The atmosphere in the cabin was a little awkward.
Wolverine, Logan, had sprawled into a seat and closed his eyes to rest, seeming unconcerned with everything around him.
Cyclops, Scott Summers, wore his iconic Ruby-Quartz Visor as he piloted the plane, his gaze occasionally wandering toward the cabin.
Phoenix, Jean Grey, seemed much gentler. She watched Harry with some curiosity.
Storm, Ororo Munroe, kept her eyes mostly on the red-and-black figure carrying Lady Deathstrike, who was unusually quiet at the moment.
"Wade? Why are you... so well-behaved today?"
Ororo (Storm) couldn't help asking, sounding curious.
It was the first time she'd ever seen Deadpool behave himself...
"Mr. Osborn said that if I behaved and helped him deal with this chick, he'd consider seeing if there was any hope for my handsome face. This is a matter of great importance to my future happiness!"
Deadpool grinned, sounding excited.
As he spoke, he gave Lady Deathstrike's backside a pat, then nodded toward Harry.
Storm's mouth twitched at his words. Well, that was Deadpool.
No wonder the guy had gone looking for Harry Osborn...
"All right, jokes are over. Let's talk business.
"So, why were the X-Men there? It couldn't have been a coincidence, right?"
Harry smiled at that, then looked at Cyclops and Phoenix and asked.
"We've been tracking William Stryker's movements for some time.
"He'd previously worked with your Osborn Group on a technical exchange, and we were worried he might use the results of your research against Mutants.
"According to... information provided by our inside source, Stryker successfully developed an X-Gene Inhibitor.
"And his next target is you, Harry Osborn.
"He plans to attack you, then pin everything on the Mutants and ignite an all-out war between ordinary people and Mutants."
Jean Grey nodded and picked up the conversation.
Harry's eyes shifted slightly. He wasn't surprised that they knew all this.
After all, the Mutants had an elite spy like Mystique...
What surprised him was old William Stryker's reason for trying to assassinate him.
His work with William Stryker had given him some insight into the Mutants.
Unlike the world of the X-Men movies, Mutants in this world hadn't been exposed to the public.
That wasn't hard to understand. In the X-Men movies, humanity had no external threats, so there was naturally no need to form an organization like S.H.I.E.L.D.
But this world had Hydra and aliens, and its leaders also had S.H.I.E.L.D. Their attitude toward Mutants was naturally more moderate.
His collaboration with Stryker had been limited to a technical exchange. The Osborn Group had provided theoretical support in biotechnology and genetic engineering.
Stryker, in turn, had provided certain biological samples—in other words, some X-Genes.
Neither side knew much about the other's specific projects or progress.
He hadn't expected Stryker to actually develop an X-Ability Inhibitor.
Given Stryker's deep-seated hatred of Mutants, once he had a weapon like that, his next move would naturally be to find a way to wipe them out completely.
But given the general climate, he still needed a reason to go after the Mutants...
And Harry Osborn was the carefully chosen "spark."
Ever since the release of his miracle cancer drug, he'd become a global sensation, a savior in the eyes of countless people—a walking publicity machine.
If he "died in a Mutant attack," Stryker could manipulate public opinion from behind the scenes, then reveal the existence of Mutants to the public and fan the flames.
There'd be a ninety percent chance of setting off fear and anger toward Mutants among ordinary people, then pushing through all kinds of harsh anti-Mutant laws.
By then, radical Mutants like Magneto would come out and meet humanity head-on.
Stryker could then unveil the X-Ability Inhibitor at just the right moment and easily wipe out organized resistance forces like the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants.
As for the scattered Mutants left behind, they'd pose no real threat and could only wait to be slaughtered.
What a way to strike at the root of the problem and make someone else do the dirty work!
Even if something went wrong and Harry Osborn somehow survived, from William Stryker's perspective, a genius scientist attacked by Mutants would most likely be driven by fear and anger into the anti-Mutant camp, becoming another blade for him to wield against them.
No matter how Stryker looked at it, he had nothing to lose.
The only variable was that Stryker could never have dreamed Harry Osborn had not only "read the script" in advance and recognized Lady Deathstrike, but also possessed X-Kryonaut—a piece of absurdly advanced technology that had let him withstand the attack.
"I understand."
"Thank you for coming to our aid."
Harry gave a slight nod and thanked Jean Grey.
Even if the X-Men hadn't shown up, he probably would have been fine.
After a while, the plane soon landed among a cluster of buildings that looked like a castle.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
The X-Men's secret base.
Harry followed Wolverine and the others off the plane. Deadpool was still dutifully carrying the unconscious Lady Deathstrike.
Inside the school, a middle-aged man sat in a wheelchair, his expression kind and his eyes seeming to see everything. He was waiting quietly.
With that conspicuous bald head, Harry recognized him at a glance: Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X.
"Welcome, Mr. Osborn."
"There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you in private."
Professor X smiled as he spoke to Harry.
The X-Men around them exchanged knowing looks and stepped away.
"Wade, keep an eye on her. Don't let her cause trouble."
Harry nodded and spoke to Deadpool.
"Don't worry, boss! Unless she wants to taste the foot skin I've been saving for years!"
Deadpool thumped his chest in assurance and carried Lady Deathstrike off to one side.
The spacious meeting room was left with only Harry and Professor X.
"Professor, you went to the trouble of bringing me here and asked to speak with me alone.
"I assume that's not just because of Stryker's threat."
Harry got straight to the point.
"Before we discuss anything else, I'm curious: what do you think of Mutants—or, to put it another way, people like us?"
Professor X took a deep breath, then asked.
"I have no prejudice against Mutants, especially people like you."
Harry answered honestly.
He wasn't flattering him. With Cerebro, Professor X could control every human on the planet in an instant.
The fact that he wielded such power without abusing it spoke volumes about his character...
"..."
Hearing that, Professor X relaxed a little. He'd worried that Stryker might have influenced the young man and left him prejudiced against them.
Because of his abilities, he could sense that the young man before him wasn't lying...
"Besides, according to my research, Mutant abilities originate in an extremely complex and highly evolved genetic code.
"At my current level of technology, I can't fully unravel all its secrets."
Harry paused when he saw Professor X's reaction, then offered an even more shocking conclusion.
"But I can say with certainty that this unusual genetic sequence wasn't the product of life evolving naturally on Earth.
"Instead... it came from deliberate intervention by a more advanced civilization."
"Deliberate intervention? You mean... we Mutants were created by some higher civilization?"
"Why? Were we made to be used as weapons?"
Professor X's voice trembled almost imperceptibly. His hands, resting on the arms of his wheelchair, tightened unconsciously.
The academic world, himself included, currently believed they were the next stage of human evolution...
But this young man was saying Mutants were the product of artificial intervention?
If anyone else had said that, he might have dismissed it. But coming from Harry Osborn, the claim was hard to doubt.
As a scholar of genetics himself, he knew just how capable the young Mr. Osborn was...
"The chances that you were made as weapons are low."
"The awakening of Mutant abilities is highly random and uncontrollable.
"The way they manifest, their types, and the upper and lower limits of their strength are all unpredictable.
"If you view them as weapons, their stability and reliability would be a disaster."
Harry shook his head, rejecting Professor X's guess, then continued.
"Rather than weapons, I'm more inclined to believe that Mutants... or, more precisely, this unusual X-Gene, are part of a massive experiment.
"Some advanced civilization planted the seeds in ancient times.
"Then they watched in silence, wanting to see what kinds of strange abilities this gene could produce in different individuals, and how far it could push the potential of life."
"Test subjects..."
Professor X murmured to himself, his expression difficult to read.
The answer still sent a chill through him, but it was undoubtedly far better than "weapons."
At least their species hadn't been created to kill and destroy...
He took a deep breath. His gaze toward Harry held a little more relief, and a little more respect.
He'd invited Harry Osborn here partly to protect him and keep him from falling victim to Stryker again;
but also to show this brilliant scientist, who wielded immense influence around the world, that Mutants were friendly, and to win a powerful ally—or at least make sure he didn't become an enemy.
At least for now, it seemed he'd achieved his goal...
He'd even gained an unexpected bonus: insight into the origins of their species...
Just as Professor X's thoughts churned, Harry spoke again.
"Professor, since we face a common enemy and have no fundamental conflict of interest,
"might there be a chance for us to work together?"
Professor X's head shot up at that, surprise filling his eyes.
Harry Osborn was actually taking the initiative to propose working with them!
"Work together?"
Professor X collected himself and asked,
"Mr. Osborn, how do you hope... we can work together?"
The corner of Harry's mouth curled into a meaningful smile.
"Simple."
"Let's start by putting an end to William Stryker once and for all..."
Before you continue