[Mysteries On Marvel] Chapter 96/97 (Patreon)

"Interesting... I hope you don't die too easily later," the refined man muttered to himself, his lips curling into a faint smile as the yellow taxi disappeared in his rearview mirror. He seemed to have found a new, intriguing toy.

In the taxi, Eren couldn't help but glance back at the black sedan speeding away in the opposite direction.

The moment their eyes met through the car windows, Eren felt his intuition flare violently—a Diviner's warning, a premonition of something ominous.

What's going on?

Why did that guy give me such an unsettling feeling?

It was as if their paths were destined to cross again, not as acquaintances but as adversaries.

Eren immediately attempted to divine the identity of the man in the sedan.

But just like his earlier attempt to locate Aunt Feng, his efforts were blocked by some unknown interference.

"Failed again..."

The failure only confirmed his suspicions. The man in the black sedan was no ordinary individual—his very existence disrupted divination.

Could Aunt Feng's disappearance be connected to him?

Eren considered asking the driver to turn around and follow the sedan but was interrupted by Yuan Nan's calm voice.

"We're here."

Eren looked up and saw a grand monastery-like building in front of them. Its gates bore a large sign: Celestial Faction.

The Celestial Faction? Here of all places?

The familiarity of the name gave Eren pause.

The Latino driver, upon seeing the Celestial Faction sign, cast Eren and Yuan Nan a peculiar look. His expression grew even stranger when Yuan Nan confirmed Eren's question.

"Does Aunt Feng work here?"

Unperturbed, Yuan Nan explained, "It's not that surprising. My mom doesn't have a high level of education, and she's Asian. Jobs that are respectable, well-paying, and have good environments are hard to come by for someone like her. She got this job as a financial accountant here after pulling a few strings and proving her skills. Her looks probably helped too."

Her bluntness left both Eren and the driver silent.

Indeed, in a country that supposedly championed freedom and equality, true equality was an illusion.

The driver's initial wariness disappeared, replaced by a mix of sympathy and respect for Yuan Nan's mother.

Eren, on the other hand, was lost in thought. What Aunt Feng needs isn't a fleeting monetary fix—it's a stable, high-paying job.

Breaking the silence, Eren handed his phone to Yuan Nan. "If Aunt Feng really disappeared here, then this place is obviously dangerous. Wait in the car while I go inside. The first number on my phone is George Stacy, captain of the NYPD's 13th Precinct. If I'm not back in 30 minutes, call him. He'll send help."

Pausing for a moment, Eren swiped to another number. "If Captain Stacy can't handle it, call this number. It's Tony Stark's personal line."

Yuan Nan's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Tony Stark. But she quickly composed herself, nodding as she took the phone.

Eren then turned to the Latino driver. Fixing the man with a sharp gaze, he said, "Stay here and protect her. If anything feels off, leave immediately."

"Yes!" the driver replied, his tone unusually firm.

Unknown to Yuan Nan, Eren had subtly hypnotized the driver using his mental abilities, ensuring the man would prioritize Yuan Nan's safety.

As Eren stepped out of the car, Yuan Nan's eyes reflected a mix of surprise and intrigue.

George Stacy and Tony Stark... This guy is more connected than I thought.

Her astonishment deepened when she noticed how effortlessly Eren had hypnotized the driver.

Though Eren caught Yuan Nan's reaction, he dismissed it as simple surprise at his connections.

After instructing Yuan Nan and the driver, Eren's figure blurred and vanished from sight.

Instead of charging directly into the Celestial Faction's estate, Eren circled the building cautiously, identifying several escape routes.

Once satisfied, he retrieved his crystal ball and prepared to divine the situation within the compound.

But this time...

(End of Chapter)

This time, Eren's attempt to divine Aunt Feng's location went off without a hitch.

As the crystal ball glowed, an image of a large villa appeared. The perspective zoomed in rapidly, making the building and its details increasingly clear.

Soon, Eren saw Aunt Feng lying on a luxurious bed in a room with a balcony. She was dressed in a silk robe, seemingly unconscious.

Just as Eren was about to end the divination, his instincts flared, and the image plunged downward.

The perspective shifted swiftly, showing glimpses of entwined bodies in various rooms and corpses sprawled on the first floor. The descent continued, transitioning from room to room.

In each fleeting glance, Eren spotted glowing red devices scattered throughout the villa.

Finally, the image froze on a timer.

5:37
5:36

Eren's eyes widened as he realized the true nature of these devices: countdown bombs.

With just over five minutes left before detonation, Eren sprang into action.

Without hesitation, Eren dashed toward the room he had seen in the divination.

Reaching the correct spot, he vaulted onto a balcony using an exposed pipe for leverage. The sliding door was slightly ajar, allowing him to enter easily.

Inside, Aunt Feng lay on the bed, her face flushed. The silk robe she wore revealed enticing glimpses of pale skin and black lace trim.

Despite the fleeting distraction of the scene, Eren quickly snapped out of it. There was no time to waste.

Scooping up Aunt Feng, he leaped from the balcony with her in his arms, landing lightly on the ground below.

No sooner had Eren landed than Yuan Nan appeared from around the corner.

"What are you doing here?" Eren snapped, frustration evident in his voice. Without giving her a chance to respond, he hoisted Aunt Feng onto his back and grabbed Yuan Nan by the collar.

"We're leaving."

Dodging the villa's security cameras, Eren carried Aunt Feng and dragged Yuan Nan back toward the taxi.

At the car, the anxious driver paced, scanning the area. His face lit up when he spotted Yuan Nan with Eren.

"Everyone's safe," he muttered in relief, visibly calming down.

"Get in and start the engine," Eren ordered as they approached.

The driver complied without hesitation, sliding into the front seat and starting the car.

Eren tossed Yuan Nan and Aunt Feng into the back seat before climbing in himself.

"Drive. Get us to the nearest hotel. Fast."

The driver floored the gas pedal, and the taxi surged forward like a beast unleashed. The powerful acceleration pinned Yuan Nan and the unconscious Aunt Feng against their seats.

Only Eren, aided by the enhanced balance granted by the Clown Potion, remained steady.

As the taxi sped away, Eren felt something brush against his side. Without looking, he swatted the small hand away and caught the item that fell from it.

It was a stun gun.

Eren turned to Yuan Nan with a cold glare.

"What are you trying to do?" he demanded.

Yuan Nan's expression was equally frosty. "That's a self-defense stun gun. What else? Should I just watch as you take my mom to a hotel without doing anything?"

"...What?"

Eren froze, stunned by her words. Then, glancing at Aunt Feng's disheveled state, realization dawned on him, and anger surged.

"You—what's going on in that brain of yours?" he growled, veins throbbing.

Yuan Nan sneered. "You're rushing her to a hotel like your life depends on it. What am I supposed to think?"

"Idiot," Eren snapped, his voice dripping with exasperation.

He explained quickly, "That villa is rigged with bombs, and they're set to go off in a few minutes. I saw at least a dozen corpses inside already. Taking you to the hotel isn't about comfort—it's to establish an alibi.

"Or do you want us to stick around, get caught in the explosion, and have the police suspect us because we conveniently left the scene right before it blew up?"

Yuan Nan's icy demeanor faltered, a flicker of doubt crossing her face.

"Bombs? Corpses?"

"Yes, and if we don't have a solid alibi, the cops will look at us first. Now sit back and let me think," Eren barked, pocketing the stun gun for good measure.

Though her sharp wit didn't fail her often, Yuan Nan felt a wave of embarrassment. She crossed her arms and stared out the window, but not before casting a glance at Eren.

Her thoughts churned. Bombs, the NYPD captain's number, and Tony Stark's personal line? This guy isn't ordinary...

Even more puzzling, Yuan Nan had caught glimpses of Eren's abilities earlier—abilities far beyond what she expected from someone who seemed, at first glance, to be a typical rogue.

She didn't say anything, but her expression betrayed her shifting thoughts.

Eren noticed the change in her demeanor but dismissed it as disbelief in his explanation.

As they sped toward the hotel, Eren's mind raced to piece together the events. The bombs, the corpses, and the mysterious man in the black sedan... Something larger was at play, and he intended to find out what.

(End of Chapter)

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