Capítulo 633: Charles’ Request
In the future footage exposed by the Quiz game, Sebastian Shaw's crimes and ambitions were laid bare for all to see.
From humanity's perspective, this remnant scum was undeniably a heinous villain beyond redemption!
Thus, the public wanted notice for Sebastian Shaw's capture was justified. America, however, took it a step further, using Shaw as a political weapon to attack the Soviet Union. They propagated stories of how Shaw had colluded with the Soviets to destroy humanity, painting the two as conspirators working hand in hand.
In response, the Soviets scrambled to distance themselves from Shaw. They used the opportunity to root out internal moles while ramping up efforts to capture him. KGB agents, brimming with determination, scoured the globe with the singular goal of apprehending Shaw—and doing so before the Americans.
With the two global superpowers engaging their national machinery, the consequences were unprecedented. No matter how many hideouts Shaw had, his odds of escape were slim.
Shaw wasn't the only one affected, though. Other mutants, including Erik and Charles, were dragged into the fray.
In Erik's case, his radical stance and "terrorist-like" behavior, as shown in the future footage, made him the second-most wanted mutant after Shaw. His immense power only solidified his place on every nation's most-wanted list.
Charles' situation, however, was more complicated.
Analysis from global intelligence teams and think tanks revealed that Charles posed a threat equal to, if not greater than, Shaw or Erik. His telepathic abilities, in particular, were deemed a massive danger to human society.
The problem, however, was that Charles was firmly on humanity's side. Had the Quiz game not exposed the future, it might have been easier for the authorities to smear his name or fabricate crimes to frame him.
But now the entire world had witnessed Charles' kindness, sense of justice, and goodwill toward humanity. Given public sentiment, the authorities had no choice but to conduct a secret hunt for him, deploying elite agents with no less zeal than they did for Erik.
When Bruce Banner and his companions arrived, they immediately dealt with a heavily armed special forces team attempting to infiltrate Charles' mansion.
Of course, even without their intervention, Charles would have been able to handle the situation. Against ordinary humans, his telepathy was a near-unbeatable weapon.
Still, Charles wasn't invincible. Following the hints from the future footage, it wouldn't be difficult for governments to develop helmets to block telepathic interference. And once they succeeded, they would surely refine and mass-produce such tools.
Moreover, at this point in time, Charles was still relatively inexperienced. Though he possessed great potential, his abilities hadn't yet matured. The range of his telepathic influence was limited, and if the authorities were determined to kill him, a remote sniper or missile strike could easily level his mansion—and him along with it.
So when Charles suggested that Bruce use their portal technology to help relocate people, Diana immediately accused him of trying to flee his world.
Charles smiled faintly and shook his head. "No, I can't just leave. This place needs me. My fellow mutants are in crisis right now!, I have to find them before the special forces do, secure their safety, and prevent Sebastian Shaw or… Erik from leading them down a destructive path."
Indeed, Charles had no intention of abandoning everything. Despite his precarious situation, his sense of responsibility had only grown stronger.
Responsibility was deeply ingrained in his character. After seeing the grim future revealed in the Quiz game footage—especially the hardships he himself would endure—Charles did not falter. Instead, he became more determined to hold onto hope.
Most ordinary people, when faced with crises and challenges, instinctively choose to flee. It's human nature. But there are always exceptions—those who rise to challenges instead of running from them.
These individuals pursue dreams and ideals far loftier than mere power or wealth. Charles was one such idealist. No matter how bleak the future seemed, he wouldn't give up. If anything, adversity only fueled his resolve.
And his unyielding spirit inspired those around him.
Diana smiled warmly. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You're courageous, and the courageous are never alone. We'll help you weather this crisis—it's the least we can do."
Bruce, however, was more pragmatic and asked, "So, who do you want us to take with us?"
Charles glanced around. Nearby, Raven was leaning casually against a doorframe, while Hank sat shyly on a sofa.
In addition to these two, other mutants like Banshee, Darwin, and Angel were also taking refuge at Charles' mansion.
These mutants were sharp enough to realize trouble was brewing as soon as they saw themselves appear in the Quiz game. They quickly sought out Charles for protection, which conveniently aligned with his own plans to gather and shelter them.
The only exception was Alex, who was in prison. After his identity was revealed in the Quiz game, special agents wasted no time transferring him to a secure facility.
Charles' gaze lingered on Raven for a moment before turning back to Bruce. "I'd like you to take Raven, Hank, and the others.
I'm stretched too thin right now to protect them properly. I'd also like to establish a long-term partnership with your group. I'll do my best to locate more of my people and send them your way for temporary refuge. Once things here have stabilized, I'll bring them back."
It was a reluctant but necessary plan. The future revealed by the footage painted a grim picture of what awaited captured mutants.
In the current climate of heightened tensions and fear, the fate of mutant captives could be even worse than what was shown in the future footage.
Humanity—whether ordinary citizens or elite leaders—was terrified by the incredible abilities mutants displayed in the future. Driven by fear, governments were undoubtedly accelerating their research into mutants, setting up laboratories to study their powers, and developing weapons to counter them. The Sentinel Program glimpsed in the footage was only the beginning.
Though Charles was a moderate by nature, he wasn't naïve. He understood that any attempt to compromise or negotiate in such a hostile environment would only end with mutants being completely overrun and eradicated.
Just as the future footage had shown, when he founded a school for mutants, it wasn't long before the government forcibly drafted his students. In the current timeline, such a compromise would likely lead to mutants being captured and dissected in labs.
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