Lu Yifang Gets Locked Up (2)

"Coulson, tell me your reasoning." Fury sat back down in his chair and spoke calmly.

"Sir, you already know that it's only been about half a month since Lu Yifang awakened as a mutant. That's also how long Professor X has been in contact with him. Before that, Lu Yifang had always been an ordinary person."

"Mindset. You mean that although Lu Yifang has become a mutant, there isn't yet a huge divide between his mindset and that of an ordinary person." Fury easily understood what Coulson was getting at. Unless his powers had affected his personality, half a month of being a mutant was unlikely to bring about any drastic change in someone's character.

"Lu Yifang lived in the Orphanage as an orphan for seven years and was never adopted by any family during that time. In that environment, combined with the fact that he is an Asian of Chinese descent..." Fury did not continue. Naturally, he was not a racist—after all, he was Black himself and had experienced racial discrimination firsthand.

In mutant threat assessments, a sense of racial superiority was an extremely bad psychological evaluation result. Most mutants of that type were highly dangerous. More data showed that mutants with such racial superiority had generally been victims of discrimination before awakening their powers. Society had abandoned them, so after gaining power, they abandoned society in turn.

In the United States, it was no longer news when a group of smug, extreme white supremacists oppressed a mutant with an even stronger sense of racial superiority, only to be treated like ants and toyed to death by that mutant.

The simplest example was Magneto, who believed mutants were superior. He too had been a victim of racial discrimination in his youth.

So how could Fury not be concerned after learning about Lu Yifang's life?

"Sir, as far as I know, while I can't guarantee Lu Yifang has never suffered discrimination, at least his overall impression of the Orphanage should be very positive. From what I understand, the reason he left Mutant Academy was to prevent the Orphanage from being destroyed by Abomination." As Coulson spoke, he pulled out another photograph. It showed a woman in her fifties.

"Her name is Emma Jones, the director of the Orphanage. We investigated and questioned her. She is a very kind old lady, and Lu Yifang seems to respect her greatly. As for the injured girl named Katie, she is also just an ordinary girl. So I don't believe Lu Yifang is the kind of mutant who harbors dangerous ideas."

Fury stared at the photograph for a while before finally letting out a sigh of relief. "Then we really should thank this great lady. She prevented the birth of another Magneto."

Coulson did not respond. He simply stood quietly where he was, waiting for Fury to make a decision.

"A mutant with powerful abilities, yet not particularly dangerous." Fury muttered those words under his breath. Without a doubt, his interest had been piqued.

Fury could feel that the world had grown increasingly chaotic in recent years, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was finding it harder and harder to handle. Take the Abomination and Green Giant battle in New York caused by the Military this time—Fury knew that, just like the Military, all he could do was stand on the sidelines and watch.

Thus, forming an action team with formidable individual strength had long been an idea in Fury's mind. Lu Yifang's appearance only made him more certain of it.

Although Professor X had found Lu Yifang first, it was obvious that in less than half a month, Lu Yifang could not possibly have developed a strong sense of belonging toward Mutant Academy. So if Fury put in some effort, it was not impossible to lure Lu Yifang into S.H.I.E.L.D.

Professor X had said not to approach Lu Yifang, but if Lu Yifang truly wanted to stay with S.H.I.E.L.D., Professor X could hardly force him away.

However, just as Fury was considering this, a communication request suddenly came through. It was from his capable assistant, Agent Hill.

"Sir, Professor X is here. He wants to see you."

"So soon?" Fury nodded knowingly. Clearly, Professor X valued Lu Yifang even more than Fury had imagined.

"Bring Professor X to the reception room. I'll be right there."

"There's no need for such trouble, because I'm already here." Professor X's voice rang out. Cyclops and Storm were pushing Professor X's wheelchair in through the doorway.

"How did you get in here?" Fury was momentarily stunned when he saw Professor X had silently entered his office.

This was S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. As the world's greatest spymaster, having someone swagger into his office without his approval was practically a hard slap across his face.

When Fury saw Hill leading Professor X, his gaze immediately turned cold and his tone became displeased.

"Hill, wake up!" Fury barked.

As Fury's voice fell, the emptiness in Hill's eyes finally vanished and the light returned to them. After looking around in confusion, she immediately drew her gun, spun around, and aimed it at Professor X.

"Sir, I..."

"No need to explain. I understand." Fury turned his gaze toward the bald old man in the wheelchair.

"Professor X, this doesn't seem like your style." Fury said coldly.

"I don't like doing this either, but sometimes it is very effective." Professor X clasped his fingers together before him and replied with a smile.

Yet faced with Professor X's smile, Fury's expression grew even colder. "Professor X, I must remind you that breaking into the office of the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. without permission is already sufficient reason for me to raise your threat level directly from V2 to V4."

"Is that so? Don't forget that I warned you not to approach that child." Professor X's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

"Detaining my student without authorization gives me every right to regard it as a provocation by S.H.I.E.L.D. against the X-Men."

"I have not detained Lu Yifang. He came to S.H.I.E.L.D. voluntarily, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attitude toward him has been both friendly and respectful." Fury refused to yield.

"If that is the case, then why can't I contact Yifang through the Cerebro Amplifier? The area where that child is being held has clearly been shielded."

"I wouldn't know about that." Fury glanced aside, pretending not to care.

In truth, however, he felt both pleased and worried. He was pleased because that kid Tony Stark really did have some skill—he had actually made a device capable of blocking the Cerebro Amplifier's scans. He was worried because S.H.I.E.L.D. had already installed such devices as well, yet it now seemed that they had no effect whatsoever on Professor X himself.

And if anyone asked why such a device had been installed in Lu Yifang's area, did they even need to ask? Who was Nick Fury? He was famously stingy—nothing left his hands once it had entered them.

Once you stepped through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s doors, you belonged to Nick Fury.

However, just as Fury was thinking this, an urgent communication from Melinda suddenly came through.

"Director, a mutant has infiltrated the facility and is attempting to approach Lu Yifang."

"A mutant?" Fury instinctively looked toward Professor X.

"Don't look at me. I have my own principles and bottom line." Professor X shook his head, but his eyes flickered.

"But there is someone who has far fewer scruples!"