Chapter 3087: Romantic

Beast leaves in a hurry. Not long after, a pitch-black portal appears above the airport, completely different from the pure white portal Loki opened. This is Magneto's wormhole.

Beast's departure draws the attention of others. It happens to be almost lunchtime, so everyone gathers in the lounge, discussing the biological riot in the Andromeda Galaxy one after another.

Stark and Reed both believe that this is very likely a genetic virus, and it only acts on a certain segment of genes. Changes based on genes will not affect the creature's own blood, body fluids, or even body structure.

For example, if human genes were modified to have three hands, from a certain moment on, the children born would all have three arms. Checking this child's blood and body fluids wouldn't reveal any abnormalities; the data would be exactly the same as an ordinary person.

Similarly, if the tampered genes affect the brain structure, it is very likely that people would go crazy from birth or upon reaching a certain stage of growth. At this time, routine tests are still useless, and even a brain scan might not show any abnormalities. The problem might appear in the neurons, and human testing methods haven't reached such a precise level.

According to the information provided by the mutants, some creatures have developed limb mutations, but the change is not significant. It's not that a crab with eight legs suddenly turned into a human with two legs, but rather they grew sharper teeth, sharper claws, or lower limbs that can provide stronger movement speed.

But without exception, all the rioting creatures have become extremely aggressive. Some plants that originally had no intelligence at all have even grown thorns like whips, which will tear every passerby into pieces.

So Stark and Reed both believe that the genes of the rioting creatures must have been precisely modified, which means it must be man-made, not some natural disaster.

If it were a natural disaster, the mutations would be random. Many creatures would grow body structures that cannot adapt to the planet's environment, just like if insects were magnified thousands or tens of thousands of times, they would be directly crushed to death by gravity, instead of being lively and adding a lot of attack power like they are now.

This is actually good news, because after all, mutants have been affected now. If it were truly a random mutation, many people might die. But if it's just strengthening attack power and going crazy, it can always be controlled.

Sure enough, not long after, Professor X sends a message directly to Shiler, telling him not to worry. The one who had the problem is a mutant who can turn into an animal, and he has already been controlled.

After Shiler's detailed inquiry, he finds out that this mutant was also unlucky. The planet he was patrolling was particularly remote, and even taking a spaceship there would take a long time. He was careless and didn't bring a communicator, diving straight into the primeval forest.

When the disaster broke out, he didn't know at all. By the time they started counting heads and found he was missing and located him, the creatures on that planet had already started rioting, and he had also been affected.

The current situation is that he can't change back at all, and he has lost his sanity. He can't say anything and can only be temporarily detained.

Shiler knows that Harry came in person this time, probably because the Osborn research isn't going well, and he wants to get some clues from Stark and Reed. Although these two are not specialized in biotechnology, they can be considered to have a broad understanding. More importantly, what distinguishes them from ordinary scientists is that they are full of inspiration. Maybe a flash of insight will point directly to the truth.

Reed takes the small box with the tarantula that Harry brought out of the big box. After staring at it for a long time, he says, "Extracting the body fluids of mutated samples and injecting them into the earth's existing creatures is a line of thought, but before you carried out this plan, didn't you consider the risk of potentially infecting all the creatures on Earth?"

"My father said it wouldn't happen. He believes that this mastermind is specifically targeting the creatures of the Andromeda Galaxy, and the gene sequences of the creatures there have no relation to Earth's creatures."

"He guessed it was a genetic problem back then?"

Harry nods and says, "But you can tell just by thinking about it. If it were a low-level means like blood, body fluids, or airborne transmission, it would be impossible to infect more than 20 planets. Two of them are even more than 100,000 light-years apart. What kind of animal can spray a droplet 100,000 light-years?"

Stark nods and says, "I have no doubt that Old Osborn has such decisiveness; otherwise, he wouldn't dare to easily undertake this task. If the things on Earth were really infected, he wouldn't just die of illness, he would be cursed to death by people."

"Are there any infections in other galaxies?" Shiler asks.

Harry shakes his head and says, "None discovered so far."

Loki also interjects, "I haven't heard of any biological riots anywhere either. This level of infection isn't weak. If there were any, they would at least report it to the local galaxy alliance; it's impossible for there to be no news at all."

"So they are coming for the mutants. Since that's the case, why infect creatures? Why not just infect the mutants directly?" Peter asks with some confusion.

Shiler smiles and says, "Don't forget what the performance of the infected is. They will attack surrounding things like crazy. Which civilization can withstand Magneto and Professor X going crazy?"

"Oh, that's right." Peter realizes.

For other races, losing intelligence and only having attack instincts is a major nerf, but for mutants whose individuals are too strong, this thing is a battle cry buff. They are already strong enough, and now they are strengthened again, plus they have indiscriminate attacks. Can this universe still survive?

Thinking of the consequences of these two old treasures attacking indiscriminately, Peter can't help but shudder.

The mastermind's goal is to weaken the mutants, not to drive them to a dead end. Letting them go crazy proves that the other party also has assets to protect, rather than some lunatic who wants to destroy the universe. This narrows the scope significantly.

"Would Thanos have any clues?" Loki suddenly speaks up. "Otherwise, should I call and ask him?"

No one objects, so Loki goes out to make a call. Not long after, she returns and says, "Thanos said the Andromeda Galaxy is strictly blockaded by mutants. Under Professor X's comprehensive surveillance, almost no living thing can approach there."

"Does he have any news?"

Thanos only said: "The three major empires did indeed conduct biological experiments in some independent dimensions in the past, but this is legal, and there has never been a large-scale pollution leak."

"After all, the entire universe's civilization forces are divided by the three major empires. Pollution leaks leading to large-scale civilization destruction are of no benefit to them either."

"No large-scale leaks, which means there were small-scale ones?"

Loki nods and says, "This is also unavoidable. Sometimes one or two test subjects run out of the experimental base and cause some trouble, but they are quickly cleaned up."

Shiler looks at Rocket Raccoon on the side. Rocket Raccoon and he look at each other, and both clearly understand what the other is thinking.

The Halfworld where Rocket Raccoon used to be was a typical independent dimension used for biochemical experiments. Something went wrong there; a group of unidentified people rushed in and slaughtered the scientists and test subjects, causing a mess.

But the test subjects who ran out like Rocket Raccoon really didn't cause any trouble. Compared with this large-scale biological riot in the Andromeda Galaxy, it is simply not worth mentioning.

"Among the three major empires, who would be willing to bear the wrath of the mutants?" Shiler says. "Actually, no one, because mutants are equivalent to a group of wandering desperadoes. If you don't provoke them, they only operate within the Andromeda Galaxy. But if you destroy the Andromeda Galaxy, what if they want to live in your capital?"

Others think about it and it is indeed the truth. Whether it is the Kree Empire or the Skrull Empire, there is actually no need to provoke the mutants.

The Milky Way is relatively remote, and the Andromeda Galaxy is very close to the Milky Way, also belonging to the suburbs. In layman's terms, it's like reaching Zhangjiakou. If you destroy this place, what if these people get upset and insist on living in the Second Ring Road?

Basically, no one in the universe is willing to provoke this group of street thugs, just like Asgard back then. If they were targeted by them, they would just consider themselves unlucky. If they could hide, they would hide; if they couldn't hide, they would abandon the goods to save their lives.

Magneto also follows the rules of the Jianghu. Besides collecting protection fees, he doesn't appear much. Sometimes when he encounters conflicts between merchant fleets of two civilizations, he will even favor one side based on the amount of protection fees collected.

Some civilizations with lower levels of civilization almost regard him as a guardian deity, giving whatever he wants, coaxing the old man comfortably, and he doesn't have that much free time to bother these civilizations every day.

The three major empires think they are a threat, but to be honest, which one from the Nine Realms isn't a threat? Asgard has been riding on their heads and pooping for so many years, and they haven't dared to touch Odin's home.

"I know," Peter suddenly says. "Look, if the mutants' home is destroyed, not to mention who they will seek revenge on, they will definitely look for a new place to settle. Where do you think they will choose?"

"They have worked so hard to build in the Andromeda Galaxy for so long. If it turns to ashes overnight, they definitely won't be willing to start from scratch. At the very least, they have to choose a place with a similar level of development. That must be the territory of the three major empires," Matt says.

"Yes, then there will inevitably be a conflict between the mutants and the three major empires," Shiler continues. "And if the mutants also regard the three major empires as the culprits for the destruction of the Andromeda Galaxy, then the contradiction between them will be irreconcilable."

"You mean the mastermind wants to sow discord?"

"It must be so. Professor X must have thought of this, which is why he put the Andromeda Galaxy under full martial law," Shiler speculates.

The members of the Light Alliance present can all think of it. Professor X seems to be preparing for the worst. Once the Andromeda Galaxy is no longer habitable, they will inevitably head to the Shi'ar Empire. Blockading the Andromeda Galaxy is just to prevent people from knowing where their next destination is.

Although the mutants indirectly control the Shi'ar Empire, they can't go too far; otherwise, public opinion will boil over, and it will be difficult for them to handle. So there is only one chance to make the Shi'ar Empire concede and give them a piece of territory. If someone knows the target location and sets a trap there in advance, and they want to grab territory again, it will truly be a fight to the death.

"Can you give me a sample creature?" Reed suddenly says. "I'm confident I can figure out the essence of the mutation."

Harry looks at Peter first, but Peter has no reaction. He then looks at Stark, but Stark doesn't speak to stop him either. Shiler asks, "Are you going back to New York?"

"No, right here," Reed says. "I just need some basic equipment and enough draft paper."

Peter immediately wants to speak out to stop him. After all, if they don't do the experiment in a professional laboratory, if something goes wrong, it will become a disaster again.

But Shiler and Nick agree with Reed. Although doing the experiment here isn't professional enough, Reed's technical level can well compensate for this. More importantly, the Avengers and the gray mist are all here. If something really goes wrong, it will be solved on the spot.

The key is, if something really goes wrong, the Anquan Bureau agents will have to rush over from New York to support, which is another big travel expense. Isn't the opportunity for reimbursement coming? ===== CHAPTER 3088 =====