"Let me properly introduce her to everyone. According to Pioneer Tech's investigation, when we first started looking into this little girl, there was almost no record of her at all. It was as if she had appeared out of nowhere."
"At first, we assumed she was the child of undocumented parents, and that was why her information had never been officially registered. But as our investigation continued, we realized it was far more complicated than that."
"In just twelve years, she had been transferred through more than ten countries and dozens of cities. It was only in the last few years that all of that finally stopped. That alone was enough to prove she was anything but ordinary. There was no way she was simply the child of some undocumented family."
"So after digging deeper, we uncovered the truth. Skye. Original name, Daisy Louise Johnson."
"Her recorded father is Mr. Hyde, Calvin Zabo. Her mother is Jennifer Kim Johnson."
The moment Killian calmly finished speaking, the entire crowd fell into a long silence.
Everyone except Jennifer, who was already crying uncontrollably.
At that moment, all the strength, wisdom, composure, and authority she had maintained in front of her people for so many years shattered beneath those tears.
But no one said anything.
Because everyone there understood exactly what a mother's love for her daughter meant.
Especially after being separated for twelve long years.
At that moment, Jennifer could no longer hold herself back. She walked straight toward the timid little girl hiding behind Killian.
She did not need proof. She did not need testing. As a mother, she had known from the very first glance.
This was her daughter.
But as Jennifer approached with tears in her eyes and excitement written all over her face, Skye froze.
She instinctively buried her little face behind Killian's leg, hiding in the folds of his clothes, as if trying to avoid something she had dreamed about for years yet had no idea how to face.
"What's wrong, little Skye? This is your mom."
"Didn't you tell me you'd always wanted to meet your family? Didn't you want to ask them why they left you behind?"
"Well, the chance is right here now. You can't back down."
"Do you remember what I told you before?"
Seeing Jennifer standing there helplessly while Skye hid behind him, Killian crouched down, gently rubbed her head, and spoke softly.
"Mhm. I remember."
"If I turn my face toward the sunlight, then no shadow can cover me."
Hearing Killian's words, Skye timidly repeated what he had once told her.
After saying it, she slowly stepped out from behind Killian.
Then, after giving him one determined look, she walked toward Jennifer.
"M…"
When she got close, Skye tried with all her strength to say that word, but realized she still did not have the courage she thought she did.
Before she could even blame herself for it, she suddenly felt a gust of wind and then found herself wrapped in a warm embrace filled with something she had never truly known before.
Motherly love.
The sudden touch made Skye's whole mind go blank.
She had imagined this moment every day and every night for years.
But now that it had actually happened, she realized she had not been ready for it at all.
"Daisy! My daughter!!"
Holding her lost-and-found child in her arms, Jennifer finally broke completely.
She clung to Skye tightly, crying as she called out to her.
"So your purpose in coming here was to help our leader find her long-lost daughter?"
At that moment, while Jennifer and Skye were still holding each other, Gordon walked over as if no one else existed. He stopped beside Killian, looked toward the reunited mother and daughter, and asked the question in an even tone.
"Of course. But generally speaking, there's also another purpose. Mutual benefit. A better future for everyone. Isn't that a good thing?"
Looking at the man who had no eyes and yet could still perceive the world as clearly as anyone else, and who possessed a teleportation ability almost on par with the Red Demon from the comics, Killian replied with a faint smile.
"I don't care what your real intentions are. But if you ever hurt my people, I swear I'll hunt you down no matter where you run."
Gordon stared at Killian and delivered the threat coldly.
Jennifer was too emotional right now to step up, so as the second most important person in Afterlife, he had to make sure the necessary warning was given.
"Believe me, I'm not one of those mad scientists. If you spent more time outside, you'd know our company has always been committed to equality and to maintaining peace across the world."
"Harming your people? What massive benefit would that even bring my company?"
"If you can show me a single member of your group, or your entire community, that can generate more value for me than Baymax, the T-series antiviral serum, smart phones, or our next-generation communications network, then I'll leave right now without another word. How about that?"
Hearing Gordon's threat, Killian let out a faint laugh and answered bluntly.
If there was one thing Killian could say with absolute confidence, it was that every truly profitable industry on Earth was already in his grasp.
Even Microsoft's operating system would lose its edge in a few years.
In fact, representatives from Bill Gates had already tried several times to arrange a meeting with him.
But Killian no longer cared much about that kind of thing. He did not lack money anymore. At most, it was prestige and influence that mattered now.
And with Pioneer Tech's growth, public expectations of the company were climbing higher and higher.
Soon enough, even replacing something as ordinary as a computer operating system would barely make a ripple.
That was why he had mostly ignored Microsoft all this time.
And yet now, a man whose total reach did not even amount to a fraction of that influence was asking what Killian could possibly want from them.
Granted, Killian did want something from their bodies.
But he could guarantee he would offer them an extremely generous return.
"I'll be watching you."
After hearing Killian's answer, Gordon found himself without a real response. In the end, he could only throw out one last warning before walking back toward his people.
"Thank you, Mr. Killian. You are my benefactor. If it weren't for you, I can't even imagine what kind of hardships Daisy would still be suffering out there."
Once she had finally managed to calm herself a little after the emotional reunion with her daughter, Jennifer stood up and looked at Killian with open gratitude.
She even tried to kneel to him in thanks, but Killian stopped her at once.
"There's no need for that. It was only a small thing, wasn't it?"
After stopping her, Killian spoke with his usual easy smile.
"No matter what, to me, this is a kindness beyond measure. Please allow me to repay it."
Jennifer remained absolutely firm.
To her, her daughter was everything. Now that she had finally gotten her back through someone else's help, of course she wanted to repay that kindness.
"All right, if you insist. But how about we first find somewhere more appropriate to talk?"
Since she would not budge, Killian simply shrugged and changed the subject.
"My apologies. Please come with me. We'll receive you properly."
Realizing he was right, Jennifer gave a polite bow and gestured for him to follow.
"Mum…"
At the very moment Skye had finally found her mother again, hearing that they were about to separate made her immediately look distressed.
"Be good, Daisy. Let your mother talk to Mr. Killian for a while, all right?"
"I promise, you should go and see your new home first."
Jennifer crouched in front of Skye again, her eyes full of maternal warmth as she tried to soothe her.
Only after a good deal of reluctant pouting did Skye finally let Gordon lead her away, though she still kept looking back every few steps.
Now only Jennifer, the two attendants by her side, Killian, and the towering Number Two remained in the room.
"Would you mind stepping outside for a while? Thank you."
Jennifer turned to her attendants and asked politely.
"Of course."
The two of them immediately withdrew.
Seeing that she had already sent her people out first, Killian smiled faintly and had Number Two leave as well.
As the giant figure stepped out, Jennifer's attendants clearly looked unhappy and seemed tempted to give him trouble, but Number Two did not even glance at them, treating them as though they did not exist at all. That only made them angrier, but neither dared act up.
Jennifer had no direct combat power, but her authority and reputation in Afterlife were overwhelming. If she wanted someone gone, Gordon would remove them without hesitation, and once they were thrown out of this sanctuary, they would be on their own against the outside world.
After everyone else had left, Jennifer poured tea herself with graceful precision.
"Mr. Killian, first, I truly thank you for bringing Daisy back to me. But please understand, I am the leader of Afterlife. I have to be responsible for everyone's safety."
"So may I ask your true purpose for finding us? Because that answer will heavily affect everything that follows."
She spoke softly while pouring tea with impeccable elegance.
Every movement was refined, poised, and almost old-fashioned in its precision, like a noblewoman from another age.
Killian had to admit, Jennifer really was an extremely intelligent woman.
Otherwise, with an ability that was not directly intimidating, she could never have risen from the bottom and become the leader of the Inhumans gathered here.
"Of course. I already said I came for two reasons."
"Now that the first has been fulfilled, let's talk about the second."
"I want biological samples from all Inhumans."
"Blood, hair, tissue. Any physical sample will do."
Leaning back in his chair in a perfectly relaxed posture, Killian spoke as casually as if he were discussing a business lunch.
The moment those words left his mouth, Jennifer's hand shook.
Tea spilled over the table before she even realized it.
"Sorry. That was rude of me. But what exactly do you want them for? Are you planning human experiments too?"
While hurriedly wiping the table clean with a cloth, Jennifer looked up at him and asked sharply.
"Relax. It does brush up against that line, but not in the way you're imagining. Not in the way you experienced."
Knowing her history, Killian answered calmly.
"Who exactly are you?"
The moment he referenced her past so directly, Jennifer lost the last bit of composure she had been maintaining and demanded the answer outright.
"Take it easy, darling. Believe me, there's no need to be so tense. I don't mean you any harm. I'm just an ordinary man trying to unite the world and build a fairer, more peaceful future for everyone."
"I know you probably have doubts. But I came here with more than enough sincerity."
"In fact, to help you resolve your greatest regret, I even brought you exactly what you've wanted."
Killian spoke as if he had not noticed the pistol Jennifer had quietly drawn behind her back.
Then, with a casual motion of his hand, two combat robots materialized in the room right in front of her.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]