Chapter 116: Visiting a Friend

"First, we must hail a taxi," Lady He Ben said, patting Henry's shoulder.

"Oh, heavens, do you know how difficult a task that is? Hailing a taxi in New York City."

"Come on, little tiger. If you can't even accomplish this small task, it's not like you at all."

"Alright, but we must walk outside the park. Standing here, we wouldn't wait a whole year for an empty taxi." Henry stepped aside, pointing toward the nearest exit.

Audrey He Ben took Henry's arm and said, "You're right. So, let's go."

Do you know why Uber will become prevalent in the future? It's because taxis in New York are simply too hard to hail!

To prevent this world's busiest city from becoming a giant parking lot full of taxis, the New York City government strictly controls the number of taxi permits.

There are even three types of taxis, with restrictions on their pickup zones, to prevent large numbers of empty taxis from flooding the core area to pick up passengers randomly, increasing the burden on city streets.

This is also why scenes of New Yorkers fighting for taxis are often seen in movies. It is truly a local characteristic, rarely seen in other American cities.

But whether it was because Lady He Ben's yellow-toned lucky outfit provided a blessing, or not, Henry accompanied the lady to the roadside and, with good luck, hailed an empty car and got in.

"Please take us to 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, Westchester County."

"Westchester County? A bit far, but that's no problem for Wesley. Passengers, hold on tight. Wesley's driving is both fast and safe. Getting a ride in my car is absolutely the luckiest thing you'll experience today."

The old black driver fully exercised his race's talent for chatter, telling various New Yorker jokes while glancing at the old lady who got in through the rearview mirror.

"Old lady, has anyone ever told you that you look like a big star?"

"Oh? Like which big star?"

After his mouth finally stopped for a moment, the old black driver squinted for a while, then stared at the road conditions. Finally, he said, "Audrey He Ben. You really look like that lady who was in the newspapers not long ago. Could it be that you are the real person?"

"Of course not. I just look like her." While Lady He Ben spoke, she also playfully winked at Henry beside her.

She added, "If I were really a big star, I should have a dedicated car for travel, with three or five bodyguards at the level of male models following me at all times."

The old black driver, who loved chatting about celebrity gossip, nodded and said, "Yes, yes, yes. Ah, no, no, no! Don't underestimate me, old lady. I have also driven many stars and celebrities."

"Do you know Vito Corleone? The Godfather of the Italian Mafia, I have driven him. Do you know Dr. Emmett Brown? A great scientist who invented a time machine, I have also driven him."...

The old black driver listed several famous names in a row. If Henry hadn't seen the movies of these people in this world, he might have thought that all these movie worlds were embedded in the Marvel Universe.

Simply put, this old black driver was exercising his race's talent, bragging with a rapid, rolling-tongue tone!

Just say, if that Mafia Godfather really existed in this world, would he casually take a taxi? Wouldn't he fear being targeted by enemies and shot down?

A time machine was even more ridiculous... Henry didn't even want to waste energy to complain.

However, Audrey He Ben seemed to be in the mood for fun. Every time the other person mentioned a name, she would exclaim. With such a cooperative audience, how could the old black driver not speak even more enthusiastically?

Time passed unknowingly, and the taxi arrived at the destination, a large estate.

Although Westchester County belongs administratively to the southernmost county of Upstate New York, it is also part of the New York metropolitan area. Most residents use the Metro-North Railroad to commute to Manhattan for work.

One can imagine that people living here would not be ordinary white-collar workers.

And being able to own such an estate in such a place is something ordinary people cannot do.

Especially the bronze sign at the main entrance of the estate—Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters...

Well, indeed, this is not a place for ordinary people.

Watching 'Audrey He Ben' familiarly call out to open the large iron gate and walk in, Henry hesitated a bit. Did he really want to follow her in and accompany her in this play?

"Henry, why aren't you following?" 'Audrey He Ben' turned back and smiled.

"This place..."

"Oh, you don't need to worry. The old friend I want to see is the principal and person in charge here. Professor Charles Francis Xavier. This place is not only a school, but also his family's property."

Well, hearing this much, if Henry still didn't know what kind of situation he was facing, it would be a waste of his transmigration journey.

It's just that although this world is not unfamiliar with mutants, in public information, all members of the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants are referred to by codenames, and their bases have never been made public.

It is unknown whether they fear being disturbed or fear people joining them.

Moreover, the two sides loving and killing each other was something that happened over ten years ago. In recent years, there have not been so many conflicts; only their ideals remain mutually opposed, but both have accepted the arrangement of the US government.

This is like the struggle between the Elephant Party and the Donkey Party in American politics. No one says who is good and who is bad; it is just a difference in ideals and positions.

So under normal circumstances, ordinary people would not know what this place is for, nor who Professor Charles Xavier really is.

However, since someone wanted to trick him here, Henry suspected what point there was in continuing to play dumb? He didn't want to end up like last time, trying so hard to act cool, only to end up making himself look like an idiot.

Henry decided to lay his cards on the table and said, "I still won't go in, madam. Your disguise as that person is indeed flawless; I was deceived by you at the beginning. But let's stop here."

"Oh, when did you realize something was wrong?" 'Audrey He Ben' did not deny it; instead, she transformed in front of Henry.

Her skin flipped inside out from top to bottom, and her entire appearance changed drastically. From a relatively slender figure, she became a normal, plump woman. Moreover, she was a blue-skinned female mutant with deep blue patterns, yellow eyes, and red hair—Mystique.

This was truly not surprising at all. Henry said, "I sensed it when you were talking to the driver in the taxi. The real Lady He Ben would never make such tasteless jokes."

"And didn't you admit it yourself? You are not Audrey He Ben; you just look like her. You spoke these truths with a clear conscience because they are indeed true. Aren't they?"

(End of this chapter)