Chapter 54: Charles' Sincerity
"Happy, this is an important mission. I'm going to visit Charles, the leader of the Mutant Academy. I need you to protect me."
"Understood, boss! Unless I fall first, I won't let anything happen to you!"
The two exchanged a knowing smile—almost as if they'd completely forgotten the hellish walk home they endured last week.
"Boss, if this time we end up crawling instead of walking back, we'll probably die on the road. We're at least 200 miles from home,"
Happy said, eyeing the massive estate and cracking a not-so-funny joke.
The academy's main gates opened automatically, and a calm voice came through the intercom:
"Welcome, the famous Tony Stark. I regret I can't greet you in person. As you may know, I'm a paraplegic."
Upon stepping into the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, even Happy—who'd seen his fair share of grand venues—was left speechless by the majestic sight.
"Boss, didn't you say this was just a normal academy? This looks more like a private estate than a school."
"You're not wrong. Charles inherited the family estate and turned it into a school specifically for mutants. It used to be the Xavier family mansion,"
Tony replied, showing he'd done at least some homework. After all, you don't meet with mysterious mutants without preparing a little.
"Kind of like you, huh, Boss?"
"I built Stark Industries with my own genius. That's not quite the same as Charles inheriting an estate."
"I… don't really agree,"
a voice echoed from afar.
"At least in one way, we're alike—I'd say we're both geniuses."
Charles had picked up on Tony's muttering from quite a distance.
Tony didn't even flinch at having been overheard—clearly unfazed by his own remarks being exposed.
"That's right. Nice to meet you, I'm Tony Stark. You must be Professor Charles?"
Charles, seated in a wheelchair, extended his right hand.
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Your legs?"
Tony didn't shy away from addressing the obvious. While this would've come off as rude from most people, it was just Tony being Tony.
"Spinal nerve damage led to paralysis. But with today's technology, I live quite normally."
"So, Tony, what brings you here? Or rather, what's your real objective?"
Charles didn't beat around the bush—his question went straight to the point.
"I've developed a few devices designed to block psychic control. But I've had little to no contact with mutants, so I have no idea if they even work.
To be blunt, I'm here to test them out."
"I've heard you're the strongest psychic mutant in the world, Professor Charles. So, I was hoping you'd help test the gear."
Charles was caught somewhere between laughter and disbelief.
So let me get this straight: you built devices specifically to counter me, and now you want me to test how effective they are?
Yup, Tony Stark really was just as difficult as the rumors said.
"And why exactly should I help you?"
The subtext was clear: no benefit, no help.
"In return, Stark media outlets will maintain a neutral and objective stance when reporting on mutants—no smear campaigns.
Also, Stark Industries will, to a limited extent, consider hiring some mutants."
"I imagine you'd prefer if certain mutants, especially those capable of working in public settings, had stable jobs, right?
And let's be honest, no one in America dares to go head-to-head with Stark Industries.
That's my offer."
"Deal. Where's the equipment?"
Charles didn't hesitate. Helping test a few devices was a small price for the political and economic buffer Stark Industries could provide mutants.
"Hold on. One thing you need to know:
If your device doesn't block my telepathy, I'll end up reading your mind. You sure you want to go through with this?"
Charles wasn't looking to make enemies, especially not among billionaires. So he made sure to explain the risks up front.
"Ever heard of privacy, Professor?"
Tony hesitated. The thought of someone poking around in your brain is… not exactly appealing. Like being stripped naked in public—who would agree to that?
"I can control it, but some thoughts do leak through unintentionally."
Charles had already learned that the hard way with Uchiha Akira. Since then, he'd been careful not to pry without consent.
"Happy, you're single, right?"
"Why does that matter, Boss?"
"Well, I have a mission for you. Don't worry—I completely trust Professor Charles.
But, you know, my head is filled with Stark Industries' top secrets… not the best idea."
"Boss, I don't want to sell my soul…"
"Your bonus this month just went up by a million dollars."
"Alright then! It's not about the money—just worried about your safety, of course. I'll wear the device now!"
Happy practically snatched the gear from Tony's hands, all like "Don't even thank me."
Charles chuckled. This bodyguard really knew how to seize opportunity.
He pressed a finger to his temple and focused. The psychic intrusion began.
"This one's useless—zero effect. Next."
Tony quickly swapped devices.
"This one's better—can block level 2 telepathy. Next."
"This one's weak—only defends against level 1 psychic abilities."
"This one's solid—blocks level 3 telepathy quite well."
"This one... nope. Nothing."
After testing them all, the results were clear:
Only one device was effective against level 3 psychic intrusion. The rest? Mostly ineffective.
Since Tony had built them himself, he quickly identified which technology worked. Now it was just a matter of refining and improving it.
"Can I ask—how is psychic strength measured? You mentioned levels one, two, and three. What's the scale?"
Tony asked, curious.
"In truth, psychic abilities vary wildly. There's no universal scale or standard units of measurement.
I simply made a rough classification based on mutant tiers,"
Charles explained.
"Level 1 is basic hypnosis—something even trained humans can achieve using psychology and suggestion."
"Level 2 surpasses human capability—psychic power that can actually affect the physical world."
"Level 3 involves psychic domination: short-term mind control, memory reading, memory alteration… even memory fabrication."
"Level 4 allows one to read memories from large groups of people without physical contact. It also enables mass memory modification, or even psychic annihilation."
"And you, Professor Charles—what level are you?"
"I'm Level 4."
Charles' honest response shut Tony right up.
Whew. Sincerity really is a killer move.
Faced with such raw honesty, Tony suddenly didn't know what to say.