Chapter 22: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters

Chapter 22: Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters

"Professor, it's not your fault. You didn't do it intentionally.

Just like the lessons you taught us, they apply to you as well."

Wolverine sighed and tried to comfort him.

Back in the day, the reason mutants were feared by humans wasn't just because a few mutants used their powers for crime.

Most of it was due to the fact that when mutants first manifested their abilities, they were often overwhelmed by fear and unable to control their powers, leading to harm to their loved ones and innocent bystanders.

Whenever new mutant children arrived at the school, the Professor would provide them with psychological counseling, helping them find the courage to start anew.

In truth, the Professor was no different from those children. His brain had lost control due to epilepsy, leading to the tragedy. He felt the pain more deeply than anyone else.

"I'm not a child. If I make a mistake, I must take responsibility.

I can't bring back the dead, but I can try to make life better for those who are still alive."

The Professor looked at the group of children and smiled.

If it weren't for seeing these children and finding hope again, he might never have been able to face those painful memories, drifting aimlessly until death.

"But Professor, it's been so many years. The school might have already been taken over by the government."

At this point, George spoke up.

The location of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was indeed ideal. Situated in the suburbs of the Bronx in New York, it wasn't too remote but was far enough from the high-crime areas of Manhattan.

Even during the Chitauri invasion, it wouldn't have been affected.

Most importantly, from what George knew, the Bronx was in the northern part of New York and was one of the most chaotic areas in the city, primarily inhabited by African and Latin American descendants.

If Hell's Kitchen was the most chaotic part of Manhattan, the Bronx was the most chaotic area in all of New York.

Gangs were rampant, and the crime rate was among the highest in the entire United States.

Such a place was perfect for George to operate under the radar and acquire funds. Even if someone died, it wouldn't draw the government's attention.

However, after so many years, how could such a large castle still be vacant?

Professor X wiped his tears and explained:

"Although I was wanted, it wasn't an open warrant. The government didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and they didn't have enough evidence to arrest me.

So, on paper, my identity still exists, and most of my assets, including the castle, are still mine.

But I can't show myself or access any of those assets, or the government could trace and capture me through those channels..."

"I see."

George wasn't familiar with these details, but after the Professor's explanation, he had a rough understanding.

Professor X's public identity was the headmaster of the mutant school, but on paper, he was the heir of the prestigious Xavier family, a true capitalist.

In some ways, his influence even surpassed that of Stark Industries.

The rise of Stark Industries was largely due to Tony's father, Howard. Before that, it wasn't a major corporation.

But the Xavier family was an ancient noble lineage, deeply rooted and influential.

Without solid evidence, openly arresting the heir of the Xavier family and confiscating their assets would create a sense of crisis among all the old capitalists.

If you could seize the Xavier family's assets without evidence today, you could find an excuse to seize theirs tomorrow, leading to widespread fear.

And could the government provide concrete evidence that the Professor had killed people?

Of course not. The Professor had epilepsy, and his brain had lost control, using his psychic powers to kill those around him. Even on surveillance, it would just look like people suddenly dropped dead, with no proof linking it to the Professor.

On the other hand, there was the issue of negative publicity. If it were proven that the Professor, who had helped the government handle crises multiple times and had been awarded by the President, had killed so many people, the government would also bear responsibility, its influence would decline, and even the President would be greatly affected.

So, at the time, they could only conduct secret arrests and detentions, not make it public. The entire incident had been deliberately downplayed.

"If that's the case, it really is a good option."

After careful consideration, George agreed with the Professor's proposal.

The Westchester incident had happened twenty-five years ago, in 1984, when Tony Stark was only fifteen, just starting his studies in the electrical engineering department at MIT.

Carol Danvers, the future Captain Marvel, hadn't even become a pilot yet. Nick Fury was just an ordinary S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and Peter Quill, Star-Lord, was only six years old, with his mother still alive.

So, the mutant school might indeed still be vacant.

It's likely that the police sent by the government to search the area back then didn't even discover the basement beneath the school.

"I have no objections, as long as the children are safe."

Gabriela also raised her hand in agreement. She believed that if the Professor and George thought it was feasible, then it should be fine.

She was just a simple Mexican nurse, and her role was to take care of the children, not to offer unsolicited opinions. She knew her place.

Seeing that everyone agreed, Wolverine no longer objected.

In truth, he also wanted to see the school again. It had once been a sanctuary for him.

As for Caliban, he would go wherever the Professor and Wolverine went, regardless of the location.

Thus, the truck changed direction and headed toward New York.

Since there were so many children, and none of them had identification, they avoided entering cities along the way, only stopping in small towns to buy supplies and resting in remote areas when tired.

After two days, they finally arrived in the Bronx, in northern New York.

Perhaps because he had faced his past, the Professor's condition had improved slightly. Although he still couldn't use his abilities as before, he could occasionally influence the minds of ordinary people without issue.

This made their journey much smoother.

To avoid being tracked, they also changed trucks multiple times.

They sold the truck at one second-hand market and bought a different used truck at another, constantly switching.

Upon arriving in the Bronx, they didn't head straight to the school, which was a remodeled castle in the Professor's estate. Instead, George and Wolverine disguised themselves and scouted the area first.

As the Professor had predicted, the place had remained vacant and unoccupied, though the castle had become quite dilapidated from years of neglect.

After confirming the school's safety, they waited until nightfall and quietly brought the children into the castle, settling in the basement.

The basement had two levels. Besides the Professor's cerebro chamber and the former X-Men training room, there were over a dozen empty rooms. With some adjustments, they could all fit comfortably.

(End of Chapter)