Reasoning with Old Magneto

"Let Yifang go too," Professor X finally said.

Although he didn't want Lu Yifang to meet Magneto so soon, they couldn't afford to be choosy now. If Magneto's plan succeeded, it would be a horrific disaster.

Nearly ten million people would be killed. It would be the greatest act of murder in human history, and Mutants and ordinary people would be locked in a fight to the death. They had to stop it at all costs.

And right now, he couldn't use his powers. He really wasn't sure whether Cyclops could lead the others in stopping his old friend. Bringing Lu Yifang along would undoubtedly make things safer.

"Magneto wouldn't want something like this to happen, either. He just doesn't know he's made a mistake. Someone needs to tell him, so when you see him, you can try reasoning with him first," Professor X said after a moment's hesitation.

"Professor, do you think he'll listen?" Lu Yifang asked Professor X.

"Probably not." No one understood Magneto better than Professor X, and he knew better than anyone how extreme and stubborn he could be. Even if Professor X himself explained the flaw in the experiment, Magneto wouldn't believe him.

That eternally immature old man would never admit he was wrong until the very last moment.

"Maybe you can beat him up, then reason with him. That might help him understand how serious this is."

"What if that doesn't work?" Lu Yifang pressed.

Professor X pondered for a while before replying, "Then beat him up again, and reason with him."

Lu Yifang: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

"Your friendship really is something else," Lu Yifang said awkwardly after a long silence, unsure what to say.

"We'll keep that in mind, Professor." Cyclops nodded to Professor X, then turned to the others.

"Then, guys, let's get going."

Sucking in his stomach, Logan tugged up his zipper and frowned as he patted his chest. The suit felt a little tight.

Logan glanced silently at Storm and Jean, but neither of them seemed uncomfortable. Damn it, was he the only one who felt this way?

"So I really have to wear this?" Logan asked hesitantly.

"If you want to wear a yellow bodysuit, I'll consider getting you a pair of nunchucks to go with it," Cyclops teased. Ever since Professor X had woken up, Cyclops had clearly been in a much better mood.

"Cool. These clothes and boots are great." Lu Yifang was inspecting his black leather jacket and boots. He bounced twice to test them, then hurriedly covered his ears, afraid the tiny earpiece would fall out.

"After the mission, I don't have to return this, right?"

"Of course not. If you like it, keep it," Storm said with a smile. To her, Lu Yifang looked like an excited little kid who'd just gotten a new toy. It was actually pretty cute.

"Really?" Lu Yifang's eyes lit up.

"Then how about giving me another set? I don't mean anything by it. Just in case my clothes are in the wash next time we go on a mission, I'd have a spare. Right?"

Lu Yifang fell silent for a moment, thinking it over.

"Hmm, now that I think about it, two sets would probably be safer."

"Heh!" Storm turned away, decisively refusing to entertain him any longer. That kid was definitely not cute or endearing.

The plane's engines roared to life, and the school's sports field opened up. John and Bobby, who had been waiting for Lu Yifang to return past curfew, watched as a black plane rose from the field.

"If we take off so openly, won't the Military detect us?" Logan asked.

Almost every country strictly controlled its airspace. An unidentified aircraft flying over New York without permission would probably be shot down on sight.

"If we're that lame, we deserve to get shot down," Cyclops said as he pressed a button in front of him.

Watching from their dorm room, John and Bobby saw the plane vanish at an incredible speed—or, more accurately, turn invisible.

The school and Liberty Island were both in New York, one near the outskirts and the other in the city center. It took the group only a few minutes to reach their destination.

"Once we get past this bridge, we'll be there." Cyclops piloted the plane low beneath the bridge.

"Storm, cover us," Cyclops said without turning around.

"On it." Storm's eyes turned white in an instant, and outside, the weather began to change dramatically. Visible white fog rose around them.

As they entered the fog, thunder began to rumble. Storm could control the weather, so creating conditions like these was easy for her. With the thunder and fog as cover, the plane slipped past the patrol officers near Manhattan Island.

On Liberty Island, an old man with white hair, dressed in a red tunic and black cloak, noticed the fog rising over the river.

"Tell the others to be alert. It looks like our guests have arrived."

At the old man's words, a huge fellow behind him, built like a golden-maned lion, turned to leave. But after only a few steps, the old man called him back.

"Sabretooth, stay here. Transferring my powers to that little girl will leave me very weak. You're in charge of protecting me."

The big man clearly wasn't very bright. Hearing the old man's words, he obediently returned to Magneto's side.

Then a woman's voice came from nearby. "Erik, I haven't sensed Charles probing with his Mental power. It looks like Charles didn't come."

"Is that so? Then Mystique must have managed to deliver my little gift." The old man stared at the fog outside, his expression complicated.

"You killed him!"

"I know him, just as he knows me. That little trinket couldn't kill Charles. At most, it'll put him to sleep for a while." The old man glanced into the darkness behind him, his expression turning stern.

"Charles and I may disagree on our beliefs and methods, but I've never denied what he's done for Mutants. He's an outstanding Mutant fighter, and my only true friend. No one in this world wants him dead more than I do."

"I'm not interested in your history with Charles. I came here to help you deal with him. Since he didn't come, what should I do?" The woman in the darkness stretched, her voice turning languid.

"Then go deal with the children Charles taught. Don't let them get in my way." The old man raised a hand and rose into the air.

"Oh, and if you can, don't kill them. These children are Charles's life's work, and they're a fine force of Mutants in their own right. After today, Charles's convictions will mean nothing. The facts will show him that I was right.

"So I hope that the next time I see him, we can still sit down and have a nice cup of tea."