Issue #3

{Well?} Xavier's voice reached into Strange's heads as he and the other Avengers flew back to Avengers Tower.

{It's like you say, Charles. The young man is smart and enjoys toying with others but he seems to always be planning something. He is much wiser than he lets on.} Strange replied with his honest thoughts on Jack

Dr. Strange had actually traced the magical signal of the person who used the spell when the crime first occurred but he decided to play along with Tony since he wanted to test Jack.

Jack was a mystery to him. Tony and Reed hated him, the Professor and Black Bolt admired him, and Namor felt both toward him. Of all the Illuminati members, Strange knew the least about Jack. Only what the other members had told him and his estranged wife's opinion on him.

{That's what I've thought too. He also gets along with Magneto and Doom, both of who have their quirks. For him to get along with them so well, there is definitely something special about him.} Xavier praised Jack but also silently warned Strange of Jack

'He gets along with two dictators that are not above killing to achieve their goals,' was the message that Xavier was trying to send. And Strange picked up on it.

{So what are you going to do with him? He lives under your roof after all.} Strange questioned

{I am honestly unsure. He gets along well with the students and most of the staff but there is just something off about him.} Xavier said his honest opinions on Jack

{Do you want to hear my opinion on the matter?}

{Of course. Anything that can be of help.} Xavier replied honestly

{Your unease comes from that after dealing with those who wholeheartedly believe in your dreams for so many years. Your issue with him is that he is not an X-Man. He does not believe in your dream nor does he follow your code.

But that isn't a bad thing. Tony judged him wrongly because of his attitude and how he carried himself. Do not commit the same mistake, Charles. It cost him most of the Avengers. Do not divide the X-Men the same way just because you personally don't like him.}

Xavier sat at his desk and was struggling. He agreed with everything that Strange said but he still found it difficult to truly place his trust in Jack since the boy did not believe in his dream.

That was also the reason that Magneto and many others he had respected were not as close to him. Their goals differed from his so he could only allow them to be in his life so much.

{Even though he showed obvious dislike for you when he has only met you two or three times?} Xavier questioned

Hearing this, Strange laughed

{Of course, he doesn't like me. He is friends with my wife. I have wronged her many times. If he did have a good opinion of me, I would question his motives then. But he was honest in showing that he did not care for me or Tony while also showing a smile to those he does have good opinions of. Even if we want to say he is scheming, he at least wears his heart on his sleeves.}

Strange had nothing but praise for Jack. Even if they were to become enemies in the future, Jack was the type of foe that he would have nothing but respect for.

Xavier was startled to hear Strange praise Jack so openly. The man was wary of all. Even those in the Illuminati rarely got his praise and approval.

{Is that so? I think I will take your advice, friend.} Xavier said after some thought

{Good. No need to make an enemy out of someone when there is no logical reason. I shall talk to you at the next meeting. I think we need to be more cautious of Tony.}

{I agree. His dislike for Jack is getting more and more out of hand. Please investigate on your end and we can discuss it at our next meeting. See you then} Xavier said before cutting off the call

Neither Tony nor Jack knew that this situation was set up so both Xavier and Strange could see their behaviors with each other.

While other people were discussing him behind his back, Jack was having his own telepathic conversation with Emma and Stella.

{I have a job for the both of you. You can think of it as bonding time. I have let Shaw's brat run wild in the Hellfire Club for long enough but I want the Club's connections and resources for myself. So if you two can go handle them, that would save me lots of trouble.}

Stella and Jack were more than willing to take on the job. During the past 4 months, they had been getting closer and closer due to their similar personalities. While many aspects of them were different, the fact that both of them were battle maniacs allowed for a lot of bonding time while they were conquering the area around their city in Jotunheim.

The Hellfire's Inner Circle had been calm lately but Jack was still upset about Shinobi and the other Upstarts making a game of killing the Inner Circle members.

It was less about them killing the members and more about their reasoning. They did it for just the fun of it instead of having an actual reason or goal. Most of the Upstarts didn't even join the Inner Circle but various other powers around the planet.

Emma wanted to have all 4 of the current Kings and Queens of the club killed before the Hellfire Gala which meant that they had a week to handle it. Emma wanted to announce herself as the White Queen once again at the gala.

Both Stella and Jack could easily take out all the members with their strength in an hour if they truly wanted to but these 4 were like roaches. If they did not plan it properly, the others would scurry away and the effort to find them would be a lot of trouble.

{I take the kings and you take the queens?} Jack asked Stella for her opinion.

{Sounds good. I say we hit them hard the eve of the Gala.}