"Damn it, this can't be a joke!" Logan bit off the cigar in his mouth. He usually treasured this commemorative cigar, but this time he felt no heartache at all, because he was utterly shocked.
Although he was not a New Yorker, almost no one living in the United States did not know about the existence of this hot Superhero. He seemed to have become a symbol of New York City and an object of aspiration for most Americans. His image had deeply penetrated the hearts of every New Yorker, and he was already a household name throughout the United States.
Compared to Logan's reaction, Ororo's expression was no less astonished.
She covered her mouth, trying not to let others see her surprised look, but this action had no effect.
"This isn't real, is it! My God..." She walked up to Zhou Yi and reached out to touch his armor, seemingly wanting to use this method to prove that what she saw was not a false illusion.
Of course, the touch on her hand told her the answer.
"The way you look now reminds me of your expression when you saw Nicole Kidman when we were on a date!" Although his entire person was hidden beneath the armor, his teasing could be heard just from his tone.
"Now is not the time for jokes." Ororo smacked the armor on Zhou Yi's body hard, glaring at him as she spoke. "Even if you really are the Dawn Knight, you can't have such dangerous thoughts. That's Magneto; your armor won't protect you in front of him."
"She's right. Magneto's magnetic control can manipulate all metals. Not to mention your armor, even this city will become a sword and spear in his hands!" Jean Grey maintained a calm demeanor, but her eyes were filled with worry.
Although she was truly shocked by Zhou Yi's identity at first, she was now beginning to worry about other issues. She felt that Zhou Yi was a bit too arrogant, and when facing Magneto, his arrogance might become a fatal crisis. Although it was just a possibility, this possibility already made her anxious.
Compared to Ororo, her concern for Zhou Yi was no less, and even seemed deeper because she couldn't express it.
"There's no room left to escape." Zhou Yi took off his armor and gently shook his head at the two worried women. "Magneto is in this city. As long as he wants, we can't escape from under his nose. Instead of being timid and letting him gradually dismantle our strength, why not take advantage of now to have a direct confrontation? Ororo, Jean! Please give me some confidence, okay?"
"Yi!" The two women spoke almost simultaneously.
Although Jean instinctively reined in her expression the moment she spoke, Ororo still glanced at her in surprise. It was clear that she had noticed that, even just as friends, Jean's concern for Zhou Yi was still a bit excessive.
However, Ororo didn't have the mind to ponder it further at this moment. She simply put these thoughts aside for now and said to Zhou Yi with an urgent expression. "Please don't do this; there must be another way. I can't just watch you go to your death."
"Ororo!" Embracing the woman who had been worrying about his safety, Zhou Yi gently kissed her forehead. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. If I'm really no match for Magneto, I'm confident I can escape. I can't just sit here and wait for death; that's really not my personality."
Listening to Zhou Yi's gentle words, Ororo closed her eyes. A very complex expression appeared on her face. She didn't want this man to face such a terrifying enemy, but she also didn't want him to lose his principles. She understood how important a man's principles were. And precisely because she understood this, she was caught in a painful dilemma.
At this moment, Jean Grey seemed to want to say something, but Zhou Yi had already seen her hesitant look. He smiled at her and shook his head slightly. He knew this intellectual beauty was also worried about him, but some things truly couldn't be changed.
Jean Grey saw Zhou Yi's action. Her body stiffened abruptly, but in the end, she said nothing. Compared to Ororo, her identity was always an obstacle. There were some things she was not qualified to say, nor qualified to do. This made her heart extremely tormented, especially when she saw Ororo, a burning Fire began to surge in her chest. She truly envied this friend, both rationally and instinctively.
"Pal, although I really don't want to ask, can you tell me how confident you are?" Logan's voice startled the two women from their complex emotions. They both looked at Zhou Yi, seemingly hoping to hear some good news from him.
"I've upgraded my armor and taken all anti-magnetic defensive measures. But whether it's effective, I'll probably only know when I face Mister Magneto Erik." Shrugging his shoulders, Zhou Yi reluctantly delivered what could be considered decent news, but it was clearly not what they wanted to hear.
"Yi, we're asking you how confident you are, not about an untested experiment!" Ororo cried out in dissatisfaction, while Jean, a step slower, quietly swallowed her words but still stared intently at him.
"I have a fifty percent chance of winning, and a one hundred percent chance of survival. So, you must have faith in me." Covering the woman in his arms' mouth with his hand, Zhou Yi's voice was already unshakeably firm. "So, can we not continue on this topic?"
The two women fell silent. They exchanged glances, and this time, no one spoke again.
However, Logan was unwilling to end the topic like this. He walked up to Rogue and asked this question.
"I have one last question: what about Rogue? Do you really intend to take her with you and then hand her over to Magneto if you fail?"
"Logan, I understand how you feel, but do you think we can still protect her if I fail?" Speaking to Logan calmly for once, Zhou Yi's words were full of earnestness. "I also don't want a Child to become a bargaining chip, but this cannot be changed by our will. Without me, you can't protect her. So I can only guarantee one thing: if I truly fail, I will do my utmost to send her to the farthest place I can reach."
Perhaps thinking of his recent crushing defeat, Logan's expression was somewhat dejected. He looked at the bewildered Rogue and asked hoarsely, "Can that really protect her?"
"I don't know, but as long as she's alive, Magneto will stop at nothing to find her. She is the most crucial part of his plan, and even if this summit is overcome, there will always be a next time. He will certainly try to get Rogue into his hands. And as long as she is on this Earth, I believe there is nothing he cannot find."
Hearing Zhou Yi's words, Logan was stunned. After a long while, he slowly sat down.
"You're right, we really can only do this. But I have one condition: if you take Rogue, then I must go too. Even if you fail, they won't get her easily, unless they step over my dead body."
At this point, he looked at Rogue with an unusually tender gaze, as if she were his own daughter. She was the first Child he had acknowledged in his lonely life over the years, and for this alone, it was worth risking his life. As an immortal with a long life, his concern for these things far surpassed everything else.
"You're too pessimistic, pal!" Seeing the atmosphere here was truly a bit oppressive, Zhou Yi couldn't help but joke. "I haven't even fought yet, and you're already assuming I'll fail? Isn't that underestimating me too much? You know, I am the World's number one Superhero, the Dawn Knight, whom no one in all of America doesn't know. You must believe me; Magneto, who is just an old man almost past his prime, will only be a stepping stone for my great achievements."
"World's number one, compared to Captain America, you're still far off?" Logan instinctively retorted, but then suddenly remembered a question. Why did he mention Captain America? Confused memories surged up, causing him to involuntarily cover his head.
Looking at Logan in this state, Zhou Yi grinned. "Pal, it seems you're still a very honest person. Just telling a lie can make you react so strongly?"
"You damned fellow, can't you just shut your annoying mouth?" Logan, clutching his head, cursed fiercely. This sudden headache and the sensation of memories churning were truly a torment for him, and when someone was on the side making sarcastic remarks, this torment's intensity was absolutely multiplied.
Regarding Zhou Yi's bad behavior, Ororo gently patted his chest twice. This bullying act was something her usually kind self couldn't stand. Jean, on the other hand, shook her head helplessly, clearly finding this behavior beyond help.
However, seeing that both close women had expressed their disagreement, Zhou Yi could only stop his mischievousness and put on a sincere expression.
"Sorry, pal. You know I just wanted to lighten the mood."
Logan gave him a fierce middle finger. He was too lazy to refute Zhou Yi's explanation. He needed some time to rest now to calm his thoughts, so he simply didn't want to bother with him.
Of course, this was also what Zhou Yi wanted to see. Arguing with a man was really not a pleasant experience for body and mind.
She shook her head and greeted Jean Grey, signaling for them to leave with him first. Jean nodded knowingly, leaving only Rogue to accompany Logan, giving him a quiet space to rest.
And when Zhou Yi brought Ororo and Jean Grey to his room, he quietly closed the door and, with his most serious expression, said to the two of them.
"Ororo, and Jean! This time, you must promise me one thing!"
"Don't let Charisse and my mom know my identity, or about my duel with Magneto. Also, I hope you two can stay here and protect them!"
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bomb dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up countless ripples.