Melting Chapter 79: Phoenix Force (Patreon)

As Justin Hammer stood and applauded, the entire audience joined in with enthusiastic applause. Many shouted “Miracle Man,” giving Aaron plenty of face.

Air Force General Ronald also stood while clapping. “Mr. Aaron, as a partner, I’m glad we can cooperate more deeply. The military needs these life-saving miracle drugs. Our brave boys who risk their lives for national security need this super-healing serum to save them!”

Then he glanced at the President, seated in the front row. “I’m sure Mr. President and the various members of Congress wouldn’t want to see soldiers who could be cured lose their precious lives for lack of enough medication.”

The U.S. President’s lips twitched. He wanted to say, Actually, I do mind. These potions were obviously astronomical in price. Every year, they pour money into the military, and the military ends up buying a bag of “ordinary screws” for tens of thousands of dollars. If possible, he’d rather not dump more money into feeding these “leeching vampires.” But…

“Of course, as President, it’s my duty to look out for every courageous soldier. They deserve the best treatment, and Osborn Group’s ‘Miracle: New Life’ products are without doubt the best!” The President responded with a smile. He didn’t dare upset the military—he still had two years left in his term, and a military coup was the last thing he wanted. Let the next President deal with that headache. One must trust in the wisdom of future leaders!

Aaron raised both hands in a “calm down” gesture, and the applause abruptly died away. “Anyone interested in cooperation can negotiate with Mr. Norman afterward. Our supply is limited, first come, first served.”

Everyone in the hall immediately turned their gazes on Norman at that phrase—limited supply, first come, first served—fixating on him so intensely it gave him goosebumps. He felt he’d landed in huge trouble.

But since Aaron was even more formidable, Norman had to deal with it. At least right now, it was a seller’s market—nobody dared test their luck, especially after the incident with Ego. They no longer wanted to underestimate Aaron.

“Now, we come to today’s main event.” Aaron’s voice drew all attention. Everyone’s breathing quickened. They were all here for this “main event,” rumored to be real “New Life.” Nobody even remembered Sultan in the medical capsule anymore.

Dr. Connors took out a gold-colored vial from the briefcase. It glowed so strikingly, like the blood of a god—mysterious and noble, pleasing to the eye at a mere glance.

Many people clenched their fists, using their last shred of rationality to avoid charging forward. The media recorded every moment, broadcasting it all live. The crowd was astounded by these nobles’ intense reactions.

They weren’t sure what this golden vial was, but it clearly overshadowed the previous three serums, containing a power that made people go wild.

“I imagine a lot of you already guessed its name,” Aaron said. “Yes, this is the anti-aging serum. It can let anyone live at least to a hundred and twenty, staying young for a century—a true elixir of youth! I believe General Ronald and Mr. Stark here can vouch for its effects.”

As he mentioned it, all eyes and cameras turned on Ronald and Tony Stark. The general, in his sixties, had appeared on camera some time ago looking about ten years younger, and Tony, although younger, had already started using it.

He’d turned 40 on May 29, threw a big multi-person party in his Iron Man suit with a bunch of models—his face had definitely begun to look younger, maybe by five or six years. And that was after only one dose.

“New Life #1 Anti-Aging Serum—one shot a month keeps you youthful for decades. If you take care of yourself, 120 years is no problem. You could even reach 200. I can assure you now, you can spend money to buy time—and life itself! I imagine Death is going to hate me for this.”

Aaron’s final quip got him some knowing smiles. If a Grim Reaper truly existed, her “business” would plummet. Maybe she’d pay Aaron a visit that very night. But that was no concern to these people: their longevity, their extended lives lay in that tiny test tube, containing a shimmering golden liquid more precious than gold itself.

After a brief introduction of these items, Aaron left the stage, handing things back to Dr. Connors and Norman. They would field any further questions.

For instance: the serums were guaranteed zero side effects, and a “No.2” “New Life” line for the general public was also available. Though slightly diluted, it still offered shocking efficacy, not much weaker than version #1. It came at a lower cost, too. Of course, #1 turned a bigger profit, but for Aaron, money was irrelevant.

The moment Aaron stepped out, a swarm of people blocked him from leaving the expo hall. As they were about to speak, it was as if time had paused: everyone froze in place exactly as they were.

An older bald man was seated in a wheelchair, accompanied by a woman in a red gown with waterfall-like red hair. The crowd around them seemed to part of its own accord.

Behind them were a guy wearing shades, striking a cool pose, and an African-American woman with white hair. Seeing these four, Aaron arched an eyebrow. Charles Xavier and Co.? He’d planned to visit Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters eventually, for that mutant gene data.

“Mr. Aaron, hello. Sorry to force a meeting like this—but your event’s threshold is…extremely high,” said Charles with a self-conscious smile. As a wealthy heir, Charles had at least a billion dollars to his name, big by normal standards—yet not nearly enough for a seat in the main expo hall.

If your net worth wasn’t at least one hundred billion, or you weren’t a high official of some major country, you didn’t get a ticket to the main exhibition. You could only attend side events. Even there, Charles’s fortune was dwarfed by that of many other attendees, forcing him to wait outside.

Aaron looked around. Felicia, notably, wasn’t affected by the time-stop, but everyone else remained frozen. Time hadn’t literally halted—Charles had simply disconnected everyone’s consciousness, creating an illusion of frozen time.

“You’re Professor Charles Xavier from that academy for mutants?” Aaron asked, eyeing the group before finally settling his gaze on the red-haired woman. Scott Summers tensed at that, eyes behind his visor flaring with jealousy as Aaron seemingly zeroed in on Jean Grey.

Jean blinked uncertainly. Scott took half a step forward. Sensing Scott’s unease, Aaron said, “This young lady must be Miss Jean Grey. I can sense an immense power in you—quite dangerous.”

Jean looked mystified, while Charles’s face changed. “So you know her condition?”

Aaron shrugged. “If you know anything about me, then you know no one can hide from these eyes.”

His eyes glowed gold as he attempted to peer inside Jean Grey. Yet due to the Phoenix Force, he could only see “most” of her physiology; her mind had a barrier, with a vague Phoenix-like silhouette flickering behind it.

Suddenly, as though it sensed him, two sets of eyes met. Jean felt something unsettled in her body, a sense of something trying to grow in her head. But the sensation vanished when Aaron’s gaze moved away.

“Interesting,” Aaron mused. Jean blushed faintly, having felt momentarily “seen through.” “Hey, what’re you doing?” demanded Scott, anxious that Aaron had done something intangible. “I examined her. Got a problem?” Aaron quipped, mentally noting, “I’ve saved your life, buddy. That woman is no trifling matter, truly unstoppable for you. Let me handle her.”

Scott’s expression soured, but he found no words to retort and withdrew reluctantly. Charles turned to Aaron. “Mr. Aaron, do you have any way to help Jean with…her problem? The first time I met her, I sensed this terrifying presence within. So savage, so overwhelming. I had no choice but to build a mental barrier to contain it. Lately, I can’t hold it back—it keeps growing. Sooner or later, it’ll break free.”

Jean blinked, baffled. She had no recollection of Charles tampering with her mind at a younger age. “I certainly can solve it,” Aaron said calmly. “This is the Osborn Group—if we can’t fix her, no one can. If you trust me, let her stay with me for a while so I can settle her issues.”

The Phoenix Force was something Aaron definitely wanted to harness, and that included Jean Grey. With her potential, letting her rot away at Xavier’s was a total waste.

She was an Omega-level mutant, possibly more powerful than Charles. Yet in actual practice, she could barely handle controlling two missiles. Ridiculous.

But Charles hesitated. Jean was essentially a ticking time bomb. He could barely keep her in check himself, but leaving her with someone else might be even more dangerous. If someone tried to exploit that power, who knew what might happen?

“Mr. Aaron, may I ask—what is your view on the mutant community?” Charles said carefully. If Aaron showed any distaste, Charles would refuse, no matter the consequences. He was prepared to offend the world’s richest, most powerful man if that was the price.

“Mutants? What do I think?” Aaron asked with a quizzical look. “I don’t. I have no particular stance on them.”

Charles froze. In his experience, that was a first. “You don’t see them as dangerous? With powers far beyond normal humans, some with inhuman appearances…?” Charles worded it softly, but yes, some mutants looked freakish, like deep-sea creatures left to develop in darkness.

“Dangerous? Are they?” Aaron lifted his right hand, a small, brilliant orb of light reminiscent of the sun glowing there. “Are they more dangerous than me?” Charles fixated on the orb, sensing a horrifying energy. “Stop staring, you can think of this as Tony Stark’s chest piece,” Aaron said. Charles went pale. “Is that…nuclear fusion?”

He felt an urge to run for his life, then realized he was physically unable to. “So it’s solar power?” he muttered. Looking at Aaron, he realized how fearless the man was. Indeed, such an orb could blow up the entire Manhattan area if it exploded. Seeing Charles’ alarm, Aaron closed his hand, and the mini-sun vanished. “So, are your mutants more dangerous than me?”

Charles fell silent, and Jean was stunned by this “epiphany.”

“So is it even necessary for me to debate some trivial question?” Aaron asked. Charles could only hang his head, speechless…