William Stryker stood in front of the reinforced observation window, staring at the figure inside the blue protective shield.
The person inside looked exactly like Raven, the infamous shapeshifting mutant also known as Mystique. But Stryker's instincts screamed that something was wrong.
His eyes were filled with suspicion, and his expression darkened like a storm cloud.
He was facing a dilemma.
If he ordered the guards to use heavy weapons and it truly was Raven inside the shield, then killing her would be an enormous loss. A living Raven was incredibly valuable to his research. Her shapeshifting genetics were the key to several of Stryker's secret projects.
If Raven died before he fully understood her mutation, years of research could collapse instantly.
But if he hesitated…
And the person inside the shield turned out to be Deadpool, then the consequences could be just as disastrous.
Outside the prison facility, the Mutant Brotherhood was already launching a coordinated attack. They were trying to break in and rescue Magneto.
Stryker simply didn't have enough manpower to deal with both threats simultaneously.
If Deadpool escaped inside the prison, chaos would spread instantly.
A prison riot. Mutant prisoners breaking loose. Guards overwhelmed.
The entire facility could fall apart within minutes.
And to make matters worse, his strongest fighter inside the prison—Lady Deathstrike—was currently out of commission.
Earlier, Deadpool had poisoned her during their fight.
Even if she recovered, Stryker knew the truth.
The previous battle had proven it clearly.
In a one-on-one fight, Lady Deathstrike could not defeat Deadpool.
That lunatic mercenary was simply too unpredictable.
Stryker clenched his jaw.
For the first time in a long time, he felt trapped.
---
Inside the shield, the disguised Deadpool looked completely relaxed.
He leaned casually against the barrier and waved at Stryker with exaggerated friendliness.
"How about this," Deadpool said cheerfully.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. You open the shield, and we become friends."
Stryker didn't respond.
Deadpool shrugged dramatically.
"Hey, don't think that's too little."
He gestured toward the distant battle outside.
"Magneto might not even be rescued yet. And the Brotherhood only paid me dirty money anyway. That's all I got."
Stryker's face remained cold.
Just then—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
His earpiece vibrated.
Stryker pressed the receiver and listened quietly.
Only a few seconds passed.
Then his expression changed.
Slowly, he looked back at the figure inside the shield.
His eyes became icy.
"You are Wade," he said coldly.
Deadpool immediately spread his hands.
"Alright, you got me."
Even though the voice in Stryker's earpiece had been quiet, Deadpool's enhanced hearing still caught pieces of the conversation.
Apparently, the real Raven had already been spotted somewhere else.
That meant the one inside the shield was definitely not her.
Deadpool grinned beneath the mask.
"Good news," he said casually.
"I just earned a million dollars from the Brotherhood."
He paused.
"Bad news… I haven't actually received the money yet."
Stryker stared at him like he was looking at a lab rat.
"You won't have the chance to spend it."
Deadpool tilted his head.
Stryker continued calmly.
"But if you cooperate and tell me how Raven allowed you to copy her abilities…"
"Then maybe we can still negotiate."
Deadpool blinked.
"Oh, that's easy."
Suddenly his body shifted.
His appearance transformed back into Wade Wilson.
The red mask disappeared, revealing his scarred face.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he pretended to recall something.
"It all started with a very beautiful night…"
Stryker immediately interrupted him.
"Impossible."
His voice was filled with contempt.
"Mutant abilities are not computer programs. They cannot simply be copied."
"If it were genetic manipulation, there might be a theoretical possibility."
"But not through… whatever nonsense you're suggesting."
Deadpool smiled innocently.
"Oh."
He shrugged.
"That's simple."
He pointed at himself.
"Raven and my dad had me."
Silence filled the room.
Stryker's expression froze.
Then his face turned completely black.
Inside his mind, he exploded with anger.
This bastard!
At that moment, Stryker made a firm decision.
Once Deadpool was captured, he would sew his mouth shut permanently.
Then he would place his head inside a sealed container filled with thousands of flies.
Let the flies crawl into his mouth and nose.
Let him scream forever.
Deadpool tilted his head.
"My sixth sense tells me you're thinking some very evil thoughts."
Stryker replied calmly.
"Nothing evil."
"I'm simply thinking about how to torture you after you're captured."
Deadpool nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, torture."
"Need suggestions?"
He leaned closer to the shield conspiratorially.
"Actually, I'm most afraid of blonde, blue-eyed hot women."
"A whole group of them."
"You have no idea how terrifying that is."
"I once experienced it personally."
Deadpool placed a hand dramatically on his heart.
"Little Wade cried three times that night."
Stryker stared at him silently.
Then he let out a cold laugh.
Deadpool sighed.
"Alright then."
"At least tell me how many torture stages there are."
"So I can mentally prepare."
Stryker spoke without emotion.
"There is no honey trap."
"There is only torture."
"Endless torture."
"Until you reveal everything you know."
Deadpool sighed heavily.
"That's terrible news."
He rubbed his chin.
"How about we compromise?"
"Forget the group. Just give me one."
He pointed thoughtfully.
"I like that one."
"Yuriko Oyama."
"Female teacher type."
"Suits. Glasses. Office lady vibe."
"I love that."
Stryker nodded calmly.
"Very well."
"I will have Yuriko stab you into a hornet's nest with her claws."
He paused.
"That will be the third stage."
"Because compared to what comes after…"
"That is merciful."
Deadpool dramatically gasped.
"Holy crap."
He clutched his chest.
"Deadpool was almost scared to death."
Then he suddenly grinned.
"But you know what?"
"I'm actually a very generous person."
"I always repay kindness with kindness."
He coughed awkwardly.
"Or… maybe the opposite."
Deadpool reached behind his back.
Then he suddenly pulled something out.
A small wooden door.
He placed it gently on the ground.
Stryker frowned.
"Stop clowning around."
"All you're doing is making yourself look like an annoying Joker."
Suddenly—
Deadpool exploded with anger.
"SHUT UP!"
The sudden outburst startled Stryker enough that he instinctively stepped back.
Deadpool pointed angrily.
"Joker belongs to DC!"
"We don't have the copyright!"
"You trying to get Marvel sued or something?!"
Stryker stared at him silently.
Deadpool straightened his suit.
"I'm about to perform a magic trick."
"You watch quietly."
"No talking."
Stryker scoffed.
"You cannot teleport."
"I know about your belt."
"This facility contains materials that disrupt spatial jumps."
"Teleportation is impossible here."
Deadpool wagged a finger like a teacher correcting a student.
"I said it's a magic trick."
His clothes instantly shifted into a formal magician's suit.
"What is magic?"
Deadpool raised one finger dramatically.
"Something unexpected."
Then—
The small door opened.
Stryker suddenly felt a bad premonition.
He immediately pressed his earpiece.
"Bring the weapons down now!"
But it was already too late.
Deadpool stepped onto the small door.
And then—
He began sinking into it like it was quicksand.
Slowly.
Casually.
He waved goodbye.
And began singing softly.
"Goodbye everybody…"
"I've got to go…"
His body sank lower and lower.
Stryker could only watch helplessly.
First his torso disappeared.
Then his shoulders.
Then only one hand remained outside the door.
The hand waved slowly.
Suddenly—
The hand stopped.
Then it changed into an extremely rude gesture.
The middle finger.
Deadpool flipped Stryker off one final time.
Then—
SLAM!
The door closed.
Stryker noticed something immediately.
A small device on the door was flashing red.
The blinking grew faster.
And faster.
And faster.
Then—
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted.
Flames burst outward.
The fire reflected against the blue shield, turning it crimson.
The explosion lit up Stryker's face.
His expression was unbelievably dark.
But he didn't move.
He didn't retreat.
Because he knew something.
The shield protecting this room was nearly indestructible.
The explosion could not break it.
But the explosion wasn't meant to destroy the shield.
It was meant to create a distraction.
A moment later—
Prison guards finally rushed in carrying the experimental weapon known as Experiment 12.
They were too late.
Stryker glanced at them coldly.
But he didn't say anything.
After a moment, he spoke calmly.
"Gather everyone."
"Collect every fragment."
"Even the ashes."
"Send everything to the research lab."
Years ago, when constructing this underground facility, Stryker had secretly tested it.
He had invited several mutants capable of spatial teleportation.
Nightcrawler-type teleporters.
Dimensional jumpers.
Every test had failed.
The facility was supposed to block all spatial movement.
And yet—
Deadpool had escaped.
Stryker looked at the destroyed door fragments.
His eyes narrowed.
"If I can understand how he escaped…"
He muttered quietly.
"Then this failure…"
"Will not be a total loss."
But deep down, Stryker knew the truth.
Deadpool had humiliated him completely.
And somewhere far away—
The most unpredictable mercenary in the world was probably laughing.
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