Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman

Chapter 435 435 — Parting on Bad Terms

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The classic good cop–bad cop tactic.

Whether it had been prearranged or not, it might work well on ordinary people.

But for Henry, it only depended on how much he felt like playing along.

Although Gitano Dragoneiti maintained his aristocratic elegance, Henry could still sense the subtle shift in his mood—from earlier enthusiasm to the current cold detachment.

If this had been a few years ago, Henry might have chosen to say some conciliatory words, hoping the other party would leave him alone before quietly disappearing somewhere far away.

After all, back then he had no attachments.

Even if they chased him, could they really follow him to the ends of the earth?

But things were different now.

So when faced with Dragoneiti's veiled threat, Henry simply replied with deliberate calm:

"I understand."

"Everyone runs into people like that sometimes."

"They can be quite troublesome, right?"

Who exactly are 'they'?

That was the first question in the old vampire's mind.

But before Dragoneiti could ask further, the reckless vampire who had already recovered stood up again.

Almost deliberately, he smeared the blood on his mouth and cheeks even more messily.

Then he declared arrogantly:

"Look at this."

"A weak human would already be on the way to the morgue after an injury like that."

"But we—whose vitality is far stronger—can survive."

"This proves we are superior lifeforms."

He glared at Henry.

"Mutant."

"Are you still unwilling to submit?"

"If you continue to resist the inevitable, the future will leave you only one fate—slavery."

"I look forward to seeing whether that unreliable, hard body of yours can keep you alive until then."

Henry seemed completely unconcerned.

Instead, he said thoughtfully:

"You know… that speech sounds familiar."

"Oh right."

"That's basically what our boss Magneto always says."

"Mutants are more evolved than humans, therefore mutants should rule the world."

He shrugged.

"Why don't you guys go talk to Magneto and decide who should be the boss?"

"Although last I heard, the old man got chased by the U.S. military all the way to some island north of Madagascar, hiding among the people on Africa's east coast."

He tilted his head.

"So how is your world domination project going?"

"You've had a complete power structure for ages."

"Surely this ambition didn't start today."

"So why couldn't you do it before?"

"What suddenly makes you think you can do it now?"

The young vampire was completely thrown off.

Even with blood all over his face, his embarrassment was obvious.

After a long pause, he finally blurted:

"…We have guns now."

Henry burst out laughing.

He tried to suppress it, but his shoulders shook uncontrollably.

"Alright, you have guns."

"As if humans don't."

Then he asked calmly:

"How many nuclear warheads do you control?"

"I mean the kind that can actually be launched."

"We don't need nuclear weapons!" the vampire snarled.

Henry looked genuinely surprised.

"You don't?"

"Did I hear that right?"

"You want to challenge nuclear-armed nations without equivalent weapons?"

He leaned forward slightly.

"Can your regeneration withstand nuclear explosions?"

Wolverine had technically survived an atomic blast once—by hiding inside a well.

Could vampires do the same?

If they could, Henry would need to significantly revise his evaluation of Marvel vampires.

But the young vampire only shouted angrily:

"We hide among humans!"

"What kind of madman would use nuclear weapons on us?!"

Henry nodded slowly.

"Oh, so that's your strategy."

"You're betting your survival on politicians having humanity."

Then he asked softly:

"Are you serious?"

The young vampire had no answer.

Who would have thought—

A vampire could be mocked for being too kind?

The humiliation was unbearable.

He pulled a remote control from his pocket and roared:

"I'll kill you!"

He slammed the button—

—or tried to.

BANG!

Another gunshot.

This time the bullet punched through his hand, blowing a hole through it.

His head remained intact.

Henry immediately noticed the precision of the shot.

The bullet had severed the tendons in the hand, causing the fingers to hang limp.

Pressing the detonator was now impossible.

The remote fell to the ground and was quickly picked up by the shooter, who handed it to Dragoneiti.

Dragoneiti examined the device.

Then he raised it slightly.

"It appears there's no disarm switch on this."

The injured vampire knelt on the floor clutching his hand, laughing through the pain.

"That collar can't be unlocked."

"Only detonated."

Henry scoffed.

"Do you even believe that yourself?"

"I wouldn't need complicated tools."

"I could walk down to South Central, find a random kid, give him a piece of wire and a five-dollar bill."

"He'd unlock it for you in seconds."

As he spoke, Henry casually pulled a hairpin from a nearby woman's head.

He fiddled with the collar around his neck.

Click.

The supposedly "unremovable" collar popped open and fell off.

Henry caught it easily.

He examined it theatrically.

"Well."

"I just saved five dollars."

"Which technician told you this thing couldn't be opened?"

"You should bite him first."

In reality, the device was so crudely made Henry almost felt embarrassed criticizing it.

The detonator wiring was exposed.

The battery was exposed.

Remove either one and the bomb wouldn't work.

As for the lock?

Barely worth mentioning.

Henry almost tossed the collar at the kneeling vampire.

But in the end he placed it politely beside the wine bottle on the table.

Maintaining his composure.

The young vampire stared in shock.

"How… how did you open it?"

Henry leaned down close to him.

"You didn't think my only strength was a special ability, did you?"

"My greatest weapon has always been intelligence."

"Not this bulletproof body."

He straightened.

"But someone who refuses to use his brain probably wouldn't understand that."

Henry turned toward the host.

"Mr. Dragoneiti."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I can't stay longer."

"Thank you for the invitation tonight."

"But I'll be leaving now."

He began walking toward the exit.

Dragoneiti did not stand.

He did not attempt to stop him.

Instead he calmly poured himself another drink.

Then he said quietly:

"If you leave like this, Mr. Brown…"

"Things may become different in the future."

The threat could not have been clearer.

But Henry had no intention of backing down.

He pointed at the stunned vampire kneeling on the floor.

"With companions like that…"

"I don't think whether we cooperate or not will change my situation much."

"What do you think?"

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