Before long, the Leopard God came back with that small mushroom, its tail swishing happily.
If you listen carefully, it was even humming some sort of African folk song, a bit strange, like this: hum-lulu, hum-lulu.
"I asked for you, Xin..."
"Don't say that name!"
The Leopard God put the mushroom on the ground and was about to explain the process, but Su Ming immediately interrupted, even covering his ears with his hands.
The big cat squinted its eyes, shrugged human-like: "Alright, anyway, I helped you find out about this thing. A few years back, a group of mutants went to South Africa, and they got this type of mushroom from the tribes there. The mongoose didn't know more, it only saw this much."
"Mutants, huh... thanks."
Su Ming sighed in relief, pulled out some snacks for the Leopard God, putting them on the tree branch, and then jumped down himself.
As long as the name wasn't mentioned, it's all good, but this place is somewhat too dangerous, unless necessary, it's best to come here less often.
The Leopard God jumped onto the tree branch, skillfully opened a pack of spicy strips with its claws, and licked it with its barbed tongue: "Okay, go do your stuff. I'm going to rest."
Su Ming waved goodbye, closing his eyes and reopening them, finding himself lying in a grass nest, with a piercing alarm ringing in his ears.
In the distance, someone seemed to be wailing, crying in Wakandan native language: "Heart-shaped grass! My heart-shaped grass!"
Su Ming touched his chin, he just picked a few and juiced them, not enough to be this sad, right? Did someone die? Was their name just coincidentally Heart-shaped Grass?
These native tribes really don't know how to name things.
Shaking his head, he flew away, taking advantage of the still-dark dawn, exiting Wakanda's hidden barrier.
"Heimdall!"
This name rolls off the tongue nicely.
............
The winter sea breeze caressed the sea surface, but these dark waters were never about grandeur. Outside the small New York harbor, everything seemed so calm.
The city was still on fire, black smoke rapidly blending into the night, but the enemies had been entirely annihilated, people would eventually recover.
Magnetic King stood with arms crossed on the torch of the Statue of Liberty, enjoying the evening breeze and admiring his achievements, while also waiting for Deathstroke to pay him.
Still, it wasn't a waste of effort. He recognized the inadequacy of his power development; just wiping out over a hundred thousand troops and flying around the United States made him feel tired.
"My power still isn't strong enough. I must become stronger to win equality for mutants."
Maybe after today, people wouldn't thank him, even though he had killed their enemies, ordinary people would only fear the power of mutants more.
No matter, this was a transaction after all, and Magnetic King preferred to gain others' hatred and fear. He learned what a threat meant in concentration camps, and knew this power could make ordinary people submit passively.
Deathstroke landed lightly behind him, also with arms crossed, walking over to look at the burning city together.
"Is everything done?" Su Ming asked, even though Heimdall had told him the conclusion, but he had to pretend he didn't know.
"You can verify it, pick any city." Magnetic King was confident; he hadn't given the enemies a chance to disperse and hide, the iron sand torrents ground them into white bones, ordinary people were nothing against magnetic power.
Their breath quickly dissipated in the wind, Magnetic King quietly watched the black-and-yellow Armored Man.
"After today, the Americans should hate you to death. You'll become the most infamous mutant demon, the world's largest KB element." Su Ming didn't look at him, he was looking at the dock where he first landed when he came to the United States, it hadn't changed much over the years.
"Whatever they want, what about my payment?" Old Wan didn't care; if this was the sacrifice for striving for equality, then it was necessary.
Without showing power, the Americans never had any awareness and wouldn't engage in equal dialogue with him.
"Your name is too German, and being called Marx might remind those American fools of Fur Bear, so I suggest if you're to make a name for yourself, you should adopt a new name." Su Ming said casually, without haste to give him an answer.
"Any suggestions?" Magnetic King smirked disdainfully, an American-only fake identity? Fine, this was the most developed country in the West, and many future plans needed to unfold here.
A low laugh came from beneath the black-and-yellow mask: "Eric Lansheer, this surname is rare and could be your mark."
Magnetic King showed a cold smile, seemingly satisfied: "Eric means 'leader' in English, and Lehnsherr means 'lord' in German, is the name a double leader? I accept. I'll use this alias to continue my quest to liberate my compatriots, let me lead them."
"As long as you like it, the name suits you, and it's also my hope for your future." Su Ming implied, but the other only understood one layer of meaning.
Forget it, he'll understand in time.
Eric slightly turned, directing his gaze back to the dark ocean: "Talk is cheap. I want you to fulfill your promise now."
"That's fair, I like transactions. Your enemy Professor Schmidt, that's just a fake name. His real name is Sebastian Shaw, also a mutant."
Magnetic King was calm at first, but upon hearing the opponent was also a mutant, a flash of hidden anger passed through his eyes.
"Indeed, not all mutants are of one mind. Even among our kin, there are scumbags." Eric exhaled after a long time, sneeringly saying: "Where is he? I'll kill him."
"Just like that?" Deathstroke asked in an odd tone, the howling wind brushing against the nearby fence, nearly drowning out the derision: "You don't ask about his abilities, don't inquire about his people, just planning to rush in to die? Your cold anger has already lost you the rationality fitting your new name."
Magnetic King's expression changed several times, fists clenching and unclenching, muscles beside his nose twitching violently, but eventually, he managed to control himself.
He had a nasty temper, but he knew what Deathstroke said made sense.
"Tell me, consider it a debt I owe you." He exhaled some warm air, as if it could cool his heart beating wildly in his chest.
Su Ming laughed, tearing off a section of the torch's viewing deck fence with bare hands, molding it into a pair of exercise balls for the elderly, handing them over to Magnetic King for finger exercise.
"As a fellow misunderstood Superpower User, I'm always willing to help bullied mutants, and your wish for family vengeance is rightful. Forget about debts, I'll go with you, and guide you in how to kill that person on-site, how about it?"