"Achoo!"
"Bless you."
In the Empire University cafeteria, Mary looked at Hawk Phoenix, who had just sneezed, and offered her blessing.
Hawk Phoenix pinched his nose, his voice a little muffled.
"Thank you."
"Are you catching a cold?"
Gwen, sitting beside him, asked Hawk Phoenix with some concern, "You've been sneezing quite a lot these past few days. When you came back the day before yesterday, and even when you were home on the weekend, I heard you sneezing from time to time. Are you really catching a cold? Maybe we should go to the hospital to see a Doctor this afternoon?"
In the West, getting a check-up at a hospital is a very time-consuming endeavor.
Perhaps you make an appointment for a check-up before you have cancer, and by the time your turn comes, you're diagnosed with cancer.
After all, medical resources in a capitalist society are not a necessity, but a luxury.
But luxury is relative to ordinary people.
It might have been for the old Hawk Phoenix, but it certainly isn't for the current Hawk Phoenix.
Setting aside the power Hawk Phoenix now possesses, just the forty million in his account means he doesn't need to actively seek medical resources, because medical resources will come to him.
Don't ask why he has more money.
The answer is it's a hard-earned fee from the Security Council.
This was well-deserved for Hawk Phoenix.
After all, he did help the Security Council solve a big problem.
While they were still thinking about negotiations, Hawk Phoenix had already settled all their difficulties for them.
A clean, white Earth, just waiting for them to move in with their bags.
So…
A week ago, as soon as Hawk Phoenix got home, the Security Council's hard-earned fee arrived in his account, specifically noted as after-tax, so there was no need to worry about the IRS coming to collect taxes.
Hawk Phoenix was very satisfied with this.
Although he hadn't thought about getting paid before taking action, the Security Council's attitude still made him quite happy.
There was just one downside.
After he received this hard-earned fee, his nose had been inexplicably itchy these past few days.
Hawk Phoenix felt someone was talking behind his back.
No.
Not a feeling, but a certainty that someone was talking behind his back.
Hawk Phoenix probably guessed it.
It's likely that some people were speaking ill of him behind his back, thinking that the Security Council giving him a hard-earned fee was a sign of weakness and would encourage his arrogance, and that they should hit him hard.
There must be such idiots.
After all, the World is a huge makeshift stage.
But…
Hawk Phoenix didn't mind.
Who hasn't had a loose tongue? He also often talked behind Mephisto's back.
Besides, these Western politicians rely on verbal attacks to get ahead; when it comes to actual action, they often chicken out.
So…
Verbal attacks are fine, just don't get serious, because if they get serious, then he will too.
Hawk Phoenix thought to himself, waving his hand at his fiancée who wanted to take him to the hospital.
"No need."
"Really no need?"
"Really no need."
Hawk Phoenix affirmed, then quickly changed the subject, looking at Mary's new boyfriend, the former high school bully, Flash Thompson, whose opinion of him had changed after the gym incident, and asked, "By the way, where were you just now?"
Flash Thompson paused, then said, "I was asking what happened after I passed out."
He had been knocked out by that bald black woman with a stick and passed out.
When he woke up, he was already in the hospital.
Although Flash Thompson later learned that the three bald black women had escaped from a mental hospital and were subdued by the police who arrived in time, he still felt something was off.
Who was he?
Flash Thompson.
A mental patient could knock him out with one stick; with that kind of force, which mental hospital could have the honor of holding those three strong, ox-like black women?
Listening to Flash Thompson's question, Hawk Phoenix also turned to look at Gwen beside him: "Oh right, Gwen, what happened later?"
Gwen looked at the curious expression on Hawk Phoenix's face, feeling a bit speechless.
Mary, sitting opposite Gwen, watched Hawk Phoenix cooperate with Flash Thompson's act so well, and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
But…
Neither woman told Flash Thompson the truth.
Poor Thompson.
Soon.
The brawny, simple-minded Thompson, under Mary's persuasion and Gwen's assistance, deepened his impression that the three women that day were simply mental patients.
Hawk Phoenix just watched the two women brainwash Flash Thompson.
Although Flash Thompson's righteous actions had changed his opinion of Thompson, it was only a change of opinion, not enough to tell Flash Thompson the truth.
After all, the current Flash Thompson is just Thompson, not Agent Venom Thompson; even if he were told, it would only add to his troubles.
So…
Hawk Phoenix just watched quietly until his phone rang in his pocket.
He took out his phone, looked at the unfamiliar incoming number, chose to answer, and put it to his ear.
"Hello…"
"Mr. Phoenix, I am Or, from Osborn…"
"I know, old butler, is there something wrong?"
"Could I trouble you to come to Osborn Manor? The young lady and Peter may be in trouble."
"…Okay."
Hawk Phoenix raised an eyebrow, his heart stirring as he listened to the old butler of Osborn Manor on the phone. He then calmly agreed and said to Gwen beside him, "I'm good, I'm heading back first."
Gwen looked at Hawk Phoenix and nodded.
"Take care."
"Mm."
Hawk Phoenix smiled slightly, kissed his fiancée on the forehead, then after bidding farewell to Mary and Flash Thompson, he walked out of the cafeteria, unlocked his audi a8, and then drove out of Empire University with a foot on the accelerator.
Then…
He sped towards Osborn Manor at eighty miles an hour.
By the time he arrived at Osborn Manor, before he had even parked the car, the anxious old butler, who was already waiting at the main entrance of the manor, came down the steps to greet him.
The old butler looked at Hawk Phoenix, who was getting out of the car, his voice anxious.
"Phoenix…"
"Hawk Phoenix."
"…Alright, Hawk Phoenix." The old butler knew that Hawk Phoenix had changed his surname, which was why he hadn't addressed Hawk Phoenix by his given name as usual. However, after Hawk Phoenix spoke, he reverted to the old address: "The young lady and Peter might be in trouble."
Hawk Phoenix frowned, walking into the main building of the manor with the old butler, and asked curiously, "What do you mean 'might be in trouble'?"
The old butler explained, "The young lady usually contacts me once a month to handle company affairs remotely. But it's already been over a month, and she hasn't called, and I can't reach their experimental Base either."
Hawk Phoenix was even more curious upon hearing this.
"Where did Peter and Felicia go? They've been gone for a long time, haven't they?"
"Osborn's offshore experimental Base in the Pacific Ocean."
As the old butler spoke, he led Hawk Phoenix into the study, then turned on the projector. Instantly, an experimental platform, built like an oil rig in the vast ocean, appeared in Hawk Phoenix's line of sight.
Hawk Phoenix looked at the projected experimental platform, feeling greatly shocked.
"Building such a secret platform must have cost a lot."
"This was overseen by Norman Osborn when he was still alive."
"Alright."
Hawk Phoenix nodded upon hearing this, then asked curiously, "What about the other people on this platform? Can't they be contacted either?"
The old butler shook his head: "I've tried every method I could. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you to come."
Hawk Phoenix subconsciously looked at the bitterly smiling old butler.
"Who told you that inviting me would solve the problem?"
"It was Peter."
The old butler explained to Hawk Phoenix: "Peter said that once he and the young lady lose contact, after confirmation, I should contact you immediately. He believes you will find him, and the young lady agreed. So, after confirming that the young lady and Peter lost contact, I called you immediately."
Hawk Phoenix chuckled upon hearing this.
"You don't think of me when you're out having fun, but you think of me when something goes wrong?"
"Hawk Phoenix, Peter…"
"I'm just kidding, don't be nervous, old butler."
Hawk Phoenix looked at the old butler, who was about to explain for Peter after he spoke, and chuckled. Then, looking at the projected experimental platform located in the vast ocean, he didn't say any more unnecessary words.
"Do you have the coordinates for this location?"
"Yes, yes."
The old butler's spirit lifted upon hearing this. He nodded repeatedly, then rushed to the computer and projected the coordinates of the offshore experimental Base as well.
Hawk Phoenix glanced at the coordinates, nodded, then took out his phone, preparing to call his fiancée to inform her.
Because just as he saw these coordinates, a premonition suddenly arose in his heart.
This time, it probably wouldn't be a simple round trip.
But…
This wasn't a bad premonition, but a good one.
It seemed that this trip would allow him to obtain something he had been longing for.
But what exactly it was, the feeling was very vague.
Hawk Phoenix couldn't recall it for a while.
Soon.
The call connected.
"Hawk Phoenix?"
"Gwen, Peter is missing. I'm going to find him."
"What… Okay, be careful."
Gwen on the other end gasped subconsciously, then seemed to react, her voice becoming calm: "Then when will you be back?"
Hawk Phoenix answered truthfully: "I'm not sure. I have a feeling it might take a while."
Gwen fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
"Is there danger?"
"No, I am invincible in the World, you know that."
Hawk Phoenix said confidently.
Because it was true; looking at the present, how many native Earth superheroes could contend with him?
Ancient One doesn't count.
She's a BUG.
Gwen chuckled at Hawk Phoenix's confident reply: "Alright, then you be careful. I'll ask for leave for you tomorrow."
Hawk Phoenix hummed, then hung up the phone.
The old butler, who had been waiting impatiently, saw Hawk Phoenix hang up and quickly said, "The private jet is ready, anytime…"
Hawk Phoenix put his phone back in his pocket and looked at the old butler: "Plane? No need!"
The old butler was startled at first.
The next second.
He watched Hawk Phoenix gradually become transparent in his sight, his mouth open, and his pupils visibly widening.
On my Patreon, I have several advance chapters available if you're interested in more than 100: For $1, you get 20 fewer chapters than the $2.50 tier. For $2.50, you get 40 fewer chapters than the $4 tier. And for $4, you get them all.
The number of chapters is updated every 7 days and increases by 7 to 8 chapters.
My Patren: paroncom/FanTranslator