War Council

"Now that's something."

Hawking instinctively glanced at the cleavage in front of him and was instantly captivated.

His eleven- or twelve-year-old body had already begun puberty, and combined with the soul of an adult from his Previous Life, it was only natural for him to have some reaction to such breathtaking beauty right before his eyes.

Maybe that was one of the perks of being reborn as a child.

"Everything will be all right."

At last, Storm patted Hawking on the head and stood up.

In her eyes, what bad intentions could a child possibly have? She had not thought anything more of it.

Only then did Hawking come to his senses. He coughed awkwardly, then said:

"Piotr still hasn't been able to contact Professor X. And judging from the fact that yesterday's group was mainly after Cerebro, as well as what Logan told me about Professor X's abilities and Cerebro's function...

"I suspect they've already captured Professor X and intend to use him and Cerebro to do something."

Hawking's analysis was so unexpectedly close to the truth that everyone was stunned.

At that moment, Logan walked up to Hawking and introduced him.

"Don't underestimate Hawking. He took out more than half of the soldiers who invaded yesterday. He even destroyed ten combat helicopters.

"If he hadn't helped, it would've been a real headache for me alone.

"So I suggest we bring him along for the meeting and the operation ahead!"

Hawking had spoken with him that morning, asking for a great deal of information and making his own guesses and judgments. Most of them matched the intelligence Magneto had brought.

Combined with their fight side by side yesterday, Logan genuinely felt Hawking could come with them.

Of course, it definitely was not because Hawking had threatened to tell Professor X that the two of them had smoked and drunk together last night that Logan agreed to put in a good word for him.

"What an extraordinary talent!"

Hearing Wolverine's words, Magneto looked at Hawking with undisguised admiration. He practically wanted to recruit him into the Brotherhood of Mutants immediately and train him properly.

To possess such strength and intelligence at so young an age—he would undoubtedly become an elite among elites when he grew up.

If Magneto could win him over, he would gain another General under his command.

"But he's still a child."

The two female teachers, Storm and Phoenix, clearly did not agree with allowing Hawking, a child, to join the dangerous operation ahead, even if he possessed formidable abilities.

In their eyes, no matter how powerful a child was, he was still a child. Children should not be sent onto the battlefield.

"He's no ordinary child. He's a warrior. In my opinion, he's far more suited to the coming operation than you greenhouse flowers Charles raised!"

Magneto stepped forward as he spoke.

On one hand, he said it to improve Hawking's impression of him. What strong-willed children lacked most was a sense of recognition. As long as they felt you acknowledged them, they would unconsciously gravitate toward you.

On the other hand, he truly believed it. Aside from Wolverine, all the other X-Men were babies in his eyes. Though Charles had developed their abilities well, they were not ruthless enough.

They always held back. Even against enemies, they would rather wound than kill. They were far too naïve, just like Charles.

If Charles had been as ruthless as him and killed Magneto after capturing him, the Brotherhood of Mutants would have ceased to exist long ago.

"Greenhouse flowers? I wonder who lost the Battle of Liberty Island last time and got thrown into prison, where he's been locked up ever since."

Wolverine raised his right hand and extended the middle metal claw at Magneto, as though giving him the finger.

Magneto merely smiled at the sight.

"You still haven't learned your lesson."

Because Wolverine's entire body was fused with Adamantium, Magneto's abilities countered him completely. If Magneto wished, he could make Wolverine suffer worse than death at any time.

Mystique stepped forward, stroked Wolverine's chin, then leaned against Magneto as she mocked him.

"You won't be that lucky every time."

"Um... I think now isn't the time to dredge up old grudges. We should be figuring out how to rescue Professor X, shouldn't we?"

Seeing the tension rising, Hawking hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.

Since even Hawking, a child, had said so, neither side could really continue arguing.

"That makes sense. For Charles and the safety of all mutants, we do need to cooperate properly this time."

Magneto nodded.

Wolverine also retracted his claws.

Hawking then stepped forward, taking Storm's hand in one hand and Phoenix's in the other.

"Teachers, I know you're worried about me, but this is a special situation. For Professor X, for the school, for all mutants—and for my sister and brother—I have to join.

"And please don't worry. I grew up in Sokovia, a war-torn country. I'm very good at fighting, and I'm also very good at protecting myself. If there really is danger, I'll keep myself safe."

Looking into Hawking's determined eyes, Storm and Phoenix exchanged a glance before finally nodding helplessly.

All they could do was sigh inwardly. What a good child!

"Remember, that Old Man over there is a terrible person. Don't listen too much to what he says."

Storm crouched down beside Hawking, pointed at Magneto, and whispered in his ear.

She was afraid Hawking was still too young and might be bewitched by Magneto's crooked theories.

"Don't worry. I'm not that easily fooled by that Old Man."

Hawking smiled and blinked.

Thus, everyone headed together to the conference room Colossus had prepared in advance and began discussing their plan of action.

As soon as the meeting began, Magneto revealed all the intelligence he knew.

"That's the situation. According to the information I have, Stryker built another new Cerebro Chamber at his base. He likely seized Cerebro's main unit this time to complete it fully.

"If he truly manages to control Charles and use Cerebro to kill every mutant, then all of you, except me, will die.

"But at present, I still can't determine the exact location of Stryker's Experimental Base."

At the end, Magneto tapped the helmet on his head.

His helmet could block Professor X's psychic intrusion and mental attacks as well.

His meaning was obvious: even in the worst-case scenario, he would be fine. Therefore, the X-Men should be the more anxious ones. He was a friend who had come in good faith to help them, and they should trust him.

"However, one of you should know."

"Professor X already tried, but I still can't recover my memories."

Wolverine frowned.

According to Magneto, Stryker had captured him before and altered him at that experimental base, but he had lost those memories.

"Oh? You think everything is about you again?"

Magneto sneered at Wolverine.

"The person the old gentleman means should be him."

Hawking spoke then, pointing at Nightcrawler.

"Since Stryker controlled him to attack the president, there's a high chance he has been to the experimental base. If Professor Jean uses her telepathy to read his memories, we may be able to find clues about the base."

Only by appropriately demonstrating his intelligence could he secure some say in the operation ahead. Otherwise, everyone would still treat him like a child.