Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Calm Before the Ascent
Chapter 22: The Calm Before the Ascent
Spring 1983 – New York City
The fires of conflict had been raging for years, but now, Edward Lin sought to temper them. His enemies had grown emboldened in the chaos following Apocalypse's fall, yet one by one, they had begun to suffer crushing defeats. It was time to solidify his empire and silence those who still harbored ambitions against him.
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The Fall of the Hand's Ambitions
The Hand had long lurked in the shadows, whispering of revenge. After their failures in leveraging the chaos, they had made one last desperate attempt—targeting Golden Enterprise's operations in Southeast Asia. Their assassins struck at key business figures, aiming to cut into Edward's supply chains. But he was prepared.
Under the full moon in Hong Kong, the final remnants of their operatives were cornered. Edward himself oversaw the dismantling of their stronghold, transmuting the steel and glass of their safehouse into an unbreakable tomb. Those who resisted were crushed under alchemical force. The Hand's presence in Asia was shattered, their power waning to a shadow of its former self. With them gone, Edward's businesses surged with uninterrupted prosperity.
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The Hellfire Club's Retreat
The Hellfire Club had always played the long game, manipulating from the sidelines. But even they miscalculated Edward's response. When they sought to ensnare William Lin into their fold, Edward answered not with diplomacy, but with precision.
A well-placed financial strike—leveraging his resources and Stark Industries' growing influence—crippled several of their ventures. Their own internal divisions flared, forcing them to retreat. Sebastian Shaw, furious yet cautious, chose to pull back rather than engage further.
Emma Frost, ever the pragmatist, reached out with a simple message: "For now, we watch from a distance."
It was an acknowledgment of Edward's dominance in the current landscape. The Hellfire Club would not move against him, not until the game shifted again.
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S.H.I.E.L.D. Rethinks Its Approach
Alexander Pierce had underestimated Edward Lin. S.H.I.E.L.D. had initially sought to contain him, to maneuver him into a position where they could control his influence. But after multiple failed operations, including an attempted surveillance breach of Golden Enterprise that ended with their agents being exposed and neutralized, S.H.I.E.L.D. was forced to reconsider.
Nick Fury, ever the tactician, advised restraint. "We don't pick fights we can't win," he told Pierce.
For now, S.H.I.E.L.D. would stand down, choosing to observe rather than act. They weren't allies, but the open hostility had faded—for now.
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The Next Horizon: The Stars
With the battlefield of Earth stabilizing, Edward turned his gaze upward. His next ambition was not merely territorial dominance—it was beyond the sky itself. The future was in space, and Golden Enterprise would be at its forefront.
By 1985, he had heavily invested in aerospace technology, partnering with forward-thinking engineers, scientists, and visionaries. With Stark Industries still at the pinnacle of technological advancements, Edward subtly positioned himself within its expansion, leveraging his now 3.7% stake to influence its research into spaceflight.
Golden Aerospace, a new subsidiary of Golden Enterprise, emerged as a powerhouse in propulsion technology. Private space stations, resource mining beyond Earth's atmosphere, and even long-term colonization efforts—these were no longer dreams, but goals Edward actively pursued.
Evelyn Lin, overseeing the corporate expansions, raised an eyebrow as she reviewed the latest project proposals. "You're really serious about this?"
Edward smirked. "Earth has limits. I do not."
William Lin, standing nearby, looked at the projected star maps. His eyes burned with the same ambition. "Then let's see how far we can go."
With the past behind them, the future awaited. And it lay among the stars.
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To Be Continued...