[Sponsored] Chapter 62: To the Piggybank

[This Chapter Is Sponsored by Moneymancer! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!] (13/18)

At this moment, as the year 2000 approaches, the technological capabilities of this era are not particularly advanced. It is only after 2005 that technology will experience explosive growth year by year, marking the beginning of a new era, as if an invisible hand is playing the strings of Earth's technology.

Hank is one of the top geniuses on Earth. He personally built the Blackbird fighter jet, which, in terms of technology and usage level, is not only years ahead of today's Earth but also absolutely top-notch.

Especially considering that it's not equipped with offensive weapons, Hank has shifted his skills towards enhancing speed, utility, stealth, and safety.

It's worth mentioning that Hank is also one of the few people who can practically utilize vertical takeoff and landing jet engines. These allow for vertical takeoffs without a runway, and the takeoff speed is very fast.

Bi Xiao knows that only a few organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D and Wakanda can fully implement vertical takeoff and landing systems in their aircraft, which have become somewhat common on Earth.

Bi Xiao's cognitive abilities are akin to a super brain. His memory and learning speed are beyond human. Once Hank taught him how to operate all the functions, Bi Xiao was able to handle them just as well as the experienced Hank on his second try.

What remains is just to boldly fly, soaring through the skies in whatever pose suits Bi Xiao.

Bi Xiao is very satisfied with Hank's gift, so he immediately made a phone call to transfer the remaining money and then took off from the mutant academy.

During the flight, Bi Xiao enjoys piloting and soaring through the air for the first time.

While the novelty wears off compared to flying by himself, the performance of the airplane is indeed impressive. It can reach a maximum altitude of 30,000 meters and a top speed of 3.5 Mach, much faster than his telekinetic flight, allowing him to reach any place on Earth within five hours.

Hank also optimized the fuel tank, an essential component since the X-Men's aircraft don't need to carry weapons, allowing for other usable space.

With a larger fuel tank than current combat jets, it has a very long range, ensuring it doesn't run out of fuel mid-flight. Plus, with Hank's contact and coordinates for private airports worldwide, refueling is not a concern for Bi Xiao.

Now that he has the plane, he needs a place to store it—perhaps buy a manor first?

Plans cannot keep up with changes. Although he planned to buy a jet from Charles, only Hank could build such an aircraft, and it would take a year. Once the plane was delivered, he planned to buy a manor, but Hank, being very honest, delivered a new model intended for personal use to him.

His small apartment with a yard certainly can't accommodate the plane.

A minor issue is that this plane has nearly drained his finances, and he's planning to find another big spender to negotiate with.

Bi Xiao feels that his "piggy bank" is about to be put to use.

...

In the evening, in a luxurious villa in Manhattan, Kingpin, wearing a large bathrobe, watches his son, who is blowing bubbles in the crib. His usually fierce face softens.

His wife, Vanessa, gently watches her husband and son, feeling this moment as the happiest in the world.

"Be careful not to wake him; otherwise, you won't be able to sleep tonight," Vanessa cautions.

But Kingpin just shakes his head, lowers it, and gently kisses the baby's forehead without waking him.

"I only feel joy, never annoyance. He is the gift you gave me, and I will cherish him for a lifetime," Kingpin turns and hugs his wife Vanessa, kissing her. This mafia boss, notorious in the underworld, shows a uniquely tender and considerate side.

Vanessa smiles and nudges her husband: "He is the gift we gave ourselves."

Seeing his wife's playful pout, Kingpin laughs heartily, about to admit his mistake but unintentionally wakes the child with his laughter, causing him to cry.

"I told you to be careful," Vanessa scolds lightly, quickly picking up their son to soothe him, while Kingpin stands by watching.

Suddenly, the maid knocks on the door.

"Go ahead, dear. I've got this," Vanessa says caringly, prompting Kingpin to kiss her cheek before he leaves the room.

"Sir, you have a phone call," the maid says respectfully.

Kingpin nods and heads to the spacious living room. There aren't many who would call at this time, and because of his son's birth, he rarely keeps his phone in the room, fearing it might startle the child.

In the luxurious living room, he picks up the phone, and it is indeed his capable assistant.

He signals to the maid, who promptly goes to the bar in the living room and pours a glass of wine for Kingpin. Holding his drink, Kingpin moves to the balcony of his luxury apartment on the thirteenth floor, overlooking Manhattan's nightscape below.

While sipping his drink, Kingpin talks business with his assistant, James Wesley, for about half an hour before ending the call. He watches the bustling traffic below, mingling with the dark and dim lights of Manhattan.

Kingpin finishes his last sip of wine before turning to leave the balcony.

However, as he steps back into the living room, his steps halt, and a chilling, fierce look flashes in his eyes—a potent aura unique to the underworld's top boss slowly fills the living room.

Because at the front of the living room, a very handsome Asian man in a black coat and sweater, wearing a round hat, takes a wine glass from the maid and gestures to Kingpin with it.

This is a stranger Kingpin has never met before, who has appeared in his home unnoticed.