The Center for Extraordinary People, Returning Favors

Chapter 129 The Center for Extraordinary People, Returning Favors

After confirming that the two were not in danger, Logan called Marcus and the others to come over.

Before long, the three Hans brothers rushed into the room.

"Father."

When Hans saw that Hank was unharmed, he became excited and rushed to Hank's side, checking him over from head to toe. "How are you? Are you hurt?"

Since Hank was arrested, the three brothers had been extremely worried about their father's condition. Now that they saw that Hank was alright, their hearts were finally at ease.

"fine."

Hank waved his hand and said with a smile, "I should have called to let you know I'm safe, but I forgot."

As he spoke, Colin and Meyer noticed the two men sitting on the bed, their eyes flashing with malice. "Why did you kidnap our father?!"

Hearing the two brothers' screams, Hank quickly stood up and stepped in front of them, "Don't be impulsive, it's a misunderstanding, this isn't a kidnapping!"

These words startled the three Hans brothers slightly. Lorna and Marcos, who had come with them, also looked puzzled and exchanged glances, unable to understand the situation.

Logan just called them over without explaining the situation in detail.

Hank smiled and shook his head, explaining, "You've all misunderstood; it's just a misunderstanding."

As he spoke, he pointed to the white-bearded man, "This is Oyed. He brought me here to study the inheritance of the X gene, and he didn't mean to harm me."

After a pause, Hank added, "They have an Inhuman Center that specifically houses mutants. They called me here hoping I could cooperate with their center in researching these issues, since I was an expert in this field before. Don't worry, they have no ill intentions."

After hearing Hank's words, Ojad, who was sitting on the bed, also realized that these people were Hank's friends and son, who had followed Hank here.

Realizing this, Oyed stood up and apologized to Logan, "I'm sorry, we acted impulsively just now."

Regardless of what he said, his companion had just shot Logan.

Fortunately, Logan possesses the healing factor, making firearms pose little threat to him; an ordinary person would likely be dead by now...

Logan shook his head. "Anyone would act impulsively in that situation."

They are all mutants, and they have many enemies, such as the militia and guys from various biological laboratories, who all pose a threat to them.

In such a situation, if a stranger suddenly breaks into your home and tries to harm your partner, anyone would be nervous.

"It's also because we didn't understand the situation."

Hans was relieved after hearing his father's explanation, but then complained, "But next time if you invite people, you don't have to be so extreme. In that situation, anyone would judge it as kidnapping."

The three brothers were peacefully with their father in the wooden house when the door was suddenly kicked open, and the men tried to kidnap their father without saying a word.

Anyone who saw that would think it was a kidnapping.

Oyed gave an awkward laugh. "Mainly, we were worried that Mr. Hank would refuse, so we thought we'd get him to the destination first. After all, that research concerns the future of mutants and urgently needs Mr. Hank's participation. We had no choice but to resort to this."

In their view, Hank was old and had his own place to live out his old age, so he probably wouldn't travel far with them. Instead of wasting their breath, they might as well just take him away.

This led to the kidnapping case that Hans mentioned.

However, to their surprise, after informing Hank of the situation on the way, Hank became very interested in the project and even a little impatient.

It was precisely because he was so focused on his research that he forgot to call Hans and the others to let them know he was safe, which led to this misunderstanding.

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's not stay in this house. There's tea downstairs, let's go down and have a cup of tea."

Hank urged everyone to come downstairs, his eyes fixed on Logan with barely suppressed excitement. "Logan, it's been so many years since we last saw each other. We should have a good chat."

Led by Hank, the group arrived at the lobby on the first floor.

Oyed followed, brewed tea for everyone, poured a cup for each person, and then left.

He knew these people needed time to chat, and he himself needed to sleep. He had drunk so much alcohol, and although he had sobered up for a while after being stimulated, he was not feeling it again.

Logan and the others sat on the sofa on the first floor, drinking hot tea.

Looking at Logan, Hank sighed, "Logan, I can't believe that even after more than a decade, you're still as young as ever."

The Logan of today is almost identical to the Logan he saw in Xavier's School of the Rising Sun, while he himself is gradually growing old and frail, even needing reading glasses to read at night.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Where's the professor? Didn't he come along?"

Logan smiled and shook his head. "This was originally a rescue operation, and he's not suitable to participate in any operations right now."

If he had known it was a misunderstanding, he would definitely have brought the professor with him, since Charles missed his old friend very much.

Hank nodded and said with emotion, "We haven't seen each other for so long. How is he doing?"

Don't worry, everything is fine.

Logan smiled and nodded. "I used to lose control occasionally, but not anymore, and I'm pretty healthy now."

"That's good, that's good."

Hank also looked disappointed and said with a smile, "I saw you at McCa's farm before. To be honest, I couldn't believe it at the time. After all, with today's technology, it's easy to create clones. Plus, McCa is a Hydra agent, so I once thought that you were products cloned by Hydra."

As he spoke, Hank smiled, then turned to look at Hans, "Later, in order to verify the authenticity of your identities, we had Hans make some contact with you. After confirming that it really was you, we had him warn you to be careful of McCa and not fall into his trap."

He paused, then smiled wryly, "Actually, I should have met you sooner, but you were with McCa the whole time, so for safety reasons, I had to hide."

Logan nodded understandingly. "You're right to do this. At this age, there's really no need to actively provoke any conflict. It's not too late to meet with the professor after this is over. We're in a relatively safe place now, and there'll be plenty of time later."

After saying that, Logan took a sip of tea and then asked curiously, "By the way, how did you escape back then? After that incident, the government's attitude towards us changed drastically, you could even say they completely blocked us. Charles and I both thought you were already in danger."

He was referring to the Westchester incident, where the professor lost control, the mutants' situation became precarious, and afterwards, all mutants were either captured or forced into hiding.

As the former director of the Department of Mutant Affairs and a member of the X-Men, Hank was definitely a prime target for capture. Logan and Charles once thought that he had already been captured or even executed.

Upon hearing this, Hank smiled and shook his head, saying with emotion, "After the incident, I anticipated that the government's attitude might undergo a major change. After all, those guys have long regarded mutants as a thorn in their side, and any slight disturbance could easily become the fuse for them to kill mutants, not to mention a tragedy like Westchester."

"After the incident, I fled to Canada before the government began its crackdown on mutants."

Hank sighed deeply, "For safety reasons, I don't dare to show my face in urban areas of Canada. I just went straight into the mountains and forests and have been hiding there ever since."

Logan listened to his words and could imagine how difficult his life had been over the years.

Living deep in the mountains and forests, having to evade patrol teams and passersby while also raising three children would likely have driven an ordinary person to the brink of collapse.

After hearing these words, everyone fell silent.

They are all mutants, and only they know the hardships they have endured over the years.

Seeing the atmosphere gradually quiet down, Hank suddenly smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, let's not talk about these sad things anymore. Everything will pass."

After saying that, he suddenly became very interested and said, "And your arrival is just in time. Melanie needs help right now. Her current research is very important for the future development of mutants. I hope you can come with me to meet her."

"Melanie?"

Logan frowned as he heard the name.

Hank smiled. "She's in charge of the Inhumans Center, and that's a remarkable place."

Seeing Hank's excited expression, as if he couldn't wait to get into the research, Logan couldn't help but frown, then nodded and said, "Alright, since we're already here, I might as well go with you to take a look."

The reason he accepted the invitation was not because he trusted the so-called Inhuman Center, but mainly because he was worried about Hank's safety. After all, Hank's body was no longer what it used to be, and if he encountered danger, he would not be able to escape on his own. With them looking after him, it would be much safer.

Moreover, Logan felt that the name of the Inhuman Center sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it before, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Hearing Logan agree, Hank's smile widened.

The group chatted for a long time in the lobby on the first floor, mostly reminiscing about the past, until late at night when Hank finally arranged rooms for them to sleep.

There are quite a few rooms in this small building, enough for them to rest in.

The next morning, everyone gathered downstairs.

Hank also told Ojed, who had sobered up, that Logan and the others had gone with them.

Oyed was naturally very pleased with this, after all, he had witnessed Logan's strength last night, and with his addition, the Inhuman Center's strength would definitely be enhanced.

The group drove to the port, an abandoned port on the outskirts of Hilo that had long been unused, where Oyed and his crew's ship was moored.

This was a fairly large passenger ship, and even though Hank and his family were all quite large, they could easily sit down inside.

"The place we're going to this time is an island, which is in a somewhat remote location and isn't marked on the map. This island is the base of the Extraordinary People Center."

Ojad explained to Logan and the others while navigating the passenger ship.

After nearly three hours of sailing, Logan and his crew finally spotted an island on the horizon in a remote area of ​​the sea.

Overall, the island is not large, but it is not small either; it should be about the size of a small city.

The island also has a dedicated port, filled with all kinds of boats, and there are even people specifically in charge of berthing the boats.

Logan stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the remarkably modern island, and couldn't help but remark, "This place must be very safe."

Before even disembarking, he could see guards patrolling all over the island, each wearing a uniform and carrying standard weapons. Judging from their movements, they were clearly specially trained.

Oyed laughed heartily. "Of course, our island is not only safe, but also has excellent facilities. In some ways, the facilities here are comparable to any small town in the United States."

After saying that, he led everyone off the ship and pointed to a woman walking towards them, saying, "This is Melanie. She knew you were coming, so she's been waiting here for a long time."

As he spoke, Oyed stepped forward and greeted Melanie, "Boss, we've brought the person back."

Melanie smiled and nodded, looking at Logan and the others.

This was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a well-fitting women's suit, with wavy hair. She smiled at Logan and the others and said, "Welcome to the Inhuman Center. I am Melanie, the person in charge here."

After saying that, she stepped forward and shook hands with Hank warmly. "Mr. Hank, it's so great that you could come. Our research has hit a bottleneck, and I'm sure you can help us solve this problem."

Hank quickly waved his hand with a smile, "I will do my best, for the sake of our mutant descendants."

Melanie smiled and nodded, then turned to Logan. "You must be Wolverine. You look much younger than I imagined. I'm sorry, my subordinates didn't know your identity and a conflict ensued. I've heard about your past; you're a great hero. Your presence is truly an honor."

"You flatter me, Ms. Melanie," Logan said with a smile, shaking her hand.

Melanie welcomed Logan, Lorna, and the others, then said with a smile, "Please get on the sightseeing bus; I'll show you around the Inhumans Center first."

She pointed to a sightseeing vehicle behind her. Presumably to accommodate Hank and the others' sizes, several relatively large seats had been temporarily welded onto the back of the vehicle to make it easier for everyone to sit down. It was clear that Melanie had put a lot of thought into it.

After everyone boarded the vehicle, it started moving, and Melanie, like a tour guide, enthusiastically introduced the facilities of the Inhuman Center.

As the sightseeing bus ventured deeper into the area, Logan and the others' expressions grew increasingly astonished.

According to Melanie, the Inhuman Center has very complete facilities. There are not only roads, but also vehicles on the roads, and even traffic lights on some busy sections!

There are various buildings on both sides of the road, including large residential areas for mutants, some commercial areas, and even some industrial areas!

Some of the small chimneys in the industrial area were still emitting smoke, indicating that the factories were operating!

In addition, there are plenty of entertainment facilities, including sports fields for healthy exercise, parks for children to play in, and even bars!

Logan and the others were completely stunned. Looking at this bustling island, they felt that it was no different from some cities!

Along the way, Melanie enthusiastically introduced the Inhumans Center to everyone.

"In addition to these facilities, we also have a dedicated hospital and classrooms. The hospital is large enough to handle any surgery, and the courses currently offered by the school are enough for mutant students to complete their high school education. As for universities, they are not yet fully accessible; only some key disciplines such as medicine and economics are offered. However, as the school grows, the number of majors offered will increase."

Melanie introduced the story with a proud expression, while Logan and the others looked on in shock.

This is hardly a simple shelter anymore!

This is clearly a city belonging to mutants!

After introducing the Inhumans Center, Melanie turned to Hank and smiled, "The main reason we invited Mr. Hank here is because of your profound expertise in genetics. We hope you can completely solve the problem of genetic modification's harm to the X gene. If you can solve this biggest problem, I believe the future of us mutants will be incredibly bright!"

Marcos was shocked by Melanie's words.

He realized that this woman's ambition was truly terrifying.

She didn't just want to build a shelter; she wanted to build a nation for mutants!

To everyone's astonishment, the sightseeing bus stopped in front of a building in the very center of the city. It was so magnificent that it resembled a castle, with guards constantly patrolling around it, making it extremely safe.

Melanie led the group inside, which resembled a government office or similar space, with many staff members busy at work.

Melanie clearly enjoys high prestige here; all the staff members she encounters greet her warmly with nods, and Melanie responds with a patient smile.

The group took the elevator to the top floor and, led by Melanie, entered a conference room.

The meeting room was set up, and Melanie invited everyone to take their seats.

After offering some more compliments and thanking them for coming, Melanie finally got to the point.

She looked at Logan and said with a smile, "Mr. Logan, you've come at the right time. I need to go to the Middle East right now, and I happen to need a powerful friend to accompany me. The main reason is that I want to rescue someone from Hydra. I wonder if you could agree?"

She paused for a moment, then continued, "I know it's a bit abrupt to ask you for help so soon after you arrived, but I do need manpower right now, and you have experience fighting Hydra, so I hope you'll agree."

Hearing this, Logan couldn't help but frown, instinctively wanting to refuse.

He still couldn't figure out what kind of person Melanie was, and Logan was worried that there might be a trap if he acted rashly with her.

Before he could refuse, Hank said, "Logan, just say yes, even if it's for my sake."

Logan was speechless after hearing Hank's words.

He didn't know what charm this woman possessed that made Hank believe her so quickly, and even side with her.

But Logan couldn't refuse now, so he nodded and said, "Okay, I can go with you."

Since both he and the shelter owed Hank's family a favor, and Hank had taken the initiative to ask, he had no choice but to agree.

Moreover, if Hank approves of her, then Melanie shouldn't have any problems.

Melanie was naturally delighted to see Logan agree, and she enthusiastically arranged rooms for everyone, informing Logan that they would take action the next day.

That evening, Logan dialed the shelter's number from his room, contacted Victor and Charles, and informed them of the situation. He also told them to be careful in the shelter before hanging up.

After resting overnight, Logan met up with Melanie the next day, took a boat to Hawaii, and then boarded a plane with a fake passport, their destination the Middle East.

Besides him and Melanie, Oyed was also on this mission.

As for Hank's family, they stayed on the island. After all, Hank was busy with his research, and the three Hans brothers' conspicuous physiques were obviously not suitable for carrying out any missions.

Soon, the plane arrived in the Middle East.

Logan and the others disembarked from the plane.

Under the blazing sun, dust swirled, and the Middle East remained unchanged.

Looking at the desert, Logan shook his head with a wry smile, "I didn't expect to be back after only a few days away."

(End of this chapter)