Gathering

The four mutants stood resolutely before the Statue of Liberty, ready to protect the world. The guests and reporters were both shocked and moved. One reporter could not help raising his camera to capture this precious moment.

"Even mutants aren’t afraid of death. Why should I be?"

The Russian president took a gun from his bodyguard and said, "If you die, I’ll kill myself. I will not destroy the world."

"A real tough guy, indeed."

Everyone silently approved, then all turned to look at the American president. The American president turned away and ignored them. He had no desire to die. Being president was just a job, after all.

Everyone was profoundly disappointed. This was the leader of the world?

Presidential candidate Acton could not stand it any longer. He stepped forward and shouted, "If you die, I’ll personally kill the president. America will not become the sinner that destroys the world."

"Well said."

Everyone applauded. This was how an American president should act. The president rolled his eyes. He was saying he would kill me, not himself. I could say that too.

"You mutants have more backbone than I expected. Unfortunately, it’s useless."

Senator Cabo clapped and said, "Just the four of you can’t stop me. You can’t even make me take you seriously."

More than a hundred Black Qi monsters roared at once, trying to frighten the four of them. Unfortunately, not one of them was intimidated.

Wang Bert turned to the professor and asked quietly, "Professor, can you control Senator Cabo and these monsters?"

"I can’t. Otherwise, I would have controlled them long ago."

The professor gave a bitter smile and said, "I can only create some interference. It’s a pity the others aren’t here. Otherwise, we might have had a chance."

As he spoke, the professor secretly glanced at Jean. If it came down to it, he could only unleash Jean, their ultimate weapon.

With Jean’s second personality’s power, even the Statue of Liberty would have to kneel.

"What a hassle. Luckily, in this world, money can do anything."

Wang Bert turned around and said, "I need one billion dollars. Who’ll give it to me? Give, not lend. I’m not paying it back."

"I’ll give it to you on behalf of America. One billion dollars, reimbursed by the treasury."

The president immediately shouted. Spend as much as you want. He was definitely getting removed from office after this anyway.

"What use is money at a time like this?"

Candidate Acton frowned, and so did everyone else. Forget one billion dollars—even ten billion would be useless, wouldn’t it?

Senator Cabo watched Wang Bert with interest and made no attempt to stop him. Only by giving people hope could he reap the sweetest despair.

"You know nothing about what money can do."

Wang Bert smiled slightly and silently called out in his heart, Transfer nine hundred and ninety million dollars from the treasury to my anonymous Swiss account. Don’t let anyone discover it. Turn the remaining ten million into the power of spatial teleportation.

Money Power activated immediately. Since the president had agreed to pay the money, the cost was negligible, and Wang Bert smoothly obtained one billion dollars.

Sure enough, horses did not grow fat without night grazing, and men did not grow rich without windfalls.

"Universe Recycling Company Security Team, appear."

Wang Bert pulled out a stack of banknotes and shouted. The next second, the banknotes vanished. Then, a massive Space Magic array appeared out of thin air ahead of them. Yuriko, Juggernaut, Wade, Thing, and dozens of other Security Team members appeared simultaneously.

It was worth mentioning that Wade had been using the toilet. When his surroundings suddenly changed, he hurriedly pulled up his pants in fright.

Wang Bert grumbled inwardly, Using the toilet again?

"What’s going on? Huh, why is the Statue of Liberty here?"

The Security Team members were thoroughly bewildered. Then they spotted Wang Bert and immediately moved behind him. They had no idea what was happening, but following the boss could not be wrong.

"That’s impossible! I sealed off the surrounding space."

Senator Cabo shouted in shock. Wang Bert looked disdainful. "With your shallow understanding of space, you think you’re worthy of sealing me off?"

Senator Cabo snorted but did not get angry. There was no need. Before long, this world would be destroyed.

The president was overjoyed and hurriedly shouted, "Wonderful, Mr. Wang! Bring more people over. Don’t worry about the money. We Americans have plenty of it."

Acton looked at the president speechlessly. Once I take office, I’ll have Congress impeach you immediately.

"Don’t worry. There’s enough."

Wang Bert did not ask for more money, because the president did not have that much authority. He considered summoning the X-Men, but just then, he sensed Wolverine calling for help.

Wang Bert grumbled, "Uncle Wolf, are you useless again?"

At Mutant Academy, the battle had already ended. Every member of the X-Men had been captured, but no one had died. There were not even any seriously injured. Don’t ask—call it teamwork.

Next, Toad and the others drove the students from their dormitories to the plaza to listen to Magneto’s speech.

Watching the frightened students, Hank was furious. He roared, "Erik, Charles won’t let you get away with this."

"I’m merely giving them a choice."

Magneto floated in the air and said calmly, "I promise you, if they are unwilling to come with me, I will never force them. Mutants are free."

The students calmed down somewhat at those words. Quite a few of them secretly looked at Magneto. This great villain was somewhat different from what they had imagined—judging from his appearance, he did not look like a villain at all. Instead, he possessed a unique aura and charm.

"I want to tell you that everything Charles has told you is wrong. Humans never intended to coexist peacefully with us mutants."

Magneto spread his arms and said, "Next, I will tell you the truth about this world…"

Just as Magneto was about to launch into an impassioned speech, he suddenly vanished. Mystique, Azazel, Storm, Hank, Wolverine, and the other powerful mutants vanished with him.

It was worth mentioning that Rogue was not teleported away. She was still unconscious.

The students blinked. "What happened? What about the truth?"

Ellis Island.

A new Space Magic array appeared on the grass. Then Magneto, Wolverine, and the others appeared out of thin air, staring blankly at their surroundings.

"Hank, Logan, Scott… Jean!"

Seeing that the X-Men were all bound, the professor was enraged. He hurriedly called to Jean, who nodded and used telekinesis to bring Hank and the others over.

Toad wanted to stop them, but Magneto raised a hand to stop him. The situation was unclear. They should watch first.

Wang Bert snapped his fingers, and the Green Goblin Glider and a longsword appeared out of thin air. Psylocke grabbed the sword and cut Wolverine and the others free.

Wolverine stretched his limbs and said, "Finally free. Thanks, BOSS."

Wang Bert grumbled, "Logan, you’ve looked pretty unlucky lately. Calling for help every day."

"Maybe it’s karma for stealing someone else’s woman."

Wolverine shrugged. Psylocke scoffed, "I didn’t expect you to be so self-aware."

The professor asked Storm grimly, "What happened?"

Storm briefly explained the situation. The professor became even angrier and turned to shout at Magneto, "Erik, you’ve gone too far."

"I don’t see it that way. Those promising young talents shouldn’t be wasted by you."

Magneto retorted sharply, then turned to Wang Bert and asked, "Bert Wang, was this your doing?"

"Yes. Although I don’t agree with the professor’s ideals, you are not allowed to destroy Mutant Academy."

Wang Bert did not deny it. Then he pointed at Senator Cabo and said, "This guy got his own son killed, refuses to admit it, and has decided to destroy the world."

Senator Cabo shouted furiously, "I did nothing wrong! The world is wrong! I’m going to destroy it!"

"Coward."

Magneto was deeply disdainful. My wife and daughter died back then, and I never said I would take revenge on the world. He said to Wang Bert, "Bert Wang, do you think I’ll help you save the world? I’d love to see all these human leaders dead."

The representatives from every country looked terrible. Wang Bert said, "If the world is destroyed, mutants will die too. Uh, I won’t lecture you with grand principles. The task of persuading them to help is up to the big shots behind me."

The representatives of all nations were stunned. "We’re responsible?"

The professor’s eyes lit up. Given Erik’s personality, he would certainly demand many harsh conditions. If all of them could be met, mutants’ living conditions would improve dramatically.

Bert Wang’s wisdom was nothing like that of an eighteen-year-old.

"Of course you’re responsible. You’re the big shots. Whether you can persuade him depends on your abilities."

Wang Bert smiled. "I’ve done everything I can. Now it’s time to risk our lives. Is anyone afraid?"

Wolverine extended his claws and said with a ferocious expression, "I’m pissed off and was just looking for someone to chop up."

Juggernaut slammed his fists together and said, "I like fighting, especially fighting monsters."

"I never expected saving the world to be part of my job description. BOSS, remember to raise my salary when we get back."

Wade said this as he picked up a gun from the ground. He looked flippant, but he was actually highly responsible.

Thing said, "Saving the world is our duty."

The other Security Team members hesitated somewhat. Vomiting Boy thought for a moment and asked, "When I die, can they cover me with the national flag? It’s been my dream since I was little."

Wang Bert smiled. "Yes. If they refuse, I’ll tear down the White House."

"Then let’s fight."

The Security Team members all shouted loudly. Seeing this, the FBI agents and Secret Service personnel stepped forward to fight alongside them.

Even mutants were so fired up. How could they fall behind? "When it comes to saving the world, we X-Men have never lagged behind."

The professor spoke, and every X-Man raised their head proudly. This was not their first time saving the world.

Magneto’s side did not move. After the national representatives discussed it, the president stepped forward to negotiate with Magneto. Magneto hesitated, but he knew this was a rare opportunity. Besides, if the world were truly destroyed, mutants would die as well.

"Excellent. Now this looks like a true final battle. Let this battle become the swan song before the world’s destruction."

Senator Cabo flew to the top of the Statue of Liberty’s head and shouted, "Attack! Crush the resistance!"

"Kill!"

More than a hundred monsters pounced at once. Everyone faced them without fear and charged forward.

Facing the monsters, Cyclops did not hold back. He fired at full power, blasting a massive hole through one monster’s chest.

"Next."

Cyclops was about to switch targets when he saw the hole in the monster’s chest rapidly healing beneath the Black Qi.

Moments later, the monster was fully restored. It roared and lunged viciously at Cyclops. Just as Cyclops was about to counterattack, a purple blade flash descended and split the monster in half.

Shockingly, the monster still did not die. Black Qi enveloped its two halves, and when the Black Qi dispersed, the monster had recovered completely.

"It still isn’t dead? These monsters are much more troublesome than that Road Bully from before."

Psylocke frowned and shouted, "Everyone, be careful! As long as the Black Qi doesn’t disperse, they won’t die."

"Then we’ll just cut them a few more times."

Wolverine shouted as he swung his claws, slicing one monster into four pieces.

Hearing that, Colossus smashed a monster’s head between his palms. He said in his deep, muffled voice, "That should kill them, right?"

The facts proved Colossus was too naive. Even with their heads smashed, these monsters still would not die. Same old trick—Black Qi enveloped them, and they recovered completely.

Hank pounced on a monster and cursed, "This monster is really troublesome."

"It’s troublesome for you, but not for me."

Wang Bert smiled and snapped his fingers. A black hole suddenly appeared behind a monster and swallowed it.

Then the black hole disappeared, and the monster never returned.

Wade fired at the monsters while praising, "BOSS, you’re still the best."

Wang Bert smiled. "I’m a professional when it comes to taking out trash."

"Hm?"

Senator Cabo sensed that he had lost contact with some of the Black Qi. He frowned slightly and controlled the Statue of Liberty to stomp down hard on Wang Bert.

Everyone hurriedly dodged. Wang Bert appeared out of thin air above the Statue of Liberty and fired repeatedly at Senator Cabo, but every shot was blocked by the Black Qi surrounding him.

"You can’t kill me, Bert Wang."

Along with Senator Cabo’s voice, the Statue of Liberty wielded her torch and smashed it fiercely at Wang Bert.

"That move doesn’t look very goddess-like."

Wang Bert Teleported aside, then pointed at Senator Cabo from afar. A half-meter-tall black hole appeared behind him, trying to suck him in.

Senator Cabo roared, and the Black Qi around him transformed into a gigantic tentacle that slammed into the black hole. With a boom, the black hole exploded and dissipated into energy.

After all, it was not a real black hole.

"I have spatial power too."

Senator Cabo snorted. Then he thrust both hands forward, and a vast amount of Black Qi transformed into spikes that shot densely toward Wang Bert. Wang Bert tried to Teleport, only to find that a mysterious power had interfered with space, making it extremely chaotic.

Wang Bert smiled disdainfully and instantly disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already beside Wade. This kind of interference worked on Azazel, but against him? Heh, completely useless.

Senator Cabo frowned deeply. After thinking for a moment, he ordered the Statue of Liberty to attack indiscriminately and kill every resister.

The Statue of Liberty received the order and immediately stomped hard toward Wolverine and Juggernaut, who were charging at the front. The two hurriedly ran away.

Boom! The Statue of Liberty’s huge foot slammed heavily into the grass. The ground shook violently, and Wolverine and Juggernaut both fell. Then the Statue of Liberty raised her other foot and continued stomping toward them.

Just as Wolverine and Juggernaut tried to dodge, two monsters pounced on them and grappled with them, preventing their escape.

"Damn it."

Wolverine and Juggernaut were shocked, but they could not break free from the two monsters. Just as the goddess’s massive foot was about to come down, the metal foot suddenly stopped in midair.