In addition to the abilities that could already be quantified, several unmeasured attributes on Rorschach's ability panel had also seen significant enhancements.
For example—X-ray vision and super hearing.
Previously, Rorschach's X-ray vision could only penetrate a distance of ten meters. Now, he could effortlessly see through everything within a fifty-meter radius.
As for his hearing—
Now, whenever he wanted, Rorschach could clearly hear Charles and the others talking in the office, just as if they were standing right beside him. There was no difference in clarity between conversations indoors and those in the open field.
"We have to bury this deep, like it never happened!"
"Whatever William Stryker is doing with that mutant squad—it's not our business. We never knew about it!"
"And Bradley?"
"Erase his memory. We'll send him away like he was never here."
"What if Stryker sends more people after him?"
"If he does, he must have a reason. Charles, we stay out of it."
"At most, we move Bradley to a safe place where he can live quietly. That's all we can do."
Charles, Erik, and Moira were in the middle of a heated discussion in the office.
After who knew how many rounds of argument, the three finally came to an agreement: erase Bradley's memories of encountering Erik and his wife, then quietly send him somewhere safe.
And because the situation involved a CIA executive, they decided to keep everything strictly confidential.
No reports.No leaks.Not even whispers.
At least, not until they confirmed whether Jason Stryker was involved.
For now, the only thing they could do was use every resource at their disposal to cover up any traces before Stryker caught wind of the incident.
They couldn't afford to let Stryker turn his sights on them.
Ohio.
Playground.
Once a bustling attraction, the playground was now completely sealed off. Police had cordoned off all entrances and exits, and guards were posted at every access point.
Thup-thup-thup!
The sound of a helicopter's rotors echoed overhead. A gunship slowly descended from the sky, landing in the open area at the center of the playground.
From the helicopter stepped a young man in sunglasses.
It was none other than William Stryker.
A younger man with two long swords strapped to his back was already at the scene. He walked up to greet him.
"Sir, did the chopper run out of fuel mid-flight or something? You had to refuel? You're half an hour late. Even if you're the boss…"
"Shut up, Wade! I swear, one day, I'll sew that mouth shut," Stryker snapped, barely hiding his irritation. He moved on quickly. "The scene—was it compromised?"
"No, sir. Just a small-town fairground. They wouldn't dare ignore a military order. The sheriff deployed nearly half his force."
"Anything useful?"
"Two out-of-towners came last night looking for Bradley. There were witnesses who saw them fighting, but it was already dark. They didn't see much detail."
Wade lowered his voice slightly.
"You should really take a look at Victor's corpse. His head was cut clean off… Poor Vic…"
He started to ramble again, until Stryker gave him a look that made him shut up instantly.
Despite his mouth, Wade was a powerful mutant agent under Stryker's command. With just his twin blades, he could dismantle an entire squad. More importantly, he was obedient.
Unlike Victor, Wade was easy to control.
The only downside? He talked too much—and never seemed to care about the time or place.
"Anyone else?"
"Yeah. The out-of-towners asked around about Bradley. No doubt—they were here for him."
Stryker frowned. Bradley? Of all people?
His powers were weak. Hardly a threat. Why would anyone go after him?
Something wasn't adding up.
"Sir, let me investigate this. I know you want to find the guy who killed Victor—and honestly, I want to see if his swordplay is any match for mine."
"No, Wade," Stryker cut him off. "Victor's dead. You'll take over his duties. I'm assigning someone else to investigate. Just focus on retrieving the serum."
"I can handle the Ghost, sure—but what about Logan? You had other plans for him, right?"
"Don't worry about Logan. Aside from the Ghost, there's another subject. I think you'll really like his ability."
Stryker casually handed over a file.
Wade glanced at it—and his eyes lit up. "Whoa, this guy shoots lasers from his eyes?! That's awesome! I like him already."
"Good. Now go do your job. I'm going to talk to the witnesses."
CIA Base.
Shaded walkway.
Rorschach and Charles strolled leisurely down a quiet path—or at least, that's how it looked to anyone watching.
"Rorschach," Charles began, "I've erased Bradley's memories. Moira's arranging for him to be moved tonight—quietly."
"This matter is highly sensitive. Only the three of us know the full details. We can't let a single word get out. Do you have any questions?"
Despite the serious subject, Charles kept his voice warm, as if confiding in an old friend.
"I understand, Charles," Rorschach replied calmly.
"Good."
Satisfied, Charles continued. "Also, let's put mutant recruitment on hold for now."
"Someone at the playground saw you and Erik. Stryker might catch on. Don't worry—we've already cleaned up most of the evidence."
"As long as you stay put and lay low, there won't be any problems."
"Alright, I've got to go. Moira's waiting. Relax, Rorschach. Everything's fine."
They reached the end of the path, where Charles waved goodbye before walking off to join Moira and Erik.
Rorschach gave them a casual wave from afar, then watched them leave.
"Hiding from Stryker? Honestly, I'm not afraid of that guy."
He shrugged.
Laying low in the CIA didn't exactly align with his plans. He wanted to see what the world outside had to offer—whether it would give him the same thrill as the playground did.
But after a moment's thought, Rorschach let the idea go.
If he acted on impulse, it would only cause trouble for Charles and the others.
He wasn't the kind of guy who stirred up chaos just for fun.
Besides, with his recent boost in physical attributes, this downtime was the perfect opportunity to adjust and get used to his upgrades.
And if his memory was correct, something big was about to happen at this base.
Why chase opportunities… when they were already on their way?
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