Chapter 967: Stryker Must Die (Second Update!!)

Adia’s tone was eerie.

Stryker’s face was ashen.

He considered himself to have a hundred ways to deal with mutants.

A hundred ways.

As everyone knew, he had no idea how many mutants he had locked up in the Alkali Culver Lake dam base in Canada, nor did he know how many had died miserably inside.

If he wanted to, no mutant could escape his grasp.

This was not boasting; it was a fact.

Authorized by the White House.

Fully supported by the Pentagon.

And there was this X-gene suppressor targeting the mutant population; let’s just say, if not for the tacit approval from Washington, he could have wiped out Professor X’s mutant academy at any time.

But he couldn’t.

Because Washington needed Professor X, needed a dove among the mutant population; they needed a mutant who leaned toward them.

Simply put.

The reason Professor X could become the leader of the mutants was not because of how formidable he was, but because Washington needed him to be the leader, needed him to speak for them when they required it.

For instance, when Magneto appeared again, Professor X would need to come out and help.

Washington could ignore the fact that mutants were a scattered mess, and could even tolerate Professor X establishing a so-called mutant academy to speak for them, but Washington absolutely could not tolerate mutants gathering around the hawk-like Magneto.

So...

Stryker knew exactly where the X-Mansion was, but moving against it required authorization from Washington; otherwise, if he acted without permission, he would be the one to suffer.

However, because Magneto had disappeared ten years ago, and as time passed, the hardliners in Washington rose again; Stryker caught this signal and therefore stepped up his efforts.

Aside from the mutants at the X-Mansion, he dared to capture any mutant.

This newly appeared Hawk Phoenix was no exception.

Stryker had even planned it out: once he captured Hawk Phoenix, he would immediately send him to the dam base for comprehensive research.

As it turned out...

He had only just begun to think about it, not even having had the chance to act, when Hawk was already coming for his life.

And he went straight for the jugular, blocking the front door of his superior and forcing his superior to personally hand him over to this damned mutant.

William Stryker was deeply unwilling.

But!

What good was being unwilling? What could he do? Unless someone could kill this damned mutant before he died, or drive him away temporarily, he was a dead man today.

But was there such a person?

William Stryker watched the helicopter beginning to descend, along with the Quantico military base shrouded in the scarlet dome, and as he felt his life countdown beginning, his brain spun rapidly, trying to find a glimmer of hope for survival.

Just then.

Stryker’s eyes lit up.

"Professor X!"

"...What?"

Adia looked at Stryker, who had suddenly shouted out loud, and frowned.

Stryker seemed to have grasped a glimmer of hope and said to Adia, "Contact Professor X immediately. He is a telepathic mutant. Tell him a mutant is holding General Ross hostage. He will definitely step in and use his telepathy to control this damned mutant."

Even if it was just to control or temporarily drive him away, that would be enough.

First, get through the immediate crisis.

Once Hawk was temporarily controlled or driven away, General Ross and the other nine generals could safely evacuate the Quantico base. In that case, he wouldn't need to show up and sacrifice himself to trade for the lives of the ten generals.

Perfect!

Stryker was mentally agitated, shouting at Adia, "Contact Professor X immediately, hurry!"

Adia did not speak, only looking at Stryker with calm eyes and a silent expression.

Stryker urged him on!

"Adia..."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"...What?"

"Can you guarantee it?"

"I can!"

"I can't!"

"..."

Stryker’s expression stiffened.

A hint of disdain and speechlessness appeared on Adia’s face: "Stryker, I’m not like you. I don’t have your gambling addiction. Do you think General Ross and the others can’t figure out what you’ve thought of? Regardless of how General Ross and the others deal with this mutant after today, it’s none of your business. You have only one task today: use your life to trade for the lives of the base. You’re coming out ahead."

Good grief.

This monster was still planning to drag him down to the grave at the very end?

How could that be allowed?

Besides, I’ve already tied you up here; if you don’t die, I’m in a tough spot too.

If you don’t die and get reinstated, then I’m screwed.

So—

Never mind that it was Stryker, this monster, asking him to contact Professor X; even if General Ross asked him to contact Professor X right now, he would do whatever it took to stop Professor X from coming today.

At the very least, as long as Stryker wasn't dead, Professor X could not appear.

Adia said this, and even Jesus couldn't change it.

Soon.

The helicopter landed on the open ground outside the dome.

Adia then looked at Stryker.

"Let’s go, the generals are probably getting impatient."

"Bring him."

After saying this, Adia pulled open the helicopter cabin door, hunched over, and jogged out of the range of the helicopter rotors.

Unlike being unable to get out, Adia and the others walked quite easily into the Quantico base, now shrouded in the scarlet barrier, while dragging the handcuffed Stryker.

Stryker was held by two sentries, his face flushed red as he struggled violently.

Like all living things.

The moment he entered the scarlet barrier, Stryker, seemingly sensing that he had only a dead end ahead, began to struggle hard to fight for a glimmer of survival.

At this moment, Stryker craved survival more than anyone else.

But in the Quantico military base, the soldiers and their families trapped here by the scarlet barrier, along with General Ross and the others, wanted to live even more.

So—

Either one dies, or a group dies.

This was the simplest multiple-choice question.

When General Ross walked out of the base building again with an expressionless face, Hawk, who had been hovering in the air and talking to Hearing Wanda, also landed back on the ground with her.

Hawk’s gaze fell upon Stryker, who was being held by the two sentry agents.

Stryker also looked at Hawk with eyes full of both terror and rage.

Hawk’s gaze moved down, landing on Stryker’s trembling legs, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a soft smile: "Hello, Stryker."

Hearing Hawk’s cold, emotionless words, Stryker instantly lost his head.

"Damned mutant, I knew it, one day you would cause destruction to this world."

"My choice was not wrong."

"To deal with you mutants, one must exterminate you all."

"I only hate that I wasn't ruthless enough!"

After hearing that emotionless address from Hawk, he knew he was a dead man this time.