[This proposal came a bit too suddenly; I need some time to consider it.]
"Of course. Regardless of your decision, Mr. Peerless, as long as the Golden Apple does not fall into the hands of villains, we will not disturb you."
[Thank you.]
Locke took out ten gold coins and placed them on the table. [This round of drinks is on me. That mysterious organization you mentioned just now has a branch here in New York. It would be best if you didn't wander around aimlessly.]
S.H.I.E.L.D. had a large, semi-autonomous branch in New York.
The Brotherhood might know nothing about S.H.I.E.L.D.
But Locke knew S.H.I.E.L.D. better than S.H.I.E.L.D. knew itself.
But right now?
Locke wanted some peace and quiet.
He had already drawn his blade from its scabbard, but because he exerted too much force, he nearly threw his back out.
...
Star Tower.
After Locke returned home, he walked over to the bar, poured himself a glass of bourbon, and downed it. Resting his hands on the bar, his eyes flickered slightly.
Join or refuse?
Locke had never been fond of organizations, whether they were the "good guys" or the "bad guys." He loved freedom. He never had the chance to escape the pressures of life in his past world, but this life gave him the right to choose his own liberty.
However?
Locke poured another glass of bourbon and went to the study. Leaning back in his computer chair, his right hand began to tap rhythmically on the desk.
The sound of his fingers hitting the tabletop was very regular.
Such sounds helped Locke think.
It was currently October 2004. There were only four years left before the main curtain rose. By 2008, once Iron Man was born, the true drama of this world would begin.
At this stage, being a lone rider wasn't much of a problem.
But once the curtain was fully raised...
Locke felt he could handle the situation alone, but he was just one man. What if he accidentally offended the superheroes, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hydra all at once?
So.
Locke had actually considered forming a group before.
It was just that the main events hadn't started yet, so Locke wasn't in a hurry. Sometimes, he'd think about it, toss the idea to the back of his mind, and then pull it out to think further when he remembered it again.
To this day, that group-planning project was still stuck on the "Team Name" page.
But right now, Magneto...
Bah.
Callum Lynch's invitation did indeed make Locke a bit tempted.
Most importantly.
Locke remembered what Red had said: after the textile mill was wiped out, Callum wasn't the only one who noticed him. A mysterious organization had also taken notice.
Namely, S.H.I.E.L.D.
Now that the Brotherhood has arrived, can S.H.I.E.L.D.'s appearance be far behind?
Locke raised an eyebrow.
"System, can I preview the long-term mission rewards if I join the Brotherhood?"
"Cannot!"
Locke felt the system's protest and his mouth twitched.
As expected.
Fine.
Locke made a mental command.
Next second.
[Ding!]
[Mission Generating!]
[Mission: Assassin Alliance (Long-term Mission)]
[Mission Rewards: "Achievement Points 100,000", "Potential Points 100,000", "Mysterious Building (Red Quality) 1", "Mysterious Item (Gold Quality) 1"]
[Mission Description: "The player has decided to join the Brotherhood. Tell the others who the true ruler of the Roman Brotherhood is! Watching you, who once established a global Brotherhood, your blood boils with passion as you shout the slogan: 'I shall take his place!'"]
[Mission Remarks: "This mission reward will be issued after the unification of the Brotherhood. During the process, milestone rewards will be sent based on mission progress (For every Brotherhood conquered: Achievement Points and Potential Points * 30,000)"]
[Mission Remarks: "Player has chosen to join the long-term mission. Prerequisite mission completed!"]
[Accept/Decline!]
[Ding!]
[Mission Completed (Assassin's Creed)]
[Mission Rewards: "Achievement Points * 1000", "Potential Points * 1000"]
[Status Refreshed!]
[Name: Locke Broughton (Unique Player)]
[Achievement Points: 20500 (Can be used to purchase items in the Achievement Store)]
[Potential Points: 40000 (Can be used to upgrade owned skills)]
[Supreme Talent: Extraordinary (Gold Quality, Level 1): My energy is limitless; your energy is beyond your imagination!]
[Transcendental Talent: Fortitude (Level 1): Your body will be able to withstand greater damage and is completely immune to non-vital small-caliber damage. Additionally, you will gain faster recovery after escaping harm (Upgrading to Level 2 requires 2W Potential Points)]
[Transcendental Skill: Curve Bullet (Advanced): Your marksmanship becomes even more profound and unbelievable! (Upgrading Blue Quality to Red Quality requires 2W Potential Points)]
[Talent: None for now]
[Ordinary Skills: Driving (Advanced), English (Grade 9), History (Grade 9), Mathematics (Grade 9), Chemistry (Grade 10), Shooting (Advanced), Sniping (Advanced)...]
[Current Mission: "Assassin Alliance"]
"My blood is not boiling with passion."
Locke looked at that line in the mission description and raised an eyebrow. "Don't just add random lines to my dialogue."
He chose to accept the mission.
He had time!
However...
Brotherhood.
Locke remembered that Magneto also had a Brotherhood, didn't he?
Good grief.
Another Brotherhood?
Locke felt it was somewhat miraculous. He lowered his head, smiled, drank a glass of bourbon, and then directly called Callum, who should still be at the Continental Hotel.
"Callum, you said last time that you had contact with that mysterious organization. What is your attitude toward them?"
"...Another organization that claims to be destined."
"Another one?"
"The last one was the Knights Templar."
"Understood."
Locke nodded. Since the Brotherhood's attitude toward S.H.I.E.L.D. aligned with his own, there were no problems. "Magneto, I accept your invitation."
Callum frowned on the other end: "I am not..."
But Locke had already hung up.
Join first, then find a way to snatch Callum's position and become the Mentor of the Brotherhood.
But for now, wait.
Let Callum work for him first.
Don't be hasty.
Haste makes waste.
Locke sipped the wine in his glass, gazing at the New York night sky.
...
In the Continental Hotel!
Rosa looked at Callum as he hung up and spread her hands. "How did it go?"
Callum frowned, thinking about the name "Magneto," and shook his head.
Seeing this, Rosa asked: "He didn't agree?"
Callum turned around, a trace of a smile appearing on his face. "He agreed to join us."
Rosa was slightly stunned. "Really? Could it be a trick?"
Callum said: "He is a proud man, just like me. Proud people never deign to lie. Tomorrow, contact him and exchange our Eagle Training technique for his Curve Bullet."
"And you?"
"I'm going to Sokovia to pick up my daughter and son. Next, we need to rebuild the Brotherhood in New York."
"..."
***
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