Five days later, at the Mexico City Genetic Modification Research Institute.
Zander Rice looked at the young version of Wolverine, X-24, that he had replicated using Wolverine's genes, and couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Finally, I have succeeded! A Wolverine that obeys only me. The future world will bow at my feet."
His father, Dale Rice, was one of the scientists who performed the Adamantium infusion surgery on Logan and had been killed by Logan during his escape from the lab.
Since that day, Zander had vowed to kill all uncontrollable dangerous mutants and create mutants that would follow his orders completely.
Later, he founded the Alkali Genetic Company, using the food and beverage companies under his control to spread the M43 virus among the public.
This virus had no harmful effect on humans but effectively suppressed the abilities of existing mutants and prevented genetic mutations in future generations.
After more than twenty years of effort, the world had finally ceased producing new mutants.
"Donald, since those test subjects are unwilling to obey orders, dispose of them all."
Turning around, Dr. Rice, with a cold look in his eyes, gave orders to a man whose right arm had been entirely replaced with a mechanical limb.
Originally, his plan was to use the mutant genes collected in the early days to create a new batch of mutant children through surrogates in Mexico and sell them as weapons to other organizations.
However, during experimentation, they discovered that these children began developing their own thoughts as they grew up. They could not be fully controlled and even attempted to escape.
Now that he had developed fully obedient mutant clones, there was no longer any need for those failed experiments.
Besides, he realized that not only could these mutants be sold as weapons, but if he could mass-produce them and ensure their loyalty, he could potentially conquer the entire world.
"Should we dispose of Subject 757 as well?" Donald asked, seemingly unsurprised by Dr. Rice's decision.
Dr. Rice hesitated for two seconds before nodding.
"Dispose of him. Now that the cloning technology is perfected, apart from mass-producing Wolverines, we might even clone Professor X and Magneto. There is no need to waste resources on substandard test subjects."
"Understood."
Donald drew his pistol from his waist and left the laboratory.
On the other side of the facility, George, who was practicing hand gestures for spellcasting in his room, glanced at the clock on the wall. His expression gradually grew grim.
"Something's wrong. Is it starting?"
Normally, at this hour, someone would have come to take him for training.
"It seems it has begun."
At that moment, his door suddenly opened, and two familiar figures entered.
The leader was none other than the instructor who had been training him for some time.
"I knew this guy was useless. Training him for so long was just a waste of my time. Now we still have to dispose of him."
The instructor looked at George with disdain, then ordered the subordinate behind him, who was holding a submachine gun:
"Finish him off, and then throw the body into the incinerator along with the other trash. We'll burn them all together later."
"Yes, Captain."
The subordinate raised his submachine gun and aimed it at George, pulling back the bolt.
But just as he was about to pull the trigger, he heard the experimental subject 757 utter something strange.
"Alohomora!"
With a click, the collar suppressing Subject 757's powers suddenly fell off.
The next instant, the guard felt a cold sensation around his neck as his consciousness began to fade.
In fact, George had already started casting his spell as soon as he saw the two men enter the room. Since the casting gestures were subtle, neither of them paid any attention. With the inhibitor deactivated, George unleashed his magnetic control ability. A dagger he had previously hidden near the door flew up instantly, slitting the guard's throat, temporarily removing the immediate threat.
"Clang!"
The instructor drew a dagger from his waist to deflect the flying blade, cold sweat instantly dripping from his forehead.
"How is this possible?"
Had he not reacted in time, he would have ended up like the guard.
Seeing the inhibitor fall from Subject 757's neck, years of experience on the brink of death had put the instructor on alert, and he drew his dagger immediately.
But if Subject 757 had attacked him first, he might not have had time to react at all.
"You've been hiding your abilities and strength?"
From what he remembered, Subject 757's control over the dagger was neither fast nor powerful, something he could easily deflect.
However, though he had successfully deflected it just now, the immense force behind the dagger made his wrist throb with pain.
"A dead man doesn't need to know so much."
George used the dagger to destroy the surveillance camera in the room, then unleashed an overwhelming flurry of attacks on the instructor, who usually defeated him easily.
He had indeed been concealing his strength but was not usually this strong. The power boost largely came from the shared wizard bloodline, which unexpectedly enhanced his mutant abilities.
The dagger moved too fast, with angles that were difficult to predict and a force that was powerful. After just a few exchanges, the instructor was already wounded.
He wanted to flee, to get close to George for hand-to-hand combat, but George gave him no such opportunity. The instructor could only defend himself, hoping his companions would notice the commotion and come to his aid.
However, George knew the value of time during an escape. How could he allow it to be wasted here?
"Gun, come to me!"
With one hand controlling the dagger's attack, George gestured toward the deceased guard. The submachine gun in the guard's hand flew into George's grasp.
"Goodbye, Instructor."
Without hesitation, George pointed the submachine gun at the instructor, who was still trying desperately to fend off the dagger, and pulled the trigger.
He was no fool. Why insist on using his powers when he had a gun?
"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!"
"Oh, God..."
The instructor's eyes widened in horror, unable to finish his sentence before being riddled with bullets.
Retrieving his dagger and the instructor's dagger as well, George took the submachine gun and stepped out of his cell, stealthily making his way out of the laboratory.
As he moved, he used his dagger to destroy every camera in his path and to eliminate any guards that crossed his way. Soon enough, the sounds of intense gunfire and screams reached his ears.
It was clear that he wasn't the only one being disposed of; all the mutant children were.
This chaos was why the guards hadn't rushed over when trouble arose on his side.
Compared to him, the trouble caused by those mutant children was far greater.
This was also why he hadn't attempted to escape until today.
If he had escaped alone, in this base full of surveillance cameras, he wouldn't have gotten far before being surrounded by guards.
Against a barrage of bullets, he was no Magneto—he wouldn't have stood a chance.