At all costs?
Though they had suspected Captain America harbored ill feelings toward Richard, neither Nick Fury, Black Widow, nor Hawkeye had anticipated Rogers declaring his intent to apprehend him "at all costs."
Captain America wasn't merely a SHIELD agent—he was a founding member of the Avengers. His proclamation effectively committed both organizations to Richard's capture.
While Richard was indeed classified as an S-level fugitive by the Department of Mutant Affairs, mobilizing both SHIELD and the Avengers against him seemed disproportionate.
After all, Richard's current threats targeted only the Department of Mutant Affairs' pursuit of him—not SHIELD, and certainly not civilians.
Nick Fury studied Captain America's resolute expression, remaining silent for several moments.
Finally, he turned to Hawkeye, who had yet to offer an opinion. "What's your assessment, Barton?"
Hawkeye considered his response carefully. "Whatever you decide—whether to decline the Department's request or to pursue Wesley with maximum resources—I'll support it."
Though he'd witnessed Richard beheading Sebastian Shaw the previous night, Hawkeye didn't share Rogers' indignation. From his perspective, Shaw was hardly more virtuous than Richard—the primary difference being Shaw's talent for deception rather than Richard's directness.
True, numerous mutant agents and special forces soldiers had fallen to Richard over the past three months. But Hawkeye was certain Shaw's machinations had claimed far more lives than Richard's blade.
As Barton concluded, Natasha immediately pressed her point.
"I strongly advise against accepting the Department's request," she insisted. "While Richard's current disposition toward SHIELD remains unclear, his actions in San Francisco yesterday demonstrated he's not someone who kills indiscriminately."
"If mass slaughter were his objective, Banner and I wouldn't have left San Francisco alive. We don't need to—"
Captain America cut her off mid-sentence.
"He spared you and Banner only because he chose not to kill you yesterday," Rogers interjected. "He may occasionally display compassion, but that doesn't make him a good man."
His jaw tightened. "Even if execution isn't warranted, he must be detained under maximum security. Only then can we ensure he won't endanger innocent lives."
As Natasha prepared to counter, Fury intervened.
"Here's my decision," the Director announced, his authoritative tone ending the debate. "We'll accept the Department's request and neutralize Richard's immediate threat."
"His influence within the young mutant community is substantial. Left unchecked, he'll inspire more young mutants to oppose both the Department and the Mutant Restriction Act."
"As for his long-term detention or potential restrictions on his freedom—we'll address those matters after his capture."
Like Rogers, Fury harbored misgivings about Richard. Unlike Rogers, however, he harbored no illusions that SHIELD and the Department of Mutant Affairs could easily apprehend someone of Richard's capabilities.
The Department's formal request for assistance spoke volumes about their inability to handle Richard independently. For a specialized agency like the Department of Mutant Affairs, seeking external support amounted to acknowledging their limitations—something they would never do if alternatives existed.
Moreover, when the Minister of Mutant Affairs had called regarding assistance, he'd emphasized that the request carried presidential authorization.
"I'll assemble a special operations team and develop a capture strategy," Rogers declared, rising from his seat and departing without awaiting further discussion.
"Agent Romanoff," Fury addressed Natasha, "locate Banner and determine if the Hulk possesses any information about Wesley that might prove useful."
"I'll do my best," Natasha affirmed.
"Barton, coordinate with Intelligence to compile everything we have on Richard, then assist Rogers with the tactical planning."
"Understood," Hawkeye acknowledged promptly.
After Natasha and Barton exited, Fury approached the expansive floor-to-ceiling window. Gazing across the Washington skyline with his remaining eye, he contemplated a critical question:
Should we recall her?
With her abilities, capturing Richard would become a significantly more manageable proposition.
Las Vegas
Caesars Palace Hotel
Richard remained unaware that SHIELD had agreed to assist the Department of Mutant Affairs, or that he now faced a coordinated effort from both agencies to secure his capture.
Presently, he sat in the suite's study, inquiring whether Emma Frost possessed contact information for Magneto and Mystique.
After witnessing reports of the Brotherhood of Mutants attacking Department facilities, he'd considered reaching out to Magneto directly.
Evidently, Magneto had discovered the Department's cloning operation. As fellow S-level fugitives targeted by the Department, they shared common adversaries—a natural alliance. Yet Richard's motivation for contacting Magneto wasn't to forge a partnership against the Department, but rather to confirm whether Wanda and Pietro were indeed Magneto's children.
If they were, he intended to arrange for Magneto to retrieve them.
While he coveted Wanda's power, he wasn't planning to claim it immediately.
A fine meal is worth waiting for.
The timing wasn't yet right.
"I don't have their contact information," Emma admitted. "However, I can make inquiries through my network. We might be able to establish communication."
"Let's pursue that option," Richard agreed.
Emma Frost nodded, rising from her seat to make the necessary calls.
As she departed the study, Richard prepared to summon Wanda and Pietro when a notification materialized before him.
[Mission: Son of the Devil (III)]
[Mission content: Kill the superhero "Captain America" Steve Rogers who represents American justice]
[Mission Reward: Yamato]
[Task time limit: 1 week]
Kill Captain America?
Richard stared at the system notification with genuine surprise.
Though the timing of this mission seemed unexpected, his expression rapidly shifted from astonishment to elation as he processed the reward.
Yamato!
Since mastering Judgement Cut End, he had anticipated a mission offering the Yamato as its reward.
Now, finally, such an opportunity presented itself.
For the Yamato, he would unhesitatingly eliminate Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow—whoever stood in his path.
He'd never considered himself virtuous, nor did he believe any individual in this world untouchable.
Anyone who threatened him would face his lethal response, regardless of their identity or stature.
As someone transmigrated into this reality, he viewed the inhabitants as little more than NPCs in an elaborate game.
And NPCs, by definition, were expendable.
Though uncertain why the system had issued this particular mission now, he deduced that Captain America must be preparing to lead an effort to capture him.
After brief consideration, a conclusion crystallized in his mind:
SHIELD and the Department of Mutant Affairs have joined forces.
With Sentinel robots proving ineffective against him, the Department had partnered with Sebastian Shaw and the Hellfire Club to develop enhanced clones.
Last night's confrontation at Bayfront Park Marina had demonstrated that even these enhanced clones posed little more threat than the Sentinels.
With both initiatives failing, it stood to reason that the Department would seek SHIELD's assistance.
Though details of their capture operation remained unclear, the mission parameters suggested Captain America would lead SHIELD's contribution to the effort.
Dismissing the task panel, Richard left the study and approached Pietro and Wanda.
"You're coming with me," he stated simply.
"All right!" Pietro agreed without hesitation, though uncertain of their destination.
After Pietro took Wanda's right hand, Richard grasped her left.
Teleportation!
In an instant, they transitioned from the suite's living room to a remote desert expanse dozens of kilometers from Las Vegas.
"I want to assess your current mastery of your powers," Richard announced. "Attack me together."
"If we beat you, will there be a reward?" Pietro asked eagerly.
"Beat me?" Richard arched an eyebrow. "If you can so much as touch me, or maintain a position directly in front of me for sixty seconds, you win."
As he finished speaking, Richard summoned the Masamune from his system inventory.
Upon seeing the two-meter blade materialize from empty space, Pietro activated his mutant power without delay.
Super Speed!
In the span of a blink, Pietro and Wanda vanished from Richard's presence, reappearing a kilometer away as if they had teleported.
Richard smiled and shook his head.
Teleportation!
Pietro's velocity was impressive—but against Richard's teleportation, it proved woefully inadequate.
Before the twins could react, Richard materialized behind them, pressing the Masamune's tip against the back of Pietro's neck.
"Some advice," Richard offered. "Never allow yourself to stop completely during combat."
"Even if you can't maintain maximum velocity indefinitely, sustain a pace that challenges your opponent's tracking ability."
"The moment you halt is when you're most vulnerable."
"I haven't lost yet!" Pietro protested.
"You didn't lose because I chose not to run you through with my blade," Richard replied. "Defeat is acceptable—inability to acknowledge it isn't."
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