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That evening, everyone held a small banquet at the manor.
Anyway, since the matter had concluded, there were no more reservations. It was time to pop the champagne and go home to get married.
The young Mutants completely let loose, one by one embracing their true selves, using their abilities without restraint during the banquet. Raven even transformed into Erik and performed a pole dance, her posture quite enchanting.
Erik: (▼dish▼#)
My fist is hardening!
Charles tried hard to suppress his laughter, patting his old friend's shoulder: "Relax, Erik, let them be. They've been on edge preparing for battle for the past few days. Now that they finally have a chance to release some of that tension, just let it go."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Raven instantly switched to Charles's appearance and started twerking.
Charles: "."
"Hahaha, Charles, your butt is quite perky."
This time it was Erik's turn to laugh out loud. No need to hold back, just laugh!
Charles: ( _ )
The Hellfire Club members did not attend the banquet.
Although they were now Brotherhood apprentices, due to their astonishing track record, comparable to Class-A war criminals, they were destined not to appear openly and mingle with the Brotherhood members.
Besides, this banquet was specifically to celebrate the Brotherhood's victory over the Hellfire Club. Why would they attend the banquet? To celebrate their own defeat?
During the banquet, Charles found Darian and said in a serious tone: "Darian, I plan to establish a Mutant school."
[NPC Charles Xavier has issued you a new quest]
[Quest: Establish the X-Academy]
[Objective: Assist Charles in establishing a Mutant school and successfully recruit the first batch of students]
[Reward: Will be determined based on the number and quality of students]
Hearing the system prompt, Darian asked in surprise: "A Mutant school?"
"Exactly, this idea has actually been brewing in my mind for a long time."
Charles nodded: "When using the Cerebro, I sensed many Mutant children scattered across the World. They are afraid and confused by their abilities, just like Raven and I were when we were young. I want to help them, guide them to correctly understand and use their abilities."
"That's a good idea."
Darian expressed his agreement. He was also considering expanding the Brotherhood's membership, and the Mutant school Charles mentioned was an excellent option.
By establishing a Mutant school, the Brotherhood would have a continuous influx of fresh blood in the future.
Most importantly, Mutant children are easier to persuade. Just like Alex and others, as long as you raise the banner for the future of Mutants, you can easily trick them into joining the Brotherhood, without even needing to pay salaries; just provide food and lodging. They are essentially free labor.
Moreover, Old Charles truly has some charm, with maximum affinity. He can easily handle even an unruly delinquent like Erik, practically a born brainwasher—oh no, a spiritual leader. It's perfectly suitable for him to be responsible for recruiting talent.
"You think it's a good idea too, right?"
Seeing Darian approve of his idea, Charles appeared very happy: "I have already planned to convert the manor's castle into a school, so that those children can study and live here in peace, no longer suffering discrimination because of their abilities."
Darian asked: "What will this Mutant school be called?"
Charles replied without hesitation: "I plan to name it X-Academy, taken from the X-gene within Mutants. The full name is Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
"A good name. Then you will be the Headmaster of X-Academy. Go ahead and do it boldly. The Brotherhood will always be your backing. If you need anything, just come to me."
"Thank you for your support, Darian."
Charles was very moved, but then he showed a hint of worry: "However, I am concerned that the government will not easily agree to us doing this."
Although he only wished to guide Mutant children onto the right path, in the eyes of those government officials suffering from severe paranoia, it might not be the same thing. They might even view the X-Academy as a potential Mutant military training camp.
Well, actually, that idea wasn't wrong; Darian did indeed think that way.
Darian waved his hand: "Don't worry, I'll handle that side. You just go ahead and create the school."
The two discussed a few more details, when Charles suddenly raised an eyebrow, gently pressing his fingertips to his temple, as if sensing something.
"Two people have entered the manor," Charles said.
His telepathic ability covered the entire manor; as soon as anyone stepped inside, he could instantly sense it, more effective than any camera.
"Who is it?"
"They are agents sent by the CIA, and Moira is among them."
Darian chuckled: "It seems the government has made its move. What is their purpose in coming here?"
"They have been ordered to make initial contact with us, and their attitude is very friendly."
Charles's tone was relieved; establishing communication with humans was precisely the direction he hoped for.
At this point, he paused: "Wait, Moira seems to have an additional mission."
Darian asked curiously: "What mission?"
"Her superiors have assigned her to use a honey trap on you."
Charles's entire face turned green.
Darian: "."
Just as Charles had sensed, Moira and the man soon officially arrived, expressing the CIA's desire to communicate with Darian.
Darian readily agreed, while Charles insisted on following closely behind, claiming to be worried that Darian might be deceived, and specifically coming to assist and keep an eye on the two CIA agents for Darian.
Are you sure you're not mainly here to keep an eye on me?
Darian was speechless for a moment, and then he summoned Erik as well. Such an occasion certainly required a Master of ceremonies to be present.
With Moira, a familiar face, present, the conversation atmosphere was generally harmonious.
And the core of the conversation, from beginning to end, revolved around three points.
Peace, peace, and more damn peace!
The Brotherhood explicitly stated that they wished to live in peace with humans and build bridges of cooperation. They would not proactively cause trouble, but if anyone provoked them, not even Jesus could stop them!
The last sentence was spoken by Erik, with a villainous look, which sounded perfectly natural coming from him.
Charles, on the other hand, played the role of the good cop, advocating for pacifism, but if the other party didn't talk about peace, then it could only be handled by Erik.
The man secretly thought it troublesome. Such harmony within the Brotherhood was undoubtedly bad news for them.
It proved that the Brotherhood was an inverted iron bucket, almost impossible to divide and disintegrate from within, and could only be forcefully destroyed by external forces, which would come at the greatest cost.
Regardless of what the man was thinking, Moira said solemnly: "I will relay your wishes to my superiors truthfully. However, we at the CIA also hope that both sides can coexist peacefully and avoid unnecessary conflicts."
Darian chuckled: "Naturally. Besides, I am still a member of the CIA, after all; I haven't officially resigned yet."
"Given that, if the CIA ever needs help in the future, such as apprehending particularly troublesome fugitives, feel free to come to us. We have many professionals here, and as long as the compensation is suitable, anything is negotiable."
"Then it's a deal!"
Moira's eyes lit up. With the assistance of a Mutant team, many high-difficulty missions for the CIA would indeed become much easier.
After the meeting, the male agent drove off alone, while Moira, as an acquaintance and former comrade, naturally stayed behind, as she still had her own bed here.
However, Charles felt something was amiss. To guard against any trickery, he took Moira back to his room to personally test her depth.
Darian scoffed at Charles's behavior.
Now is the time to focus on career, yet all you care about is this man-woman business. I, Darian, am ashamed to be associated with someone like you!
Having his honey trap foiled, he returned to his room in a depressed mood, took a shower, and lay down to rest.
Suddenly, he heard the door open and saw Emma, dressed in a secretary outfit, walk in.
Emma had started randomly appearing again!
"Is something wrong?" Darian asked in surprise.
"Have you forgotten? I am your secretary now. I'm here to report on work."
Emma walked to the bed, skillfully sat down, pushed her hair aside, and displayed her super high modeling attributes.
"Do you have to report this late?"
"Of course, reporting on work is something a secretary must do every day."
"Then why are you taking off your equipment to report on work?"
Darian narrowed his eyes, the blinding holy light was too dazzling. He quickly reached out to cover it, but didn't completely cover it, still revealing a small portion of holy light.
"Of course, it's for convenience in reporting work."
"Don't be like that. I am a man focused on my career right now."
"Coincidentally, my name is Career."
And so, Darian focused on his career every morning, and also focused on his career every night. Time flew by without him noticing.
During this period, Charles founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, specifically for Mutant adolescents, serving as both an educational institution and a superpower training Base, and officially began recruiting students.
Some members of the Brotherhood also joined the Academy, serving as teachers or in other positions.
Of course, not everyone was suited for these jobs.
Someone like Erik, who had almost no formal education and whose brain hadn't been polluted by knowledge, couldn't be a teacher.
So Darian simply arranged for him to join the Academy, becoming one of the first students of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Erik: (ω)?
I just personally dealt with Sebastian Shaw and prevented a nuclear war, and you're telling me to go be a student?
And Charles's student, no less?
Is this even reasonable!?
Darian kindly advised: "Old Magneto, look at yourself. You're a perfectly good Magneto, but you've turned yourself into Iron King. You're one of the four fundamental forces, yet all you do all day is lift iron and move steel. This is the consequence of not studying."
Erik was a bit embarrassed but still firmly disagreed.
For him, an adult, to be classmates with a bunch of kids—if that got out, especially if Charles found out, wouldn't he be laughed at for the rest of his life?
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! I will never be Charles's student in this life!"
"If you agree to enroll, this helmet is yours."
Darian took out Sebastian's helmet.
He knew Erik had wanted it for a long time. Anyway, he had the Dummy Ring himself and didn't need this item, and the helmet was cumbersome to wear, not at all as convenient as wearing a ring.
"Uh…"
Erik was visibly swayed.
He indeed desperately desired this helmet, for no other reason than to block Charles's telepathy.
Every time he played chess with Charles, he lost, and he strongly suspected this shameless fellow cheated, but he never had concrete evidence.
And the most important point was that he also didn't want to end up like Sebastian, being controlled by a telepath, rendering his powerful abilities unusable, and ultimately dying in frustration.
This was not groundless fear, but rather preparing for a rainy day!
Darian struck while the iron was hot, lowering his voice to add: "Old Magneto, you wouldn't want Old Charles to control you into pole dancing in public someday, would you?"
". Fine, I'll enroll!"
Erik gritted his teeth, took the helmet, and put it on.
Within a few seconds, he noticed something unusual. He fumbled with his fingers on both sides of the helmet and asked in surprise: "Why are there straps and buckles on this?"
Darian explained: "I deliberately added those. Don't forget how Sebastian died. The same mistake cannot happen again."
Erik thought it made sense, so he tightened the straps and securely fastened the buckles.
The originally imposing helmet instantly transformed into a safety helmet. Even if he rode a motorcycle now, it would look perfectly natural. If it were painted yellow, he could go directly to a construction site to move bricks.
Of course, for a talent like Erik, Darian naturally wouldn't let him remain just an ordinary student at the Academy.
Darian created a new department called the Brotherhood, which was the combat department of the Brotherhood. Its slogan was 'All is permitted, nothing is true', which didn't have much profound meaning, purely because it sounded more imposing.
Erik was the Head of the Brotherhood, and this department mostly selected members with strong combat abilities or tough personalities, the kind who would charge into battle whenever the guild encountered enemies.
For this, Darian even had Hank create a new pair of wrist blades for Erik, modeled after his own.
Erik asked in surprise: "What is this?"
Darian explained: "Wrist blades. They are the token of the Head of our Brotherhood, perfect as a weapon for an assassin like you."
Erik: "."
I'll say it again, I am not an assassin!
Afterward, Darian used the Brotherhood as a template to create the Sisterhood and the Family.
The Sisterhood replaced the original sorority, with Raven as its Head. All members of the department were female, and it only accepted Mutants who were biologically and psychologically identified as female.
The Family was handed over to Charles to be its Head, primarily responsible for recruiting new members, with the slogan that all members who join the guild are Family.
The remaining members were also assigned to these three departments based on their respective characteristics, with only Darwin left out.
Darwin asked in confusion: "Mr. Darian, what should I do then?"
Darian smiled mysteriously: "Don't worry, you have a more important job."
Upon hearing this, Darwin's eyes immediately lit up.
Ever since he was recruited into the Brotherhood by Darian, he had sworn to change his destiny and become the Master of his fate.
He believed that he was destined to bear greater responsibilities and no longer be just an ordinary taxi driver!
Darwin asked excitedly: "That's great! What exactly is my job?"
"Be my personal driver."
"...."