"Erik? Erik?" Professor X called out twice, realizing he couldn't sense Magneto's brainwaves, he couldn't help biting his lip and muttered quietly, "Do you have to wear that damn helmet at a time like this?!"
At this moment, any member of the X-Men would have been shocked to see Professor X's expression, as he always presented himself as gentle and composed in front of others, always appearing as if he had everything under control.
"You wouldn't hang up the phone just as you're reaching your front door, would you?" Magneto's voice came from behind Professor X, who turned around to see him just as he was taking off his helmet, his silver-white hair cascading down.
He set the helmet aside and said, "The three star systems there have been almost destroyed by us, Polaris caught two transport captains, and we found out from them that those laboratories are likely funded by the Elder Council."
"I figured as much," Professor X sighed, then asked, "Can we get this message spread through the wide-area networks of the Three Great Empires before tonight?"
Magneto furrowed his brow and said, "Why the rush? Weren't we supposed to spread the news within three days?"
"Plans have changed." Professor X told Magneto about Nathaniel and Apocalypse, continuing with, "I suspect the people behind Apocalypse might be the New Skrull Empire."
"They're targeting mutants? Why go such a roundabout way?" Magneto asked, though he clearly didn't intend to wait for Professor X to answer since he was much more perceptive in this area than Professor X.
Regardless, Apocalypse was also a member of the mutant race, and for other high-level civilizations, distinguishing mutants wasn't difficult. If Apocalypse were to act against us, then this would be a civil war among mutants.
And if this war caused any destruction, mutants would be held fully responsible, giving others the excuse, under the guise of cosmic safety, to meddle with mutant internal affairs.
"They probably want to support Apocalypse as a puppet within the mutant race," Professor X's tone sunk as he said, "They want to incite factional strife among the mutants."
Magneto was all too familiar with this tactic, he pondered for a moment before saying, "They originally wanted to divide us, but when they realized they couldn't succeed, they naturally changed their target."
"But how did they manage to get to Apocalypse?" Professor X mused with some confusion, "Apocalypse has always been active on Earth, he doesn't have much interest in the cosmos, and Earth has always been well-guarded, making it difficult for the New Skrull Empire to contact anyone on Earth through the Nine Major Kingdoms or Magical Defense Network."
"Then there must be a mole inside," Magneto said, "Are we still unable to contact Shiller?"
Professor X pondered briefly, deciding to try again, but before he could act, Magneto frowned slightly in one direction, gestured with a wave of his hand, and the magnetic defenses were withdrawn, revealing a Magic Portal in the office.
"You certainly have tight security here," Loki appeared in the office, holding the Scepter of the Mind, followed by an unexpected person—Thanos the Destroyer.
The purple-skinned titan stepped forward and shook hands with Magneto, who, out of respect, did not reject the gesture, not only because of Thanos' strength, but also because he currently had a high position within the Intergalactic Alliance.
Thanos had climbed to the position of the Director of Security for the Intergalactic Alliance and successfully entered the lower house of the interstellar council.
"What brings you two here?" asked Professor X.
"Shiller's tied up with the superheroes, I've come to pass on a message," Loki said, "He arranged for Mr. Thanos to help connect Apocalypse with the New Skrull Empire, to facilitate their cooperation."
Magneto's eyebrows deeply furrowed, he didn't think Shiller would betray mutants, if Shiller had intended to, he would have done so long ago. He couldn't immediately understand why Shiller would facilitate cooperation between Apocalypse and the New Skrull Empire.
Loki didn't keep him in suspense, revealing the truth straightaway, "Mr. Thanos is looking to ascend in the Intergalactic Alliance, as are the human race."
In an instant, Professor X understood all the connections.
What does Thanos manage? Interstellar safety!
How's the interstellar safety now? In fact, these times have been the most secure and stable in the cosmos in the last thousand years.
The main contributors were Asgardians, these war-frenzied beings had returned to their homeland and ceased their cosmic struggles, naturally bringing much peace to the cosmos, and though the rising mutants were troublesome, they were still far from the peak strength of Asgard.
The problem was, the cosmos was too safe.
As is well known, the more turbulent the times, the faster the change in ruling classes, because you never know when disaster may strike a house, or when an army may be defeated, leaving vacancies as people perish, accelerating the rise through the ranks.
To help Asgard, Shiller had no choice but to suggest Thor stop his campaigns to prevent Ragnarök from coming too early; the Nine Major Kingdoms, ruled by Asgard, have always been Earth's strongest defense, securing Earth's fundamental safety issue.
Yet, without Asgard, the cosmic situation had become too stable. In times of peace, social classes solidify, with no wars to fight, there are no sacrifices; with abundant resources, there's no need for bloody strife.
But without this strife, how was Earth, the new affluent, to climb the ranks?
Since ancient times, the officialdom has always been a case of a radish for a hole; without moving the rooted radishes, how can there be new holes for the seedlings to grow?
Hence, Shiller released the Mutants.
Indeed, the Mutants were not as strong as Asgard, but it's also important to consider how many years Asgard and Odin, as the eternal ruler of Asgard, have accumulated strength. He safely completed his lengthy reign and smoothly handed over power to his son.
However, it was only in recent times that the Mutants began to develop with leaders like Magneto and Professor X—Sleeping Dragon and Rising Phoenix—slowly increasing their power, incomparable to the years of accumulation from the other side.
Therefore, Asgard could dominate in the cosmos without concern, while the Mutants ruled the Andromeda Galaxy haphazardly, frantically busy.
Even though they could cause some troubles for the Three Great Empires, they were far from reaching the level of cosmic instability that Shiller desired.
It appears he can no longer wait.
Professor X pursed his lips, then said, "You should know this is extremely risky. If it's just Apocalypse causing chaos, we can handle it. But if we involve one of the Three Great Empires..."
The implication of Professor X's words was clear: conspiracies need to rely on something substantial. Mutants had developed for too short a period to entangle both great empires in their affairs, risking uncontrollable chaos.
"No risk, no reward," Loki said. "The Mutants can sit here, waiting until we arrange everything perfectly, but by doing that, you'll never reach the next level. Do you know how the Father of All Gods used to treat those subjects who said war was too risky?"
This was not a real question, nor did it need an answer. With a little thought, Professor X would know that Asgard wasn't always full of war zealots.
At that moment, the man over fifty deeply realized that under the sun, nothing is new—not the Sun of the Solar System, but every sun in the cosmos.
It is not gentleness and kindness that foster a civilization, but rather the terrifying hunger carved in their bones. It makes them fierce, rabid, forever insatiable.
To secure a place on the larger cosmic stage is like fueling a car with no brakes to the brim: once you hit the gas, there's no turning back. No matter what lies ahead, the only option is a head-on crash.
This was a grand gamble on race and civilization—not those who pause are eliminated, but those who do not accelerate madly enough.
With hundreds of nations on Earth behaving in this way, billions of civilizations across the cosmos did so even more excessively. Falling behind meant not only getting beaten but the annihilation of nation and race, erasing even the traces of civilization, with no mercy involved.
Even Magneto, deemed an extremist on Earth, appeared moderate in the cosmos, while it was humanity's eternal Greed that carved a bloody path for Earth.
"Tell me the entire plan," Professor X said, meaning he had already set foot on the metaphorical pirate ship.
"It's simple," Loki replied. "Get the New Skrull Empire and the Shi'ar Empire to fight."
Even prepared, Professor X's grip on the wheelchair's armrest tightened at the suggestion.
"A New Milennial War?!" Professor X looked up sharply at Loki, searching his face for any hint of jest.
Anyone who has read interstellar history would understand the monumental role the millennium-long war between the Kree Empire and the Skrull Empire played in shaping the current state of the universe.
"It might even last longer than that," Loki said with a ruthless and naive cruelty in his smile. "It will only end when the Nine Major Kingdoms and Earth's survival crises are truly over."
Magneto had been silent up to this point, and Professor X didn't need to listen to his thoughts to know his old friend was prepared for the worst.
"We won't live that long," Professor X said. "Many speculate about our lifespans, and I can only tell you, we will exist in another form after we die, but we cannot avoid death."
Loki looked at Magneto, who slowly nodded, pausing before speaking: "When I die, I will create a universe where we can live forever, but I will die eventually."
Loki was not surprised; he expressed some pity, saying, "The confines of a human body impose too many limitations on you."
"But if we weren't human, we might lose our human hearts," Professor X explained delicately.
In truth, both had grown powerful enough to change their forms of life. Professor X could become pure electromagnetic waves, Magneto could return to the magnetic field, but once they did so, they would gain new perspectives.
But no one knew whether they would still ponder the survival of the Mutants or have an epiphany and regard everything as part of the natural cosmic cycle, ceasing to intervene. This was the reason they forwent eternal existence.
At last, Loki smiled, his hand clasping slightly, materializing something in his grasp, "When has Shiller ever let you work for free? Look at this."
Professor X frowned as he looked at the small crystal disc in Loki's hand, bearing two strange pieces of fruit that resembled apples but had golden skins.