“Let’s assume the person behind the attack really did plan it in order to push the President into issuing certain orders.” “But what does that have to do with the school?” “Why do you think the school is the mastermind’s real target?” Cyclops looked at Roy and continued questioning him.
Roy’s theory did sound reasonable, but Cyclops still didn’t believe the person behind the attack was targeting the school.
“Why?” “The reason is simple.
Because the school is powerful.” Roy answered immediately.
“Because the school is powerful?” Hearing his answer, not only Cyclops but Phoenix and Storm also looked at him in confusion.
Only Professor X frowned thoughtfully.
“If this were just an ordinary school, then whoever planned the attack naturally wouldn’t be interested in it.” “But the problem is that this school is anything but ordinary.” “Forget Cerebro underground, which can connect to every human mind on the planet.
That supersonic Blackbird that can take off from the basketball court alone would already be considered a major threat by certain people and organizations.” “And from a certain perspective, Mr.
Scott and the rest of you are all extremely powerful walking weapons.” “The kind capable of launching large-scale attacks, too.” “Whether someone wanted to eliminate a potential threat in advance or seize the school and everyone’s power for themselves, this place would be an extremely valuable target.” Roy explained unhurriedly.
He hadn’t outright said that the President might order the military to attack the school.
But if Cyclops and the others still couldn’t understand what he was implying after hearing this much, then they would have been far too slow.
After Roy finished speaking, the office fell completely silent.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere immediately settled over the room.
Cyclops and the others didn’t know why Roy had arrived at this conclusion, but they had to admit that his reasoning made sense.
Several dozen seconds passed before Professor X finally spoke.
“What Roy described is indeed possible, but it may also never happen.” “If we want to learn the truth, we’ll need to find the mutant who attacked the President.” “His movements are extremely unpredictable.
Even with Cerebro, it will be difficult for me to locate him immediately.” “Once I confirm his location, Ororo, Jean, the two of you will bring him back.” Professor X ultimately made the same decision he had in the movie.
He intended to send Storm and Phoenix to bring Nightcrawler back.
“Understood, Professor.” Storm and Phoenix answered at the same time.
“All right.
The rest of you can leave.
I have something I’d like to discuss with Roy privately.” Professor X continued.
Although Cyclops and the others had no idea what Professor X wanted to discuss with Roy alone, the three of them quickly left the office.
Once only Roy and Professor X remained, Professor X slowly asked, “Roy, do you dislike the government?” Uh… Roy hadn’t expected Professor X to suddenly ask him that.
After thinking for a few seconds, he answered calmly, “I wouldn’t say I dislike them.” “I just don’t trust them very much.” Just don’t trust them?
Although Professor X couldn’t use telepathy to read Roy’s true thoughts, he knew Roy was being far too diplomatic.
Cyclops and the others might not have noticed it.
But to Professor X, Roy’s earlier remarks had come dangerously close to outright saying that the President might send troops to attack the school.
“When it comes to mutant affairs, there are indeed many things the government has handled poorly.” “But they act that way because they stand on humanity’s side.” “Those who are not of our kind may not share our interests.” “Roy, you’re Chinese.
You should be familiar with that saying.” “So even if the government cannot treat mutant-related issues completely fairly at the moment, I hope you can try to understand them.” “I’m not asking you to completely surrender your right to resist.” “I simply hope you can show them a little more patience.” Professor X looked at Roy with a kindly expression.
His words weren’t entirely without reason.
But Roy didn’t really agree with them.
He could understand why the government couldn’t remain perfectly impartial when dealing with mutant affairs.
He could also understand why ordinary humans might fear or resent mutants.
But that didn’t mean he believed it was reasonable for mutants to endure unfair treatment.
Those were two different things.
“Professor, I may have that kind of patience, but that doesn’t mean they will.” “I admire and respect everything you’ve done for mutants.” “But I still think you sometimes place too much trust in the government.” “Mutants and ordinary humans absolutely can coexist peacefully, but that peace won’t come from constant compromise and retreat.” Roy looked directly at Professor X and spoke seriously.
He understood that Professor X had his own difficulties and countless factors to consider.
Even so, no matter how Roy looked at it, he still felt that Professor X lacked a certain degree of toughness.
A simple example was William Stryker.
If Professor X were just a little more forceful and domineering, Stryker wouldn’t dare target the school even if he had ten times the courage.
Nuclear weapons and the like were barely more threatening than primitive wooden clubs compared to the combination of Professor X and Cerebro.
Professor X with Cerebro couldn’t even be described as merely a weapon of mass destruction.
He was an extinction weapon.
A weapon capable of erasing an entire species in a very short amount of time.
If Professor X and Magneto had exchanged mutant abilities, the ones facing discrimination and unfair treatment right now wouldn’t be mutants.
It would be ordinary humans.
“Compromise and retreat truly cannot bring genuine peace.” “But blindly relying on force and domination cannot bring true peace either.” “You’re still young.
Perhaps you think an old man like me is too weak.” “But I genuinely do not want you to become a second Eric.” The Eric Professor X referred to was none other than Magneto.
Roy’s current strength was nowhere near as dangerous as Magneto’s.
But Professor X knew that if he simply ignored the situation and allowed Roy’s hostility toward the government and ordinary humans to grow unchecked, Roy might eventually become another Magneto.
“You don’t need to worry, Professor.” “Disliking the U.S.
government doesn’t mean I’ll become hostile toward ordinary people.” Roy replied calmly.
“That’s good.” “All right.
There’s nothing else.
You can head back.” Professor X continued.
“Okay, Professor.” With that, Roy left the office and headed toward his dormitory.
The moment he returned to his room, the system’s voice sounded inside his mind.
Main Mission: Defense of the School!
Mission Objective: Repel the armed force attacking the school tonight and successfully defend the school!
Mission Reward: Observation Haki!
… Looking at the mission panel in front of him, a satisfied smile appeared on Roy’s face.
Finally!
The system had finally issued his first main mission!