Chen Xi was not at all surprised by the news. Money could make the devil turn millstones; that had never changed throughout the ages. Wealth could reach the gods!
Jean Grey and Charles Xavier were sitting beside him. They had invited Chen Xi over this time to ask him to use his celebrity status to speak up for Mutants. It was also an idea Charles had considered deeply.
As for the situation and treatment of Mutants, the recent string of incidents had made things increasingly unfavorable for them.
The Mutant Registration Act was about to pass through Congress. Once that happened, changing things would become far too difficult.
Chen Xi got straight to the point. "Mr. Charles, don't you think you're being too conservative? Because of your conservative mindset, countless Mutants are still suffering out there."
"According to my calculations—[bullshit calculations]—Mutants will ultimately head toward extinction in twenty years."
The moment he said that, Charles stared at Chen Xi in disbelief, his entire body going rigid.
He could not believe what Chen Xi had said. More than that, he did not dare believe it!
Even hearing those words again, Jean Grey was instantly overwhelmed by tension and fear, as though the destruction of their entire race had begun counting down...
"Why do you say that?"
Charles stared grimly at Chen Xi. He could not believe that the efforts he had painstakingly made over the past half-century, walking on thin ice every step of the way, would come to nothing like this.
Such a devastating blow was impossible for him to accept at once. No one could accept the destruction of the cause they had fought for their entire life.
"Blind compromise only makes others more brazen, making them think Mutants are easy to bully."
"The cooperation between you X-Men and those in power is nothing more than them using you as pawns. Have you ultimately achieved any change?"
"Heh, I don't think I need to say more, do I? Even after you resolved the Cuban Missile Crisis, what did you get?"
"You did not even get a single shot on camera. They even wanted to wipe out all Mutants outright. So what was the point of everything you gave?"
Charles began to think because of Chen Xi's words. Yes, what had they gained?
"Do you also think Erik's ideas are right?"
Charles felt that Chen Xi was like all young people. Otherwise, why were so many young Mutants so radical? They had all run to Magneto's camp.
"Magneto's ideas are both right and wrong. If he were strong enough to overthrow America whenever he pleased, then he would be right. After all, whoever has the bigger fist is justice and truth."
"Unfortunately, Magneto's fist is not hard enough. The fate of the defeated is that he became a villain, and now he is a rat crossing the street, despised by everyone..."
Hearing this, Charles became even more lost. Neither his path nor his old friend's path could work, so where was the path for Mutants?
Could it really be as Chen Xi said, that the extinction of the Mutant race was merely a matter of time?
After a moment of silence, Charles sighed.
"Then where is the way forward for Mutants?"
"Universal Harmony!"
Chen Xi smiled faintly and gave his answer.
Charles gave him a meaningful look, thinking that he had expected some good advice, but this was it???
Universal Harmony sounded so grand, but it was simply a daydream. It was even more unrealistic than Charles himself.
"Do you look down on my plan that much?"
Chen Xi asked with a smile.
"Forgive my bluntness, but Mutants are a special group, one in ten thousand. If everyone were Mutants, then discrimination would no longer exist."
Charles nodded, not hiding his thoughts merely to spare Chen Xi's feelings.
"Universal Harmony is only the ultimate dream. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone had superpowers?"
"Ordinary people's fear of Mutants comes from the unknown. It is human nature to be filled with fear toward the unknown."
"If everyone understood Mutants, that fear would lessen greatly. Look at Captain America. Oh, right, he is your idol too."
"He is also different from ordinary people, so why can he become a superhero? That is thanks to publicity."
"Look at the things you have done. Which achievement has ever been credited to Mutants? All the good things belong to them, while Mutants take the blame for everything bad."
Chen Xi explained calmly. Look at all those internet-famous products—how many of them were actually good? Why were they hyped up to such outrageous prices?
Fool them. Keep fooling them...
Internet fame and celebrity advertising worked well.
"What you said makes sense, but how are we supposed to promote Mutants? Make movies?"
Charles's mind worked quickly, and he immediately brought up Chen Xi's identity.
"That is one route. We need to carve an idea into everyone's minds."
"Mutants are not freaks at all. They are the great pioneers walking ahead on humanity's path of evolution, and Mutants have given everything to blaze the trail for humanity's progress."
Why did one have to establish an ideology before doing great things? Without the guidance of the right ideas, would they not take detours and go down the wrong path?
Charles was stunned by Chen Xi's words. To completely change humanity's entrenched way of thinking—how could such a thing be done?
"Do you find it unbelievable and impossible to accomplish?"
"Yes. It is simply a fantasy."
Charles stared wide-eyed and muttered...
"The road ahead is long and distant; I will search high and low."
"One step at a time, one bite at a time."
"When Mutants hold the power of discourse, then whatever we say and whatever we do will be right."
"Every word we say will become guiding policy, will become law. This world will become a world where Mutant justice prevails."
After hearing Chen Xi's ultimate goal, Charles was so shocked that his entire body trembled...
What a glorious age that would be!!
This was the ultimate dream of Mutants!!
"So I think it is time to start with the first step. Lend me some Mutants." Chen Xi smiled faintly.
Before you continue