bioinnovel Chapter 449 [3 Chapters Combined] A Fool's "Brilliant Idea" Always Makes One's H
Chapter 449 [3 Chapters Combined] A Fool's "Brilliant Idea" Always Makes One's H
Under the swift and decisive raid from District 13, Roger and his men, who had been basking in the glory of their "grand plan" in the secret room not long ago, as if they had regained control of New York and even the energy lifeline of the entire United States, now looked like poultry with their necks being strangled, appearing utterly pathetic.
Their expensive suits were covered in dust and tiny shards of glass that had been thrown in when District 13 agents shattered the glass. Their meticulously styled hair was now disheveled in the gusts of wind whipped up by the helicopter rotors.
In stark contrast, at Sheriff Black's command, the District 13 agents demonstrated their professionalism. In the shortest possible time, they snapped the cold metal handcuffs onto the wrists of these energy tycoons, giving these accustomed to their high positions a real taste of the binding force of the law.
Of course, this was done out of humanitarian considerations and to minimize any potential backlash from the arrest.
After the "silver bracelets" were placed on the heads of these energy tycoons, black hoods were then placed over their eyes, completely concealing their varied expressions, leaving only the heaving outlines of their chests to show how intense their emotions were at that moment.
They were escorted in pairs by heavily armed District 13 agents, silently and efficiently leaving the chaotic crime scene and heading towards a private elevator.
Downstairs, the elite NYPD team, which had received advance encrypted notification from Sheriff Blake and clear instructions from Sheriff George, was already on high alert, strictly following orders and cooperating with the operation in District 13.
While the raid was being carried out in District 13, police cars hidden in the streets and alleys quickly arrived with flashing red and blue lights, surrounding the building's exit like an iron barrel.
The procedural handover was completed quickly.
These once powerful figures, from this moment on, became clearly numbered suspects, and were crammed into different police vans one by one.
Handing them over to regular police for subsequent detention and preliminary legal procedures was a carefully planned move by Black—it complied with jurisdictional regulations while avoiding exposing the existence of District 13 to the public and causing unnecessary turmoil or crisis.
Sheriff Black stood by the broken window, expressionless as he looked down at the scene below.
The cold wind from above poured in unimpeded, ruffling the hem of his coat. But thanks to the second-generation super soldier serum, Sheriff Black was not affected in the slightest; on the contrary, his gaze remained sharp as he kept a close watch on the handover scene below.
Even from such a distance, even with those people hooded and stuffed into the carriage, Blake could still seem to "hear" their endless shouts, even though they knew they were about to die.
That wasn't real hearing, but rather a precise insight into the mindset of this type of person based on years of experience. He
I can almost picture in my mind the distorted expressions that must be filling those hidden faces right now: Carlson's face flushed with rage and the humiliation of his privilege; Willoughby's pale lips, chattering incessantly as he tries to arm himself with legal jargon; and the complex looks in the eyes of the others, a mixture of fear, relief, and resentment...
Inside the car, during the handover, they must have been repeating those feeble threats and demands at the top of their lungs—"I want to see my lawyer!", "This is illegal! Blake, you and your District 13 are finished!", "Let me go now! Do you know who I am?!", "I'm going to sue you! I'll sue you until you're bankrupt!"
These impotent, furious curses are like the howls of a defeated dog.
Even so, Sheriff Black's meticulously groomed face showed no trace of relief at the success of his plan, nor any mockery of these fools...
On the contrary, the flickering lights of the police lights downstairs added to the grim atmosphere.
It's not that Sheriff Black is afraid of retaliation from these prisoners later.
Putting that aside, the existence of Riley and other superheroes is enough to eliminate the vast majority of threats...
The official law enforcement powers of District 13, coupled with the financial support of Stark Industries and Osborn, form the most solid barrier in human society!
In addition, Sheriff Black was by no means an easily angered person.
From street patrol officers to the Major Crimes Unit, then to the 13th District, dedicated to hunting down the Mafia, and now to their transcendent status, capable of deciding for themselves how to deal with supernatural events…
In his many years as a police officer, he had witnessed the darkest abyss of humanity—people willing to harm their own family for petty gains; those who orchestrated bombings to distort beliefs; those who tortured the innocent to satisfy perverse desires; even those who conspired with their lovers to hold their own sons' hands and send them to their deaths—these naked acts of malice, sometimes far exceeding the bounds of normal human logic and impossible to guard against, had long since tempered his will into a forged alloy.
However, some bottom lines are different.
The "discussions" played in tonight's recording, the "options" discussed by this group of well-dressed individuals in a calm and even slightly excited tone, touched upon this very bottom line.
That was not only a blatant trampling of law and morality, but also a crazy flirtation with death due to their personal ignorance and foolishness, almost triggering the taboo of living as long as heaven and earth!
God knows how interesting the expression on Sheriff Black's face was when he heard them discussing how to deal with Spider-Man with the same enthusiasm they used when talking about a business merger, and contemptuously calling him a "wall-climbing bug"!
Beyond the sudden surge of anger, there was also a deep sense of helplessness and exhaustion at the thought that even though he had tried every possible way to save the world, there were always fools who wanted to drag everyone down with them.
It's even more unimaginable what would happen if—even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance—their "spur-of-the-moment idea" actually became a reality...
If any of Riley's cherished friends or family members are innocently implicated and harmed because of his identity as "Spider-Man"...
Then, what New York has lost will be far more than just a "friendly neighbor" that swung between buildings, striving to make the city a better place.
Furthermore, a world-class boss will emerge, completely consumed by overwhelming rage, endless regret, utter despair, and an obsession with revenge that no one can console!
Thinking of this, some extremely terrifying images uncontrollably flashed through Blake's mind.
Aside from some imagined scenarios, what's more, are the real things Riley did during his recent period of descent into darkness.
And this is after Riley deliberately restrained himself!
Once Riley got down to business and had no more worries...
With Riley's terrifying physical strength, all sorts of bizarre gadgets, and his intellect comparable to that of Jia Xu in his time...
So, New York City, and indeed the entire world, is about to face a terrifying demon who will stop at nothing to achieve its goals! Its threat level will rise exponentially!
By then, the title "Spider-Man" will represent more than just a nightmare for street criminals...
Instead, it could become a cataclysmic disaster that even if the whole world united, it might feel helpless against!
In this situation, what a devastating blow the once peaceful and tranquil world would suffer...
Just thinking about it in his mind was enough to make Sheriff Black, who already possessed the physique of a super soldier, shudder!
All of this may have stemmed from a few self-righteous business giants' supposedly clever "sudden inspiration"!
This is the truest fear deep within Sheriff Blake's heart.
This is also what prompted him to launch a powerful attack for the first time without consulting Riley!
He worked hard to manage District 13...
Carefully balancing the relationship between superheroes and secular law...
Quietly cleaning up the mess left behind after the superhero event ended...
In every way possible, we protect the secrets and ordinary lives of those heroes...
I'm doing everything I can to guide young people like Riley onto the right path...
All these efforts are not meant to be sacrificed for the "spur-of-the-moment" of such a fool!
Downstairs, as the last police car closed its doors and drove away with its flashing lights,...
The noise subsided for the time being, but the gloom in Blake's heart did not dissipate.
That chilling sense of lingering fear still haunted him.
"Sir, the initial site clearing is complete, and all evidence has been sealed. Our men can begin to evacuate."
At the same time, an agent walked up behind him and reported on the progress of the cleanup work after the operation ended.
Blake nodded, but instead of immediately ordering the troops to retreat, he asked a question.
"Have all the surveillance footage from all angles, as well as the evidence we've collected, been verified?"
"Multiple encryption backups have been completed, with physical storage and cloud synchronization. Access is limited to you, Mr. Riley, and a few key technical personnel."
"very good."
Blake finally turned around, a relieved smile on his face.
But the smile only lasted a moment before freezing and disappearing at the corner of his mouth.
Sheriff Black's brow furrowed again, even more so than before the operation.
An inexplicable unease, stemming from intuition, crept into his heart like cold vines.
Not right.
He always felt that this operation seemed...
It went too smoothly.
From learning of Tony's business war plan, to formulating action plans, setting up surveillance, waiting, and finally tonight's takedown...
Everything proceeded smoothly and precisely, like a pre-programmed procedure. There was no reason for it to fail against ordinary people like Roger, who were simply untouchables aside from their political maneuvering.
But that's where the problem lies.
The reactions, the gathering, and the details of the plot of this group of shrewd energy giants almost perfectly aligned with Sheriff Black's predictions.
This in itself is perhaps the biggest point of contention.
more importantly……
These old foxes who have occupied the top of the pyramid of power and wealth for many years are all seasoned foxes who have become cunning and shrewd.
Their life motto is "profit above all else." It's true they're willing to trample the law for huge gains...
But at the same time, they are also masters of risk aversion.
In their struggle for the New York market and to cripple a suddenly transformed Stark Industries, some conflict between them and Tony might indeed arise...
However, given that Tony's current strategy is merely to solidify his foothold in the New York market, with no intention of expanding outwards...
Would they really be able to get together so easily, all of them acting like they're on steroids, discussing plans that clearly cross the line of the law and even invite "Spider-Man's" thunderous strike without considering the consequences?
Sheriff Black didn't believe that, after witnessing Riley's assertive attitude in taking over law enforcement in New York City, they would naively think that Riley would sit down and reason with people like them!
If Riley is angered, the methods he uses will be even cleaner and more efficient than Sheriff Black's! Or perhaps... even more ruthless!
Besides, even if Tony monopolized New York City's energy market with his cheap, clean energy, making it impossible for others to get involved...
This loss is certainly not small, but for these giants who have deep roots, industries all over the United States, and have even begun to expand overseas, it is enough to be considered a crippling blow, requiring them to take risks to the point of life and death.
The answer is obviously no.
Their reaction was less a fierce confrontation in business competition and more like a...
After being deliberately amplified and distorted, it was intentionally pushed towards extreme hostility and impulse by an invisible hand.
Of course, in the past, Sheriff Black would not have believed that someone could so easily change the behavior of a person, or even a group of people, all by themselves.
But now, Sheriff Black has witnessed firsthand what happened to Kopler and Max, and through past operations, he has come to accept the existence of "magic" ahead of time.
This made Sheriff Black immediately suspect that the mastermind behind this conflict and Amora, who invaded District 13, might be the same person.
If that's really the case...
Therefore, the significance of this "glorious" arrest will be greatly diminished.
These energy giants may not be the masterminds, or even entirely "voluntary" accomplices!
They were more like manipulated puppets, pawns thrown out at the gate! Even if they were all arrested and sentenced, it wouldn't mean the crisis orchestrated by Amora was truly over! At most, it would only temporarily slow down their actions, or...
An even more terrifying thought surfaced in Sheriff Blake's mind...
Could the arrest and imprisonment of this group have been part of the other side's plan?
A huge and conspicuous "decorative device" used to distract District 13 and other potential interventionists?
As all eyes are focused on these arrested business tycoons, on the subsequent legal proceedings, the media storm, and the significant impact their mass downfall will have on the country's energy system...
The real killer move may have already been quietly laid out, taking advantage of the shift in public opinion!
Thinking of this, Blake's breath hitched slightly, and a chill ran down his spine.
"...Wait! Notify the technical team immediately!"
Sheriff Blake whirled around and gave urgent orders to the agents waiting beside him.
"I need to review all the surveillance footage immediately, from the start of the deployment to before our intrusion, including all the entrances and exits to the conference room and related passageways within the building. Get ready now!"
The agent paused slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
After all, in his view, the operation was a complete success, and there was no need to stay there any longer.
But unlike those melodramatic supporting characters in crime dramas who waste time questioning Sheriff Black's decision, he immediately suppressed his doubts and straightened his posture to respond.
"No problem, Sheriff, I'll go right now!"
……
Ten minutes later, Blake was sitting inside the heavily modified mobile command vehicle in District 13.
Inside the carriage, the low hum of various electronic devices and the faint glow of indicator lights filled the air. A unique odor, a mixture of metal, cables, and refrigerant, permeated the space.
On the huge main screen in front of him, the video feed had been divided into dozens of smaller screens, which simultaneously played the original surveillance footage of all key areas inside and outside the target building, captured by different hidden cameras.
The technician has aligned the timeline and marked the important milestones as he requested.
Blake leaned forward, almost touching the screen.
He observed with extreme care, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, not missing a single subtle anomaly.
Fingers moved rapidly across the control panel, constantly pausing, fast-forwarding, rewinding, and zooming in on details... Every movement was accompanied by an almost obsessive focus.
Although Sheriff Blake did not find anything unusual during this process.
But precisely because of this, Sheriff Blake became even more certain that he had overlooked something!
Time passed second by second in the suffocating silence.
Most of the surveillance footage matched the pre-operation simulations and expectations.
The businessmen's luxury cars arrived one after another in the underground parking garage.
They traveled alone or with a small entourage, taking the private elevator to the top floor and entering the luxurious conference room.
The conference room lights came on, and the blinds were drawn...
Everything seemed normal and discreet.
Then came the moment for Operation District 13.
A helicopter appears, breaks through a window, and bursts in...
The crowd in the surveillance footage instantly became intense and chaotic.
Blake looked at it over and over again, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
On the surface, everything seems normal.
But the sense of unease he felt grew stronger and stronger.
He temporarily skipped the climax of the operation and focused his attention more on the period between the start of the meeting and the start of the raid in District 13, especially the activity inside and outside the meeting room.
It was at this moment that his pupils suddenly contracted!
The timestamp clearly shows that it was approximately twenty-five minutes after the meeting started!
This was shortly after Roger Sr. made the insidious suggestion of "sending someone to impersonate Spider-Man to assassinate Tony, thereby sowing discord between the two and creating chaos" in public!
The footage shows that the conference room door was opened a barely noticeable crack.
Then, a stranger wearing a baseball cap and casual clothes flashed out at lightning speed and quickly and deftly closed the door behind him.
The entire process was smooth and quiet, creating an eerie contrast to the "enthusiastic" discussion that might be taking place in the meeting room.
What sent a chill down Blake's spine even further was...
According to footage captured by another hidden camera inside the meeting room.
At that moment, someone did indeed stand up from their seat, seemingly to leave temporarily.
The man was dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit, matching the style of everyone else in the room.
However, something strange happened.
Due to the limited perspective, the conference room camera only captured him getting up and walking towards the door.
Immediately afterwards, the camera near the conference room door only captured the moment the door opened and a figure flashed out.
However, there is an extremely brief gap between these two shots, which may only be a fraction of a second, and theoretically it is impossible to complete the switch from "dark gray suit" to "casual clothes"!
This led the technical team agents to naturally treat the two figures as two separate individuals during the previous review process!
more importantly……
From the moment the man in the dark gray suit got up and left his seat until the figure in casual clothes disappeared through the conference room door...
Apart from that fleeting moment at the entrance, none of the surveillance cameras inside the building—whether they were pre-installed by District 13 or were part of the building's own security system—captured a clear frontal image of the person, nor did they capture a coherent movement trajectory!
It's as if the person knew they would be tracked after leaving their seat, so they deliberately disguised themselves in a blind spot of the surveillance cameras.
Then, disguised and in a different manner, he calmly left the scene, minimizing his presence to the greatest extent possible! This was to buy him ample time to safely escape and break free from the arrest operation!
"How could this be...?"
Blake muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.
He was completely baffled.
This operation was essentially a spur-of-the-moment decision by Sheriff Black. Aside from contacting Tony beforehand and learning the exact timing of Tony's leaks, he never revealed the plan to anyone else.
Furthermore, most of the agents involved in this operation were Skrulls eager to redeem themselves and had received professional training from S.H.I.E.L.D.! There was absolutely no possibility of an intelligence leak!
In this situation, how could he be so sure that his whereabouts would be tracked down soon after he left?
How did they manage to seamlessly change their appearance and become a completely different person in an environment full of surveillance?
Could it be...?
This guy is the "artist" that old Roger mentioned, the one who's about to impersonate Spider-Man and assassinate Tony?!
Realizing this, Sheriff Blake, with a clear suspect, immediately focused on this timeframe and began repeatedly watching and comparing surveillance footage from all areas surrounding the conference room within the preceding and following minutes. Like the most patient hunter, he meticulously examined the slightest possible trace left by his prey.
Finally, after countless replays and magnification of details, he fixed his gaze on another unfamiliar figure who was leisurely walking away from inside the building after that point in time.