With Stark's temper, how could he have possibly endured that? He immediately stopped the experiment he was conducting and abandoned the machinery, flying back to the Stark Building, where he spent the afternoon complaining to Pepper.
Pepper couldn't even be bothered with the issues between the two of them anymore; it was clear that the current situation was not heading in the right direction.
There had indeed been some frictions in public opinion between the two countries, or rather, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, both sides had regarded the other as their greatest hypothetical enemy. The situation had intensified with the onset of the era of interstellar exploration.
People had been imagining that this clash might erupt in some way, but for it to explode over Mutants was truly unwise.
Although Pepper had many Mutant friends, he knew that Mutants did not have an independent civilization and had always been wanderers. This meant that they had hardly any inhibitions, and should a conflict break out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Now, there was absolutely no benefit in starting a conflict with China. There were too many technologies that required cooperation, and large conglomerates like Stark Group and Osborn Group had always been hinting at partnership. To choose this time to provoke a conflict was equivalent to cutting off one's own financial path, wasn't it?
Obadiah was also very dissatisfied with the situation, and his methods were far more extreme than Pepper's. He announced that Stark Group would withdraw from the elections and would no longer provide financial support to any political force.
Many believed that they were trying to save their own skins, but politicians understood that this was Obadiah expressing his dissatisfaction.
American politics is like a platter. Even if you don't wish to eat your fill from it, you must contribute some food to prove your allegiance—and no major company can completely fend for itself; it's just a question of to what extent.
Because once you get involved, you inevitably become entangled, ensuring that they are part of a community with congruent interests. If someone wanted to withdraw, the others would certainly not sit by and watch them disentangle themselves so cleanly.
Many believed that Stark Group was in trouble, but alas, Osborn Group immediately followed suit, withdrawing their own hand that had been intending to throw meat into the platter, leaving the desperately hungry hyenas truly panicked.
The direction of public opinion began to change gradually. Some old, smart details about Obadiah were dug up, and finally, he was charged with 27 counts; the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched both his current and previous three residences, making it uncertain whether he could participate smoothly in the upcoming election.
However, the issues among China, America, and the Mutants were not so easily resolved. America was convinced that China wanted to snatch away their Mutant resources, despite previously viewing the Mutant Brotherhood as terrorists and continuously suppressing Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. But America still felt that these Mutants were their weapons and could not permit anyone else to meddle with them.
China always emphasized that they had never cooperated with the Mutant Brotherhood, yet they continuously appealed to other countries to treat the Mutant affair rationally and adhere to the principle of equality.
It had turned into a drawn-out tug of war, with America firmly obstructing, and China, because they did not wish to openly collaborate with the Mutant Brotherhood, began playing Tai Chi, delaying the progression of cooperative projects.
They had initially agreed to cooperate in private. If America had not interfered, everything would have gone smoothly, but now with America's intervention, it was impossible for China to sneak people in. They could at most manage to help some technical data mysteriously appear in the backyard of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
But neither Professor X nor Magneto was willing to give up. For the first time in many years, they had received such support, and the plan moved them deeply. The Andromeda Galaxy was just one step away from a better future.
In the end, Magneto sought out Clark.
Clark could see the weariness in the old man, who, despite keeping his face stern and his body rigidly upright, unwilling to show weakness, still exuded an indescribable exhaustion.
Clark now understood why Magneto had such a bad temper and reputation, yet always had a group of die-hard followers. He saw the same quality in both Magneto and Oliver.
Recently, Clark had been reflecting a lot. Since arriving here and encountering so many new people, seeing a new Mexico, he had perhaps grasped a bit of what Oliver was truly holding on to.
Oftentimes, ordinary people like them, who are always at the bottom of society and are regarded as vulnerable groups, are not content with just having enough to eat but chase after illusory dreams that make them happy—what they call ideals.
But Clark had to admit, there was a unique charm about people with ideals that drew others towards them, like moths to a flame. Perhaps it was these ordinary people, when scrabbling in the soil for food, who projected all their repeatedly stifled, hopeless fantasies onto them, believing that one day they might lead everyone to construct a new world.
What was his ideal? Clark very rarely pondered this question seriously but instinctively felt compassion for everyone in the world.
Why couldn't it be to make every person in the world happy?
Being so strong, it wouldn't be strange for him to have a grander ideal than others, would it?
Clark decided to help Magneto, and the tiny flame that had traveled across such a vast world and cosmos to reach them, once again reignited the deserts and grasslands of Mexico.
When Shiller returned to Kamar-Taj, Strange came down the stairs looking anxious and asked, "What have you done now? What's happened in Mexico again?"
Shiller shook his head and said, "This time, I really didn't do anything. I've just been peacefully farming for the past few days."
"Where's Tony?"
"He went back to Stark Group. The situation there is more urgent; he couldn't be away. It might take him a couple of days to come over."
"So, why is the situation over there urgent? Did you really do nothing in Mexico?"
"Really, I didn't do anything, I swear I didn't." Shiller shrugged and said, "It all just happened naturally."
Strange still looked at him with a doubtful eye, as Loki stepped out from behind him, stroked his own hair back and said, "Indeed, he might not have done something, but he might have said something instead, or maybe he didn't say anything, just gave someone a look. Don't you know him by now?"
Watching Shiller's retreating back, Strange sighed helplessly.
In truth, Shiller didn't do much, he just followed Magneto, watched all their collaborative plans, then turned around and had Nick deliver the thing to the US Government.
China's secret cooperation with mutants was bound to be discovered, but the timing of the discovery mattered a lot. If it were uncovered before their cooperation began, America would do everything possible to prevent it from succeeding.
Because that would prove China was truly a paradise for mutants, especially a paradise for the powerful mutants, which would completely puncture their previous propaganda barriers and let more powerful forces fall into China's hands.
Although these powerful forces weren't of much use in their hands, and America didn't dare use them, the important thing was to prevent the other party from obtaining them, ensuring that neither side had them for fairness.
But the best things are those out of reach. For mutants, things acquired too easily aren't cherished, and without obstacles, the value of this cooperation would go unnoticed.
Simply put, Shiller needed an Empress Mother to prevent the meeting of the lovers; otherwise, how could the strength of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl's love be realized?
And there it was, Magneto felt America was meddling just because they were too idle. Since they were so idle, he had to find something for them to do.
Thus, to everyone's content, the Bald Eagle's butt was on fire again.
And this time it wasn't just a spark but a full-blown inferno, because although it was Magneto's first time doing this, for Clark, it was the second round. He could extract the essence and discard the dross, starting with a killer move.
Clark first capitalized on the rampant nationalism developing natively in Mexico, which is to say, American hatred had rallied quite a number of people, including many local magic practitioners and mutants.
He then deconstructed American hatred, combined with the current situation where America was excessively building factories in Mexico, and explained how they were exploiting Mexicans.
This was easy because the facts were clear. Setting aside the longstanding grievances between the two countries, the recent actions of America in Mexico could be described as modern colonialism.
They built factories there simply because of Mexico's vast lands and cheap labor. All the technology in those factories was from America, where the workers and leaders were elite, while Mexicans were second-class citizens. The Mexican Government was powerless to protect the labor rights of its people, and exploitation and squeezing were commonplace.
Moreover, the rampant factory building accelerated urbanization and turned many dispossessed farmers into workers. With the increase in the workforce, the proletariat grew, and it was no longer possible to be self-sufficient through small-scale farming. Their only option was to unite and fight for their rights.
With the advantage of the right timing, location, and people, Clark in half a month's time assembled a force that even Magneto found shocking. He thought Clark might want to be the King of Mexico.
But shocked as he was, the work had to be done. Magneto might not excel in other areas, but he was first-class in creating havoc and had plenty of experience. One day he would lead an attack on the city hall, the next he'd surround a private estate of an official, the day after he'd storm Guadalajara Avenue in protest, and the next he'd lead people to factories to capture the corrupt bosses.
Of course, he wouldn't show his face while doing these things; after all, his reputation wasn't good. The public face was Martin and a Latino from the Mutant Brotherhood, framing the whole thing as the Mexicans' own struggle.
Magneto might not show his face, but his abilities were not to be kept hidden; even when reduced to a magnetic field, no one could stand against him.
This movement continued grandly for over a month, until one day, they officially declared their banner: the Mexican Communist People's Revolutionary Army.
This term alone caused an uproar in international opinion.
When they saw that bright red flag, adorned with a sickle and hoe, every country understood that the world was about to change.
When a certain Eastern Great Nation received a call for help, they came to a realization as if waking from a dream. The situation seemed oddly familiar. Is the Soviet Union myself???