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If only one TV station had come, Sanders would have gritted his teeth and dared to block the live broadcast signal, first eliminating the threat with overwhelming firepower, then controlling the reporters, and finally 'negotiating' with them.
But now there were two TV stations.
The reporters from the two TV stations, while competing with each other, also became each other's 'protectors'.
If Sanders had acted against one, Alkali-Transigen's public relations team could have handled it.
But if he acted against reporters from two well-known TV stations simultaneously, the online public opinion would crush them!
"Damn it! Why are they here at this time?!"
Sanders was naturally angry, seeing that the biggest threat to Alkali-Transigen was about to be eliminated, only for the sudden appearance of TV stations to halt the plan.
Mohawk, the new Head of Security, hesitated before answering:
"Maybe… that mutant found them? He posted a new video online earlier, and perhaps it was because that video revealed this location that these TV stations rushed here."
It was actually Kevin who had Paul inform them, and Paul was even on one of the TV station's planes, being interviewed.
However, without a TV to watch, they were currently unaware of this.
Mohawk was speculating, and Sanders stared at the surveillance footage on the screen for a long time without speaking.
After a long silence, Mohawk asked:
"Now… what do we do?"
"…Retreat."
"Retreat!?"
Mohawk's eyes widened:
"They've already been surrounded…"
"I said retreat!! Don't make me repeat it a third time!!"
Sanders roared at the new Head of Security.
Within a few short minutes, Sanders had made a wise judgment.
Since TV stations were here, it proved that the public had already identified the hiding place of the new mutants.
Under the watchful eyes of the public during the TV broadcast, if Sanders still insisted on carrying out the mission assigned by Alkali-Transigen, it would instead subject Alkali-Transigen to social condemnation.
After all, they were attacking a group of minors with heavy weapons.
Regardless of whether they were mutants or not, doing such a thing would brand them as shameful in the eyes of the public.
At that point, Alkali-Transigen would have no chance of recovery.
All enemies would use this incident as an excuse to attack them.
Conversely, letting these children leave would not cause much loss to Alkali-Transigen for the time being.
Indeed, their survival was evidence of Alkali-Transigen's inhumane actions.
But Alkali-Transigen also had a public relations department; as long as they engaged in online debates, in a few months, the public interest would fade, and not many people would pay attention to the matter anymore.
By then, Alkali-Transigen would have more options to resolve the issue.
Sanders' decision was very clever; someone else might not have found a better solution.
This was perhaps the optimal solution under the current circumstances.
But unfortunately… rational judgment could not defeat a cheat.
Someone had no intention of dragging things out with them any longer, nor would he allow them to retreat like this.
Just as Sanders was about to retreat, from the military armed forces waiting in the rear, a missile launcher on a missile vehicle suddenly rose, and under everyone's shocked gaze, missiles were simultaneously fired towards the distant watchtower.
The missiles flew in unison, trailing flames as they soared into the distance, and under Sanders' shocked and desperate gaze, they landed in the unmanned valley beneath the watchtower.
Boom—!
In an instant, flames shot into the sky.
…
Rewind time slightly to three minutes before the missile launch.
Kevin held a phone in one hand and the device given by Rocket in the other, connecting the phone with a data cable to hack into the nearby military control panel.
Through the seabird surveillance he had bought in the market earlier, Kevin had already discovered the Alkali-Transigen contingent waiting in the distance.
At the same time, he also noticed the TV stations rushing towards them.
The actors were in place, the cameras were aimed; at such a critical moment, wouldn't it be a shame if Alkali-Transigen retreated?
So Kevin decided to 'help' them a little.
"The hero is ready, it would be rude for the villain to leave…"
Kevin muttered to himself, successfully using the device in his hand to hack into a military missile launch pad.
But just as he was about to launch the missile, Logan walked over to him and said:
"We've already discussed it, we're going to send them to the sanctuary in Canada…
"But Charles suddenly remembered that you were planning to use the internet against Alkali, so he sent me to ask you, are you planning to come with us, or… continue with your own plans?"
"Before I answer your question, I need to confirm something: are you sure there's a sanctuary in Canada?"
Kevin stopped what he was doing and looked up to ask.
"That… Richtor said it. What? Do you suspect there's something wrong with the sanctuary?"
"I'm not suspicious of the sanctuary itself, I just think that their continued escape won't lead to a resolution. Alkali-Transigen's influence is vast; even if they receive protection from Canada, what then?
"Under pressure from Alkali-Transigen, many people will likely choose to hand them over for profit. These children don't understand these issues, but I think you do, Logan."
Actually, Kevin also didn't know the situation of the sanctuary in Canada.
But the best-case scenario Kevin could imagine was a sanctuary formed by a group of mutants who had fled the city and gathered together, providing some refuge for mutants.
However, such a sanctuary would clearly be of little use against Alkali-Transigen and the malice of the entire world.
If the plight of mutants was to be resolved, Kevin's method would likely have to continue.
Using public opinion to make everyone realize that mutants are also living beings, also members of this world.
Logan, who had lived for so long, knew very well that what Kevin said about Alkali coming after them was not impossible.
But he was not the leader of those children; Richtor was.
Moreover, Charles also wanted to go to the sanctuary with them to see, so after a moment of thought, Logan said:
"No matter what, we should go to the sanctuary first. Once we confirm that the situation there is indeed bad, we can think of other solutions."
"While that's true, I'm afraid we might not have time."
Kevin sighed.
Logan was puzzled:
"What do you mean?"
Kevin subtly pressed a button on his phone, seemingly deep in thought about what to say to Logan.
But just then—
Boom!!!!
A violent explosion erupted in the valley below the watchtower, and the intense vibrations and sound waves shattered the windows of the small house on the mountain.
Kevin and Logan also lost their footing due to the tremor, instinctively grabbing nearby furniture, and then they heard the children's screams from outside the wooden house.
The tremor lasted for a while, and once it subsided, Kevin and Logan quickly rushed out of the small house to look outside.
After confirming that all the children, Charles, and Caliban were present, Logan hurriedly asked:
"What happened? What's going on?!"
No one answered Logan's question; the children were also startled by the sudden turn of events and took a long time to recover.
Only Kevin patted Logan's shoulder, pointing his finger towards The Woods in the distance:
"Logan, look over there."
"…What's over there? I can't see clearly now!"
For Logan, who now even needed reading glasses to watch videos, asking him to distinguish the Alkali-Transigen people in the distance was truly a bit difficult for him.
Kevin was momentarily speechless, then quickly said:
"It's Alkali-Transigen! And this is what I'm worried about, they won't let these children go, no matter where they run!"
"Are they crazy?! How dare they throw missiles here?!"
When he heard it was Alkali-Transigen and confirmed the type of weapon detonated in the valley below, Logan was also surprisingly furious.
"Not only that… they also brought an army."
Kevin, using his senses far superior to ordinary people, 'saw' everything in the distance and said to everyone with a solemn expression.
Richtor, the children's leader, no longer hesitated upon hearing this. He immediately told everyone:
"We need to leave here, now, immediately! Everyone pack up and run towards the border!!"
"You guys go first, I'll try to help you hold them off!"
Kevin rolled up his sleeves and spoke earnestly to the children, while also setting his phone to record mode and placing it in his chest pocket.
At this moment, his expression was serious and resolute, like a soldier about to rush to the battlefield to die.
This was, of course, just acting, meant to better perform the drama he was directing.
And perhaps knowing what Kevin was going to do, Caliban surprisingly cooperated, saying:
"Your ability is to control water… but there's no water nearby at all. What are you going to use to stop them?"
Kevin pointed a finger at him, then said helplessly:
"There will be a way, trust me."
"I'll help you." Logan suddenly said, looking at Richtor: "The medicine you prepared earlier should still be there, right? Give it to me, Kevin and I will help you hold them off."
The medicine Logan referred to was a special serum that enhanced the abilities of these mutants.
As mutants born later, their abilities were actually not very strong, perhaps because they had not yet grown or their abilities had not been trained.
But after injecting the serum cultivated by Alkali-Transigen, their abilities would instantly be enhanced.
And this serum was also effective on older mutants.
Earlier, Richtor had taken out the serum as payment for Logan and the others bringing Laura here, but Logan had not intended to use it.
However, now that Alkali-Transigen had come knocking, if Logan did not contribute, he would only watch helplessly as these children were captured by Alkali and eliminated.
And it would also cause Kevin to die here, which was something Logan did not want to see.
So he now chose to inject the serum, and then, with Kevin, face Alkali-Transigen and the military personnel.
"Things haven't gotten that bad, Logan…"
Kevin wanted to persuade him; he knew Logan's health was very poor, and forcing himself to fight would only lead to his death on this battlefield.
But Logan didn't want to waste any more time; he stopped Kevin from continuing and said:
"Things are already very bad! Kevin, we have no other choice now."
He said, extending his hand towards Richtor.
Richtor stared at him for a long time, then finally chose to place both the serum and the syringe in Logan's hand.
Richtor respected Logan's choice.
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