"Charles, Shaw had discovered us?"
Mystique Raven's voice rang out. She stared at Charles with a grave expression and asked in a low voice.
Charles shook his head. "I didn't sense any psychic scan. It's just that my ability was blocked. Honestly, it's the first time I've encountered something like this, but I think... perhaps it wasn't a telepath."
If a telepath had sensed Charles's scan, they would have immediately scanned back.
They should not have had absolutely no reaction at all.
After a brief discussion between Charles, Erik, and the others, they concluded that the other side might have used some kind of device. That seemed more plausible.
But if the other side truly possessed such a device, then it was definitely not good news.
"Enough of this. Since we're already here, we have to get an answer!"
Erik was growing impatient. He took off his coat, ready to go all out.
Charles, Moira, Rorschach, and the others exchanged glances and agreed with Erik's suggestion.
At this point, there was indeed nothing else they could do unless they entered the hotel.
If they turned back just because Charles's ability had been blocked, that would be a joke.
"Raven, stay behind!"
But before they set off, Charles called out to Mystique in a serious tone.
He and Mystique had grown up together, so naturally he would not let her recklessly put herself in danger.
Besides, Mystique's strength was indeed rather limited. In a place like a hotel, there was not much room for her to make use of it.
"Charles..."
Raven was unwilling. Charles's blatant favoritism made her seem like dead weight.
"This isn't the time to argue. We also need someone outside to keep watch and provide support!" Charles cut Raven off, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Then he turned to Hank. "Hank, stay with Raven. This is also an important job. If anything seems wrong, I need you to spot it immediately and notify us, okay?"
"I understand, Charles!"
Hank was much more rational. He understood that this was the most suitable arrangement.
If anything really happened, Raven and he would only be a burden to everyone.
And tactically speaking, they could not all go in together either. Otherwise, if the enemy wiped them all out at once, there would be no chance of turning things around.
Thus, Raven and Hank remained outside.
The remaining mutants followed Charles, Erik, Moira, and the others toward the hotel ahead.
Since Charles's ability had been blocked, everyone heightened their vigilance and moved cautiously.
Yet even after entering the hotel lobby, they found nothing unusual.
Guests passed through the lobby from time to time, and the girls at the front desk continued serving customers. On the surface, nothing seemed out of place.
"You've finally arrived!"
Then, suddenly, a voice rang out.
More precisely, it was a voice everyone found extremely familiar.
The Black King, Shaw.
There, on the second-floor corridor, a man in a suit appeared, holding a wineglass and looking utterly full of himself.
He looked down at the people in the first-floor lobby, a confident smile on his face.
Everyone in the lobby raised their heads in unison.
One gaze after another fell upon Shaw's face.
Their expressions darkened.
Because the situation was already obvious. This really was a trap Shaw had prepared for them.
Even so, they could only force themselves to walk into it.
After all, this was the only chance they had had in all this time to capture Shaw.
"It really is Shaw?"
Rorschach was somewhat surprised.
Through television news, they already knew that relations between the United States and the Soviet Union had become extremely tense and severe. They were about to hit rock bottom, and the missile crisis between the two nations could erupt at any moment.
At a time like this, shouldn't Shaw have been active between the two countries, manipulating the situation? How did he have time to appear here?
Rorschach kept feeling that something was off.
Yet the man before them was indeed Shaw. There was no mistake about that.
"Shaw!"
Erik gritted his teeth.
He looked up, his eyes fixed fiercely on the Black King as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Stirred by his rage, the chandeliers on the lobby ceiling began to sway, while metal objects throughout the lobby trembled along with them.
The ordinary people in the lobby were all left utterly bewildered.
"Erik, not now! Not now! There are civilians here!"
Charles shouted at Erik.
Erik gave a cold smile and suddenly raised a hand toward the chandeliers on the ceiling. The metal frames inside them twisted violently.
Clang!
Clang!
All the chandeliers shattered at once.
"Ah!"
Cries of alarm immediately rang out. Everyone fled in panic.
In only a few moments, the once-lively lobby became completely empty.
Erik waved his hand again.
Bang!
Bang!
The hotel's doors slammed shut as well, preventing anyone else from entering.
The problem was perfectly solved.
Charles could not help frowning. Erik's volatile, easily angered nature and tendency to go to extremes were on full display at that moment.
They could have used a gentler method to evacuate the crowd. In fact, he had already been planning to do so.
New mission generated: Mission: Thwart Black King Sebastian Shaw's ambush plot Mission Reward: 700 Origin Points
While confronting the Black King, several notification chimes rang out in Rorschach's mind.
Finally, another mission had arrived!
Rorschach's eyes immediately lit up. This mission offered a full seven hundred Origin Points, more than all the previous missions combined.
Rorschach was very satisfied.
This trip to Manhattan had truly not been in vain.
"Well, what a temper."
Shaw's voice rang out. He still appeared unhurried, wearing a lofty smile. "My fellow countrymen, I know why you have come, but I am still willing to give you an opportunity."
"Will you follow me and create a new era for mutants, reclaiming the status that we mutants deserve, or will you stand against me?"
"This is the last chance I will give you. You had better consider it carefully."
"When it comes to enemies, I show no mercy whatsoever."
Before you continue