Before running away from home, Wanda, like Pietro, had high hopes for her father. That's why she'd secretly gone to find him, without telling her mother.
Erik was a famous figure; finding him was easy. However, when Wanda found him, she discovered that the man who had ignored them for over a decade had started another family and was even expecting a new child.
The kind-hearted Wanda, after suffering, chose to leave. She gave up the chance to reunite with Erik as father and daughter, wishing their family of three a happy and fulfilling life.
Until, on her way, she met another girl about her age, named Lorna Dane. The girl also said she was looking for her father, whose name was Erik Lehnsherr.
Lorna told her that twenty years ago, her father had gone out to buy soy sauce and never returned. Whether he was alive or dead, she needed closure, so she set out to find him.
Ha, this poor kid has no idea her father abandoned them, quickly started a new family, and then abandoned them again. Now, successfully whitewashed, he's become a hero in everyone's eyes, with a wife and child, living the life of a winner.
Just how many wives and children did her father have? Disappointed in Erik, Wanda completely snapped, going from wanting a father-daughter reunion to wanting to commit patricide. Now, all Wanda could think about was how to kill her father and turn him into a mummy.
Of course, the above was just Jean's interpretation based on the thoughts she read.
What Wanda was actually thinking was still up for debate. It didn't stop Jean from muttering a curse, though.
"Captain Erik is such a scumbag."
Erik: "…"
He couldn't refute this insubordination, forced to silently endure the mockery. And Saiki Kusuo wasn't letting him off the hook either, whispering in his ear.
"Do you know why Miss Wanda called you a scumbag at first?"
Erik had a bad feeling. "Why?"
"Because on her way to find you, she met another one of your daughters."
Erik: "???"
Just how many children did he have?
If he could, Erik would have sent Saiki Kusuo back ten years. He was afraid that if he let this kid stay any longer, even more children would appear.
Raven overheard their conversation and gave him a look of contempt.
"Looks like our Captain needs to work hard to get Charles to give him a raise. With so many wives and children, that little salary of yours won't be enough."
Erik gave a wry smile at the taunt, then regained his composure. As the team leader, he questioned Wanda, who was still technically an enemy.
"So, Miss Wanda, before we start fighting, I'd like to ask, are you going to see the light, or…?"
"See the light?" Wanda interrupted Erik, repeating the phrase as if it were amusing.
"I don't think I'm on the same side as you. Although my brother is easily fooled and stands with you, I don't mind cleaning house, starting with you and this idiot brother of mine."
Wanda's lips curled into a smile, her eyes flashing with hatred for Erik.
The "idiot brother," Pietro, was shocked. "How did Wanda become like this? My sister would never say such terrifying things before!"
Hearing this, Erik felt a pang of guilt. The thought that Wanda might have become this way because of him made it impossible for him to go all out against her.
Noticing his hesitation, Raven spoke up: "Don't hesitate, Erik. You always say that disobedient kids need a good beating to learn their lesson. I think once she calms down, and you explain things properly, she'll understand that you didn't intentionally abandon them."
The scene instantly shifted from a family drama back to an action sequence.
Saiki Kusuo took a few steps back, distancing himself from the conflict. Suddenly, he sensed a faint connection from Charles.
He focused on capturing the other's thoughts, establishing a link.
Coincidentally, the rooster-guy opposite him didn't want him to stay out of the fight. Flapping his iron wings, he sent sharp feathers directly at Saiki Kusuo.
Saiki Kusuo, busy communicating with Charles, didn't even bother to dodge.
A loud "clang" echoed as the feathers, capable of piercing metal, struck Saiki Kusuo's body and fell to the ground.
The rooster-guy let out a surprised "Oh," raising an eyebrow at the unharmed Saiki.
Saiki Kusuo had sparked his fighting spirit. He flapped his wings, stirring up a cloud of dust.
The rooster-guy boasted arrogantly, "Kid, my next attack… OW!!"
He suddenly let out a scream, his entire body flying backward, crashing into a pile of rubble about ten meters away.
Alex stood in the rooster-guy's original position, the device on his chest that controlled his concussive blasts removed. Clearly, it was his blast that had sent the rooster-guy flying.
"Your opponent is me," Alex said coldly, annoyed at being ignored.
Then he turned to Saiki Kusuo. "He's all yours. Go find the Professor, Saiki."
"Thanks," Saiki Kusuo said, and immediately teleported away.
He'd established contact with Charles, who had given him some incredible news.
The Time Stone was in Mutant Number One's possession.
The time-traveling Stryker had encountered Mutant Number One. Before Stryker could even figure out what was happening, Mutant Number One, interested in the stone he held, killed him.
That's why Stryker had suddenly appeared and then disappeared just as suddenly.
Following Charles's directions, Saiki Kusuo entered the pyramid.
The atmosphere inside made Saiki Kusuo uncomfortable. It felt like he was stripped naked and thrown into a crowd, an utterly shameful feeling. He knew this was Mutant Number One's ability. As he went deeper, his connection with Charles became weaker.
Eventually, he lost contact with Charles completely.
But it didn't really matter. Charles, completely unaware of his own location, was just giving useless directions anyway. Contacting him would only hinder Saiki's own judgment.
Around a corner was a huge chapel. Peeking through the half-closed door, Saiki Kusuo saw a dazzling array of runes. His intuition told him this was Mutant Number One's lair.
His X-ray vision allowed him to see the entire internal structure of the pyramid clearly. Knowing there were no traps, he strode in confidently.
Once inside, the light dimmed, turning a glaring red. Coupled with the strange runes and the faint whispers he could hear, it was pure sensory overload.
Saiki Kusuo frowned in disgust as he walked deeper. When he reached the center of the chapel, he found a stone bed. Lying on it was the person he was looking for: Charles.
Charles's eyes were tightly shut, his body convulsing in agony.
Standing before Charles was a person in a black robe. Sensing Saiki Kusuo's approach, he lowered his hood, revealing his strange face.
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