"It's a shame. I thought you would come in person." Professor X said with a smile.
"Please spare me, Professor. There are far too many important secrets hidden in my mind. Although I trust your character, an extra layer of insurance is still wise. After all, I'm the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., wouldn't you agree?" Nick Fury said calmly from the screen.
"I've spoken face-to-face with Ms. Carter many times. She was an admirable woman." Professor X did not answer Fury directly, instead making this seemingly irrelevant remark.
"Ms. Carter was indeed a great woman." Fury gave a vague reply, and his momentum was immediately diminished.
Peggy Carter, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders and Captain America's legitimate girlfriend. Professor X had clearly brought up Peggy Carter on purpose to suppress him, and the effect was quite significant.
It was like having someone come to your home and talk about how close they were with one of your elders. Your momentum would be weaker from the start. There was nothing you could do about it—after all, their seniority was greater.
"Before we talk, let's have the others leave first." Fury wisely chose to change the subject.
At that moment, Coulson was standing there calmly with his hands in front of him. Upon hearing this, he immediately looked toward Lu Yifang. Without Coulson having to say anything, Lu Yifang had already turned and walked out.
"Coulson, you too." Fury continued without the slightest courtesy.
"All right, boss." Coulson pursed his lips and followed Lu Yifang outside, standing beside him somewhat awkwardly.
"You know, I think we already have something in common."
"For example, we both take orders from a powerful bald man." Lu Yifang raised his head and said half-jokingly.
Coulson fell silent for a moment before saying, "That wasn't what I meant, but I have to admit, you've brought up a powerful topic we could discuss for half a day."
While Coulson chatted with Lu Yifang on and off, the two bald heavyweights inside also began their official confrontation.
"Professor X, I believe you know that I'm very wary of dealing with you and your X-Men, but I still came."
"No, you didn't. In fact, you merely had one of your subordinates bring a tablet here." Professor X spoke calmly.
"I don't want to discuss something so meaningless with you. I came for one reason only: the Liberty Island incident." Fury got straight to the point.
"Hasn't the Liberty Island incident already become a thing of the past?"
"A thing of the past? Everyone in New York City can now see that the Statue of Liberty has been dismantled until only a stump remains. It's a change people can see simply by looking up. Do you think they'll forget it so quickly?"
"Then repair it. If the government lacks the funds, I'd be happy to provide some assistance."
"Oh, what a sincere answer. But that won't be necessary anymore." Fury waved his hand. "An ice cream company stepped forward at once, offering to fund the Statue of Liberty's restoration, along with a complete renovation. Their condition was that the statue's torch be changed into their company's newest cone design.
"It's unbelievable. Are these people insane?"
"It might actually be a good idea. Young people nowadays might well like such a change." Professor X smiled. His expression did not change despite Fury's increasingly forceful words.
"You know what I mean?" Looking at Professor X's smile, Fury's expression turned serious.
"The government's authority! The Statue of Liberty is one of the symbols of the United States. The Liberty Island incident dealt a severe blow to the government's authority, and for certain reasons, the government can't even reveal the truth. That has left some people deeply uneasy..."
"I know. But you absolutely aren't one of those people, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury." Professor X also put away his smile, his expression becoming serious.
"When the government's authority is challenged, those people will trust you more and need you more. You should know that there are plenty of people who oppose S.H.I.E.L.D. and believe it interferes with democracy and freedom. Fury, you profited from this incident."
"That's right. This incident did give me more confidence when asking the World Security Council for additional resources and support." Fury admitted it readily.
"But at the same time, I have to show some results and let them know that their investment is paying off."
"What was that white light that appeared and disappeared so quickly that night? My people investigated the area covered by the light, and all the plants and animals there underwent strange changes. Their final conclusion was that the white light was highly radioactive and could very likely kill everyone in New York City."
"It was merely an accident." Professor X explained.
"This wasn't an accident. It was an unprecedented terrorist attack." Nick Fury slammed his hand on the table.
"But the terrorist attack you mentioned did not become a disaster. The X-Men prevented that disaster, and Magneto, the mastermind behind it, has already been sent to a Military prison by me."
"A Military prison? Ridiculous. According to my information, those idiots have let Magneto escape several times. Their so-called security is a joke." Fury snorted.
"You should say that to them yourself." Professor X was unmoved.
"Those bastards!" Nick Fury cursed under his breath. As the head of the spies, he had never gotten along well with the Military. Take the green monster that had appeared at Manhattan University a few days ago, for example. It was obviously something cooked up by General Ross, who was obsessed with enhanced-soldier research.
Damn it. That green-skinned freak had already been flying around the university while hugging a woman, and that old bastard was still hiding the truth and forbidding S.H.I.E.L.D. from interfering. Did he have to wait until that thing started demolishing the streets of New York before he stopped digging his own grave?
Therefore, given the Military's usual conduct, Fury did not believe he could obtain custody of Magneto.
"What about the machine Magneto used? That machine should be in your possession, right?" Fury couldn't get the main prize, but he couldn't go back empty-handed either. He was not the kind of person willing to accept a loss.
"The machine is indeed with me. It, along with the related information, will be sealed away forever." Professor X answered.
"Sealed away forever? Who can guarantee it won't fall into the hands of another criminal and be turned into a weapon of mass destruction? Who can guarantee that?" Fury demanded.
"I can." Professor X stared at Fury and spoke in an unquestionable tone.
"I, Charles Francis Xavier, guarantee that as long as that thing is in the hands of the X-Men, it will be just as safe as it would be in the hands of S.H.I.E.L.D. Do you have any other questions?"
Seeing Professor X suddenly become so forceful, Fury opened and closed his mouth before finally letting out a sigh. As expected, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. And the older the bald head, the brighter the white.
"Professor X, my subordinates all say that I'm a forceful man who never accepts a loss. But today, you truly haven't given me the slightest advantage."
"Is that so? Then I'll add one more thing." Professor X sat upright, and his gentle gaze turned sharp.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. had better stay far away from that child."
Before you continue