Chapter 4698

"What on earth is going on?" Magneto asked, "Didn't they already die? How could their consciousness be uploaded to the Red Orchid factory's system?"

"I think you should know that the Red Orchid factory isn't entirely human technology." Dr. Mendel, who had walked through the Red Orchid factory's system, obviously had a deeper understanding, and he said, "In fact, even the materials aren't entirely from Earth."

"How could that be?" Moira narrowed her eyes and said, "Besides materials from Earth, where else could they use?"

"The Shi'ar Empire." Dr. Mendel said very firmly. He took the Flash Chip from his wife's hand, placed it in front of everyone, and said: "As early as many years ago, the laboratory I worked for that researched Flash Chip technology had provided us with a material that couldn't possibly appear on Earth. It was this key material that allowed us to realize the seemingly impossible technology of consciousness transmission."

Magneto took the Flash Chip from his hand. He could feel that this thing was indeed different from all materials on Earth, having a kind of radiation that made him feel strange, which was very likely from other star systems.

"This is the 'Source Energy Crystal' used by the Shi'ar Empire." Dr. Mendel said, "Simply put, it is a universal crystal material with quite magical properties. This is the key material that allowed humans to complete such an advanced factory."

Dr. Mendel pushed his glasses and continued: "The Red Orchid factory was built near the sun, partly because the Mother Mold isn't completely controllable, and if something goes wrong, it can be pushed directly into the sun to be destroyed. Another reason is that the material properties of this magical crystal will change as the temperature rises; high temperature is a necessary environment for operation, and the temperature near the sun is just right."

"What does this have to do with mutant consciousness being uploaded?"

"The key lies in the fact that at a certain temperature, the crystal has the effect of isolating heat, and even isolating energy exchange, which is used for key equipment in the Red Orchid factory. But if the temperature is too high, breaking through the threshold of that property, the crystal will become a 'Flash Chip'."

Dr. Mendel continued: "When we were researching consciousness transmission technology in the laboratory, we used extremely high temperatures to process the crystal and obtained the Flash Chip. I guess it should be that the mutant squad used extremely high temperatures to heat the crystal material in the factory during the battle, causing the crystal properties to change, becoming a Flash Chip that can accommodate consciousness, and it just happened to suck their consciousness in. It saved their lives by mistake."

Magneto and Professor X looked at each other. There were indeed many masters of fire in the squad they sent. Not to mention Phoenix, just the temperature that Cyclops could explode should be enough to create extremely high-temperature conditions.

Of course, the sun itself is a high-temperature heat source, and logically, there shouldn't be any heat source hotter than the sun. However, the Red Orchid factory was only built near the sun; speaking of nearby, it was relative. In fact, it wasn't closer than Mercury, and the temperature it could feel was limited. It should be that the researchers carefully calculated the distance that met the crystal property conditions before building the factory there.

However, the power used by mutants could heat a certain area to an extremely high temperature in a short time, much hotter than most places in the factory built near the sun. This led to the change in the properties of the crystal, turning it into a Flash Chip that could accommodate consciousness, and it just happened to absorb their consciousness.

Magneto realized the seriousness of the problem. Because now the resurrection plan was ready, they could resurrect the surprise attack squad at any time, just hatch the body and stuff the consciousness backup in Professor X's brain into it.

But now, Dr. Mendel told them that the surprise attack squad actually didn't die; they were still trapped in the factory system and were being hunted.

Should they choose to resurrect directly, or try to save the surprise attack squad?

If they don't care about the consciousness of the squad members in the factory system, they are destined to die, but they can use the resurrection plan to resurrect them directly. But if they send people to save them, it is undoubtedly another suicide plan, and many more mutants might fold in the factory. Save? Or not save?

Magneto clenched his fists. This was a very difficult choice. Resurrection is very simple, but if they choose to enable the resurrection plan, it is undoubtedly watching the surprise attack squad that heroically sacrificed themselves die in despair again. Saving is naturally the best choice to bring them out of the sea of suffering, but it is really too difficult, and mutants might no longer have the power to do so.

"We cannot abandon them." Magneto grabbed the corner of his cloak, wrapped his body, and turned away, "Pause the resurrection plan, find a way to save them."

Professor X also slowly closed his eyes. Most of the members of the surprise attack squad were X-Men, his children. When mutants encountered danger, he stood out without hesitation, sacrificing his life for righteousness and dying generously. And now that he encountered danger, mutants must never abandon him.

"Organize another surprise attack squad?!" Emma Frost's incredulous roar echoed in the conference room of the Central Throne, "Are you crazy?!"

Emma Frost paced quickly in the conference room: "Didn't you say you could resurrect them?! Then resurrect them! Why do you have to fight that big brain?! Is it not enough that so many people have died?!"

"Calm down, Emma." Professor X transmitted the cause and effect of the matter with brainwaves. But this didn't convince Emma Frost at all.

"Then why go and manage those consciousness bodies?" Emma Frost said very puzzled, "Let them die there, and then resurrect them! Anyway, the ones resurrected are also them!"

Emma Frost was really puzzled. She said: "Didn't you say that the resurrected ones are exactly the same as before? Then resurrect them directly! Why not?!"

Magneto now understood a bit what "different paths don't conspire" meant. Was Emma Frost's idea wrong? Actually, not really. This was indeed the method of maximizing benefits, and there would be no sacrifice in the end, and the members of the surprise attack squad would all be resurrected, and they wouldn't remember that they had died. Currently, this seems to be the best way to deal with this situation.

However, neither Magneto nor Professor X wanted to do this. But they couldn't think of any reasonable reason. To continue to sacrifice the living strength of mutants to save some replaceable consciousness bodies was simply an absurd decision, completely not a wise decision that a leader of a group should make.

But they just wanted to save them. No matter what, they wanted to save them.

"I'll go myself." Magneto said, "If Lorna is willing to go, I'll take her with me."

Emma Frost looked at him with the eyes of a madman: "Not only are you going to die yourself, but you also want to take your daughter?! Are you crazy?!"

"No matter what, I cannot agree." Emma Frost said, "I am also one of the founders of Krakoa, I say I don't agree. If you want to do this, I will do my best to stop you. Don't force me to move against you, Erik!"

"You can't stop me." Magneto turned to look into Emma Frost's eyes and asked, "Emma, answer me, what kind of mutant country do you want to build?"

Magneto had never asked any mutant this question. But at this moment, he realized how important this question was.

Emma Frost was slightly startled and answered subconsciously: "Of course, a country strong enough. Prosperous and not losing to any country on Earth."

"What is the significance of a strong country?" Magneto asked again.

"Of course, it's to protect mutants." Emma Frost said, "Those people have oppressed us for too long, we can't count on them to let us go, we can only protect ourselves."

"Yes. The purpose of our building a strong country is to protect all mutants. What about the consciousness of the surprise attack squad members?"

"But..." Emma Frost opened her mouth and said, "I just think it's unnecessary. Because they actually won't die, we can use the Krakoan Totem to resurrect them. Then why waste power to save them?"

"It's a pity, Emma. The country we want might be different." Magneto's tone rarely revealed some sadness. This was rare in his long and bumpy life, as if he was forced to say goodbye to an old friend.

"Many people will agree with you." Magneto's voice became a bit hoarse. Subsequently, he turned to look at Professor X, took off his helmet with his hand, and said: "Announce my decision to all mutants. I want to tell them myself."

The morning on Krakoa island was still quiet and peaceful. The mutants who had just woken up went out in twos and threes, walked into the valley along the tree-lined path, then took the stone platform to the dining bar to eat, sitting in front of the bright crystal windows chatting about the interesting things of yesterday.

The haze of the surprise attack squad being wiped out seemed to have passed. Establishing a nature reserve, although not in line with their original intention, would not encounter more opposition. This storm seemed to have subsided, and they also had the beautiful homeland they wanted.

But soon, Magneto's voice echoed in the minds of every mutant on Krakoa island again.

"Friends, we just received good news. The consciousness of the surprise attack squad that was wiped out has been uploaded to the Red Orchid factory's system. That is to say, the heroes are still alive. They are trying hard to get rid of the Mother Mold's security system's hunt, and we must go save them."

The mutants began to gather toward the Central Throne, until they arrived at the square in front. Magneto stood on the platform above, his steady voice containing a trace of imperceptible trembling.

"This is a very difficult decision. Because someone will definitely be injured and die for this, mutants can no longer accept more sacrifices. But we still have to go, because this concerns the most important question—what kind of mutant country do we want to build?"

"Compatriots, I hope you think seriously and carefully about this question. What should we build our country on, what kind of country should we build, and what kind of home should we let ourselves and our descendants live in. All of this is what we have made so much effort to have the opportunity to decide. I don't want to make the wrong decision only in this key link."

"So I have to tell you that we have other choices. We can recreate mutants through the bodies constructed by the Krakoan Totem and the consciousness backup retained in Professor X's brain, which doesn't require any sacrifice, and they will return all the same. But the Professor and I have decided to go save them. Because building a home that can truly shelter all mutants is our lifelong wish. We will not abandon any mutant—this is the mutant country we want."

"I know many people will not agree with my decision, so, now I tell you everything. If what we want is different, you can choose to leave, I won't blame anyone."

Magneto watched the eyes in the square below. There was hope, disappointment, confusion, and indignation. But he could no longer hear support or abuse, only at the moment he said these words, he finally understood what he wanted.

Why couldn't the suffering he fought with all his might to overcome completely end the suffering of other mutants? Why couldn't his repeated failures exchange for a sufficiently happy ending? Why couldn't the mutant country he spent his life building be a utopia? Full of resentment, thousands of unwillingness, all turned into the same question—why can't mutants have a real utopia?

He didn't believe it. He still wanted to try. He still wanted to try one more time, still the last time. Idealists are always trapped in the dilemma of expectation and time. And Magneto looked at Professor X who had been standing by his side and those mutants who didn't choose to leave.

He recalled the decades of walking alone, only occasionally brushing shoulders with them—short and fleeting, but he could only think of the trust and love rushing toward him. Those pains and injustices also gradually dissipated in the morning light of Krakoa.