Bob's question didn't target Elsa as expected—it was aimed straight at Liu A'dou. Elsa had always deferred to Liu A'dou. Whether it was school or filming, he had the final say.
Bob wasn't aware of the specifics, but Elsa's behavior gave the impression that she was under Liu A'dou's control. She stayed quiet, only moved after Liu A'dou did, and even used her powers only after getting his approval.
But Liu A'dou didn't panic at all when he heard the question. He simply smiled and said, "You can take it as a sign of trust. There's no relationship of control between Elsa and me—she's entirely independent. This is her trust in me, and I'm more than happy to help make decisions for her. Of course, when it comes to important matters, we always discuss them together, like when we're planning a film. You can ask her yourself whether I've ever forced her to do anything against her will."
Flawless. Bob thought to himself that this teenager might be the toughest nut to crack of the three. Dropping out of high school and mixing in society for a few years really had taught him a lot.
Bob quickly jotted down Liu A'dou's answer, then looked up at Jean. "Dr. Jean, what's your relationship to the other two?"
"I'm a biologist and I've also studied medicine. I'm Elsa's doctor." Since Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters couldn't be revealed yet, Jean's current role was simply as Elsa's physician.
"I see. Then, have you met any other mutants besides Elsa?" Bob was being slippery again—this was supposed to be an interview with Elsa, yet he kept steering the conversation off course.
"Yes, I've met others."
"Have any of them shown violent tendencies or signs of mental illness?" Bob pressed. "Please, I must ask you to answer."
Jean's expression became uneasy. The professor had instructed her to tell the truth, but this question was difficult. The honest answer was yes, but wouldn't that incite fear in humans toward mutants? Dangerous powers in the hands of unstable individuals was terrifying. In the end, Jean answered truthfully. "Yes, but only two cases."
Nicely said, Liu A'dou thought. Jean was clever to minimize the impact.
Bob recorded her words precisely. "Then can you tell us if they've done anything to threaten public safety? I believe the readers want to know if mutants are able to control their abilities."
"They're just patients, not criminals. While some mutants do have trouble controlling their powers, that usually stems from a lack of guidance. With proper training and the help of technology, most mutants can learn to manage their abilities."
"You said 'most'?" Bob pressed. "I once heard about a mutant who emitted radiation constantly, with the potential for a nuclear-level explosion. Are you saying powers like that can also be controlled?"
Liu A'dou thought to himself, is this guy secretly anti-mutant? Every question is a trap.
Xavier's school did have records of a radioactive mutant—currently being held at a U.S. nuclear waste storage site. That kind of ability truly was dangerous and difficult to manage. Jean frowned slightly.
Bob noticed the small change in her expression and smirked to himself. He'd struck a nerve—some powers weren't controllable.
But Jean wasn't ordinary. Within seconds, she composed a reply. "That just means some mutants need more support. Like I said, equipment and training are essential. When training alone isn't enough, technology can help. Today's world is rapidly advancing, and radiation can be contained. As for that so-called 'self-detonation' story, there's no factual basis. There's no evidence that a radioactive mutant could explode with the force of a nuclear bomb."
Liu A'dou noticed the look in Jean's eyes. He knew she was now fully serious.
Bob nodded slightly. This woman wasn't simple either. Then he turned his focus to today's main guest, Elsa. "Ms. Elsa, would you say that through your film, you're trying to express the injustice mutants face? Is it a form of protest against ordinary people like us?"
Elsa showed no hint of emotion. This time, Liu A'dou couldn't prompt her even if he wanted to. But Elsa wasn't an ordinary person—she should be able to handle it.
Elsa said, "Mutants aren't trying to protest anything." Calm and composed, her voice was like a clear spring that quieted the air. "For us, protesting won't change people's discrimination. All we can do is let our true voices be heard through our efforts. We're just as capable of contributing to society as anyone else. My films and my singing are just the beginning."
Elsa, oh Elsa—well done. Even used the phrase "contributing to society." Looks like her time at Xavier's school really paid off.
So composed, not at all like others their age. Bob noted that especially Elsa and Liu A'dou—neither looked older than sixteen or seventeen—were far more mature than their peers. What had they gone through to end up like this?
"Ms. Elsa, how do the events in Frozen compare to your real-life experiences?" Bob asked.
"A fairy tale is a fairy tale. Reality is reality." Elsa answered with quiet meaning. "In the film, Anna might overcome all odds to find her sister. But in real life, maybe she wouldn't take the risk—or maybe she'd die alone in the vast mountains."
"I meant your past, not how the movie would play out in the real world," Bob clarified. "I want to know about your childhood."
What Bob didn't realize was that Elsa was talking about reality.
"My story—you already know it," Elsa said calmly.
Bob was confused. He figured maybe Elsa had a rough childhood she didn't want to discuss and was using the movie to mask it.
Since that went nowhere, Bob switched targets. "Mr. Liu, did you meet Ms. Elsa while working as a reporter in Gotham City? Do you know her past?"
"I know a bit," Liu A'dou replied. "Just take it that Elsa's experiences are very similar to the queen in the movie."
That, plus Elsa's earlier words, gave Bob enough to fill in the blanks himself. He nodded, quickly jotting down: The Snow Queen's misfortune lies in the fragility of humanity in the real world.
This trip to New York was mostly about digging deeper. The public emergence of mutants meant something big. The earlier questions were just warm-ups—now came the real deal. "I'd like to ask the three of you: with Frozen's huge success, and Ms. Elsa now formally studying music, does this mean mutants are officially preparing to reveal themselves to the world?" He looked to Jean. "Dr. Jean, let's start with you."
"Whether we want to or not, mutants exist. That's a fact. We want to be accepted. We hope people won't look at us like we're different. Besides our powers, we also face more pressure than others. We need more training to control those powers. All we want is for people to stop fearing us. We want the world to understand us better."
Bob's pen flew across the page. Jean's answer reflected the desires of some mutants—though certainly not all. But there were still two others to go. He wondered what insight they might offer.