After struggling internally for a long time, Jean Grey finally unclenched her tightly balled fists. Aside from her mutant abilities, she was just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl. What ill intent could she harbor? Her current state was only the result of being ostracized by those around her.
"Alright, I agree. I don't want to be treated like a freak anymore. If there's a chance to change my life, I'm willing to give it a try," Jean said. Now calm and rational, she was much easier to reason with.
"Great! Then pack your things tonight. We'll come to pick you up tomorrow!"
Charles suppressed the excitement bubbling within him. Jean would be the first student of the Mutant Academy, and where there was a first, a second and third would surely follow.
Moments ago, Jean had been fearsome and unapproachable. Now, she nodded obediently. Seeing this, Charles and the others exchanged glances, silently agreeing to leave this mental space.
Back in reality, Charles immediately stood up and eagerly shook Ultron's hand. "Mr. Ultron, I really must thank you. Without your help, this could have turned into a major problem."
Ultron chuckled. "Our boss did say he's the headmaster of the Mutant Academy, didn't he? His business is our business. It's only right to lend a hand. But you'll have your hands full soon enough. Jean Grey is just the beginning. You'll meet more gifted mutant children in the future, so both of you will need to work on improving your own abilities."
Charles and Erik nodded earnestly. As teachers at the Mutant Academy, their role wasn't just to teach students how to control their powers. They also needed the strength to manage those students effectively.
If a student accidentally lost control of their abilities one day and no one could intervene, the consequences could be disastrous.
Ultron continued, "I'll give you the design for the mutant suppressor. You'll need to find someone to build it yourselves. We can provide the plans, but the technical side is up to you. We can't always be the ones handling these things."
"You'll also need to strengthen your teaching staff. Don't just focus on finding students; recruit some mutants closer to your age. Once the academy grows and there are more students, the two of you won't be able to manage them all on your own."
"Agreed. We've already considered this and have some candidates in mind," Erik said, retrieving a laptop from the office. He opened a file containing their collected data and began explaining.
"Henry, twenty-four years old. His mutant ability is beast transformation. When activated, he transforms into a blue, lion-like humanoid. He's also a multi-disciplinary scientist."
"Ororo, twenty-three years old. Her ability is weather manipulation."
"Raven, twenty-two years old. She can shapeshift into anyone, including mimicking voices and fingerprints."
"Logan, whose ability is rapid healing and a pair of bone claws…"
As Erik introduced each candidate, Ultron nodded in satisfaction. The list sounded promising, and he was eager to see how this team would come together.
Quicksilver chimed in, "Not bad. Let's stick with the plan. Our store will also transfer money to you regularly. Make sure the faculty is top-notch."
With just GTA alone, the store's monthly revenue exceeded $2 billion—a staggering figure for any game. Even the hit titles released before GTA only managed a few million dollars monthly, which was already impressive in the gaming industry. But compared to GTA, they were insignificant.
Everything in GTA was free, with only one in-game currency. Players could earn money by completing tasks or even by fighting NPCs on the streets, though it wasn't much. To afford better equipment, clothes, and properties, players had to complete challenging missions—or simply pay.
With over a hundred million players, at least 95% were spending money in the game. That volume alone guaranteed the game's enormous monthly revenue, not to mention the wealthy individuals who would spend exorbitant amounts on something as simple as a cosmetic skin for a knife.
This makes GTA's revenue figures seem even more astounding.
"Don't worry. With the funds you're providing, plus my personal assets, we already have more than enough. In fact, it's more than sufficient. Since money is no longer a concern, Charles and I can wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to this as our lifelong career. If we do this right, it could go down in history," Erik said with a cheerful laugh.
Erik, who had originally been a sports teacher, never intended to pursue anything grand. As long as he could stay close to Charles, he was content. But now, carving out a sanctuary for mutants worldwide was far more meaningful than lazing around at home, and Erik was more than willing to take on the task.
To ensure everything went smoothly, Ultron and Quicksilver decided to accompany Charles and Erik when picking up Jean Grey. Since she was a Level 3 mutant, having one more person present meant an added layer of security. It was crucial to maintain control of the situation.
That night, Ultron used the Green Lantern Ring to inform Han Yu about the situation. The Green Lantern Ring, originating from the general store, had the unique ability to transmit messages across different worlds. As long as the holder was recognized by Han Yu and resided in the store, they could use the ring to send cross-dimensional communications.
On the other side, Han Yu received Ultron's message through the ring. For him, it was already the next day.
"Jean Grey has surfaced?" Han Yu raised an eyebrow. He was no stranger to Jean Grey's identity. From the movies and comics in his memory, Jean Grey was known as Phoenix, possessing one of the most powerful forces in the Marvel Universe: the Phoenix Force.
In the original depiction, the Phoenix Force was characterized by its ability for rebirth from destruction. As its name suggested, like a phoenix, it could resurrect and rebuild itself. Even if the physical body was obliterated, the consciousness of the Phoenix Force's host could persist and manifest a new form.
Han Yu remarked, "Keep an eye on Jean Grey's progress. I know her abilities. Once fully developed, her power could rival Wanda's chaos magic. Someone like her needs to be closely monitored. We can't afford to be caught off guard if something unexpected happens."
"Understood, boss," Ultron replied, then asked, "When are you coming back?"
"Within twenty-four hours, according to the store's timeline," Han Yu said. He used the general store's time as a reference because the flow of time between the two worlds differed. It might be daytime at the store but nighttime here.
After this exchange, Ultron disconnected the link.
Han Yu exhaled deeply. He'd only been away for a short while, and yet such significant events had unfolded on Marvel Earth. At that moment, Han Yu was still at Saitama's house—and specifically, in the bathroom.
After flushing, he pushed the door open, only to be startled.
"Fubuki, you don't need to follow me even to the bathroom, do you?"
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