Hank’s Wish

Charles and the others did not stay long at the Floating Temple before Alex sent them back to the CIA.

"Why do we have to come back here?" Having spent less than three hours at the Floating Temple, Sea Siren Sean had already fallen completely in love with the place. The moment he returned to the CIA office, he wilted, collapsing limply onto the sofa with a gloomy expression. "I hate it here. There are so many people outside watching us. I hate it here!"

"I remember you saying you loved this place before, even that you were willing to stay here for the rest of your life!" Alex mercilessly mocked Sea Siren Sean, his handsome face filled with amusement.

Sea Siren Sean did not care in the least. "That was before I entered the X-Mansion." As he spoke, he poured himself a glass of wine, then slumped back onto the sofa and continued complaining as he drank. "Compared to the X-Mansion, this place is complete crap. Crap!"

"Enough complaining!" Charles shot Alex an awkward glance and gave a sheepish shout. "Alex is still here!"

Alex chuckled and shrugged casually. "Please, go on. I don’t mind." He paused briefly, then added with a great deal of humor, "Not everyone likes hearing praise, and I just happen to be one of them!"

Everyone froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. It began as quiet chuckles before gradually growing louder and more uncontrollable. Only after they alerted the agents standing guard outside did they finally manage to stop.

Angel rubbed her cheeks, which ached from laughing, then turned to Alex and did her best to look serious. "Alex, why did you have us come back here? What exactly do you want us to do?"

"Keep monitoring the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, and stay alert for Cuba at all times." Alex paused slightly before explaining with a serious expression, "Although we have our own channels for information, I do not want to involve them yet. So for now, we have to rely on you."

The US-Soviet Hegemony was no ordinary matter. S.H.I.E.L.D. had only just been established; it could provide some intelligence, but it was not suitable for getting too deeply involved. Taking either side would invite unnecessary trouble. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. had been founded to safeguard all humanity, not merely American interests. That was why, after gaining Charles as a contact, Alex immediately chose to keep his distance from S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Didn’t you say they wouldn’t trust us, that they only saw us as weapons?" Alex looked at Alex in confusion, his eyes openly revealing his distaste for humans.

Alex nodded and said indifferently, "They are using us, but aren’t we using them as well?" With a cold laugh, he continued, "Their goal is to avert this crisis. Our goal is Sebastian Shaw. Nothing more."

"By the way, I heard you invented a machine that can search for mutants—Cerebro?" Amid the conversation and laughter, Wang suddenly recalled something he had long overlooked and quickly turned his gaze toward Hank. As Alex understood it, Cerebro, which played such an important role in the X-Men film series, had been invented by Hank.

Hank froze at the question, scratching his forehead shyly. "I do have the idea, but unfortunately, I have never succeeded."

"What? It didn’t work?" Alex was surprised, then inwardly delighted. He asked eagerly, "What difficulties are you having? Tell me. Maybe I can help."

Cerebro was extraordinarily important to mutants. No matter what, Alex had to keep it under his own control. It was even better that Hank had not invented it yet; he could build Cerebro at the Floating Temple.

Hank hesitantly glanced at Charles. Only after receiving Charles’s approving look did he begin to explain. Speaking of his invention seemed to excite Hank. His thin body trembled constantly, and his voice rose higher and higher like successive waves.

Unfortunately, every word that came out of Hank’s mouth was highly technical. Alex listened for quite some time. He understood each individual word and knew what it meant, but once they were put together, he understood absolutely nothing.

Seeing Hank grow increasingly excited, Alex helplessly raised a hand to interrupt him. "Stop, Hank. Stop!"

Hank looked at Alex with deep resentment, like a man whose good time had been interrupted.

Alex cleared his throat and hurriedly explained, "I’ll take you to meet some people. Whatever problems you have, discuss them with them!" Alex was quick-witted, but he was clearly not suited for research. Still, Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters had quite a few talents like that. After ten years of development, it had already accumulated a substantial number of scientific researchers.

"Charles, I’m borrowing Hank for a few days!" Alex turned to Charles. With that single sentence, he vanished with Hank.

Watching the spot where the two had disappeared, Sea Siren Sean sat up with a jealous expression. He turned to Charles and the others and said indignantly, "They definitely went to the X-Mansion. Definitely!"

Charles helplessly glanced at Sea Siren Sean, then turned and walked out of the lounge area. "I’m going to find someone and gather some information. You all stay here!" Just as he reached the door, Charles suddenly stopped, turned to the others, and warned them solemnly, "Things are different now. Be careful, all of you. Don’t cause any trouble!"

While Charles went around the CIA gathering information, Alex brought Hank directly to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

Looking around, Hank seemed to realize something. He stared at Alex excitedly. "This is…?"

Charles and the others had come and gone in a hurry. They had only looked around the Floating Temple and had not had time to explore the Floating Giant Island. They had never even heard of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

"This is Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, a place dedicated to teaching mutants." Alex proudly gestured around them, unable to hide the pride on his face.

"So it really is a school!" Though he had already guessed as much, Hank still could not stop himself from trembling with excitement upon hearing Alex’s answer. Mutants had essentially been excluded from the ranks of ordinary humans, and schools were places most mutants would never set foot in throughout their lives.

Alex understood why Hank was so excited and did not rush to interrupt him. Only after Hank had fully calmed down did he lead him on a proper introduction to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

Students constantly passed by along the way. Whenever they saw Alex, they respectfully greeted him, and Alex returned their greetings with a smile. Hank followed silently beside him. Every time a student passed, an uncontrollable, heartfelt smile spread across his face.

"Alex, can I…" At last, Hank could no longer hold back. He stopped walking and looked at Alex as he spoke.

Before Hank could finish, Alex nodded in agreement. "No matter what you want to do, as long as it does not harm the interests of mutants, anything is allowed."

"Thank you. I’m really looking forward to teaching these students!"

Alex was stunned. He had thought Hank wanted to conduct some kind of research, but he had not expected him to want to become a teacher at the school. Thinking of Emma’s wish, Alex could not help muttering to himself, Could it be that these people all like being teachers?