Hit the Jackpot

Sean White reached a simple agreement with William Stryker.

Stryker's illness had been cured.

Or rather, Sean had simply taken it back.

With that exchange, Sean had gained a little over 67 kilograms. This operation could be widely replicated.

William Stryker suppressed the anger in his heart and planned to discuss the matter of stripping and granting mutant abilities with Sean.

If it was really as Dr. White had said, then his previous plans could be changed. There was no need to use Professor X to eliminate mutants.

He could do it himself!

At that time...

William Stryker thought of the seat in the White House. He could sit in it himself.

And Yuriko's constitution...

William Stryker would become a legend!

With that thought, his attitude toward Sean suddenly became warm, as if none of the unpleasantness from before had ever happened.

"Sean, may I call you Sean?"

"Of course, Dr. Stryker."

"Call me William!"

"Alright, William."

Sean mocked him inwardly. Look at how shameless this guy was. He still had plenty to learn.

"What conditions are needed to strip a mutant's ability?"

William got straight to the point.

"As long as I can afford it."

Sean's answer was even more direct.

"Afford it?"

"Yes. The ledger has its own currency conversion system. It can convert anything... anything at all into its own unique currency. Whether buying or selling, the rules must be followed."

William pointed at Deathstrike, Yuriko Oyama, and asked.

"What about her ability? Can you afford it?"

Sean shook his head.

"It can't be assessed. The ledger only evaluates someone's value when a debt relationship exists."

"Then establish a debt relationship!"

Stryker said it lightly, and Sean truly felt Yuriko was not worth it.

"I lend her money, and she accepts it. Then a debt relationship is established. But generally speaking, mutant abilities are the most valuable part of a mutant. A small debt won't be enough to take that away."

"Just tell me what to do."

"I lend her ten thousand dollars, and she promises to repay me a thousandfold."

"Wouldn't ten dollars repaid a millionfold be more convenient?"

"The ledger only supports a thousandfold maximum..." Sean helplessly revealed the truth.

Stryker chuckled twice and turned to Yuriko. "Yuriko, did you hear that?"

"Yes."

"Then do as he says."

Sean clicked his tongue inwardly. William Stryker really was simple and brutal.

He was just selling Deathstrike to him like that?

Still, Sean estimated that even a debt of ten million would not be enough to buy Yuriko's self-healing ability. Ten million was only 5,000 Origin Essence, while Polaris's magnetism control cost 7,000 Origin Essence. Sean estimated the two should be similarly priced.

Besides, he was not truly trying to take Yuriko's ability. He merely wanted to run an experiment.

He wanted to know what would happen if people like Wolverine and Deathstrike, who could heal themselves, were inflicted with illnesses or injuries. Would they simply erase his ailments outright?

If that was the case, he would have to be careful not to use ordinary illnesses and injuries against those with self-healing and disease resistance.

Everything had something that countered it. Perhaps that ability was specifically capable of countering his.

Deathstrike, Yuriko Oyama, was the perfect test subject. Sean could fully test his hypothesis on her.

Yuriko was very obedient. She did whatever Stryker told her to do.

The ledger readily converted 5 Origin Essence into 10,000 dollars.

Sean successfully issued a highly profitable loan.

Sure enough, Yuriko's healing ability was extremely valuable—500 points more expensive than magnetism control.

He shook his head at Stryker.

"Her value is very high. Extreme regeneration, and she barely ages. It would take a lot of money."

"Money?"

"Yes, money. Gold works too."

William Stryker frowned and began to think after hearing Sean's words.

"What about granting an ability? How would you do that?"

"You pay to buy it. If the price is high enough, I can sell the ability to you."

"Money or gold again?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Keep increasing her debt. I want her ability!"

...Sean was speechless. How was Stryker even more black-hearted than him? Repeating this process could pile up an enormous debt on anyone. It did align with Sean's interests, since the investment was small and the profits were huge.

Even if it was only massive profit on paper, it would still belong to Sean White.

But Sean did not intend to do it.

"This method can only be used on one client once. Her qualifications also aren't sufficient to borrow more." He made up an excuse for Stryker.

Stryker gave Sean a flat look.

"Come with me."

After passing through a specially made steel door, Stryker opened a wooden crate.

At a single glance, Sean nearly drooled.

Gold!

An entire crate of gold!

Judging by the size of the crate, there had to be at least a ton!

Where had Stryker gotten so much gold?

"I'll give you half. I need a very special mutant ability!"

"Alright!"

Sean answered without hesitation.

Accepting a gift was not difficult for him at all.

Half! Even half was 15,000 ounces, a full 15,000 Origin Essence! He could buy two extreme regeneration abilities at once!

Sean eagerly took out the ledger. Before he could even open it, half the gold in the crate instantly vanished.

Stryker frowned at the sight. Fuck! That was faster than robbery.

Sean happily stared at his six-figure balance, unable to close his mouth.

When he got back, he would exchange some regenerative power for Vanessa. His wife would definitely become ridiculously powerful!

As for himself? He did not need that ability. He only had to transfer the damage to Yuriko. With ten million in debt, he could die countless times.

"I also need you to take someone's ability. I'll use the rest of the gold to buy them back."

Once Stryker saw that Sean had accepted the gold, he told him this.

"As long as it isn't stronger than Miss Yuriko's ability, this gold will be enough to buy it."

Not stronger than Yuriko's ability?

Stryker truly was not sure. In terms of destructive power, that person's ability was far stronger than Yuriko's.

But mutant abilities were not actually valued according to power. Stryker decided to try first.

He said to Yuriko, who had been following behind them all along:

"Bring the professor here."

Yuriko nodded and left.

"The professor?"

"Professor X."

Sean had had a premonition, but after Stryker confirmed it, he could not help drawing a deep breath.

Before long, the X-Men and Magneto would be paying this place a visit.

Sean wanted to run.

Not long after, Yuriko pushed Professor X over. Behind them was another wheelchair being pushed by a soldier.

Professor X, Mastermind...

Sean's eye twitched.

They were both big bosses!

William Stryker pointed at Professor X. "His ability!"

An extremely powerful psychic ability...

William Stryker really dared to dream...

After silently cursing the idiot a few times, Sean still stated that a debt required agreement from both parties.

Stryker glanced at Sean, then walked over and whispered something into Mastermind's ear.

Afterward, Professor X spoke.

"White, I need a loan of one hundred thousand dollars. I will repay you a thousandfold!"

Ruthless enough. One hundred million... a full 50,000 Origin Essence.

Stryker was starting to understand his routine.

If he had known this earlier, he probably would have given him only a little gold.

With an odd expression, Sean exchanged 20 Origin Essence for cash and handed it to the professor.

The deal was complete!

Big Boss Professor X had fallen into the trap.

Professor X Charles Xavier's psychic ability was indeed quite valuable, worth a full 9,900 Origin Essence. This was the highest-value X-ability Sean had ever seen.

Probably only an Omega-level mutant could rival it, yet an ability with Omega potential like Storm's was currently worth only 7,500.

Sean suspected that 10,000 was the threshold for Omega level.

"Can you do it?"

Stryker asked Sean.

Sean nodded. "It's enough, but you may not be able to pay for both abilities."

"You mean the remaining gold isn't enough?"

"Yes, it's a little short."

Stryker gritted his teeth slightly. In his haste, he had given the gold to Sean White. Otherwise, he could have obtained Yuriko's and Professor X's abilities right now.

"How much short?"

"2.65 million dollars, or 1,325 ounces of gold."

2.65 million? That was nothing.

Stryker had far more research funds at his disposal than that.

"Fine! You can begin!"

Stryker nodded.

"Alright, I'll need a little time."

Sean agreed. How much time it took was entirely up to him. Once the X-Men attacked, Stryker would have no time to worry about him.

As soon as Sean finished speaking, a voice came through the radio.

"Sir, someone has entered the flood tunnel."

After hearing that, Stryker told Sean to hurry up, instructed Yuriko to follow Sean's orders, then turned and left.

Oh, ho ho ho~

He knew the plot~

Mystique had transformed into Wolverine and entered~

Sean: Goodbye, and may we never meet again! Huh? Why does my debt with Stryker still remain?

It seemed he had gotten himself a female assistant~

It would be such a waste to leave the Adamantium here~