Silence fell before the gates of Saint Kent Academy.
The mutants belonging to the academy stood wordless, neither refuting nor questioning what they heard.
Only the Mandarin's aged and feeble voice drifted softly through the air:
"Mutants possess great power, true, but that power is held by only a small fraction of our kind—by those rare few known as Alpha-Level mutants!"
"The vast majority of mutants merely have some special ability, their physical attributes slightly superior to an ordinary human's. They aren't much stronger than regular people—perhaps just a grip strength a dozen pounds greater, or a body weight a dozen pounds heavier?"
"And precisely because of this, when ordinary humans grasped the power of the era—the power of technology—they began swiftly suppressing mutants, dragging our reputation through the mud until we were seen as utterly villainous!"
"Why did they do this? To create hostility between ordinary humans and mutants, to make mutants into scapegoats despised by the far more numerous human population!"
The Mandarin shook his head, looking over the row of Saint Kent security guards, and couldn't help but laugh:
"You may look impressive and imposing, but in the end, you're just pitiful creatures with lowly status."
"Mutants are indeed powerful. Many Alpha-Level mutants possess strength enough to oppose thousands—but so what?"
"How many Alpha-Level mutants are there really?"
He continued:
"Two years ago, Magneto sought me out. We spoke once."
Clark raised an eyebrow.
"I'm surprised you had dealings with Magneto. By all rights, you should have come to blows upon meeting. What did you discuss?"
The Mandarin replied:
"What else? He wanted to recruit me to fulfill his distant, foolish dream."
"I told him then that the age of mutants had passed, that he should abandon those unrealistic fantasies. But today... my perspective has changed."
"Perhaps... Magneto's vision does have a chance of success after all?"
As he said this, the Mandarin's gaze remained fixed on Clark.
Tony Stark swallowed hard, sensing something ominous.
Whatever the Mandarin's intended message, it didn't change the fact that he, Tony, was just a regular human here.
Aside from him, wasn't everyone present from Saint Kent Academy a mutant?
Being the only ordinary human stuck in this situation gave him the distinct feeling he might be silenced at any moment.
Tony cleared his throat.
"So your mind's changed now? Why? From what I know of you, you old bastard, you're usually stubborn and set in your ways. What made you shift your stance?"
Seeing Tony still daring to mock him and hurl insults at a time like this would normally have ignited the Mandarin's infamous temper.
But in his current state, his body no longer had the capacity for fury.
He could only glare fiercely at Tony before slowly explaining:
"After my discussion with Magneto two years ago, my view remained unchanged. He failed to sway me."
"Until... I met Headmaster Clark."
"My previous beliefs might have been wrong. Of course, Magneto's were incorrect too. We were both mistaken."
"I used to believe that even with their powers, mutants could never overturn the premise of a human-dominated world."
"But now I've changed my mind—when an individual's power becomes unprecedentedly strong, a single decision from them can change the world!"
The Mandarin's eyes burned as he looked at Clark, voicing his true thoughts:
"If I could live another two years... perhaps I would witness the changes your emergence brings to this chaotic world."
"But now..."
The Mandarin smiled bitterly.
"I won't even live through this night—and I brought this upon myself! I used my own weakness, my own life, to verify your strength!"
"Headmaster Clark, my past infamy and prestige will, upon my death, all be transferred to you, forging your unparalleled glory!"
The Mandarin's lament echoed around them.
The Mandarin had done many things in his life. Regardless of whether his reputation was good or ill, it was vast and far-reaching.
His menace was so great that some nations viewed him as a persistent threat, deeply concerned. The establishment of the Ten Rings only heightened their apprehension.
The death of such a figure would inevitably send shockwaves across the globe!
Whoever he fell to would see their fame spread to the four corners of the world!
The Mandarin's face was a mask of bitterness.
He could already foresee that from today onward, Clark's renown could no longer be concealed or suppressed.
Before this, Clark was unknown, unheard of. Beyond the vicinity of Saint Kent Academy, few had ever heard his name.
But after today, that would change.
And all of it was being bought with the Mandarin's own life!
His inner bitterness and regret were unimaginable.
Whoever crossed Clark's path would end up as a stepping stone.
But... why did that stepping stone have to be him?
Regret flooded the Mandarin's heart!
If only he had retreated immediately after attacking S.H.I.E.L.D., without even considering this detour to Saint Kent Academy. Wouldn't that have been better?
But there were no second chances in life.
Not unless you possessed the Time Stone.
Clark himself was taken aback by the Mandarin's words, his eyebrow quirking:
"While I'm admittedly a little pleased by all this flattery, if you think such boot-licking can buy your way out of this, you're sorely mistaken."
The Mandarin shook his head, his expression genuine.
"I know this won't save me. I only wish to ask one favor of you because of it."
"Could you, in light of this... allow me to kill Shang-Chi with my own hands!"
Finally, he revealed his true desire!
Tony had already figured out the arrangement between Clark and the Mandarin, but he was still puzzled:
"Isn't your Snake-Man lieutenant still fighting Antonio? He doesn't seem to be losing yet. Do you really have so little faith in your second-in-command?"
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