Xavier's Manor, back entrance.
Charles and Erik stood at the gate, watching a black sedan slowly drive away, their expressions completely different.
Charles still looked rather conflicted.
No matter what, Angel was someone he had personally recruited, someone they had spent so much time with. Yet now, he had to send him away himself.
Erik, meanwhile, looked cold and expressionless.
"Charles, you erased his relevant memories, right?"
As the black sedan gradually disappeared into the distance, Erik seemed to remember something and seriously asked Charles beside him.
"Good God, Erik! He's a kid who's been with us for months. He isn't an enemy!" Charles said helplessly.
Charles had never used his abilities on his own people, much less done something as vile as erasing memories.
"No, he just isn't one yet. You saw how he reacted to Shaw," Erik said, shaking his head.
"So what? Just because of that, he'll help Shaw deal with us? Erik, you're worrying over nothing!"
"I'm merely taking precautions."
"Erik, listen to yourself. If we can do whatever we want just because we fear things that haven't happened and never will, how are we any different from Shaw?"
"Charles, that's your problem. You always imagine things too beautifully."
"And you always imagine things too terribly!"
A faint smell of gunpowder seemed to hang in the air.
Charles and Erik looked at each other, both feeling somewhat helpless and exasperated.
In truth, they had had arguments like this more than once, and every time, neither could convince the other.
"Rorschach, what do you think?"
Erik could not be bothered wasting more words on Charles. He knew it would be pointless, so he turned to Rorschach instead.
Ever since learning what Rorschach had done at the CIA base, the two of them had changed their attitude toward him again.
Although Rorschach was still very young, they both regarded him as someone of their own generation.
They had also begun including Rorschach in certain decisions. The original duo had effectively become a trio.
As for Charles and Erik's regard for Rorschach, none of the other mutants questioned it. He had earned it.
"Charles, I think Erik is right. You're too idealistic," Rorschach said after thinking for a moment.
Erik immediately could not help smiling. He had indeed not misjudged Rorschach.
"But Erik, I think Charles is right too. You're too pessimistic," Rorschach quickly added.
Erik's shark-like smile froze instantly.
"Hahaha!"
Charles burst out laughing. "Erik, you heard him. That wasn't me saying it."
"Then, Rorschach, if you agree with neither Charles nor me, what would you do?"
Erik reined in his shark-like smile and asked Rorschach seriously.
"I'd strike a balance between the two of you. Charles, I would hold the same beautiful ideals about the world that you do, but at the same time, I would make the necessary preparations to prevent the pessimistic outcome Erik fears."
"Simply put, hope for the best and prepare for the worst!"
After giving it some thought, Rorschach honestly voiced his opinion.
Both Charles and Erik fell into thought.
Rorschach had combined their two ways of thinking, but neither of them could actually do the same.
After all, putting oneself in another's shoes was easy to say but difficult to do.
A person's character and mindset were hard to change.
"So, how exactly are you going to deal with Angel?"
Erik spoke again, determined to get to the bottom of it.
"I'll erase Angel's memories. Sorry, Charles, but this time, I'm making the same choice as Erik."
Rorschach answered without hesitation. "Many times, it isn't about what Angel might do. If someone wants to obtain intelligence from Angel, they won't need him to say a word."
Do not assume that the information Angel knew was unimportant. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Angel not only knew the true location of the future mutant academy, but he also knew the abilities of several founding members inside and out. All of that could be exploited.
Take the older Stryker, for example. He had always heard rumors about the mutant academy but had never been able to find that mysterious place. In the end, he got the information from Magneto.
He immediately led people to attack the mutant academy!
If Wolverine had not been stationed there, all the mutants in the school would probably have been captured by Stryker.
Erik's face once again showed satisfaction.
Charles, however, could not help wondering whether Erik had led Rorschach astray.
"All right, it's time to head back. We still have a lot of sweat to spill!"
Erik called out to Charles and Rorschach, then took the lead in returning to Xavier's Manor.
On the extremely spacious training field, Mystique, Raven, Beast Hank, Darwin, Banshee, and the other mutants had already assembled, waiting to receive Charles's "training."
"Okay!"
Charles clapped his hands.
He swept his gaze over the young people before him and found that their spirit and energy were completely different from before.
He felt quite satisfied.
It seemed that after the Black King incident, everyone had grown to some extent.
"Let me see what each of you can do now. Don't be shy. One at a time."
"Once I understand your situations, I'll create individual training plans for each of you. Who wants to go first?"
Charles looked over the young faces before him and asked expectantly.
Some of the young mutants were eager to try, while others looked embarrassed. But no matter what, none of them could escape.
In the end, one after another, they demonstrated their current abilities before Charles and the others.
It made Charles scratch his head.
He knew everyone's control over their abilities was terrible, but he had not expected it to be this terrible. By comparison, Rorschach's exceptional nature stood out even more.
Even now, Charles found it hard to imagine that Rorschach could control his abilities so perfectly.
Even Erik could not do that yet.
"Well, everyone's situation is really... hard to put into words."
Charles carefully considered his wording and still tried to use a relatively tactful phrase.
Just as he was about to say more, Charles suddenly sensed something. He immediately clapped his hands. "Okay, we'll stop here for today. Gather here at the same time tomorrow."
The young mutants dispersed, but Erik and Rorschach stayed behind.
Because Charles had given the two of them a look.
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