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Cold sweat slid down the sunglasses' lenses like a helpless little boat drifting on a black sea. And when the sweat dropped, the water stains on the forehead resembled swaying reeds, appearing pale and helpless.
Dario saw the mysterious figure raise one hand and remove his hood, revealing the face of a young Professor X.
A black hole devours all light and thus has no color. But if one day humans could perceive colors beyond light, perhaps, Charles's eyes would make people think that the universe's most mysterious and powerful celestial body is blue.
Shiller had actually made no movement, nor did he remove his hood. Everything the two saw before them was because Charles directly altered their brainwaves. In simple terms, it was an illusion.
Shiller didn't remember Charles having such abilities before. After acquiring a cosmos-level Cerebro, he evolved again, indeed.
Also, Shiller wasn't sure if it was just his illusion, but Charles's mentality seemed much younger along with his appearance.
For most, this should be a compliment because a youthful mentality represents breaking stubborn thoughts, flexible thinking, and courage to try and innovate.
However, young Charles Xavier couldn't be described as mild-mannered and magnanimous, only roughly humanoid.
Among many analyses of Professor X's persona, one viewpoint once prevailed: Professor X's use of his psychic ability not only influences others but also himself.
His seemingly saintly ideas weren't entirely his own; he was profoundly influenced by ordinary humans and thus unwilling to use his powerful ability to brainwash the world to create a favorable living environment for mutants.
After interacting with the real Charles Xavier, Shiller thought this notion was incorrect. Charles had such gentle ideas not because of ordinary people's influence.
Ultimately, it was merely because he never lacked love.
While not an absolute rule, many studies in psychology have shown that those lacking care, recognition, race, and family belonging are more prone to extremes because they always seek care, recognition, and belonging.
If they're incapable, perhaps it's not too bad. But if they're strong and hold power, they're likely to do things that seem completely mad to outsiders.
Conversely, those who don't lack these are relatively more likely to be gentle and tolerant, with their views less prone to extremes. Or they can choose to be extreme, but they're more willing to stay neutral, preferring win-win scenarios.
Charles Xavier's views appear so naive not because he had no choice, merely because he willingly chose so.
Or rather, he would choose so because he's adequately arrogant and idealistic. He believes he can find a win-win method to resolve the conflict between ordinary people and mutants, rather than having to eliminate one side.
In contrast, Erik is more pragmatic because the harsh realities of endurance left him with less energy to think about the long-term future; finding a way to survive now is crucial.
Therefore, Charles's more neutral and tolerant stance doesn't indicate his inherent kindness. Contrary to the stereotypical image of Professor X, comic Charles Xavier isn't a saint. If anyone had to say, Nya is more of a person than he is.
Many literary works feature such characters, whose existence and abilities far exceed ordinary people, with wisdom too high and deep thoughts, appearing inhuman. Professor X is a typical example.
The young Charles Xavier exhibited very typical traits of an antisocial personality, though not quite a psychopath, but certainly not normal.
In summary, Charles was an innate madman, while Erik went mad later. Otherwise, how could they have played well together?
In their youth, they had a long period of collusion and mutual understanding. If not for the misunderstandings that eventually drove them apart, it's uncertain who'd have become the big bad.
To use a common analogy, when they were young, Charles was the cat, Erik the dog. In old age, it reversed, Erik became the neurotic cat, Charles the emotionally stable dog.
Professor X's youthful mindset returning, if pondered, is a bit unsettling. The only one likely to feel purely happy might be Magneto.
For instance, now Charles could directly use his psychic attack ability to punch them one by one, but instead, he prefers creating illusions, admiring their fear and helplessness.
Shiller thought Khonsu's tentacle-like wings fitted Charles well, emphasizing the descent of an Outer God. What a pity Nya wasn't here; otherwise, he must've learned something. Can you call yourself an Outer God when you can't create an atmosphere better than a human?
Shiller didn't know what Charles did in the illusion. Once he played enough, Shiller said: "Help me see what exactly they traded, and the relationship between Dario and the Dark Elfs."
"They have a plan," Charles began. "Dario wants to use Samuel's abilities to whitewash the Dark Elfs, letting them openly settle on Earth."
Shiller took a light breath; this Dario Agger was even more shameless than he thought, almost catching up with Nick.
"What are they planning to do?"
"Dario plans to orchestrate a navigation accident during the starship's maiden voyage, then have the Dark Elfs save the day..."
Shiller gestured to pause, saying: "The Dark Elfs saving the day, how does he plan to save the day? Or how do they intend to have a chance with all the superheroes present?"
Charles paused before saying: "Dario seems unaware of who will escort the maiden voyage, at least unaware of Erik and me coming. So, he only had the Dark Elfs prepare a Gravity Trap."
"The Dark Elfs' Gravity Trap..."
"Yes, located on the outer side of the Solar System, on the Kuiper Belt. I couldn't see specific coordinates in his mind; they possibly haven't fully prepared."
"How do they know the ship will fly in the far direction? What if we fly near?"
"As far as I know, surface civilizations starting extraterrestrial exploration generally go from inside to outside. The star ports of primary interstellar civilizations are basically built far from the star, and navigation tries to avoid the parent star system's star."
"Since, at this civilization stage, stars are still relatively dangerous and significant. If some incident affects the star, it would be a catastrophic disaster. So he might think our maiden flight would head outward."
"But the Kuiper Belt's range is also large. How do they know from which direction we'd exit?"
"In Dario's memory, there's none of this; he appears not to understand cosmic science. Everything should be arranged by the Dark Elfs beforehand. However, Erik mentioned here and there, perhaps a route calculated based on the star system's celestial body's trajectory could be used to determine the best voyage route. I guess we won't be an exception."
Shiller wasn't quite knowledgeable in this field, but he could roughly imagine. In general, the Solar System isn't the kind many envision, staying in one place, a large disk dotted with numerous planets.
The Sun also continually revolves, although not fast, but surely moving. Navigation involves moving objects avoiding other moving objects, affecting gravitational influence consideration.
Even if the Neptune Star Port lies indeed on the Solar System's outermost edge, it's essential to consider many things when the starship flies outward. Experts would calculate the optimal route, and without incident, they'd follow this route.
The Solar System's data isn't secretive; humans can measure it, and so can other civilizations. Dario might not be able to measure it, but the Dark Elfs certainly can. If they set traps around the optimal route, the probability of impacting the fleet is sizable.
"Erase their memories of me being here tonight," Shiller told Charles. "Don't let them notice anything unusual; we'll investigate privately."
"Aren't you planning to plant some traps?"
"Cough, cough, I'm now a superhero. Superheroes should be upright; brainwashing sounds evil—I won't use it."
"Alright, alright." Charles's tone revealed amusement, he said, "I'm doing all the evil, Superhero Sir. You need not feel any guilt... if you indeed have a conscience."
Ending the communication, Shiller returned to New York's surface, flew back to Moonlight Temple, and silently mused how even Charles had become mischievous.
After returning to Moonlight Temple, he gave Loki a call.
"Is the Dark Elfs' Gravity Trap using Asgard technology?" he asked.
"Yeah, most of their weapons use Asgard's technology, why?"
"Is the Gravity Trap powerful?"
"It's okay. Thor might trip when jumping into it." Loki's flipping pages sound could be heard again, he said, "But that's if he's unguarded, without the hammer, better if he drank the previous night and was woken early the next; eyes not yet open when leaving. If falling, he'll certainly stumble."
"Don't even ask how you know this so well," Shiller huffed, "I'm not interested in matters between you two; I just want to know the Gravity Trap's threat to Central Court."
"Why do you care about this? Gravity Traps are military weapons, equivalent to missiles on your Earth. Unless at war, nobody would use them against you."
"Are you sure?"
Listening to Shiller's tone, looking at the Dark Elfs investigation in hand, Loki indeed felt uncertain. He frowned, "You think the Dark Elfs will use the Gravity Trap against you?"
Shiller concisely told him his suspicion. Loki said, "It's not that simple. Your first voyage must be a demonstration voyage, to show more Earthlings the technological advances—likely flying near the home planet for humans to behold the starship in full glory."
"If they want to act, the best timing is when the starship approaches Earth, to let more humans see their heroic demeanor. Why would the traps be set outside the Solar System?"
Shiller gave it a thought and came up with an answer.
Although Dario is wicked, he isn't foolish. He likely anticipated humans possessing mind reading abilities, so deliberately sought Samuel to pre-modify his memory, misleading Mind Readers to think the Dark Elfs would set traps on the Solar System's perimeter, relaxing vigilance elsewhere.
Therefore, it seems, tomorrow's appointment at Roxsen Energy Industry Building is part of his calculations too.
Though he hadn't publicly revealed his Mind Reading Technique, it wasn't secret among the upper echelons. Many in Congress were aware, and leaking resembled a sieve. Dario could ascertain after spending some effort.
Shiller planned to eavesdrop for leverage while Dario intended to use Shiller's Mind Reading to mislead humans, with yet another mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Unfortunately, even if Dario were truly the oriole, in front of Charles, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, he'd be just a little snack for the teeth's crevices.
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