An hour later, in the Mutant School Headmaster's office.
Professor X looked at Hawking, surprise appearing on his face.
"Hawking, didn't you go home for the holidays? Why did you suddenly come back?"
"Professor, I have something important to tell you."
Hawking said with a serious expression.
Hearing that, Professor X put away his smile as well. Given Hawking's steady nature, if he said it was important, it certainly was no small matter.
"Go ahead."
"Magneto came to see me last night. He asked me to work with him to wipe out S.H.I.E.L.D., because he discovered—"
Hawking told Professor X every detail of his conversation with Magneto the previous day. However, he did not mention a single word about sending a Shadow Clone to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. that day.
Unless absolutely necessary, he did not plan to tell anyone about the Shadow Clone technique.
As long as no one knew about this technique, he could use Shadow Clones to assume all kinds of identities and do things that his current identity made inconvenient.
For example, if he ever wanted to kill the president, Hawking, chairman of Heroes Alliance Company; Hawking, Super Hero; and Hawking, X-Man, could not do such a thing. But his Shadow Clone could freely alter its appearance and carry it out.
Even if it was exposed and killed, it would only turn into a puff of smoke. There would be no way to trace it back to him.
After hearing Hawking out, Professor X could not help sighing.
"My old friend really can't stay out of trouble. But Hawking, you don't need to worry about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s drugs and weapons."
"Professor?"
Hawking noticed that Professor X did not seem particularly surprised by the drugs and weapons S.H.I.E.L.D. had been researching.
Professor X smiled and explained.
"Actually, Nick Fury came