Caught in the Act

Monica had adjusted to the situation fairly quickly. As Qi Li's housekeeper and nanny, she might have been in a rotten mood, but she hadn't forgotten the rest of the business at hand. "Oh, right, Qi Li—your school application has been approved. President Shetty called me personally to say that she and the university's trustees would all be delighted to have you at Godkin University, and she promised that the school will pour its very best resources into you." Qi Li had picked up the remote and was idly flipping channels. Without really looking up, he asked, "President Shetty?" Monica rattled off the details: "Indira Shetty. PhD in behavioral psychology. She had spent her career up to now in superhero-related research and only recently became president of Godkin University." Qi Li's finger on the remote paused for a moment. On the screen, an ad was playing: Queen Maeve, endorsing whiskey. He smiled. "So her expertise is a perfect match, then." Monica's mood brightened again. "It's precisely because she's a professional that she knows exactly what you're worth, Qi Li. For a new president, what better way to prove her ability and her value than to personally launch a member of the Super Seven? I have to hand it to you, Qi Li—that decision of yours was genuinely far-sighted." "Far-sighted? What do you mean?" Qi Li kept flipping channels. Monica said with admiration, "I went and looked it up. Queen Maeve, A-Train and Deep Sea all graduated from Godkin University. Queen Maeve and A-Train both ranked No. 1 at Godkin back in their day. Deep Sea... uh, he was a little weaker—he was No. 6 when he graduated. But all of them ended up in the Super Seven. So you can imagine how many connections and resources Godkin has in that department. "No wonder you wanted to go to Godkin. Now I understand completely—you had it all planned out in advance, Qi Li." Planned out what? Since when? Qi Li was taken aback for a moment. All he wanted was to go to school and make some "new friends." Yet from the way Monica told it, he had carefully prepared and schemed ahead for a future Super Seven slot. Honestly, if Monica hadn't brought it up, he wouldn't have known that three members of the Super Seven had come out of Godkin University. Still, he had to admit it was the surest path short of going through the draft. Seeing this, Qi Li couldn't be bothered to argue and just gave a couple of vague responses. Monica, meanwhile, grew more enthusiastic with every word, plainly delighted to have such an outstanding superhero client. "Oh, right—almost forgot." Something seemed to occur to her; her tone shifted and she gave a soft laugh. "Anya—that little Hollywood darling who starred in your first film—couldn't get through to you, so she called me just now to ask whether you have time to catch up." "She must have seen your interview the other day and is worried you won't cast her in your second film, so she wants to hold on tight to you. What do you say—want me to arrange the time, the place, and the toys?" As an agent who had come out of Hollywood, Monica was long past being surprised by such things. Handling her clients' private lives had always been an important part of her daily work. And over the years she had never once slipped up on damage control. Qi Li trusted her completely. Even after he became famous, he had never considered replacing her with an agent who had better connections. Qi Li checked his call log. Anya Taylor-Joy had called several times. At that hour, he had been held fast in the coils of the white python Madam Miranda had become, with no way to free himself. Qi Li glanced upstairs and replied, "In a couple of days. I'm busy right now." Monica understood at once. "Busy? You're... I see. But let me remind you, this is a very sensitive time—whatever happens, don't let anyone get photos!" There was no talking him out of it. All she could do was keep reminding her client never to leave any photographic evidence. "Relax..." Halfway through the sentence, Qi Li's eyes flicked to one side. "All right, that's enough." He hung up. A minute later. In the dark, spacious dining room. Click! The lights snapped on. A short cry of alarm escaped before it could be helped, then was hastily stifled. But it was already too late. "Shuttle." Qi Li looked calmly at the short, fat man standing there naked, looking every inch the sneaking thief. His gaze traveled from the man's bloated, unbearable naked body to the smooth, flawless, entirely intact wall behind him. Qi Li's mouth twisted slightly. "Compared to Shadowcat, you look a good deal more realistic the way you are now." Whoever heard of clothes passing through a wall along with the person? Shadowcat? Who was that? Shuttle didn't quite follow. But he had no time to worry about that now. Caught red-handed and scared half out of his wits, he stammered, "Uh... I phased through to the wrong place! Yeah, wrong place! I'll go right now!" With that, like a startled fat rabbit, he spun around in a panic and made to run at the solid wall. But he had gone only a few steps. A boom cracked out. An instant later, Qi Li's hand shot out from behind like an iron clamp and seized Shuttle's shoulder, holding him fast. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" Qi Li's flat voice came from behind him. Shuttle struggled with all his might to no avail, and could only twist his head around with a miserable face, begging over and over: "I'm sorry! So sorry! Really! I wasn't going to do anything else! I just... came to pick up Steelclaw Man's stock. He can't use it anymore anyway, so it'd just go to waste..." Qi Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "Stock?" Shuttle's eyes darted about, and he stammered out an explanation: "Y-yeah... some high-grade enhancement drugs. They're expensive; it'd be a shame to leave them sitting there. I just... wanted to take some. I don't want them now—they're all yours, Bronze! I know where they are, I'll take you there." Qi Li understood. Shuttle had come to collect his "old friend's" inheritance. A fine fair-weather friend indeed. "I don't use that stuff," he said mildly. Shuttle blinked. There were people who didn't use enhancement drugs? He must have gotten carried away with his acting. Of course, he only dared say that in his head; on the surface he hurried to flatter: "As expected of Bronze. So... can I go now?" Qi Li smiled. He pointed at his bathrobe. "You think you can just leave?" Late at night, the superhero Bronze, alone in a room with Steelclaw Man's widow—and he'd even changed into a bathrobe. If word got out, anyone could guess what had happened. Shuttle caught on then, too, and began trembling all over. "I swear to God! I won't breathe a word about tonight! I—" Qi Li cut him off mildly. "Can a junkie's oath be trusted?" Shuttle panicked completely. "I—" "Shh—" Qi Li put a hand over his mouth. "Mmmph—" Shuttle struggled with all his might. But his strength was nothing in Qi Li's hands. "Relax... just relax..." Qi Li murmured close to Shuttle's ear. He was not about to entrust his future to a notorious addict. Monica had just reminded him. Now it simply had to be settled cleanly and for good. So... Qi Li planted both hands firmly on either side of Shuttle's head. Before the man could speak again, his arms tightened and he twisted hard. Crack! A sickening snap rang out through the dining room. Shuttle's neck snapped in an instant; his eyes glazed over, and his whole body went limp, slumping to the floor like a puddle of mud.