Ryuuto didn't bother spouting clichés like "a man's treasure is under his knees." Nor did he rush to help Juggernaut up—it would've looked like some cheesy martial arts movie.
Instead, he stared at Juggernaut and said, "Listen carefully. There are Mutants who can manipulate other Mutants' minds. You don't want to be in big cities right now. Honestly, someone like you will stand out everywhere—people will see you as a threat. Lay low in the countryside first. Heal that arm before making any moves."
"Are you looking for that Mutant?" Juggernaut asked.
"Right."
Juggernaut's words piqued Ryuuto's curiosity. "Go on."
"After my arm got wrecked, Magneto kicked me out of the Brotherhood," Juggernaut said. "I tried my best, but in the end…out I went. I was pissed, so I drank myself stupid at a bar. While I was drunk, this woman came up to me. We drank together…then I blacked out."
"You…slept with her?"
"No. She controlled me," Juggernaut said. "Told me to smash the bar. I did. Told me to kill people in the street. I did that too. And I wasn't alone—almost a dozen Mutants joined in. Ordinary humans? Mud beneath our feet. I hate ordinary humans anyway, so I…did it well. Even knowing I was being controlled, I didn't care."
"What does she look like?" Ryuuto asked.
Juggernaut rubbed his temple, groaning. "I…can't remember. Every time I try, my head feels like it's going to explode. There's something there, a vague image, but that's it."
Ryuuto frowned. This woman was clearly operating from the shadows—and with Juggernaut's memory like this, finding her would be…messy. He decided he needed another way.
Charles' telepathy, he thought. If Juggernaut and Charles connect, 80% chance we can see what she looks like. Perfect.
"Go to Axville Genius Youth School," Ryuuto told him. "I'll be waiting there."
"Got it," Juggernaut said and left.
Ryuuto turned to Susan. "Let's move. Katie's still immobile."
Raising an eyebrow at the slumped figure, he quipped, "Looks like the king cobra venom's paralysis works pretty well."
"Doggo, you want seven smiling puppets," Susan teased.
Ryuuto snorted, laughter escaping him despite himself. "My dear sister…you've gotten cuter. I almost want to take a poison gun back and—once you're normal—open it immediately."
Katie wanted to retort, but her slurred speech made her stay silent. Ryuuto had no time to waste—he scooped her up, and the three of them took to the skies toward the school.
Once there, Ryuuto placed Katie gently on a bed. Susan took over care while he went to find Charles.
As he walked away, Katie piped up. "Sister Susan…about to pee."
"Huh? You can talk normally?"
"Yes," Katie said weakly. "The paralysis is fading slowly, but I still can't move my limbs. I can't hold it anymore…please think of something. If not for Ryuuto just now, it'd already be too late."
"Good thing you didn't go mid-flight—Ryuuto would have had a field day teasing you," Susan said with a grin.
Katie's face flushed. "I'm just scared of him teasing me, so I've been holding it…" Her voice trembled, tears threatening. "Please, find a way, or I'll have to wash the sheets myself!"
Susan smiled slyly and conjured a force field beneath Katie. Using her thoughts, she floated Katie gently to the bathroom. Luckily, each room had one; otherwise, this would've been a nightmare.
Susan tried molding the force field into a chair for Katie to sit on, but the stiffness from paralysis made it useless. She grinned a little mischievously.
Katie froze. "What are you planning?"
"I'm helping you pee…smoothly," Susan said. "And maybe, just maybe, I want a peek at what little Katie really looks like. Haven't seen it properly since we met."
Despite her embarrassment, Katie had no choice. Susan carefully removed her last piece of clothing. Katie's face went crimson.
"Sister…out…out…" she muttered, barely holding herself together as the urine flowed into the toilet along the force field Susan had generated.
Katie shut her eyes tight, biting back mortification. Susan handed her a paper towel afterward and returned her to bed, covering her gently.
Susan smirked. "So beautiful…Ryuuto must like this very much."
Katie blinked. "Sister, what are you talking about?"
Susan teased, tapping the tip of her nose. "I mean…you look beautiful in your own way. Colors, shapes…everything Ryuuto loves."
"I don't understand," Katie said, frowning.
"Don't worry, even at sixteen, I know you get it," Susan said with a soft smile. "One day, you'll be Ryuuto's woman anyway."
"No nonsense! Who wants to be his woman?"
Susan raised an eyebrow. "You used to call him Teacher Jiang…now you call him brother. Doesn't that mean anything?"