Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman Chapter 840: The Hidden Danger of the Phoenix

Returning the file to Professor X, Magneto intended to forget the name he had just seen.

He looked somewhat weary as he regarded his old friend.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"Meet with the President, give him this file, and provide him with the evidence of what happened here and the persecution suffered by mutants.

"We need to dispel his intention to take action against mutants."

"But this file is missing the most important part.

"Who are William Stryker's accomplices?

"We can suspect certain people, but there is no conclusive evidence proving that they were involved."

"That isn't our concern.

"The CIA, FBI, and the newly established Department of Homeland Security can investigate that.

"All we need to prove is that mutants were also victims in all of this.

"The X-Men have no investigative authority."

"So you've still decided to turn back and wag your tail for them.

"Is that it, Charles?"

"Someone has to provide a sanctuary for mutants who don't want to fight.

"That is something you can't do.

"Not everyone is eager to confront the government."

Knowing he couldn't win an argument against the old man in the wheelchair, Magneto seemed to let the matter go.

"Suit yourself."

He was about to leave with his people.

"Erik, aren't you coming with me?"

"An escaped convict like me is going to meet the President with you?

"Then the claim that mutants intended to assassinate the President of the United States will go from being a frame-up to being the truth.

"Is that really what you want?"

Professor X fell silent.

"So you will provide a sanctuary for mutants who don't want to fight, while I will provide a banner for mutants who want to resist.

"We each have our own role to play, my friend.

"Standing together isn't something we should do."

The words were far too clear, especially after being spoken in front of so many people.

Professor X couldn't very well stop Magneto or do anything further.

As for the U.S. soldiers who had also heard everything, Magneto trusted Professor X to make the "best" choice.

There was no need for him to remind Professor X.

Making people forget wasn't exactly the thing this powerful telepath was best at?

As the imposing old man, who could command countless followers with a single word, walked past Lady Deathstrike, he glanced at the Asian woman wearing nothing but an X-Men jacket.

"Child, do you have somewhere to go?"

His intention to recruit her was obvious.

Lady Deathstrike's expression showed that she was tempted.

But then she looked disgustedly at the lecherous men who had whistled at her.

"Are they your people too?"

"If anyone makes you unhappy, feel free to beat him up.

"As long as you don't kill or cripple him, it's a trivial matter.

"I've always believed that healthy competition is the key to progress.

"I don't need timid little goody-two-shoes."

Satisfied with the answer, Lady Deathstrike silently walked over to Magneto.

The old man preparing to leave revealed a pleased expression.

Professor X seemed about to object, but Magneto preempted him.

"Hey, hey, hey, my friend.

"Free will. Isn't that something you always emphasize?

"Whatever choice she makes, all we need to do is respect it."

Mystique, considerably more forceful, stepped forward and waved toward Magneto and the others.

"You go ahead.

"I have some things I want to ask Professor X."

"Raven…"

Professor X had barely managed to greet her when his old friend, whom he'd known since childhood, grabbed him by the tie.

Using her blue-skinned appearance, Mystique put on an angry, fierce expression.

"Charles, what the hell have you done to Jean's mind again?

"You really never learn, do you?"

"Wait, Raven!"

Just hearing Mystique's accusation, Cyclops and Storm, who were both in on the secret, immediately knew where the problem lay and hurried to stop their former big sister.

"We can explain."

How could Mystique not realize from the two younger X-Men's reactions that there was more to this?

But she didn't release her grip on the tie.

She simply waited for an explanation.

As Jean Grey's longtime boyfriend, Cyclops was naturally the most authoritative person to explain the matter.

"The problem lies with the Phoenix Force.

"The Phoenix Force, which Jean had originally brought under control, suddenly began losing control from time to time at some point.

"It even began affecting Jean's normal consciousness.

"After discussing it among ourselves, we decided to seal away that abnormal consciousness.

"Jean herself knew about this and explicitly agreed to it and cooperated with us.

"We didn't make the decision unilaterally.

"But we tried many different methods.

"As long as Jean herself knew that she possessed the Phoenix Force and tried to use it, that dark consciousness would emerge.

"In the end, we had no choice but to have the Professor make her forget about it.

"That was the only thing that improved the situation."

Wolverine frowned from nearby.

"How come I didn't know about this?"

"Damn it!

"There are plenty of things you don't know.

"And this happened before you arrived.

"We don't have to report every single thing involving Jean to you, do we?"

Mystique's mind wasn't on that love triangle at all.

She was much more concerned about Jean Grey's condition.

She released Professor X's tie and looked him directly in the eyes.

"When did this start?

"What do you know?"

Professor X loosened his tie slightly and exhaled deeply.

He noticed that even Magneto had stopped and was listening intently to their conversation.

After all, Magneto himself had been one of the principal participants in the alien war of 1992.

Professor X thought back before speaking.

"It was probably around 1999.

"There was a sudden change, and none of us knew why.

"Jean began displaying a terrifying desire for destruction.

"She even… began affecting reality itself.

"But she wasn't like that all the time.

"Her own mind was struggling and crying out for help.

"We tried many methods to help her, but with very little success.

"In the end, as Scott said, sealing away the memories related to the Phoenix Force reduced the frequency of those incidents.

"We all know that she's still suffering now.

"But compared with the situation before, things have improved considerably."

Mystique looked troubled as she gazed at the X-Men, with the exception of Wolverine.

"How could this happen?"

"If we had an answer, perhaps we would have solved the problem long ago.

"Unfortunately, neither Jean nor the Phoenix knows why she changed."

"The Phoenix?"

"That's what we call the destructive personality inside Jean.

"Whenever it emerges, it uses the Phoenix Force without restraint, destroying anything it happens to see.

"Not just objects, but animals, and…"

Professor X paused.

"People."

Mystique looked toward Storm, the woman who had already become one of the X-Men's veterans.

Ororo nodded, indicating that what Professor X and Cyclops had said was correct.

"Mystique."

Magneto called out a little louder.

"Let's go.

"If this is Jean's own choice, we should respect it as well.

"If Jean asks us for help, we can provide it then."

"Damn it!"

Although Mystique continued grumbling, she still followed Magneto away.

Professor X wanted to keep her there, but he had no good reason to do so.

The two sides were going their separate ways precisely because their philosophies were incompatible.

Would he change for the other side?

No.

Then forcing her to stay would only result in another separation.

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