Reason with Old Magneto

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

Though he didn't want Lu Yifang to come into contact with Magneto too early, the situation left him no choice. If Magneto's plan succeeded, it would be a catastrophe of unimaginable scale.

Nearly ten million people would be killed—the largest mass murder in human history—and mutants would be locked in an endless war with ordinary humans. So stopping this at all costs was absolutely necessary.

Now that he himself couldn't use his powers, he had no real confidence that Cyclops could lead the team to stop his old friend. Adding Lu Yifang would undoubtedly make things more secure.

"Magneto doesn't want to see this happen either. He just doesn't realize he's wrong. Someone needs to tell him. So when you meet 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.

"Probably not." No one knew Magneto better than Professor X, and no one understood just how extreme and stubborn he was. Even if Professor X personally told him about the flaw in this experiment, Magneto wouldn't believe it.

That eternal middle-aged edgelord wouldn't admit he was wrong until the very last moment.

"Maybe if you beat him up a bit, then reason with him, he might grasp the seriousness of the situation."

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

Professor X pondered for a moment before saying, "Then beat him up again, and reason with him some more."

Lu Yifang: "······"

Everyone else: "······"

"The friendship between you two is truly something else," Lu Yifang finally said after a long pause, unable to find the right words to comment.

"Professor, we'll remember what you said." Cyclops nodded at Professor X, then turned his gaze to the group.

"Alright, folks, time to move out."

······

Inhale, suck in his gut, zip up. Wolverine frowned and patted his chest—this suit felt a bit tight.

Logan glanced silently at Storm and Jean, but found no discomfort on their faces. Damn it, was he the only one feeling this?

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

"If you want a yellow spandex suit, I'll consider getting you a pair of nunchucks," Cyclops teased. With Professor X awake, Cyclops's mood was noticeably better.

"Cool, this jacket and boots are pretty nice." Lu Yifang was currently examining his black leather jacket and genuine leather boots. After trying a couple of hops, he quickly covered his ears, afraid the tiny earpiece inside might fall out.

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

"Of course, keep it if you like it," Storm said with a smile. To her, Lu Yifang looked like an excited little kid with a new toy—actually kind of cute.

"Really?" Hearing that, Lu Yifang's eyes lit up.

"Then how about throwing in another set? No special reason—just in case I need a change after a mission, you know, a backup." Lu Yifang paused to think for a moment.

"Yeah, come to think of it, two sets would be even safer."

"Heh!" Storm turned away decisively, ignoring Lu Yifang. This kid—definitely not cute or endearing in the slightest.

The roar of the plane's engines sounded, and the school's runway opened up. John and Bobby, who had been waiting for Lu Yifang to return during bedtime, now watched a black aircraft rise from the school grounds.

"Taking off so openly—aren't you afraid the military will detect it?" Logan said.

Almost every country had strict airspace control. An unidentified flying object buzzing over New York without permission would likely be shot down eight times out of ten.

"If we're that lousy, getting shot down would be our own fault," Cyclops said, pressing a button in front of him.

Then John and Bobby, watching from the dormitory, saw the plane rapidly vanish—or more accurately, turn invisible.

The school and Liberty Island were both in New York, one near the suburbs and the other in the city center. So just a few minutes after takeoff, they had already arrived at their destination.

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

"Storm, give us some cover," Cyclops said without turning his head.

"On it." Storm's eyes turned white in an instant, and the weather outside began to shift dramatically. A visible white fog rose up.

As they entered the fog bank, thunder rumbled. Storm could control the weather, and creating such conditions was effortless for her. With the thunder and fog masking their approach, the plane slipped past the patrol police near Manhattan Island.

Meanwhile, on Liberty Island, an old man in a red-lined black robe with graying hair noticed the fog rising over the river.

"Alert the others. It seems our guests have arrived."

Hearing this, a large man behind him—who looked like a golden-maned lion—turned to leave but was stopped after a few steps.

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

The big man, clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed, obediently stood before Magneto at the old man's command.

Then a woman's voice came from the shadows: "Erik, I didn't sense Charles's mental probe. It seems he didn't come."

"Is that so? Looks like Mystique delivered my little gift successfully." The old man stared at the fog outside, his expression complicated.

"You killed him!"

"I know him as well 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 back into the darkness, his expression turning serious.

"Charles and I may differ in our views and methods, but I've never denied his contributions to mutants. He's an outstanding mutant fighter and my only true friend. I'm the last person in this world who wants him dead."

"I have no interest in your history with Charles. I came here to help you deal with him. Since he's not here, what should I do?" The woman in the shadows stretched lazily, her voice turning languid.

"Then go greet the children Charles has taught. Don't let them cause me trouble." The old man raised his hand and floated into the air.

"Oh, and if possible, don't kill them. These kids are Charles's pride and a decent source of mutant power. After today, Charles's convictions will be meaningless. The facts will prove me right.

So I hope that when I see him next, we can still share a cup of tea."