Marvel: The Super Player

Locke's tone was very light.

It was as if he were just chatting with family, lacking even a hint of coldness.

"First, you tell me everything about the ICA. All of it."

Locke narrowed his eyes as he stood on the pedestrian walkway of Vauxhall Bridge, staring at the highly conspicuous building. He spoke into the phone to M.

"This is a choice that allows you to keep your dignity."

M showed no sign of agitation. "The second?"

Locke couldn't help but laugh softly. "Trust me, M, you won't want the second option."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because the second option means that after I hang up this phone, I will slaughter my way straight to your office. Before I see your face, anyone who dares stand in my way will be sent straight to hell."

"…"

M felt a sudden chill at that moment.

The murderous intent was leaking out.

M found it completely impossible to ignore. In fact, as she listened to Locke speak, the image of her building flowing with rivers of blood had already flashed across her mind.

But…

"This is London!"

"Understood."

Hearing those words from the other end of the line, Locke smiled.

"Congratulations, M. Remember, from this moment on, no matter how many agents end up in hell, it will be because of your decision, not mine. I gave you a chance."

Look at that.

It seemed that even in a different country, things remained exactly the same.

Locke had already tried very hard to suppress his killing intent. He had practically fed the hope of survival right to their lips, but what was the result?

They still barreled down the road to death at full speed, and Locke couldn't stop them even if he tried.

I tried to give you dignity, but you didn't want it.

In that case…

Then forget about dignity.

With that.

Locke directly and cleanly hung up the disposable phone in his hand and tossed it into the nearby River Thames.

Then, with his hands in his pockets, he leisurely strolled down Vauxhall Bridge, heading toward the highly prominent, stepped building made heavily of green glass just a short distance away.

"Moneypenny!"

"Ma'am."

The moment M hung up the phone and spoke, the door was pushed open.

"Is 007 back yet?"

"He's on his way back now."

"Mm."

M nodded, her expression looking rather grave. "The moment 007 returns, have him come over immediately."

Moneypenny nodded.

Just then.

Buzz!

Buzz!

Buzz!

In an instant, piercing red lights began to flash.

"What's going on?"

"…"

Moneypenny touched her earpiece and looked at M, whose expression seemed slightly startled. "At the entrance, the metal detector picked up a strange man."

With a sharp movement, M snapped her gaze toward Moneypenny.

Moneypenny blinked.

By the time Moneypenny snapped out of it, she saw that M was already striding purposefully out of the office, and she hurried to keep up.

At the first-floor security checkpoint.

Locke, wearing sunglasses, held his hands high in the air. Under the watchful eyes of two guards who were ready to draw their weapons, he complied with their instructions, signaling that he posed absolutely no threat.

"The things in your pockets."

"Take them out."

"Quick."

Looking at the slightly nervous expressions of the two guards, Locke smiled. Then, as if sensing something, he shifted his gaze upward. With a sharp glance, his eyes landed on someone standing on what should be the seventh-floor corridor.

M happened to be looking down at that exact moment, her gaze falling squarely on Locke, who was looking up with his sunglasses on, having strolled into her building with complete arrogance.

Surprise!

'Quite a shock, isn't it, M?'

The corners of Locke's mouth curled up into a slight smile.

M's pupils dilated rapidly. "Capture…"

Before she could finish her sentence.

With a swift motion of his hands, Locke drew a golden pistol and a silver pistol from behind his waist.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The two guards were instantly shot through the forehead. With a heavy thud, they went straight to meet Mephisto.

Locke had given M a chance, but she failed to grasp it.

What?

It was acceptable for the people of MI6 to kill him, but he wasn't allowed to kill the people of MI6?

What about the Peerless Assassin's persona?

Heh.

Personas, much like rules, were meant to be broken!

In an instant!

Screams erupted everywhere!

Suddenly.

The piercing sound of alarms echoed through the entire building.

Within seconds, the main lobby on the first floor turned into a scene of absolute chaos. A few people saw that Locke seemed to have no interest in them and tried to flee outside.

However, Locke didn't even spare them a glance. Thus, a rare sight occurred where a crowd of people was surging toward the exit while Locke squeezed through them, creating an image of someone swimming against the current.

But this scene did not last long.

Holding a gun in each hand, Locke walked toward the stairwell with a completely expressionless face.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Don't assume that just because this was the headquarters of MI6, everyone inside was a 007. MI6 was an intelligence and espionage agency, meaning intelligence took priority. Just like Langley, the number of clerical staff inside the headquarters building far outnumbered the combat personnel.

"Rat-tat-tat!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Watch out!"

"Boom!"

With a flick of Locke's right hand, the landmine that had just exploded turned into a golden light and returned to his palm. His face remained expressionless as he smoothly transitioned back to wielding his dual pistols.

Wearing his sunglasses and stepping forward in his polished leather shoes, he arrived on the third floor.

He had a mission to complete here on the third floor.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The flashing red lights and piercing alarms were now echoing throughout the entire building.

With a heavy thud.

On the seventh floor.

An MI6 agent found M, who was still standing in the corridor.

"Ma'am, we have to leave."

"Leave?"

M's eyes widened. "He's just one person, for God's sake!"

If they fled now, what would become of her MI6?

A massive laughingstock?

The agent's expression was deadly serious.

"These are the protocols, ma'am."

Although only a single enemy had infiltrated, the emergency contingency plans dictated that even if there was only one intruder, M had to be evacuated to a safe zone if eliminating the threat immediately wasn't guaranteed.

The agent said in a deep voice, "Ma'am…"

As he spoke.

The ringing of a mobile phone suddenly cut through the air.

M pulled out her phone and looked at the number on the screen.

She frowned.

She connected the call.

Locke had already reached the third-floor archives room where Red wanted his files. He was strolling through the rows of shelves as if taking a leisurely walk.

"M, you are older than I imagined."

As he spoke, Locke pulled a file from a shelf.

M looked at the tactical captain. "He's in the third-floor archives…"

Locke laughed directly. "Of course I'm in the third-floor archives room. After all, it wasn't easy making a trip abroad. If I only completed one commission, I'd feel like I was losing out. It just so happens that someone wants something from your archives. Since I'm already here, I might as well take care of it all at once. By the way, M, do you happen to know where Katusha Croci's file is? I've looked around but can't find it."

At this exact moment, on the third floor, a squad of agents had already closed in on the entrance to the archives room.

"Last chance."

Locke smiled. "M, before I truly slaughter my way all the way to your face, tell me where I can find the ICA people."

The ICA was unlikely to be MI6 itself.

Locke had suddenly realized this during his flight from New York to London.

It was very simple.

It defied logic.

If the ICA were under the direct control of MI6, there would have been no need to deploy Kurylenko right after sending Agent 46, let alone having the two of them operate completely independently.

However…

It could also have been a deliberate move to mislead. But who could say for sure? Locke was currently listening to the final refusal of the person who knew the truth.

M stared at the phone in her grip, then looked at the agent beside her and directly issued the order, "Apprehend him."

Locke smiled.

Outside the door, the two leading agents nodded. The next second, they stepped forward. The exact moment they were about to kick the door open, a massive explosion erupted. A violent shockwave tore straight out from inside the archives room.

Boom!

The massive blast wave, carrying a storm of shredded paper and various debris, slammed violently into the agents who were preparing to breach the door in the corridor.

In an instant.

The walkway was torn apart. Along with a wretched scream, an unfortunate soul fell straight down through the gaping fracture.

"What?"

M and the others on the seventh floor were completely stunned as they witnessed this scene.

The next second.

M fell silent as she watched the Peerless Assassin emerge from the smoke and dust, looking completely immaculate.

The tactical captain beside her spoke up instead, "Ma'am, we have to leave now."

If they didn't leave now, when would they?

Standing on the third floor, Locke gazed across the distance toward the seventh-floor corridor, watching M being pulled away by two agents. A brilliant smile spread across his face.

"Bam!"

Up on the building's rooftop, the iron door was kicked open with a loud bang. The tactical captain led M and Moneypenny as they rushed out onto the roof in a hurry.

A short distance away.

A helicopter sat quietly on the pad.

"Dammit."

The tactical captain frowned. "I ordered him to start the engine, where is…"

"Thud!"

"Cap…"

Bang! Bang!

"He's at…"

"He went to the fourth floor! Go to the fourth floor!"

M looked on in absolute shock at the Peerless Assassin, who had appeared out of nowhere. She listened to the voices in her earpiece, which seemed to have been tricked into heading down to the fourth floor.

Locke's expression was entirely placid.

It was merely a simple Clone Technique.

Nothing major.

"Click!"

Locke kept a slight smile on his face as he looked at M. He then shoved his golden pistol straight into the mouth of her male assistant.

"The ICA!"

M's brows furrowed tightly.

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

Moneypenny screamed in terror as she watched her colleague, the back of whose head had instantly exploded into a large cavity.

Locke pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped down his golden pistol, and let out a soft laugh as he looked at M.

"It's fine, you don't have to speak. But I also told you before, I'm not the one killing these people. You are, M. So, are you ready? I am asking you one more time!"

As he spoke.

Locke directly gripped Moneypenny by the throat, pressing his golden pistol against her head. He kept a slight smile on his face as he looked at M, who was completely unbound and could even turn around to run back into the building at any moment.

***

Bonus chapter, next one at 200 stones.

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