Chapter 162: Conflict

In fact, the American soldiers' warning was already lenient. Otherwise, the moment they saw people, they could have arrested Magneto, classified as a terrorist, or even shot him on the spot.

But an Omega-level mutant, especially Magneto with his extensive combat experience, is truly unsuitable as an opponent without full plastic equipment.

Not only did the American soldiers understand this, Magneto himself knew it clearly. Yet his target was not these people, so he asked the Beast approaching from behind with disdain in his voice: "Did you arrange this?"

The Beast said helplessly: "If I had really arranged this, there would surely be a smarter way."

Selene, who also possesses telepathic abilities, said: "Professor X called them."

"Ah, Charles. May I say it is not surprising at all?" Magneto commented, speaking of someone not present, or hiding in the shadows.

"You, what are you doing!" Suddenly, a soldier shouted. He swung his gun barrel toward the bizarrely dressed clown who had sneaked off the X-Jet and was preparing to slip away to the side.

The caught Super-Joker instantly became the center of attention. He looked awkwardly at everyone and pointed in a certain direction, saying: "I drank too much water on the plane; now I need to pee."

"Hmm... the public restroom is over there." The soldier replied inexplicably.

"Oh, thanks." Super-Joker changed direction and walked. "This way, right?"

"Ah, no! Stop right there, do not move." The soldier raised his rifle and pressed it against Super-Joker.

Super-Joker froze in a thief-like sneaking posture, his pair of roguish eyes darting around at everyone present, and asked: "So, now is... ah, look! A meteor!"

That remark, sounding like a joke, still made everyone unable to help but look in the direction Super-Joker pointed. They saw the dark night sky as if a rain of fiery red meteors was falling, every streak of fire heading straight for New York City.

Hank immediately thought of a possibility and muttered: "Could it be alien warships from outer space landing?"

Who would have thought that the American soldier commander, seeing this, excitedly shouted: "Mutant attack! Everyone, fire!"

The American soldiers, half-skeptical about the existence of aliens, seeing someone launch an attack on New York, believed even more that it was the mutants, not aliens. After all, the notorious terrorist leader, Magneto, was right there on the scene.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers did not hesitate and immediately pulled their triggers. Rifles spat out streams of bullets, without warning and without mercy.

Magneto, of course, was not someone who would sit and wait for death; he stopped all the fired bullets. Selene cooperated, freezing all the soldiers with mental control. Crimson Lotus then used her whip to fling everyone away.

The three executed a combo move, their actions smooth, instantly repelling all the soldiers surrounding the X-Jet's cabin door. Those bullets also seemed to lose all kinetic energy and fell to the ground, not returning to the soldiers who fired them; it was Magneto's mercy.

Magneto turned his head and said to the Beast: "So, now our enemies, besides the aliens, also include the American soldiers, right?"

"This is not what Charles wants." Hank defended.

"But things are developing in this direction. Not to our liking, huh." Magneto said to the two people he brought: "Find Jean, take him, and we will leave."

Magneto understood his situation very well. The group falling from the sky, mistaken for mutants, were not his people. Even with his own confidence, he did not need to get entangled with a bunch of fools when manpower was insufficient.

Moreover, he had to consider Genosha Island, the last homeland of mutants; it was impossible to offend the United States to the point of death. This was also why he only repelled the people and did not kill these soldiers who had offended him.

"Selene." Magneto called out to the witch who had once been the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club. Possessing a long life, his strength was bottomless; he could be said to be one of the most powerful mutants on Genosha Island besides himself.

Without this nearly immortal witch needing to do anything, even with his abilities at a low ebb, he could feel that powerful life energy was in a certain direction.

"It is right there!" Selene said.

Magneto, without hesitation, said to everyone: "Let's go. If we do not want our slaughter to be excessive, finish the business as soon as possible and leave as soon as possible."

Now even the Beast, an X-Man, could find no fault. The people came looking for themselves; it was impossible to betray them and send them away.

Besides, things were just as Raven feared. If Charles allied with the US military and he handed Jean over, what then? He had promised to take that poor girl to a safe place.

So the Beast followed Magneto's footsteps, casually dragging along Super-Joker, who didn't know if he wanted to slip away or had gone the wrong way.

Just as the group reached the edge of the park, near the road, a "Puff!" sound occurred. Professor X, Cyclops, and Storm, relying on Nightcrawler's teleportation ability, blocked the path in front of Magneto and the others.

Before either side could speak, Super-Joker greeted them first: "Hey, there's a bald head. Do you mind if I wax it? I think I can use it to replace a crystal ball and make very good prophecies."

Professor X, face dark, asked: "Eric, is this a new mutant you took in?"

"Heavens, fortunately not. You should ask Hank; this is the person he brought."

The Beast looked awkward. But from his consciousness, Professor X received that incredible answer and immediately decided not to pursue it further. The last time he invaded this alien's consciousness, the result was too disastrous. He did not want to experience it again.

Bringing his attention back to his old rival, Professor X said: "Eric, regardless of what request Raven made to you, leave. This matter has nothing to do with you."

Magneto said: "A fellow mutant was wronged and came to me for help; I regret that I did not extend my hand in time. I will not make such a mistake a second time. On the contrary, I want to ask you: why did you bring the US military?"

"Bringing the US military was to deal with that group." Professor X pointed to the sky, where the meteor rain was still falling non-stop.

"But the reinforcements you brought seem to have mistaken them for my reinforcements. Do you think saying sorry and leaving at this moment will help? If it did, they wouldn't be the US military." Magneto stated coldly.

Professor X said: "So don't you think you should leave even more to avoid greater misunderstandings?"

"And let you hand Jean over to them?"

"I would never do such a thing!" Professor X said angrily.

"Yes, old friend, I believe you. But I do not believe them." Magneto spoke with implied meaning. He looked at the more American soldiers surrounding from both sides. "When they insist on snatching the person, what do you plan to do?"

(End of Chapter)