Presidential Candidate

Just then, Yuriko’s phone rang. After answering it and speaking for a while, she covered the receiver and said to Wang Bert, "Chairman, the other presidential candidate wants to treat you to dinner."

"That makes things easy for him this time."

Wang Bert smiled. "Accept it. We need a president who’s friendly toward mutants."

As he spoke, Wang Bert could not help thinking of President Ellis from Marvel World. Unfortunately, that president would not take office until 2008, a full eight years from now.

"Alright."

Yuriko picked up the phone again and arranged a time with the future president.

At a Michelin restaurant in New York, the gray-haired presidential candidate thanked Wang Bert. "Mr. Wang, thank you so much. This time, I was only supposed to be a runner-up. I never expected to rise straight to the top."

"I merely did what a mutant should do. There’s no need for such courtesy, Mr. Acton."

Wang Bert smiled outwardly, but inwardly he sighed. The presidential candidate before him, Acton, was the old president from X-Men 3.

On the surface, this old bastard was friendly with mutants and even appointed Beast as the head of the Mutant Affairs Management Department. But behind the scenes, he had people secretly research a cure and weaponize it, intending to solve the mutant problem once and for all.

It could be said that this guy was a truly scheming old fox. Wang Bert deeply suspected that he had also secretly pushed the Sentinel program.

"Mr. Wang truly is a mutant with a conscience."

Acton smiled. "I have always sympathized with the current situation of mutants. Once I take office, I will establish a Mutant Affairs Department and fully protect mutant interests. If possible, I hope a mutant can serve as the department’s director."

Acton’s manner was friendly and his bearing bold. If Wang Bert had not known his true nature from the start, he might really have been fooled.

"Really?"

Wang Bert pretended to shout in surprise. "Mr. Acton, on behalf of all mutants, I thank you."

What an easy fool.

A trace of imperceptible disdain flashed through Acton’s eyes. He said, "Mr. Wang, I will never disappoint mutants. I will become their good friend."

"Good friend?"

Wang Bert felt a little sick, but on the surface, he continued chatting and laughing with Acton. The two went on to discuss many things, such as establishing the Recycling Company and arrangements for mutants.

Although Acton harbored evil intentions, his suggestions were quite good. Wang Bert nodded repeatedly. This guy truly had what it took to be president.

After a while, Acton set down his wineglass and said earnestly, "Bert, this storm cannot continue expanding. Otherwise, it will not only hurt America, but also you and the mutants."

"I still have some information that I had intended to release, but since you’ve said so, Mr. Acton, I will stop all action."

Wang Bert said, "I simply don’t want other mutants to end up like me—driven out by their families and left wandering the streets alone."

Acton already knew Wang Bert’s past, so he was not surprised. He smiled. "I believe your parents must regret it deeply now."

"I hope so."

As Wang Bert spoke, the television beside them suddenly aired breaking news. "A laboratory north of Los Angeles was attacked by the Mutant Brotherhood this morning. Their leader also left behind a recording."

Immediately afterward, Magneto’s aged face appeared on the television. Pointing at the mutant corpses in jars, he said, "My brothers and sisters, look at what humans have done to us! We can no longer endure this. We must make humanity pay in blood for blood.

"My brothers and sisters, rise up! Let humanity see our power! Let them regret what they have done!"

Clearly, Magneto was taking the opportunity to recruit more people. Wang Bert and Acton sighed at the same time. Acton put down his knife and fork and said, "Bert, Magneto’s actions are extremely terrible."

"That guy is a professional at dragging us down."

Wang Bert could not help shaking his head. With Magneto causing such a scene, public sympathy would surely fall by quite a bit. Worse still, the military would make a huge issue out of it.

"A professional at dragging us down? That’s an interesting way to put it."

Acton smiled. "Bert, it seems you strongly disapprove of Magneto’s methods."

"If mutants and humans go to war, both sides will only suffer."

Wang Bert shook his head. "Magneto is wrong. He has been controlled by hatred."

"That’s right. He is wrong—terribly wrong."

Acton nodded. "Once I become president, I will do everything in my power to wipe out the Mutant Brotherhood."

"As you should. They bring nothing but destruction to this world, no contribution at all."

Wang Bert nodded. "But we cannot use vigilante justice. They must be tried under the law."

"Bert, I’m growing more and more impressed with you."

Acton laughed. This mutant had principles, dreams, passion, and impulsiveness. He was an excellent chess piece.

"Thank you."

Wang Bert smiled as well. Though this old bastard was vicious and treacherous, he could still be used for now.

At Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the Professor looked at Magneto on television, feeling both helpless and amused. "I imagine Bert is cursing Erik out right now, just as I did back then."

"Professor, you cursed Magneto out?"

Storm, with her white hair and impossibly gorgeous figure, asked in surprise. She truly could not imagine the Professor swearing furiously.

"When I was young, I had quite the temper. Later, as my hair fell out, my temper got better and better."

The Professor smiled. "I once tried every possible way to improve relations with humans, but no matter what I did, it was useless. Every time, Erik would drag me down. For example, I would just reach an agreement with a senator, then he would destroy some place, and that senator would walk away without another word."

Storm thought about it and said, "That sounds miserable."

"Extremely miserable. Now it’s Bert’s turn to experience that feeling."

The Professor smiled, then seemed to remember something and sighed. "The mutant issue is not so simple. Bert still has a long road ahead of him."

Storm said, "Scott said that kid is extremely arrogant and conceited. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for him to hit a few walls."

"Setbacks help people grow. I’m only afraid that kid will go to extremes."

The Professor said this just as Jean walked over and reported, "Professor, I examined Jason’s condition. It’s very bad. His prefrontal cortex was removed, and because cerebrospinal fluid has been extracted from him for so long, his brain is shrinking."

Storm cursed indignantly, "He didn’t even spare his own son. Colonel Stryker deserves to die."

"Stryker."

The Professor was angry as well. After a moment, he sighed. "Do your best to treat him. Jason ended up this way partly because of me. Back then, I should not have sent him back home."

Jean nodded. "I will do my best to soothe the fear in his heart."

As the three spoke, Cyclops entered with Nightcrawler and said, "I’ve already shown him around the academy."

"Very good."

The Professor asked Nightcrawler gently, "Kurt, are you willing to stay at the academy?"

"Yes, very willing. Everyone here is kind, and no one discriminates against me."

Nightcrawler nodded repeatedly. When Wang Bert sent Mastermind over, he had sent Nightcrawler along as well. Wang Bert had said that Nightcrawler could choose for himself and would not be forced.

"That’s good."

A smile appeared on the Professor’s face. He asked, "Kurt, were you there when Bert killed Stryker?"

Scott, Storm, and Jean all looked at Nightcrawler. Nightcrawler shook his head and said, "I was there, but I swore to God that I would not reveal any information. Otherwise, I’ll go to Hell."

"Bert is quite cautious in his work."

The Professor did not force Nightcrawler. He said, "In that case, I won’t ask. Kurt, attend classes with the other students. However, if parents come by, I hope you can keep out of sight. It can’t be helped. Some parents do not know this is a Mutant Academy."

"No problem. If outsiders come, I’ll hide immediately."

Nightcrawler nodded, then asked, "By the way, is there a church here? I need to pray every day. If there isn’t one, I can only go to a nearby church."

This made Scott and the other two feel rather strange, considering that he looked almost exactly like the devil of legend.

The Professor said, "There’s a small chapel in the backyard. If you wish, you can live there. Uh, the school has always lacked a priest. Perhaps you could take the position part-time."

"Me, a priest?"

Nightcrawler was excited, but even more uncertain. "Professor, can I really do it?"

The Professor smiled. "How will you know unless you try?"

"Professor, you really are a good person."

Nightcrawler said gratefully. Just as Psylocke and the others had said, the Professor was a truly good man.

The Professor was about to say something more when the phone on him suddenly rang. He took it out and answered, his expression gradually turning ugly.

A moment later, the Professor put down the phone and said to Cyclops, "Scott, Ororo, take the plane to Lofen City in Great Canada. It seems the Mutant Brotherhood is planning something.

"The current situation is very favorable to us. We cannot let them continue causing destruction."

With the Professor’s abilities, it was only natural that he had developed a few informants within the Mutant Brotherhood. This was also one reason why, over all these years, the Mutant Brotherhood had never been able to defeat the Mutant Academy.

In truth, aside from control, the Professor could also spy on people. Magneto loathed this deeply and called every so often to curse the Professor out.

"Alright."

Cyclops and Storm nodded at the same time, then turned and headed for the underground base to launch the jet fighter.

Nightcrawler asked curiously, "Do you fight often?"

Jean smiled. "The students usually call us the X-Men."

Nightcrawler blinked. For some reason, he suddenly developed a tremendous interest in the X-Men. Perhaps one day, he too could become an X-Man and fight to protect the world.

At a small-town bar outside Lofen City, Logan drank with a gloomy expression. He simply could not understand why Wang Bert had made him return to his old trade, or why he had given him one strict order—wear a seat belt while driving.

"I can’t die anyway, so why wear a seat belt? And what does it mean, making me go back to being a driver? I’m Wolverine, a man worth billions of dollars."

Logan could not make sense of it. Why did all those big shots like to play coy? Wouldn’t it be better to explain things clearly? "Another drink."

Logan called to the bartender. The bartender refilled his glass and asked, "You look unhappy."

Logan pulled out a small banknote and handed it to the bartender. "I’m pissed off and looking for someone to fight. Got any recommendations?"

The bartender skillfully pocketed the banknote and said to Logan, "There’s an underground fighting ring downstairs. It should be starting soon."

"An underground fighting ring? I like that."

Logan smiled. Just then, the bar door was pushed open, and a young girl carrying a large, tightly wrapped bundle entered nervously.

When Logan turned and saw the girl, an inexplicable urge to protect her rose in his heart. He immediately shook his head. He was Wolverine, a man of iron and steel. He would never be fooled by a young girl’s pitiful appearance.

Three minutes later, Logan’s iron fist smashed into a drunk who intended to assault the girl.

Five minutes later, iron-hearted Logan was on the road with the girl, even giving her his own food and fussing over her the entire way.

Meanwhile, in the New York office, Wang Bert looked at the banknote that had not vanished and muttered, "It didn’t activate? That means Wolverine has already met Rogue? They really are fated."

Magneto’s crappy machine has to be destroyed. Otherwise, everything I did before will have been for nothing.

Wang Bert was thinking this when Yuriko walked in and said, "The president has been sending people to call you. Should I still tell them you’re unavailable?"

Wang Bert said, "I’ll go to the White House tomorrow to see him. With Magneto dragging us down, this can’t be delayed for too long. No one knows what will happen in the future. We should secure the benefits first."

"Alright, I’ll reply to them immediately."

Yuriko nodded. When the president’s staff received her call, they nearly wept with joy. That person had finally agreed to meet them.

The next day, at the White House, the president looked at Wang Bert and Yuriko entering and said coldly, "It certainly hasn’t been easy to get a meeting with you, Mr. Wang."

Wang Bert smiled. "It hasn’t been easy to meet you either, Mr. President."

"Mr. Wang, where did you get that intelligence?"

The president wanted to put Wang Bert in his place and demanded loudly, "And what happened to Colonel Stryker? He is a military colonel. Before he has been tried, no one is allowed to harm him."

At the same time, Director Goring said darkly, "Bert Wang, as far as we know, your female secretary was Stryker’s former secretary."

"My intelligence came from an American with a conscience. As for what happened to Colonel Stryker, I’m sorry, but I don’t know."

Wang Bert shot Director Goring a disdainful glance and said, "Mr. President, is this what you invited me here to discuss? If so, then we’re done."

With that, Wang Bert turned and prepared to leave. Seeing this, the president hurriedly said, "Wait. What other intelligence did that American with a conscience give you?"

"You’ll see it in the news."

Wang Bert said as he walked toward the door. The bodyguards immediately blocked the entrance. Wang Bert waved his hand, and both bodyguards were teleported onto the lawn outside with two heavy thuds.