## Chapter 2: Playing the Robber
"It shouldn't be an illusion."
After some attempts, Xia Shang found that he could easily control the Panel with his mind.
At this moment, Queen Maeve stood beside him, striking different poses for the camera.
"Analyze." As Xia Shang gave the command, the Panel in front of him quickly projected a 3D image of Queen Maeve. At the same time, a line of small text popped up on the Panel: [Please select the Ability to Analyze]
What superpowers did Queen Maeve have? Xia Shang couldn't quite recall for a moment, so he just randomly selected Strength.
[Talent Ability: Super Strength]
[Analysis Condition: Touch Queen Maeve's skin for two hours]
[After Fusion, the Player's Gene will gradually change. When the Player's Strength reaches the Threshold, other Abilities are required to unlock the Threshold]
After reading the conditions required for Analysis, Xia Shang was completely numb. Forget touching Queen Maeve for two hours, even two minutes would be an almost impossible task.
Soon, Queen Maeve said goodbye to her fans and began filming her scenes for the day.
Today's filming seemed to be a standalone episode for Queen Maeve. The plot was simple and direct: a bus is hijacked by robbers, and Queen Maeve needs to rescue the hostages.
It was a pity Xia Shang couldn't see the specific filming footage, otherwise, he could have tried to Analyze her other Abilities.
At noon, the sun above New York became increasingly scorching. The fans who had gathered earlier gradually dispersed. Xia Shang looked down at the watch on his wrist; the time had already reached twelve o'clock.
Lunchtime.
Xia Shang followed Blitz and a few others, sitting on a patch of grass shaded by trees, and began to enjoy the fast food delivered from the Fried Chicken Restaurant nearby.
"Queen Maeve's look is absolutely stunning."
As a die-hard fan of Queen Maeve, Blitz, upon receiving his fried chicken bucket, immediately began admiring the pattern of Queen Maeve printed on it.
"Don't waste it if you're not eating."
Xia Shang took a chicken wing from his bucket and stuffed it into his mouth. For someone who had relied on glucose for a long time to sustain life, the feeling of bliss the moment real food touched his mouth was simply indescribable.
At the same time, his expression became more resolute. As the saying goes, people crave what they once lost.
Xia Shang's only belief currently was to become stronger, strong enough that nothing in the world could destroy him.
He had had enough of those paralyzed days.
"Shit, my chicken wing." Blitz wailed, trying to snatch the chicken wing from Xia Shang's arms.
But how could Xia Shang let him succeed?
After quickly finishing the fried chicken in the bucket, Xia Shang drained the iced cola in his cup in one gulp.
"Burp... comfortable." Xia Shang lay on the grass, letting out a genuine New York-accented burp.
Just then, clapping sounds came from a distance. Or, tall and burly, walked towards them. "Guys, the folks at the Theater temporarily feel there aren't enough robbers. Anyone want to volunteer to be robbers? Of course, there's an extra $120 subsidy."
Acting alongside his goddess was something Blitz dreamed of doing. He was about to raise his hand to sign up.
Hank, the old hand beside him, quickly pulled him back.
"Boss, are you sure Asia doesn't just think there are too few robbers to beat up, and can't show off the superhero's strength, which is why they're pulling us over as manpower?" Hank said with a bitter face.
"Absolutely correct. You're included in the subsidy."
"No way, Boss."
Or completely ignored the glum-faced Hank, then scanned the few people with his gaze and raised a hand to pick out three people, including Xia Shang.
"Boss, I volunteer to join." Blitz raised his arm fanatically. Or glanced at him. "You kid, put that expression away first, it's damn creepy. Forget about me wanting to beat you up, Queen Maeve might punch you and you'll be out for at least half a month."
"Being beaten by the Queen is actually one of my dreams."
As his shameless words fell, the few people around him felt a chill and quickly shuffled their butts away from Blitz.
Or was also resigned. He raised his hand and rubbed his temples, saying, "I really don't know how you joined the Security Team. Alright, you're in. When you get to the scene, remember not to let your eyes wander. If something really happens, even I can't protect you."
Immediately after, under Or's lead, the few people came to the Film Set and put on the special attire of the robbers.
It could be said that everyone was fully armed, wearing goggles over their eyes and daggers tucked at their waists. Xia Shang weighed the firearm in his hand; its heavy weight clearly indicated it was a real one.
This is way too hardcore, Xia Shang couldn't help but exclaim.
When everything was ready, the few people holding firearms walked into the bus. Upon looking inside, they saw over a dozen robbers dressed the same as them, while the actual passengers, including the driver, were only three people.
This is seriously too exaggerated.
With this firepower, wouldn't robbing an armored car be better? Coming here to rob a bus.
There were too many points to ridicule, and Xia Shang didn't know where to start complaining for a moment.
Action!
A little girl was seen snuggling in her mother's arms, showing a frightened expression, and said with a trembling voice, "When will the superhero come to save us? I'm so scared."
The actor playing the robber glared at her fiercely and laughed rampantly, "With so many brothers here, even if the Queen comes, she can't save you."
Facing this dialogue and acting, Xia Shang felt his toes curl from the sheer cringe.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, as if a heavy object had fallen from a high altitude. Xia Shang looked out through the car window and saw Queen Maeve maintaining a single knee landing posture. Accompanied by the kicked-up dust and cracked road, it had to be said, it was indeed very eye-catching.
"This is at least Super Physique."
Xia Shang tried to Analyze it, but found that the conditions for Analysis were even harsher than Super Strength. Not only did it require touching the skin for two hours, but it also required ten milliliters of her blood.
Xia Shang even wondered if an ordinary syringe could penetrate Maeve's skin.
Seeing Maeve appear, the robbers in the carriage fired their guns one after another. With the sound of gunfire and the crisp sound of bullet casings hitting the ground.
Queen Maeve didn't dodge at all, walking towards the front of the car while withstanding the firepower.
This wasn't movie special effects, but something real happening right in front of Xia Shang.
However, the next scene surprised Xia Shang even more. Maeve raised the sword in her hand and sliced through the incoming bullets.
Coach! I want to learn this!
[Talent Ability: Sword Talent]
[Allows the Player to be more proficient in using sword-type weapons, possessing extraordinary Sword Talent, and slightly increasing the Player's Reaction Speed.]
[Analysis Condition: Touch Queen Maeve]
In the comic book, Queen Maeve was indeed very skilled in swordplay, but it wasn't shown much in the film and television drama. However, being able to Analyze this Ability was excellent, after all, compared to Super Strength, the Fusion condition for this was relatively less demanding.
The popped-up Panel made Xia Shang's eyes light up instantly.
As long as he touched Maeve, even for just a moment, he could Analyze and possess this Ability.
However, wanting to cut bullets with a sword like Maeve was clearly impossible, unless he continuously Fused Maeve's Super Reaction and Super Physique. But Analyzing these two Talents was easier said than done, so he could only leave it for later.
(end of chapter)