Chapter 96

As time passed, the off-road convoy sped through the night, eventually arriving at the Brand Corporation's industrial park on the outskirts of New York, which was adjacent to the sea. They contacted the personnel left in the factory through some means, and a secret passage was opened directly in the jungle outside the factory.

This passage seemed to have been reserved since the construction of the facility. Imir understood that the wealthy often had peculiar habits.

The passage was narrow, only wide enough for one off-road vehicle to pass through, and the convoy formed a long line as it entered. Imir, with nothing else to do, looked around. Gun ports were visible all over the metal walls, suggesting that if someone tried to infiltrate secretly, these ports would play a significant role.

What was particularly strange was that these gun ports seemed to have been recently installed. It was clear that this was also Kingpin's support for his allies.

To better protect, or rather, imprison Herbert Landon, Kingpin did not hesitate to install these powerful weapons.

The passage did not go straight ahead but extended underground. The convoy drove for a while before gradually slowing down.

"It seems we've arrived," Imir sighed, getting out of the car and stretching his body with exaggerated movements. On the other side, the Brand Corporation's underground laboratory became busy due to the return of the hunting team.

Several security personnel in hazmat suits took the still unconscious Mystique from the team, while other researchers began their respective tasks.

Imir followed them into the research hall and was dumbfounded by the hundreds of intricately crafted "bird cages" hanging from the ceiling. However, these cages did not contain birds but humans.

Some of the cages in the center emitted a faint blue light, indicating that they were connected to a powerful energy source.

Imir looked up, a chill slowly rising in his heart. If his girlfriend, Klydeia, were also imprisoned here, it would be a serious problem. But then he thought, since Mystique didn't know about this place, Klydeia, who was with Mystique, should not be here either.

Since it didn't concern him, Imir quickly adapted to the bizarre scene, treating it like watching a 3D movie up close. He continued walking forward.

Imir noticed that in the central cage, a large, blue-furred creature lay. If his memory from his previous life was correct, this should be the "Beast" from X-Men.

Although in the movies, "Beast" only appeared as a government official without any special abilities, he later demonstrated his immense strength when the mutants fought against the government army.

This half-human, half-animal superhero was a very special member of the X-Men. Anti-mutant radicals used him as evidence that mutants were devils, but his heroic deeds after joining the Avengers won the trust of many people for mutants.

"Where am I?" Beast, with his more robust physique, had the strongest resistance to anesthetic drugs. Imir saw his fingers twitch slightly, and then he sat up in the cage.

Beast rubbed his head, looked around, and then stood up and charged at the bars. Sparks flew, and he was blasted back into the cage by a powerful energy current.

"If I were you, I wouldn't act rashly without knowing the situation!" Bullseye, who had disappeared for a moment, reappeared with Mr. Landon: "We use a special voltage amplifier."

Beast let out a scream, looked at his charred fur, and roared in disbelief: "Herbert Landon?"

"It's been a long time, and I'm glad to see you again," Herbert said elegantly, standing under the cage where Beast was imprisoned. He genuinely looked happy to see his old friend.

"Herbert, why are you doing this?" Beast couldn't feel happy. In fact, anyone who wakes up from a coma to find themselves imprisoned in a bird cage would be unhappy.

Herbert smiled: "Can't you guess?"

As if Beast's question deeply hurt him, he frowned and shook his head: "Don't you remember the many years we worked together, Dr. Hank McCoy?"

"They do know each other!" Imir felt a bit helpless, realizing how complex the relationships between the superheroes and villains in the Marvel universe were. When he watched the movies in his previous life, he had no idea there were so many hidden secrets.

"Don't you remember how desperately you wanted to find a way to prevent your continued mutation? To the point where you were willing to risk your own body in your experiments?"

Hank McCoy was from Illinois. His father, Norton McCoy, had worked at a nuclear power plant and bravely resolved a nuclear leak crisis.

After that, Norton married his love, Eleanor. Due to the effects of radiation, their son Hank was born with unusual strength and unusually large hands and feet.

As Hank grew, his strength increased, and his mind was also highly developed. He excelled in school and became a prominent football player.

By this time, the concept of mutants had emerged, and some jealous people believed he was a mutant and harbored ill will. Soon, a group of criminals kidnapped Hank's parents, forcing him to work for them.

Professor X and his students Cyclops and Iceman helped Hank, confirming he was a mutant and convincing him to transfer to Xavier's school, where he joined the X-Men.

In an accidental experiment, Hank drank an incomplete formula to fight a spy, resulting in his transformation into a furry form. He has been working to develop a cure to restore his original appearance but has not succeeded, living as the "Beast" ever since.

"Enough, Herbert!" Beast's voice was hoarse but loud, interrupting Herbert's recounting of his past: "That's an old story. I've changed a lot since then."

"Clearly, you've fallen just like those despicable mutants. You've changed completely," Herbert Landon said, standing under the cage where Beast was imprisoned, crossing his arms: "But I haven't. And now, with the Brand Corporation, I will continue the research you started, until all mutants in the world are eliminated!"