Shadow of the Beautiful World

Chase was worthy of being Dupont's good friend.

This chubby driver was as skilled at driving as Dupont. He walked through the streets and alleys, chatted with Merlin, and brought Merlin to Xavier Academy for Gifted Youth, which was located on the edge of Queens.

boom

Merlin closed the car door, reached out and handed a few banknotes to Chas. He said:

Thanks, Chas.

Mr. Merlin, do you need me to wait for you here? It's hard to get a taxi around here.

Chas poked his head out of the car window and said to Merlin:

I can give you a 20% discount.

No, Chas, go get busy, I won't delay your business.

Merlin shook his hand without looking back:

Be careful when you go to work at night, and call me if you encounter trouble.

Behind him, Chas shrugged, turned the steering wheel quickly, and steered the car away from this slightly remote place.

Merlin had seen information about Xavier Academy for Talented Boys more than once in the SHIELD documents. He knew that this seemingly normal academy actually recruited mutants who were abandoned or hostile by society. student.

This academy was established in the 1980s, but the rudiment of the mutant academy existed as early as the end of World War II.

It is said that Professor Charles, who was born in a wealthy family, once had an adventure with another leader of mutants, the radical Magneto King Eric Lanciel, when he was young.

They have done a lot of great things and are really good friends and brothers, but the two have always had ideological friction, and finally parted ways after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

To be honest, about that period of history, almost no one can tell the truth.

Even in the information left by Ms. Carter, the description of the deadliest incident of gunfire during the Cold War is vague. According to Ms. Carter, many people suspect that Professor Charles used his ability to forcibly cover up Cuba The truth about the missile crisis, but the problem is that no one can produce evidence to prove it.

Not even Ms. Carter herself was sure if her memory of that event was real or if it had been altered by that powerful mutant who was good at psychic powers.

This sounds a bit far-fetched, but the problem is that Professor Charles does have such an ability.

It is also because of this that in the internal files of S.H.I.E.L.D., Professor Charles' ability threat assessment has always been the highest s.

He may not be the most powerful mutant in the world, but he is definitely the most threatening to the government. From the perspective of maintaining public safety and social order, even the extremely destructive Magneto is threatening In terms of speed, it is not as good as him.

It is said that in the eyes of Professor Charles, there are no secrets in the world. For agents, he is really a dangerous person.

Merlin stood in front of the black fence gate of Xavier Academy for Gifted Youngsters, looking at the academy in front of him.

This place, just from the outside, is a bit too luxurious.

It is as big as 4 golf courses, like a small independent kingdom, in the middle of the green grass-lined land, there is a huge red castle-like building.

This building is very similar to the castle at Wayne Manor in Gotham City, both of which were built in the same era.

In front of the castle, there is also an elegant fountain. Under the sunshine, some children are playing on the grass, and several young people gather together to fish in the pond beside the grass.

At the end of Merlin's line of sight, there was even a grove, which seemed to be an embellishment of the family manor.

It is said that this area is the family property of Professor Charles, and that professor almost single-handedly supported the development of this college.

This is also enough to prove that Professor Charles' family was once very wealthy, perhaps not as prominent as the Wayne family, but it has definitely surpassed the category of ordinary people.

Ding

Merlin stretched out his hand and pressed the doorbell. A moment later, a low voice came from the intercom next to the door:

Sir, who are you looking for?

I'm looking for Professor Charles.

Merlin said in a gentle tone:

My name is Merlin, Merlin Riley.

Do you have an appointment, Mr. Merlin.

The voice on the intercom asked:

You should know that Professor Charles won't see you without an appointment.

Uh, I don't have an appointment.

Merlin says:

But I think the professor shouldn't reject me. You can ask the professor himself. Just say, I came here just to thank him.

The communicator was silent for a moment, then said:

Please wait a moment, Mr. Merlin.

The voice responded politely. A few minutes later, the closed black fence gate in front of Merlin's eyes slowly opened, and a red golf cart leisurely followed the road between the lawns and stopped in front of Merlin's eyes.

Mr. Merlin?

The driver was a big young man with short hair and his not-so-handsome face was like a rock cut by a knife and axe, and he looked very intimidating. But when he smiled, he was very gentle. This big man had a special, quiet temperament, just like an artist, um, a philosopher.

Get in the car, the professor is waiting for you.

Merlin got into the golf cart, and while looking at the beautiful scenery in the academy, he asked:

Are you a mutant too?

right.

The scrupulously driven young man replied:

My name is Piot Nikolaevich Rasputin, uh, my name is a bit long, don't mind, you can call me Piot, or simply call me 'Colossus'.

Huh? Colossus?

Merlin laughed:

This name is really domineering. Generally speaking, nicknames for mutants represent your abilities. So, you are actually a very powerful fighter?

That's right.

Piot smiled implicitly, and said to Merlin:

Are you a friend of the professor, Mr. Merlin?

That's right.

Merlin responded to the young people around him with the same sentence.

He didn't really want to talk about the matter between himself and the professor, because although Professor Charles had saved him twice, Merlin had never seen him. This was the first time that Merlin had formally met the professor, and the story between them could not be explained clearly in a few words.

Seeing that Merlin was unwilling to speak, and Gunlishi didn't continue to ask, this young man with a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder drove the car perfectly along the road between the lawns, and made a big circle before sending Merlin to the academy's small hall. At the gate of the castle, there was already a lady in a suit waiting for him.

It was a slender black lady with a pretty face and short silver-white hair that was impressive. According to Merlin's experience, that hair didn't look dyed, it should be her real hair color.

This is Ms. Ororo.

Colossus parked the car carefully, and then introduced to Merlin:

She is one of the professor's disciples, and she is also the vice president of the college. Then she will lead you to meet the professor.

If I didn't know that you are an academy, maybe I would have thought I had joined some secret organization.

Merlin jumped out of the car and joked to Colossus and the silver-haired Ms. Ororo:

In just a short distance, just change two guides. Your secrecy work is really good.

Faced with this ridicule, Colossus shrugged and did not speak, while Ororo said:

Mr. Merlin, after meeting the professor, you will understand the current situation, please follow me.

Ororo's work and the unhurried Colossus are two extremes. She has a strong execution ability and exudes the breath of a strong woman all over her body. Merlin adjusted her clothes, waved to the Colossus she just met, and Follow Ororo into the castle.

The two walked side by side in the clean corridor that smelled of history, and after a few seconds, Merlin suddenly asked:

Are you a wizard too?

Um.

Ororo nodded, she did not hide her identity, she said:

My family is a famous wizard family in a certain country in East Africa. It is also a family of mutants. For thousands of years, we have mastered the power to control wind, rain, thunder and lightning. I came to North America for some special reasons. Speaking of which, you are also a family. You are a wizard, right? Mr. Merlin, I met you a few times when I went to the Magic Congress to buy materials, and you had a great conversation with Wizard Samuel, it seems that you are their guest of honor.

A mutant and a wizard, Ms. Ororo, your dual identities are really surprising.

Merlin gave a small compliment, and while looking at the hanging paintings on both sides of the corridor, he said:

Maybe, we can find a time to talk about magic and spells.

sure.

Ororo didn't refuse, probably because of his identity as a wizard, the relationship between the two people was shortened a lot. The silver-haired lady said to Merlin:

After the students are on vacation, I will be free. We can go out to have dinner together. I heard that Mr. Raven, who is well-known in the New York heterogeneous world, is a powerful man who has mastered many advanced spells. Where's the wizard?

Hehe, that's just absurd praise and misinformation.

Merlin waved his hand and said calmly:

I'm just an ordinary wizard, and I just appeared in those events at the right time.

Having said that, Merlin and Ororo had already walked up to the third floor of the castle, his nose suddenly twitched, and he asked in a low voice:

It smells of medicine and blood, is anyone hurt?

right.

The female wizard Ororo's expression was a little downcast. She reached out and pushed open the closed door in front of her, and said to Merlin:

It's Professor Charles, my mentor. He was attacked by an unknown energy last night and just woke up a few hours ago.

last night?

Merlin's expression changed, he walked quickly into the room in front of him, and then saw a bald old man lying on a hospital bed, with a drug catheter inserted in his arm, on his cheeks and neck, there were Treated scratch marks.

Beside him is an intellectual beauty with long brown-red hair who is taking care of him. Judging from the way that beauty is familiar with Ororo, it should be another student of the professor.

Merlin looked at Professor Charles in front of him.

Apart from a bald, hairless, eyebrowless, beardless face, his appearance was not very striking, but the eyes were impressive, and they were so bright that they could almost be ignored The overall image of his face.

You came.

The professor was lying on the hospital bed with a weak tone.

Merlin nodded. He pushed his glasses, and his spirit vision activated. In his eyes, the professor's vitality was a little weak, but there was no sign of serious injury, which made Merlin feel a little relieved.

It seems that the brief contact between Professor Charles and the Queen of Pride last night was not peaceful, and judging from Raven's later performance, she won the air fight between her and the professor.

Even a mutant boss like Professor Charles has failed in front of the Arrogant Queen. It seems that the mysterious original sin in Ruiwen's body is really terrifying.

I have come to thank you, Mr. Charles.

Merlin pulled up a chair and sat beside the professor. He said to the old man on the hospital bed:

Thank you for your help last night, and even though I didn't like others entering my mind that time, you saved me after all.

Professor Charles tilted his head, lay on the pillow and looked at Merlin. He didn't answer, but smiled, as if to say, it's nothing.

I didn't bring any presents.

Merlin sat up straight, and he said to Charles in front of him:

That makes the thank you a bit insincere, but if there's anything I can do for you, I won't say no.

have.

The professor closed his eyes and thought for a moment. He didn't hide things. On the contrary, he said to Merlin very calmly:

Agent Merlin, recently, I have been paying attention to one thing. Some mutants, some mutants on the North American continent, some of whom I and you are following, have disappeared during this period of time.

He looked at Merlin, and he said:

Like Logan.

Logan?

Hearing the name, Merlin blinked, he remembered the name.

In the Avengers plan formulated by Fury, Logan's number is 003, even one higher than him, and Logan is indeed a mutant.

Yes, Logan, the powerful mutant you have always wanted to contact.

The professor sighed and said:

I have always had Logan's whereabouts before, but I don't know if I can trust you, and now, Logan's whereabouts have disappeared, I suspect he has encountered some troubles. If you can help us find Logan, and others Those missing mutants, then I would personally be very grateful to you.

The old man raised his hand helplessly, patted his body, and said to Merlin:

It was supposed to be my thing, but last night, I underestimated that kid and I paid the price for my recklessness.

The professor was affected by the recoil energy to use his ability, and a troublesome energy entrenched in his body.

Ororo stood behind Merlin and explained to him:

Until the professor recovers further, he cannot use his spiritual power to find those missing compatriots.

I need more information, some clues.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, he glanced at the professor, then at Ororo, and said:

The large-scale disappearance of people with abilities like mutants is already under the control of sl.d. I will help you find them. But when necessary, I also need your assistance.

Merlin says:

Powerful mutants like Logan are missing, which means that we cannot underestimate the forces that took them away.

Ororo exchanged glances with her mentor, Professor Charles who was lying on the bed, she nodded to Merlin, and she said:

Yes, we will send a trustworthy compatriot who will not hold back to assist you.

And we won't let you fight alone, Mr. Merlin. When necessary, the X-Men will also be dispatched.