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X-Mansion Laboratory!
Darian walked through the door and saw Hank, who had transformed into his Beast form, hunched over a microscope.
"Hank, why have you turned into this?"
Darian looked astonished. Could it be that the Beast form actually provided an intelligence buff?
Hank put down the sample in his hand and looked up to explain: "In this state, I possess much more stamina and energy for my research. Working for dozens of hours straight is not a problem, and my focus does not wane."
Good grief. Other people change forms to fight, but this guy changes forms to work overtime.
What kind of born-to-be-a-workhorse physique is this?
"Fine, whatever makes you happy."
Darian walked over to the experiment and asked: "How are the investigation results?"
Mentioning business, Hank's expression turned serious.
He tapped a few keys on the keyboard, bringing up a set of data projected onto the screen nearby, with dense genetic sequences scrolling past.
"This…"
Darian looked shocked.
Hank nodded gravely; it seemed Darian had also discovered the issue.
"What does it mean?"
Darian added the rest, revealing a clear and foolish gaze.
Hank: "…"
"I have conducted in-depth research on the matter you mentioned last time."
Considering the other person's cultural level, Hank chose to speak in what he considered the most straightforward way: "I conducted genetic sequencing analysis on samples from over a hundred different races, and the results showed that more than sixty percent of the individuals carried the X-Gene in their bodies."
Darian raised an eyebrow: "That high?"
"Yes."
Hank nodded: "But unlike Mutants, the X-Gene in these people is in a state of deep dormancy. Under normal circumstances, they will never be activated and will not have any impact on the person."
Darian narrowed his eyes: "So, in fact, most humans are potential Mutants?"
Hank pushed up his glasses: "You could understand it that way. If the human genome is compared to a book, then the Mutant gene is like a hidden Easter egg in the book. They do exist, but they don't affect the normal state."
Darian thought of Logan's words from the future.
According to what he said, it wasn't just Mutants suffering in the future World; most of humanity was within the hunting range of the Sentinel Robots.
It wasn't because they went out of control, but because most humans carried the X-Gene.
Although these people never awakened any superpowers in their entire lives, in the logic of the Sentinel Robots, as long as the X-Gene existed in the body, there was a possibility of awakening in the future, or producing awakened offspring.
To eliminate future trouble, everyone carrying the X-Gene, regardless of gender or age, would be placed on the elimination list by the Sentinel Robots.
Just like in many robot-related science fiction movies, robots originally created to protect humanity eventually realized that killing humans was the best way to protect them.
So, humanity's greatest enemy is still humanity.
Darian shook his head and grinned: "Hank, I need you to help me upgrade a genetic identification system."
A few days later, the highly anticipated Marvel Industries Technology Expo finally officially opened.
Although it was still several hours away from the official start, the venue was already packed with people. The outside of the venue was blocked completely, with a sea of heads everywhere; looking out, there were at least several thousand people.
This expo, organized single-handedly by Marvel Industries, was hailed as the grandest technological feast of the century.
Almost every tech giant in America that could be named had basically come, as everyone wanted to take this opportunity to show off their own advanced technology.
However, everyone knew clearly that the real highlight today was on the side of Marvel Industries.
After all, every technology Marvel Industries had launched during this period was enough for its peers to chase for several eras; they were simply not on the same level.
Moreover, Marvel Industries had long released word that they would demonstrate the latest clean energy technology on-site today.
This technology was none other than the Arc Reactor.
After obtaining the complete design blueprints provided by Darian, Hank easily replicated the Arc Reactor.
Even in the modern background of the main server, this technology could be considered a piece of black technology capable of overturning the entire energy industry, let alone in the current seventies; it was simply a dimensional strike.
Marvel Industries could now completely be said to be the Stark Industries of another World, the kind without any rivals.
This expo not only had big shots from all walks of life attending, but also a large number of media reporters from all over the World. They naturally could not miss such massive traffic, and they had long set up their camera positions to live broadcast this grand event in its entirety.
Behind the exhibition, there was an independent WVIP lounge.
This lounge was decorated like a five-star hotel suite, complete with sofas, a bar, and a large-screen TV.
Darian was curled up on the sofa playing a video game, with a little character on the screen jumping around to dodge attacks.
"How did I die again!"
"Since things have come to this, it seems I have no choice but to activate the backup energy."
"Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, A, B, A, B, revive, my character!"
Psylocke stood to the side, put down the communicator in her hand, and leaned close to Darian's ear to whisper: "My Lord Black King, the transport vehicles from Trask Industries have arrived, and that batch of Sentinel Robots is being sent to the exhibition venue."
Darian didn't even look up, his fingers continuing to press the controller: "Hmm, are our people all arranged?"
"Everything is arranged."
Psylocke imitated Darian's tone and said: "Those news media outlets have all come, shooting on-site from all angles without blind spots. The newspaper offices are also ready to guarantee reporting the news at the first moment and hitting the trending headlines."
"What about Charles and the others?"
"They have also all entered the venue."
Darian nodded in satisfaction, pressed the pause button on the controller, picked up a glass of red wine from the table, and swirled it gently.
"Very good. Proceed according to the plan. Since Trask wants to show off the power of the Sentinel Robots, I will fulfill his wish, and by the way, help him upgrade the configuration so he can make a spectacular appearance in front of the whole World."
As he spoke, he took a sip of red wine and let out a low laugh.
"I believe he will definitely be grateful to me. Heh heh heh heh heh heh…"
Psylocke looked at her leader's villainous demeanor, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, and she silently mourned for Trask for half a second in her heart.
Very quickly, the Marvel Industries Technology Expo officially began.
The dozens of reserved seats in front of the main exhibition were already full, and without exception, they were all big shots from various fields.
There were high-level officials from the Department of Defense, senators from the Senate, financial tycoons from Wall Street, and high-ranking officers from various branches of the Military; any one of them pulled out would have a significant status.
Following an opening dance number with dozens of long legs to warm up the crowd, a face-man host hired by Marvel Industries took the stage and began to introduce Marvel Industries' latest technology to everyone.
These technologies were all automatically picked up by Darian from other parallel Universes, then handed over to Hank to work overtime to create, and then packaged and brought out for exhibition; how could people in this era have ever seen such black technology?
Every time the host introduced an item, the exclamations from below grew louder.
Those big shots who usually kept up airs couldn't care about their image at this moment; their eyes were shining, and their faces revealed only one message: Want, I want it!
The media were pressing their shutters like machine guns, the flashes crackling and connecting into one piece, almost blinding everyone's eyes.
Marvel Industries' presentation lasted for nearly an hour, after which it was the other companies' opportunity to showcase themselves.
The organizer couldn't just hog the spotlight; they had to give other companies some time to show their faces.
Who told them to pay so much money?
However, compared to the black technology Marvel Industries had just shown, the technology of these companies was a bit underwhelming.
The audience's reaction was noticeably colder, and some business tycoons were already bored and playing with their secretaries' black stockings.
But no one left.
Because everyone knew that the real finale was still to come: Marvel Industries' clean energy technology.
So they could only wait patiently, watching the unremarkable technology demonstrations while checking their watches from time to time.
The representative of the previous tech giant finally finished the presentation and walked off the stage amidst sparse applause.
The host returned to the stage and said with a smile: "Next, please welcome the representative of Trask Industries, Bolivar Trask."
Under the shining lights, Trask walked slowly onto the stage, followed by a tall man in a Military uniform.
He was William Stryker.
That's right, the very same personal attending Doctor for Logan, who specialized in artificial bone implantation.
The Wolverines of parallel Universes have all tried it and said it was good!
However, the current Stryker was only a Major, Trask's personal bodyguard and assistant, not the powerful Colonel of the future.
Trask glanced at the podium in front of him, paused, turned his head to look at Stryker, and coughed a few times.
Stryker: (._.?)
Trask: (#°dish°)
"Cough cough cough cough! Cough cough cough cough!"
Trask was about to cough his lungs out before Stryker finally reacted, looked down at the other person, then looked at the tall podium, and finally understood something.
He walked to the 1.4-meter-tall podium, took the microphone off the stand, and then bent down to hand it to Trask.
Trask's eyelid twitched.
But due to the occasion, he didn't fuss about it, secretly deciding to replace this guy who had no situational awareness as soon as he went back.
He took the microphone, cleared his throat, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Bolivar Trask, the founder of Trask Industries. Before I introduce my product, I want to ask everyone a question."
"Have you ever heard of Mutants?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the audience below changed.
Most were bewildered, and only a few frowned.
Mutants in this era were not yet known to the public as they would be later; many people had never even heard the word.
Even if they had actually seen a Mutant, they would mostly think they were just ordinary people with some strange disease.
And in the audience, there were a few people whose expressions were grave.
They were members of the Brotherhood, who had received an invitation from Darian and had come to the expo specifically.
But Darian hadn't said specifically what it was, only that something that would change the fate of Mutants was about to happen today.
As a result, they didn't expect that someone would suddenly mention Mutants in such a major occasion.
Trask ignored the reaction of the people below and continued to say: "Simply put, they are a group of genetic Mutants possessing abilities far beyond ordinary people. Some Mutants can control Fire, some can fly, and some can manipulate metal."
After hearing Trask's words, a burst of whispering broke out below.
"These abilities sound cool, right?"
Trask's tone shifted, suddenly becoming serious: "But the problem is, these people with superpowers are not subject to any laws, nor are they controlled by any organizations. They can do whatever they want, and our Military, Police, and all law enforcement agencies have no way to deal with them!"
"Take that Mutant who can manipulate metal as an example. Suppose one day he gets a whim to do something bad. Our Police officers, in order to protect citizens, shoot at him, but because the bullets are made of metal, all the fired bullets will return and kill the Police officers protecting us!"
Erik: "…"
You're the one doing illegal things!
I reformed long ago. Do you believe I'll sue you for slander!
Charles was laughing his head off beside him, his shoulders shaking, holding back from laughing out loud.
He patted Erik's shoulder... thigh, feigning comfort: "Erik, look, you're getting worked up again. He's just giving a random example; he's not naming you. There's no need to be so agitated."
Just as Charles finished speaking, Trask on the stage spoke again.
"As far as I know, there is also a Mutant who can invade others' brains. This guy's ability is even more dangerous; he can read others' memories at will, or even manipulate their will, basically doing whatever he wants."
"Think about it, everyone, if this Mutant were a pervert with a twisted psychology, or a mental illness, or a severe antisocial personality disorder, what would the consequences be?"
Charles: "…"
Erik: "Cough… cough…"
Out of consideration for his old friend's face, he didn't laugh out loud in front of him, but inside he was already laughing like an idiot.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Charles: "…"
What is the difference between this and laughing directly in his face?
Under Trask's impassioned speech, many humans below were successfully stirred into panic, and even the high-level officials from the Department of Defense in the front row fell into a state of contemplation.
Trask took in all these reactions, very satisfied.
This is the effect he wanted!
He straightened his back and said loudly: "Today, we are facing the most severe test in history, but I have long been prepared!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce to you the future guardian of humanity, the Sentinel Robots!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the floor in the center of the exhibition platform suddenly split open, and a huge lifting platform slowly rose from underground.
On the lifting platform stood several humanoid robots, over three meters tall, with a purple-silver paint job, a huge circular exhaust port in the middle, a mechanical claw on the left arm, and a gatling gun barrel on the right arm.
Trask introduced: "This is a weapon I designed specifically to deal with Mutants. It has extremely strong flight capabilities and firepower; dealing with Mutants is simply a piece of cake!"
"Most importantly, the Sentinel Robots contain not a single bit of metal, so they are not afraid of the threat from some Mutant who can manipulate metal."
Erik: "…"
Damn it, are you done yet? You might as well just read my driver's license out loud!