The night was peaceful, the city lights glittering far below as Su Zhan stepped out of the shower, steam curling around him. He felt truly refreshed, his mind finally clear after days spent traveling between worlds and handling one crisis after another. Outside the bathroom, Kira waited quietly, her head bowed in her usual posture of respect.
"Do you need anything else tonight, Master?" She asked, her voice soft and a little hesitant.
Su Zhan smiled, shaking his head. "You should go rest, Kira. You've done more than enough today."
She lingered for a moment, as if hoping for another command, but Su Zhan only chuckled. "What's on your mind? Are you hoping to help me bathe, or maybe warm my bed?" His tone was teasing, but not unkind. He knew Kira's loyalty was absolute—a result of her transformation and the system's influence—but he never took advantage of her devotion. She was more than a servant; she was his trusted aide, and he respected the boundaries between them.
Kira's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of red. "I… I just want to serve you well."
He waved her off gently. "Go on. When the time comes, you'll be mine, so you can't run away. But for now, I need my rest."
Kira nodded, her embarrassment clear, and slipped quietly from the room.
After the door closed, Su Zhan finished drying off and changed into comfortable clothes. He lay down on the bed, letting his thoughts drift. The events of the past days—his time with Carol Ferris, the fusion of the Aether and Green Lantern ring, the expansion of his organization—had left him both exhilarated and exhausted. Tonight, though, he allowed himself to relax, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When morning arrived, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the room. Su Zhan rose, feeling rested and ready for the day. He took a leisurely stroll around the base, greeting the staff and checking in on the latest developments. Kira had already prepared everything he needed: a detailed report, a fresh breakfast, and a stack of documents regarding the next phase of his plans.
By afternoon, Kira returned with news. "Master, the funds are ready. We have cash and gold bars totaling about eight hundred million dollars. That should be enough for the island purchase and the initial construction."
Su Zhan nodded, pleased. "Excellent. This will be the foundation for our new base. I want everything in place by the time I return."
Kira's eyes sparkled with pride at his trust. "I will handle every detail personally."
He smiled, then added, "And keep an eye out for any suitable houses in the city. When I return, I intend to settle down here for a while."
Kira bowed. "Of course, Master. I will make sure everything is perfect."
With his affairs in order, Su Zhan prepared to leave the power universe. Before departing, he gave Kira one last instruction. "If you hear anything about Li Xiaotong, let me know. There's no need to involve me directly unless it's urgent."
"Yes, Master," Kira replied, her tone efficient and respectful.
Activating the system, Su Zhan transitioned smoothly back to his spaceship. The familiar hum of the Dark Elf ship greeted him, and he found only the Dark Elf and Chen Ho Yin aboard.
"Where are Blink and Marrow?" Su Zhan asked, using their proper names.
Chen Ho Yin responded promptly, "They're at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Director Nick Fury had no objections to our plan to purchase the West Coast island. In fact, he didn't even want payment. He agreed to let us have the island, but he did have one small request—he wants Tony Stark to study the spaceship. He thought it would be better for Tony to handle it rather than S.H.I.E.L.D., given the Avengers' connections and the potential for misunderstandings."
Su Zhan grinned, recognizing Fury's cunning. "He's clever, I'll give him that. But I'm not interested in letting anyone study my ship, not even Stark. If Fury pushes, tell him we'll buy the island ourselves. There's no need to involve S.H.I.E.L.D. in our business."
Chen Ho Yin nodded. "Understood. I'll let Blink know."
At that moment, Blink was in the middle of a negotiation with Nick Fury. As soon as she received Chen Ho Yin's message, she turned to Fury and said crisply, "Sorry, Director, but my boss says we'll handle the island ourselves. No need to trouble S.H.I.E.L.D".
With that, she opened a portal and prepared to leave, catching Fury by surprise. He realized negotiations were over. Though he was frustrated, Fury knew better than to antagonize Su Zhan over something so minor. He called out, "Wait! I'll take care of the island. But tell Su Zhan he owes me a favor. If S.H.I.E.L.D. needs his help in the future, he can't refuse."
Blink nodded, "I'll pass along the message," and vanished through her portal.
Back on the ship, Blink relayed Fury's words. Su Zhan couldn't help but laugh. "That old fox. He's always thinking ahead. But that's fine—having S.H.I.E.L.D. on our side will make things easier, especially when Hydra makes its move. A good reputation is worth more than gold."
He turned to the Dark Elf. "Take us to the island."
The ship soared across the sky, descending toward the West Coast. As they approached, Su Zhan surveyed the land below. The island was larger than he expected, untouched and wild, with rolling hills, dense forests, and a pristine coastline. Its remoteness was an asset, offering privacy and security. With the spaceship at their disposal, distance from the mainland was no obstacle.
There's about eight hundred million dollars in cash and gold," Su Zhan announced, his tone matter-of-fact, as if conjuring such a fortune was just another day at the office. "This should be more than enough to start developing the island and building our new base."
Blink was the first to recover, her eyes wide with amazement. "Boss, where did you even keep all of this? It's like you have a bottomless vault."
Su Zhan grinned, not bothering to explain the mysteries of his system space. "Let's just say I have my ways."
Chen Ho Yin let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. Marrow, meanwhile, simply shrugged, already accustomed to Su Zhan's extraordinary abilities. Nothing about him surprised her anymore.
"Blink, you'll oversee the construction project," Su Zhan continued, his voice taking on a commanding edge. "I want you to coordinate with the best local contractors, but keep everything discreet. No one outside our group should know who really owns this island."
Blink nodded, already making mental notes. "Understood. I'll use my portals to bring in the right people and materials. We'll keep it off the radar."
"Chen Ho Yin, you'll handle logistics and security," Su Zhan said, turning to the fire-powered mutant. "Hire trustworthy staff, set up supply lines, and make sure no one snoops around. I want this place to be a fortress by the time I return."
Chen Ho Yin straightened, a determined glint in his eyes. "Leave it to me, Boss. I'll make sure everything runs smoothly."
Su Zhan then turned to Marrow, who raised an eyebrow in anticipation. "Marrow, you're in charge of training our security team. Use your experience to make sure they can handle anything—whether it's an intruder, a mutant, or something even stranger."
Marrow grinned, flexing her arm so that a jagged bone blade slid from her wrist. "You got it. I'll whip them into shape."
Satisfied, Su Zhan stepped back and surveyed his team. "This island is going to be our sanctuary, our stronghold. I want it to be a place where we can regroup, train, and launch our operations—no matter what threats come our way."
Blink hesitated, glancing at the pile of gold and cash. "Boss, are you sure you don't want to stay and supervise the first phase? It's a big project."
Su Zhan shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "I trust you all. Besides, there are other matters I need to attend to. But if you need me, you know how to reach me."
He paused, then turned to Chen Ho Yin. "Actually, Chen, I want you to come with me for now. There's something I need your help with before you settle into your logistics role."
Chen Ho Yin looked surprised but nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Boss. Just say the word."
Blink and Marrow exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew Su Zhan always had his reasons.
With a thought, Su Zhan activated the Aether Lantern ring. A field of dark green energy enveloped both him and Chen Ho Yin, lifting them gently off the ground. The others watched as the two men rose into the sky, trailing a ribbon of emerald light that shimmered in the afternoon sun. In a matter of seconds, they vanished from sight, leaving Blink, Marrow, and the Dark Elf to oversee the beginnings of their new home.
As they soared above the island, Su Zhan looked down at the sprawling landscape. He could already see the future: a fortress rising from the cliffs, hidden laboratories and training grounds nestled among the trees, and a harbor where their ship could dock in secret. This island would not only be a sanctuary for his allies but also a symbol of the new world he was determined to build.
Chen Ho Yin glanced at Su Zhan, curiosity in his eyes. "Where are we headed, Boss?"
Su Zhan smiled, the wind whipping through his hair. "There's someone I need to meet, and you're the best person to have at my side for this. Don't worry—you'll be back to handle logistics soon enough."
Below, the island team wasted no time. Blink began opening portals to discreetly bring in trusted workers and materials. Marrow started sizing up the first batch of recruits, her sharp eyes missing nothing as she prepared to put them through their paces. The Dark Elf, ever silent, assisted with heavy lifting, his alien strength making short work of the largest crates.