Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
*****
With Professor X's ability card, Mike could block Jason's powers. However, to follow through with the plan and completely brainwash Jason Stryker, doing it alone would still be too much of a stretch.
Since that was the case, why not bring in another Professor X?
With this simple yet straightforward thought, the card between Mike's fingers dissolved into specks of light.
A phantom appeared beside him, quickly solidifying from illusion into reality in an instant.
It was a middle-aged man in a white shirt, seated in a wheelchair.
He was bald, with a gentle expression on his face.
Seeing this, Jason Stryker was utterly shocked.
What kind of ability was this?
Had he summoned a person? Was this just an illusion?
No—it was more than a mere summoning. It was closer to creation, because Jason had clearly witnessed the process of this man transforming from an apparition into a living being.
What unsettled him even further was that this middle-aged man bore some resemblance to someone he faintly remembered.
Ignoring Jason's swirling thoughts, the manifested Professor X smiled and nodded at Mike. Their terrifying psychic powers combined, slamming against Jason Stryker's mental defenses.
Jason Stryker raged in fury, but it didn't change the inevitable result of being overpowered and controlled.
Seconds later, he withdrew his ability and obediently stood to the side.
"You hold him down, I'll handle the brainwashing," Mike instructed.
Professor X nodded, exerting his full power to suppress Jason Stryker.
Ten minutes later, Jason Stryker had been thoroughly brainwashed.
Now, even if Mike ordered him to die, he would obey without hesitation.
"Sir," Jason Stryker said respectfully, lowering his head.
"Master," Professor X added with a smile as he addressed Mike.
The corner of Mike's mouth twitched.
When other manifested characters called him that, he didn't think much of it. But hearing Professor X say it somehow felt particularly awkward.
The beings he manifested possessed independent thought, but they would still unconditionally obey Mike's commands.
However, because the cards were consumable items, the manifested figures were essentially temporary as well. Each summoning created a new version of the character, with no memories from the last time they were manifested.
Although that was a bit regrettable, it didn't hinder Mike's use of the ability.
Besides, Mike suspected that once his power leveled up again, this situation might change.
After reaching Level 5, the duration of his manifestations increased along with his progress.
And when he reached Level 6, his ability was bound to undergo another qualitative leap.
Setting thoughts of his power aside, Mike nodded at Professor X, dissolving the manifestation.
With a smile, Professor X faded into a phantom and vanished.
Mike then turned his gaze to Jason Stryker, restraining his killing intent, and began interrogating him about the Star Organization.
Moments later, an enraged Mike nearly destroyed the entire base.
It turned out Jason Stryker was merely someone else's subordinate. The true mastermind was none other than the sinister Mr. Sinister—Nathaniel Essex.
Through Jason, Mike also learned the true scale of the Star Organization.
It was far more powerful than anyone had imagined. In terms of military force, financial resources, and even the nations it secretly controlled, it exceeded all of Mike's expectations.
Even the country's former president had fallen under their control years ago, turned into one of their puppets.
Mike's gaze toward Jason Stryker burned with murderous intent.
Whether it was Erik, Charles, Raven, the Avengers, or the X-Men, Jason bore responsibility for their deaths. After all, once Mr. Sinister issued his orders, Jason was the one who planned and executed everything.
This man had to die.
But… not yet.
Jason held control over the Star Organization. If he were to die suddenly, the vast company would collapse into chaos. Its managers would fracture it into smaller factions, plunging everything into disorder.
No—Jason had to stay alive for now, at least until he could hand the Star Organization over to Gwen and the others intact. Only then would Mike kill him.
The process of transferring control wasn't difficult. All it required was gathering the organization's executives under Jason Stryker's authority, and then controlling them one by one.
Aside from that, Mike also received a piece of uplifting news from Jason Stryker—one that made his heart tremble with hope.
Clark might still be alive.
After being controlled by Charles's clone, Clark was taken to one of Mr. Sinister's secret bases, hidden on an uninhabited island in the middle of the ocean.
Although Jason didn't know what awaited Clark afterward, this revelation was enough to give Mike a sliver of hope.
From Jason, Mike also learned the reason why Mr. Sinister, whom he had already killed, had managed to come back to life.
Mind backup.
Whenever one body died, the stored consciousness and memories were transferred into a new cloned body, granting him a twisted form of immortality.
As for where those backups were kept, how many secret bases Mr. Sinister had around the world, or how many cloned bodies existed, Jason had no idea.
Hearing this, Mike frowned in thought. This kind of problem…
Perhaps Tony, who was currently stuck at home playing babysitter, might be able to deal with it.
Until all of Sinister's backups and clones were located, Mike had no choice but to suppress his urge to confront him. First, he would have Tony find a way to deal with the backup issue.
After extracting the locations of Sinister's secret bases from Jason's mind, Mike ordered him to maintain the status quo. Then, opening a portal, Mike left the base and reappeared at his farmhouse.
The moment he stepped out, Ororo ran up excitedly, shouting "Grandpa!" as he sprinted toward Mike. Throwing out his arms, he leapt lightly and wrapped himself around Mike's neck.
Mike quickly caught the little guy, tapped his nose, and turned to Tony, who had followed behind. "You've got work to do."
At those words, Tony's face lit up with joy.
Finally! He could get rid of his nanny duties!
Wait a second…
Suspiciously eyeing Mike, Tony asked, "What work? You're not going to dump the kids on me again, are you?"
"No."
"Then… two kids?"
Mike: "…"
Was this guy going senile? He was supposed to help track down Sinister's backups!
Speechlessly staring at Tony, Mike explained, "The plan went smoothly. I've already taken control of the Star Organization's mastermind."
"That's fantastic!" Tony cheered. Then, frowning in puzzlement, he added, "But if you've already got him under control, shouldn't things be settled? What's left for me to do?"
Mike's expression darkened slightly. "The real boss of the Star Organization is Jason Stryker."
"Stryker?" Tony muttered, rubbing his chin. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
In a low voice, Mike replied, "That part isn't important. What matters is that someone is still behind him. If we don't eliminate that man, the Star Organization problem will never end."
(End of Chapter)