Chapter 158: Countdown

A little bit of time has passed, the kidnapping, which has the attention of the world, is still going on, the president's wife and daughter still have not been rescued, and this means that the time for that show is getting closer and closer.

Some are sad about it, some are angry about it, but many are also excited about it and looking forward to it ...

It's a tragedy, but not everyone sees it that way.

The kidnapper is a genius, but doesn't disappear into the world out of thin air.

With such horrific search efforts, the trail was eventually caught.

Unfortunately, it was a trap, one that the kidnapper had deliberately left behind, and one that stalled for quite some time.

In the hours that followed, several more locations were found, but all were smoke and mirrors thrown out by the kidnappers.

The president was getting more and more impatient, even feeling his soul drifting out of his body, feeling like the whole world was starting to distort and he was turning into a puppet.

The venue for the live broadcast was all set, but it was the worst possible scenario and his last chance.

Meanwhile, the night that was supposed to be celebrating the arrival of Christmas had become unbearably quiet.

Street after street, which should have been bustling with activity this night, was deserted at the moment, except for the occasional child running past, and all were glued to their television sets.

This year's Christmas Eve was destined to be extraordinary.

The five-minute countdown began and the President, with a head full of cold sweat, entered the studio under the gaze of a pair of eyes.

All was set.

His partner had also been sedated and washed clean to ensure no harm would come to him.

The cameraman was in place and the live equipment was turned on.

He too began to get ready.

His wife, his daughter, plus his rights, and when it all added up, he decided to put up a fight.

His dignity fell to pieces with each piece of clothing that fluttered down.

There was, of course, the good news that, after an internet survey, his approval rating had surprisingly risen quite a bit, reaching a new high for the last few presidents.

That was the only thing that gave him any comfort.

Meanwhile, with the five-minute countdown, Charles and Nick Fury were on the move.

To be more precise, they had actually found their target a long time ago, only that they had been waiting, waiting for the countdown, waiting for the president to accept his miserable fate, waiting for the moment when he had one foot in the abyss and was about to be doomed, before they pulled the other out.

By then, the gratitude and excitement generated by the sudden rescue of the President, who had already resigned himself to his fate, would be far greater than saving him an hour in advance.

This was Nick Fury's proposal.

According to his words, it was inevitable that the other side would make a fool of themselves anyway, so they might as well take advantage of the opportunity to get more out of them.

Things like presidents come around all the time, but opportunities like this don't come around very often.

There is no doubt that Charles, who is the main person of merit, has a very good chance of getting at least strong support from the President and a lot less resistance when the matter of School X is raised after this incident.

Even after the details of the incident were released, Charles would become a hero in the eyes of many people for saving the poor president.

"Let's move."

Seeing that there were two minutes left in the time countdown, Nick Fury spoke to Charles.

He still had to leave some time to call over to the White House.

Charles nodded.

It would be just him and Nick Fury on this operation.

The next second, Charles reached up and pressed his fingers to his temples, then said to Nick Fury, "All right."

Nick Fury, still breathing heavily, was stunned at the words and said, "That's it?"

Charles nodded and said, "Get in touch with that side, we'll go ahead and go and bring them out."

Nick Fury took out his phone and said, "No problem."

With those words, the two men walked towards the building while Nick Fury watched the clock and pressed the number after a sixty second countdown.

Meanwhile, there was only one cameraman left in the live room, apart from the President and his partner, and the President's secretary.

One minute to countdown ...

The live broadcast began.

The president looked at the screen with a sad expression, "I would sacrifice myself for the sake of my family, and this is my promise to each and every one of you!"

He slowly walked forward, his whole body trembling slightly.

Closer and closer.

Just as his eyes closed and he clenched his teeth, ready to give it all up, even bending at the waist ...

"Stop! Stop!"

The secretary shouted excitedly and rushed straight to the dazed president, pulled him away and, putting the blouse that was on his arm around his waist, shouted to him, "Sir! We're saved! We're out! It's all right!"

The President was stunned, his body suddenly frazzled and he sat on his buttocks, then he jumped up with a red face and shouted some encouragement in the camera.

So much for the feeling of falling from the most powerful position on earth into hell, and then from hell into heaven.

Cheers rang out as people cheered with excitement, but there were also many who looked lost because they didn't see what they wanted to see.

But no matter what, the president was saved.

With a flushed face, he put one piece of clothing back on and strode out of the studio, hugging everyone.

This time, not only had he not lost face, but he had received a higher level of support as a result, and had a higher chance for the next election.

Instantly, he thought of the next election.

A group of people walked into the president's office.

The president, still in the excitement, kept walking around.

"Who was it? Who saved my wife and daughter?"

He asked his secretary with excitement as he took a step.

"It was ...."

"What was it?"

"It was a mutant."

"A mutant!?"

The President was on his feet.

"Yes, Your Excellency, that's what Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., reported."

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Aren't they to blame?"

"No, there were only two people in this operation, Nick Fury and the mutant named Charles, the mutant who rescued your family." After a pause, the secretary said, "That's what Nick Fury reported."

Nick Fury?

This bastard is not one to give credit away, so it was really the mutant who saved him this time?

Praise be to this mutant!

He couldn't help but exclaim in his mind.

"Charles, is the name Charles is it? I want to see him! Now!"

"They're heading this way with your family, they'll be here in a moment."

The president nodded, then frowned and said, "In a moment? What do you mean? Where did they find the kidnappers?"

Hearing the question, the secretary said, "Just five blocks away from here."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the office went silent, and the president's face was incomparably ugly, unable to resist cursing, "A bunch of bastards!"

.....