Chapter 157: A Mad Christmas Eve
Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
******
As Christmas approached, the festive atmosphere grew more intense.
But at noon on Christmas Eve, something completely unimaginable happened.
A shocking video surfaced online—and within minutes, it had gone viral across the entire internet.
The video's main subjects?
The President's wife and daughter.
They were screaming in terror, crying out for help—they had been kidnapped!
At first, people assumed it was a hoax.
But to their shock, the video had been posted from the official social media accounts of the President's wife and daughter.
As popular social media influencers, their kidnapping video spread at an unprecedented speed, reaching every corner of the world in mere moments.
Yet it wasn't just the kidnapping that left people stunned—
It was the bizarre demand made by the kidnappers.
They wanted the President to hold a live broadcast at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve.
And the content of this broadcast?
A conversation—between the President and a pig.
At the end of the video, the kidnapper issued a chilling warning:
If the President attempted to deceive him—whether through special effects or any other trick—he would notice.
And if he did?
He would execute the hostages immediately.
The moment the video appeared, the enraged President ordered it to be wiped from the internet, even banning media outlets from reporting on it.
But it was futile.
Like a virus, the video continued to spread uncontrollably.
The internet exploded with discussions.
Some unscrupulous media outlets seized the opportunity, pushing the story into the spotlight.
Now, the entire world's attention was locked onto this insane event.
---
In the White House…
The President was livid, his fury shaking the room.
"So many of you—and not a single one can find the damn kidnapper?!"
A nervous intelligence officer hesitated before replying:
"Mr. President, the kidnapper is highly skilled—a cyber expert. We've already traced the IP address used to upload the video, but it's a cluster of fake locations. Even after decrypting them and sending a team to—"
"I don't want excuses! I asked if you can find him!"
"…I'm sorry, sir. We need more time. And—"
"Damn it! Useless!"
The President slammed his fist onto the desk, his eyes burning with rage like a bull seeing red.
He knew what people were thinking.
He knew what everyone watching this absurd spectacle was feeling.
Some of them were probably enjoying the show.
The mere thought of that made him want to press the button—the one capable of wiping nations off the map.
"Mr. President, Tony Stark is on vacation, but Stark Industries' cybersecurity division is assisting in the search."
"Vacation?! VACATION?!" the President roared. "Call him! Get him back here—NOW!"
"…His phone is off, sir. We can't reach him."
The President took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and pounded the desk again.
"What about S.H.I.E.L.D.? Do they have anything?"
"They're also actively searching, sir."
Searching. Searching. Searching.
The FBI was searching.
The CIA was searching.
The Department of Homeland Security was searching.
But none of them had found a damn thing.
A bunch of incompetent fools!
The President inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay calm.
As he looked around the room full of government officials, he suddenly felt like the chair beneath him had turned into a raging volcano, burning hot enough to reduce him to ashes.
If only he could trade places with someone else.
---
Give Up?
For the past two years, he had carefully cultivated his public image—a loving husband, a devoted father.
That image had earned him tremendous support.
But if he gave in now, it would shatter everything.
He wouldn't just lose his wife and daughter—
He would lose public trust,
Lose his position,
And lose his power.
---
Or… Accept?
He might preserve his image—but he would become a global laughingstock.
And even if he somehow kept his position,
how could a man who had done such a thing
continue to govern a nation?
But at least… his wife and daughter would survive.
---
This was a true dilemma.
No matter which choice he made, he was walking off a cliff.
He felt like a lone boat in the middle of a raging sea, ready to be swallowed by the waves at any moment.
---
Who was behind this?
How had they kidnapped his family?
Where the hell were his security teams? Were they all completely useless?!
Furious, he slammed his fist on the desk once more.
What should he do?
In the office, some hesitated to speak,
some smirked in secret,
and some were genuinely anxious.
---
The Decision
Finally, the President took a deep breath.
"…Don't stop searching."
"And—prepare for the worst."
The room fell silent.
Everyone understood exactly what those words meant.
The President had made his decision.
He was prepared to do the unthinkable.
His hands trembled as he closed his eyes.
Then, with a weak wave of his hand, he muttered:
"Leave me. The moment there's news, tell me immediately."
---
After Everyone Left…
The President buried his face in his hands.
And then, for the first time in his presidency—
He broke down and wept.
He Truly Loves His Family.
…
At the McKay Residence
When McKay saw the breaking news, he was stunned.
This kidnapper is a genius!
What a move!
This world… was utterly insane.
Then, his expression turned strange.
Because, come to think of it…
This might actually be a golden opportunity for Charles.
---
Meanwhile…
In fact, both Charles Xavier and Nick Fury had the same thought.
The moment the incident broke out, Fury contacted Charles in secret, and the two met privately.
"Do you have a way?" Fury asked, his gaze filled with expectation.
"If you do, this could be a huge advantage—for you, and for establishing the Xavier School."
Charles hesitated for a moment.
"I can try."
Then, he looked directly at Fury and asked:
"Can S.H.I.E.L.D. handle this?"
Fury gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Who knows? We're looking. Let's just say… we're trying."
Charles nodded, then said:
"Come with me. If we want to find them, I'll need to use something."
Fury's lips curled into a grin.
The two left the office, and as they stepped outside, Charles turned to Hank McCoy, who was waiting for them.
"Hank, it's time to put your Cerebro to work."
After some discussion, they had officially decided to call it the Neural Wave Machine.
---
"Neural Wave Machine?"
Fury raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his one good eye.
Hank McCoy's face lit up with excitement as he nodded eagerly and rushed off.
Nearby, Jean Grey and Ororo Munroe exchanged glances—then followed after him.
Soon, the five of them arrived at the rooftop.
Charles picked up the crude-looking helmet of the Neural Wave Machine and placed it over his head.
Though his current range was only a few hundred kilometers, given the timeline of the kidnapping, the hostages shouldn't be too far.
If he couldn't find them here, then he'd have to take Cerebro to Washington.
---
"So this is…"
"Shh!"
Hank cut Fury off sharply.
"Stay quiet."
Charles gave the group a small nod before activating the device and unleashing his power.
---
His consciousness expanded.
Like waves rippling outward, his perception spread across an immense radius—
Until it finally stopped.
---
Charles closed his eyes, his mind flooded with images of the people he sensed.
The others watched anxiously, their hearts pounding in suspense.
A few moments later—
Charles opened his eyes.
He smiled.
"Found them."
(End of Chapter.)