Raven's expression darkened.
"Yes."
"Then aren't the factory that manufactures these bullets, the scientists who research this technology, and the arms dealers who sell the bullets to the military, even more terrifying than a single bullet?"
Lynt stepped closer, pressing the point.
"We can use money to buy that factory, fire that scientist, and bribe that arms dealer. We can ensure that all weapons threatening mutants flow to where we want them to go."
"Magneto is powerful, but the members of his Brotherhood also need to eat, live, and gather intelligence."
"We can use money to create internal strife, causing his subordinates to suspect each other due to unequal distribution of spoils."
"We can hire the best mercenaries in the world, not to assassinate him, but to dismantle his strongholds and seize his resources."
"Let him be constantly bogged down by logistics, instead of thinking about how to destroy the world."
"And Professor X, does he need money to run his school?"
"Does he need money to maintain that Cerebro machine?"
"We can establish a Mutant Rights Foundation to poach his students, luring away his wavering students with better treatment and resources."
Lynt's speech quickened, and his eyes gleamed with a light Raven had never seen before.
It wasn't desire, but a confident strategic mastery, a madness that treated the entire world as a chessboard.
Raven was completely stunned.
She had never considered the problem from this angle.
In her struggles with Charles and Erik, everything revolved around power, ideology, and the survival of their race.
They were like ancient gods and kings, conquering with divine power and armies.
But what Lynt proposed was a method of warfare completely alien to her, yet one that sent chills down her spine.
Pulling the rug out from under them, a dimensionality reduction attack.
"That sounds... interesting."
It took Raven a long time to find her voice, but she was still full of doubt.
"But all of this requires a precondition."
She pinpointed the core issue incisively.
"Is your money enough to buy a single screw from Stark Industries?"
Lynt smiled.
That was exactly what he was waiting for.
"So, we need startup capital."
He looked at Raven, his gaze frank and direct, with an undeniable sense of entitlement.
"And isn't our printing press right here?"
He didn't walk towards Raven, but turned and headed straight for the bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.
"For our great capitalist enterprise, it seems we'll have to work overtime tonight."
He pushed open the bedroom door, then looked back at Raven, who was still frozen in place, and gestured for her to enter.
Raven stared blankly at his retreating figure.
For the first time, a mix of absurdity, annoyance, and excitement flickered in her amber eyes.
This man was trying to transform from her pet into her partner.
And he was using the very means she had given him.
She licked her lips and followed him in.
"What kind of woman do you need tonight?"
"My dear Raven, you are exactly the kind I need."
In the post-battle bedroom, the scent of gunpowder still lingered in the air.
Lynt felt completely drained.
No, he felt like he had been drained, then thrown into a tumble dryer and spun dry a hundred times.
He was now a human dried salted fish, too tired to even move.
For an ordinary human to withstand a mutant's impact and survive, he was lucky to be so resilient.
But the woman beside him, that blue-skinned enchantress, was the complete opposite.
She looked as if she had just finished a top-tier spa treatment, every inch of her azure skin glowing, as if magma flowed within her, and even her breath carried a scorching heat.
"Stronger again... this feeling..."
Raven's voice was hoarse, filled with extreme satisfaction, as she turned and coiled around him like a snake.
Her slender fingers slowly traced circles on Lynt's sweaty chest.
Her gaze wasn't that of a lover, but of someone possessively admiring a newly acquired power bank that belonged only to her.
Lynt was too lazy to even lift his eyelids; his entire focus had retreated into the system panel in his mind.
[Dual Cultivation Complete! Host's overall stats improved!]
[Partner 'Mystique' Raven Darkholme's overall stats improved!]
[USD reward settlement in progress...]
[Detected partner's power rating increased!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have received: $10,000!]
Lynt silently watched the numbers on the panel.
[Yin-Yang Joyful Buddha Physique]
[Host: Lynt]
[Physique: Pure Yang Buddha Physique (Beginner)]
[Overall Stat Assessment]: (Current Enhancement Multiplier 1.1)
Strength: 9.68
Speed: 10.89
Endurance: 8.47
Spirit: 18.15
[Available Funds: $30,000]
[System Evaluation: Congratulations, you have evolved from a relatively durable weakling to a relatively fast weakling. Don't get ahead of yourself; one peanut can still send you to the afterlife.]
Lynt's mouth twitched violently.
Damn system, your words are getting sharper!
However, curses aside, the physical benefits were real.
The original owner's body, ravaged by indulgence, was now being filled in by these enhancements.
Strength, speed, endurance—all-around increases!
His neural reaction speed was incredibly fast!
At least, he was no longer that useless rich second-generation.
But looking at the thirty thousand dollars in his account, Lynt couldn't feel happy at all.
What the hell could thirty thousand dollars do in New York?
Not even enough to buy a decent bag!
And he was supposed to be on the capitalist path?
This wasn't a printing press; this was a damn manual pencil sharpener!
And a defective one at that, breaking the lead after two turns, needing to be coaxed to keep producing lead!
Even more critical was the woman beside him.
Her possessiveness was so thick it could almost drip.
That look in her eyes was like a dragon guarding the brightest gem in its cave, ready to incinerate anyone who dared to glance at it.
He was merely the golden-egg-laying goose, kept in captivity.
His life was in the hands of his keeper.
This feeling was absolutely messed up!
No, he had to break free!
He couldn't put all his eggs in Raven's basket!
He needed more partners, more money, and even more, a bargaining chip!
A chip that would allow him to breathe a little in this pathological relationship!
Beside him, Raven was sleeping contentedly.
The newly gained power gave her an absolute sense of security; her breathing was steady and deep.
Opportunity!
Lynt used all his acting skills, carefully, inch by inch, extracting himself from her octopus-like embrace.
His movements were as light as a mouse stealing cheese.
He tiptoed, hunched over, and slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
He plopped down on the cold toilet seat, pulled out his phone, and with fingers flying, used a series of complex operations he could barely remember to enter a completely black browser interface.
The dark web.
In his previous life as a dissolute young master, he was better than anyone at navigating these gray areas.
Information was the most valuable commodity in the world.
He wanted to buy information, information about all the powerful women in this world worth "investing" in!
He held his breath, diving into various encrypted forums, browsing posts like a ghost.
The content within was a raw, naked exchange of desires.