"Can't say I know him—just heard of his fame. He's my arcade idol." Cloud shrugged.
Chun-Li looked at his nonchalant demeanor. Though she didn't understand what he meant by "arcade idol," she became even more certain that the man before her was absolutely a top-tier fighter on the same level as Ryu—possibly even stronger!
But what was his purpose?
"Fine, let's say I believe you're here for tourism." Chun-Li's expression grew more serious. "Then how do you explain why you have an aura similar to those people from earlier?"
This was what she cared about most!
She could sense that while most of Cloud's aura was peaceful and vast, deep within lurked an energy that made her heart race—full of destruction and darkness!
That energy bore some resemblance to the "Psycho Power" of Shadaloo's high-ranking officers, but was more ancient, more pure!
This was the fundamental reason she had initially misunderstood Cloud!
Hearing this question, Cloud knew it was time to throw out the "good stuff" and establish a "united front."
He put away the joking expression on his face; his look became serious.
"Officer, that's a very good question." He looked at Chun-Li, speaking deliberately word by word. "Because another reason I came here is to trace an evil energy. And the source of this energy, I suspect, should be what you mentioned..."
He paused, then slowly spoke two names.
"Shadaloo, and its leader, Bison."
BOOM!
These two names struck like thunder in Chun-Li's mind!
Her body trembled violently beyond her control! Those beautiful eyes instantly filled with shock, disbelief, and bone-deep hatred!
"How... how do you know?!" Her voice had changed pitch.
"Shadaloo" was the organization she had been investigating—the murderers of her father!
Bison was the ultimate demon king she had sworn to capture with her own hands and bring to justice!
These were highly classified secrets within Interpol!
How could this man before her know so clearly?!
"I don't just know that—I know a lot more." Cloud looked at her chest heaving with emotion and decided to add fuel to the fire, delivering a satisfying round of "spoilers."
"I also know that your father was once an excellent police officer who was unfortunately killed while investigating Shadaloo's drug trafficking operations."
"I also know that Bison's power is called Psycho Power—a terrifying energy that can convert negative emotions into substantial destructive force. He's secretly building a device called the Psycho Drive, plotting to control all of humanity's minds."
"I also know that under Shadaloo's command are Four Heavenly Kings. A boxer obsessed with money, a vain noble ninja, a Muay Thai emperor pursuing the ultimate in martial arts..."
With each sentence Cloud spoke, Chun-Li's face grew a shade paler.
When Cloud finished, only boundless shock and bewilderment remained on her face.
She felt like a straight-A student who had worked hard to score 99 points, only to discover that her deskmate—who had been sleeping through class—not only got a perfect score but could also recite the answer key and solution methods from memory.
That feeling couldn't be described as mere "shock"—it was "worldview reconstruction."
"Who... who are you exactly? Are you a special envoy from Interpol headquarters? A CIA secret agent?" Chun-Li's voice now carried a hint of reverence.
"Neither." Cloud shook his head. He stood and walked to the warehouse window, his back to Chun-Li, striking a 45-degree "lonely master gazing at the stars" pose.
"You can think of me as... a Child of the Plane... no wait, a dimensional janitor." He spoke slowly in a voice full of weariness and mystery.
"My mission is to traverse different worlds and clean up BUGs like Bison who try to destroy world peace. The dark power in me is residual virus contamination I accidentally picked up while cleaning up the previous BUG... Do you understand now?"
This half-true, half-false speech dripping with "chunibyo" energy would have made Haohmaru think Cloud had drunk himself stupid.
But delivered to Chun-Li—a modern woman with higher education who had witnessed all manner of supernatural powers—though still outlandish, it somehow carried a miraculous "I don't understand but I'm impressed" persuasiveness!
After all, she truly couldn't think of any other explanation for all the mysteries surrounding this man.
Watching Chun-Li's expression of "I don't understand but I'm deeply shaken," Cloud knew his "Grand Deception Technique" had succeeded again.
"Alright, my story's done." Cloud turned around and extended his hand to Chun-Li. "So then, beautiful Interpol officer, since our goals align, would you be interested in... forming a party to raid the world-level dungeon known as Shadaloo?"
Chun-Li looked at Cloud's outstretched hand, then at his face full of confidence and mystery. She was silent for a long while.
Finally, she extended her own hand and gave his a light shake.
"I'll... trust you for now." she said. "But just the two of us isn't enough. I need to contact my allies."
"Oh? There's backup?" Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"That's right." Chun-Li nodded. She pulled out a satellite phone that looked incredibly high-tech for the era.
"His name is Guile. He's a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. His best friend was also killed by Bison. When it comes to fighting Shadaloo, he's our most reliable partner."
Half an hour later.
The warehouse's iron door was kicked open from outside with a BANG!
A burly man in a green military tank top strode in. He sported a head of golden hair that looked like it had been shaped with hairspray and a ruler—flat enough to serve as an airplane runway.
He was the American soldier, Guile.
...
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