A Deal Reached, Attack

When he saw the two bodyguards being moved away, the president’s heart sank. He had nearly forgotten that Bert Wang was not only a wealthy tycoon, but also a powerful mutant. There was simply nothing he could do to him.

The president hurriedly called out, "Mr. Wang, don’t misunderstand. I invited you here today because I wanted to discuss compensation for mutants."

Wang Bert turned around and said, "Mutants don’t need compensation. Mutants only need fairness."

"They should have fairness, and they should receive compensation as well. Mr. Wang, please sit. Let’s have a proper discussion."

As the president spoke, the captain of the bodyguards hurriedly signaled to him. At such close range, if Bert Wang tried anything, they would have no way to protect the president.

The president signaled for the captain not to worry, because worrying was useless—against a powerful mutant, this distance meant nothing.

This is why mutants must be dealt with. Otherwise, even the president himself could be in mortal danger.

The president sighed inwardly. The conflict between humanity’s upper class and mutants was difficult to reconcile, because mutants’ existence made those in power feel deeply insecure.

"You’ve got some nerve."

Wang Bert sat down and nodded at Yuriko. Yuriko took a document from her briefcase and placed it on the president’s desk.

The president picked up the document, skimmed it, and flew into a rage. "Stryker! How dare he?"

The document contained Stryker’s plan to assassinate the president and frame the mutants for it. There was a second half to the plan as well: attacking the Mutant Academy, seizing Cerebro, and wiping out all mutants.

To prevent the intelligence from leaking, Wang Bert had hidden the latter half of the plan. The president was shown only the first half.

Wang Bert glanced at the military representative beside him and said, "Mr. President, when a dog refuses to obey, you have to beat it properly. Otherwise, it will only push its luck."

The military representative glared at Wang Bert. These mutants really all deserved to die.

"No, the dog should be killed outright."

The president snorted. "Mr. Wang, where is the original document?"

This document could prove that the president knew nothing about Stryker’s actions. That way, at most, he would be guilty of negligence. He would not be impeached or purged.

"Of course, the original is with me."

Wang Bert gestured around them. The president waved for everyone else to leave. The captain of the bodyguards hesitated, and the president rolled his eyes inwardly. As if you could protect me if you stayed. Soon, only the president, his secretary, Wang Bert, and Yuriko remained in the Oval Office.

The president got straight to the point. "Mr. Wang, what do you want?"

Wang Bert said, "First, the government must approve my Recycling Company and require major corporations to prioritize this environmentally friendly recycling method."

The president immediately nodded. "No problem. Protecting the Earth is everyone’s responsibility. In addition, I’ll have the government allocate funds to support you."

Wang Bert continued, "Also, I want you to establish a Mutant Affairs Management Department to safeguard mutant interests."

"Fine. I’ll submit a bill prohibiting discrimination against mutants and arbitrary dismissal of mutant employees. In short, I’ll protect mutants the same way I protect Black people."

The president agreed readily. He would be out of office soon anyway. Right now, getting the evidence was what mattered most. As for the problems that legislation might cause afterward, what did he care? Let that bastard Acton deal with the headache.

"It seems I misunderstood you before. You’re a good president."

Wang Bert smiled. "Oh, and my secretary, Miss Yuriko, has nothing whatsoever to do with Stryker."

The president said, "I’ll have the military erase all of Miss Yuriko’s records."

"Thank you," Yuriko said coolly.

"One last thing," Wang Bert said. "I want to start a company."

The president asked, "What kind of company?"

"A Super Heroes company. Simply put, it would hire powerful mutants as vigilantes, which would greatly improve the public image of mutants."

Wang Bert briefly explained the Super Heroes company model—it was essentially the Watchmen Company he had established in the Marvel World.

The president frowned. This was a new model, and more importantly, it would grant mutants law enforcement authority.

The president thought it over and said, "It’s not that I won’t agree, but Congress will definitely oppose it. How about this? Let your Super Heroes company test the waters in New York first. I’ll have the mayor cooperate with you."

Wang Bert smiled. "Fine. Watchmen Company will do everything in its power to protect New York’s safety."

The president said, "Then I’ll thank you on behalf of New York’s mayor."

"You’re welcome."

Wang Bert took the original plan from his briefcase and said, "That’s about it. As for compensation, discuss it with those mutants outside. I won’t get involved."

"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure those mutants are satisfied."

The president accepted the original document and read it over. Delight appeared on his face. Then he said, "Mr. Wang, I hope this matter ends here. This storm has already grown too large."

"From now on, other than providing food and lodging for those protesters, I won’t do anything more."

Wang Bert stood and shook the President’s hand. "Mr. President, you’re more reasonable than I expected. Too bad we didn’t meet sooner."

At that, the president felt thoroughly depressed. If he had agreed to meet Wang Bert earlier, would there have been so much trouble?

"It truly is a pity."

The president sighed. One dinner had ruined a president.

"Perhaps we’ll have opportunities to cooperate in the future."

Wang Bert smiled. What he meant was: do a good job, and when you retire, I’ll give you a big red envelope. No, a legitimate source of income.

In America, political donations were entirely aboveboard. After all, it was a capitalist society.

The president’s eyes lit up. "I look forward to it."

Wang Bert then took his leave. Holding the report, the president shouted to his assistant, "Call a press conference immediately. I have something important to announce."

Because there were countless protesters at the front entrance, Wang Bert left through the Backdoor. In the Rolls Royce, Yuriko reminded him, "Chairman, the company is running low on funds. Without new capital, the Recycling Company’s operations will run into problems."

Wang Bert was a little surprised. "We burned through the money that quickly?"

Yuriko advised, "Chairman, there is an Eastern idiom: spending money like dirt. You spend far too quickly. You throw out millions at a time. Even a mountain of gold couldn’t withstand that kind of spending."

"I have spent rather a lot recently."

Wang Bert laughed. In the Marvel World, he was rich enough to buy the planet, and he had grown accustomed to spending freely.

"It’s not a big problem. I’ll get a large sum of money soon enough. Money has never been a problem for me."

Wang Bert said this because he happened to have a plan to make quick money.

"That’s good."

Yuriko did not ask further questions, because her boss had never been someone who made empty promises.

While Wang Bert was meeting the president, Wolverine was driving a truck through the wind and snow. Beside him, Rogue slept quietly beneath a blanket.

If Silver Fox hadn’t died, our child would probably be around this age. I wonder whether my child would have bone claws like mine.

Wolverine’s eyes were full of tenderness. Then he suddenly remembered killing his father, and an ominous premonition rose within him. In the future, perhaps he would be pierced through by his own child, just as his Gardener father had been.

Why am I thinking so much? I don’t even have a wife.

Wolverine shook his head. At that moment, Rogue woke up. Seeing Logan looking at her, she hurriedly wiped her mouth. Luckily, she had not drooled.

"I’ll pull over. Go freshen up," Wolverine said.

"Thank you."

Rogue spoke gratefully. Once she had washed up, Wolverine got back on the road. As they drove, he asked her, "Where are you going? I’m delivering this shipment to New York."

"New York? That’s great! New York is my destination too."

Rogue, who was eating crackers, was overjoyed. Wolverine was a little surprised. "Why are you traveling all the way to New York by yourself?"

Rogue hesitated before asking, "You’re a mutant, right?"

Wolverine had shown his claws during the earlier fight, so Rogue knew his identity. Wolverine nodded. "Yes. I’m a mutant. A mutant who has lived for more than a hundred years."

"More than a hundred years? You’ve actually lived that long?"

Rogue looked utterly incredulous. "I’m a mutant too. I awakened last month. My ability is terrifying. I nearly sucked my boyfriend dry."

"Huh?"

Wolverine was stunned. What kind of wild statement was that? Were young girls these days all this fierce?

"You misunderstood."

Seeing his expression, Rogue waved her hands repeatedly. "I meant his life force. I can absorb other people’s life force."

Wolverine suddenly understood. "That’s a pretty good ability."

"What’s good about it? I can’t control it. I don’t even dare touch anyone now."

Rogue gave a bitter smile. After finishing her crackers, she immediately put on gloves so she would not harm anyone else.

Wolverine frowned. "A passive ability? That is troublesome. By the way, what are you going to New York for?"

"To find him."

Rogue pulled a poster from her bag. It showed a handsome, sunlight-like young man. It also bore a line of text: "I can’t make every mutant happy, but I can give mutants stable jobs."

Beneath the text was the phone number for Universe Recycling Company.

Wolverine blinked. That kid had put him back on delivery duty—could it have been for Rogue? He asked, "Are you going to work for the Recycling Company?"

Rogue shook her head. "I’m not going there to work. A mutant company must have lots of mutants. Maybe someone there knows how to turn me back into a normal person."

Wolverine fell silent. After a moment, he said, "Many mutants have thoughts like yours when they first awaken, but eventually, they discover that the process is irreversible. Kid, welcome to being a mutant."

"I don’t want to be a mutant."

Tears welled up in Rogue’s eyes. "I want to become normal again. I want to go back to my mom and dad. I want to play with my classmates again. I want to keep making out with my boyfriend."

Wolverine reached out and patted Rogue’s hat. "Kid, life is like that. Sometimes, you have to learn to accept it."

Rogue was just about to speak when a large tree suddenly fell across the road ahead. The truck slammed into it with a BOOM and came to a stop. Wolverine and Rogue were both thrown forward, but fortunately, they were wearing seat belts and were forcibly held back.

"What the hell?"

Wolverine endured the pain in his chest and unfastened his seat belt. Then he froze. Could this be why that kid insisted I wear a seat belt?

"Sir, next time you drive, remember not to get distracted."

Rogue said this with a pained expression. Talking while driving was a major taboo.

Wolverine felt a little awkward. He was about to say something when his nose twitched, and his face became grave. "Stay in the truck. Don’t get out. Someone’s coming."

"Someone’s coming?"

Rogue was startled. Before she could ask anything else, Wolverine opened the door and jumped out. At the same time, six figures emerged from the woods nearby.

The leader of the six was a long-haired, muscular man dressed like a savage. He was Sabretooth, a fierce fighter of the Mutant Brotherhood. Sabretooth’s English name was the same as Sabretooth’s, so they were likely the same person. The specifics would be explained later.

Sabretooth gestured for his men to seize Rogue, then strode toward Wolverine. For some reason, the moment he saw Wolverine, he wanted to beat him up—he had amnesia, and his mind was somewhat unstable.

"So something really was going to happen. No wonder that kid insisted I come personally."

Wolverine snorted and flicked his hands. Six blades extended from between his fingers, gleaming amid the snowflakes and icy wind.

The sight of the Adamantium blades made Sabretooth want to beat Wolverine up even more. He let out a roar and raked his sharp claws viciously across Wolverine’s chest.

Wolverine did not dodge. As Sabretooth’s claws tore open his chest, his own blades stabbed fiercely into the other man’s abdomen. There were too many enemies, so he intended to trade injury for injury and end the battle quickly.

Wolverine and Sabretooth screamed at the same time. Wolverine was about to lift his opponent up when Sabretooth slammed a fist into his chest, knocking him onto the ground and sending snow flying everywhere.

Wolverine forced himself to his feet through the agony and saw that Sabretooth’s abdominal wound was healing at a visible rate.

"Super regeneration again? Is this power really that common? Does everyone have it?"

Wolverine was speechless. Just then, Rogue screamed from inside the truck. Wolverine hurriedly turned and saw a mutant yanking hard on the door while Rogue screamed and desperately held it shut.

"Rogue!"

Wolverine was about to rescue her when Sabretooth rushed over and tackled him to the ground. The two immediately began grappling fiercely in the snow.

Although Wolverine had Adamantium, Sabretooth was no pushover. Wolverine could not break free in a short time. Their fight became increasingly brutal, and the snow around them gradually turned red.

At the same time, a mutant with fiery red hair signaled for the companion pulling at the door to let go. He then placed his hand on the truck door. His palm gradually turned red and hot, and the door’s temperature rapidly rose.

This mutant was called Fire Palm. It was worth mentioning that only his palms could become high-temperature—low-level mutant abilities were often limited and weak.

"Ah!"

Rogue screamed and pulled back her burned hand. Fire Palm took the opportunity to pull open the door. Then, smiling at Rogue, he said, "Little girl, don’t be afraid. We aren’t bad people. We’re here to take you home."