mtl008 Chapter 4695 X Royal Clash (1)
Chapter 4695 X Royal Clash (1)
Chapter 4695 X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (Part 1)
Magneto looked at Schiller with a complex expression. Schiller's plan had achieved almost everything they wanted, but not in the honorable way they desired. Instead, it was half absurd, half evil, but undeniably successful.
Years ago, Magneto also resorted to ruthless means because he had witnessed too much evil in the world and knew that good deeds rarely go unrewarded. If no one upholds procedural justice, mutants will never obtain the justice they desire.
Years later, Magneto realized that being a good person was far easier than being a bad one. What he thought he could gain by abandoning morality was actually still very far away. It turned out that achieving goals through evil means often required far more sophisticated methods.
Because if you choose to be a good person, universal morality will be on your side, no matter what. But if you want to defy the world, you'd better have the courage and ability to overcome the world alone, and the latter is the most crucial factor.
In Magneto's view, Schiller's actions perfectly demonstrated what it means to "make politics an art of compromise." First, he used the captured Stark Industries drones to pressure other factions on Earth, dividing them in exchange for their compromise on the issue of mutant nation-building. Then, he compromised himself, abandoning the idea of nation-building and instead establishing nature reserves and a foundation, playing the environmental card. Finally, he leveraged the unique properties of Clarkia to promise benefits to other mutant factions, inducing them to compromise further, easing internal pressure, and ultimately achieving internal and external unity. The operation was smooth and seamless, and the methods were undeniably brilliant.
"Now I understand why mutants in your universe have developed so well," Magneto said, looking at Schiller with some emotion. "We still have a lot to learn in politics."
“Don’t rush, there are plenty of people who are not as good as you,” Schiller said. “Three, two, one…”
"Magneto!!!" A roar came from outside the door, followed by a metal can flying in and landing in the room. The voice shouted, "What's going on? The news says you've given up on building a nation?!"
Magneto felt a bit of a headache. Now he understood the helpless expression Schiller occasionally wore, because explaining the principles behind this from beginning to end was really difficult. More importantly, the other party might not even be able to understand it.
“Yes, we’ve given up.” Magneto simply told him the result directly. “The time is not right now, so we’ve decided to take a step back and conserve our strength.”
"But what about the Redgate Orchid factory?!" The main universe's Iron Man was clearly only concerned with this. "A powerful weapon against mutants, just hanging over your heads like that, and you're not going to do anything about it?"
“The raiding squad is wiped out,” Magneto said. “This proves that mutants really can’t handle that thing. That’s why we called for reinforcements. If you have a solution, then go ahead and do it.”
The main universe's Iron Man stared blankly at him, and after a long while, spread his hands and said, "You're just giving up like that? You're counting on us?"
Magneto nodded and said, "Yes, I can hand over command to you. But don't get your hopes up too high. The mutants don't have many survivors left, and they're being tightly controlled by the Sentinels."
"What about Professor X? Isn't he still..."
“He’s injured,” Magneto explained using his previous explanation, then added, “The White Queen is also tied up right now; she has to help Charles heal.”
“Damn it,” said the main universe Iron Man, “you guys were way too reckless. How could Professor X have made his move at that moment?”
He then landed on the ground, put one hand on his hip, shook his head, sighed, and said, "The situation is very bad. The outer defense of that thing is very difficult to break through. I am trying to overcome the technical difficulties, but it will take some time. I am afraid that the mother model will wake up at this time."
Magneto knew this was unlikely. After the mutants withdrew from the conflict, it was entirely a struggle between various human factions for the Red Gate Orb. Under these circumstances, they would absolutely not allow the Mother Model to awaken. Before ownership was decided, an awakened Mother Model could attack anyone, and they wouldn't want to put themselves in such great danger. Therefore, the awakening of the Mother Model would actually be postponed.
However, he glanced at Schiller, who nodded at him, so Magneto said, "This is indeed very dangerous. Do you have any ideas?"
“To delay the awakening of the Mother Model, we must find a laboratory capable of controlling her. The research team should have the control device to awaken her,” said Iron Man from the main universe. “The Avengers want to organize a raid, but that might require mutant assistance. You need to find the laboratory first.”
Magneto sneered inwardly. The hardest part of this plan was finding the lab. If they could find it, would they need to go to Redgateland to their deaths?
He was about to refuse when Schiller nodded at him again. Magneto lowered his gaze, feigned reluctance for a few moments, and then said, "The professor isn't feeling well, so it's difficult to conduct a large-scale search. We have some suspects, and we can only investigate them one by one. Let's just hope we have enough manpower."
The main universe's Iron Man, having received a satisfactory answer, left. Magneto looked at Schiller and asked, "What's he planning?"
“He still wants Redgate Orchid’s technology,” Schiller said. “He also wants you to deplete Earth’s resources. After all, a war of attack and defense against the lab will inevitably result in losses for both sides, and might even damage the Avengers in this universe.”
“That’s probably inevitable,” Magneto said. “If a search and raid are to be launched, I will definitely participate. I can’t say for sure that I can defeat the Avengers, but I can certainly injure a few of them. However, I myself may also get injured, and in the end, it may be a lose-lose situation.”
“That’s what he wants,” Schiller said. “You both suffer heavy losses, he gets the technology, upgrades the armor, and then he descends as a savior, taking advantage of your weakness to mediate.”
Magneto frowned, and Schiller continued to explain: "From the perspective of the Avengers in the main universe, this is not incomprehensible, and it is even a good plan. Because if you are all strong, and significantly stronger than them, you will not accept mediation. Only when both sides are weakened, and they have power that surpasses all of you, will you obediently stop."
"You don't need to be disappointed. They weren't here to help mutants in the first place. All they wanted from the beginning was 'mediation,' to show the multiverse that they had the ability to mediate cosmic-level wars. They didn't care who suffered losses in the process, or even if both sides suffered losses and had to rely on them, it would be the best outcome. So they won't stop instigating you two to deplete each other's strength."
"And what about you?" Magneto couldn't help but ask, "What is your purpose?"
“You might not believe it, but we’re here to stop the main universe,” Schiller said, shaking his head. “If we don’t let them suffer a great loss, things like this will happen frequently. It may seem like we’ve suppressed the war, but if we don’t address the root cause, it will still ignite everywhere and eventually burn us down. To avoid this, it’s better to stop it in advance.”
Magneto nodded and said, "If I were the main universe, perhaps I would do the same. But unfortunately, I can't let them run rampant on our turf."
“If we must say we have any deeper purpose…” Schiller adjusted his glasses and then said, “The foundation for establishing the Multiverse Human Alliance is to make every multiverse understand that it is most beneficial for everyone to act within the rules. Those who pursue ruthless power will only suffer great losses.”
“I think you can do it,” Magneto said.
He paused for a moment, then asked, "You want me to agree to Iron Man's plan, but we really don't know where the lab is. Even if we did, we probably wouldn't have the resources to raid it."
Schiller shook his head and said, "You don't need to investigate; clues will come to you naturally. Don't forget, right now, it's who least wants the mother model to wake up."
As soon as he finished speaking, Professor X's voice appeared in Schiller's mind: "Doctor, a severely injured mutant has just been teleported to the island using the Clarkia Flower. Please go to the central teleportation array to provide first aid."
“Coming right away.” Schiller relayed these words verbatim to Magneto, who was somewhat shocked. The two hurried to the central teleportation array, the unified landing point for all mutants who had been teleported to the island via the Clare Flower.
The teleportation array was located on a mountain, across the river from where Schiller and his group had landed. This place was much more magnificent and imposing, with a towering polygonal hall and a dome entirely made of stained glass, which made the entire teleportation array hall bright and dazzling under the sunlight.
As soon as they arrived, they found several mutants standing helplessly to the side. The hall reeked of blood. Magneto waved his hand, and the other mutants quickly scattered. Schiller rushed over and saw a blonde female mutant lying on the ground. Her skin was a deep purple, and she had probably been shot more than a dozen times.
Fortunately, her mutant ability included some healing factor, so there was no major bleeding from the wound. However, the bullet was stuck. She was screaming in pain, and Schiller performed some first aid, but it wasn't very effective. So all he could say was, "Quick, get her to the hospital and find someone to remove the bullet!"
There are hospitals on Clarkia Island, of course, but the problem is they lack professional doctors. There are four or five mutants who would be doctors in normal society, but they're all internists. And the two nurses are even less likely to practice medicine.
Schiller gave her a simple examination, and everything else seemed fine, except for a bullet lodged in a very dangerous spot in her heart. Moreover, this mutant was constantly healing herself, and removing the bullet would require a complex expert consultation—something Schiller and his few internists simply couldn't handle.
Schiller sighed and left the hospital alone. He went to the Avengers' rest area, knocked on the door, and found everyone there, surprised by his arrival.
"A mutant has been attacked on Earth. It seems she discovered the location of the Earth laboratory at Redgateland and was subsequently silenced. She is now in critical condition and needs surgery. Doctor Strange, come with me quickly."
"Wait, what?" Doctor Strange, who was meditating on the sofa, paused for a moment, then said, "I'm not a doctor anymore."
“Whether you are or not, you have to be now.” Schiller looked into his eyes and said, “Clarkia Island is too far from the mainland. Even if we sent mutants to kidnap the doctor, it wouldn’t be fast enough. Only you can perform this surgery now.”