A few hours later, Charles, who came to pick up the students from the Stark Tower Laboratory, saw that Stark had hung a sign saying "No Mutants Allowed" on the door of his lab.
Knowing the whole process, Charles was helpless. As a rare intellectual among mutants, he could understand Stark's fury. During his interactions with these second-generation mutants, whenever a professional topic was discussed, it was like talking to a brick wall. They had simply never received an education.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was named a school, but it was more like a retirement home. The school taught students how to control and develop their own powers, not impart knowledge. This has resulted in these mutant youngsters, who should be at university age, knowing nothing at all.
Honestly, the students at Xavier's School were relatively good. At least Iceman could obey Banner's command to produce satisfactory results. Others, like Polaris, whose education ended in the womb, had poor temperaments and no patience. Such personalities could frustrate any scholar.
Charles knew better than anyone that this was not a solution. When everyone was on Earth, education didn't matter much, as their natural abilities already made them capable enough to survive.
But if humans entered the cosmic age, knowledge would be the primary productive force. The average education level of mutants is barely that of a fetus, and it's only due to Charles that the average is higher. Once the cosmic age truly arrives, a couple of powerful mutants would be of no use. It is necessary to improve the basic education of mutants.
However, it's incredibly difficult to promote basic education in any region or among any race. Charles spent the entire night pondering without success, and so he went to drink with Shiller.
He wasn't trying to drown his sorrows in drink. He just hoped to hear Shiller's fresh perspective. After all, Charles had a keen sense that Shiller didn't harbor the ordinary human's prejudice against mutants. Viewing the problem from a different perspective might unearth a new solution.
"Charles, may I call you that? I think the problem is that your moral standards are a bit too high."
"What do you mean?"
In Shiller Mind Building's reception room, Charles asked with his cup of wine. Shiller shook his head and said, "I understand your unwillingness to use your abilities for the wrong doings due to your noble character."
"But you can't refrain from using your power entirely just because it's robust. Why should you care how powerful it is when it carries out positive actions?"
Charles seemed to have thought of something, "Are you saying..."
"You aim to provide education, instill knowledge, and help them keep pace with the times. That's a good thing."
"Even if they can't apply the knowledge they learn, it won't harm them to have it. Whether you look at it from this perspective or the other, they will not suffer any disadvantages. So why can't you use your abilities?"
"I understand. The difficulty in promoting basic education among mutants lies in the differing positions among the mutants themselves. You can't fully convince Magneto, and there's no chance of him disbanding the Brotherhood. But because what you are teaching them can enhance their abilities, why would they refuse?"
"More importantly, it won't take up their daytime hours. They can do whatever they want during the day, play, date, and then at night, they only need to dream to learn the essence of human knowledge. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
"If I had such a benefit when I was studying, I'd wake up smiling from my dreams. I think you'd feel the same, right?"
Charles relaxed his eyebrows and said, "There is another problem. Even if I can instill knowledge in them, if I don't understand that knowledge myself, I can't instill it."
"Besides, there's a limit to the output and input of person's thoughts. I can't cram all that knowledge into their minds at once. It would lead to a mental breakdown."
Shiller laughed and said casually, "I think you can build a school in consciousness space, then pull their consciousness into it to learn."
"As for the knowledge, you don't have to teach it yourself. Now, there are several of the world's top scientists waiting out there. You can let them dream and act as teachers. There would be nobody in the world more knowledgeable about human sciences than them."
Charles nodded and said, "Indeed, whether it's Stark or the others, they are all top scientists. I know, they all teach at the most renowned universities. To hear their lectures, one would have to be admitted to an elite school like Harvard or MIT..."
"Exactly, where else would you find such good fortune as having the world's smartest people teaching mutants?"
However, Charles was still somewhat hesitant. He said, "The mess Polaris and the others caused angered Stark. Could he..."
"No worries. They are young, equivalent to Stark's juniors. As long as they apologize, Stark won't mind."
"The problem lies there." Charles sighed and said, "The others are not the problem. But Polaris... He truly takes after his father in temper..."
"Professor, you just need to explain your intentions to Magneto and emphasize that Polaris is going to school to learn, specifically from Stark. Even if Polaris resists, Magneto will force him to apologize."
Charles glanced at Shiller and said, "You seem to know Erik well?"
Shiller shook his head and said, "This isn't difficult to speculate, every parent in this world is like this. What they couldn't get, they hope their children can achieve."
"You once told me about Magneto's story, he did not have many educational opportunities, but it's only a tragedy of the times. He is not unwilling to learn, but rather didn't have the chance. People regret and desire what they don't have. If they could fulfill it through their children, they would definitely make every effort."
"The two types of people who most understand the importance of education in this world are first, those who have benefited from it, changing their social status because of education. Second, those who didn't receive an education but managed to climb the social ladder due to other skills, later realizing that education was the shortcut."
Charles nodded and said, "Erik belongs to the second kind. He self-studied a lot of physics, thus gaining exceptional control of magnetism."
"Moreover, despite our frequent disagreements, he never resorted to violence within the campus of Xavier's School."
"Actually, I once suggested he obtain a degree, which wouldn't be difficult for him. But as you know, once we reach our position, there are things we can't decide for ourselves anymore. We represent our own stance and those who share this stance. We are responsible for ourselves and them."
Talking about this, Charles felt a bit sentimental. He said, "So many years have passed, we have transformed from guiding others forward, to being pushed along."
This seemed to contain a double meaning. Shiller glanced at Charles's legs and asked, "So, is this why you are reluctant to stand up?"
"After all, a victim always garners sympathy, and a disabled person usually puts others more at ease..."
A day later, Charles had constructed a beautiful school in his consciousness space. It looked exactly like Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, only the color of the bricks was different. But undeniably, it was a very standard school.
His plan was going very smoothly. Everyone, whether willing or not, was pulled into attending classes. In this regard, no one could resist Charles.
Since it was undoubtedly a good cause, the feeling of guilt from abusing his powers disappeared. Everyone realized it would be best to obey.
As Shiller had predicted, although Magneto never took off his helmet, guarding against Charles like against a thief, when he learned that Charles wanted to send Polaris to study, he didn't voice any objections. He even allowed Wanda and Quicksilver to join in.
Originally, Wanda and Quicksilver were supposed to come, but Wanda was currently not on Earth, so only Quicksilver arrived.
Magneto's relationships with his children were not good, but since his relationships with Wanda and Quicksilver were even worse, his relationship with Polaris seemed decent in comparison.
Polaris's temperament was a direct replica of Magneto's. Upon learning that she was going to be forced to attend school, she decisively chose to run away and even tried to persuade Quicksilver and Iceman to come along.
Unfortunately, Magneto and Charles had agreed on this matter. When these two mutant leaders reached a consensus, nothing in this world could stop them. Thus, Polaris was brought over against her will.
At the moment, she was biting her pen with one hand propping up her head, the other tapping on the desk. Looking everywhere but the blackboard, chatting with Quicksilver at one moment and whispering an argument with Quicksilver the next.
Banner was teaching the class. Seeing Polaris's antics, he didn't mind. As a professor, he had seen too many students like this. They don't listen in class or turn in assignments only to pray when final exams come.
Banner was just invited to lecture. He wasn't a mutant and didn't hold responsibility for the future of mutants, so he didn't care if the students listened or not.
However, Charles wrinkled his brow, somewhat dissatisfied with the situation in the classroom.
Actually, the knowledge Banner taught wasn't difficult, starting from the basics of physics. But perhaps because these mutant students had not developed good study habits, even though they were trying hard to pay attention, they would instinctively lose focus.
During the day, Charles stayed in his office pondering over how to reverse this situation and enhance the students' motivation. It was at this moment that he received a call from Stark. Before Stark could speak, Charles said first:
"I sincerely apologize, Mr. Stark, indeed it was their failure to control their tempers that caused the mistake in the exploration work...."
"Oh, no, I called to say that I had some misunderstandings about mutants before. My attitude was somewhat inappropriate. This time your students did a great job....."
Charles was a bit confused. He asked: "What??? What did they do well?"
He thought that Stark was being sarcastic, but Stark's tone revealed a very real excitement. He said, "The kids you sent on the mission with Spider Man, do you know what they did?"
"... What?"
"They brought back a Kree escort ship! It's currently stationed at the edge of the Solar System!"