Mutant Prisoners

Thing and Colossus had something in common: they were both tough and durable, perfect as meat shields. With them around, it would be difficult for anyone else to harm the president.

Actually, Wang Bert had wanted Nightcrawler to serve as a bodyguard too, but the Professor refused, because Nightcrawler was not suited to leaving Mutant Academy right now—Azazel had been eyeing him covetously.

"Don’t worry, BOSS. No one can bully me."

Thing patted his thick chest and said. Colossus added, "I’ll use my fists to convince those bigots."

"I like that."

Wang Bert laughed heartily. "You don’t need to worry too much either. The president may not be a very good person, but he has one virtue: he’s terrified of dying. So he’ll treat you very well."

"Someone like that can be president? What a misfortune for America."

Thing shook his head. Thinking of something, he asked excitedly, "BOSS, have you seen that rumor online?"

Wang Bert took a sip of tea and asked, "What rumor?"

"The rumor that we mutants are Reincarnated Angels."

Thing said excitedly, "God foresaw that demons would invade Earth, so he had Angels reincarnate as ‘humans’ to save the world. We mutants are those reincarnated Angels!"

Colossus had heard the rumor too and added, "After the demons learned about this, they secretly cursed the Reincarnated Angels, causing some Angels to fail their evolution. Not only that, the demons possessed humans and slandered and framed the Angels, turning them into public enemies.

"For example, Stryker is a human possessed by a demon. He might even be a demon himself."

Wang Bert raised an eyebrow and asked, "You believe that?"

Thing and Colossus were both a little embarrassed. Thing said, "It sounds pretty far-fetched, but I really hope it’s true."

"Yeah. It would be great if we really were Reincarnated Angels."

Colossus looked at Wang Bert and asked, "Mr. Wang, do you believe it?"

"Of course I…"

Wang Bert set down his teacup and said, "I made that story up myself. What do you think?"

"You made it up?"

Thing and Colossus were both dumbfounded. The "fact" that had excited them for days was actually a story Wang Bert had fabricated? Where had trust between people gone? Thing and Colossus wanted to hit someone, but after weighing the difference in their combat strength, they decided to scorn Wang Bert with their eyes instead.

"If I hadn’t spent money behind the scenes, how could that rumor have spread so quickly?"

Wang Bert said irritably, "Do you know how many paid trolls I hired?"

Thing asked in confusion, "Mr. Wang, why did you start that rumor?"

"There are many reasons. For example, boosting mutants’ confidence and countering the slander that mutants are demons."

Wang Bert said, "By the way, don’t tell anyone about this. It’ll affect the results."

"I won’t say anything, Mr. Wang. You really are very different from the Professor."

Colossus shook his head. In truth, most mutants knew the rumor was fake, but they deeply wished it were true—mutants had always been confused, not knowing why they had been born.

Of course, some believed it was real. Nightcrawler, for instance, even used the rumor to persuade other mutants to do good.

Wang Bert said, "It’s fake now, but as mutants contribute more and more to the world, this rumor may not remain fake forever."

Thing and Colossus’ eyes lit up. They might not be real Angels, but they could become Angels.

Wang-style inspirational soup. You deserve it.

At that moment, his secretary transferred a call to him. It was the president.

"Bert, I need to apologize to you."

Wang Bert asked, "Mr. President, what is it?"

"We originally planned to hand the prisoners over to you in ten days, but the military suddenly acted ahead of schedule."

The president said, "What’s worse, they’re planning to hand all mutant prisoners over to you."

"All mutant prisoners?"

Wang Bert was stunned. If that happened, the difficulty he faced would increase tenfold. He asked, "Is there no way to stop them?"

"No. The military is already escorting New York State’s mutant prisoners to your Recycling Plant, and they’ve invited reporters to witness it."

The president said helplessly, "Bert, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. You know I’m about to leave office. Whether it’s the White House or the military, they no longer listen to my orders very much."

Mutant prisoners were too dangerous, so they had always been held by the military. The military often secretly took prisoners out for experiments, only settling down somewhat recently.

"I understand. If the military wants to play, I’ll play with them."

Wang Bert snorted coldly. "Mr. President, don’t worry. I’ll head over right away."

"Fine. Be careful. Also, I’ll issue a statement explaining this matter."

"Alright, thank you."

Wang Bert hung up, then stood and said to Thing and Colossus, "I have something to deal with. Go report to Washington yourselves."

Thing immediately stood up. "BOSS, need help?"

"Don’t worry. I can handle it."

Wang Bert smiled slightly and vanished in an instant. Thing and Colossus sighed. Those anti-mutant people really refused to settle down for even a moment.

At the Recycling Plant, Wang Bert had Wade gather people and wait for the mutant prisoners to arrive. Just in case, he had also summoned Juggernaut and Wolverine to hold the fort.

More than half an hour later, a large number of prison vans arrived at the Recycling Plant’s entrance, along with a great many reporters.

The major in charge of the escort had barely stepped out of his vehicle before reporters swarmed around him. "Major, we received word that the authorities are preparing to transfer all mutant prisoners to Iron Man Bert Wang. Is that true?"

"That’s right. At Mr. Wang’s request, we have decided to transfer all mutant prisoners to him. This is the first batch. Prisoners from other states will be sent over one after another."

A reporter shouted, "At Mr. Wang’s request? Is Mr. Wang planning to shelter those mutant prisoners?"

"What was that saying again? Mutants are one family."

The major twisted the truth. "By the way, I mean all mutants, including Fire Fist, who nearly burned an entire church full of people to death; Knife Demon, who killed two children; and Ogre, who eats people.

"Also, legally speaking, these prisoners have already been granted freedom. What happens to them in the future will be entirely Mr. Wang’s responsibility."

"What? They’ve already been freed? How can that be allowed?"

The reporters erupted. Fire Fist, Knife Demon, and Ogre all deserved to die a thousand times over, yet they had been granted freedom so easily. How could anyone accept that? Even Super Hero Wang Bert could not make them accept something so outrageous.

A reporter asked, "What if they commit crimes again?"

The major said with a helpless expression, "Then we can only discuss it with Mr. Wang and see what he thinks."

The reporters grew even angrier. Wang Bert’s image in their minds plummeted.

At the entrance, Wolverine said indignantly, "BOSS, let me kill that bastard for you. I’ve never seen anyone so shameless."

The others nodded in agreement. They were about to explode with rage. That bastard was completely twisting black into white and calling a deer a horse.

"Why is everyone always trying to get themselves killed? Come, let me show you some magic."

Wang Bert pulled out a stack of Banknotes and pointed them at the major. "Balala… ahem. In my name, from now on, you may only speak the truth, and you must tell all of it."

The next second, the Banknotes vanished. The major’s head swam for a moment before he immediately returned to normal.

At that moment, another reporter asked, "Does that mean mutants can do whatever they want from now on?"

"Of course mutants can’t do whatever they want. I was deliberately misleading you into thinking they could."

The major said frankly, "That way, you’d foolishly oppose Bert Wang. You reporters are as easy to manipulate as ever, because you’re all idiots."

"What?"

The reporters were in an uproar. The major came to his senses and immediately covered his mouth. How had he said what he really thought?

A reporter angrily asked, "You’re using us again?"

That word "again" made the reporters furious.

"Obviously. Why else would we notify you in advance?"

The major removed his hand from his mouth and said bluntly, "These mutant prisoners were not actually requested by Bert Wang. Magneto negotiated terms with the president, and the president agreed to release all prisoners with sentences under ten years.

"Bert Wang was worried something would go wrong, so he decided to take over these prisoners. General Cassol saw an opportunity and had us transfer all prisoners here to frame Bert Wang.

"Besides, with so many prisoners, Bert Wang definitely won’t be able to control them all. As long as one prisoner escapes and commits a crime, we can use it to attack Bert Wang and ruin his reputation.

"Once Bert Wang is finished, we can suppress mutants like we did before… Mmph!"

The major’s mouth was forcibly covered by the lieutenant beside him, who had finally reacted. The lieutenant shouted, "He’s been affected by a mutant ability. He’s talking nonsense."

"Whether it’s nonsense or not, I believe the reporters know in their hearts."

Wang Bert walked out and said coldly, "I thought the military had changed for the better. I didn’t expect you to still be the same as before."

"You military people are utterly despicable. We will expose your vile actions to the public."

The reporters who had been fooled roared in anger. Between Iron Man and the military, who did they trust? Was there even any need to ask? Of course they trusted Iron Man.

As for America’s military, given their record, only an idiot would believe them.

The major pulled away the soldier’s hand and said arrogantly, "You think I’m afraid of you? At worst, they’ll just put forward a scapegoat. You reporters are idiots. You fall for it every time."

The reporters were furious. Some even threw their cameras at him. They were the uncrowned kings—when had they ever suffered such humiliation?

The reporters silently swore that this time, they would make the military pay. Did the military really think reporters were so easy to bully?

"Um, sorry, but let me remind you of something."

Wang Bert said kindly, "You’re the scapegoat this time."

"I’m the scapegoat? Oh, right. I’m the perfect scapegoat."

The major froze, then realized what that meant. His whole body went numb. "I’m dead."

"That’s right. You’re dead."

The reporters were delighted beyond measure, snapping photos of the major nonstop. You looked down on us, you used us—now let’s see who the real idiot is.

The mutants burst into laughter. What a show. Picking a fight with BOSS was practically courting death.

The lieutenant signaled for the soldiers to drag the major away, then shouted, "Begin transferring the mutant prisoners!"

The reporters wanted to interview the lieutenant, but the soldiers blocked them. Seeing that, the reporters aimed their microphones at Wang Bert and asked, "Mr. Wang, was what that major said true?"

"The latter part was true. The mutant prisoners were Magneto’s request, but I felt they could not be released directly back into society, so I asked the president to transfer them to the Recycling Plant."

Wang Bert sighed. "I just didn’t expect the military to transfer all the prisoners here. Honestly, they caught me completely off guard."

"The military is too despicable."

The reporters cursed loudly. One reporter said, "Mr. Wang, doing this will put you under enormous pressure. And if anything happens with these prisoners, everyone will blame you."

"I know what the consequences will be, but I have to do this. Otherwise, many people will die."

"Mr. Wang, you truly deserve to be called Iron Man."

Everyone said admiringly. Wang Bert smiled. "I only seek to have a clear conscience. Everyone, I’m already prepared to be cursed out. I hope you’ll go easy on me when the time comes and not write anything too harsh."

"We’ll try."

The reporters said. Everyone knew these mutant prisoners were a hot potato. If Wang Bert mishandled things even slightly, he would become the target of public condemnation.

Wang Bert knew that too, but he still accepted without hesitation. It had to be said, he really was a hero.

"Everyone, thank you. Wade, take them somewhere safe. This place may become very dangerous next."

Wang Bert said. Though the reporters wanted to remain where they were, when they thought of those brutal mutant prisoners, they obediently moved farther away to wait and see how things developed.

After the reporters withdrew, Wang Bert said to the lieutenant, "You can begin the handover."

"Alright. There are two hundred and thirty mutant prisoners in New York State, thirty-two of whom are members of the Mutant Brotherhood. Please hand them over to Magneto."

The lieutenant stepped forward with a list and said, "Also, mutants from other states will be transported here over the next few days."

"Alright. Start calling names. Wade, take the Security Team and maintain order. Logan, Juggernaut, keep watch around the area in case any prisoners try to escape."

Wang Bert took the roster and said coldly. Wolverine and Juggernaut nodded at the same time, their fists cracking as they clenched them, both looking eager to punch someone.

Then the two sides began transferring prisoners. Mutant prisoners without powerful abilities were no different from ordinary prisoners. They wore prison uniforms and shackles as soldiers opened the rear doors of the prison vans and let them step down one after another.

As for the more powerful prisoners, they were sealed inside prison pods. There was no helping it—only that could restrain their superpowers.

"I love the air of freedom."

A long-haired mutant jumped down from a prison van, inhaling deeply as he shouted happily. His name was Boon, and his ability was the Hair Growth Technique—a very useful ability. With it, Mom would never have to worry about him going bald again.

The lieutenant fanned the flames and said, "Sorry, but you’re not free yet, because someone doesn’t intend to let you be free."