"New York?"
Max pondered for a moment. "Let's split up. You head out from the farm and buy up all the nearby land you can find. Go wild. I'll make my way to New York to procure materials and bring Howard along. Might as well double-check a few things."
"Sounds good."
Esme nodded, then added suddenly, "Actually, this place is perfect. The climate's on our side, making large-scale attacks unlikely. There's plenty of space to house millions, with fishing, forestry, mining, and oil and gas resources ripe for development."
"What's on your mind?" Esme seemed to have something more to say.
Looking at Max, Esme smiled. "In a world of mutants, with an environment tailor-made for thriving, everything could be yours. This place could be your kingdom, and you its mutant monarch."
"You could amass wealth and power beyond measure!"
"Get some rest. We leave for New York tomorrow," Max calmly instructed Esme to settle in for the night.
Esme's eyes sparkled momentarily before she complied.
Though Max didn't respond directly to her words, she'd expressed similar sentiments before. Max's previous stance had been clear, but now, his lack of refusal hinted at a shift in thinking. And he remained remarkably composed throughout.
This left Esme unable to help but anticipate what lay ahead.
The night passed uneventfully, and the next morning, Esme and Max set off with cash, diamonds, and gold. In this new world, travel wasn't as simple as hopping on a plane, but Max had a workaround. Using his abilities, he planned to fly straight to New York, using the journey to further hone his powers and physical prowess.
As they soared towards New York, Max's mind wandered to memories of Marvel.
New York.
In 1945, the city wasn't the bustling metropolis of the old world. The architecture and vintage cars lent it a distinctly antiquated charm.
For the era, though, New York was already a beacon of prosperity and modernity.
In this world, Max wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. Despite being in New York, he could stroll the streets freely, albeit with occasional disdainful glances. Racial discrimination was rampant, especially towards Asians. They knew little about China and harbored negative sentiments towards Japan due to ongoing hostilities between the countries.
Max's first order of business upon arriving in New York was to change his attire from head to toe. As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Donning upscale garments helped him avoid unnecessary trouble. After securing accommodation at a hotel, Max inquired about where he could procure the materials he needed.
The process proceeded smoothly, and within half a day, Max managed to arrange for the necessary items to be shipped to Alaska, despite the hefty shipping fee. This saved him a considerable amount of hassle.
With the main task resolved, Max headed to a dealership to purchase a car. While the model was considered the latest in this era, Max still viewed it as a classic.
Despite knowing Howard Stark's whereabouts, Max chose not to return to the hotel or seek out Stark just yet. He had something important to verify.
His destination: West Chester, New York.
Overall, West Chester hadn't changed much between the two worlds, but there was a stark contrast in prosperity. Max drove towards the old Xavier's School, now a mere shadow of its former self.
Spotting a house in the distance, Max confirmed it was the one he sought. While slightly different from Xavier's School, it bore resemblances to its former structure and style, having been rebuilt.
"This is it," Max muttered to himself as he parked the car and made his way towards the house. In this era, a house of this size signified wealth and status. Entering the villa, Max first spotted a woman leisurely sipping coffee in the living room.
Ignoring her, Max ascended the stairs and entered one of the rooms.
Inside, a child engrossed in a book caught his eye.
Max quietly pushed the door open and stepped into the room, appearing before the child.
"Charles Xavier?" Max inquired.
The sudden voice seemed to startle the child. He turned to look at Max, a bit dazed, and glanced at the door.
"Who are you? How did you get in?" he asked, puzzled.
"It seems so," Max replied, taking a seat beside him. Charles Xavier—this name held another significance.
Professor X!
What Max aimed to confirm was whether mutants existed in this world. Now, it appeared that this world wasn't just home to Captain America or the Avengers; it resembled the Marvel universe in its own right.
Max glanced at Charles. The young boy appeared surprised and puzzled but not overly alarmed.
"Are you wondering why you can't read my mind?" Max asked with a smile. "Charles, Charles, we didn't cross paths in the old world, but here you are, just a child."
"You know about my ability. Are you... like me?" Little Charles inquired curiously.
"Mutant! It's because your body carries the mutant gene. That makes it easier to awaken and gain mutant abilities as a teenager," Max explained, conjuring a door.
He rose and pushed the door open.
"Are you leaving? What's your name? I have so many questions," young Charles hurriedly asked.
"God."
"We'll meet again when you grow up."
With those words, Max stepped through the door, and Charles instinctively reached out his hand.
The door vanished abruptly, leaving Charles grasping at thin air.
"God."
"Mutant!"
Excitement flooded Charles's face. Ever since discovering his special ability, he had firmly believed he couldn't be the only one in the world with such a gift. Now, finally, he had proof!
....
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