"Erik, you're back?"
Raven was one of the first to join the CIA with Charles, and also among the earliest to meet Erik, so her tone was far more casual than the others.
"How did it go? Smooth?"
She couldn't help but ask again.
Earlier that morning, Charles and Erik had gone out to recruit another mutant. According to Charles, this one might actually be a real warrior.
Raven had been looking forward to it.
Everyone else was also curious to meet the mutant Charles had spoken so highly of.
"Other than him telling me and Charles to get lost, everything went fine," Erik said with a shrug, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
That cigar-smoking guy was seriously rude!
"It's fine. There are plenty more mutants out there, aren't there?" Raven shrugged, clearly not too bothered by the outcome.
"That may be true, but the fact is—we're running out of time," Erik replied, shaking his head.
Then his gaze landed on Alex.
"Alex, can you come by the office later? Charles and I have something to discuss with you."
Alex was a little surprised. He couldn't imagine what business Erik and Charles would have with him.
As far as he remembered, most of the mutants brought into the CIA at this stage spent their days chatting, lounging around, and doing absolutely nothing useful.
Serious training with Charles didn't even begin until after the attack from the Black King, Shaw, which wiped out nearly the entire base.
Until then, there wasn't supposed to be much for them to do.
That was exactly why Alex had agreed to come with Charles to this facility—so he could focus on developing and mastering his powers without distractions.
"I'm done eating, Erik. Let's go now," Alex said after a brief moment of thought, standing up and brushing aside his curiosity.
It wasn't about being polite—he really had finished.
Erik nodded without another word and led Alex out of the cafeteria.
"What do you think Erik wants with Alex?"
"No idea, but clearly… he's not like the rest of us."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, can any of you control your powers as perfectly as he does?"
Raven and the others watched them leave, whispering among themselves, speculating on why Erik was suddenly interested in Alex.
But no matter how much they guessed, they couldn't come up with a clear answer.
While the group debated, Alex had already arrived at Charles's office.
"Alex, have a seat. Coffee or tea?"
Charles greeted him with a warm smile, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. His voice had that soothing, easygoing quality that put people at ease.
He was the perfect image of an English gentleman—handsome, refined, and scholarly. The kind of man who drew people in without even trying.
Standing off to the side with arms crossed, Erik was the complete opposite.
There was a wild, untamed energy about him—like a blade sheathed but never forgotten. Even when hiding his edge, it was impossible to ignore his presence.
"I'm good, Professor. This is fine," Alex said as he sat down across from Charles.
"Are you settling in well here? Anything bothering you?" Charles asked with genuine concern, like a kindly elder checking in.
"Everything's great. This place is amazing," Alex nodded, giving an honest reply.
"Glad to hear it." Charles looked pleased.
"Professor, is there a reason you wanted to speak with me?" Alex cut to the point after the small talk.
"Alex, I've been keeping an eye on you. You're not like the others. You're far more mature. Sometimes, I even forget how young you are and start treating you like one of us—like Erik and me."
"It's not just your mindset. You're also the only one here who can fully control their abilities. I don't even know how you're managing it."
"At your age, neither Erik nor I were anywhere near your level."
"Considering all of that, I think... it's time you knew the truth."
Charles's tone turned serious as he spoke.
"Alex, do you know the real reason we brought you all here?" Erik chimed in from the side.
"Isn't it so mutants can stick together, support each other?" Alex replied matter-of-factly.
That was the pitch Charles and Erik used on everyone they recruited.
"That's just one reason," Erik said, straightening up, his expression hardening. "Think of it more like step one—identification."
"Once we've confirmed you are who you say you are, we plan to train and evaluate you. Eventually, some of you will be weeded out."
"I don't get it, Erik." Alex said, feigning confusion, though he already knew exactly what was going on, thanks to his memories.
"Alex, we're recruiting agents," Erik explained. "A special task force made up of mutants."
"No, Erik, we're not recruiting agents," Charles interjected immediately. "At least, not in the traditional sense."
"Right now, we just need a few mutants with combat potential. We need people who can handle certain... special assignments—temporary ones, against certain types of enemies."
"And even if someone doesn't make the cut for a mission, they can still stay here. No one's being thrown out."
"So what you're saying," Alex raised an eyebrow, "is that you want to start testing me early?"
"No. You've already passed," Charles smiled. "Or rather, like Erik, you never needed a test."
"You've got complete control over your powers, and frankly, your strength is impressive."
"Alex," Erik spoke up again, "Charles has too many responsibilities right now—he can't spare the time. So from here on, the two of us will be handling mutant recruitment together. You in?"
Alex thought for a moment, then nodded.
"If you guys trust me with it, I'm in."
After all, he'd been living here rent-free for a while. It was only fair to contribute when needed.
"Thank you for understanding, Alex," Charles said gratefully.
Then he flipped through some papers on his desk and handed one over.
"This is your next target."
Alex took the file, and when he saw the photo, his brows rose in mild surprise.
That face… looked oddly familiar. He was sure he'd seen it before.
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