Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

Gunshots!

The sound of cannons!

The sound of fighter jets taking off and then crashing echoed throughout the night over Washington, D.C.

Sun rise.

but--

The entire Washington, D.C. area remained eerily silent. Not only those living on Pennsylvania Avenue, but even those living on the outskirts, were staying home, barely daring to breathe. They turned on their TVs, muted them, and anxiously watched the static on their screens while browsing the latest news online.

What exactly is going on in Washington, D.C.?

As they thought about the gunfire that had echoed all night, even the act of scrolling through their phones paused for a moment.

Despite their careful efforts, they were still unable to obtain the information they wanted from television and the internet.

They really wanted to go and take a look at Pennsylvania Avenue.

Unfortunately, they didn't dare.

Because at this moment, the core area of ​​Pennsylvania Avenue has become a battlefield.

However, it was the post-war kind.

Boom!

The towering flames ripped off the roof of the white house, and with a deafening explosion, the only remaining intact annex of the white house was also engulfed in flames.

Burned and damaged buildings.

The broken and wrecked tanks, the burning warplanes, and the corpses scattered all over the ground turned this place into a forbidden zone that no one dared to enter.

A forbidden zone for humans.

It's not Hawke's.

Amidst the towering flames, Hawke, shirtless, emerged unscathed and sat down on the steps of the white house, gazing at the corpses scattered on the ground, the broken tanks, and the crashed fighter jets.

Last night was a fierce battle.

After all, for the people of Washington, the white building holds a place in their hearts almost equivalent to the Imperial Seal of the State in the hearts of the people of the East.

So last night, the people in Washington went to great lengths to try and wrest Washington back from Hawke.

pity!

This time, Hawke didn't stop after a few blows like before. Instead, he adopted the attitude of killing one by one, or two by two. With swift strokes of his blade, he cut from the sky to the ground, and from the ground to the earth. Finally, at dawn, he completely killed all the people from the Hua family, leaving them no room to make another move.

Hawke sat on the steps in front of the white house, staring blankly at the distant area where tanks formed a protective wall.

after awhile.

A man who looked to be no more than forty years old, wearing glasses, thin, and with a refined demeanor, whose expression conveyed both confusion and a sense of responsibility, put on a bulletproof vest with the help of several soldiers. He was then escorted by several soldiers to the entrance of the white house.

Hawke stared expressionlessly at the man walking towards him.

After being escorted by soldiers to the door, the man took a deep breath and looked at Hawke, who was sitting unmoved on the steps across the garden. Then, with the soldiers continuing to escort him, he crossed the garden and finally came to within ten paces of Hawke.

“Mr. Phoenix, perhaps we can talk.”

"Ah!"

Hawke scoffed at the man's words: "The last one who told me we could talk was an old man. I gave him a chance because I appreciated his courage, but he turned around and created Sentinel robots that he thought could deal with me."

Upon hearing this, the man opened his mouth.

"I don't know about this."

"Haha."

Hawke chuckled at the man's reply, then rested one hand on his knee and the other on his chin, looking at the man with interest: "This is the first time I've heard this answer. Your name."

The man took a deep breath.

“Stacy, Reed Stacy, you can call me Reed, Mr. Phoenix.”

"Stacy?"

Upon hearing the man's surname, Hawke raised an eyebrow, the playful look in his eyes fading slightly, and gave the man, Mr. Stacy, a serious look.

Reed Stacy, who was being watched by Hawke, dared not move.

after awhile.

Hawke looked away.

"Your position."

"Member of Congress."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Hawke's gaze fell on Reed Stacy again, and he chuckled, "What, you're all out of people?"

Member of Congress.

It sounds impressive, but it's really just that.

In a word.

There are many members of Congress, but those with power are the ones who also hold a post.

Reed Stacy gave a wry smile upon hearing Hawke's words.

"Sir, you attacked the Capitol Building last night."

"so?"

Hawke chuckled and said, “I attacked not only the Capitol, but also the Pentagon. And it’s not just those two places. After I’ve rested, I will attack every one of your military bases, whether on the ground or underground, at sea or underwater. You had better promise to kill me, or I will kill you.”

Reed Stacy felt a chill run down her spine, but forced herself to remain calm: "Sir, that's not what I meant. What I meant was that I was the one who was assigned last night."

Upon hearing this, Hawke's expression faltered slightly, then he seemed to realize something.

"Are you the designated survivor?"

"Yes, sir."

"……Congratulations!"

After a moment of confusion, Hawke regained his composure and congratulated Reed Stacy.

Designate a survivor!
A unique feature of the federal system is the designation of a member of Congress, any member of Congress, who, if the president or even the entire cabinet were to be killed, would be automatically promoted to the presidency.

This system ensures that the Federation won't be completely torn apart in the event of annihilation. But...

No one ever imagined that this designated survivor system would one day come into effect; at least until today, no one had ever thought of it.

Reed Stacy's wry smile deepened as she listened to Hawke's congratulations.

Hawke looked at Reed Stacy with great interest: "So, what does the new president intend to do with me?"

Reed smiled wryly: "Mr. Phoenix, believe me, I would rather not come here to see you if I could."

Hawke laughed.

"But you still came."

"Yes."

Reed nodded.

Hawke shifted his posture, no longer resting his chin on his hand, but leaning against the warm stone pillar behind him, scorched by the flames: "Aren't you afraid?"

Reed remained silent for a moment.

"afraid!"

"Then why did you come?"

"I am the new president, I had to come."

Reed said in a deep voice, looking at Hawke: "When no one else steps forward, someone has to."

Hawke's lips curled into a smile.

"So, you're planning to become a hero?"

"Do not."

Reed shook his head: "Like I just said, I definitely wouldn't have come if I weren't the designated survivor, but I am the designated survivor, so the responsibility falls on me, and I have to come."

Upon hearing this, Hawke looked about ten paces away, his expression still showing obvious tension as he spoke. Then, as if he had thought of something, he asked, "So, Reed, do you have a wife?"

Reed paused for a moment, but nodded nonetheless.

"Yes, her name is Helen. She is the gentlest and kindest woman I know in the world."

"Helen..."

Hawke's heart skipped a beat when he heard the name. His gaze swept over Reed and then fell on the woman standing on the other side of the protective wall of tanks. She looked like a virtuous wife and loving mother, but her gentle face was now filled with tension as she stared at them.

"My mother-in-law is also named Helen."

Hawke looked away and turned to Reed: "She is also one of the kindest and gentlest women I know in the world."

Say it!

Hawke rose from the stone steps, put his hands back in his pockets, and in a single step, appeared in front of Reed Stacy.

This scene not only frightened Reed, but also the soldiers who were protecting him.

Fortunately, these soldiers had strong mental fortitude and, in the blink of an eye, judged that Hawke showed no sign of firing and released the trigger that was already half pulled.

Hawke looked with interest at Reed, who was standing in front of him, terrified but trying to keep himself from screaming. A slight smile played on his lips. "If it were anyone else, they would only die. But you, I'm going to give you a chance."

Upon hearing this, Reed visibly relaxed.

Hawke smiled slightly: "Everyone involved in the Sentinel robot experiments, or even those who knew about them, I don't care who they are. I'm giving you one chance. I want to see their bodies. I'll give you twenty-four hours, how about it?"

Reed fell silent upon hearing Hawke's offer.

Hawke looked at Reed's expression and said calmly, "Twenty-four hours from now, either I'll see their corpses, or I'll turn you into corpses."

Reed froze.

The soldiers beside him stiffened involuntarily upon hearing Hawke's calm words.

after awhile.

Reed took a deep breath and looked at Hawke: "I don't want to lie to you, I need to talk to them about it."

Even a procedural president has some power.

But the president is appointed from among the survivors.

Let's say that.

There are no rights, only obligations.

Hawke smiled slightly and looked at Reed: "Mr. Stacy, this is not a discussion, but a notification. It is my extra leniency, my final leniency, because the person who came is you."

Reed met Hawke's eyes, his heart skipped a beat, he pursed his lips, and nodded.

His tone was somewhat dry.

“I understand, Mr. Phoenix.”

"very good!"

Upon hearing this, Hawke withdrew his gaze and prepared to leave.

After all, his daughter had been taken to New York City by her mother for combat training, and he needed to go and keep an eye on her to prevent her from being bullied.

But that's it.

Reed saw Hawke turn around as if to leave, realized what was happening, and called out to Hawke.

"Mr. Phoenix!"

"Is something wrong?"

Hawke turned and looked at Reed, who had called out to him.

Reed frowned slightly.

"May I ask why you gave me face?"

"hehe."

"because--"

"My wife's last name is also Stacy!"

"..." (End of this chapter)