New York, Manhattan.
Just like the rest of the country, Manhattan is incredibly vibrant.
Days ago, much of Harlem in Manhattan was destroyed by the Hulk and Abomination, but now, just days later, Harlem has largely recovered from the fear they brought, returning to normal operations.
However, while Harlem has returned to normal, it doesn't mean people have overcome their fear of the Hulk and Abomination.
Following the battle between the Hulk and Abomination, people have grown increasingly disgusted and afraid of mutants.
Therefore, a very important meeting was held in Manhattan today: a hearing to discuss whether the Mutant Registration Act should be implemented.
Among those present at the hearing were Senator Kelly and prominent figures from various social sectors, making it a highly influential event.
The hearing had already begun, and currently, a sophisticated woman with red hair, Jean Grey, dressed in red, was speaking at the podium.
Jean Grey appeared calm.
She looked at everyone attending the hearing and slowly began to speak, striving for the best outcome for herself and the Professor.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, humanity is facing another stage of evolution.
In this stage, humans will possess various abilities due to genetic changes, becoming mutants.
This mutation often occurs during puberty, triggered by emotional fluctuations, thereby awakening their powers…"
"Thank you, Ms. Jean Grey, you are very knowledgeable, but you have strayed from the topic of this meeting.
The topic is: Are mutants dangerous?"
From the audience, Senator Kelly interrupted Jean Grey, refuting her words with righteous indignation.
"Your question is inappropriate, Senator Kelly.
Some people get into car accidents, which is also dangerous!" Jean Grey replied.
"That's why we need driver's licenses, Ms. Grey." As soon as Grey finished speaking, Senator Kelly retorted.
"Yes, but Senator Kelly, we don't have driver's licenses to live in this world." Jean Grey smiled faintly, slowly bringing out her pre-prepared counter-arguments, and continued.
"Senator Kelly, in fact, once mutants' identities are exposed, they will face hostility and even violent treatment, so I appeal: repealing the Mutant Act is what the government should do!
If mutants expose their identities…"
Upon hearing Jean Grey's words, Senator Kelly's expression turned somewhat grim.
He called someone over and retrieved pre-prepared documents.
"Exposed identities?
Ms. Grey, if mutants are members of our human race, why do they hide?"
Then Senator Kelly stood up directly and presented his most compelling evidence to everyone.
"In fact, I currently have a list of mutants.
As you can see, three days ago in Harlem, there was a battle between two mutants, resulting in over a dozen fatalities and countless damaged homes and properties.
And that's not all.
I also know of a girl who can walk through walls.
Think about it, what if she infiltrated a bank vault, the White House, or your homes?
"Furthermore, I also know that there are mutants who can control people's minds and deprive them of their free will.
Therefore, I believe we have the right to decide whether to accept mutants or to stay away from them!"
Senator Kelly grew more and more excited as he spoke.
He could already feel the people around him becoming agitated by his speech, so he didn't stop, but continued.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in fact, mutants truly exist, right among us.
We must ferret them out and thoroughly study them to ensure our safety!"
After he finished speaking, everyone in the audience applauded in agreement for a long time, clearly endorsing what Senator Kelly had said.
By this point, the hearing was essentially over, with Senator Kelly achieving a complete victory.
And after hearing Senator Kelly's words, Jean Grey's body was trembling slightly.
It wasn't because she had lost this hearing, but because of Senator Kelly's last statement—to thoroughly study mutants!
Although she was also a well-known figure, she was also a mutant whom Senator Kelly wanted to expose!
At this moment, in another corner of the hearing room, a bald man in a wheelchair watched a departing figure and frowned.
Without hesitation, the bald man followed this person to a secluded area and then called out to stop them.
"Erik, what are you doing here?"
Upon hearing the voice behind him, the person stopped.
He didn't even need to guess to know who was behind him.
"Charles, why do you always like to ask the obvious?"
"Don't give up on humanity, Erik.
Humans have evolved, and now that they know of our existence, we have a very good chance of coexisting with them." Hearing Erik's words, Charles, also known as Professor X, who possesses telepathy and mind control abilities, said.
Erik was a friend he had known since his youth, and like him, he was also a mutant, known as Magneto, with the ability to control metal and even magnetic fields.
Because they were both mutants, he and Erik had dedicated their lives to fighting for mutant rights.
But unfortunately, Erik's beliefs differed somewhat from his own.
He desired an opportunity for peaceful coexistence with humanity, while Erik sought to rule humanity and become the master of this world.
Due to their differing ideologies, he and Erik had been adversaries for decades, so both sides had always tried to persuade the other to agree with their own philosophy.
Upon hearing Professor X's words, Magneto merely curled his already wrinkled lips slightly and uttered a sentence that left Professor X somewhat puzzled.
"Yes, humanity can evolve!"
Hearing Magneto's words, Professor X immediately felt that something was amiss.
This Erik, he couldn't have come up with another scheme to carry out his plan, could he?
Without hesitation, Professor X used his telepathic abilities to invade Magneto's mind, wanting to know what Magneto was thinking.
However, Magneto had already taken precautions against this.
He turned around, his face cold, and looked at Professor X.
"Charles, I know you're using telepathy.
What do you want to know?"
"I am looking for hope," Professor X said.
"I will give you hope, Charles, but I have one condition: don't stop me!" Magneto said, his tone becoming stern.
After speaking, he didn't waste any more words with Professor X, turning and leaving directly!
"The future belongs to mutants; humanity is destined to be eliminated!"
...At the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Professor X gathered Scott, Jean Grey, and Ororo, and spoke to the three of them with a heavy heart.
"After today's Mutant Registration Act concluded, I met with Magneto.
He seems to have some special plans, so we must stop him."
As he spoke, Professor X looked at the three of them and then smiled.
"I know, although our school has many people, they are all children and don't possess much combat power, so we have always been understaffed, and you have complained a lot.
So, I now have a task for you."
"I'm already in the process of finding people to help.
I sense that there are two mutant children wandering in Northern Alberta, Canada.
Scott, Ororo, you two go there now and bring these two mutants back!"
Upon hearing Professor X's words, Scott, known as Cyclops, and Ororo, known as Storm, nodded and agreed.
"Then Professor, what about me?
Do I have a mission?" Seeing that Cyclops and Storm both had missions, Jean Grey looked at Professor X with anticipation in her eyes and asked.
She was also a member of the X-Men, and now that Cyclops and Storm had missions, but she didn't, it made her slightly displeased.
Professor X, seeing Jean Grey's expression, gently shook his head, pondered for a moment, and then said.
"You also have a mission, Grey.
I need you to take me to Queens.
I can vaguely sense that the child in Queens who awakened as a mutant a few months ago has now grown up.
Let's go find them and see if that child is willing to join our X-Men…"