…
Inside the abandoned cruise ship, in what appeared to be an unremarkable toxic waste storage bay—
Under the watchful gaze of "Deadpool" Leon, Ulysses Klaue reluctantly pulled a concealed switch.
Barrels labeled as hazardous waste descended like an elevator platform.
In their place rose thirteen sealed containers of raw Vibranium.
"These are the most expensive materials I've ever sourced," Klaue said bitterly. "Conservatively worth billions. The foundation of my empire."
"And now they're yours, Mr. Deadpool."
"Mm~ Not bad, not bad."
Each container held five kilograms.
Thirteen in total.
Sixty-five kilograms of Vibranium.
It wasn't an enormous amount—but more than enough for Leon's purposes.
Sixty-five kilograms might sound heavy—roughly the mass of a slim adult—but Vibranium is a lightweight metal, with a density roughly a third that of steel.
Compressed into a solid cube, that much Vibranium would measure less than thirty centimeters per side.
After stuffing the containers into a reinforced sack, Leon patted Klaue on the shoulder.
"Hey. Don't look so depressed."
"I only took your Vibranium—not your life."
"As long as you're alive, there'll be more billions. More Vibranium."
"I believe in you, Klaue. You're the best."
His tone was so sincere it was almost convincing.
"Much appreciated… Mr. Deadpool," Klaue replied with a strained smile.
Once Leon left—
Klaue's expression collapsed.
He kicked at the bodies scattered across the deck.
"Stop pretending! Get up!"
"He's gone!"
No one moved.
Then—
One "corpse" raised a hand weakly.
"Boss… he's actually dead. I'm the one still alive…"
"Shut up!"
Klaue kicked him back down.
…
Atlantic Coast, West Africa
Leon rendezvoused with Arcee, who had been waiting beneath the ocean surface.
Under her mildly exasperated gaze, he stripped down to nothing but his indestructible elastic undergarment, swapped out the Super Deadpool Suit, and changed back into the Soldier Boy outfit.
Enveloping Arcee's motorcycle form within his Bio-Field, he accelerated—
Mach 10.
The Deadpool persona would remain reserved for operations requiring plausible deniability.
When dirty work needed doing—
Deadpool would take the blame.
"Why didn't you eliminate him entirely?" Arcee asked.
Leon smacked her lightly on the rear fender.
"You know me well."
Klaue was more valuable alive.
Let him gather Vibranium.
Let him smuggle.
Let him stockpile.
And when the time was right—
Leon would collect.
As the saying goes:
If your neighbor stocks grain, you stock guns.
And your neighbor becomes your warehouse.
Eventually, when Wakanda's Vibranium reserves entered Leon's reach—
Klaue would become irrelevant.
…
Manhattan, New York – Dusk
Helen Cho walked alone down the street, glancing back repeatedly at Stark Tower.
She was troubled.
Determined to live up to Leon's expectations, she had volunteered to work overtime on the Regeneration Cradle project.
Only to be firmly sent home by Sharon Carter.
"Orders from Mr. Stark," Sharon had said. "Excessive overtime isn't healthy."
Helen sighed.
She had even worried whether further "development" might become… inconvenient in daily life.
Distracted, she bought milk tea to ease her nerves.
Suddenly—
A disheveled man wielding a knife sprinted down the sidewalk toward her.
Behind him, a young patrol officer gave chase with a Taser drawn.
"Move! Get out of the way!"
"I'll stab anyone blocking me!"
"Stop running!" the officer shouted. "I'll shoot!"
The man had been arrested for meth possession and fled while the officer called for backup.
Under normal protocol, lethal force would have been justified.
But the officer hesitated.
He hoped to subdue without killing.
"Helen! Move!" he warned.
But she froze.
The man slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.
"Damn it!"
He stumbled too.
Seeing the officer draw his firearm, he changed tactics—grabbing Helen and pressing the knife to her throat.
"Drop the gun!"
"Shoot and I kill her!"
A thin line of blood formed along her neck.
The officer held steady—but couldn't risk it.
Bystanders gathered.
Panic mounted.
"Leon…" Helen whispered through tears.
Above—
A sonic crack split the air.
Leon descended like a meteor.
Before the attacker could react, Leon crushed his wrist—bone and blade shattering together.
The knife clattered away.
The man screamed.
Helen surged into Leon's arms, sobbing.
"It's alright," Leon said softly, holding her. "You're safe."
Then his expression changed.
Cold.
Final.
To the officer, he smiled.
"You did well. You're the real hero."
Then he turned to the crowd.
"This man has a timed explosive implanted in his body. Nine seconds until detonation."
"Clear the area immediately."
Panic erupted.
The crowd scattered.
The attacker blinked in confusion.
Explosive?
Before he could speak—
Leon hurled him skyward.
A fully charged golden blast followed.
The man disintegrated midair.
A rain of blood fell—
But Leon was already gone.
Holding Helen.
Ascending into the evening sky.
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