A Final Goodbye

Meanwhile, in the heart of France, the Town Hall Square was packed with people. A sea of heads, each with unique hairstyles, was all that could be seen.

Laurent pocketed his phone, following Director Fury's instructions, and took a deep breath. He stepped out from the wings of the press conference stage and into the spotlight, surrounded by the buzz of the crowd.

Numerous flashing lights illuminated the scene with the sound of shutters clicking as reporters from all over France and the world gathered. French TV stations with the highest ratings, such as French TV 1 and 2, broadcast the event live.

Of course, just sending a few reporters to gather information wouldn't cut it for such a big event. France, and even the world, paid close attention to the unfolding events.

Although a small number of deaths may not have caused much commotion in other countries, this incident occurred in Paris, France, one of the five permanent members of the United Nations, so it was only natural to receive widespread attention.

The public was abuzz with excitement, and they believed the news they received from various sources, especially from official sources.

Chants of "Catch the murderer!", "Love lasts until death, and justice will endure!" and "For justice!" filled the air.

The phrase that gained the most popularity and was repeated by most people was, "Love lasts until death, and justice will endure."

This sentence was specially written by Alex to promote the event, and it perfectly captures the image of the French in the eyes of foreigners. The French also believed this to be true and always portrayed themselves as such.

▪▪▪▪

"Everything they whitewash will become my joy," Alex said with a mischievous grin that was barely visible behind his clown mask. Brian, who was also masked but wore a pure black hood instead, nodded in agreement.

The masks were necessary because this was not a place they had been to before. The TV station building was equipped with surveillance cameras. With so many people around, it was important to stay incognito.

You never know when a freak might jump out of nowhere, especially in the Marvel Multiverse.

Alex and Brian made their way into the TV station. They sprang into action with lightning speed and agility, taking down several security personnel without causing harm.

Despite his jovial personality, Alex knew the difference between right and wrong. He could effortlessly tell the difference between those who deserved to be dealt with and those who should be spared due to the system.

He wasn't a saint. Saving lives was only a by-product of his actions if the situation presented itself in a pleasing manner.

"Freeze!" After neutralizing the potential threats, Alex and Brian burst into the live broadcast control room, immobilizing the staff with their expert moves.

Controlling the entire TV building would have been daunting, but they had a secret weapon, Sam Gilroy.

He had used his position as the deputy director of the Internal Security Bureau to secure the building's entrance, coordinating the special agents to maintain order, ensuring that no one could escape.

This was a classic case of the guardians turning into robbers... but Alex saw himself as anything but a robber. Where else could one find such a dashing and righteous man who would reveal the true face of France to its people?

"How do I manipulate the live broadcast?" Alex fixed his gaze on the Mediterranean man, who was the most stylish yet ugliest among them, and asked.

"What...what? No, don't even think about it!" The Mediterranean man stuttered, fear written all over his face.

He had no idea what Alex had in mind, but he would be finished if anything went wrong during a national live broadcast.

"You don't want your wife to inherit your wealth after you die, only to find a handsome young man to fuck with every night and live a life of happiness, right?" Alex placed the muzzle of his gun against the man's forehead, "Maybe there'll be a photo of you hanging on the wall."

The Mediterranean man crumbled under the threat of death and the fear of a lonely and unhappy afterlife.

Who could stand up to such a double-edged sword?

Alex watched the live broadcast and noticed that Laurent's speech had reached its climax. So he took out his mobile phone and made a call with his newly acquired sim card. Everything was ready.

▪▪▪▪

"I will not allow such things to exist in France! In the name of morality, law, and justice, I swear to uncover the truth and find the real culprit. Even if it costs me my life!" Laurent's voice boomed from the podium at the Paris City Hall.

The sound system was powerful enough, but the content of the speech left an impact. Laurent had taken a vow in front of the entire nation and the world. He had elevated the stakes to the level of risking his life.

Not only did the people at the scene get caught up in Laurent's words, but those watching the live broadcast were also moved. Was it possible that France had produced another hero?

••••

"This man is impressive," the "Lord" lying on a luxurious, palace-like bed commented as he watched the TV.

He couldn't help but pay attention to the news as he was about to reap the rewards of his plan's success. The young man nodded in agreement, "He's a competent individual."

"The rewards will be more generous when the time comes," the "Lord" said, nodding his head in satisfaction.

••••

At a secret cabin, two individuals with obscured faces sat in front of the TV, their eyes glued to the screen.

"He has a great sense of manipulative and leadership skills. He is definitely worth nurturing," said one of the individuals.

"Congratulations, you've trained a true talent. This will earn you major points and help you move up in the organization," added the other.

"Haha, as the saying goes, better late than never," chuckled the superior of Laurent's Hydra organization, surprised by the impressive performance of his subordinate.

"It seems it's time to officially absorb him into the organization."