The cacophony of arguments in the conference room reached a fever pitch. Tony Stark was bristling, Lex Luthor was scowling, and Nick Fury's one good eye was practically boring a hole into William. The Avengers argued with the X-Men, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents whispered among themselves, and even the Justice League was visibly tense.
William watched it all unfold from his spot in the center of the room, his Glitchtrap form shimmering faintly, the static around him an unspoken reminder of his presence. He let them argue for a moment longer, his grin widening. This was what he wanted—chaos, mistrust, and uncertainty.
Finally, he raised a hand. "Enough."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight, cutting through the noise like a blade. The room quieted, all eyes turning to him.
"You've made my point for me," William said, his distorted voice laced with amusement. "Look at you—all this power, all this influence, and you're too busy pointing fingers to realize the real enemy is out there. It's almost poetic, really."
He began pacing the room, his movements fluid and deliberate, like a predator circling its prey.
"Let me paint you a picture," he continued. "You've got Tony Stark, the 'misunderstood genius,' who didn't realize he was selling weapons that caused untold destruction. The press won't care about his excuses—they'll blame him anyway. They already have."
Tony opened his mouth to argue but stopped, his jaw tightening.
"Then there's the X-Men," William said, gesturing to Cyclops and the others. "It doesn't matter how many times you save the world. To the public, you're just mutants—freaks, outcasts, a convenient scapegoat for everything wrong in their lives."
Cyclops' hands balled into fists, but Professor Xavier placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
"And let's not forget Lex Luthor," William said with a mocking bow in Lex's direction. "The man who's practically built a career on stepping on the little guy. Sure, you might have your PR spin, but deep down, the world knows exactly what you are, Lex. They'll never trust you."
Luthor's expression was a mask of cold fury, but he said nothing.
"And S.H.I.E.L.D.?" William said, turning to Nick Fury. "Oh, the public loves a good conspiracy theory, don't they? Secret experiments, hidden prisons, enhanced individuals locked away for being 'too dangerous.' If any of that got out—well, let's just say you wouldn't be getting any more funding."
Fury crossed his arms, his face unreadable.
William stopped in the center of the room again, spreading his arms wide. "Do you see the problem now? Even if you're innocent—and let's be honest, most of you aren't—the public doesn't care. They'll never trust you. They'll turn on you the moment it's convenient. Just like they always do."
The room was silent, the weight of his words sinking in.
"And that's why I'm different," William said, his grin widening. "I don't care about public trust. I don't care about being a hero. What I care about is winning. And right now, I've got something none of you do—a hand, not just a finger, in everyone's pies."
He snapped his fingers, and the screen behind him flickered again, displaying files and connections he had carefully crafted.
"I've got information on everyone in this room," William said, his tone sharp. "Your secrets, your sins, your weaknesses. I know who your allies are, and I know who your enemies are. And if you don't work with me, I'll use all of it to tear you down."
The room erupted again, but this time it was quieter, the arguments tinged with fear rather than anger.
"Let me make this simple," William said, his voice cutting through the noise. "You don't have to like me. You don't even have to trust me. But if you want to survive, you'll join me. Because together, we can control the chaos. Separate? You'll burn, one by one, and I'll be there to watch."
He leaned forward, his grin unnervingly wide. "So, what's it going to be? Are you in? Or do I start unraveling this house of cards you call 'alliances'?"
The silence that followed was deafening. For the first time, the room full of the world's most powerful individuals realized they weren't just dealing with a survivor—they were dealing with a manipulator, a strategist, and perhaps the most dangerous man they'd ever met.