Chapter 189: The “Big Boss” III

It was kind of suspicious as it had already been more than a year since Alexander Creed's rise. His readers must have practically reached the millions already yet there are still no signs of him being unmasked.

There wasn't even any semblance of people trying to find out about who he truly is. Sure, there were vocal requests here and there but not much movement has been acted on it.

Does Alexander Creed value his privacy that much and to the point that he had lulled the entire community to think that he is a mysterious figure that didn't want to be disturbed?

Was this mysterious enigma set up just for this moment to go against enemies like the Anti-Creed Alliance or is it just natural as it is? Perhaps it was up to the truth-finders to process and cope with the revelation.

No matter which angle he looked at it, Shooter could only commend Alexander for being tricky and layered as he is.

He also can't help but furrow his brows in worry as it seems that the dubious Alexander Creed identity that his source told him may not be so dubious anymore.

Marvel has already been put into the antagonistic spotlight. How could everything still be salvaged if Alexander Creed chose to reveal his jaw-dropping identity Or rather... the revelation of his unbelievable age?

Of course, with Shooter's usually stoic expression, it is quite easy to note a change in his expression. It was much more alarming when panic and worry could be reflected on his face.

"You've been awfully caught up with all this Alexander Creed stuff, Shooter." Alan was quite observant at some stuff and asked. "You look like we've already lost! Is there something you want to share with the group?"

Shooter could only turn to these groups of people. They were in a so-called alliance now, so they might be able to pull through it together.

As such, he could explain... albeit euphemistically as he still wasn't too sure about it. "I do know something from a source of mine and I just wanted to verify and correlate from this meeting."

"So?!" This so-called source could be their chance to break through, so a DC representative hurriedly asked. "What is this information?! Is it any good for our situation?!"

Seeing the man's hope, Shooter could only sigh and hope for the best now. "It's information about Alexander Creed that I'm hoping to be nowhere near the truth. It is frankly quite surreal and terrifying and 'it' being spread out would be incredibly bad for us."

"How bad could it be?" Alan dismissed what he assumed to be alarmist talk. "It's just information about a comic book creator."

"Haven't you learned the lesson by now that Alexander Creed isn't just some simple comic book creator?" Jim Shooter felt incensed at this entitled toy guy but he still had to accommodate as they are all in this together.

"Don't beat around the bush then?!" Alan urged. "Just get on with the entire context so we'll know how "terrifying" an information can be?"

Seeing that inkling of sarcasm, Shooter knew that they wouldn't believe him. Even he himself is still unbelieving of it after all.

Fortunately, he had prepared himself for this scenario and had his information source on standby.

-----

It was best that the man explain his shocking findings himself and the rest of the alliance members got to know what Shooter's source is truly about.

It turns out the Marvel Editor-in-Chief was more meticulous than the rest of them to the point that he hired a private investigator to do much digging on the Alexander figure that seems to be clouded with a lot of things.

"Well, everybody. I introduce you to private investigator Magnum." Shooter ensued. "He's the source of the information and I hope you guys can judge with me whether his intel is credible or not."

"Uh... hello everybody!" P.I. Magnum was a bit out on the spot with the bigshots, however, he was composed to just do his job. "P.I. Terry Magnum here or Magnum P.I. for those of you who are familiar with that TV show. I assure you I'm better than that mustached macho actor in that show thing."

The alliance wasn't in the mood for Magnum semantics though. "Well, Mr. Magnum, can you just tell us what's got someone like Shooter spooked?"

Magnum P.I. simply answered. "Well, I believe it has to do with the fact that I conclusively found that the mysteriously popular Creed creator is just a ten-year-old."

The Magnum guy stated it quite simply like that but it took quite some time for the message to sink in.

"What...?" A lot of people in the room had quick thought processes though, so they asked hesitantly. "Are you sure you said what you just said?"

Magnum P.I. also knew the absurdity of his findings, so he just obliged them with a rephrasing. "The Alexander Creed of Creed Comics is a true blue ten-year-old."

"Come on... stop joking!" Alan Hassenfeld was sure that this was a joke so he chuckling-ly ribbed. "Haha! I can't deny that the Ace Attorney comic is quite appealing but it can't be that you also believed that 'age doesn't limit creativity' bullshit. That Aleksei Kreid kid there is just a ten-year-old altered mirror version of that Alexander guy to arouse people's sympathy. Aren't you quite silly to assume comic forgery on face value?"

"Uhh... At first, I thought everything was unreal. Then, I was like you... hoping that it is just some stupendous joke that would pass... however..." Magnum P.I. simply sighed as he knew what these guys are in for. "I dug into that joke and unrealness some more and found that it was no joke at all. Alexander Creed being a ten-year-old kid could not be any more realer than real."

The alliance member's expressions warped with scoffs and rolling eyes though.

"Take a look at this kid's picture. I P.I.-snagged it with my paparazzi skills and taken during a time when a boy is being driven by his babysitter to the CREED." Physical evidence is helpful in these cases, so Magnum P.I. whipped things out. "Don't you find him familiar... from that Ace Attorney comic you mentioned?"

The boy in the picture does look very similar to Aleksei Kreid or remotely close to what a young Shinri would look like but the group was still unconvinced.

"So what?! Maybe the boy is just the real artist's inspiration in making the character. How is he Alexander Creed from just picture and familiarity?"

Expecting that question, Magnum whipped up certifications that he got from his channels. "The boy's name is Alexander Creed. Born on January 30, 1975. Lost his parents in an accident. Under the care of his grandfather, Sullivan Creed. For those of you who don't know, Sullivan Creed is the owner of Creed Entertainment and also the Creed Comics that you are fixated about."

"Heh!" Someone scoffed. "Alexander Creed is a common name! Maybe the Creed creator just wanted to pay homage to his boss's grandson who has the same name as him."

Of course, another justification was added in. "Like how that DC guy previously speculated. Maybe Alexander Creed doesn't exist at all and the usage and enigmatization of the name may just be to bolster the brand value of the Creed surname. It may also have to do with the fact that this Sullivan Creed is just a spoiling man that he made his grandson's name quite illustrious than what it should be."

Their "explanations" happen to have been done by Magnum P.I. as well, unfortunately... the man has debunking facts for that as well.

Ten-year-old Alexander Creed's frequent leave from school and its coinciding with most Creed Comics releases.

Ten-year-old Alexander Creed was friends with a girl named Milica Jovovich, who looked like the popular Charlie from Cybertronian Chronicles.

Ten-year-old Alexander being called as 'little boss' by the security guard and all the employees that Magnum P.I. scouted. Magnum even got the chance to record an entire drunken party of Creed employees praising the little kid incessantly.

The recording played and the drunken employees were practically saying things such as "Little boss is so awesome that he is already so successful at such a young age!" and "Shush! You idiot! We're outside... old boss has a strict no boss praising rule outside of company premises... blergh..."

There were still most likely "explanations" from the alliance side but there were more undeniable proofs on Magnum P.I.'s side.

It became a long time debate but everyone all felt surreal and speechless at the end.

The terrifying Alexander Creed became an inhuman monster for all of them.

----

Thus, the Anti-Creed Alliance found that their final 'big boss' went beyond cliches as it was an even monstrous 'little boss'!