The Vibranium inside the lead-lined container emitted a dull thud, remarkably clear in the empty mine ruins. Ye Mo didn't turn around; he was squatting beside a pile of rubble, carefully wiping the lenses of his silver half-rimmed glasses with a dusty cloth. Emma Frost stood two steps behind him, arms crossed, the Diamond Form brilliance now concealed beneath her skin, restoring her original fair and radiant complexion, though a few strands of hair still bore the marks of being scorched by the high temperature.
Law enforcement finally took control of the scene. Wakanda soldiers in uniform pushed in stretchers and supply crates, their eyes scanning the two outsiders who had just turned the place upside down with wary eyes. Ye Mo stood up, dusted off his work pants, and gave a nonchalant smile. He nodded to the nearest officer as a greeting. The young soldier, clearly surprised by Ye Mo's composure, paused for a moment before saluting.
"Let's go." Ye Mo put on his glasses and glanced at the still-smoking wreckage through the lenses. "The air here is bad; it's full of the smell of rust and gunpowder. Too much of it can easily give you pneumonia."
Emma Frost didn't say anything, but followed. The two crossed the police line, avoiding the busy figures, and walked towards an inconspicuous black SUV parked in the distance. The car's engine roared, and it quickly disappeared into the dusty dirt road.
Half an hour later, inside the safe house.
The soundproofing here was excellent, isolating it from all the noise outside. Ye Mo sat in the corner of the sofa, the lead-lined box full of Vibranium at his feet. He took off his black hooded sweatshirt, which was covered in scratches and stains, and tossed it onto a chair next to him, changing into a clean gray T-shirt. Emma Frost sat on the single sofa opposite him, holding a freshly made cup of hot coffee, the steam blurring her cool face.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional hiss of the coffee machine and the faint sound of traffic in the distance outside the window. This tranquility came somewhat abruptly, after all, just a few hours earlier they had been struggling in a life-or-death Extremis.
Ye Mo picked up the spare terminal on the table, his fingers swiping rapidly across the screen. The screen's light reflected off his face, outlining the focused lines of his profile. He was debugging an encrypted channel; the signal jamming device was activated to ensure no third party could eavesdrop on what was happening here.
"Are you ready?" Ye Mo asked without looking up.
"Anytime." Emma Frost put down her coffee cup, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table in a steady rhythm. "You look much better than you did in the mine. It seems the aftereffects of ' Regenerative Phasing ' aren't too severe."
"Of course." Ye Mo raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying his usual teasing. "My physical condition has been optimized by the system; this little injury will be fine after a good night's sleep. But you, that mental shockwave you used just now was pretty intense, wasn't it? I saw your hands were shaking."
Emma Frost glanced at him and said calmly, "Stop talking nonsense. That was to ensure you could successfully cut off the power. If you had been a second slower, I might already be collecting Klaue's corpse."
Ye Mo smiled and didn't refute. He knew Emma Frost was right. The battle just now was impressive, but extremely risky. If Emma Frost hadn't precisely interfered with the mercenary's auditory nerves, he would never have had the chance to get close to the control panel.
Just then, the terminal screen lit up, and a complex encryption protocol was verified.
The screen is split in two. On the left is Tony Stark's iconic smiling face, with the floor-to-ceiling windows of Stark Industries headquarters in the background, sunlight streaming in on him, making him look dashing. On the right is Captain America Steve Rogers, dressed in a neat uniform, his expression serious, but his eyes revealing a gentleness.
"Hey guys," Tony spoke first, his voice booming through the speakers with a distinctive magnetism, "I heard you guys pulled off a massive 'demolition operation' in southern Africa? That's incredibly efficient, twice as fast as our usual S.H.I.E.L.D.. response time. Honestly, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the security footage."
Ye Mo leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked quite lazy. " Mr. Stark, you flatter me. We were just passing by and helped our friends in Wakanda clean up some trash. After all, it's always uncomfortable to see others damaging the environment."
"Ha, 'just passing by'?" Tony let out an exaggerated laugh. "If just passing by can beat Ulysses Klaue to a pulp, then I suggest you teach my armor how to walk. But seriously, Ye Mo, and Emma Frost, well done this time. Without you cutting off the main power and jamming communications, our rescue team would have been easy prey. Stark Industries thanks you for your support."
On the other side of the screen, Steve nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the camera, as if he could see Ye Mo through the screen. "Mr. Ye Mo, Ms. Emma Frost, on behalf of the Avengers, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you. The tactical prowess and humanitarian spirit you displayed in the battle were truly impressive. Regardless of our identities, protecting the innocent is a shared belief for everyone. We hope to maintain this close cooperative relationship in the future when facing similar threats."
Ye Mo took off his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with the corner of his shirt. His movements were slow, as if he were thinking about something. Emma Frost sat beside him, watching him quietly, her eyes showing no urging, only a tacit waiting.
"Pleasant to cooperate." Ye Mo put his glasses back on, his tone flat. "However, we're not exactly formal allies. We just... enjoy seeing things we don't like happen. As for the future, who knows? The world is so big, troubles are always on the horizon."
Steve smiled slightly, "Whatever your identity or role, as long as it's for the sake of justice, we welcome you. Of course, if you need technical support or intelligence analysis, Stark Industries ' doors are always open to you."
"Thanks very much then." Ye Mo shrugged. "However, I prefer to solve the problem myself. After all, it's harder to repay a favor than a debt of money."
The call lasted a few minutes, during which the two exchanged suggestions on follow-up security and a rough plan on how to deal with Klaue's remaining forces. Finally, Tony chuckled and hung up. Steve also politely said goodbye, and the screen returned to black.
Silence fell over the room once more.
Ye Mo tossed the terminal aside, leaned back, and closed his eyes. He could feel a slight vibration in the Gene Spiral Tower within his body. Although no new levels were unlocked, the fragments of abilities he had already acquired seemed to be automatically reorganizing in his subconscious, becoming more stable.
"They accept us," Emma Frost said softly, breaking the silence.
"Hmm." Ye Mo opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. "It's an informal acknowledgment. But that's enough. In this circle, reputation is sometimes more important than armor."
Emma Frost stood up and walked to the window. The city lights outside were dim, the night deep. She turned to look at Ye Mo, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes. "What do we do next? Continue being ' Mr. X '?"
Ye Mo stood up and walked to her side. The two stood side by side by the window, overlooking the city that never sleeps.
"Of course." Ye Mo's voice was low and firm. "Now that we've stepped into this river, there's no turning back. Klaue is just the beginning; there are many more like him, or even more powerful enemies, to come. We cannot retreat."
He turned to Emma Frost: "We need to strengthen our connections with other superhumans. Not just Tony and Captain America, but many more potential powers. This world is too chaotic; the two of us alone can't hold out for long."
Emma Frost nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I know. I've taken care of everything at the Hellfire Club. Now, I'm free. I want to go further with you."
Ye Mo smiled, a genuine smile this time. He reached out and gently patted Emma Frost's shoulder. "Then let's go. The road ahead is long."
He turned back to the table and began packing his bags. His backpack was filled with all sorts of essential equipment: an energy core, a miniature listening device, a first-aid kit, and the silver half-rimmed glasses. Every item was carefully checked and arranged to ensure it wouldn't fail him in a critical moment.
Emma Frost also stood up and straightened her clothes. Her movements were elegant and composed, as if she were attending a banquet rather than preparing for an unknown adventure.
Ye Mo zipped up his backpack, picked up the bag, and walked to the door. He stopped and glanced back at the makeshift safe house. The unfinished cup of coffee was still on the table, the steam long gone, leaving only a thin layer of oil.
"I'm leaving," Ye Mo said casually.
"Mmm," Emma Frost responded, following behind him.
The two stepped out of the safe house and disappeared into the night. The city's neon lights flickered behind them, as if illuminating their new journey. The streets were deserted, save for the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Ye Mo took a deep breath. The air was filled with the unique smells of the city—exhaust fumes, perfume, and the cooking fumes from a late-night diner. The smell wasn't pleasant, but it was full of the essence of life.
"Shall we grab something to eat first?" Ye Mo suggested. "I'm starving after a whole night of running around."
Emma Frost checked the time and nodded. "Okay. I know a good breakfast place nearby that's still open."
The two walked along the street, their footsteps echoing on the empty road. Their shadows stretched long under the streetlights, eventually disappearing around the corner.
Behind them, the door to the safe house slowly closed, the lock clicking crisply and decisively. Everything returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. But Ye Mo knew this was merely the calm before the storm. The real challenge had only just begun.