20: Chapter 20 Ambition Behind the Gold-Wire Glasses

But Yan Zheng did not go to find Liu Kun immediately.

He spent three whole days planning in the Antique Shop.

March 1st, daytime.

Yan Zheng sat behind the cashier counter, a blank sheet of paper spread out before him, filled with densely packed text written in fountain pen.

[Current Combat Power Assessment]

Skeleton Soldier × 3: Low individual combat power, but wins in numbers and stealth. Suitable for night patrols, reconnaissance, and collecting corpses.

Stone Armor Guard × 1: Above-average individual combat power, extremely strong defense, sufficient attack power. Suitable for direct confrontation, clearing areas, and intimidation.

Control Limit: 9 points of Mental Power, can simultaneously control three Skeleton Soldiers, or one Stone Armor Guard + one Skeleton Soldier.

[Known High-Value Targets]

Target A: Underground Fighting Ring, the Mutant female whose scan failed. Quality Rating: Unknown. Priority: Highest.

Target B: Daredevil (Matt Murdock). Superb physical fitness + radar perception. Quality Rating: Estimated A-rank or higher. Priority: High (but the target is a living person, cannot be touched for now).

Target C: HYDRA biological hazard. May contain Mutant experimental samples. Quality Rating: Unknown. Priority: Medium (insufficient intelligence, unknown risk).

[Short-term Goals]

1. Acquire Target A through Liu Kun.

2. Continue night patrols, accumulate materials, and increase Mental Power.

3. Explore the West Side sewers, search for non-human materials, and unlock the second phase of the Stitched Soldier blueprint.

[Long-term Goals]

Create Undead Creations capable of countering superhero-level combat power.

Yan Zheng put down his fountain pen and looked at the three words on the paper— "Superhero".

He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his lips curving into an arc.

Yan Zheng: ( ˵ ¬ ᴗ ¬ ˵ )

"Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk."

"In the original plot, they are heroes who save the World."

"But in my eyes, they are walking top-tier material banks."

"Super Soldier Serum, Ark Reactor, Asgardian divine body, Gamma ray mutation."

"Each one is a priceless treasure."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked through the gap in the blinds at the street with sparse sunlight outside.

"But it is not the time yet."

"My combat power is not enough, the intelligence network hasn't been spread out, and I haven't even fully controlled Hells Kitchen."

"Rashly provoking those people will only lead to an ugly death."

He turned around and walked back to the cashier counter, folded the white paper, and stuffed it into the deepest part of the drawer.

"Take it one step at a time."

"First, take down Target A, then explore the sewers, then expand the sphere of influence."

"When I have enough high-quality creations in my hands, when my undead army can cover the entire New York."

"At that time."

Yan Zheng's fingers tapped lightly on the cashier counter, the sound was light, but the rhythm was steady.

"I will let those superheroes know that in this World, there are things even more terrifying than aliens and mad scientists."

March 3rd, 8:00 PM.

Yan Zheng appeared again in the VIP room of the Underground Fighting Ring.

Liu Kun poured him a glass of Moutai as usual, and poured one for himself as well.

"Mr. Yan, how is business lately?"

"Thanks to you, the material quality is not bad."

Yan Zheng picked up the wine glass, didn't drink, just sniffed it.

"However, Boss Liu, I came today because I want to discuss something with you."

"Speak."

"I am quite interested in the last one of the five Mutants you took me to see last time."

Liu Kun had a cigarette in his mouth, squinting at him.

"The fifth one? That weird girl?"

"Yes."

Yan Zheng put down the wine glass and leaned forward slightly.

"My client is very interested in the genes of unknown types of Mutants and is offering a high price."

"If Boss Liu is willing to part with her, I can offer double the price."

Boss Liu puffed out a mouthful of smoke, which slowly drifted in the VIP room.

"Mr. Yan, it's not that I don't want to sell."

"That girl is indeed weird, and I don't even know what her ability is."

"But the problem is, she can still fight."

"I let her go into the ring last week, and against a professional boxer, she took over a dozen punches and just withstood them."

"In the end, the boxer cracked three of his own hand bones, while she only bled a little."

Liu Kun flicked the ash from his cigarette, his jade thumb ring turning in the light.

"I can still make money keeping someone who can fight like that."

"Isn't it more cost-effective to sell her to you after she's ruined?"

Yan Zheng was silent for two seconds, then smiled.

"Boss Liu makes a fair point."

"Then I'll change my proposal."

"If she is truly ruined in the future, notify me first."

"The price is negotiable, I just want the goods."

Liu Kun laughed loudly and slapped the coffee table.

"Straightforward, it's a deal."

"But Mr. Yan, you're so concerned about that girl, could it be that you've taken a fancy to her?"

Yan Zheng pushed up his glasses, his expression as gentle as if he were discussing the weather.

Yan Zheng: ( ˘ ω ˘ )

"Boss Liu is joking."

"I'm just interested in scarce things."

"The more unfathomable they are, the more valuable they are."

Liu Kun gave him a meaningful look, said no more, and drained his wine glass.

March 5th, late at night.

Yan Zheng stood on the rooftop of the Antique Shop.

This was his first time up here; the rooftop was very small, only about ten square meters, the ground covered with dilapidated waterproof membrane, and a few rusted iron barrels piled in the corner.

The cold wind blew over, lifting the hem of his suit.

He stood at the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the night view of Hells Kitchen.

In the distance was the bustling bar street, and nearby were pitch-black abandoned factories.

Towards the East River, one could see the sporadic lights of ships swaying on the water.

Further away, the skyscrapers of Manhattan were brightly lit, like a steel forest that never sleeps.

Yan Zheng pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting the lights in the distance.

"Materials from ordinary humans are no longer enough."

His voice was very soft, as if talking to himself, and as if declaring to the entire city.

"The limit of Skeleton Soldiers is just like this; no matter how many there are, they are just cannon fodder."

"Although the Stone Armor Guard is strong, it is only at the ordinary level."

"What I need are truly high-quality creations."

"Mutants, Super Soldiers, alien creatures, mythical creatures."

"Only these can make my undead army truly possess the power to change the World."

He turned around, with his back to the city lights, facing the dilapidated rooftop door of the Antique Shop.

"Next step."

"Explore the West Side sewers, search for non-human materials."

"Take down that unknown Mutant in Liu Kun's hands."

"Then."

The corners of Yan Zheng's mouth curved into an arc, and the look under his gold-rimmed glasses flashed with a certain morbid light in the night.

Yan Zheng: ( ꈍ ﹃ ꈍ )

"Start hunting, truly valuable materials."

On the distant skyline, a red and gold light streaked across the night sky.

The thrusters of the Iron Man Suit emitted a low roar, and Tony Stark flew over New York at high altitude, heading towards the direction of Stark Tower.

Yan Zheng looked up at the light gradually moving away, his eyes as calm as if he were looking at a collection that hadn't yet arrived in his hands.

"Tony Stark."

"Ark Reactor, Mark suit, artificial intelligence Jarvis."

"If one day, I can integrate these technologies into my Undead Creations."

"What kind of scene would that be?"

The cold wind blew across the rooftop, lifting the hem of his suit.

Yan Zheng turned and walked towards the rooftop door, his footsteps tapping out a dull sound on the dilapidated waterproof membrane.

The last sentence drifted away on the wind into the night sky of Hells Kitchen, carrying a kind of composure and madness when a creator plans the future.

"Steel Undead, Cyber Bone Dragon, Mechanical God of Death."

"The great era of Marvel has already begun."

"And I will become the most special player in this era."