Assault on the Academy

Seven days passed in a flash, and that night, the High Summit officially began.

The High Summit was held on Ellis Island, directly opposite the Statue of Liberty. Looking up, one could see the massive Statue of Liberty.

The summit was held outdoors. The police, FBI, and Secret Service were on full alert to prevent any accidents. This time, representatives from over two hundred countries had come.

Wang Bert held Psylocke’s hand as he mingled with representatives from various countries like a seasoned politician. Overall, the atmosphere was good. After all, public opinion currently favored mutants.

I have to seize this chance to make the countries introduce policies beneficial to mutants. That will protect mutants while increasing my prestige.

Wang Bert took a sip of champagne and thought to himself. Psylocke smiled. "I never expected you to be so polished. You really don’t seem like an eighteen-year-old."

Wang Bert casually made something up. "This is top-tier diplomacy built with money."

"Your Money Power can even do something like that?"

Psylocke stared in amazement, then asked excitedly, "Can you give me some kind of language package? I’ve been working hard at learning different languages lately."

Wang Bert asked, "There’s nothing money can’t do. The question is, why do you want to learn so many languages?"

"Because I want to become an international superstar."

Psylocke said ambitiously, "America alone can’t satisfy me. I want people all over the world to become my fans."

Wang Bert laughed. "Fine. One million dollars per language. Decide for yourself how many you want."

"No problem. Money’s no big deal."

Psylocke laughed. She had been making a fortune lately.

At that moment, Jean pushed the Professor’s wheelchair over. The Professor smiled and said, "Bert, long time no see."

"It’s only been a little over a month."

Wang Bert smiled, stepped forward, and shook the Professor’s hand. Then he said, "Professor, I’ll be giving a speech later. Please give me some guidance."

The Professor said solemnly, "Bert, every mutant will remember what you’ve contributed to mutants."

"Professor, there’s no need to be so formal. I’m a mutant too. Contributing to my own people is only natural."

Wang Bert waved his hand and changed the subject. "By the way, you still haven’t given me Red Devil’s testimony."

"I need to apologize for that. I can’t read Red Devil’s memories. He’s even more mysterious than I imagined."

The Professor frowned. "Also, I have a vague feeling that he has lived for thousands of years."

"Thousands of years?"

Wang Bert, Psylocke, and Jean all looked shocked. Red Devil had lived that long? And were there mutants even that far back? Wang Bert thought for a moment, then asked, "Professor, are you sure he’s really a mutant and not some kind of demon from Hell?"

The Professor said with certainty, "He is one hundred percent a mutant."

"Then he must be hiding a huge secret."

Wang Bert’s eyes flickered. He asked, "Professor, now that you’ve left the academy, aren’t you worried the Brotherhood will attack the academy to rescue people?"

The Professor said, "Don’t worry. Hank and the others stayed at the academy. Besides, if anything really happens, we’ll rush back immediately."

"That’s good."

Wang Bert nodded without paying much attention to it. Wolverine was at the academy too. If anything happened, he would immediately call for help.

The Professor asked, "Bert, I heard the president will announce the official establishment of the Mutant Affairs Management Department tonight. Is that true?"

Wang Bert smiled. "Yes. Professor, are you interested in becoming the director? I can recommend you."

The Professor and Jean looked at Wang Bert in surprise. He was actually willing to give the director’s position to the Professor?

Wang Bert raised his glass and said, "That position represents responsibility. It needs someone willing to serve mutants wholeheartedly."

"That position does carry great responsibility. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t let me become director."

The Professor shook his head, then asked, "Bert, why don’t you take the position yourself?"

"Because it would be too exhausting. A new department, especially one related to mutants, would definitely be insanely busy. I might even have to work overtime every day."

Wang Bert shrugged. As a wealthy tycoon, how could he possibly work himself to the bone?

The Professor and Jean were speechless, while Psylocke laughed. If Wang Bert did not fear trouble and exhaustion, she would never have had the chance to become the first Super Hero.

With Wang Bert’s reputation, if he were willing to debut as a Super Hero, he would definitely be more famous than Psylocke. But Wang Bert did not want to live behind a mask, much less have crowds of fans wherever he went, so he chose to remain his own boss.

The Professor sighed. "You hate trouble so much, yet you’re willing to patiently deal with those politicians. Bert, I was right about you."

"Some things have to be done by someone."

Wang Bert said, "Professor, do you have anyone suitable for the director’s position? If so, I can help recommend them. Preferably a mutant with more obvious mutant traits."

"I do have a good candidate. Once the banquet is over, let’s discuss it properly."

The Professor’s heart stirred. Hank, Beast, fit Wang Bert’s requirements perfectly. Moreover, he had once joined the CIA, so the White House probably would not object.

"Alright."

Wang Bert said, "Professor, I need to go. I still haven’t greeted representatives from half the countries. I need to keep at it."

"You’ve worked hard."

The Professor nodded. Once Wang Bert and Psylocke left, the Professor shook his head. "He really doesn’t look like an eighteen-year-old."

"The thing is, he really is only eighteen."

Jean hesitated before saying, "I don’t know why, but a voice has been telling me to stay away from him, as if he’s dangerous."

"Stay away from him?"

The Professor was stunned. Could it be Jean’s sealed second personality? But with that second personality’s strength, why would she fear Bert Wang?

Jean’s second personality could be called the strongest mutant.

Leaving that aside, at the same time, all the security guards atop the Statue of Liberty across the water had been killed. Senator Cabo stood above the statue, madly pouring black energy into it.

Meanwhile, the Rat Clan was hidden inside the statue. Senator Cabo stared at the lights across the water with a twisted expression. "Freedom? This country has never been free. Today, I will end this greatest of lies."

At Mutant Academy, Wolverine looked up at the sky and said, "This is so boring. Why can’t I go to the High Summit with Jean?"

"Because we’re worried you’ll seduce some VIP’s wife. Then we’d have to go collect your body from prison."

Hank said. He was a mutant covered in blue fur with blue skin. It was worth noting that although he looked terrifying and savage, he was actually a super genius.

Most of the X-Men’s jets and advanced equipment had been invented by him. Furthermore, his patents were the main reason Mutant Academy could continue operating.

The Professor was a good man, but his ability to make money was far inferior to his ability to spend it.

Wolverine said unhappily, "You make me sound like a scumbag. Beast, don’t think I wouldn’t dare hit you."

"You steal other people’s girlfriends and take their cars out for joyrides. Are you sure you’re not a scumbag?"

Storm walked over and sneered. "What’s worse is that you didn’t even refill the gas."

Hank looked at Wolverine with utter contempt. Wolverine gave an awkward laugh and said, "Didn’t I spend all my money buying gifts?"

"Right. Jean’s gift was worth fifteen thousand dollars, while mine was worth one hundred."

Storm was very displeased. She said, "Forget that. The Professor isn’t here, and the Brotherhood might come to rescue people. We have to stay alert. Logan, you have the most combat experience here, so don’t slack off."

"Don’t worry. If any enemy dares come, I’ll smell them out immediately."

Wolverine said confidently. Unfortunately, he had no idea that an enemy had already infiltrated Mutant Academy.

Inside the small chapel, Nightcrawler saw Mystique walk in and happily said, "Uncle Mog, you came again?"

"Yes. Work’s almost over, so I came to see you."

Mystique looked at Nightcrawler with a complicated expression. Over the past seven days, she had visited Nightcrawler every day in a different form, and she had been deeply moved by his kindness and tolerance. To be honest, she now deeply regretted abandoning him.

"Uncle Mog, thank you. Oh, right, I helped Teacher Hank with some work today, and he gave me a box of cake. Let’s eat it together."

Nightcrawler was delighted. He took out the cake and shared it with Mystique. Mystique’s eyes flickered as she secretly drugged the cake.

"Uncle Mog, I’m really happy today…"

Nightcrawler knew nothing. He ate cake and chatted with Mystique, but before long, he passed out.

Mystique shook her head and carried Nightcrawler toward a hidden cellar in the academy. Other than her and Charles, no one knew the cellar existed.

Next, Mystique smeared a special liquid over Nightcrawler’s body. This liquid would prevent Red Devil from sensing Nightcrawler.

"Compared to the Brotherhood, the academy is a better place for you. I’m sorry, my child."

Mystique sighed and left the cellar. Then she transformed into Shadowcat Kitty and went to find Rogue.

At the same time, the device at Hank’s waist suddenly emitted a piercing alarm. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "Enemies are approaching."

"How do you know?"

Wolverine was stunned. Wasn’t he supposed to be the scout?

"There are surveillance cameras outside the academy. I wrote an intelligent system for them. Once it detects an enemy, it automatically raises the alarm."

As Hank explained, he took a monitoring screen from his pocket and checked it. The moment he saw it, his expression became extremely grave. "Magneto is here."

"What? Magneto came personally?"

Storm was shocked. She immediately took out her phone to call the Professor, but to her anger, there was no signal.

"Damn carrier. They charge so much, yet there’s no signal when it matters."

Storm cursed and told Hank and Wolverine to contact the Professor. However, their phones had no signal either. Not only that, even the landlines had stopped working.

"Communications have been blocked."

The three of them looked incredibly grim. Hank’s eyes flashed. Had Raven done this? Storm gritted her teeth and said, "We’ll stop them at the entrance. We absolutely cannot let them enter the academy. Hank, guard the Student Dormitory. If anything goes wrong, take the students and escape."

"Alright. You don’t need to worry about Red Devil. Shockwave is guarding him."

Hank said hurriedly. Shockwave was Cyclops’s older brother, Alex Summers. He could absorb surrounding energy and release shockwaves.

"Alright."

Storm did not waste any more time. She led Wolverine toward the entrance, while Cyclops, Colossus, Banshee, Yukio, and the other X-Men hurried over to join them.

Just as everyone had gathered, Magneto’s convoy arrived.

"They drove here?"

Wolverine mocked, "That feels so low-rent. Shouldn’t you be flying in from the sky? Or controlling Steel Bridge and smashing it down at our academy entrance?"

Everyone looked at Wolverine speechlessly. Was that really the point? And what if a bridge actually came crashing down? "If you want, I can smash a car into your head."

With those words, Magneto, dressed in a combat suit and Cloak, stepped out of the car. Toad, Sabretooth, Astra, and other mutants followed one after another. They outnumbered the X-Men by at least two to one.

Storm and the others looked grim. This battle would not be easy.

Hank’s voice came from the loudspeaker. "Magneto, what do you want?"

"I want to take my people away. While I’m at it, I’d like to be a teacher at the academy for once and introduce my beliefs to the students."

Magneto said with a smile, "I believe quite a few students will agree with me, because I’m the one who’s right."

"In your dreams, Magneto. I will never let you take even one student."

Hank shouted angrily. If Magneto only wanted to take Red Devil away, he might have compromised. But taking students was absolutely impossible. There was no question about it.

"That isn’t up to you."

Magneto floated up from the ground and said, "Clear the way, or don’t blame us for being rude."

Toad, Sabretooth, Astra, and the others all prepared for battle, glaring hungrily at the X-Men.

"You think we’re afraid of you?"

Wolverine flicked both hands, his claws gleaming. Magneto could not help laughing. With a wave of his hand, Wolverine flew into the air against his will and was pinned to a nearby tree.

Wolverine roared and tried to break free, but no matter how hard he struggled, he could not escape Magneto’s control.

Magneto sneered. "Someone actually poured metal into his own body. Even more foolishly, he dared stand in front of me."

As he spoke, Magneto forced Wolverine’s arms to cross. Then he raised a finger, and the iron fence on the ground flew up, transforming into iron bars that bound Wolverine to the tree.

"Logan!"

Storm had never expected Wolverine to lose so quickly. She flew into the air to attack Magneto, but at that moment, a tongue shot toward her, wrapped around her ankle, and violently flung her away. It was Toad.

"Take them down!"

Colossus transformed into a silver metal body and charged hard at Toad. Banshee spread his flying squirrel suit and used sound waves to soar into the sky, while Cyclops adjusted his glasses and fired lasers at Magneto.

Sabretooth let out a low growl and intercepted Colossus. At the same time, Astra, the New York branch president, merged into the ground and vanished. Moments later, he rose behind Cyclops and slammed a heavy punch into Cyclops’s back, sending Cyclops flying onto the ground.

Astra could control the density between molecules, and his strength was formidable.

Astra was about to pursue Cyclops when a sound wave blasted down at him from the sky. He hurriedly dodged. Just as Banshee was about to attack again, a sharp pain suddenly tore through his head, and he fell from the sky.

Astra seized the chance to rush toward Banshee, intending to finish him off completely. At that moment, a laser beam blasted into him and sent him flying. Cyclops had climbed back to his feet.