'So even Charles thought I was a mutant?'
Herman slipped into Kitty's thoughts and immediately understood what was going on. While the students had been studying the script back at the academy, the more they read, the angrier they became. They felt it deliberately smeared mutants, stoking public fear against them.
So, frustrated, they went as a group to find Charles.
Naturally, Charles calmed them down. But then he revealed a secret: "Your director is actually just as special as we are."
Herman wasn't surprised Charles had noticed his unusual abilities—after all, he had once lost control of his powers right in front of him.
What did surprise him was that Professor Charles had told the students about it. Herman couldn't guess what he was thinking.
Still, because of this "disclosure," the mutant students now looked at Herman differently. Their gazes carried a new sense of warmth and kinship.
But…
'The problem is, I'm not a mutant!'
Herman felt both amused and exasperated.
Seeing the eager stares of the students, he had no idea how to explain. In the end, he simply gave a small smile and offered an ambiguous answer.
"Maybe. It depends on how you look at it."
That response alone was enough to excite the group. Even Jean Grey gave him a second glance. To them, he was already one of their own.
After all, no one at Xavier's Academy would ever doubt Charles' words.
"Director, director, what's your ability?" Kitty's curiosity was always insatiable. She blinked at him, her eyes fixed intently.
The rest of the students leaned forward, just as curious. Jean's gaze returned to him as well.
"My ability?"
Herman glanced around. None of his staff were present. After a moment's thought, he figured showing them would help build rapport, which could only benefit the filming.
"You might as well experience it for yourselves."
With that, he stepped forward.
In an instant, a storm of ravens filled the room, encircling Herman and the students. Jean instinctively prepared to unleash her powers.
But when she saw the calm in Herman's eyes, she lowered her hand. Watching the ravens swirl all around, she felt the same astonishment the students did.
"Welcome to... Los Angeles."
As Herman finished speaking, countless ravens dispersed into the air.
The mutant students looked around at the transformed surroundings, eyes wide with shock, too stunned to speak.
"Awesome!"
After a long pause, Kitty's eyes lit up as she stared at Herman.
Spatial jump!? But the one most shaken was Jean Grey. She knew far more than the others.
Hadn't Professor X said this man's ability was psychic? Then why did he display a power capable of transporting multiple living beings across such vast distances?
Jean was dumbfounded.
She didn't doubt Charles' judgment… but could one person really possess multiple distinct mutant abilities?
The psychic power that had impressed Charles was already extraordinary, and now this—effortlessly teleporting so many at once.
The distance between New York and Los Angeles was no small matter.
To move so many people in a single instant... the strategic implications were terrifying.
Watching Herman remain calm and composed, Jean felt the situation had already gone far beyond her expectations. Could he teleport hundreds at once without strain? My god. Who could possibly wield two such overwhelming mutant powers?
Her gaze toward Herman shifted, a new intensity in her eyes.
As a scholar of the X-Gene, seeing a mutant who defied all known logic shattered her understanding.
To be honest, Jean was now dying to study Herman's genetic makeup.
"Hmm? Miss, our filming site isn't on this floor."
Herman had teleported them directly into the rented building.
Noticing Jean still frozen in place, he quickly motioned for her to follow. Meanwhile, the young mutants buzzed with excitement, swarming around him.
They already regarded him as one of their own, someone with an impossibly cool ability. Among them, Kitty was the most excited—her cheeks flushed red, her gaze fixed on Herman like he was her idol. Which wasn't surprising, considering his looks already made him popular with girls.
"Sorry, I was just thinking about something."
Jean gave a faintly apologetic smile. But as she caught up, she quietly unleashed her ability.
Even without the Phoenix Force, her telepathy alone was formidable—capable of stunning someone with sheer psychic energy.
She could also read thoughts and memories without touch, craft illusions, and manipulate minds.
She was a powerful mutant by any measure. And as a scientist, she couldn't resist probing Herman's mind to see what he truly was.
Jean launched her Mind Invasion.
But something entirely unexpected happened. It felt like her brain had been struck with a hammer, her consciousness reeling for several seconds.
What was that?
As the pain dulled, she lifted her head—only to meet Herman's gaze as he turned toward her.
Deep. Dark. Unnaturally calm.
"Believe me, that wasn't a wise decision."
Herman smiled faintly, then turned back to laugh and chat with the mutant kids.
Behind him, Jean's face was stricken with horror.
She understood exactly what had just happened.
That had been a warning.
Her throat tightened as a tidal wave of dread and realization crashed over her.
Such immense psychic power—she had only ever felt it from one man before: Professor Charles Xavier.
A figure revered like a god among mutants.
"So this is why the Professor values him?"
Jean's thoughts raced, convinced she had uncovered a startling truth.
Herman Chu.
This struggling Chinese director.
Possessed psychic power rivaling Charles himself. Which meant… Charles had found the mutants another protector.
For a moment, Jean's emotions tangled into a storm.
She was glad—relieved, even—to see another powerful ally for mutants. Yet uneasy, because her intrusion had undoubtedly provoked him. Fortunately, he hadn't retaliated…
Jean felt Herman had only warned her, rather than striking back. That alone marked him as someone magnanimous.
Affinity +3.
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