Marvel: Survivor’s Ascension

The first pale light of dawn bled across the Berkshire hills, painting the frost-rimed glass of the mansion in soft silver. As the heavy wrought-iron gates swung shut with a quiet, hydraulic hiss, the sleek silver town car swept smoothly onto the highway, leaving the pristine estate behind.

Inside the quiet car, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of hand-stitched leather and chilled espresso. Emma Frost sat back against the plush seats, a tailored ivory blazer draped elegantly over her shoulders, her ice-blue eyes fixed on documents that an assistant dropped off. Outside, the scenic greenery began to fade, slowly giving way to the gray, heavy industrial sprawl of Newark.

"Let’s talk numbers," Emma said, breaking the silence as she adjusted a platinum diamond ring on her finger. "Frost Enterprises will be placing a considerable amount of political and financial capital behind Maddox Holdings. While I find your vision... delightfully ambitious, my board expects more than brilliant rhetoric. I need to know what we have to give and what we’ll receive. What, precisely, does your company gain from this partnership?"

Ethan leaned back, resting an arm on the door frame, completely unbothered by her probing tone. "Logistics, Emma. Infrastructure. Maddox Holdings possesses patents, the raw technological breakthroughs, and the production capabilities that will reshape areas like clean energy and medicine. But what we lack is the network to move it globally."

He looked out the window as the Newark skyline loomed in the distance.

"Frost Enterprises holds one of the most dominant global footprints in maritime shipping, heavy freight, and international transport," Ethan continued, turning back to face her. "You have the ports, the supply lines, and the diplomatic clearances across five continents. While it's possible for me to build my own network, I lack the time. So while we supply the revolutionary tech, you provide the connections and introduction into the global market. Without your logistics, my distribution rate I will require will be delayed by three to five years at best. A little bird told be due to Stark that soon the global field will completely change. Your freight networks will soon face new challenges such as vulnerability to rising fuel costs and shifting trade blockades. As an olive branch, I can provide you with the details, and you can prepare ahead of everyone."

Emma tilted her head, a faint, intrigued smile playing on her lips. "A compelling pitch. But running a global transport empire is expensive, Ethan. Risk mitigation requires a far higher margin of return."

Ethan gave a light, almost dismissive laugh. "Risk? Emma, within twelve months of our joint ventures launching—once the many projects we’ll be working on like the energy grid patents go live—your personal net worth won't just see a respectable bump. You’ll be looking at a leap from multi-billionaire status straight into the multi-trillion realm."

Emma’s eyes narrowed slightly, looking for any trace of bravado or deceit. She found none. His tone was as casual as if he were predicting the afternoon weather.

"A trillion-dollar promise," she mused softly, resting her chin on her hand. "Bold. Even for you."

"It’s not a promise, Emma. It’s simple math," Ethan replied smoothly. "And you're far too good at business to let an opportunity like that pass you by. If you were, Isaac or should I say, I wouldn’t have married you."

The town car pulled off the main highway, navigating through the streets deep within Newark’s industrial district. Old brick warehouses and abandoned manufacturing plants lined the avenue, starkly contrasting the luxury of the vehicle cruising through them.

"Stop here. I’ll be getting off here," Ethan instructed the driver, tapping the partition.

The car glided to a halt in front of a nameless, low-key concrete building with barred windows and a rusted steel door.

Emma looked out the tinted window, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the gritty surroundings. "You’re stepping out here? It looks positively dreadful. I hope your off-grid facilities have higher standards than your taste in neighborhood real estate."

"True beauty is rather found in utility. Besides, relax, it isn’t located here; I just need to grab something that was delivered nearby, that’s all," Ethan replied with a smirk as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

He stepped out into the crisp morning air. He walked over to a concealed alcove near the side of the closest building. Reaching a hidden lock body directly into the foundation, he input a sequence of numbers that he’d received this morning. The steel door clicked open with a heavy metallic thud. Inside lay a dense, unrefined slab of metal that caught the dim morning light with a distinct, brilliant luster—a raw sample of secondary adamantium.

Adamantium is one of Marvel's strongest minerals; however, it’s quite hard to obtain. Ethan discovered there was a knockoff version of the metal named Secondary Adamantium. Basically secondary adamantium is a mass production version of the metal that while still hard to obtain in quite easy to find on the black market. Ethan, as his criminal alias Luc Moreau, spent millions to purchase this fist sized piece of secondary adamantium, and today it had arrived.

Ethan retrieved the heavy silver rock, closing the lockbox, and walked back to the passenger side of the town car, leaning down to look through the open window.

"You got out to pick up a shiny rock. What, are you planning on doing some light metallurgy today?" Emma asked, eyeing the raw silver slab in his hand with mild curiosity.

"Something like that," Ethan said, sliding the metal into an insulated coat pocket. He leaned his arms against the doorframe, his smirk widening. "Now, as for your agenda for the day... Mallory Book is expecting you at Veritas & Book. I’m sure you two will get along quite well."

Emma straightened her blazer, maintaining her immaculate, aristocratic posture. "I am well aware of how to handle your lead counsel, Ethan. I doubt a local New Jersey attorney will pose much of a challenge."

"Oh, don't underestimate Mallory," Ethan warned in a light, mocking tone, his eyes flashing with subtle amusement. "She’s sharp, ruthlessly efficient, and doesn't care much for corporate posturing. Try not to let her completely take advantage of you before lunch."

Emma offered a cool, dangerous smile. "We shall see who takes advantage of whom."

As the vehicle pulled over to Ethan’s second stop, he chuckled, “Well, you two have fun.”

With a short nod, Ethan stepped back from the vehicle and tapped the roof twice. The driver pulled away, leaving Ethan standing alone against the industrial backdrop as the silver town car sped off.