111. The Joker intends to buy New York, only to blow it to pieces.

When foreigners see the Great Wall, their reaction is often simple amazement. Considering the manpower of ancient times, to build such a lengthy wall across towering mountains and rugged ridges is utterly unfathomable and remarkable. Hence, the literal English translation—“the Great Wall.”

But what does the Great Wall truly mean to the Dragon Nation? Within the entire cultural and historical heritage of its people, what significance does it hold? This is something foreign observers seldom grasp. Of course, even if you painstakingly explain it to them, they might not want to hear it. They prefer listening only to what fits their own narratives, indifferent to the authentic essence behind it.

Otherwise, a well-crafted film about the Great Wall wouldn’t have been turned into a white savior fantasy featuring a sleeping Dragon Nation princess.

However, Harry—the Dragon Nation expert—knew a little more.

“So, our team is called the Great Wall Guard?”

Su Ye shook his head. “Our team is a group protecting the Earth—a single unit, not a military force. For now, let’s call ourselves the Great Wall Defenders!”

If the scale expands later, they might upgrade to the Great Wall Guard Army.

With the name settled, Harry, clad in his green armor, officially became a member of the Great Wall Defenders. As a senior official of the Red Shield branch, he began organizing the entire Red Shield infrastructure with an enthusiasm that even surpassed Su Ye’s.

According to Harry, the Osborn Group was inherited from their fathers and couldn’t be considered their own venture. So they left its management to professionals, focusing only on guiding its broad direction.

But the Red Shield branch was different. It was a business they founded together, something truly their own. Only by doing well could they truly demonstrate their abilities.

The result was Harry, brimming with zeal, diving into work to establish the Red Shield branch’s structure, while Su Ye found himself with more free time.

“Remember, our mission is to protect Earth—the shared home of humanity. We defend this community, not just America. That is our fundamental principle!”

After this reminder, Su Ye suddenly felt at a loss. There was still some time before university started, and unless anything unusual happened, it seemed his days would be filled only with racing Sharon at night or accompanying Hinata in martial arts practice.

After weighing his options, Su Ye settled into a fulfilling routine: racing at night, training during the day, occasionally dropping by Gwen’s place to spread some positive energy—a simple yet satisfying life.

Meanwhile, Mai Shiranui and her group partied hard in Los Angeles, skipping New York altogether, flying straight out of America. Rumor had it that Athena had invited them to tour Japan.

Mai Shiranui didn’t return, and Bulma Mary also stayed away from New York, citing plans to spend some time studying with her father in Washington.

Su Ye naturally had no objections. He could only remark that the female fighters of the King of Fighters were remarkably independent—each with their own ideas, ambitions, and lives. That was a good thing.

During Su Ye’s relatively quiet and productive routine, New York was far from peaceful.

Max’s exoneration from charges of being a superpowered criminal and the Times Square attack required some procedures. Nick Fury promised to handle those matters without involving Su Ye.

The most noteworthy event was probably the discovery of Captain America.

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agency was responsible for locating and thawing out Captain America. Su Ye’s Red Shield branch was excluded from this operation at the insistence of Alexander Pierce.

Though the Red Shield branch had been established, the pressure from Old Pierce was immense. His wariness and restrictions on the Red Shield agency had never ceased.

Su Ye understood this well but had no intention to confront Pierce. Regardless of who held that position, suppression of the Red Shield branch would persist.

When Captain America was brought back, Su Ye went to see him. To him, the once mighty figure looked no different than a plucked frozen hog.

In the past, watching movies, Su Ye had envied Captain America’s muscular physique, fantasizing about one day effortlessly possessing such a body—enough to make beauties drool.

Now that he had it himself, there was nothing left to envy.

There was no need for fair fights—if one’s power was sufficient, crushing the opponent outright was far more effective.

The thawing and recovery of Captain America progressed steadily, signaling that the Battle of New York was imminent.

It was summer of 2011, theoretically one year before the New York battle depicted in the movies set in 2012.

But after everything that had happened, Su Ye knew the movie timeline held little relevance. What was destined would come, albeit not necessarily on the original schedule.

Thus, the Red Shield branch had to accelerate its development in preparation for the coming battle.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, villains were feverishly plotting major operations. Among them was the Joker, whom Su Ye had met before.

Lately, the Joker was pleased to have Tohjo as his henchman. When negotiating with others, though still fond of adorning himself with grenades, he no longer had to resort to mutual destruction to escape failed talks.

Now, he simply locked the door, released Tohjo, and unleashed a whirlwind of chaos.

The sight of a tornado tearing through an office never failed to delight the Joker.

Tohjo enjoyed it too. After the initial few brawls at the Muse Bar, disturbances lessened, leaving him so bored he might as well have grown fur.

Now, accompanying the Joker, fights happened almost daily. Although their opponents were weak, they were stubborn.

Tohjo wasn’t afraid of weak opponents—he feared only opponents lacking stubbornness. The more stubborn they were, the more fun he had.

Moreover, among their adversaries, there were occasionally a few worthy fighters—like the elderly woman standing before him now.

Though frail and nearing the end of her days, she possessed formidable martial arts skills and was adept at Qi manipulation, expertly wielding energy strikes from a distance.

Tohjo had planned a fierce charge to teach the old lady a lesson, but seeing her distinctly Eastern features—a rarity here—he hesitated.

He had heard from Su Ye that Easterners were few in this land, often bullied and ranked beneath even African Americans and Latinos in the social hierarchy.

To change this, they had to unite and resist the oppression from those groups to secure their rights and status.

Tohjo took this to heart, so when facing an Easterner, he tried to hold back.

The old woman sensed the tremendous power within Tohjo’s youthful body and, after a few tentative exchanges, ceased fighting.

At that moment, the Joker clapped his hands and stepped forward.

“What a splendid performance! I never expected Madam Gao to be so formidable at her age. Truly breathtaking!”

Before Madam Gao could reply, the Joker continued.

“But with such power, why do you choose to live hidden away in dark caves like rats?”

“Who are you calling rats?” Madam Gao’s followers protested indignantly.

“Relax, relax. Maybe my wording was off,” the Joker waved dismissively.

“You don’t like living in the gutter—you have to live there. You’re pitiful survivors, unwanted trash!”

His henchmen immediately erupted, eager to tear the Joker apart, but Madam Gao raised a hand to quiet them.

“What exactly do you want? Speak plainly.”

“Smart, I like that,” the Joker said, tilting his head and grinning widely.

“But your intelligence is limited. Otherwise, why guard a treasure yet willingly live as sewer rats?”

Madam Gao said nothing, simply fixed the Joker with a steady gaze.

The Joker shrugged. “Alright, seems you lack patience. Let’s talk plainly about your underground treasure—one that can grant life…”

“Enough!” Madam Gao cut him off, then ordered her men, “You may leave.”

Her followers exited, but Tohjo crossed his arms and stood aside, quietly watching the show.

“How did you know?” Madam Gao asked, each word squeezed from clenched teeth.

“That’s none of your concern. I just want to propose a partnership,” the Joker said, tilting his head back to reveal his signature eerie smile.

“A partnership? You don’t outright refuse?”

Madam Gao did not. The Joker held a secret she and the other four elders of her guild shared—the Dragon Bone.

A relic buried underground that extended life, the very reason the elders had lived for centuries.

“Simple. First, I need a piece of Dragon Bone—not large, just enough to feel its power.”

Madam Gao glanced at the Joker and shook her head. “At your age, you don’t seem to need such things.”

The Joker smirked. “I certainly don’t. But someone else does.”

“Who?”

“The President!”

The Joker’s grin widened, chilling to the bone.

“I plan to buy all of New York from him with the Dragon Bone—and then blow it up.”

Madam Gao’s face filled with disbelief. “Are you insane?”