Chapter 127: Magneto X-Gene

A light, drizzling rain fell from the sky.

Zhang Wei was surrounded by a dense crowd. The sharp, hurried sound of footsteps seemed to trample upon his very heart, making him feel profoundly uneasy. He turned his head and looked at those figures in German military uniforms carrying rifles, who were viciously shoving people who moved too slowly. Someone fell into the mud, only to be kicked and cursed at by the soldiers’ leather boots.

Around him were civilians with panicked expressions, being driven through a towering iron gate. Inside the gate, people in tattered, disheveled clothing worked with numb, empty eyes. Every so often, someone would collapse, and their body would be buried directly into a nearby earthen pit.

An overwhelming panic seized his heart. He heard someone calling his name—it was his mother, being dragged away by a group of men. At that moment, her face shifted repeatedly before his eyes. At times she was that panicked white woman, and at others, she transformed into the grandfather who had raised him. The two faces intertwined, eventually settling into the image of his grandfather.

"Grandpa is going to be taken away!"
"He will die there!"

Panic and rage flooded his brain. He pushed through the crowd with all his might, yet he watched helplessly as the distance between them grew. Just as he reached the brink of despair, he felt a surge of power erupt from within him. The iron gate separating them began to slowly warp...

Zhang Wei opened his eyes. The book in front of him remained open, but a line of text had appeared on its surface.

[You have been granted the opportunity to purchase the "Magneto X-Gene." Do you wish to purchase?]
[Yes] [No]

A few people standing nearby noticed the anomaly and could not help but look over. Upon seeing the text on the book, the quiet reading room instantly erupted into a clamor.

"Holy shit!"
"Magneto! How did you do that?"
"Oh my God!"

Yet, Zhang Wei stood motionless. His expression was turbulent, still replaying those scenes in his mind. On one side were the dark experiences he had endured since childhood, buried deep in his heart; on the other was the despair and hatred he had felt after empathizing with the young Magneto. The two intertwined, leaving him in pain and anger, blurring the lines between reality and memory. He remained deaf to the words of those around him.

Just as his expression grew cold, his fists clenched, and a sense of madness stirred within him, his phone suddenly vibrated. The buzzing sound came in waves. With an impatient look, he pulled out his phone, and his expression softened slightly upon seeing who was calling.

"Grandpa, what's up?" he answered.

A slightly hoarse voice came from the other end of the line. "Wei-er, what do you want to eat when you come back tomorrow? Grandpa will prepare it for you," the old man said.

"I love anything you make," Zhang Wei said softly.

"I learned how to make braised chicken legs from the TV; I’ll make those for you tomorrow, and I’ve also baked some *kangkang* buns..." the old man said with a smile.

Zhang Wei nodded. "Sounds good."

"Wei-er," the old man hesitated, seemingly wanting to say more.

"Grandpa, is there anything else?" Zhang Wei asked.

"Your cousin came to see me today. She said her niece just graduated from college," the old man said tentatively. "Why don't you meet her when you come back tomorrow?"

Cousin...

Zhang Wei thought for a long time before he had a vague impression. Growing up, apart from a few neighbors who took pity on the grandfather and grandson and occasionally helped them out, he had never really seen any other relatives. It was only after he graduated from college and saved enough money to renovate their leaking house that more relatives started appearing one by one. They only visited during festivals, and the relationships were distant. Initially, these people only came to borrow money or ask him to help arrange for their children to join the military. He had never agreed, but those relatives had not cut ties either. At the very least, his grandfather liked them.

Subconsciously, he thought of Wang Yiyi’s face. Even when she asked him fiercely if he "had a girlfriend," that expression was incredibly cute and moving. A soft smile flashed across his face.

"Grandpa, actually, there is someone..." He struggled, not knowing how to describe their relationship.

"You have a girlfriend?" The old man was delighted. "Then can you bring her over tomorrow?"

Hearing the joy in his tone, Zhang Wei felt happy as well. He did not refuse immediately but said, "We haven't known each other long. I'll try asking her, but she might not have the time."

"Haha, that's fine," the old man laughed happily. "If you have a girlfriend, you must treat her well. Our family is poor and we can't offer expensive things, so we must treat her with sincerity..."

Zhang Wei listened silently, a warmth spreading through his heart. After hanging up, he let out a long breath, feeling an indescribable sense of relief. He had kept those painful memories buried deep for years, and over time, they had sometimes made it hard for him to breathe. Today, the empathy with Magneto had pushed those emotions to the extreme. Fortunately, his grandfather's call had pulled him back from that state of being consumed by negative emotions.

Misfortune is the harbinger of fortune. After this ordeal, the emotions he had pent up for years had finally been vented, and he felt much lighter.

Zhang Wei turned his gaze back to the page in front of him. A flash of excitement crossed his face as he hurriedly clicked [Yes]. The text slowly faded, transforming into a QR code. Under the envious and jealous gazes of those nearby, he took out his phone and scanned it.

The payment amount immediately popped up on his screen. The row of digits left him dizzy. He counted quickly.

Ten zeros.

Twenty billion!

Zhang Wei was stunned. Even though he had been told that there was no upper limit on the funds approved for this, such a huge amount... selling himself a hundred times over wouldn't be enough. When he arrived, his WeChat had been linked to a card arranged by his superiors, and he had been told he could pay for any expenses in the park directly. Although he suspected the balance wouldn't be enough, he decided to try anyway.

With trepidation, he entered his payment password and pressed [Confirm]. A pop-up window appeared before him. Was it insufficient funds after all? He thought silently, staring intently at the screen. When he saw the contents of the pop-up, he couldn't help but be startled.

[Congratulations, purchase successful. Do you wish to use it immediately?]
[Yes] [No]

This...

He scanned his surroundings in surprise. Aside from the bookshelves and a dozen burning gazes, there was nothing else there. Where was the item? Zhang Wei hesitated for a moment before choosing [Yes].

Instantly, the book emitted a misty light that enveloped him. Bathed in that mist, he felt a warm sensation throughout his body, as if something were hatching from within him. The mist dissipated. Zhang Wei looked at his hands. There were thick calluses on his palms, almost no different from before. But he knew he was completely different from what he used to be.

"Brother, did you succeed?" A man nearby had red eyes, looking as if he wanted to devour him.

Zhang Wei nodded. With a thought, the keychain in his pocket flew out and circled around him. The man's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Damn, how did you do that?" The man excitedly reached for Zhang Wei's hand, but Zhang Wei dodged him lightly.

"Feel it with your heart," Zhang Wei said casually.

Leaning against the door, the Beast smiled at him. "Welcome to the mutants."

Zhang Wei pursed his lips and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Hank."

"Haha, you're welcome," Hank said. "You must still have many things you don't understand; come over and let's talk."