Embargo Line

After leaving those words behind, Alex immediately Teleported back to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Charles’s team had Hank; they couldn’t do without him.

But when Alex returned to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a question suddenly occurred to him. He froze on the spot as it surfaced in his mind: Without Mystique, how was Hank supposed to turn into the blue-furred Beast?

In the movie, Hank had originally looked like an ordinary person, aside from his unusual toes. But after researching a genetic cure based on Mystique’s genes, he rashly injected himself with it, turning himself into a blue-furred beast and greatly enhancing his strength.

After standing there in a daze for a moment, Alex quickly put the matter aside. One more Beast or one less Beast would not affect the bigger picture.

When Alex found Hank in the laboratory, Hank was holding a glass test tube and seemed to be conducting an experiment. He was so focused that he did not even notice Alex enter.

"Hank, it’s time for us to go!" Alex gave a helpless smile, cleared his throat, and deliberately drew Hank’s attention.

Hank shuddered and hurriedly turned around. His thick eyebrows instinctively drew together, making it clear that their owner was unhappy. But as soon as he recognized Alex, his expression changed. With a hint of ingratiation, he asked anxiously, "What happened?"

Alex smiled faintly and explained the situation. "The experiment can wait. Let’s capture Sebastian Shaw and the others first!"

After witnessing Alex’s formidable power, Hank admired him wholeheartedly and obeyed his every word. The moment Alex finished speaking, Hank nodded without hesitation and promptly returned the test tube in his hand to the rack.

Alex brought Hank back to Washington, where they joined Charles and the others, along with a government liaison officer, before heading together toward the Cuban blockade zone.

Charles furtively glanced at the government liaison officer seated several seats away, then turned to Alex and asked in a low voice, "Alex, do you have a plan?"

Alex also glanced at the liaison officer. Just like in the movie, she was a beauty, with a cold expression. Alex had not seen her smile since they met, and she apparently had not developed any relationship beyond friendship with Charles either. Their relationship was purely professional.

"Our first objective is to capture Sebastian Shaw." Retracting his gaze from the Beautiful Liaison Officer, Alex swept his eyes across Charles and the others. His expression turned serious as he used telepathy to solemnly warn them, "Of course, before that, we can’t let the American and Soviet forces start fighting."

Charles and the others had long since witnessed Alex’s extraordinary abilities. They merely gave him surprised looks when his voice suddenly rang out in their minds, without showing any further reaction.

Since preparations had been made in advance, the group soon flew to the waters where the American military had established the embargo line. American fleets stood ready on both sides of the line. Not far away, a cargo ship slowly approached, followed by an entire fully staffed Soviet naval fleet.

On the plane, Alex and the others wore special uniforms Hank had prepared in advance, each tailored to their individual abilities. Naturally, Alex’s uniform was purely for show.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere aboard the plane, Alex chuckled and reassured them, "Don’t worry. I’ll protect everyone!" His words were like a stabilizing pillar, instantly putting everyone at ease. Alex’s abilities had already been proven.

Hank sat in the pilot’s seat, controlling the plane. He turned to look at the cargo ship between the two fleets on the calm sea, his expression solemn. "Things over there look like a complete mess!"

Having regained his composure, Charles immediately displayed his outstanding leadership. He used telepathy to search for reactions below, and his face changed dramatically in an instant. He cried out, "Everyone on the cargo ship has been killed! Sebastian Shaw’s people did it!"

"Just as I thought!" Remembering the movie’s plot, Alex could not help curling his lip disdainfully. "Sebastian Shaw wants to create an established fact. By then, whether America and the Soviet Union want war or not, it will be unavoidable."

"What do we do now?" Charles anxiously watched the cargo ship continue steadily forward. He grabbed Alex’s arm, unconsciously tightening his grip. "We have to find a way to stop it!"

Alex pursed his lips in a smile and said indifferently, "Then blow it up." After a brief pause, he added, "Before it crosses the embargo line."

Though he said that, Alex paid no attention to the cargo ship. Secretly, he had already begun searching the seafloor. He knew Sebastian Shaw’s submarine was hidden beneath the sea.

On the other side, Charles’s eyes lit up at Alex’s suggestion. He looked at Alex expectantly, waiting for him to act, only to suddenly realize that Alex did not seem focused on the cargo ship at all.

With an awkward laugh, Charles could only do it himself.

Charles moved quickly. Almost instantly, a missile launched from the Soviet fleet behind the cargo ship and struck it precisely just before it entered the embargo line. Amid soaring flames, the cargo ship split directly in two and rapidly sank at a visible rate.

The sight stunned everyone. Whether it was the Soviet fleet, the American fleet, or even Darwin and the others aboard the plane, all looked at Charles in alarm. That missile had nearly grazed the plane.

Hank, who was piloting the plane, turned to Charles, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and complained quietly, "Charles, give us a warning next time!"

"Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time!" Charles replied with a flushed face, looking slightly embarrassed. He had been startled just then and had not expected the missile to pass so close to the plane.

After reassuring everyone a few times, Charles turned to Alex and found that he had remained calm from beginning to end. He looked as though he had come on vacation, completely unconcerned by what was happening before them.

Shaking his head to rid himself of his wandering thoughts, Charles said with a frustrated expression, "I still can’t locate Sebastian Shaw."

"There’s nothing unusual on the radar either." Hank glanced at the plane’s radar, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Obviously, he’s hiding underwater. Unfortunately, we don’t have sonar."

Alex snapped out of his thoughts when he heard that. His search had failed to find Sebastian Shaw as well, as the seawater severely limited the range of telepathy. But Alex was not worried. His gaze drifted toward Sea Siren Sean in the corner.

Sea Siren Sean did not notice Alex’s gaze. He stood up excitedly, a proud grin rising on his lips. "Sonar? We have it!"