A Bold Move

"Really poor? Just a thousand dollars..."

Max muttered to himself at Atlanta Airport, somewhat taken aback by their limited funds. While he had suspected that they might not have much money, the reality of their financial situation surprised him. Thankfully, his luck had been with him as he hitchhiked to the airport.

Having already inquired, Max knew there was a flight to Japan departing in half an hour. With nothing else to do, he picked up a free public magazine nearby and began to read it.

The magazine proved rather mundane, filled with unexciting content and predominantly advertisements. Nonetheless, Max, being unfamiliar with this world, read it with genuine interest.

After reading the magazine and killing some time, Max got up and made his way to the distant restroom.

If there was any place in the airport without surveillance, it was certainly the bathroom.

Inside the restroom, he found an empty stall, closed the door, and turned around, his hand touching the door panel.

Max entered the different space seamlessly and promptly located a flight to Japan. Airport personnel had just finished checking in passengers, and it was almost time for boarding.

Max confidently entered the aircraft, striding into the first-class cabin but not taking a seat immediately.

After a while, he noticed passengers beginning to board the plane outside. Max exited the different space and calmly took a seat, waiting patiently.

Yes!

Max hadn't planned to purchase a ticket at all. Firstly, he had no money, and secondly, how could he buy a ticket without an identity?

The passengers filed in, and the flight attendants made several rounds, yet no one questioned Max.

The plane slowly taxied and departed from Atlanta Airport.

….

Tokyo, Japan.

Upon arrival at the airport, Max visited the restroom and then discreetly slipped away.

As a familiar landmark, Tokyo appeared just as bustling as ever. Max had been there several times before crossing, and while the world had changed, Tokyo itself remained largely the same.

The only notable difference was the prevalence of advertisements for the Yashida Group, which were visible everywhere.

Exiting the airport and taking a leisurely stroll, Max eventually settled on a hotel, using his Ability to slip inside and locate an unoccupied room.

He still had no intention of spending money on accommodations, but this time, his primary goal was to avoid disclosing his whereabouts.

Yoshida Group.

Japan's largest conglomerate, founded by Yashida Ichiro after the Battle of Hiroshima. That was the official information. In truth, the reason Yashida Ichiro had survived the Hiroshima bombing was that Wolverine had saved him.

This guy was no saint either. Decades had passed, and he was on the brink of death, but he wasn't ready to accept it. He coveted Wolverine's Self-healing Ability, yearning for rejuvenation and the prospect of eternal life. Immortality!

During the Devil Island incident, Wolverine had defeated Dark Phoenix, and he had been living in seclusion ever since. That was until the dystopian future, when Sentinels began massacring Mutants and even started targeting humans carrying mutant genes. It was then that Wolverine reemerged alongside Professor X, Magneto, and Storm.

The key event that drew Max's attention was what happened in Japan!

The reason Max singled out the Yashita Group as the world's top corporation was quite straightforward. Yashita Ichiro had the ability to transfer Wolverine's Self-healing Ability, a power that piqued Max's interest. Additionally, there was the allure of the silver samurai armor, constructed from Adamantium—an irresistible prospect! These two aspects were what Max wanted to explore!

However, acquiring them wouldn't be a simple task. A Mutant named Viper, Mrs. Mutant, and a clandestine alliance of ninjas stood in the way. Securing what he desired covertly was nearly impossible. But Max had no intention of doing it secretly! After all, he was a mercenary!

A mercenary unknown to the world. To have a chance to be part of this mission and be hired, he needed to make people aware of his capabilities!

How does one demonstrate their capabilities? It's straightforward—accomplish something significant!

For example, eliminating the leader of the Black Ninja Clan, Harada, would be a compelling way to prove himself.

A bar!

The best place to gather information. After a brief respite, Max adopted the guise of a tourist and set out for a leisurely stroll.

As night descended, Max entered a bar.

A bar that had a warning sign advising against entry.

This establishment was frequented by members of the Speed ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

As soon as he swung open the door and stepped inside, the deafening shouts momentarily silenced, and nearly everyone turned their gaze toward Max.

Then came a burst of laughter.

"Look at this guy; he must've wandered into the wrong place, right? Boy, if you don't want trouble, you'd better leave!"

"This isn't a place for boys!"

Max, dressed as a tourist, did indeed seem out of place in this environment. With a slight curl of his lips, he raised his voice and inquired, "Excuse me, is anyone here from the  Black Ninja Clan?"