In Hôtel Majestic,

Trask casually walked in the hallway of the 3rd floor, while thinking, 'Everything must be perfect today. I must show them the tool by which they can control the mutant menace. Nothing should go wrong today.'

When he arrived at a hall, he saw numerous people and staff members talking to each other.

One of them turned around and he saw Trask.

The man immediately recognized him and walked toward him.

He stretched his hand and smiled warmly when he arrived in front of him and said, "Mr. Trask! It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard so many wonderful things about you and your company."

Trask furrowed his brows at the man and thought, 'Who is this guy? I don't know him. Is he... a mutant in disguise?'

He fumbled with the mutant detector in his pocket and switched it on.

But, after a few seconds, the device didn't indicate that the man was a mutant.

This made him sigh in relief while thinking, 'Saved! He's not a mutant.'

But, the man was patiently waiting for Trask to shake his hand and now, it had become awkward.

The man said, "Umm... Mr. Trask?"

Trask immediately smiled and shook his hand as he apologized, "I am extremely sorry! I was lost in my own thoughts."

The man laughed and patted his shoulder as he replied, "No problem, Mr. Trask. Everybody knows that geniuses have trouble communicating."

He bent down and whispered in Trask's ear, "We hope you don't fail today. Otherwise, our deal would fall apart."

Trask looked at the man in surprise but he simply whispered, "Hail Hydra!"

He adjusted his tie and walked away, leaving a surprised Trask behind.

. . .

At the entrance of the hotel,

Val and Havok waltzed through a security checkpoint and walked inside the hotel.

Val looked around and when he saw the elevator, he secretly gestured Havok to follow him.

Both of them arrived at the elevator and Val pressed the button.

While waiting, Val turned to Havok and said, "You should stay behind me. Trask would have a mutant detector on him. If he uses that to find out that there's a mutant around him, our plan would fail. So, stay behind me at least a few meters when we reach the 3rd floor, okay?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Havok nodded and replied, "Okay!"

* DING *

Val and Havok turned to the elevator as it arrived.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a few diplomatic officials inside.

Val and Havok entered the elevator and Val pressed the 3rd floor button.

As the doors closed, he heard one of the official whisper to the other, "We would lose so much money if the talks went through."

The other official whispered back, "Yes, we would. But, we can't keep it going. Everybody involved feels that they would lose money if the war kept going. So, it's better that the talks go through today."

Val raised his brows as he thought, 'These people are worried about money while people are dying in the war. Sigh! Whatever! I should focus on the task at hand.'

The elevator reached the 3rd floor and both of them got out of it.

Val whispered to Havok, "Don't make any sudden movements and act normally. Don't act suspiciously, okay?"

Seeing him nod, Val walked forward and with a stoic expression on his face, he roamed around.

After a few minutes, he walked into a hallway and finally, found Trask.

Val saw him entering the men's toilet and quietly gestured Havok.

Both of them waited for a few minutes and entered the toilet.

When they entered, they found Trask washing his hands in the sink.

He turned around and glanced at Val.

He ignored him and bent down to pick up his suitcase when...

* WHAM *

Val hit Trask at the back of his head and watched in delight as he fell on the floor, unconscious.

Val murmured, "Sweet dreams, Mr. Trask."

Val turned around and ordered Havok, "Come here! Quickly!"

He noticed a large duffle bag on the sink and ordered Havok, "Grab that duffle bag and bring it here!"

Havok grabbed the bag and placed it on the floor beside Val.

Val picked up Trask and ordered, "Open it up! We would take him out of here in this."

Havok opened the bag and he asked, "Would he even fit in this?"

Val smiled and replied, "He's a small man. There is ample space in this bag for him to fit."

"Whatever you say.", Havok replied.

After a few seconds, Val put Trask in the bag and Havok closed it but he left it open slightly so that Trask wouldn't suffocate.

Val picked up the bag and swung it around his shoulder.

He glanced at the suitcase and ordered Havok, "Grab the suitcase! Our work is done! We have to get out of here!"

Val walked to the door, opened it and peeked outside.

When he found nobody around, he gestured Havok and both of them quickly got out of the toilet.

They walked normally to the elevator and waited for it to open.

After a few minutes, the elevator opened and they sighed in relief when nobody was inside.

They quickly stepped inside and pressed the button for the 1st floor.

They arrived at the 1st floor and got out of it.

Here, they had to remain alert and act normally because the floor was filled with security personnel and diplomatic officials of various countries.

When they were almost out of the crowded area, a man suddenly, blocked their way and stood in front of them.

He was the same person that Trask met earlier.

The man narrowed his eyes at the suitcase in Havok's hand.

"I have seen this suitcase somewhere. And...", He glanced at Havok and said, "It definitely wasn't in your hands."

Val could feel that Havok was getting nervous.

So, he replied, "Ah, you must be mistaken, monsieur."

"I don't think so.", The man replied, "Could you open it up? I would like to see what's inside."

Val calmly shook his head and said, "Ah, I am afraid I cannot do zat. Ze suitcase contains files zat are ze property of ze French National Police. Any unauthorized individual is not permitted to look at ze files."

The man sneered and said, "Really? I think you're lying."

Val glared at the man and said, Mon cher monsieur, I am respectfully saying it to you zat ze suitcase contains confidential files. S'il vous plaît, step aside and let us continue on our duty."

But, the man wouldn't relent and he said, "I would step aside when you prove to me that the suitcase belongs to you."

Val glared at the man for a few seconds.

Then, he ordered him, "S'il vous plaît, would you show me your badge, monsieur?"

The man took out his badge from his front pocket and put it in Val's hand as he said, "Here!"

Val glanced at the man's badge and handed it back and said, "Ah, monsieur, are you sure you want to look at ze files?"

The man was confused and asked, "What do you mean?"

Val smiled slightly and threatened him, "Ah, monsieur, what I mean is zat, even if you 'ave diplomatic immunity, it doesn't mean zat you can get scott-free after threatening ze French National Police to disclose national secrets. Ze consequences, zey can be très grave, you know."

"When did I d-", The man tried to reply but Val interrupted him as he stared in his eyes and replied, "Oui, you did. Right now, monsieur."

The man gritted his teeth and stepped aside.

Val smiled widely and patted his shoulder and said, "Gud choice, monsieur."

The man glared at Val and Havok and clenched his fists as he watched them away.

He turned around and walked toward his room while thinking to himself, 'Something's not right! I swear, that was Trask's suitcase! I must inform Madame immediately!'

However, what he didn't know was that a small strand of volatile energy was travelling inside his body and racing toward it's destination - his heart.

Val put this volatile strand of energy inside him when he patted him on the shoulder.

The man entered his room and closed the door behind him.

He was about to pick up the telephone when all of a sudden, his heart started beating frantically.

He clutched his chest, thinking, 'W-What's happening? W-What's going o-oo-o-on?'

* SPLAT *

* THUD *

His heart burst inside his chest and his dead body fell on the floor.