Temptation

In an abandoned farm on the outskirts of New York, gunfire erupted everywhere as pursuing military soldiers fiercely battled a domineering figure in a leather jacket.

"It's Wolverine! We need heavy weapons support, heavy weapons support—"

Suddenly, three steel claws pierced through the reporting soldier's chest. After struggling in pain for a moment, he closed his eyes unwillingly.

Wolverine Logan pulled out his claws and casually wiped them clean.

After dealing with the last pursuer, he picked up Professor X, placed him in the passenger seat, started the car, and sped away.

Lighting a cigar, Logan wiped the blood from his face and took a slow puff.

"Charles, this isn't going to work. Those lunatics in the military will keep chasing us."

Charles, seated in the passenger seat, seemed not to hear Logan's complaint. The voice of that young man from several years ago kept echoing in his mind.

"Blindly compromising and using the X-Men's lives to preserve humanity's friendly attitude toward Mutants—you're too naive, Professor. How do you think peace in this world is achieved? It's fought for."

"Charles."

Logan's voice interrupted Professor X's thoughts.

"Where are we going?"

After struggling internally for a long time, Charles looked at his companion, covered in blood from saving him.

"Logan, go to Howard's house."

Wolverine stared at the bearded Charles in surprise. Was this still the elegant, confident Professor X he remembered?

"That big arms dealer? What are we going there for?"

"We don't need to enter his house. Just get nearby. I'm going to discuss how to solve our problem."

Charles pointed at his head.

Logan asked worriedly.

"If you use your powers again, can your body handle it?"

Charles gave a bitter smile, recalling how he had watched his companions get captured by the military one after another during this time, unable to do anything. They had risked their lives to save him. What should he do?

"Logan, if this still can't be resolved, leave and go far away. Don't ever come back."

At that, Wolverine said nothing more. He turned the car around and headed for New York.

Inside Howard Estate.

After sending his senior sister back to Kamar-Taj, Qin Yi lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, thinking about the military troops at the amusement park.

It was probably those reckless military idiots. They had better pray they didn't anger him again. If he hadn't been worried about affecting Hulk's eventual birth, what the military had done earlier would have been enough to get them killed several times over.

But how was he supposed to resolve the Mutants' current situation?

Just as Qin Yi was considering how to persuade Charles, a thought swept through the estate and slowly tried to enter his mind, only to be blocked by Fairy Force's mental defenses.

With a raised hand, Qin Yi caught that thought and asked suspiciously toward a certain direction.

"Charles?"

Inside another house not far from Howard Estate, Charles had hypnotized the family and impatiently extended his telepathy toward Howard Estate, until a voice entered his mind.

Before he could react, Qin Yi stepped out of a spatial vortex that suddenly appeared in front of Charles.

Logan, standing beside him, extended his claws and immediately charged forward.

"Don't attack, Logan."

Charles had barely opened his mouth to stop him when he saw Qin Yi wave his hand and draw a golden circle of light. A golden rope flew out from within the circle and eagerly shot toward Logan, wrapping him tightly in just a few moves. No matter how he struggled, he could not break free from the golden rope's restraints.

"Qin, we mean no harm. We came here to talk to you."

Charles's words surprised Qin Yi greatly. This was perfect. It saved him the trouble of looking for them.

With a wave of his hand, the golden rope flew back from Logan and hovered curiously beside Qin Yi.

Having regained his freedom, Logan stood up and stared unwillingly at the golden figure.

"I thought you'd rush over."

Qin Yi smiled, took out a pack of Wakanda cigarettes, pulled one out, and handed it to Logan.

Logan accepted the cigarette and looked in surprise at the small flame emerging from Qin Yi's fingertip.

After lighting one and taking a deep drag, Qin Yi looked back at Professor X Charles in the wheelchair. His wrinkled clothes were covered in blood, with dark circles under his eyes and a face full of stubble... Was he really in such terrible shape?

With a wave of his hand, the white light of a Healing Spell slowly entered Charles's body.

In less than a moment, Charles excitedly touched his legs. After slowly standing up, he walked back and forth excitedly for quite a while.

Qin Yi looked at the two remaining X-Men who had yet to be captured by the military.

"Have you thought it through?"

After a long silence, Charles spoke.

"Is there another way besides war?"

Qin Yi rubbed his forehead and slowly said.

"How about creating an external enemy?"

As long as they made it through these next few years, there should not be any major problems.

After the Chitauri army invaded New York, the United States government and military should no longer be able to ignore Mutants as a source of support.

However, the Space Stone's energy had already been devoured by Fairy Force. Whether Asgard's third princess could still open a portal and lead the Chitauri army here was something to think about later.

Silent, Charles leaned against the sofa and considered its feasibility.

Qin Yi then explained.

"Actually, with your abilities, stopping the government's plan should be very easy, right?"

"Besides that, I have another plan: establish an organization specifically for dealing with crises. Ideally, it should include representatives from every group.

"For example, you, Charles, representing some of the Mutants..."

Qin Yi then told Charles about his idea for the Illuminati.

Charles said after hearing it.

"This would require a great deal of funding, and we don't have many connections within the government or military."

Qin Yi smiled.

"To put it plainly, the United States government and military represent nothing more than the interests of those major capitalists. What do those capitalists lack?"

"When a human stands high enough, when power, money, and beauty can no longer satisfy the Desire in his heart, what do you think he wants most at that point? Or rather, what does he fear most?"

Ignoring Charles and Logan beside him, Qin Yi continued speaking to himself.

"They fear death. Of course, I don't mean we should slaughter them all. On the contrary, give them an opportunity—a chance to stay away from illness and death, a chance to live better. They only need to pay a small price, such as suspending the arrests of Mutants."

"When the time comes, faced with such overwhelming Desire, what choice do you think the representatives of those major capitalists in the White House will have?"

He then glanced at the impatient Logan.

"Or, more simply, you could make a trip and kill them all."

Charles, who had been thinking with his head lowered, looked up at Qin Yi.

"Aren't you afraid they'll turn against you in the future? People who live too long, especially people like them, might develop other ambitions."

"That would be even better. Give them the chance to cooperate properly, and if they don't cherish it..."

Qin Yi spread his hands and smiled without continuing.

"I think you're more dangerous than they are."

"Do you have a choice? If you hadn't always clung to your principles, I don't think the government would have captured your companions so easily. Sorry, but as far as the United States government is concerned, I'm a man without principles. No matter how fiercely you fight, what does it have to do with me?"

Charles turned to look at his companion beside him.

"Logan."

Wolverine puffed on his cigar and casually said.

"Professor, I have no objections."

Charles nodded at that.

"What do we do?"

"Stay here for a few days first. I'll make the arrangements. Wait for my notice."

With that, Qin Yi vanished before the two of them amid spatial ripples.

"Charles, is this guy a Mutant too? He's doing far better than we are."

After glancing at the Ikong phone in his hand, Logan asked Professor X.

Charles thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"I'm not sure. He has too many abilities. No Mutant has ever possessed so many abilities at once."