Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

Chapter 480 The Upcoming Hearing (First Update!)

The meeting room was filled with people sitting in rows.

After Qin pushed open the door and walked in, she exchanged a glance with Cyclops, who was subconsciously looking at her. Then, she looked away, calmly pulled out a chair, and sat down in her seat.

Laser Eyes watched this scene with a sense of sadness.

He and Qin could be described as childhood sweethearts, but they were also classmates.

Because, like Jean, he was found by Professor X and brought back to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

The moment Cyclops saw Qin, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Jean, who had grown into a beautiful young woman, not only possessed Hawke's aggressive wildness, but also the deadly mystery of her mother Wanda, who resembled a gypsy witch.

The zither did not express anything.

but……

A feeling is developing between the two.

Laser eyes can detect it.

This is not an illusion!
Because on the day the mutant Apocalypse attacked Xavier's School of the Rising Sun, the two were just one thin veil away from being crossed.

then!

Hawke and Wanda have arrived.

What happened after that was quite simple, especially after returning from Cairo, Egypt, Qin deliberately avoided him.

reason?

Perhaps Qin is going back to her own universe with her parents.

Laser Eyes thought sadly to himself.

Fortunately, he was wearing a special blindfold; otherwise, everyone else sitting in the conference room would probably have been able to see that heartbreaking look through his laser eyes.

Sitting in the main seat—or rather, in a wheelchair—Professor X, with his head completely shaved and bald, glanced out of the corner of his eye at Cyclops, who exuded an aura of heartbreak.

He seemed to want to say something.

but--

There's no way to talk about this.

Professor X sighed inwardly, then got down to the main business of the meeting.

"President Barron Turner has finally agreed to our push for the Mutant Peace Accord, and the bill will be put to a congressional hearing next month."

"what?"

"The White House agreed?"

"real or fake?"

"finally!"

Upon hearing Professor X's words, the angels, Storm, and Colossus all exchanged glances, then looked at Professor X with surprise and delight.

Mutant peace treaty.

This is the peace bill that Professor X has been trying to get confirmed through congressional hearings since he returned from Cairo, Egypt.

Although the bill is called the "Mutant Peace Accord," its full name should be the "Mutant-Human Peace Accord."

This is different from the Mutant Peace Act of 12 years ago, which was only a temporary act.

As we all know, anything labeled "temporary" is invalid; only after passing a federal congressional hearing and becoming law does a bill gain legal validity.

Simply put.

The Sentinel Special Service is still secretly capturing mutants, but once this bill is finalized, the Sentinel Special Service's actions will be legally recognized as illegal.

Professor X, who has always held the greatest goodwill towards humanity, is full of confidence that once this bill is passed, the Sentinel Service will be disbanded on the spot.

Qin, like everyone else, was quite happy to hear the news.

but……

While she was happy, she still looked at Professor X with some confusion: "Professor, didn't the White House contact say last month that the president was still considering this bill, after all, this is an election year?"

Yes.

This year is an election year. Although a president's term is four years, that is a vote-based president. President Barron Turner is a procedural president, succeeding the previous president who was tragically killed by a meteorite in the White House two years ago.

Barron Turner is not even eligible to run for re-election as the current president.

one more time.

He's a procedural president; if he wants to be re-elected, he has to go through an election within his own faction first.

Based on the current situation, President Barron Turner's condition is not optimistic.

After all, his faction gained voters by taking a hard line against mutants, but it seems to have fallen silent since he came to power.

At least on the surface, President Barron Turner has not issued any orders targeting mutants.

But it seems that this is all he can do. Just like before, after Professor X returned from Cairo, Egypt, he kept trying to persuade the president to submit the bill to Congress for hearings.

But the process has been stuck like this.

And now, President Barron Turner has agreed, even though his election prospects are not particularly optimistic.

"so……"

Qin thought of a possibility: "Are they planning to make a deal with us?"

Well known.

When they realize they can't be re-elected, many people make the same choice: make money, make as much money as possible.

For example, selling exemptions.

Another example is selling the right to submit legislation.

If you don't use your power, it will expire and become invalid.

Especially since Baron Turner is a procedural president, and seeing that he can't be re-elected, it seems quite normal for him to sell his right to submit bills. "It's a deal."

Professor X met Jean's gaze, nodded, and then chuckled, "But it's not the kind of deal we understand. The president intends to use this proposal to resolve the differences between humans and mutants once and for all, thereby turning his election prospects around."

Upon hearing this, Cyclops asked, somewhat puzzled, "Could this help him turn the tide of the election?"

Professor X smiled slightly: "Don't forget, our legislation stipulates that mutants also enjoy federal citizenship."

Although current federal law does not revoke the federal citizenship of mutants, once mutants are exposed to the public, they are generally considered no longer federal citizens.

Not only the Federation, but also other countries, leaving aside the East, have generally accepted that mutants are no longer considered human.

"But once the bill is passed, it will legally grant mutants the same federal rights."

"This way."

"The president can also use this momentum to gain enough votes for himself."

"Of course."

Professor X said with a smile, "Xavier Technologies will also anonymously donate $50 million to the President's campaign fund."

Jean remained calm until Professor X finished speaking, at which point she gave him a knowing look: "When is next month?"

Professor X smiled and said, "At the beginning of next month, on the 5th, Congress will hold a preliminary hearing, which Eric and I will need to attend together."

"You and Magneto?"

Magneto is going too?

Storm, with her dreadlocks, looked at Professor X with a surprised expression and asked, "Aren't they afraid of Magneto?"

Professor X said, "This is a mandatory requirement. Once this bill is passed, Magneto and I will both be guarantors."

After all, among the mutants today, although he didn't want to admit it, he and Magneto were the two giants of the mutant world.

One Lord and.

One is the main force.

So from Congress’s perspective, they can provide the basis for this bill to give humanity the confidence to choose peace, while on the mutant side, they need him and Magneto to represent them.

Jean Grey, upon hearing that Professor X and Magneto needed to go together, looked somewhat puzzled: "Professor, just you and Eric?"

Professor X nodded.

"Yes."

"Something feels off. Could this be a trap?"

After confirming it, Qin couldn't help but speak up.

Although her mother Wanda was a housewife, her father Hawke was a formidable character. She especially remembered the little stories he told her when she was little, about strategies like "borrowing arrows with straw boats" and "making a feint to the east and west" when he was putting her to sleep.

And now?
No matter how Jean looked at it, it seemed like a trap specifically set for Professor X and Magneto.

Professor X looked at the worry on Jean's face, his smile unchanged: "President Baron Turner is very sincere about peace, and sometimes, some compromises are necessary for lasting peace."

Jean frowned: "But if he goes with Magneto, I feel there's a high chance it's a trap."

Professor X said with a smile, "Actually, it's possible to bring people, but during the actual hearing, only Eric and I can represent the mutants and make guarantees."

The beast spoke up from the side: "We can bring three people to the hearing, and Eric can bring three people as well."

Upon hearing this, Laser Eyes spoke first.

"Professor, I'll go with you."

"And I."

"I!"

Storm, Colossus, and Mercy all spoke up upon hearing this.

Upon hearing this, Qin also expressed to Professor X her idea of ​​traveling to Washington, D.C. together at the beginning of next month.

Professor X and Jean looked at each other.

"You can not."

"why?"

"in case."

"in case?"

Qin was also taken aback, then looked at the expression on Professor X's face and realized: "Are you also worried that this trip might be a trap?"

Professor X shook his head: "I believe that peace is a common desire of both mutants and humans, but I am more worried that you will encounter an accident if you go to Washington."

Qin blinked, looked at Professor X, and suddenly realized.

"Professor, are you worried about my father?"

"Yes."

Professor X, without changing his expression, responded to Jean's question.

Yes.

He was worried that if Qin went to Washington this time and encountered an accident, then the problem would be serious.

Two years ago, Hawke destroyed the Quantico military base, the Pentagon, and the White House simply to find the piano.

What if something like this happens again?

Ha ha.

Their Earth is likely to be completely destroyed.

Professor X recalled the moment he saw Hawke and the images he subconsciously saw in Hawke's mind that symbolized "battle," "endless battle," "destruction," and "endless destruction," and couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

……

(End of this chapter)