Persuasion, Ambush

"I’ve never met him. How would I know?"

Wolverine shrugged. "Still, I think Bert sees things more deeply than you do. You’ve been protected too well by the Professor. You have no idea how sinister people can be."

Storm said unhappily, "He’s only eighteen."

"But his wisdom is at least eighty years old," Wolverine said.

"Eighty years old?"

Everyone could not help laughing. The Professor waved a hand and said, "I’ll speak with Bert. Evil Believers are causing trouble right now, and America cannot afford internal chaos. Otherwise, it will only benefit those Evil Believers.

Logan, would you mind taking this old man in his sixties to Rebirth Group?"

Something this important could not be discussed over the phone. It had to be made clear face-to-face.

"Logan, who was over a hundred and fifty years old, said he didn’t mind."

Wolverine laughed. "Let’s go. He should be at the company now, since he has to fight a war for that president."

Everyone laughed again. Jean, who had learned the language, could not help thinking, With a flip of his hand, he could summon clouds; with another, rain. Bert Wang had truly become a major player.

Wang Bert was indeed at Rebirth Group. He said to White Queen, "Emma, launch the plan. Promote President Richard as much as possible. Make sure everyone in America knows about this."

"Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared everything. Over the next half month, I’ll burn through the three hundred million dollars you gave me and make sure everyone in America knows."

White Queen nodded first, then exclaimed, "BOSS, how is your brain even built? You actually came up with a method like this? And how did you give President Richard a specific superpower?"

The latter question was what White Queen truly wanted to ask. Mutants were always especially sensitive about superpowers.

Wang Bert smiled. "Sorry, your trust level isn’t high enough. I can’t tell you that yet."

"As if I’m that eager to know?"

White Queen snorted. "I’m going back to burn your money. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you a single cent."

"You really are a spendthrift."

Wang Bert smiled. "Burn it all you want. If it isn’t enough, I’ll add more. Money is just a number. Now that this war has begun, we have to win it. I’ve never liked losing."

"BOSS, that was really charming."

White Queen blew Wang Bert a kiss. The next second, the floor collapsed, and she fell straight through it.

White Queen was already experienced with this sort of thing. She got up, dusted herself off, and strode out of the room as if nothing had happened. Wang Bert rolled his eyes. "Deduct the floor repair costs from White Queen’s salary."

Yuriko said, "She’s provoking your curse."

"Emma is great in every way except that she’s too proud."

Wang Bert shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Go buy meteorite insurance from an insurance company. I keep feeling that Rebirth Tower will get smashed apart by a meteorite one day."

"I think so too."

Yuriko smiled. "I’m off to work. Mutants are a major voting bloc. I believe they’ll support the Mutant Savior and the mutant president."

Wang Bert instructed, "Don’t force them. Let them vote for themselves."

Yuriko nodded and turned to leave. Not long afterward, Wolverine, Jean, and the Professor arrived together.

Wang Bert poured each of them a glass of wine and asked directly, "You’re here because of President Richard?"

"Yes. Bert, what you’re doing could divide America."

The Professor spoke earnestly. "The method you’re using is too absurd. Many people won’t be able to accept it."

"The problem is, this is the only way to get Richard reelected. He’s carrying two black marks on his back. Ordinary methods simply won’t work."

Wang Bert sighed. "If we want to win, we have to take an unconventional path."

Jean said, "Bert, Mr. Acton has always treated us mutants well. What happened between him and the military was just a misunderstanding."

"There was no misunderstanding. Acton’s attitude is no different from the military’s."

Wang Bert said calmly, "Their methods are simply different. Acton uses a soft knife, while the military uses a hard one. Professor, Jean, since this has begun, it cannot end so easily. Richard must be reelected."

"Bert, have you considered that the military may flip the table?"

The Professor said, "We can negotiate with Acton and the military, get them to take a step back, then have you take a step back as well. That way, everyone will be happy."

"I never expected the Professor to be skilled at smoothing things over."

Wang Bert laughed. "Flip the table? They wouldn’t dare even if they had a hundred times the courage. If they truly dared to flip the table, I’d kill them all within a day."

The killing intent emanating from Wang Bert told everyone that he was not joking. If the military dared to flip the table, he really would wipe out all the military’s top brass and rebuild America’s armed forces.

"BOSS, you’re a real man."

Wolverine gave him a thumbs-up. Jean glared at him, and he immediately lowered it. Wang Bert looked disdainful. Wolverine? More like a wimpy dog.

"Bert, chaos in America benefits no one, and many people will die."

The Professor sighed and tried to persuade him again. "Evil Believers are watching us like tigers. We cannot give them an opening."

"Professor, you’re too kind-hearted, and that makes you worry too much."

Wang Bert said, "What I said earlier wasn’t that I truly intended to kill the military’s top brass. I was telling you that the military cannot possibly flip the table. They will only play the game with me obediently, because they cannot afford the cost of flipping the table.

Also, don’t talk to me about the bigger picture. I am the biggest picture, because only I can fight the Evil Believers. I’m already giving them plenty of face by not forcing them to abandon Acton."

The Professor fell somewhat silent. Jean stared at Wang Bert in surprise. She had never seen anyone so domineering before. For some reason, an urge rose within her. She wanted to be as domineering and uninhibited as Wang Bert.

Then Jean secretly shook her head. That won’t do. A person must have restraint and rules.

After a moment, the Professor sighed. "It seems I was worrying too much. Bert, you appear radical, but you’ve thought everything through perfectly. The military and Acton have no choice but to obediently play this game with you."

"Exactly. Professor, Richard is definitely better for mutants than Acton."

Wang Bert said, "With him around, I’m confident that I can completely deal with America’s military and the anti-mutant forces within four years."

"Since that is the case, I won’t say anything more. But Bert, when you deal with the military, remember to go slowly and carefully."

The Professor said this because times had changed. Wang Bert had already proven his ability with facts. He was no longer an inexperienced child. He was the Mutant Savior, America’s Guardian God, Iron Man Bert Wang.

Wang Bert smiled. "Don’t worry. I won’t let anything major happen to America."

After they finished discussing business, the Professor asked curiously, "Bert, how did you give President Richard the long-hair superpower?"

This time, Wang Bert did not hide anything. "I can grant others Mutant Genes, but I can’t do it casually. I must first analyze the Mutant Gene and fully understand it.

Uh, have I ever told you that I’m actually a genetics expert? The very best kind."

"You certainly never mentioned that."

The three were dumbfounded. Wolverine asked, "BOSS, does that mean you can turn ordinary humans into mutants whenever you want?"

"It’s not that simple. There’s a compatibility issue between Mutant Genes and ordinary humans. If the compatibility is insufficient, forcibly granting a Mutant Gene will have only one result: the person will explode."

Wang Bert said, "President Richard has an extremely high compatibility rate with the Long Hair Gene, so I granted him the Long Hair Mutant Gene."

Jean sighed. "What a pity. If you could turn every ordinary human into a mutant, this world would welcome peace."

"No, quite the opposite. If that really happened, the world would only welcome war—a mutant war. By then, Earth would likely be destroyed."

Wang Bert did not elaborate. "Still, we could produce some Gene Potions."

The Professor asked curiously, "Gene Potions? What do you mean?"

"Take hair as an example. I can develop Weak Long Hair Mutant Gene Potions. Anyone can use such a potion, and after using it, their hair will rapidly grow out."

Wang Bert said, "Humans who use Gene Potions will become miniature mutants."

The Professor’s eyes lit up. "That’s a good method. It won’t endanger the world, and it will make humans fully accept mutants, since they themselves will also be mutants."

"Better yet, it can make us a lot of money. I won’t produce permanent Gene Potions. The potion they inject will wear off after a while, and then they’ll have to buy it again."

Wang Bert smiled. Everyone was speechless. A perfectly good way to save mutants had somehow become a money-making scheme in his hands. The nature of it was completely different, wasn’t it?

"No one wants to permanently alter their genes. We have to give them a buffer."

Wang Bert said, "There are many Gene Potions we can develop—long hair, beauty treatments, weight loss, and so on. But that has to wait until later. The current situation isn’t suitable for this move."

They had to wait until the Mutant Cure came out. With a cure available, the public would easily accept Gene Potions.

"I’m growing more and more hopeful about the future."

The Professor smiled. Just then, his expression abruptly changed, and he cried out, "Oh no! The warning signal I left in Erik’s mind has activated."

"A warning signal? What is that?"

Wang Bert was puzzled. "Professor, secretly leaving something in someone else’s head doesn’t seem like your style."

"Erik is too dangerous, so I left a warning signal in his consciousness. Once he is filled with anger and loses his rationality, the signal will activate."

The Professor said gravely, "Bert, we must stop Erik immediately. Otherwise, he’ll cause enormous destruction."

"Magneto is enraged?"

Wang Bert narrowed his eyes. Could this be related to what Domino had mentioned? Let us turn back time a little. At the Mutant Brotherhood New York Branch, Quicksilver was, as usual, wandering aimlessly around the branch. To be honest, he was feeling a little irritated. The branch was too small, and he had been nearly everywhere. It was boring.

Just then, a beautiful Black woman with an afro suddenly muttered in the hallway, "Where did Quicksilver run off to?"

Quicksilver suddenly appeared in front of Domino, propping an elbow against the wall as he asked in what he thought was a suave manner, "Beautiful, are you looking for me?"

"Yes, I am."

Domino walked up to Quicksilver and said, "I heard you’re the fastest man alive. Is that true?"

"Of course it is. No one in this world is faster than me. Iron Man uses Teleportation, not speed."

Quicksilver said proudly, "Beautiful, want to go for a ride with me? I guarantee it’ll be more exciting than riding in a sports car."

"Sure."

Domino walked over to Quicksilver’s side and agreed readily.

Overjoyed, Quicksilver placed a hand on the back of Domino’s head, preparing to accelerate. At that moment, Domino suddenly turned and jabbed a syringe into his shoulder.

"You like this kind of play?"

Quicksilver blinked, utterly bewildered. Then the drug took effect. He felt weak all over and could not help taking two steps back, leaning against the wall.

"Sorry. If you have someone to blame, blame your father for being a cowardly turtle."

Domino shrugged. She had successfully joined John’s organization, but she had not expected John and the others to worship the Doomsday Master.

Naturally, Domino refused to become a believer and only agreed to cooperate. John had wanted to force her to submit, but Azazel suddenly suggested that she help deal with Quicksilver. Left with no choice, Domino could only agree.

Domino thought to herself, What a pity I can’t find a chance to call Wade. BOSS and the others are so unprofessional. They should at least get me some spy gear, like a watch that sends an alarm when I press it.

Quicksilver was startled. "Blame my father? You aren’t trying to deal with me. You’re after that old man?"

"Looks like you aren’t completely stupid."

At that moment, John arrived with a large group of people, looking smug. Quicksilver was shocked. When had so many people come to the branch? Why had he not known anything about it? Furious and alarmed, Quicksilver asked, "Human Torch, Azazel, are you trying to betray the old man?"

"When an old lion becomes a cowardly turtle, what’s wrong with young lions challenging him?"

John said, "After today, the Mutant Brotherhood will be under my command."

"In your dreams."

Quicksilver tried to accelerate out of there, but after taking just two steps, he slammed to the ground with a bang. A mutant flicking his tongue sneered, "Sorry, but you can’t withstand my poison."

Quicksilver gritted his teeth and cursed, "You won’t come to a good end."

"You’re the ones who won’t come to a good end!"

John sneered disdainfully. "Take him with us. We’re going to find Magneto and make him hand over the Mutant Brotherhood. If he refuses, send him on his way. My God is eternal!"

"My God is eternal!"

The believers all shouted excitedly. Only Azazel and Domino did not shout, because they were not believers yet.

Then, without making any attempt to conceal themselves, John led a large group of mutants toward Magneto’s laboratory—when a lion challenged an old lion, it had to be done openly. Only then would the pride submit.

John wanted to defeat Magneto in front of everyone and prove that he was the strongest.

John and the others caused such a huge commotion that they soon alerted everyone else in the branch. When Astra saw so many mutants from other branches, she knew something was wrong. She immediately gathered all the mutants and headed to the laboratory to protect Magneto.