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*****
"Dad, more Alkali agents came after us, but they were too slow. I used my powers to transform a truck and escaped with everyone. Pretty impressive, right?"
"Dad, their cooking is awful!"
"Dad, I miss you."
"Dad, I made fried rice myself. It actually turned out pretty good. I'll cook it for you when you come back."
"Dad, look! The scenery here is beautiful!"
Attached: photo.jpg
"Dad, I'm sending you a video clip—it's hilarious."
Mike smiled and opened the file.
On screen, Logan was in the bathroom with his eyes closed, washing his hair. Gwen crept behind him, turned, and waved at Laura. Whispering, she said, "Come on, Laura! Ready to film?"
The camera nodded slightly up and down.
As Logan was about to finish rinsing, Gwen squeezed a large blob of shampoo onto his head.
Logan looked utterly confused as he rubbed his scalp. The foam multiplied rapidly, stinging his eyes. He cursed under his breath.
Gwen, holding the shampoo bottle, stifled her laughter, while Laura's camera shook up and down with her own giggles.
Just when Logan was about to rinse clean, Gwen sneaked in more shampoo.
"Arghhhh!"
Logan roared in frustration, furiously scrubbing his head.
"Damn it! What the hell is wrong with this shampoo?!"
The camera shook harder as Gwen bent over clutching her stomach, trying desperately not to burst out laughing.
When Logan nearly finished rinsing again, Gwen handed the shampoo to Laura and took the camera.
Laura, imitating Gwen, squeezed another big handful onto Logan's head.
"Arghhh! Fk! Fk!"
Logan's furious shouts echoed as he slapped the sink hard, foam streaming down his face and spreading over his whole body.
He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and rinsed again.
But just as Laura sneaked closer with the shampoo for another round, Caliban walked in, frowning. "What are you all doing in here?"
The camera jolted, and Gwen shouted, "Laura, run!"
Laura dashed out, laughing, as she and Gwen shrieked while racing down the hallway.
"You two damn brats! I'll kill you!!"
Logan's exhausted roar rang out.
Gwen mischievously spun the camera back, zooming in on Logan's furious face—completely covered in bubbles.
For some reason, watching Logan like that reminded Mike of a husky taking a bath.
The video ended, and Mike chuckled as he typed a short reply to Gwen:
"Nice work."
Closing his phone, Mike looked at the darkening sky outside, then began working on his cards again.
Ever since his ability evolved, he had been crafting new cards.
In the five months since arriving with Dr. Rice at Alkali's research facility, Mike spent his days posing as Rice's bodyguard while secretly monitoring his work. At night, when free, he crafted cards.
As time passed, his stockpile of character cards steadily grew.
Soon, a new card appeared in his hand.
Name: Minato Namikaze
Title: Fourth Hokage
Note: I will protect the village, even if it costs me my life!
Light flashed, and Mike put the card away, stretching lazily.
After resting to let his materialization power recover, he began crafting again.
The regeneration ability he gained with his upgrade had greatly improved his card-making speed.
A few days later, he finally received good news—
Charles's clone had matured.
When Mike followed Dr. Rice into the lab and saw the clone floating in a nutrient tank, attached to tubes and instruments, he thought it looked like a fruit cultivated in a greenhouse, waiting to be harvested.
"The clone is complete. Shall I inject the basic directives and activate its consciousness?" Dr. Rice asked respectfully.
Mike shook his head. Summoning a Professor X card, he probed Rice's mind with psychic power, confirming there were no tricks hidden in the clone and that it was indeed flawless. Satisfied, he ordered, "Erase all data on the Charles clone."
The Alkali institute had never possessed Charles's genetic code. If they had, they would have mass-produced him to control the world. The only reason they had a Charles clone now was because Mike had provided the sample.
"Yes, sir."
Bound by mental control, Rice obeyed without hesitation.
While Rice went to delete the files, Mike smiled at the clone.
A young body, full of life, with hair and vitality. I hope Charles will like it.
"Data completely erased," Rice reported.
"Good."
Mike nodded calmly. "Now prepare me a copy of all the research data on mutants."
He might never need it, but it would be a shame to waste such valuable information. Even as a collection, it was worth keeping.
The data was massive, and copying it would take time.
While waiting, Mike opened a portal and stepped through—appearing before Gwen.
She was tutoring Laura, but when she saw him, she let out a cheer, sprinted forward, leaped, and clung tightly to him.
Mike hugged her, kissed her forehead, and spun in place.
"Ehehe!"
Gwen giggled happily. "Dad, are you finished over there?"
"Almost. Just one last step."
Setting her down, Mike ruffled her hair. "Where's Charles?"
"He's sleeping." Gwen sighed softly. "His health keeps getting worse."
"I'll go see him."
Mike nodded and said gently, "Once everything's done, we can leave."
Gwen's eyes lit up instantly.
She was the only one who knew what "leave" truly meant.
Mike gave Laura a small nod, then opened the door.
Laura tilted her head, puzzled. "What do you mean by 'leave'?"
"Hehe," Gwen grinned, "nothing special. Just means I have to go back to school."
"Oh." Laura replied, still half-suspicious.
Mike entered Charles's room and gently woke him.
"Mike?" Charles rubbed his eyes in surprise. It had been a long time since he had last seen him.
Helping him sit up, Mike said, "I have something important to discuss, and I need you to make a decision."
"All right," Charles replied.
Mike thought carefully, then explained everything about the clone.
After several minutes of silence, Charles's voice was firm. "Do it."
For the sake of the children, he had no other choice.
(End of Chapter)