Charles's Powers Were Neutralized

"Rorschach, we're leaving immediately to capture Shaw."

"What you need to know is that this operation no longer has CIA support. Agent Moira is still suspended, so this is a private operation."

"Whether you decide to join us or not, I felt I needed to tell you beforehand."

Charles spoke in a solemn voice as he looked at Rorschach.

There was also a faint hint of expectation in his eyes. To be fair, Charles would not force Rorschach, but if Rorschach let them down at such a critical moment, he would be deeply disappointed.

After all, both he and Erik had always held high hopes for Rorschach.

"I understand. So, when do we leave?" Rorschach asked as if it were only natural.

This was a perfect opportunity to refresh his mission. How could Rorschach refuse?

Besides, he had been eating, drinking, and staying at Charles's place for free every day. Now that they needed him, pretending nothing was happening would have been rather shameless.

Rorschach then saw faint, barely noticeable delight appear on both Charles and Erik's faces.

"Bring the others too!"

Erik added from the side.

"Erik, they aren't ready yet." Charles hesitated.

Granted, everyone's training had been highly effective during this period, and their abilities had improved greatly compared to before.

But in Charles's eyes, they had not yet reached the standard of being ready to go out on their own.

Even Erik could only blindly use his anger to force out his inner potential. Under normal circumstances, he could merely block bullets, nothing more!

There was no need even to mention the others.

"Charles, when Shaw attacked the CIA, he didn't consider whether they were ready. Reality is this cruel. Can you guarantee that they'll be prepared whenever they face hardship and setbacks in the future?"

"As far as I'm concerned, they're ready enough!"

Erik said firmly.

"Charles, Erik is right."

Moira agreed with Erik on this point. "You can't protect them for the rest of their lives. Besides, we need them too."

Charles fell silent.

After a moment, he nodded. "Fine!"

Charles then gathered all the mutants together and told them that they had found Shaw.

"I believe you all know very well who Shaw is. If any of you want to stay behind for this operation, I completely understand. You have every right to do so."

Charles spoke seriously to everyone one last time.

The atmosphere visibly became somewhat oppressive. Shaw's attack on the CIA last time had left far too deep a psychological shadow over them.

"Go? Of course we're going. I've waited for this day for a long time!"

Havok Alex was the first to speak, answering loudly.

"Count me in! I'm no longer some weakling who needs protecting." Mystique Raven was the second to speak.

People tended to follow the crowd. With Havok and Mystique taking the lead, although the other mutants were nervous and had doubts and worries, in the end, not a single one held back. They all joined.

Charles and Erik could not help exchanging a glance. Each saw a trace of relief in the other's eyes.

All their painstaking training over this period had not been in vain.

"Okay! Go back and get ready. We'll gather on the field in twenty minutes!"

Erik clapped his hands and addressed everyone.

The mutants all left with varying expressions.

Only then did Moira glance at Charles, Erik, and Rorschach, asking uncertainly, "Do you think we can catch Shaw this time?"

"There is no can or can't. I have to catch him!" Magneto declared decisively.

Two hours later.

A plane departing from New York landed in Manhattan, and the mutants walked out along the passageway.

"Damn, Manhattan's weather is really cold!"

Banshee tugged at his sleeves to keep in a little more body heat. "By the way, Shaw was in Manhattan? I wonder if he's planning to invade Wall Street."

"You can ask him properly once we catch him," Havok replied from the side.

"Of course. We'll have to 'ask' him properly." Darwin raised his fist.

Clearly, the asking he meant was asking with his fists.

After the long journey had diluted their emotions, the mutants had mostly adjusted. They were no longer as nervous as before.

That was a good thing.

Outside the airport, Moira had already prepared a vehicle.

The group got into the car and followed Moira through turn after turn. After passing through who knew how many streets, they finally stopped on a somewhat deserted road.

Not far from where they parked stood an ordinary hotel.

"Wait for me here!"

Moira called out to the people in the car before getting out.

She walked roughly three hundred meters ahead and sat down on a public wooden bench beneath a crooked tree.

As if she had simply grown tired and found somewhere to rest.

Before long, a middle-aged man passed by Moira.

He did not stop beside her, only making a subtle gesture at her.

Moira understood. Not long after the middle-aged man disappeared from sight, she returned to the car.

"I confirmed it with my informant. Shaw is inside!"

Moira pointed at the hotel.

"Charles!"

Erik's spirits lifted, and he immediately called to Charles.

Without wasting any words, Charles placed a hand against his temple and sensed the inside of the hotel ahead.

His expression soon turned grim. "There's bad news. My ability is being blocked outside the hotel."

"Well."

Erik smiled coldly. "That's good news for me!"

What did it mean that Charles's powers had been blocked?

It meant they had come to the right place!

"How could this happen? Do they have another telepath?" Moira frowned as she questioned Charles.

That was not good news to her, because they would know nothing about the situation inside the hotel.

"Perhaps. I can't be sure either, but I'm sorry. I may not be much help in the next part of the operation."

Charles shook his head, looking somewhat dejected.

All his skills lay in controlling hearts and manipulating consciousness. Once those abilities were restricted, he was completely useless.