to a multinational joint review."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
"Then what?"
"If Vought refuses, they will freeze their cooperation with Vought, launch an antitrust investigation, and push for temporary legislation to restrict all Superman business activities."
Edgar paused for a moment, then continued, "Meanwhile, some have suggested that displaying a nuclear arsenal could serve as a strategic deterrent against the unknown individuals from last night."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo remained silent for two seconds.
He looked at the screen.
The document contains a summary of an encrypted meeting; the wording is subtle, but the meaning is clear.
You'll have to kneel down obediently and bow your head to admit your mistake.
Chen Mo looked at the densely packed words and chuckled.
"Don't they know how Homelander died?"
"Judging from the footage, they've reached a basic conclusion," Edgar replied calmly. "But people often try to understand unknown threats using known weapon systems."
"What's the meaning?"
"They believe that a sufficient number of nuclear weapons can solve the problem, which is you."
Chen Mo nodded, his expression very serious.
"That's good, at least they seem confident. I think it'll work."
Edgar did not comment on this statement, but simply continued reporting.
" Vought's public relations department is currently preparing three response plans. First, a complete denial. Second, defining the Carnival Island incident as an individual disaster caused by Homelander's loss of control. Third, acknowledging the existence of an unknown third party and requesting international cooperation."
After listening, Chen Mo casually picked up a cigar from the table.
Edgar naturally handed over the lighter.
Chen Mo lowered his head, lit the lamp, took a drag, and the smoke slowly dissipated from his lips.
Who wrote the third set?
"Deputy Head of Public Relations."
"It's open now."
"Clear."
Edgar didn't ask why; he simply made the arrangements.
Chen Mo, a cigar dangling from his lips, leaned back in his office chair, his gaze fixed on the documents.
Every line of text was written with great restraint, or at least appeared to be.
Chen Mo exhaled a smoke ring, and the doubt on his face gradually turned into sincerity.
"No, don't they know how strong I am?"
He looked up at Edgar.
Where do these people get the audacity to threaten me?