Clues

Xavier Institute, corridor.

"Blink" Clarice nervously followed behind Magneto, leaving the activity room beneath everyone's curious gazes.

Suddenly, she noticed for no apparent reason that Magneto's palm seemed strangely swollen.

Was Mr. Erik sick?

"Miss Clarice."

Magneto's voice pulled Clarice back to reality. He continued, "If I remember correctly, your ability allows you to open portals to other places?"

"Yes, but only to places I've been before," Clarice added.

"Good." Magneto nodded and said, "I need you to do me a favor."

"Uh, where do you want to go?" Clarice asked.

"Take me to the Essex base," Magneto said. "There's something I need to discuss with Obadiah."

Montana, Rocky Mountains, Johnson Secret Base.

After the disturbance of Magneto's prison break the previous night, the entire Johnson Base was now under the highest level of alert and undergoing an emergency inspection from higher authorities.

Interrogation rooms, equipment rooms, command rooms... every key area was packed with people, and the air reeked of tension and sweat.

Inside the archives room, rows of filing cabinets rose all the way to the ceiling like a steel forest. Dozens of officers were buried in the vast sea of documents, checking data day and night without rest.

Suddenly, one officer sorting through documents stirred. He put down the ledger in his hands, turned toward another filing cabinet, and began searching through the base's old work logs.

Not far away, his colleague, a records officer, seemed to receive a silent order as well. He set aside his work and began reviewing personnel movement records for the base.

At the same time, throughout different corners of the base—the surveillance room, command center, lounge... dozens of officers simultaneously set down their work and, under the control of some unseen consciousness, silently began searching records within their respective clearance levels.

They were looking for the same thing.

In one room, a man who had just finished an interrogation suddenly froze and slowly raised his head.

"I am Christopher..."

he murmured to himself.

Inside the Blackbird, Miles pressed his fingertips lightly to his temple, his brow deeply furrowed. His psychic power stretched out like an invisible net, controlling dozens of people at once from several kilometers away as they sifted through mountains of paper files for clues.

After being burned by Phoenix Fire a second time, his psychic power had grown dramatically again. Its maximum range was now nearing fifty kilometers, with faint signs that it might rise to an even higher level.

Controlling nearly a hundred people at once while splitting his attention among their separate tasks was something he had never even imagined before. Yet now, it came naturally to him. It was nowhere near his limit.

"I've controlled Christopher Lopez, but he seems to know nothing. There's nothing abnormal in his memories... In his memories, he doesn't know Jennifer, 'Hummingbird,' at all..."

"Graduated normally from high school, applied for a job, has a wife and a daughter, doesn't smoke, barely even drinks..." Miles muttered. "His memories are so clean, he's practically an exemplary graduate of the Vatican Monastery..."

"So he actually doesn't have any issues?" Dani asked from beside him.

"No. Having no issues is the biggest issue. This is the United States. How could anyone live their whole life like a blank sheet of paper..." Miles rubbed his forehead helplessly. "My guess is, if he really is connected to that Mr. '♦,' then the guy still here is most likely a clone... He and his brothers are all experts in genetic cloning!"

Charlotte sighed helplessly upon hearing that. "But wouldn't that mean our lead is cut off again? We can't exactly interrogate a clone who knows nothing."

"Look at it from another angle. At least we've confirmed that something is indeed wrong with this Johnson Base..." Miles continued. "Let's keep looking..."

"Unfortunately, because Logan and the others caused such a huge mess yesterday, the power system here was damaged, and all the data servers were shut down. Luckily, the paper records haven't been completely transferred yet..."

As Miles expanded his consciousness, the dozen or so controlled officers in the base archives suddenly sped up. The rustling of turning pages joined into one continuous sound.

Fragments of incomplete information slowly flowed into Miles's mind.

"There's a detail. Christopher took a long leave more than three months ago, a full week. A few days after that, Mr. Erik was transferred here..."

"The timing is a little too coincidental."

Miles fell silent for a moment, then continued issuing orders as if talking to himself. "Retrieve the detailed transfer and escort records for Mr. Erik from three months ago!"

Following his command, in the records room several kilometers away, a controlled captain walked to the deepest part of the filing cabinets and stopped in an inconspicuous corner. He moved aside a box of old reports, revealing a case behind it marked with a bright red "X."

The file was removed and rapidly flipped through beneath the dim lights of the archives room.

Page after page, line after line, everything was projected clearly into Miles's mind through Telepathy.

"During the escort three months ago, Mr. Erik was controlled by a collar the entire time. He was flown from Canada under military escort and landed at Hamilton Airport..."

Miles paused slightly. "That's strange."

"Hamilton Airport is more than a hundred kilometers from here. Why didn't they land directly at the base? Does a base this large not even have a runway for planes to land on?"

"Could there have been some reason they had to travel that stretch by road?"

Miles's expression shifted as he realized another possibility.

The clue he was looking for might not be inside this heavily guarded base at all... but along that ground escort route stretching over a hundred kilometers!

With that question in mind, Miles continued remotely controlling the officer and searching through the files.

In the archives room, pages rustled beneath the dim lights.

"They first landed in Hamilton City, then switched to land transport for a secret escort... The route was proposed by General Rums of the Department of Defense Advanced Research Programs and Special Assets Command."

"Department of Defense Advanced Research Programs and Special Assets Command..." Miles repeated the lengthy official name, suddenly recalling something else.

The force they had encountered earlier at the Aegis Bioscience Research Center had been a subordinate unit of this very department. The military order Aurora had forged back then had also used this department's name.

It seemed to fit again.

"Aurora," Miles called again, "investigate General Rums. I want his full profile."

"Processing." Aurora's cold electronic voice came from the Blackbird's console, astonishingly efficient. "Rums Stuart, sixty-four years old, lieutenant general in the Department of Defense..."

"One detail about his family deserves attention. Five years ago, his twelve-year-old grandson Jim was diagnosed with congenital brain cancer. Multiple medical experts declared that he would not survive past fourteen... Yet two years ago, Jim miraculously recovered. He is still attending high school without issue, with a physical rating of A+..."

"Ah... miraculous genetic technology. Looks like I found the right person after all. That's a relief." Miles rubbed his head. "Keep investigating, Aurora. I want to know who General Rums contacted more than three months ago!"

"Understood. Two minutes."

Aurora answered.

While Aurora processed the data, Miles had another thought. On the main computer's holographic screen, a panoramic map of Hamilton City instantly appeared, precisely marking every point the escort convoy had passed through more than three months ago.

Miles stared fixedly at the route that wound for dozens of kilometers along Hamilton City's outskirts, his mind racing.

A top-secret escort operation had not chosen to fly directly. Instead, it landed in the nearest city and proceeded by road. That alone made no sense. Unless... they had not been trying to conceal themselves, but to accomplish something at a specific location.

So far, every clue seemed to point toward this "Magneto escort operation"...

"Miles, I've organized it."

As Aurora spoke, she displayed a long list of names before Miles.

"Maria Green, Mr. Rums's wife..."

"Jossen Walter, Mr. Rums's adjutant..."

"Robert Brown, director of the Department of Defense office..."

"Emily Taylor, director of the Biotechnology and Genomics Office..."

"Jones Stuart, Mr. Rums's eldest son..."

Family, colleagues, subordinates... Miles's gaze swept quickly over the list. These were all expected social connections, completely worthless.

Until his eyes slowly moved downward and finally settled on one name.

Then Miles gave an order. "Aurora, investigate Emily Taylor!"

"Understood." Aurora began the investigation.

"Hey, why her?" Charlotte asked curiously from beside him.

"Because she is the head of the Biotechnology and Genomics Office," Miles answered. "And three months ago, the Vorgan Building where that office was located stood right in the middle of the escort route."

Miles tapped the air with one finger. The map instantly enlarged, and a flashing red dot appeared at a bend in the middle of the route.

"And more importantly..." Miles said slowly, "shortly after that escort operation ended, the entire office relocated for unknown reasons!"

Clearly, something was wrong.

"Aurora, continue investigating Emily Taylor and the Biotechnology and Genomics Office!"

"The Biotechnology and Genomics Office belongs to the Department of Defense Advanced Research Programs and Special Assets Command and is responsible for analyzing and researching Mutant genes." Aurora's report quickly arrived. "Its original location was the Vorgan Building in the outskirts of Hamilton City, but after that escort operation, it relocated in its entirety for unknown reasons. Afterward, rumors began spreading that the Vorgan Building was haunted."

"Haunted?!" Miles froze. "Was that really their reason for relocating?"

"Do Department of Defense troops get scared of ghosts too?" Dani muttered in surprise.

"Miles, there's one more thing."

Aurora added, "Emily Taylor's daughter, Sophia Taylor, was once Christopher Lopez's lover..."

One was the woman in charge of a government office, the other the chief of a secret base over a hundred kilometers away...

"Hah... I knew it..." Miles snapped his fingers. "There's nothing like that in Christopher's own memories. That guy really is abnormal!"

A replaced clone, a powerful general, an irrational escort operation, a genetic research office in the middle of the route that had conveniently relocated, a lover's relationship hidden beneath false memories...

At that moment, every clue linked together perfectly.

"Our investigation here is finished. Let's go." Miles looked around at the others, then ordered Aurora, "Head for the Vorgan Building!"

"Understood."

Amid the roar of engines, the Blackbird took off again, entered stealth mode, and vanished beneath the sunlight.

Within Johnson Base, nearly a hundred officers felt a moment of disorientation. Then they looked at the ledgers in their hands, muttered in confusion, and resumed their respective work.

They still had plenty to do over the next two days.

As the Blackbird flew toward Hamilton, Aurora's investigation continued running rapidly in the background.

"Miles, I found some additional unusual details regarding the Biotechnology and Genomics Office."

"What is it?"

"Records show that over the past year, they have frequently collaborated with genetic research institutions across the country, purchasing valuable genetic samples. The most unusual transaction was... several months ago, they purchased a mummy from Egypt."

"A mummy?" Miles froze again and abruptly asked, "Where did they buy it from?"

"Ramesses Medical Center in Cairo, Egypt."

"What's this Ramesses Medical Center?"

"Ramesses Medical Center is one of Egypt's top private medical institutions, renowned for gene therapy and treatment of difficult illnesses..."

Very soon, information on the "Ramesses Medical Center of Egypt" appeared before Miles.

Then Miles's gaze fixed firmly on one line.

"Founder: Nathaniel Essex."

A fragment of memory exploded in Miles's mind. It was something Miss Reyes had said while introducing the Essex Corporation: "Many people do not know that the world's first hospital established specifically for Mutants was founded by Mr. Nathaniel in Egypt in 1986."

[Ramesses Medical Center. Founder: Nathaniel Essex. Established: 1986.]

So this was the hospital founded by Nathaniel himself, specifically for Mutants...

And then they supplied a mummy to the Biotechnology and Genomics Office in Hamilton...

Miles let out a long breath and pressed hard against his brow.

Countless clues were like wildly growing vines, tangling and connecting in his mind.

Because of his grandson's genetic illness, General Rums came into contact with Emily Taylor of the Biotechnology and Genomics Office.

Emily Taylor's daughter was Christopher Lopez's lover, and behind Lopez stood that mysterious Mr. "♦."

Magneto's escort route happened to pass through the office Emily was in charge of—the Vorgan Building.

After the escort operation ended, the office relocated in a hurry, and rumors that the Vorgan Building was haunted immediately began spreading...

Haunted...

Haunted?!

At that moment, a terrifying hypothesis—one Miles himself scarcely dared believe—surfaced in his mind.

"Aurora..."

Miles's face suddenly went pale. His voice trembled as he said, "Contact Charles..."

But before he could finish—

Bzzzt—!!

The Blackbird's main screen abruptly went black, then filled with strings of meaningless garbled characters.

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, underground base.

In the corridor outside the Mind Control Room, space twisted and shattered without warning.

A deep-purple rift tore open out of thin air, rapidly expanding into an irregular spatial portal.

"Blink" Clarice stepped out first, her face somewhat pale.

Close behind her came the cold-faced Magneto, along with a tall, terrifying figure—"Obadiah Apocalypse."

Crackle...

The instant Obadiah stepped onto the metal floor, the entire Xavier Institute seemed to be struck by an invisible electric current!

The lights began flickering madly. Piercing alarms rang throughout the underground base, while every surveillance screen simultaneously turned to static.

Using Electronic Signal Manipulation, Obadiah was unconsciously releasing powerful interference into his surroundings. He did not even need to actively do anything. His mere presence was enough to paralyze modern technology.

Amid the chaotic alarms, a calm electronic synthesized voice suddenly sounded, as though it had seeped directly from the wiring in the walls.

"Unknown signal intrusion detected... Activating Second Escape Protocol."

"Hm?"

For the first time, Obadiah showed an intrigued expression. With Electronic Signal Manipulation, he could sense that a rather interesting Data Life was hidden within the underground mainframe.

He raised his hand, seemingly intending to pull that stream of data directly out of the central system.

However, Aurora reacted faster. Before Obadiah could lock onto her, her primary consciousness had instantly transferred through a preset network channel, completely escaping Xavier Institute.

No trace of the data stream remained.

"Hmph..."

Obadiah gave a dissatisfied snort.

"You may leave now, Clarice," Magneto said to Clarice.

Clarice nodded. Still shaken, she opened a small spatial portal and left.

After sending Clarice away, Magneto turned back toward Obadiah. "Begin."

Obadiah glanced at him and nodded.

Click—

Under Obadiah's control, the doors to the Mind Control Room slowly opened before them, revealing the enormous, mysterious spherical chamber inside. At the center of the space, atop a raised platform, the helmet-like Cerebro rested quietly.

Just as the two were about to enter, another figure hurried over.

"Erik!"

Charles looked past Obadiah and fixed his gaze on his old friend, his voice filled with disbelief and suppressed fury. "What is going on?"

"You still don't understand, Charles." Magneto answered expressionlessly. "This is the best way."

"Whether it's improving Cerebro or waiting for Miles to grow... neither can be done in a short time. But the problem is... the enemy won't give us that much time!"

"Besides, I can't stand it... Humanity keeps stripping away our space to survive, while all I can do is watch it happen with no power to stop it!"

"You know me, Charles. I will never compromise with humanity. I never did before, and I certainly won't now!"

"We need Obadiah's Electronic Signal Manipulation ability, combined with Cerebro, to locate every Leech Factory on Earth! Then I will personally... destroy Project ATHENA once and for all."

After hearing Magneto's explanation, Charles fell silent.

He knew Erik might be right, but...

"But the price of all this is... Obadiah will use Cerebro to locate Mutants all over the world." Charles looked at Obadiah and asked seriously, "You know exactly what that means, Erik... You're betraying our own people!"

"No." Magneto shook his head, then said, "This is merely cooperation."

"You would rather cooperate with our enemy?" Charles's eyes widened.

"He is not our enemy." Magneto replied, "Humanity is!"

With that, Magneto turned without hesitation and stepped into the Mind Control Room with Obadiah.

"No, wait..." Charles hurried after them. "Erik, we still have a better way..."

Boom!!

Obadiah waved a hand, and a terrifying telekinetic blast slammed into Charles, sending him flying!

Then, the doors to the Mind Control Room slowly closed behind them with a heavy boom, cutting everything off from the outside.

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Charles clutched his aching chest and struggled to pull himself upright against the wall.

"Erik..."