Translator: Sean88888 Editor: Elkassar1
Professor Xavier and Jean stared at the laughing Sheyan with some astonishment, but they did not interrupt his laughter out of courtesy.
After a long time, Sheyan finally said while wiping away his tears, “I apologise, that was rude of me. But if those are the only problems in the airship design, the solution isn’t difficult at all. In fact, you can provide the solution, Professor X. Oh, I’m so happy.”
Professor Xavier smiled bitterly.
“I’m sorry, Seaman, though I’m also actively engaging in scientific research, my field of expertise is the human brain. I can’t help with these three problems at all.”
“My dear Professor, I know you can’t help, but you’re still they key to providing the solution, because without you, it’ll be difficult to convince a certain person who can solve our problems. And as far as I know, you’re the only person in the world who can persuade that powerful but eccentric person,” Sheyan replied with a grin.
Professor Xavier, no doubt someone with very high IQ, was slightly surprised.
“You mean…Magnus?”
“Bingo! The person with the fearsome power of magnetism, Magneto! Only you can persuade that arrogant man. Magneto can control almost any type of metal with magnetic force, so he can certainly select the toughest alloy for our airship framework. We can also make a breakthrough in solving the airship’s insufficient lift-off force and propulsion force problems with the help of his extensive research into magnetic fields.”
Professor Xavier mused quietly on the suggestion for a while before he said, “Magnus is indeed a suitable person for the job, but I’m not sure I can convince him to work with us.”
To that, Sheyan merely shrugged.
“I think the key lies in convincing Mr. Magneto that the apocalypse will indeed happen. I may be able to do this, but I’m afraid he’ll nail me to the wall before I can finish talking. The only person in the world who can make the arrogant Magneto listen is you, Professor Xavier. After Mr. Magneto confirms the truth about the apocalypse, he’ll certainly cooperate with us, because his desire to live is stronger than all of us combined.”
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Professor Xavier’s lips when he heard Sheyan’s words.
“You know him well. Yes, Magnus is indeed that kind of person. Energetic, ambitious, and a control freak. He won’t just sit around and wait to die.
Jean suddenly interrupted. “But we still lack the initial funding and a project leader.”
“Funding will not be a problem. Among our allies is an ancient vegetarian vampire clan. The leader, Mr. Carlisle Cullen, is a very reasonable person. I only need to make a phone call and he’ll transfer enough money over. He has a big family he has to keep alive after all,” Sheyan answered confidently.
“As for the project leader…I already have someone in mine. This man is crazy, bold and notorious. He’s also willing to do anything to achieve his goal. More importantly, he’s a leading authority in nuclear power research, so he’s definitely able to solve the power problems of the airship. He may be extremely evil in times of peace, but at such a critical period, what we need is exactly this sort of tyrannical and talented man who can bring us a miracle in a short amount of time!!”
Professor Xavier frowned after he heard Sheyan’s description.
“Why does the person you describe sound like a certain asshole that I know?”
Sheyan grinned.
“That’s exactly who I’m talking about, Professor. No one can deny the fact that Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius is a highly-gifted scientist. More importantly, he also has a beloved wife. Despite his personality and character, he’ll definitely go all out for the sake of his and his family’s survival! That’s enough. We’re not looking for a role model here, we’re looking for a person to take charge who can build the damn airship as quickly as possible!”
“You’re talking about Dr. Octopus!” Jean exclaimed with an ugly expression. “But…this will soil our reputation!”
Sheyan told her bluntly, “An airship can save the lives of at least five thousand people, Ms. Grey! Every minute we spend arguing here may cost the death of thousands! I’ve paid a heavy price just to appear in front of you and point out a solution to you; do you think I did that just to end up discussing morality with you? In my eyes, the method that can save the greatest number of people is the greatest justice!”
“You’re right,” Professor Xavier interrupted, “Jean, you must apologise to Mr. Seaman. Leave the job of persuading Magnus to me. However, there’s nothing I can do on the side of Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius. If I appear in front of him, his octopus arms won’t give me the chance to sit down and talk peacefully, so it’ll only make things worse. You’ll have to do that yourself.”
Sheyan smiled. “Of course. I think I’ll be able to convince him. If I can’t, we can turn to Iron Man instead. The reason why Iron Man is only the second choice is that although he’s excellent – to a shocking extent in fact – his weakness is also particularly obvious. His research mainly focuses on war and methods to defeat his opponents in battle, while all of Dr. Octopus’s crimes are for the sake of his scientific research. He robs to obtain funding for his scientific research, and he made the octopus arms because he’s tired of all those foolish assistants….”
Everyone, including Jean, fell silent after listening to what Sheyan had to say. His words could not be refuted. Both sides had a common goal at the moment, and that was to produce the airship as soon as possible. It was also good to have a person like Sheyan, who placed manufacturing progress above all else, as the overseer.
Sheyan continued, “I need some visual data that Dr. Octopus can trust, preferably from Dr. Xavier’s own hand. In addition, in three days – actually, it should be little more than two days by now – the place where the airship is built will likely suffer an assault of an unprecedented scale, so please mobilise any armed forces that can be mobilised.”
“There are actually people who dare to cause us trouble after we combine our forces? What’s their aim?” Professor Xavier wondered.
Sheyan stared at Jean and Dr. Xavier and told them earnestly, “If my companions and I did not appear in this world, you’ll all die in the 2012 apocalypse, but because we’re here, you have hopes of surviving. Am I right?”
Professor Xavier’s pupils abruptly contracted.
“You mean, history will use its momentum to try to correct its errors?”
Sheyan shook his head. “Not momentum, but…violence! All the preparation work done by my companions and I are for the sake of balancing the power of history. In more than 2 days, other people like us will appear. The difference between us is that we’re helping you, while they’ll try to correct the mistakes of history.”
“How will they correct the mistakes?” Jean asked incredulously.
“How do governments correct the mistakes of first-degree murderers?” asked Sheyan in a cold tone.
Jean’s face turned pale.
Sheyan took a deep breath and turned towards the street.
“You’re supposed to die according to history, so as long as you die, the mission to correct historical errors will naturally complete.”
While saying this, a crisp sound came from Sheyan’s foot. It sounded like a cockroach being stepped on.
***
The New York Underground Black Market was a busy place, operating the full 24 hours a day. It was a super-large used car dealer on the surface, but on the second and third level, it was the place where stolen goods and illegal merchandises from the whole New York were traded.
There were nothing that people dared not sell here, and nothing that people dared not buy.
This was a place where even drugs and stolen goods could be freely traded. Because they were stolen goods, the prices were often horribly low, sometimes as low as a tenth or even a twentieth of the original price.
A comprehensive industrial chain had formed here. After the stolen goods were fenced and legalised, the profit margin to be made from a resell may even exceed 1,000%! God knows how many people were depending on this place to amass their fortune. This was also the biggest reason why the New York Underground Black Market could survive for so long.
Usually, Dr. Octopus would bring his stolen goods here to exchange for a considerable amount of money to support his research. Because everyone here were frequent customers, they often gave him a good price.
Dr. Octopus was a mad scientist. His ultimate joy lay in making breakthrough after breakthrough in his scientific research, and he completely ignored the rest of the world around him. This was the main reason the funding for his project was cut. Therefore, he had to rely on robbery to support his project.
After completing his deal, Dr. Octopus grabbed a hamburger. He stuffed it into his mouth while jumping into his car, but then found a man standing in front of the car.
He was a young man with a calm expression on his face.
Dr. Octopus was not a gentle person. He yelled rudely and violently, “Get out of my way or I’ll run you over!”
Sheyan’s reply was to press his hand on the hood of the car. Dr. Octopus’s eyes almost popped out with fury. He immediately stepped on the accelerator! The car engine let out a terrible roar and black smoke blew crazily out of the exhaust, but unfortunately, the car would not move an inch forward! The rear tires rotated in place, leaving clear rubber marks on the ground! The man’s palm was still on the car hood as if it was welded there.
Dr. Octopus jumped out of the car in anger. The gray windbreaker on his back suddenly surged, and was then torn apart. Four powerful mechanical tentacles stretched out from behind him and smashed towards Sheyan fiercely.
