Is she begging for mercy now?
Is this the benefit of being handsome?
Or perhaps she has a preference for silver hair?
Richard regarded Emma Frost with mild surprise.
Though she had surrendered in the film adaptation, she had at least put up resistance initially, capitulating only when Magneto had nearly shattered her diamond form.
Yet now, not only had Emma Frost refrained from assuming her diamond form, she displayed no intense emotional reaction whatsoever.
"You'll refuse nothing?" Richard inquired, his gaze traveling deliberately across her striking features and alluring physique.
Though accustomed to male attention, Emma Frost sensed something distinctly different in Richard's appraisal.
In her experience, men typically regarded her with raw desire, their thoughts focused solely on carnal gratification.
Richard, however, studied her with the calculating intensity of a predator assessing prey—as though contemplating consuming her entirely.
Despite this unsettling impression, Emma Frost responded without hesitation:
"Yes, anything!"
Upon hearing her affirmation, Richard raised his right hand and firmly grasped her shoulder.
Teleportation!
In the next instant, he transported them both to his business suite at Caesars Palace Hotel.
"Demonstrate sufficient value, and I'll spare your life," Richard stated. "For example—"
As before, Emma Frost interrupted before he could finish.
"Don't worry. I understand what's required."
With that declaration, she knelt directly before him, raised her hands, and reached for his zipper.
I'm very angry now!
Witnessing Emma Frost's actions, this classic line involuntarily flash through Richard's mind.
Though no longer inexperienced before his transmigration—having engaged with several university classmates—he had no intention of allowing Emma Frost to "relieve his anger" at present.
At least not before concluding their business!
Just as her fingers touched his zipper, Richard immediately teleported several meters backward.
"If that's all you're offering, I might as well kill you," he declared coldly. "You're undeniably beautiful, but there are many women more attractive than you in this world."
"If this represents the entirety of your value, I see no reason to preserve your life."
Richard regarded her with stern intensity.
Hearing his rejection, Emma Frost immediately countered: "Your first question concerned my age. Wasn't that because you intended to sleep with me?"
Richard offered no denial, responding directly:
"That's merely one aspect, not the entirety."
"More importantly, even if intimacy were my objective, the timing would be mine to determine, not yours."
Emma Frost frowned thoughtfully, then rose and settled onto the sofa.
"What exactly do you require of me?" she asked.
"Something quite straightforward. Simply become my subordinate," Richard explained as he seated himself on the sofa opposite her.
"Subordinate?" she echoed with a sardonic smile. "Aren't you concerned about potential betrayal?"
"What's there to fear? Should you betray me, I'll simply eliminate you."
"Though your point reminds me..."
Richard raised his right hand, channeling mana to manifest a technique he had developed.
Under Emma Frost's watchful gaze, an egg-sized sphere of mana, radiating blue-white luminescence, materialized above his palm.
"What is that?" she inquired, brow furrowed.
"Merely an energy construct," he replied casually. "More specifically, a remotely controlled energy construct that responds exclusively to my will—essentially a wireless explosive."
"The energy contained within remains perfectly stable. Unless deliberately detonated or externally disturbed, it poses no danger."
"However, any attempt to neutralize it would disrupt its internal equilibrium, triggering a detonation similar to a conventional explosive."
"While not extraordinarily powerful, it possesses more than sufficient force to reduce you to fragments."
As Richard provided this explanation, he directed the magical construct—which he had named "Contract Bomb"—to hover before Emma Frost. Before she could formulate further questions, Richard guided the "Contract Bomb" into her chest, positioning it near her heart.
Had Emma Frost removed her white attire and undergarments at that moment, she would have discovered a light blue circular mark, approximately fingertip-sized, centered on her chest—resembling a tattoo.
This azure circular emblem represented the "Contract Bomb" marker, specifically designed by Richard.
"Is this your method of ensuring my compliance?" Emma Frost asked evenly.
"No, this represents just one mechanism," Richard clarified.
"Beyond this, I'll employ telepathy to modify your subconscious, rendering you more 'cooperative.'"
"You possess telepathic abilities yourself, superior to my own."
"Consequently, altering your subconscious requires your voluntary participation."
Richard explained methodically.
With anyone else, simple telepathic influence would suffice.
Unfortunately, Emma Frost's telepathic capabilities exceeded his own.
Without her cooperation, even basic mental processes like thought-reading or memory-scanning would prove impossible, let alone subconscious manipulation.
"The world perceives you as fearless, yet you display remarkable caution," she observed, frowning slightly.
"Not content with implanting a 'remote detonator,' you intend to reconfigure my subconscious as well."
Though possessing telepathic abilities herself, detecting subconscious alterations would prove equally challenging for her.
Subconscious manipulation, memory alteration, and personality suppression all presented similar detection difficulties.
Jean Grey provided a perfect illustration.
Professor Xavier had suppressed Phoenix for decades, yet Jean, despite her formidable telepathic abilities, never discovered this intervention.
Without the subsequent incidents that enabled Dark Phoenix to break through Xavier's barriers, Jean would have remained perpetually unaware of Xavier's concealment.
Given any alternative, Emma Frost would never permit Richard to manipulate her subconscious.
Unfortunately, no alternatives existed.
In truth, she had mentally prepared herself the moment she chose to plead for mercy.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have surrendered so readily.
After several moments of silent contemplation, Emma Frost spoke with resignation:
"Proceed. I won't resist your telepathic intrusion."
"Excellent!"
Richard nodded and immediately deployed his telepathy, penetrating Emma Frost's mental defenses to access her subconscious.
Though he had never previously attempted subconscious manipulation, he swiftly completed the alterations to Emma Frost's psyche.
After implanting subconscious directives such as "avoid betrayal," "obey all commands from Master Richard Wesley," and "Sebastian Shaw is untrustworthy," he additionally erased portions of Emma Frost's memory.
Specifically, he deleted all recollection following the "Contract Bomb" integration into her body.
Though he could have eliminated her memory of the "Contract Bomb" itself, he deliberately refrained.
As long as the "Contract Bomb" remained within her, the light blue circular mark on her chest would persist.
Mission accomplished!
Having completed these modifications, Richard observed the unconscious White Queen as he terminated the telepathic connection.
Her unconsciousness proved brief, lasting merely two or three minutes before she regained awareness.
"Care for a drink?" Richard inquired as she opened her eyes, finding him savoring whiskey.
"Any wine available?" Emma Frost asked softly, glancing at the whiskey on the table.
"Certainly."
Upon speaking, Richard employed telekinesis to summon the wine bottle, glasses, and corkscrew from the suite's cabinet.
Under Emma Frost's attentive gaze, he opened the bottle and poured her a glass.
"Thank you," she murmured, accepting the wine.
"You're welcome," he replied. "Now, where is Sebastian Shaw currently located? And who else comprises the Hellfire Club's core membership besides yourself and Azazel?"
...
...
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