I Need to Think It Over

These two people are in danger!

Extremely dangerous!

Exhausted and oblivious, Logan stared intently before realizing that Russell and Deadpool weren't just Silly Bird in costumes. Perhaps they really were Silly Bird, and their outfits were indeed costumes, but these two...

Very strong!

"Who are you, and what do you want with me?"

A few years ago, given Logan's volatile temper, he would have definitely used his claws to clear a path, knocked down the ill-intentioned guy, and then stood on top of him, stepping on his chest to question him.

That won't work now. He's no longer young, no longer strong; he's old and slow, he...

I can't put it together anymore!

Physical strength is one aspect, and mental state is another. Logan is now a typical person with elderly parents and young children to support. The harsh realities of society have left him battered and bruised. The tough guy who once knew nothing of retreat has learned to bend his back.

"Wolverine Logan, we've come to invite you to join us..."

Russell raised his hand to stop Deadpool and said to Logan, "We want to rent a car, and we specifically want you to be the driver."

Logan glanced warily at the two of them. "Sorry, I'm no longer a driver!"

"Hehehe, don't rush to refuse. Take a look at the salary I'm offering you before you speak..." Russell laughed and reached behind his back, pulling out a wad of US dollars and slamming it onto the hood of the car.

"..."

Seeing the US dollars on the hood of the car, Logan clenched his fists, his proud pride feeling deeply humiliated. He knew Russell had done it on purpose. But knowing it didn't matter; he desperately needed the money. With it, he could take Professor X and Laura far away and escape their pursuers.

Which is more important, family or dignity?

For Logan now, this is no longer an issue.

The wolf limped to the car, put the US dollar into his pocket, and said, "I'm in a hurry. Tell me, where do you want to go?"

Deadpool shook his head repeatedly, unusually refraining from rambling. Russell also sighed, "Logan, you've matured. If anyone had dared to tease you like this before, they would have been beaten to a pulp."

"Stop talking nonsense. While this car is still drivable, tell me the address." Logan didn't want to talk about the past; it was a mess, and there was nothing worth remembering.

"We're going to North Dakota, the last known home of Mutants."

Logan's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. A flash of ferocity appeared in his dark eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "That place is too far away. Go find someone else!"

Just yesterday, Logan met a little girl named Laura brought utter disaster to his relatively peaceful life, forcing him and Professor X to embark on another life-or-death journey.

Logically, one should stay as far away from such an unstable factor as possible, but Logan cannot abandon her because Laura is an artificially bred Mutants, created from the DNA of a Mexico woman and his own.

In other words, this is his wolf cub.

Logan was a new father, and forced into it, Logan feelings were incredibly complicated. He had an extra burden on his shoulders, which was making it hard for him to breathe.

Logan's adopted daughter, Laura, brings Logan intelligence about a Mutants settlement in North Dakota, which the survivors call Eden.

Logan knew there was no Eden at all; it was all a lie, because the coordinates were exactly the same as in the comic book—it was just a little girl's whimsical idea to escape reality.

Laura insisted on going, and Logan couldn't persuade her otherwise. With Professor X's approval, they had no choice but to set off for North Dakota.

Logan could imagine what was to come: a typical Western road movie, with the father, daughter, and grandfather as the trio, facing a vicious villain's pursuit, enduring thrills and twists along the way, and perhaps the grandfather not even making it to the end.

The situation was already complicated, and the arrival of Russell and Deadpool told Logan that things could get even more complicated, as they were also heading to North Dakota.

Logan instantly realized that this was no coincidence, but rather that the visitor had ill intentions and that his background had been thoroughly investigated.

Without a second thought, he pulled out a US dollar and threw it back onto the hood of the car, refusing the temptation. At the same time, he clenched his fists, trying to get himself into the best fighting state.

Logan was filled with regret. If he had known someone was lying in wait, he wouldn't have cared anyway.

Now that's good, we can't defeat either of the two formidable enemies. It doesn't matter if he dies, but Professor X and Laura are starving and need feeding. Who will take care of them?

Looking at Logan, whose demeanor had changed drastically, Russell narrowed his eyes slightly. "Logan, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. We mean no harm, and I will reward you handsomely after the job is done."

Deadpool nodded repeatedly beside him. "That's right, he's super rich."

"This isn't about the money..."

Logan took a deep breath, and five blood-stained claws slowly emerged from his fist. There were only five because the last one was stuck and could only be pulled out manually.

"Dude, don't do this, we don't want to hurt you."

Deadpool was amused and swaggered toward Logan, probably intending to take advantage of Logan's vulnerability and humiliate him to establish his authority as captain.

"Wade, stop messing around. You'll only make things worse."

Russell kicked Deadpool aside and leaned toward Logan with a smile, "Old Wolf, you're absolutely right. This isn't about money. The hefty reward I'm paying can't be bought with money."

Clang!

The moment Russell approached, Logan's killing intent erupted, and he swung down his claws, the sharp tip piercing Russell's chest.

With a crisp clang, Logan only saw a flash of silver before Russell blocked the outstretched claw with his sword. Sparks flew, but the longsword remained motionless under the claw, indicating that it was also made of Adamantium.

Logan's pupils contracted slightly, realizing that the enemy was indeed coming for him. He then thrust his other hand, with its sharp claws, straight at Russell's spleen in the abdomen.

Russell touched the ground with his toes, turned half a circle on the spot to avoid the sudden attack of the claws, and then charged forward with Logan, tripping him with his foot.

Logan lost his balance and pounced onto the extended Chrysler E8. Before he could stand up, Adamantium Blade stabbed him from behind, piercing his shoulder bone and leaving him unable to move.

"Damn it! Aaaaaahh..."

Russell braced one hand against the longsword and the other against Logan's head, pressing his face against the car body. "Logan, I'm here to help you. I mean you and the people around you no harm."

Logan gritted teeth. "Is this how you help me?"

"I have no choice. To calm you down, I have to demonstrate my abilities," Russell said. "Back to the previous topic, regarding the payment afterward, I can pay a portion in advance."

"Bastard, who do you think I am? Even if the reward you offer is..."

"Stop talking nonsense and get ready to receive it. Not everyone is as lucky as you!"

Take over?

Logan was puzzled when suddenly, a warm, sun-like power surged from Russell's palm and quickly spread to every corner of his body.

This warm power, carrying boundless vitality, permeated his cells, awakening his rusty body, and every part of his limbs and bones resounded with joyful cheers.

It ended abruptly!

The pleasure suddenly disappeared!

Logan looked at Russell with displeasure, who shrugged, drew his longsword, flicked it to wipe away the blood, and sheathed it.

What did you do to me?

The wound on his shoulder healed rapidly, and not only that, the previous hidden injuries were also completely repaired. Logan looked in the car window and found that his gray hair and beard had turned brownish-black, as if time had flowed backward on him.

That wasn't the main point. He clenched his fist, and his six sharp claws shot out and retracted back into his body. A continuous stream of power surged from every cell in his body.

After many years, he's back!

Russell explained, "I will bring your body to its most perfect state, but don't be too happy yet. Your self-healing factors are still deteriorating, and this process is irreversible."

Logan frowned in thought, and after a moment said, "Could you put it simply?"

"..."

Deadpool tiptoed over and bumped Russell's shoulder. "Dude, do you think my face can be fixed?"

With sight, hearing, and touch all working simultaneously, Russell perfectly filtered out Deadpool, continuing to tell Logan, "You've only returned to your peak, not your youth. In the next few days, you'll age rapidly and revert to your previous state. As for the reward after it's done... heh, you know what I mean!"

Logan was immediately displeased. "Fine, I'll take the payment after it's done. Now, tell me the truth, what exactly do you want from me?"

Deadpool cleared his throat. "Wolverine Logan, I'm 'Deadpool' Wade Wilson, captain of the X-Force. This is my teammate 'Angel' Russell. We're looking to invite you to join the X-Force."

"What, he's the captain? Aren't you?"

Logan looked at Russell with disbelief. In his opinion, if he had to pick the milder one of the two Silly Bird, Russell.

"I know the reality is hard to accept, but Wade is indeed the captain."

"Um, I think... I need to think about it."