Aetheris brushed aside the strands of hair hanging by her ear and said,"No need to rush. The advantage lies with us since the technology is in our hands. They should be the ones feeling anxious. If one day isn't enough to reach an agreement, we'll wait two. If two aren't enough, then three. We must remain patient; only then can we maintain control."
Nova nodded softly and replied,"I understand."
Seeing color return to her face, Aetheris took her delicate hand and led her toward his private elevator. Nova, worried that colleagues might see them, tried several times to pull her hand back, but each attempt failed. In the end, she could only let Aetheris hold her hand.
Fortunately, they did not encounter anyone along the way. Once they exited the building, Happy was already waiting at the entrance with a car prepared. Today's ride was a Maybach, its spacious back seat easily large enough for two people to lie down without any trouble.
The car glided smoothly along New York's asphalt avenues without the slightest bump. Nova rested her head on Aetheris's shoulder and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.
Looking at her serene face, Aetheris could not bring himself to wake her. He held his posture steady so she could sleep more comfortably.
The trip from Stark Industries to Central Park was only ten minutes, yet Aetheris deliberately chose to leave at this time.
The reason was simple. Next week, Nova would be taking his entourage to seek refuge abroad. Among them were Spider-Man, the Ethan family, and even Dr. Octavius and his household. These people were all Aetheris's most valued assets. A house could always be rebuilt if destroyed, but the loss of people would be far more devastating.
New York's Central Park lay at the heart of Manhattan, surrounded by towering skyscrapers. Covering 843 acres, it was the city's largest urban park. Construction began in 1854, designed by Olmsted and Vaux.
The entire park stretched out in a rectangular layout. Near the center was an artificial lake, surrounded by botanical gardens, a zoo, sports fields, art museums, theaters, numerous ornate fountains, and vast lawns.
In the words of its designer, Olmsted, Central Park was "a fine work of craftsmanship provided by God for countless weary industrial workers. Those who could not afford to spend summers in the countryside or the mountains could find the same restorative effect here more conveniently and accessibly."
It was already three in the afternoon. Visitors strolled through the park in groups, averaging some 25,000 per day. Many of Manhattan's elites came here to enjoy afternoon tea.
In the chill of New York's winter wind, Aetheris and Nova walked hand in hand down the shaded boulevards. His large palm enveloped her delicate fingers. He felt the smooth warmth of her jade-like hand, while she felt the rough strength of his. Both savored the romance and leisure of the afternoon.
Nova wore light makeup, her long lashes untouched by artifice, her expressive eyes unforgettable at a glance. Dressed in a white trench coat, she drew frequent backward glances from the passing crowd.
By contrast, Aetheris did not stand out nearly as much. Wearing the superman glasses awarded by the system, his true identity remained completely concealed. Without his permission, no one could recognize him unless, of course, he wore his red underwear on the outside.
Brimming with enthusiasm, Nova chatted with him about trivial matters at work. Aetheris let her words flow in one ear and out the other, yet he remained the perfect, attentive listener. Happiness glowed on her face, her delicate features bathed in sunlight, and Aetheris could even see the fine down on her cheeks.
In that moment, his heart grew calm. The faint fragrance of the girl filled his senses. Though their souls had merged countless times before and that scent was already etched into his very genes, Aetheris could never tire of it.
Suddenly, his brows furrowed as a wave of killing intent brushed past.
He pulled Nova close behind him, shielding her with his body.
She had not yet realized what was happening when a man up ahead suddenly drew a small black pistol from beneath his clothes and aimed at Aetheris, pulling the trigger.
A soft pop rang out as a silenced bullet shot toward Aetheris's face.
The man was no more than four or five meters away. The bullet closed the distance in an instant.
Aetheris raised his left arm. The bullet struck his forearm.
The sound of the bullet piercing flesh was faint, but it was immediately halted by the density of his muscles after barely breaking the skin.
Golden Bell Shield, mastered.
Ignoring the pain in his arm, he stomped the ground and shot forward like a cannonball. His right elbow slammed directly into the man's chest.
A sharp snap echoed as though the man had been struck by a car at 120 miles per hour. He flew backward without even managing a scream, his chest bones shattered, his body tumbling more than ten meters before hitting the ground. Blood gurgled from his mouth, eyes wide open. He was clearly dead.
The surrounding tourists had not yet understood what happened. They only saw a man suddenly hurled through the air, dead upon impact.
Several concerned onlookers immediately dialed 911. A few who had been admiring Nova's beauty caught only a fleeting glimpse, but they knew the man's violent fall had to be connected to the man beside her.
Now they stared at Aetheris with eyes full of fear, as if he were a monster. They had seen boxing matches before, but to send a grown man flying several meters with a single strike—wasn't that something only seen in movies?
Aetheris walked over to the gunman's body, his face grim. He searched the man's clothes. Aside from a few U.S. dollar bills, there was nothing—no identification, no documents.
"Damn it, a ghost with no name, no ID, nothing."
He had already suspected this would be the case, but cursed nonetheless.
Nova, her face pale, slowly walked over. The whole incident had happened as fast as a lightning strike. She had lived all her life in a safe world and had never imagined being so close to death. Nor had she imagined that the reaper would be struck down in an instant by her man.
No, wait. It wasn't a punch. It was his elbow, like that master of Baji Quan in the film The Grandmaster, sending someone flying with a single strike.
Judging from the assassin's gruesome state, bleeding from every orifice, he was beyond saving. Dead. Good riddance. Who told him to ambush her man? Anyone who dared harm him deserved death!
She rushed to Aetheris's side and clutched tightly at his clothes. She had been truly terrified, but here by his side was where she felt safest.
(End of Chapter)
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