A retired reincarnator from a certain American film studio

You think you're his only one, but he sees you as just another option.

"Haven't you ever wondered why, among the mutants you've captured over the years, those with names and identities have been so difficult to catch?"

Luke's words echoed in Stryker's ears like the whispers of a demon.

The sounds reached Stryker's ears, causing his heart to tremble.

In fact, Luke was telling the truth.

Over the years, Stryker has captured many mutants and imprisoned them in his mutant prison.

but……

He didn't capture a single one of those mutants with names or identities.

Let's not even talk about the mutants at Xavier's School for Gifted Children in New York State, which has special territorial protections.

Not to mention Magneto, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Let's just talk about those mutants who are somewhat famous.

Every time Stryker gets a clue, various unexpected events cause him to arrive too late, or the mutants he's targeting always disappear before he can act, vanishing without a trace.

Stryker used to think he was just unlucky, while those damn mutants were incredibly lucky.

at the moment?

"It's not that you're unlucky, nor that they're lucky."

"It's because you chose the wrong partner, Colonel Stryker."

"There are bad people around you."

Luke spoke calmly, letting the facts speak for themselves. Then, smiling at Stryker who was watching him, he extended his hand of friendship: "Work with me, and I guarantee this Red Devil will be yours. I'm telling you, even Jesus couldn't save him."

Stryker looked down at Luke's outstretched right hand of friendship.

His eyes gleamed.

quite a while!

Stryker took a deep breath, extended his hand, and firmly shook hands with Luke's outstretched right hand, then looked up at Luke.

"I don't care who I cooperate with, I just want all mutants to die!"

"of course."

Lu Ke let those words go in one ear and out the other, smiled slightly, and raised his glass with his other hand: "Pleasant to cooperate?"

Stryker grabbed the vodka in his hand.

"Ding!"

"Pleasant to work with."

Stryker's expression was half gloomy and half happy.

The gloomy thing is, he was completely fooled by Luke and realized that he had been treated like a monkey by that old dog Daniel Whitehorn.

He just said it.

Why is it that every time I find a valuable mutant, that damn mutant always manages to get away?

It feels like someone is secretly betraying him from behind.

What disgusted him most was that Stryker recalled the times when Whitehead would bring a few mutants with no special abilities to his door and he would have to thank him. The image of this made him feel nauseous.

fortunately!

He met Luke.

Stryker's idea was simple.

Luke, disgusted by Whitehead's use of mutants, will not only harbor even stronger murderous intent towards Whitehead, but will also inevitably direct his anger towards mutants.

Public opinion has already taken hold.

If Luke doesn't want to continue to be stigmatized as a mutant in the future, he will definitely spare no effort to stand on the "anti-mutant" side.

and so……

From this perspective, Lu Ke and he are kindred spirits.

Half past eleven in the morning.

Downstairs at the Federal Building, the numerous media reporters who had been waiting seemed to hear some kind of summons, and they all perked up and began to enter in an orderly fashion.

Of course.

The Federal Building wasn't a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry media reporters could enter.

such as……

"What? Why can't we get in?"

"I'm sorry, the Beverly Hills Daily was not included in this invitation."

"Why."

Two federal agents downstairs, responsible for checking media entry, glanced expressionlessly at the reporter whose face was flushed, and said, "This is the last time I'm warning you. If you don't leave in three seconds, I will consider you a suspect in a terrorist attack."

This is the Federal Building.

It's quite reasonable to speculate that someone lingers at the door and refuses to leave, suggesting they might have malicious intentions and could potentially carry out a terrorist attack.

The Beverly Hills reporter, who had intended to argue his case, suddenly realized where he was. He opened his mouth, intending to say something, but his body betrayed him and he retreated.

The Beverly Hills Press was not the only media outlet denied entry.

There are also some other media outlets.

For example, various media outlets such as the West Coast Daily, the Los Angeles Daily News, and the Discovery of Mutants.

But these media outlets that were denied entry all share a common characteristic.

That is, they all followed suit and wrote reports in the newspapers this morning that Luke was a mutant.

It is quite reasonable that they were not among those invited.

In the press liaison meeting room.

Rachel, who had come with Luke and was waiting in the conference room early on, also acted as the hostess, entertaining the leading ladies from the other eleven mainstream media outlets. Sitting in the first row, she turned her head to look at the media who were beginning to enter, somewhat surprised.

"I feel like all the media from the West Coast have come."

"not all."

Sitting next to Rachel, the anchorwoman, who was also a leading lady at her TV station, laughed and said, "I just received news that any media outlets that followed suit this morning and reported that Director Dane was suspected of being a mutant have all been stopped outside."

Rachel snapped out of her daze: "Serves you right!"

News is not about making unfounded accusations; it's about guiding the public to understand and know the truth.

The female anchor, who was on good terms with Rachel and had urgently contacted Rachel this morning, smiled and said to the other ten media people present, "Luckily Rachel contacted us, otherwise, our TV station would also be itching to make a move."

Rachel smiled and said, "Don't say that. I haven't thanked you yet. I'll treat you after this hype dies down."

The other eleven female anchors exchanged glances and looked at Rachel.

"Director Dane, please come back this time."

"meeting."

Rachel nodded, giving an affirmative answer.

The eleven female anchors beamed with joy.

Rachel smiled slightly.

They didn't care about adding another dinner party for Lu Ke, because securing the support of mainstream media was more important than having an extra dinner party.

The main reason is that the twelve mainstream media outlets on the West Coast around her, including herself, remain silent. The current heated discussions outside are, at best, just gossip and rumors with no factual basis.

They, representing twelve media outlets, truly represent news.

Credible news!

quickly!

Half an hour was enough time for all the media who needed to enter to get in.

A thud.

The media reporters who had already taken their seats turned around and saw that the door to the conference room behind them had been closed by two federal agents.

Four black-clad agents stood at the two entrances to the conference room behind them.

moment.

The oppressive atmosphere, symbolizing the power of the top federal law enforcement agency, swept through the entire meeting room, rapidly shifting the previously noisy atmosphere towards calm.

Everyone turned their attention to the podium bearing the FBI badge.

The FBI's Los Angeles field office spokesperson, dressed in a blue suit, walked to the front of the stage with a serious expression.

The room was completely silent, save for the flashbulbs and the sounds of cameras from the numerous media outlets making their rounds.

The spokesperson issued a clarification report regarding the widely discussed information this morning that "Chief Luke Dane is suspected of being a mutant."

The announcement was standard and unremarkable, maintaining an FBI-style tone.

the end.

The spokesperson paused for a moment, then looked at the sea of ​​media reporters in the room and said directly, "Next, Director Dane and William Stryker of the Sentinel Special Service will speak together. This is a briefing press conference. No questions will be asked before the press conference concludes. Please observe the press conference rules!"

The words fell.

Dressed in suits, Luke and William Stryker arrived on stage, guided by the female agent.

The flashes from the spotlights became more frequent.

Rachel, who was sitting in the first row, also took out her phone and started snapping photos of Luke standing in front of the podium.

Luke glanced at Rachel out of the corner of his eye, then looked across the entire conference room and said directly, "Let me first introduce the gentleman next to me, Colonel William Stryker, the military's representative director at the Sentinel Special Service. I am well aware of everyone's purpose here. Facts speak louder than words. Colonel Stryker is the most qualified to say whether I am a mutant or not. Next, I will undergo any testing by the Sentinel Special Service in the presence of all of you media personnel. I also accept the supervision of the public and the media. During the testing process, I will invite twenty media outlets to witness the process. The list will be randomly selected by Senior Special Agent Ron. Let's begin!"

After he finished speaking, Luke nodded to the spokesperson beside him, who was also Senior Special Agent Ron.

Ron stepped forward and called out names directly.