Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5765 - 4788: X Royal Family: Rebirth (28)

Shiller entered Stark’s room just as the latter was leaning against the bed, engrossed in his thoughts, his complexion showing improvement. A smile touched Shiller’s lips as he took a seat by the window and inquired, "How are you feeling?"

"I’m alright," Stark replied. "I figured it out quite some time ago. It had to be the mutants themselves behind this. Many of the weaker moments were simply an act, and I've nearly made a full recovery."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"I harbored suspicions previously. Do you recall our discussion about why mutants, surrounded by adversaries, opted to construct a hot spring? Charles wouldn't initiate something so pressing without an ulterior motive."

Stark paused briefly before continuing, "However, the definitive proof came from the energy signature I extracted from the engine. Erik placed it there directly, and I recognize its distinct imprint."

"It’s fortunate you were the one to retrieve it," Shiller remarked. "If the local Iron Man had attempted to extract the energy, he might have sensed something amiss."

"He wouldn't have," Stark scoffed. "Charles isn’t that negligent. The energy he infused into the engine was potent enough to overwhelm an average Iron Man battle suit, and the chamber would undoubtedly have been inundated with lava, leaving no trace of evidence."

"Nevertheless," Stark sighed, adding, "he likely wasn't concerned about Iron Man perishing within, given The Avengers' volatile nature..."

"He held no such concerns. There are simply too many individuals capable of rescuing Iron Man, myself included," Shiller stated, shaking his head. "I had deduced Charles's involvement long before, so there was no way I would permit Iron Man to perish. You and Strange are no different. Charles understood our propensity to cooperate, which emboldened him to take such a gambit."

"To him, it wasn't even a gamble," Stark mused after a moment's reflection. "I've encountered numerous rumors during my recent tenure in Congress. The mutants are, admittedly, quite formidable. They significantly influenced the downfall of the Three Great Empires."

"This indicates that mutants possess substantial political leverage," Shiller asserted. "Professor X and Magneto are primarily restrained by their hesitation to deviate from established paths, lacking practical experience. Once the situation on Krakoa stabilizes, there remains hope for further advancements."

"This endeavor has proven successful," Stark declared with conviction. "Krakoa's circumstances are poised for swift improvement, and its development can finally commence."

Stark’s foresight proved accurate. The volcanic eruption incident was a meticulously orchestrated strategic maneuver. It not only achieved its intended objectives but also yielded several unexpected and welcome benefits.

Upon The Avengers' return to American soil, a palpable sense of frustration permeated the group. They had encountered this type of predicament far too often – tirelessly battling on the front lines, only to be undermined by the US government's clandestine operations.

This particular incident served as a prime example. Even the most optimistic among them could only conclude that S.H.I.E.L.D. or the US government had intercepted The Avengers’ private discussions, learned about the hot spring bathhouse construction, and subsequently devised this scheme, enlisting the aid of mutant operatives stationed on Krakoa Island to execute their plan.

The most galling aspect of this situation was their apparent disregard for The Avengers’ safety when dealing with mutants. Krakoa Island already imposed restrictions on mutants, and had the volcano’s eruption not been contained, the mutants might have been unable to intervene, potentially trapping The Avengers on the island as well.

Furthermore, targeting the water system’s engine was, without question, a catastrophic miscalculation. If the volcano had truly erupted, a significant number of mutants would have fallen, either dead or severely injured. Would the remaining survivors have shown mercy to Iron Man? They might have pursued him relentlessly. Even if The Avengers managed to escape, they would be powerless to protect him, as the surviving mutants would be extraordinarily powerful and consumed by fury. No one could withstand the combined wrath and pursuit of so many Omega-Level and Alpha-Level mutants. Iron Man would have been irrevocably doomed.

Even now, despite the absence of mutant casualties, their trust has been irrevocably shattered, and their relationship is definitively fractured. Should news of this incident leak, The Avengers' credibility would also be utterly ruined. With so many ambassadors present, it was virtually impossible for the information to remain contained.

In essence, they had dedicated themselves to countless security operations in New York, only to be ensnared in a conspiracy designed to harm them, potentially leading to their collective demise. Who wouldn’t find this infuriating?

Consequently, upon their return, The Avengers created an uproar, nearly demolishing the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Nick Fury valiantly attempted to maintain order, but he was powerless to restrain an enraged Iron Man.

Iron Man journeyed directly to Washington, demanding the revocation of the sanction orders. Predictably, the White House officials were unreceptive; they even suspected their own involvement might have played a part. They felt entirely justified, viewing the calculated risk to eliminate mutants as a near-perfect achievement, arguably one of their most successful clandestine operations in recent decades. Instead of abandoning this 'victory,' they intended to capitalize on it, completely disregarding Iron Man's entreaties.

Individuals like Iron Man necessitate a delicate approach. While his initial motivation to aid mutants stemmed from guilt, Washington's defiant stance ignited his fury, compelling him to engage in a fierce battle with Congress.

Political maneuvering was not Iron Man's preferred arena, yet as a billionaire, he wielded a team of advisers and staff, all eager to impress their formidable boss. Under their clandestine operations, the political landscape of Washington was thrown into utter disarray.

Beyond the political skirmishes, Iron Man strategically mobilized his resources. Fully aware of America's critical vulnerabilities, he promptly unveiled a groundbreaking medical research initiative for Stark Group. This ambitious project, centered around the potent Flower of Krakoa, aimed to introduce a suite of revolutionary new drugs and establish his own medical foundation, with the grandiose declaration of rebuilding America's entire medical system.

This move was a direct assault on the established order. Stark, already a titan of the military-industrial complex, now sought to dominate the medical-industrial complex as well, aiming to seize all profits while holding America captive.

The critical point was that Iron Man was not merely making empty pronouncements. His unparalleled technological prowess and extensive research capabilities ensured that any endeavor he pursued was attainable. Should he successfully engineer the Universal Divine Medicine from the Flower of Krakoa and gain control over it, every other pharmaceutical and even medical insurance company would be rendered obsolete.

Could these pharmaceutical and medical insurance giants remain unperturbed? They frantically sought to identify the catalyst behind this esteemed figure's sudden drastic change. For so long, he had been engrossed in his battle suits; what newfound revelation had inspired this dramatic U-turn?

After considerable investigation, the complete picture emerged. The source of the problem was once again the infuriating Congress. To prevent Iron Man's potentially catastrophic actions from destabilizing their businesses, the collective medical establishment exerted immense pressure on Congress, demanding the immediate revocation of sanctions to placate him.

As this standoff ensued, other nations were not standing idly by. Wakanda and China, upon learning of the devastating magnitude 10.0 earthquake that struck Krakoa Island, promptly offered humanitarian aid. They dispatched numerous rescue vessels, extensive rescue personnel, and a vast array of medical supplies. Under the guise of humanitarian assistance, they strategically initiated a series of trade support plans.

Such occurrences were hardly uncommon. When a nation faced a profound disaster, particularly one of catastrophic and sudden onset, many countries readily extended assistance, typically in the form of financial aid, labor, and subsequently, support agreements. In essence, after the afflicted nation resumed production, these nations would procure agricultural or industrial products to aid in economic recovery.

This generosity was not solely altruistic. Fundamentally, every nation functions as both a producer and a consumer market; some excel in production with limited domestic consumption, while others possess high consumption rates and minimal output. Regardless, international trade invariably played a crucial role.

Producers in other nations were disinclined to see their markets compromised, thus advocating for the swift recovery of local economies to facilitate their sales. Conversely, buyers harbored concerns about potential supply chain disruptions, desiring a rapid restoration of original production centers, thereby bolstering aid to disaster-stricken nations.

Krakoa's situation mirrored this dynamic. Wakanda aimed to establish a monopoly in high-end medical technology by leveraging Krakoa's resources, envisioning the Flower of Krakoa enhancing Wakanda's healthcare system. Consequently, their support was essential; only through the mutants' swift recovery from adversity could their collaborative ventures endure. China pursued a similar agenda, prioritizing the mutants' living environment alongside medical cooperation, thus extending their aid.

While no overt international objections were raised, the rationale of humanitarian aid was overwhelmingly potent. To oppose it would invariably paint an organization as heartless, damaging its international reputation. Notably, the progressive factions in Europe remained conspicuously silent, leaving other nations with no grounds for dissent.

However, Europe pivoted its strategy. They asserted that the volcanic eruptions on Krakoa Island, spewing ash-filled smoke, had severely polluted Earth's environment, particularly impacting Europe's air quality. Consequently, they demanded compensation and insisted on deploying environmental agencies to conduct thorough investigations.

This was an undeniable trap. European environmental agencies operated under direct government influence, meaning any tests conducted would undoubtedly yield unfavorable results, swiftly leading to demands for substantial compensation.

Yet, the core argument persists: Krakoa's status as a nature reserve implies that environmental initiatives are accessible to both regular people and mutants.

Krakoa put forth a counter-argument: "Rare protected species facing earthquake and volcanic threats," initiating a public donation drive, particularly at environmental forums in Europe, which greatly angered environmentalists there.

When informed that a nature reserve prohibits state-level international affairs, they retorted that such reserves are eligible for governmental assistance. Furthermore, when accused of acting like a country bearing global environmental duties, they argued that as a sanctuary for rare species, humanity holds the responsibility for their well-being.

Decades of government-led public relations had cultivated an environment in Europe distinctly leaning towards the 'White Left' ideology. Consequently, countless unwitting citizens believed that a picturesque island in the Atlantic, teeming with exotic wildlife, had endured devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. They readily contributed funds.

Even more absurd was the sight of protestors demanding that European governments take accountability for Krakoa Island's seismic incidents. They alleged that human oceanic exploration had disrupted Krakoa Island's geological stability, provoking volcanic disturbances and thus requiring funding to restore its ecosystem. Failure to do so, they contended, would be environmentally irresponsible.

All that can be remarked upon is Charles's masterful exploitation of the cryptocurrency available on the mainland. His actions left European politicians utterly exasperated, akin to encountering a specter after innumerable nocturnal strolls. Even gorillas, it seemed, were now leveraging the environmental issue.