Urgent need to pee is the ultimate excuse. If you ignore Jean Grey's twitching eyelid, and Herman pinching himself several times to hold back laughter, then the three female agents did manage to bluff their way through. What started as a lively celebration banquet ended up closing on an imperfect note.
The hotel was sealed off by police. Naturally, everyone went their separate ways. As for payment, Herman had Carrie issue it immediately.
For the mutant students, it was the first time they had earned their own money. Excited beyond measure, they began whispering among themselves about how to spend it. The three female agents also received their due salary.
Herman hadn't shorted the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on their pay either, mostly because he felt it wasn't easy for these three to hustle for some extra cash. Of course, his generosity had a lot to do with the fact he was spending investor money—Charles certainly wouldn't miss a few million.
He also had no intention of clashing with S.H.I.E.L.D. so soon. The last thing he wanted was to draw Hydra's attention. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. was a Hydra nest these days.
"Should further promotion require us, you can contact us anytime."
Natasha and her companions still intended to dig deeper into the show.
On the surface, The Boys was just an anti-hero film. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s analysts believed it would only make the public hate mutants even more.
Would Charles really spend hundreds of millions to produce a TV series that fostered hatred toward mutants, even putting his prized students on the line? Such an idea was laughable. Not only did Natasha and her team dismiss it outright, even Nick Fury found it ridiculous. He immediately fired the analyst responsible for the claim.
The incompetent expert was sent packing to farm his land, yet Charles's true intentions remained a question that kept Fury awake at night.
As the saying goes, when the leader worries, the subordinates run themselves ragged. Natasha and the others figured the upcoming TV promotional event was their best chance.
At that time, the director would have to talk about his creative vision, right? With a little push from them, surely some key details would slip out.
As for appearing in public, agents of their rank weren't afraid of being recognized.
"Of course. If needed, I'll contact you right away."
Herman knew exactly what these three agents were up to. No mind-reading required.
After sending the three S.H.I.E.L.D. agents off, Herman took the group clamoring to see the effects work to Charles's VFX company. For the next few days, he stayed there supervising alongside the mutant students.
Then another issue came up.
"There's a problem with this effect. Invisibility doesn't mean waterproof. If an Invisible Man gets wet, the effect weakens a lot."
The student playing the Invisible Man patiently explained to the technician. When it came to invisibility, no one knew more than him.
But—
"I've been doing special effects for years. You think I need you teaching me?" The technician rolled his eyes with open disdain.
The Invisible Man's face twisted in frustration. You've got ten years of effects work—does that beat my ten-plus years of actually being invisible?
"Hey, when animals talk, their mouths don't move like that."
The mutant who could speak with animals tried to offer feedback. But he too was brushed off with, "You don't understand."
With no choice, the students went to complain to Herman. Seeing this, Herman stepped in and demanded the technicians do as they were told.
"I'm the one paying you. Your job is to deliver what we want, not what you think is right."
He warned them sharply, "Do I need to bring your boss over to remind you how to follow instructions?"
His tone was anything but friendly.
"Okay, you're the boss."
The technicians weren't idiots. They knew who paid the bills. Even if they didn't like it, they complied.
The students erupted in cheers the moment the technicians backed down, and Herman's authority in their eyes rose even higher. Kids, after all. Winning their approval wasn't hard.
"Come by again if you have time."
After using the ravens to send the students back to New York, Herman watched as Jean Grey led them away. The ice queen, Phoenix, had been mostly quiet these past few days. Yet under Herman's persistent flirting, she had started to acknowledge him more.
"Those agents won't leave so easily. Once they've marked a target, they won't stop until they get what they want."
Before leaving, Jean Grey offered Herman a kind reminder. From someone like her, even that small gesture meant she now saw him as a friend.
"Who's the hunter and who's the prey… maybe it's not what you think."
Herman replied with a smile. He knew Jean's distrust of official institutions.
He didn't trust S.H.I.E.L.D. either. But S.H.I.E.L.D.'s weak tricks were only enough to fool outsiders. A bit of vigilance against Hydra's ruthlessness was enough.
Besides, if S.H.I.E.L.D. got out of line, Herman had plenty of ways to tear it down early.
The simplest, was to let Nick Fury know that S.H.I.E.L.D. might as well be called "Hydra." At that point, Fury wouldn't have the energy to worry about mutants anymore.
...
After returning the mutant children to the school and leaving them in Storm Ororo's care, Jean Grey headed straight to Professor Charles's office.
"Professor, the matter over there has been handled."
Jean Grey gave her report.
"So quickly?"
Professor Charles set down the book in his hands and removed his glasses. His eyes, deep and vast like the night sky, shone with anticipation.
"I can't wait to see what the finished series looks like. As an investor, do you think I might get an early screening?"
The old man blinked playfully.
Jean Grey, however, remained serious. "Professor, I still don't understand what this series really means for us."
It wasn't just the three agents who couldn't figure it out. Even Jean Grey, Charles's trusted right hand and fellow investor, couldn't see through it.
"You'll understand, when the time is right."
Professor Charles had always liked speaking in riddles.
"What if I want the answer now?" Jean Grey wasn't about to humor him—her temper leaned toward the fiery side.
"That impatience of yours… still as restless as ever." Charles chuckled, his gaze slowly shifting toward the window. Then, out of nowhere, he asked,
"You once said that child's power felt terrifying, even to you?" His tone carried only casual curiosity.
"If I don't count you, I've never encountered such overwhelming psychic strength…" Jean Grey recalled her attempt to probe Herman's mind. Even now, the memory left her uneasy.
"Mhm."
Professor Charles didn't look the least bit surprised. He gave Jean Grey a look filled with meaning.
"This is also part of the reason I invested."
His deep, magnetic voice resonated with calm weight, leaving Jean Grey momentarily stunned—before she finally understood what he meant.