In the Marvel universe, you start with a colored Hextech item.

Chapter 99 The Calm Before the Storm

Lynn could clearly sense the undisguised hostility in Rogers' eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle.

He leaned forward slightly, a hint of provocation flashing in his eyes, and raised his chin at Captain America at the door.

"What? Does the captain want to try it out himself?"

As he spoke, his gaze subtly drifted toward Coulson beside him.

Coulson stood there, his expression shifting between light and shadow, his eyes filled with struggle and helplessness.

He looked at the two men locked in a tense standoff, and at the agents outside whose fingers were already locked on the trigger. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, all his emotions turning into a deep sigh.

"Lynn, you'd better watch yourself."

Coulson's voice was full of exhaustion.

"I still hope you will seriously consider my suggestion. War brings only tears and wailing, and you are not that kind of person."

"I understand that you were not the only one at fault in this matter from beginning to end, and I understand your reasons and causes."

"But I still hope that this war can be avoided."

He looked up at Lynn, his voice carrying a final hint of pleading.

"The enemies you will face next are never just one or two, but rather the representatives of the entire country and the gathering of various forces."

"Have you really thought this through?"

Lynn simply raised an eyebrow but didn't reply.

Seeing this, Coulson finally shook his head helplessly and gestured to the agents behind him.

The agents, who had been surrounding the coffee shop and intently watching it, instantly put away their weapons and retreated in unison.

A straight passageway leading directly to the end of the block was cleared in the middle of the street.

"You go first."

Coulson stepped aside to make way.

However, at the moment of parting, You added a sentence.

"That's all I can do."

"If you've thought it through and are willing to accept the previous proposal, you can contact me at any time via S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dedicated line. (Directions...)"

I will arrange everything for your identity and security in advance.

"Hahaha----"

Seeing this scene, Lynn suddenly burst into unrestrained laughter, his laughter filled with undisguised mockery.

Yet it also concealed a hint of inexplicable relief.

Some things are already too late.

But that's not what he wants.

Lynn didn't look at Coulson again, nor did he pay attention to Rogers, who was still staring intently at him from the doorway.

He casually picked up his coat from the back of the chair, draped it over his shoulder, and waved to Wang beside him.

"Let's go, let's go back."

Wang rolled his eyes, but resignedly followed.

The Sorcerer Supreme instructed him to keep an eye on Lynn to prevent him from causing further trouble in New York, but he was about to simply open a portal and leave—

If he were to turn around and chop the street in half with an axe, he would still inevitably be resented. Thinking of this, he sighed helplessly.

All he felt left with Lynn was helplessness.

The two walked slowly out of the coffee shop, facing the wary gazes of the agents on both sides of the street, the countless cameras shooting from the street corner, and Rogers' hostile eyes.

They disappeared from sight step by step along the deserted streets.

Rogers only let out a heavy sigh of relief when Lynn's figure had completely turned the corner and disappeared from sight, his grip on the shield tightening slightly.

He turned to look at Coulson, his tone tinged with incomprehension and dissatisfaction.

"I'm sorry, I didn't consider the situation at the scene just now, and it almost caused a bloodshed. I should have been more restrained."

"But are you really going to let him go like this?"

"Agent Coulson, you've seen his attitude too; he shows absolutely no intention of backing down."

"A person like this brings bloodshed and slaughter wherever he goes. Letting him go will only put more people in danger!"

Clearly, Rogers didn't want to let Lynn leave so easily. In his view, Lynn was a ticking time bomb that had to be stopped as soon as possible, otherwise it would only lead to a greater tragedy.

However, Coulson simply shook his head helplessly and rubbed his throbbing temples.

"Captain, my suggestion is the best solution at the moment. This is also what Chief Fury wants."

Coulson's voice was full of helplessness.

"If Lynn is willing to leave New York and temporarily disappear from the public eye, that would be the best outcome."

"Leaving aside the fact that we can avoid a war with completely unpredictable losses, it's already a stroke of luck that the battlefield isn't in New York."

"As long as Lynn, the catalyst, disappears from public view, there's still room for maneuver, and Chief Fury will have room to maneuver."

He looked at Rogers and explained, word by word.

"Those old guys in Congress, and the people on the Security Council, have always had their eyes on Lynn."

"Now that their target is gone, who else can they seek revenge on?"

"Once the public outcry subsides, we can gradually shift all the blame onto the already deceased Ross and the judges who accepted bribes and made wrongful judgments."

"There is still room for this matter to be resolved."

"There is still a possibility to mend the relationship between Lynn and the authorities. Even if it is not mended, there shouldn't be such great hostility."

Coulson's gaze fell on the street corner where Lynn had disappeared, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Captain, you don't understand."

"The threats Earth will face in the future are far greater than we imagine. If a force like Lynn's could become a force to protect Earth, rather than an adversary—"

"It's a blessing for all of us."

"Unfortunately—"

He sighed as he said this.

"His attitude just now said it all. He's not one to back down, and this war is now inevitable."

"If such a person is completely driven to the opposite side by those who only know how to manipulate politics, no matter how you look at it, it is a loss that we cannot afford."

"Besides, what Lynn asks for is never excessive. It's not that we can't get him to stand on our side."

Coulson couldn't help but recall the culprit behind all of this, the changes that began after Ross appeared.

The initial political events all started after Ross left Fisker Tower.

"If anyone's to blame, it's Ross."

"He wanted to control Lynn too much, and he wanted to have another trump card in his hand to deal with unknown threats."

Rogers remained silent after hearing Coulson's words.

He leaned against the doorframe of the coffee shop, clutching the vibranium shield tightly in his hand.

The words Lynn had just said kept replaying in his mind, along with the undisguised madness and determination in his eyes.

He understood that what Lynn sought was simply the freedom to not be framed or manipulated at will.

But he could never agree with Lynn's way of doing things.

Even when faced with Ross's framing and the malice of the entire system, he would never go to the extreme of beheading in public or killing indiscriminately.

He would fight for freedom, but he would never kill soldiers who were merely following orders for the sake of freedom.

This is the most fundamental difference between him and Lynn.

But Lynn's words before they parted, "You alone can't stop me," still stuck in his heart like a thorn.

He could not allow Lynn to continue his indiscriminate killings, nor could he stand idly by as a war broke out that would engulf the entire city of New York.

There were some things he had to do.

Rogers gripped his shield tightly, looked up toward the Fisker Tower in the heart of Manhattan, and a resolute determination flashed in his eyes.

He had to make one last attempt before the war broke out.

On the other side, on the streets of New York.

The afternoon sun should have been shining on the bustling streets, but wherever Lynn's figure went, the streets instantly became deathly silent.

Shops along the road hurriedly pulled down their roller shutters, and people on the street screamed and scattered in all directions.

Within minutes, only Lynn and Wang remained on the street, with only fallen leaves blowing in the wind and rolling across the empty pavement.

Upon seeing this scene, the king's face turned so black it seemed to drip ink.

"I'm so unlucky. I just came out and this happened to me. And now I've already found out about you online."

Wang glared at Lynn through gritted teeth.

"Now look what's happened! Everyone in New York thinks I'm one of your accomplices. Even if I follow you this whole way, those guys might still try to get me!"

"I told you, just open a portal and go straight back to Fisk Tower, but you insisted on walking back."

"What? You think your arrest warrant isn't conspicuous enough, so you insist on patrolling the streets of New York?"

Upon hearing this, Lynn couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What's the rush? You've come all this way, wouldn't it be nice to experience the local culture and atmosphere of New York?"

"Look how enthusiastic everyone is. When they saw us coming, they even made way for us."

"enthusiasm?"

Wang stared wide-eyed at Lynn as if he were a madman. "They're afraid you'll chop them in half with your axe!"

The two continued bickering as they walked towards the Fisk Building.

Ordinary people on the street had long since disappeared without a trace, with only a group of media reporters who were willing to risk everything for a headline, and a few daring young people watching the spectacle, hanging far behind them.

They frantically took photos with their cameras and phones, but even after the two reached the Fisker Building, no one dared to take another step forward.

In their eyes, this pitch-black skyscraper was like a vortex connecting to the abyss of hell; if they stepped inside, endless darkness and death awaited them.

Lynn and Wang walked slowly into the building under the watchful eyes of countless people.

As soon as I pushed open the door to the top-floor office, Frank's voice immediately drifted over, carrying a hint of resentment at not being able to attend the event.

"Why didn't you invite me to come along?"

Frank leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, a shotgun in his hand. The bandage on his left arm had been replaced with a new one. When he saw Lynn come in, he immediately went to greet him.

"The internet is flooded with videos of you confronting that group of people in the coffee shop, and your final declaration of war; they're going viral."

As he spoke, he picked up the tablet on the table and turned up the volume.

The video immediately filled with gasps of astonishment from the crowd: "Oh no! Is that Lynn?! Listen to what he's saying! My God! Is he—is he declaring war on the entire nation?"

"The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the other side seem completely helpless! He just left like that?"

"Wait! Who's that person who suddenly appeared? He looks so familiar! Oh my god, my grandpa said he's seen him before!"

Lynn took the tablet, swiped it a couple of times, and immediately saw the top trending topic in the US, followed by a glaring red "hot" word.

Lynn: Gentlemen, I love war!

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Although that statement did sound a bit melodramatic, he felt that in that particular situation—

Only this sentence carries enough weight!

Only then can his attitude be clearly and forcefully displayed in the faces of those people.

He casually clicked on the entry, and the comments below had completely exploded, with extremely polarized opinions.

[a-ho: War? Then let's fight! Kill all those parasites hiding in Congress, sucking our blood! I will always support Lynn!]

[nige: Boss, could you please help me kill that Queens gang leader? He's been taking over my territory and extorting protection money! Please!]

[W-man: Oh no! God will not forgive your evil deeds! You blood-stained devil, one day you will atone for what you have done!]

[New York City resident: I live in Manhattan, and now I'm afraid to go out every day! Who knows when this lunatic will suddenly go crazy! Please, S.H.I.E.L.D., arrest him quickly!]

Lynn glanced at it briefly before tossing the tablet back onto the table.

Just as he had predicted, public opinion became completely polarized.

Ordinary people living at the bottom of society, exploited by capital and power, almost all frantically idolize him, calling on him to kill all those bloodsucking bureaucrats, gangsters, and capitalists, leaving none alive.

Meanwhile, the affluent elites and middle class are fiercely criticizing him, accusing him of being a rule-breaker and demanding that the authorities immediately sanction him.

Frank glanced at the comments on the tablet, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his indifferent eyes.

"These elites sitting in their offices are all talk and no action. They haven't had a gun pointed at their heads, haven't been framed and had their families destroyed, so naturally they just know how to call you a devil."

What's even more interesting is that Lynn has stated more than once that he has never spoken out for the underprivileged, nor is he seeking any religious or supportive influence.

But these people's admiration for him has only become more and more fanatical!

Lynn was a little puzzled. Did these people all have some kind of "masochistic" tendency? The more he ignored them, the more they seemed to enjoy it?

He chuckled and shook his head.

He never cared about praise or insults. He only knew that if anyone dared to put a knife to his throat, he would definitely cut off their head.

"Taking you out is too boring."

Lynn walked to the sofa and sat down, picked up the whiskey on the table, poured two glasses, and handed one to Frank.

"You went there, but you couldn't say a word. All you knew was how to kill people with a gun. It was pointless."

"Besides, now is not the time to make a move."

Lynn took a sip of whiskey and spoke in a calm tone.

"They've been holding back, simply waiting for Tony and his group to recover from their injuries, and for other reinforcements to arrive."

"After everyone has assembled in the safest way, they plan to take me down in one fell swoop with overwhelming force."

"I reckon that 'newcomer' who appeared today wasn't the first, and he's no ordinary person either."

"Not only that, now that this one has appeared, I should also make sure the other one is there, since Rose is dead."

At this point, Lynn thought for a moment, then smiled and looked at Frank.

"Perfect timing, I can take these few days to get some rest."

"If you were there, you probably would have fired the moment Rogers opened his mouth, and then the whole thing would have been ruined."

"And that Rogers, you're no match for him."

Lynn swirled his wine glass, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"The super soldier serum wasn't for nothing. After fighting for so many years in World War II, his combat experience is far superior to that of Ross and his bunch of idiots."

"Maybe because of what I said today, he'll sneak into the Fisker Building alone tonight, hoping to take care of me ahead of time?"

Upon hearing this, Frank instantly gripped his shotgun tightly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

We immediately had to prepare the firearms.

In his view, even if he couldn't win, he had to be fully prepared, and he had to be cautious about Lynn's casual remark.

Through the video, Frank could see the hostility in Rogers' eyes, and the profound meaning in his eyes when he finally left.

He also knew that Lynn's future enemies would only become stronger, and all he could do was to do his best to play a role.

Seeing his alarmed expression, Lynn couldn't help but burst into laughter and waved his hand.

"Don't be nervous, it's just a joke."

"Even if he were to come, it wouldn't be tonight. He's Captain America, how could he possibly do something like this—a sneaky night raid?"

But as he said this, his fingertips tapped lightly on the table, and the smile in his eyes gradually faded.

He knew very well that war was imminent.

Rogers' appearance today was indeed unexpected for him.

And now that Rogers has shown up, will Banner continue to hide? Can Fury not go and call him?

Of all the Avengers, the biggest threats to him right now are Captain America and Hulk.

One is someone who is "evenly matched" with everyone, and also possesses a touch of "idealistic" power.

One is that the angrier you are, the stronger you become.

None of these are problems that can be easily solved.

Moreover, Ross is already dead at his hands, which has resolved the biggest problem that made Banner's appearance so open and aboveboard possible.

Lynn had a premonition that Banner would appear before him soon.

Thinking of this, Lynn slowly walked to the window, appreciating the calm before the storm, and couldn't help but murmur to himself.

"Who should I kill first?

"Kill Barton first, then heal Frank's wounds."

"The second one killed Rhodes because he questioned his own words."

"And who should we kill the third one?"

Late that night.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from the side streets of the previously silent Fisk Building.

The dark figure weaved and shifted through the vehicles at an unbelievable speed, constantly closing the distance to the building.

The speed is so fast that it's impossible to see what it is with the naked eye.

Until the dark figure groped its way to the entrance of the Fisk Building and looked down at the pitch-black top floor.

"I'm here—Lynn."

Pavilion