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The Kent family held many secrets, and as a member of the Kent household, Gwen would inevitably come into contact with them.
Meeting Charles now was just the first step.
And training Gwen to keep secrets needed to start immediately.
Meanwhile, at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters...
Charles felt heartbroken, despondent, as if he had just consumed a whole truckload of lemons. The sourness hit him hard.
A daughter?
So... he was no longer the youngest in the family?
Was he about to fall out of favor?
Recalling how impatient Mike had been with him during their call, Charles couldn't help but sigh.
A few seconds later, Charles burst into laughter.
"Man, I'm such a childish idiot."
He muttered to himself under his breath, but curiosity about this new little sister was already growing within him.
"Hey, a sister's not bad, actually."
A slight smile tugged at the corners of Charles' mouth.
Just then, his phone rang.
Glancing at the number, Charles answered, "Fury."
"There's a new mission," Nick Fury said in a calm, measured tone. "The Hellfire Club is about to make a move again. We need your help."
"I understand," Charles replied. "Send me the location. I'll head out immediately."
Lately, he had worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. on several operations, and they had already captured quite a few members of the Hellfire Club.
These mutants were now held in a specially designed prison.
And those individuals...
A small smirk appeared on Charles' face.
They would be useful in the future.
This was all part of a plan the three of them had devised together.
Grabbing the trench coat beside him, Charles ran a hand through his hair and strode out the door.
...
*Hellfire Club*
In a dimly lit chamber, Selene Gallio—the Black Queen—reclined sideways on a waterbed, dressed in a black, sheer gown that revealed just enough to tantalize.
With a seductive smile playing on her lips, she rested her head on one hand and curled her finger at a man cowering in the corner. Her eyes gleamed mysteriously as she used her powers to hypnotize him.
Gradually, the man's terrified expression faded into blank emptiness as he walked toward Selene, expressionless.
Although her psychic abilities weren't especially powerful, they were more than enough for dealing with a regular human.
The man was tall and muscular, his bulging physique nearly ripping through his shirt.
Without emotion, he extended his hand toward Selene.
Selene gently placed her hand in his, and as he tugged, her petite form easily rose and fell into his embrace.
"Giggle~"
Selene laughed sweetly, cupping the man's face and pressing her crimson lips to his.
As their lips met, the man's life force began to drain slowly into Selene's body.
A soft moan of satisfaction escaped from Selene, while the man—despite being under hypnosis—couldn't help but cry out in agony.
Hearing his pained moans, Selene slowed her absorption, clearly savoring every moment.
Seconds later, the man's once-muscular body shriveled into a husk, cracks forming across his skin before he crumbled into a heap of dust at Selene's feet.
Selene collapsed back onto the bed, eyes glazed over with intoxication, her cheeks flushed red. With a lazy wave of her hand, magical energy swept the remains into a nearby corner.
"Humans have such pitifully little life force."
She whispered in irritation, eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
Moments later, she stood, draping a black cloak over her shoulders, and stepped out of the room.
This was the Hellfire Club—her domain.
After walking down a long corridor, Selene entered an opulent hall.
This was the Hellfire Club's center of power, a place known only to a select few.
At the moment, four individuals were present. When they saw Selene, they each nodded respectfully, then quickly averted their gazes.
The Black Queen chuckled softly as she strolled to the bar. Pouring herself a glass of crimson wine, she gently swirled the liquid and sat on the sofa across from the others.
"Well?"
She took a sip of wine and asked in a quiet, measured voice.
The four exchanged glances before Firetox stepped forward and handed her a black crystal.
The Black Queen accepted it and praised, "Nicely done."
Her gaze swept over the others. "And the rest of you?"
Two of them also handed over a crystal each.
The Black Queen nodded in satisfaction, then turned her attention to the last man.
The one with markings on his head swallowed hard and hesitantly brought forth his crystal.
It was nearly transparent, with only faint traces of black lines inside.
The Black Queen sipped her wine again, her expression gradually growing colder. Though she smiled, the chill in the room was palpable.
"Pierce, you've truly disappointed me. This is the second time."
She raised her hand, and blue-black magical energy began to surge from her palm.
The mutant known as Pierce narrowed his eyes in alarm. His body flickered, vanishing from sight like a speeding arrow aimed directly at the Black Queen.
*Shhk!*
Pierce's hand pierced through her body, but before he could celebrate, the Black Queen let out a soft laugh and thrust her palm forward.
*Boom!*
A burst of blue-black energy erupted, blasting Pierce away. Meanwhile, the wound on the Black Queen's body healed instantly as her life force regenerated it.
Seeing this, terror overtook Pierce. His body became a blur, darting away like a bolt of lightning in a desperate attempt to escape.
But just then, the space around the Black Queen twisted briefly—and in the next instant, she vanished.
The moment after, she reappeared in front of Pierce. Her slender hand clamped tightly around his neck.
"The portion you failed to deliver... you'll make up for it yourself."
She smiled as she spoke.
"No!"
Pierce screamed in panic, his body trembling violently in her grasp, like a flickering shadow.
Yet, as the Black Queen began draining his life force, Pierce's body dangled limply in her hand, like a sausage hanging from a hook.
Seconds later, the Black Queen exhaled in satisfaction, while Pierce had been reduced to a pile of ash.
Witnessing this, the other three mutants—including Firetox—broke out in a cold sweat.
Swaying her hips, the Black Queen downed her wine in one gulp and returned to the sofa across from them. She picked up the three black crystals resting on the cushion and toyed with them in her hand.
"Now there's a vacant position," she said with a smile. "Any of you have a suitable candidate?"
The three remained silent.
The Black Queen smiled again. "Relax. As long as you complete your tasks, I won't treat you like that. Besides..."
"Collecting these crystals—it's all for the good of mutantkind."
The three nodded in unison, like puppets on strings.
"So dull."
She murmured the words, sending a chill down their spines.
"Oh, right."
As if remembering something, she looked at Firetox. "I recall that recently, a mutant joined us. Was his name Magneto?"
Firetox nodded. "Yes."
The Black Queen considered it for a moment. "How is he? What's his power like? Can we trust him?"
(End of Chapter)