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After taking a breath, Black Superman continued:
"If you want to reshape the existing order, you first have to destroy the old one.
"Do you think the people currently sitting at the top will willingly give up their power just because they become mutants too?
"When the traditional elite can no longer guarantee the continuation of their family lines or the inheritance of their wealth, when being born with a silver spoon in the new era becomes a joke, what do you think they'll do to preserve their privileges?
"This would be a world-shaking upheaval.
"Magneto, are you prepared for that?
"Don't fantasize about compromise. Something like this can only end with one side being completely eliminated.
"Is that really the future you want? More mutant deaths—and not the sort of make-believe conflict that happens between the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants."
Magneto was far too seasoned to be compared to a young man like Tony Stark.
He had weathered countless storms in his life. There was little ugliness left in the world that he hadn't already seen. Black Superman's controversial arguments weren't enough to shake him.
Instead, Magneto replied with righteous conviction:
"And what's wrong with that?
"The strong are the ones capable of protecting more people. What can the weak accomplish when they occupy positions of power? Bureaucratic stagnation? Corruption? Waste?
"I once chose Professor X's path. I chose compromise with ordinary humans.
"I led mutants to Genosha Island and tried to build a final homeland for our people.
"But what did that achieve?
"The restraints placed upon us only grew tighter and tighter. Every concession we made was met with greater demands from humanity.
"Genosha isn't a homeland for mutants.
"It's a graveyard.
"We're like the living dead, abandoned by the entire world and dumped into that cesspit.
"The only reason those people in power agreed to give us an island was because they wanted us to fend for ourselves and quietly die there."
He continued bitterly:
"They reduced every supply they could control while continuing to send more people to us.
"I did everything I could. I organized our people to grow food and produce basic necessities.
"But we still lacked food. We still lacked medicine.
"Even the transportation in and out of Genosha remained under the control of outsiders—unless we relied on mutant powers to travel.
"That means even trading with the outside world depends on the goodwill of others.
"Can you imagine it?
"During the final period before I led part of our people away from Genosha, children actually starved to death.
"One selfish adult stole a child's food ration and took that child's life.
"Yes, that person was punished.
"But everyone knew that if things didn't change, Genosha would eventually become a living hell."
His voice grew colder.
"Knowing how those people in power have treated us, do you still think I don't have reason to take a gamble?
"This isn't about fighting for power.
"We're struggling just to survive."
The revelation genuinely shocked Black Superman.
But after thinking it over, he realized it wasn't surprising at all.
Whenever a region's population exceeds the carrying capacity of its land, the result is often war, famine, or other disasters caused by unequal resource distribution—nature's brutal way of reducing the population to a sustainable level.
History had taught that lesson many times.
The mutant population on Genosha wasn't growing according to any natural curve.
Large numbers of mutants were continually being relocated there, whether voluntarily or by force.
If the island's infrastructure remained as primitive as it had been seven years ago when Black Superman last saw it, with little or no progress in productivity, disaster was inevitable.
If life had been merely difficult but manageable, Magneto probably would have been content to remain on that island as Erik Lehnsherr, playing the role of tribal chief until the end of his days.
But once famine and social collapse began appearing, simply shipping in more food would no longer solve the deeper problems taking root there.
No wonder a man of his age was still out here leading a gang of followers on risky ventures.
The one reassuring thing was that Magneto had gathered quite a number of capable followers.
At least he wasn't in the pathetic situation depicted in the X-Men films closest to this point in the timeline from Henry's memories before transmigration, where Mystique, Sabretooth, and Toad were practically the only subordinates by his side.
Black Superman sighed.
"Don't you realize that Genosha's situation is exactly what your future mutant society will eventually face as well?
"Look at the mutants following you outside. What a collection of oddballs.
"And I'm not talking about their appearances. I'm talking about their brains.
"I honestly doubt most of them could even spell the word mutant."
He continued mercilessly:
"On my way in, everyone I saw looked like factory workers with nowhere to go after clocking out, so they gathered in bars to drink themselves numb.
"No one seems interested in learning.
"No one seems interested in helping solve the problems mutants face.
"I don't know whether Genosha is still the same as it was seven years ago.
"Are you still using primitive farming methods and old-fashioned systems to manage people?
"Or have you embraced Professor X's philosophy so completely that you've forgotten your mutant abilities and are digging in the dirt with your bare hands?
"Has nobody ever thought about turning mutant powers into productive forces?"
He pointed at Magneto.
"Do you realize that your ability to manipulate magnetic fields could produce endless amounts of clean energy if properly utilized?
"Once you have energy, maybe you can't instantly build a complete modern civilization, but you can at least establish the foundation of one.
"What abilities do the others have?
"What can they contribute?
"Or have you simply divided mutants into two categories—those with strength and those without—and turned your own people into laborers?
"Looking at the state of these people, do you genuinely believe mutants have a future?"
Black Superman shook his head.
"You don't seriously think the ruling classes who built modern society are all incompetent fools, do you?
"That they're just smooth talkers with no real ability?
"That you could do their jobs just as well?
"Isn't Genosha itself enough of an experiment to show you reality?"
Magneto frowned.
"You think I don't understand all this?
"I do.
"I understand it better than anyone.
"But the reality is that if we don't leave Genosha and seek change, everyone on that island is doomed.
"If we take a gamble, perhaps we'll still arrive at the same ending.
"But at least we'll gain more time to adapt.
"More time to change.
"If you were in my position, what would you choose?"
This was the mindset of someone backed into a corner and forced to risk everything on a desperate gamble.
Could someone like that be talked out of it?
No.
Magneto's expression darkened further.
"And do you know what legislation some members of Congress are currently drafting?
"The Mutant Registration Act."
His tone turned icy.
"They want to record the identity and abilities of every mutant in the country.
"They even want to classify the study of mutant powers as a legitimate research field.
"You may think it's harmless.
'Registration is registration. What's the big deal? It's not as if anyone loses a limb over it.'
"But that's only the first step.
"And what comes next…"
A cold, bitter smile appeared on his face.
"…I know all too well."
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