Essex Corporation

One day later, New York.

At nine in the morning, a slightly worn yellow school bus crossed the Queens District Bridge, slowly drove onto Roosevelt Island, and finally stopped in front of Essex Corporation's global headquarters.

"Make sure you all carry this." Miles handed everyone an X Terminal and said solemnly, "I rushed these out over the past few days. From now on, no matter what you're doing, remember to keep one on you. It has a tracking function. If anything happens, the rest of us can provide support as quickly as possible!"

Everyone nodded and carefully put them away.

"Okay, get off."

The bus doors hissed open, and Miles's group climbed out one after another. This visit was led by Logan and Caliban. The group included Miles, Madeleine, "Wraith" Charlotte, "Moonstar" Dani, "Cannonball" Sam, and "Sharkman" Gideon.

"What an incredible place." Sam, who came from the countryside, muttered as he stared at the sight before him.

Before them, the enormous Essex Tower shot into the sky. Its cold glass-and-steel curtain walls reflected patches of blinding light beneath the sun, and the entire building exuded an inhuman sense of absolute order.

Unlike Sam, Miles frowned deeply the moment he stepped off the bus and instinctively looked toward Madeleine.

Madeleine looked back at him as well and nodded.

"Dani, do you sense anything?" Miles asked "Moonstar" Dani.

"Mm." Dani nodded as well. Her ability was Telepathy too.

Within the psychic vision of the telepaths among them, beneath Essex Tower lay an unimaginably vast "Psychic Black Hole." Like a hollow void that blocked all thought and perception, it completely enveloped the underground area spanning tens of thousands of square meters, forming an absolutely silent vacuum that cut off all psychic senses.

Miles could vaguely detect traces of electronic equipment operating deep within that "black hole," but the sensation was distant and blurred. Even when he tried to affect it with Electronic Signal Manipulation, there was still no response.

Clearly, this was a "fortress" built against telepaths.

Miles even vaguely sensed that within that mass of "blackness," a pair of cold eyes seemed to be slowly observing them.

Charles, what is this? Miles asked Charles, who was far away at the Institute.

Unbelievable... This is a Psychic Shielding Zone. Essex Corporation actually possesses this kind of technology!

A Psychic Shielding Zone? An area that blocks psychic power? Miles continued.

That's right. It can isolate the effects of all psychic abilities. Even I can't directly sense what is hidden there. Do you know about Magneto's helmet? It's something similar, except this covers a much larger area.

Your Telepathy reaches so far. Hadn't you noticed anything unusual here before?

I can't possibly inspect every inch of this city in meticulous detail, Miles, Charles replied. Especially when this Psychic Shielding Zone is hidden deep underground.

"Shit, what a pain..." Miles gritted his teeth.

Well, considering the extent of Essex Corporation's research into mutant genes, it wasn't hard to understand how they could develop a device designed to guard against psychic detection.

Miles had originally thought he could casually take a walk through the place and pack up all of Essex Corporation's secrets, but clearly it wouldn't be that easy.

"Good morning, Mr. Logan, and everyone from Xavier Institute."

An enthusiastic, capable female voice interrupted their shock. An elegant black-haired woman in a tailored business suit walked toward them with a smile, several equally professional-looking administrative staff following behind her.

"Cecilia Reyes, Chief Operating Officer of Essex Corporation." She took the initiative to offer Logan her hand. "We have been expecting you."

"Hello, Ms. Reyes." Logan stepped forward and shook her hand. His expression gave nothing away as he simply nodded.

It had to be said that after all the ups and downs of his life, Logan truly seemed much steadier now than he had in his younger days.

"By the way, isn't Professor Xavier visiting with you?" Ms. Reyes asked.

"You know how he is. He's always got other things to take care of," Logan answered.

"What a shame. Mr. Obadiah had been looking forward to having lunch with Professor Xavier." Reyes offered an apologetic remark before continuing, "Now then, please follow me. I'll be guiding you through Essex Corporation. If any of you students have questions, feel free to ask. I'd be happy to answer them."

"We'd be honored." Miles offered the timely flattery.

At the same time, Caliban, walking at the rear of the group, quietly signaled to Richter and Jonah beside him. Silently mouthing the words, he said, "Mutant."

Caliban meant that Ms. Reyes before them was also a Mutant.

Miles, who had heard him, showed a slight change in expression and nodded, abandoning the idea of directly probing Ms. Reyes's mind.

Afterward, under Ms. Reyes's lead, they crossed the plaza and headed toward the grand entrance of the headquarters building.

Upon entering the magnificent lobby, they saw an enormous portrait of the founder hanging on the wall directly opposite the entrance. Nathaniel Essex in the painting had a lean face and a faint smile at the corners of his lips, looking wise and kindly.

"This is the founder of Essex Corporation, Mr. Nathaniel Essex." Ms. Reyes's tone was filled with sincere reverence. "One of the greatest geneticists of the twentieth century, as well as a great philanthropist. His lifelong dream was to use genetic science to create a future for humanity free from illness and defects."

"One of our corporation's founding goals has been to help the wider mutant community." At the corporation's affiliated medical center, Ms. Reyes explained slowly, "Many people don't know that the world's first hospital specifically established for mutants was founded by Mr. Nathaniel in Egypt in 1986."

"Rebirth Serum is our newest product. It was designed specifically for natural-born mutants and can restore mutant genes that have lost activity for one reason or another back to their peak state..."

Throughout the tour, Miles's Telepathy operated at full force, like an invisible net frantically scanning and gathering every piece of information in the building outside the Psychic Black Hole area. Yet he gained very little.

Aside from the materials Aurora had found before, all the key servers and laboratories seemed to be located in the underground region they could not reach.

Madeleine, can you try forcing your way through the Psychic Shielding Zone? Miles asked Madeleine.

"I can't." Madeleine shook her head, her face somewhat pale. "My power isn't enough either."

"Shit..." Miles cursed under his breath, then casually asked Madeleine, "You don't look so good. What's wrong?"

"I... probably didn't sleep well last night."

"I see." Miles nodded and gave it no further thought. After all, quite a few people at the Institute had been having nightmares lately.

By noon, Ms. Reyes arranged for everyone to dine at the luxurious restaurant on the top floor.

Only then did the true owner and chairman of Essex Corporation, Mr. "Obadiah Essex," finally make an appearance.

He looked to be in his fifties, vigorous and healthy, with a warm smile.

"Mr. Logan, welcome, everyone." Obadiah's voice was steady and magnetic as he took the initiative to extend his hand. "My father often spoke of Professor Xavier when he was alive. May I ask whether the professor has been well lately?"

"He's fine," Logan answered perfunctorily.

"That's wonderful. I hope to pay him a visit someday..."

As Mr. Obadiah chatted warmly with Logan, Caliban sensed him repeatedly before quietly signaling again: ordinary human.

An ordinary human?

Half-skeptical, Miles hesitated briefly before directly reaching out with psychic power toward Mr. Obadiah.

Very quickly, Miles frowned.

Caliban was right. "Obadiah Essex's" thoughts contained no abnormalities whatsoever. Most of his mind was occupied with reports on corporate operations, future investment directions, and plans for philanthropy, with a smaller portion devoted to family, entertainment, and a lover in Hollywood. As far as he knew, the underground levels housed nothing more than ordinary biological genetics laboratories. Everything was normal to a frightening degree.

"Miles." At that moment, Madeleine suddenly spoke from beside him. "I think... he looks a lot like my father."

"Your father?" Miles froze, then pressed, "Dr. Stasis?"

"Mm." Madeleine nodded.

"...Don't expose anything yet. We'll talk after we leave."

Soon, the full-day tour ended at three in the afternoon. Ms. Reyes personally saw them to the entrance, both sides smiling and chatting as host and guests parted on excellent terms.

More than ten minutes later.

"Madeleine says Mr. Obadiah looks a lot like her father, Dr. Stasis."

Inside the school bus leaving Roosevelt Island, the atmosphere abruptly grew much heavier as Miles finished speaking.

Even Charles, who had been keeping watch over them with Telepathy the entire time, couldn't help asking Madeleine in his mind, Are you sure, Madeleine?

I can't be wrong, Madeleine replied. They really look very alike.

"Madeleine, how much do you know about your father?" Miles asked.

They had rarely asked Madeleine about her past or Dr. Stasis before, afraid of upsetting her. But now, it was obvious this matter was extremely important!

"I... don't know much about him either." Madeleine sank into her memories. "I grew up in the laboratory. As far as I remember, he was always busy. Especially over the past few years, he rarely appeared in the lab anymore. I could only feel that he seemed to be... somewhat disappointed in me."

"Disappointed?" Miles's heart stirred. "Do you know why he was disappointed?"

"I don't." Madeleine shook her head. "Whenever I tested my abilities, I always did my best according to his requirements, but... he never said anything."

"Tested your abilities? Your telekinesis?"

"And... the Phoenix Force," Madeleine replied.

Miles vaguely realized something.

"Then do you remember how the accident happened at the laboratory?" Miles continued.

"This..." Madeleine instinctively covered her head, feeling a little pain. "I can't remember very clearly... My power went out of control, then the laboratory exploded. Then a lot of people suddenly came to capture me. I was scared, but I couldn't control myself... and then I killed them all..."

"And then I just... kept running... ah!!"

"Alright, don't say any more." Miles patted Madeleine on the shoulder. "Madeleine, are you feeling unwell? Once we get back to the Institute, do you want Aurora to give you a full physical examination?"

"No." Madeleine shook her head. "It's nothing. I just feel bad occasionally. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

"..." Miles shook his head, then asked Charles in his mind, Charles, did the ATHENA Office provide any detailed information on Dr. Stasis? Something isn't right with Madeleine.

Very little. His identity seems to be classified. We can't even find a complete photograph of him, Charles replied. What about your side? Can Aurora find any clues through the network?

"Some." Miles answered as if talking to himself. "According to Aurora's investigation, the 'private security contractor research facility' where Madeleine was initially discovered actually had a military background. It seemed to have been a direct project under the disgraced Secretary Harrison."

"Judging from that, as the project leader, Dr. Stasis must have ties to the now-powerless military hardliners." Miles spoke slowly. "The problem is that Ms. Ritts and the ATHENA Office couldn't possibly be unaware of this, yet she doesn't seem to have any intention of telling us..."

"She wants to use us." Logan, driving with a cigar clenched between his teeth, said irritably, "Fuck, Charles. Is this the partner you needed?"

"I knew from the beginning that Ms. Ritts had her own agenda." Charles was not surprised as he continued, "But we have our own agenda as well. As for now... come back first."

"Head back now?" Miles was surprised. "I was planning to look around the lower part of the island after dark, see if there were any sewage outlets or ventilation shafts."

"The situation has gone beyond expectations," Charles said. "Based on what Madeleine said, if Mr. Obadiah, the one controlling Essex Corporation, really has ties to Dr. Stasis, then we can be certain the ATHENA Office has another objective."

"They first commissioned us to find Madeleine, then asked us to investigate Essex Corporation... It's almost as if they were guiding us to discover this ourselves..."

"I smell a conspiracy. This could very well be a trap. We need to proceed carefully!"