After greeting Susan, Johnny, and Ben, I took a moment to look all of them over.
Before focusing my attention back on the entire group.
"You all are looking well." I said. "Especially you Ben."
Since Ben is standing before me in his human form.
"I take it the lessons at Kamar-Taj are going well?" I asked rhetorically.
"You can see the results yourself." Ben replied. A smile on his face. "Victor let me just say thank you once again. Seriously. I really appreciate all you've done for me. All you've given me back." He spoke.
I shook my head. "No, no, Ben. I just got you through the door. Where you are right now is due to your own hard work." I retorted. "So on that note, I've loved to hear about some of the adventures you all have been on. But first, where's Reed?"
Because even though I don't care that he is not present I did invite him along with the others to the embassy today. So I have to ask about his absence as a courtesy.
"Eh Reed decided to stay behind at the Baxter Building to work on some big project he couldn't tear himself away from. Something about opening a door to another dimension. That's all I caught from Reed's technical science talk." Johnny told me.
Telling me that Reed currently has his sights likely set on the Negative Zone at the moment.
Which means Blastaar and Annihilus might soon be pieces on the game board.
Good to know.
"Well that sounds interesting. If you can when you return, please have Reed contact me so we can discuss this other dimension in detail." I spoke. "So, about those adventure stories?"
"Hold on Victor. Before we say anything you've got some explaining to do." Susan spoke up.
"About what Susan?" I asked. Despite already knowing what she's referring to. But I decided to play dumb and flashed her a cheeky grin.
Only to earn a deadpan stare in return.
"Victor the last time we saw you you said you were returning to your homeland to deal with a few issues. Now here we are a year later and your now the leader of your birth nation, royalty, and you just finished annexing another nation to grow your own." Susan spoke. Stating the obvious.
"Well when you put it like that I can see your point." I conceded. "But there's not really much to tell Susan. My nation, my people, they were in trouble and since I had the power to do something about it I did. And as I just explained to those at the United Nations general assembly Sokovia was planning to attack Latveria, and our ally Symkaria. So all we did was launch a pre-emptive strike. Nothing more and nothing less."
"Okay, but that still doesn't explain the annexation part." Susan retorted.
"Sokovia was already dead. It's just that no one wanted to admit it." I said. "After the war was over I was certain the country would likely cease to exist anyway, and given what the people who called that nation home had already been through I decided I couldn't sit back and watch them suffer. So I gave them my protection. A decision I don't regret. So, does that answer all your questions and concerns Susan?"
"For the most part. I just have one more." She replied. "How is Lucia doing?"
"Good. She's good." I replied. "As you likely know she's now Latveria's prime minister and is currently back at our shared home keeping things together until I return from this trip." I explained. "Now then about those adventure stories?"
Susan sighed, but she did so with a smile on her face. "Alright Victor. You win." She conceded.
Once she did she, Ben, and Johnny stated telling me about some of the adventures they've been on during this past year.
Usually as a result of Reed's bullshit.
Honestly, that man is too dangerous to be kept alive.
The only reason I haven't ended his life yet is because I want to get Ben, Johnny, and Susan firmly in my corner first before dealing with the walking catastrophe that is Mr. Fantastic. But once I accomplish my goal, his rubbery ass is grass.
As the three of them continued telling me about their adventures Ben also happened to mention he was now dating Alicia Masters.
Who is African-American in this universe by the way, and the spitting image of Kerry Washington from the Tim Story film.
I just thought it be something I'd mention.
In the end three hours passed before they finished telling me their tales.
"Wow, you guys have already been through so much." I spoke. "And it sounds amazing. Thanks for telling me."
"No problem Victor." Susan said.
"Yeah, what Susie said." Ben added.
"It's all good my dude." Johnny spoke.
"Right." I replied.
Once I did we talked for a bit more before one of the embassy staff came and interrupted us.
Since it was time for lunch.
Because I'm not the kind of host that would let guests such as these leave on an empty stomach.
So with that the four of us left the meeting room we were in and headed to one of the embassies dining halls. Where a full spread was waiting for us.
A thing both Johnny and Ben loved.
As they moved to dig in Susan walked up to me. "Victor, thanks for lunch." She said.
"No problem Susan." I replied to her. "Oh and one more thing." I began. I then leaned in and whispered. "If you ever want to pick up again where we left off that night a year ago simply say the word. Because I am ready to go anytime you ask." I spoke. I then leaned back, and caught a blush forming on Susans' face.
A good sight for my eyes.
Putting another cheeky smile on my face I left Susan side before she could retort to my words, and joined Johnny and Ben at the table for lunch.
Susan joining us shortly after.
Giving me sideway which I easily ignored.
All the way until the three of them left the embassy.
Though we did exchange contact information, and I got them to promise to visit Latveria in the near future.
So for the most part today was a good day.
---------------------------------------------------------------
After my speech at the United Nations I spent a few more days in New York before returning home.
During which the UN informed me they were rescinding their request to send an investigation team to Latveria.
A fact I enjoyed.
What I did not enjoy was the fact I discovered the World Security Council had tasked SHIELD with infiltrating Latveria. The push for the action coming from the two tentacle cult-worshippers on the council.
Alexander Pierce and Gideon Malick.
Though considering HYDRA had tried, and spectacularly failed, at infiltrating and gathering any concrete information on Latveria, and our ally Symkaria, ever since I became king and ruler of the former it's no wonder they're trying to use ever resource at their disposal to their advantage.
Especially since they have finally started to investigate what happened to Baron Strucker, and are making no head way because of me.
Yeah, I'm fucking with them like that.
But they brought it upon themselves.
Plus it's fun as hell.
Moving on.
In my personal lab within Castle Doom I stood before a chemical synthesizer machine I had built myself, waiting until it finished running.
When it did I removed the vials I had placed inside of it earlier.
Holding them up in the air I couldn't help but release a slightly evil laugh.
Considering what I held in my hands was my own personally created variant of the Super Soldier Serum.
Which interacted with the users physiology the exact same way Wilfred Nagel's did in the Marvel mini-series Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in that it the serum gave those who took it all the enhancements without any of the outward physical changes like Steve Rogers.
Meaning I can turn anyone into a super soldier now, and one would know what they were except anyone who was aware that they had taken my serum.
"Yes, oh yes!" I exclaimed.
Now I have two perfected superhuman serums in my grasp.
And this is only the beginning.
My laughter and excitement subsiding I lowered the vials of my SSS from the air and then went to place them on a vial rack.
I then moved to put them in one of my secure laboratory freezers.
Then after doing so I went over to my desk, and went to work on my computer. Taking the completion of the SSS of my to-do list.
I then pulled up my next big project I wanted to focus on.
The Werner Academy.
Time to get the ball rolling in earnest on that.
But first...
Contacting Lucia I asked her to come down to my lab.
Since I've decided she is going to to the first, in what will be a long line, of a new breed of Super Soldiers.
It's time she get an upgrade.
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