Chapter 1009: Marvel: Awakening the Little Universe at the Start, Chapter 552

"What?"

"The White House agreed?"

"Is it for real?"

"Finally!"

As soon as Professor X said this, the attending Angel, Storm, and Colossus all exchanged glances in unison, then looked at Professor X with surprise.

The Mutant Peace Accord.

This was the peace bill that Professor X had been trying to get confirmed through congressional hearings ever since he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

Although the bill was named the "Mutant Peace Accord," its full name should have been the "Mutant-Human Peace Accord."

This was different from the Mutant Peace Act of twelve years ago; the act twelve years ago was merely a temporary measure.

As everyone knows, anything labeled "temporary" is invalid; only after passing through federal congressional hearings and being established as a true law does such a bill possess legitimacy.

Simply put.

Right now, the Sentinel Services are still secretly continuing to capture mutants, but once this bill is confirmed, the actions of the Sentinel Services could be legally recognized as illegal.

Professor X, who had always held the greatest goodwill toward humanity, was full of confidence, believing that as soon as this bill was passed, the Sentinel Services would be disbanded on the spot.

Jean, like the others, felt somewhat happy upon hearing this news.

But...

While happy, she still looked at Professor X with some confusion: "Professor, didn't the White House contact say last month that Mr. President was still considering this bill? After all, this year is an election year."

Yes.

This year is an election year. Although a president's term is four years, that applies to an elected president; President Barron Turner is a procedural president, having taken over the remaining term of the previous president who unfortunately died after being struck by a meteorite at the White House two years ago.

Barron Turner cannot even run for re-election as the incumbent president.

Once again.

He is a procedural president; if he wants to stay in office, he must first pass the internal election of his own faction.

And judging by the current situation, President Barron Turner's prospects are not optimistic.

After all, his faction gained voters by being tough on mutants, but ever since he took office, that stance seems to have suddenly died down.

At the very least, on the surface, President Barron Turner has not issued a single order targeting mutants.

But that seems to be the extent of what he can do, just like before, when Professor X returned from Cairo, Egypt, and kept trying to persuade the president to submit this bill to Congress for a hearing.

But it had been stuck there the whole time.

And now, President Barron Turner has agreed, even while his election prospects are not particularly optimistic.

"So..."

Jean thought of a possibility: "Is this intended to be a trade with us?"

As everyone knows.

Once people know they cannot be re-elected, many choose the same path: rake in money, rake in as much money as possible.

For example, selling immunity.

Or selling the right to submit bills.

If you have power and don't use it, it expires and becomes worthless.

Especially since Barron Turner is a procedural president; seeing that he cannot be re-elected, taking the right to submit a bill and selling it seems like a very normal thing to do.

"It is a trade."

Professor X met Jean's gaze, nodded, and then chuckled: "But not the kind of trade we understand. Mr. President intends to use this proposal to resolve the differences between humans and mutants once and for all, thereby turning around his election prospects."

Cyclops heard this and was somewhat puzzled: "Can this help him turn around his election prospects?"

Professor X smiled slightly: "Don't forget, our bill confirms that mutants also enjoy federal citizenship."

Although current federal law does not strip mutants of their federal citizenship status, ever since mutants became known to the public, they have been implicitly considered no longer federal citizens.

Not just the Federation; setting aside the East, other nations basically default to the idea that mutants are no longer in the category of humans.

"But once the bill is established, it will thoroughly grant mutants equal federal rights under the law."

"In this way."

"Mr. President can also use this momentum to secure enough votes for himself."

"Of course."

Professor X said with a smile: "Xavier Tech will also anonymously donate fifty million to Mr. President's campaign fund."

Jean's expression was calm until she heard Professor X finish this last sentence, at which point she showed an "I knew it" expression: "When next month?"

Professor X said with a smile: "On the fifth of next month, Congress will hold a preliminary hearing, and I need to attend alongside Erik."

"You and Magneto?"

"Magneto is going too?"

Storm, with her dreadlocks, looked somewhat shocked upon hearing this and looked at Professor X: "Aren't they afraid of Magneto?"

Professor X said: "This is a hard requirement. Once this bill is passed, it requires both Magneto and me to act as guarantors."

After all, among the current mutant population, although he doesn't want to admit it, he and Magneto are the two great giants of the mutants.

One advocates peace.

One advocates war.

So from Congress's perspective, they can provide the foundation for humans to choose peace, while on the mutant side, he and Magneto need to act as representatives.

Jean heard that Professor X and Magneto needed to go together, and her expression was somewhat strange: "Professor, just you and Erik?"

Professor X nodded.

"Yes."

"Why do I feel like it's weird? Could it be a trap?"

Jean couldn't help but speak up after confirming.

Although her mother Wanda was a housewife, her father Hawk was a tough character, especially when Hawk used to tell her little stories about strategies like "borrowing arrows with straw boats" or "making a feint to the east while attacking in the west" to put her to sleep when she was little; she remembered them very clearly.

And now?

No matter how Jean looked at it, it felt exactly like a trap specifically set for Professor X and Magneto.

Professor X looked at the worry on Jean's face, his smiling expression unchanged: "President Barron Turner's sincerity for peace is great, and besides, sometimes, in order to achieve permanent peace, some compromises are necessary."

Jean frowned: "But if he only goes with Magneto, I feel the possibility of it being a trap is very high."

Professor X said with a smile: "Actually, we can bring people, but when the hearing actually takes place, only Erik and I can represent the mutants to make the guarantee."

Beast, who was on the side, spoke up: "The quota for the hearing is that we can bring three people, and Erik's side can also bring three people."

Cyclops heard this and was the first to speak.

"Professor, I'll go with you."

"And me."

"Me!"

Storm, Colossus, and Angel also spoke up one after another upon hearing this.

Jean heard this and also expressed her thought of going to Washington D. C. together at the beginning of next month to Professor X.

Professor X looked at Jean.

"You can't."

"Why?"

"Just in case."

"Just in case?"

Jean was also stunned, then looked at the expression on Professor X's face and realized: "Are you also worried that this trip will be a trap?"

Professor X shook his head: "I believe peace is the common demand of both mutants and humans, but I am more worried that you will encounter an accident if you go to Washington."

Jean blinked, looked at Professor X, and suddenly realized.

"Professor, are you worried about my father?"

"Yes."

Professor X's expression remained unchanged as he responded to Jean's question.

Yes.

He was indeed worried that if Jean went to Washington this time and encountered an accident, then the problem would be huge.

Two years ago, Hawk destroyed the Quantico military base, the Pentagon, and the White House just because he wanted to find Jean.

If such a thing were to happen again.

Heh.

Their Earth would likely be completely destroyed.

Professor X recalled the moment he saw Hawk, and the images he subconsciously saw in Hawk's mind, symbolizing "battle," "constant battle," and "destruction" and "constant destruction," made him shudder.