As time passed, at dawn, just as the Sun began to peek out, the X-Jet finally arrived in New York, slowly landing in the backyard of the temporary Villa.
The moment Hawking got off the X-Jet and entered the Villa, he immediately plunged into the Underground Room where supplies were stored.
After the high-intensity battle, his body was already starving.
"When you're hungry, everything tastes delicious."
After devouring a hearty meal, Hawking emerged from the Underground Room with a look of satisfaction.
He finally understood why Goku always ate with such relish—because he was genuinely very hungry.
"Hawking!"
As soon as he stepped out of the Underground Room and into the first-floor hall, a figure in pajamas rushed over, leaping and pouncing onto him.
Looking closely, it was little Wanda.
"It's only six o'clock. Why are you up so early?"
Hawking patted Wanda's back, a little surprised, as he set her down and asked.
According to Wanda's habits, she usually wouldn't wake up so early unless the Sun was already high in the sky or her mother, Elena, urged her repeatedly.
"You weren't here last night, and I was really worried. This morning, when I heard some movement outside, I got up. Professor Aurore told me you were in the Underground Room."
Wanda started chattering, and Hawking's heart warmed.
To be missed and cared for at such a moment, to be honest, felt really good. He had never experienced such treatment in his previous life.
"Where's Pietro?"
"Pietro is still sleeping. He's a really heavy sleeper, and last night he even stole my pudding!"
Wanda complained indignantly.
"What? Pietro is so bad! Next time, I'll help you teach him a good lesson. Here, these are the lollipops I got from the Underground Room. Originally, they were one for you and one for Pietro, but now they're all yours!"
Comforting little Wanda, Hawking sighed inwardly, indeed, sisters were better; they knew how to care for their big brother.
As for his brother, he could do without him!
"Hawking is the best."
Wanda took the two lollipops, immediately hugged Hawking's arm, and stood on tiptoe to kiss his forehead.
"But you can't eat them now. You have to wait until you've brushed your teeth, otherwise, it's not good for your Kiba..."
Passing through the living room and entering the corridor, as soon as he turned the corner, he encountered Magneto, who was also preparing to rest and catch up on sleep.
"Wanda, you go back to your room first. I have a few words to say to this old gentleman."
With a thought, Hawking coaxed Wanda away and stopped Magneto.
"Mr. Eric, if you don't mind, do you have some time to chat?"
"Of course, I enjoy chatting with you very much."
Seeing Hawking proactively approach him, Magneto was naturally more than willing.
Under pressure from S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain Marvel, he had temporarily re-teamed with Charles, but that was only temporary; the two were bound to part ways sooner or later.
If he could win over Hawking, that would be even better.
His quick agreement to Charles's invitation was actually one of the reasons.
"I'd like to know, Mr. Eric, what are your thoughts on the handling of Colonel Stryker?"
Hawking cautiously began.
Magneto replied without hesitation:
"My opinion, of course, is that killing him is the best option.
But your Professor Charles disagrees. He wants to use him to ease relations with S.H.I.E.L.D., to make them think we are gentle and non-aggressive. How naive."
At this point, Magneto couldn't help but scoff.
If it weren't for having just reconciled with Charles and promising him not to kill anyone without his consent, he would have eliminated Stryker on the X-Jet already.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. fears our strength, not our attitude. If our strength is insufficient, a better attitude makes us even more vulnerable.
Colonel Stryker cannot live. He knows too many Mutant secrets."
Seeing that Eric's attitude matched his own judgment, Hawking no longer concealed his views.
"It's a pity I promised Charles I wouldn't act."
Magneto shrugged.
Hawking smiled upon hearing this:
"You can't act, but that doesn't mean I can't. I didn't promise Professor anything. However, to prevent Professor from stopping me, you'll need to help me with a small favor."
"Hahaha, excellent, Hawking! You are truly remarkable. I admire you more and more!"
Hearing Hawking's plan, Magneto was first stunned, then burst into laughter.
He truly hadn't expected Hawking to have such audacity, to dare to defy Charles's decision and seek his cooperation.
One must know that even the most decisive Wolverine Logan, under Professor Charles's persuasion, had given up the chance to kill Stryker for revenge.
Instead, it was Hawking, who had no personal vendetta against Stryker, who insisted on killing him.
"I'm just doing it to better protect the Mutant School."
Hawking spread his hands, looking innocent.
Magneto, however, showed a meaningful expression:
"Actually, everything I've done in my life has also been for the better protection of Mutants.
Hawking, you are very much like me. Reconsider joining my Brotherhood!"
"Let's discuss this later."
Seeing Magneto agree to help him, Hawking was too lazy to listen to his theories anymore and quickly waved his hand, returning to the room he shared with Wanda and Pietro.
Magneto didn't try to stop him, merely looking at Hawking's back and muttering:
"Perhaps, if you can stay here, replacing Charles in the future wouldn't be bad either!"
He felt that even if Hawking didn't join his Brotherhood, if he grew stronger in the future and replaced Charles as the leader of the Mutant School, it would still be a good outcome.
Given Hawking's displayed personality, he would sooner or later lead the Mutant School down the same path as him.
Two days later, at the Mutant School's main square.
Hawking waved goodbye to a reluctant Wanda and a somewhat reluctant Pietro, then boarded the X-Jet again with Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique, escorting Colonel Stryker.
Their destination this time was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, the Triskelion in Washington D.C.
In less than two days, Professor X, relying on his family's vast influence and his psychic abilities of mind control and memory erasure, had reclaimed the Mutant School, which had been occupied by the government, and erased all the impacts.
Now, the Mutant School had reverted to being the school for gifted youths in the eyes of outsiders.
Everything that had happened a few days ago seemed to have never occurred.
This once again showed Hawking the terrifying power of Professor X's abilities.
To be honest, if Professor X's moral bottom line wasn't so high, with his abilities combined with the Cerebro, he could truly rewrite the entire history of humanity.
The ability to arbitrarily delete and modify memories, especially on a large scale, was indeed terrifying.
It was precisely because of this that he suddenly paid serious attention to two spells from Harry Potter's memories.
Those were the Memory Charm and the False Memory Charm, which could also modify and delete memories.
After the Chamber of Secrets incident in his second year, Harry knew these two spells, but Harry never focused his energy on them, unlike Hermione, who could skillfully apply them.
If Harry were to cast these two spells, he could do it, but the effect would most likely be turning the target into an idiot.
Therefore, Hawking's memories also contained these two spells.