"If your existence is just to prevent things from getting worse, then it's meaningless."
"It's even less meaningful than Erik's existence."
Adrian's words were like a sharp blade, piercing directly to the heart without any sugar-coating. The atmosphere in the training ground suddenly became stagnant, and the colorful light and shadow cast by the sun through the stained-glass windows seemed to dim slightly.
The three people in front fell into a long silence. Charles's fingers unconsciously rubbed the armrest of his wheelchair, while the other two frowned, with a hint of anger in their eyes.
"No matter what, I still hope you can handle some matters with caution," Charles finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness.
He understood that he and Adrian weren't on the same path at all. Given the guy's current status in the Vatican, combined with his own powerful strength, he wouldn't be wary of him at all.
The only thing around him that could make the guy wary was probably the unfathomable power within Jean's body.
"That's my business, no need for you to worry about it."
"If there's nothing else, this meeting can end."
Adrian's tone was still calm, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Jean Grey, and added pointedly, "But I still need to remind you: it's better to guide than to block. If you keep suppressing her, a backlash will come sooner or later. The price you might have to pay then could be your life."
Adrian gently placed the teacup in his hand down, the bottom of the cup clinking crisply against the saucer. Clarisse immediately understood, stepping forward a few paces to stand before the three.
"You three, the meeting is over."
"Please don't disturb His Holiness's meditation."
Her voice was as cold as ice.
If Clarisse had initially held some respect for Charles, that respect was now completely gone. Charles was nothing like she'd imagined.
As the two spoke, she couldn't help but recall the dark years before she was adopted by the Vatican.
If it were truly as Charles said, that his existence was the stabilizing force for the Mutant race, then what did all the suffering she'd endured count for?
She couldn't empathize with Charles's ideals—on the contrary, she felt an unprecedented sense of security from Adrian.
"Alas..." Charles sighed softly, knowing that staying longer would be pointless, and could only turn to leave.
On his way out, Adrian's words echoed in his mind: "It's better to guide than to block... Was I really wrong?"
He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Jean Grey beside him—he knew the hidden power within her better than anyone.
When Jean first awakened her abilities, at only a few years old, she could simultaneously suppress both him and Erik. Such power was a mobile natural disaster, and once it lost control, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After Charles and the other two left, the Pope arrived at Adrian's location. Sunlight streamed through the high windows onto the training ground, casting long shadows of the two.
"How did the talk go?" Even though the Pope was neither an extraordinary person nor a Mutant, he'd heard of Charles.
After all, Professor X was someone who made a lot of higher-ups wary.
"Too much compassion, too much of a 'saintly' heart, constantly wavering between humans and Mutants."
"Not a very good partner for cooperation."
Adrian shook his head.
He could solve Charles's paralysis, but there was no need. Because, from the standpoint of humans and Mutants, he couldn't gain Charles's full support.
Each time Charles had an awakening, it was either when humanity was on the verge of exterminating Mutants, or when a massive external force invaded that even the combined forces of Mutants and humans couldn't resist. Adrian didn't have that much time to mess with Charles—he needed to win over every possible force.
The Pope sighed upon hearing this, a hint of regret in his voice. Charles's power was strategic—it was a shame they couldn't cooperate. With his help, their plan's implementation would be way smoother.
"The matter you asked me to help with, I've already arranged."
"Representatives from some of the world's top financial groups are already waiting for you in the encrypted conference room. I hope you can persuade them."
The Pope changed the subject.
If Adrian's plan went smoothly, one Charles couldn't affect the overall situation. But if the guy remained stubborn, then he'd simply have to be dealt with.
Adrian's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he followed the Pope to the conference room.
This was a top-level encrypted channel conference—even the world's most skilled hackers couldn't breach it in a short time.
The high-ranking financial magnates on the screen didn't show their true faces, and their voices were also specially processed. Even if recorded, it couldn't prove it was them. This group of people was crazy cautious, unwilling to leave any leverage for others.
"You're the Mutant who escaped from the Rockefeller Group?"
"I hear you can cure diseases, regenerate limbs, and even prolong life?"
A processed voice was the first to speak.
Upon seeing Adrian appear on the screen, some high-level representatives couldn't sit still. The Vatican daring to promote Adrian like this meant there was likely some real substance to it.
And the mentioned abilities happened to hit their pain points. As the people in the world who lacked money and power the least, the only things that could threaten them were illness and lifespan!
"Gentlemen, please don't be anxious."
"The Vatican contacted you all, certainly with the intention of cooperation. The content mentioned above is all true—you can find ways to verify it, and the Vatican will cooperate at any time."
Adrian smiled slightly, his tone calm.
He didn't use any voice alteration, not even afraid if someone recorded him. He was even more eager for someone to promote him for free.
"What does the Vatican want?" another voice asked, with a scrutinizing tone.
Everyone in this position was no fool. The Vatican going to such great lengths to contact them was nothing more than an exchange of interests. As long as the interests didn't conflict and there was room for cooperation, it was worth a shot.
"What the Vatican wants is pretty simple: money, influence, status, and support."
Adrian was direct.
"The Vatican's rebuilding of the extraordinary requires a huge amount of resource support. At the same time, you all need to acknowledge the international status and legitimacy of the Vatican's extraordinary power."
"If necessary, I hope you all can employ the Vatican's extraordinary individuals for security. Finally, if you encounter international disputes involving national threats to the Vatican, your strong assistance will be needed."
He clearly stated his objectives, and a murmur immediately arose in the conference room.
"You're asking for too much."
"Is the Vatican trying to relive the glory of the Middle Ages? To rule the world with divine power?"
A cold voice spoke.
Someone immediately saw through Adrian's ambition.
"And for security,"
"Hiring people from the Vatican, isn't that basically entrusting our lives to the Vatican? That's absolutely impossible."
Another voice added.
Regarding the conditions Adrian proposed, most of those present frowned. Some demands were way too excessive—they saw no sincerity.
"Excessive? Not at all."
"Prolonging life isn't a one-time thing. As long as you maintain a cooperative relationship with the Vatican, the Vatican can provide services to you annually."
Adrian's voice remained calm.
He paused, then continued to throw out an enticing condition: "Furthermore, if you're uneasy about the Vatican's security, you can also arrange for trusted subordinates to come to the Vatican, and I can bestow extraordinary power upon them."
At these words, a lot of people in the conference room began to breathe heavily. Immortality and extraordinary power—how many people dreamed of these?
"To what extent?"
"For example, I'm 85 years old this year—to what state can you restore my body?"
A voice asked eagerly.
A one-time transaction and lifelong service are naturally not the same thing. Under the temptation of longevity, they were willing to make some concessions. And the point about bestowing extraordinary abilities made their eyes light up even more...
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