Game Master of marvel

When news spread that SHIELD agents were arresting Merlin, the entire venue descended into chaos. Fury and the military personnel were particularly perplexed. Even in delicate situations, tact was essential—such an overt arrest without explanation was reckless and unnecessary.

"Sitwell! What are you doing? Who gave you the authority to arrest Merlin?" Fury shouted, barely able to contain his frustration as he stood up.

General Ross, who had been on the verge of rising, froze in his seat, opting instead to observe the drama unfold. The congressman seated nearby appeared equally confused. This was definitely not part of the agreed-upon strategy.

Merlin wasn't an ordinary high school student; he was the chief engineer of Hammer Industries and a collaborator with Stark Industries. Tangling with someone of his stature, especially with the backing of two major domestic defense companies, was not only unwise but outright foolish.

Moreover, there was an additional layer of complexity—Merlin's mysterious technological platform. While some factions within the US government sought control over it, the preferred approach was a combination of negotiation and persuasion. With the country's economy still reeling from the Lizard Incident and the Los Santos debacle, they had hoped to secure a cooperative relationship with Merlin to accelerate economic recovery. Alienating him outright was the last thing anyone wanted.

Sitwell's abrupt and decisive actions left even those in the front row—many harboring their own agendas—stunned into silence.

"Director Fury?" Sitwell remarked, his expression betraying surprise as he fastened handcuffs onto Merlin's wrists. "Isn't this your directive? Mr. Pierce said you'd instructed us to act quickly."

Fury's face, already darkened by anger, now seemed to flicker between fury and disbelief. "When did I issue such an order, you idiot?" His voice boomed across the room, his composure unraveling.

"Ding!"

The sudden chime of an electronic sound echoed through the exhibition hall. Everyone froze, their expressions shifting into one of dread.

Even Justine Hammer, typically composed, appeared shaken. The sound was unmistakable—it was the same ominous voice that had interrupted her father's exhibition not long ago.

A familiar melody began playing, eerily carefree, as the large display screen that had been showcasing Hammer Industries' vision for bionic humans abruptly changed its feed.

[World Mission]

The screen flickered, and a bold red emblem appeared—a skull entwined with tentacles. The unsettling voice boomed, amplified by the hall's speakers:

"Long live Hydra! Cut off one head, and two shall grow in its place!"

---

During the Hulk incident, General Ross caused a catastrophic disaster on the streets of Manhattan's Times Square due to his private human experimentation. Tragically, his daughter lost her life in the chaos. As a consequence, Ross was relieved of his position and gradually faded from the military. However, instead of disappearing from the political sphere, he transitioned into civil affairs. He took up the role of Secretary of State, overseeing homeland security and foreign affairs—a reshuffling of power that ensured he remained influential. While his control was more dispersed than during his military tenure, it still carried substantial weight.

Human experimentation was not uncommon in the US, but Ross's actions went too far this time, leading to widespread backlash.

"Child, please come with us. We just need to clarify a few things. I assure you, you won't be treated like a prisoner," Ross said kindly, his tone almost fatherly, as he approached Merlin. After detaining Fury and the others, Ross softened his demeanor.

Ross was dressed in a sharp suit, his once-intimidating seriousness now tempered by the grief of losing his daughter. His current appearance was far from oppressive, and he was well aware of Merlin's significance. Whether it was the Baymax robot or the bionic man, Merlin's innovations promised significant contributions to the US economy and tax revenues.

"Okay!" Merlin responded calmly, showing no signs of resistance.

Ross sighed in relief and turned to Justine Hammer. "Ms. Justine, we'll conclude today's exhibition here."

This platform, Ross suspected, was targeting Hammer Industries deliberately. Twice now, it had disrupted their technology conferences with its missions.

As the platform announced its mission, the audience began to leave their seats in groups, murmuring amongst themselves. Ordinary citizens felt a sense of relief, grateful that they were not implicated this time. In contrast, Hydra members in the crowd were left stunned and disoriented.

The unexpected exposure of their operation had undermined decades of planning, and they now faced counterattacks from platform-affiliated players. Hydra had underestimated both Merlin and the platform's capabilities, leading to disastrous consequences.

"I've delegated android sales to Ada; things will be fine in my absence," Merlin reassured Justine before leaving.

Meanwhile, as Ross escorted Merlin, he received an urgent report: "What? Merlin was also at the Baymax press conference?" Ross froze, scrutinizing Merlin closely.

"Are you sure?" Ross asked, still doubtful.

The confirmation came with photos from the scene.

"robot," Ross muttered under his breath, piecing things together. "Amazing... You've truly fooled us, Mr. Merlin."

"If you have questions, I'll answer them," Merlin replied with a disarming smile.

Ross could only sigh. Attempting to detain Merlin in front of Stark Industries or mimicking Hydra's public arrest tactics was out of the question. "Let's go," Ross said simply, suppressing his frustration.

Mission Updates

Unlike previous incidents, this mission was announced differently. While it was displayed on the big screen at the bionic man venue due to Hydra's intervention, the platform directly pushed updates to players' electronic devices, including mechanical spiders.

Felicia, with her long silver hair and feline grace, reacted swiftly to the familiar "Ding!" sound. Her black mechanical spider, disguised as a wristwatch, projected a holographic notification in front of her:

[World Mission: Destruction of Hydra | Cybertron Mission]

Felicia's eyes lit up as she read the newly released tasks. Sneaking in was her specialty, but she'd need a skilled mechanic for this one. She glanced at Merlin on stage, then quietly concealed her spider again. For now, completing king pin's mission to secure her father's safety took priority.

Meanwhile, at the Baymax press conference, similar projections appeared from players' mechanical spiders. The attendees—mostly families and students—were abuzz with excitement.

"Finally, a mission!"

"No more grinding monsters!"

"Machinist chip? How am I supposed to afford that?"

The murmurs continued as players processed the new updates.

Backstage

Merlin received updates from both venues simultaneously. He sighed, muttering to himself, "So much for a peaceful Christmas."

Pepper, noticing him backstage, waved him over urgently.

"What's wrong?" Merlin asked.

Pepper scrutinized his face closely, even pinching his cheek.

"Hey, Sister Pepper, I'm still young!" Merlin protested.

Pepper rolled her eyes and smacked the back of his head. "I just wanted to make sure you're not a fake. Do you even know what's happening at the gym? Someone tried to arrest you! And now the platform has released two more missions. A peaceful Christmas? Dream on!"

"Relax," Merlin said, patting his chest. "That was my android at the gym. I'm the real deal."

Hearing this, Pepper let out a relieved sigh. "Good. They may have taken your android, but no one's taking you."

"Don't worry, I'll handle this," Merlin assured her with a confident smile.