The chaos in Hell's Kitchen and across New York had finally come to a temporary end.
Ethan Voss left fifty enhanced soldiers stationed in the district to continue assisting the police with suppressing the remaining criminal gangs. The cleanup operation would take time, but the worst of the city's underworld had already been dismantled.
The explosions from the previous night had destroyed a large number of buildings throughout Hell's Kitchen.
For Mayor George, that destruction created an unexpected opportunity.
His long-delayed urban redevelopment plan could now proceed immediately.
At the same time, Ethan's recruitment teams began moving into the area. Their task was to identify suitable candidates among the residents and offer them the opportunity to relocate to Noah Town within Ethan's divine domain.
After all, the town still needed people.
And opportunities were far easier to create when the outside world was in chaos.
Ethan also met personally with Mayor George to finalize the next stage of cooperation. Together with several major investors, they officially established a seven-member consortium responsible for rebuilding Hell's Kitchen.
The company's responsibilities were broad.
Urban planning.
Building construction.
Property management.
Home renovation.
Every possible industry connected to rebuilding the neighborhood had been included.
After all, when it came to making money, it was best not to ignore any opportunity.
Once all of his work in the city was complete, Ethan slipped away to a quiet corner of an empty building.
He opened a portal.
In a single step, he returned to Noah Town.
—
Inside the bar located in the central square, several people had gathered on the second-floor balcony.
Professor Charles Xavier had finally awakened.
Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Cyclops, Mystique, and several others were already present.
Ethan leaned casually against the balcony railing while holding a glass of the finest red wine produced within the divine realm.
He took a slow sip before speaking.
"I have good news," he said calmly.
"The President has officially approved the arrangement."
Everyone looked toward him.
"From now on," Ethan continued, "the Justice League is a legally recognized organization."
"We'll operate publicly under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security."
He raised his glass slightly.
"As long as we operate under that label, everything we do will be legal."
Professor Xavier smiled faintly and nodded.
"Mr. Voss," he said gently, "that's not what we came here to discuss today."
Ethan immediately sensed something unusual in the professor's tone.
His expression changed slightly as he raised both hands in surrender.
"Let me clarify something first," he said quickly.
"I didn't blow up your school."
The moment those words left his mouth, Wolverine's face turned green with anger.
"You just threw me under the bus like that?" Logan growled.
The professor looked at Wolverine in surprise.
A strange silence followed.
After a long pause, Charles shook his head slowly.
"Never mind," he said quietly. "That's all in the past now."
He straightened slightly before turning his attention back to Ethan.
"Mr. Voss," he said solemnly, "I need to know something."
"Can you control the power inside Jean?"
"Yes," Ethan replied.
Everyone immediately focused on him.
"But only inside my divine domain."
For a brief moment hope appeared on Charles's face.
Then it faded again when he heard the second half of the answer.
"Only within your domain?" he asked.
Ethan calmly poured himself another half glass of wine.
He shrugged casually.
"Do you know who Jean really is?" he asked.
"She is currently the only Level Five mutant in the world."
His tone remained calm, but the weight of the words hung heavily in the air.
"If her abilities fully awaken," Ethan continued, "destroying the entire world would take nothing more than a single thought."
He took another sip of wine.
"Without the support of my domain, how exactly do you expect me to restrain that kind of power?"
Cyclops stepped closer to Jean and gently held her hand.
His voice was firm.
"Wherever you go," Scott said, "I'll go with you."
Charles watched the two quietly.
"You repaired my mental barrier," he said to Ethan.
"Yes."
Ethan nodded.
"But a cage can't hold a beast forever once it's seen sunlight."
Scott frowned immediately.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Jean just has powerful abilities. She's not some kind of beast."
Ethan didn't respond.
Instead, he simply stared at Professor Xavier.
The professor hesitated.
Finally, he sighed.
"When Jean was very young," Charles began slowly, "I discovered a tremendous power inside her mind."
"With that power," he continued, "she could become the strongest mutant among us."
He lowered his head slightly.
"But that power began invading her consciousness."
"If left unchecked, she would eventually lose control completely."
"So I sealed it away."
The words hung in the air.
"And in doing so," Charles continued quietly, "I sealed away part of her memories as well."
Wolverine frowned deeply.
"What exactly does that mean?"
Charles looked toward Jean.
"It means," he said softly, "that the person she is now… is incomplete."
The balcony fell silent.
Jean stared at him in disbelief.
"But Professor," she said quietly, "I don't feel like I've lost any memories."
"Everything feels normal."
Her voice grew softer as realization slowly dawned on her.
Charles looked down.
"I'm sorry, Jean," he said painfully.
"I created some memories for you."
"I only wanted to save you."
Wolverine's expression darkened immediately.
"You fabricated her life?" he demanded angrily.
"Logan!" Charles replied sharply. "I was protecting her!"
Logan scoffed.
"Some protection."
Charles's voice rose with frustration.
"It wasn't a perfect solution!"
"But it was the only one I had!"
The two men glared at each other for a moment before Logan finally turned toward Ethan.
"Mr. Voss," he said. "Do you have a better idea?"
Charles shook his head.
"You don't understand," he said.
"Under the influence of that power, Jean developed another personality."
"A darker one."
His voice became grave.
"If those restraints disappear, she could become someone none of us would recognize."
"Anger. Rage. Destruction."
"No one would be able to stop her."
He glanced toward Ethan's domain surrounding the town.
"Fortunately," Charles added quietly, "your divine realm appears strong enough to suppress that power."
"As long as she stays here, she'll remain safe."
Wolverine snorted.
"So first you lock her mind in a cage," he said coldly.
"And now you want to lock her here too."
Charles's patience snapped.
"If you have a better solution," he said sharply, "then step forward and save her yourself!"
"We're just trying to make the best decision we can!"
Logan pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Jean gently touched his arm.
"Logan," she said softly, "I don't blame the professor or Mr. Voss."
"I believe they were trying to protect me."
Charles looked at her with deep sadness.
For a moment it was as if he was seeing the frightened little girl he had met years ago.
"But Professor," Jean continued quietly, "I want to know the truth."
"What memories did you erase from me?"
Charles froze.
He remained silent.
Jean slowly turned toward Ethan.
"Mr. Voss," she asked, "do you know?"
Ethan met her gaze.
"Jean," he said calmly, "you're living a good life now."
"You have the professor. Scott. Logan. The students."
"They're your family."
"They're your friends."
"They love you."
"You're holding happiness in your hands."
He paused.
"So why dig into the past?"
"Breaking it open yourself might only bring pain."
Jean shook her head firmly.
"Everyone deserves to know their full past," she said.
"If I made mistakes, forgetting them isn't the answer."
Ethan already knew the truth.
When Jean had collapsed earlier, he had briefly glimpsed the sealed memories inside her mind.
He glanced at Professor Xavier.
Charles said nothing.
Ethan then turned toward Storm and Cyclops.
"Storm. Scott," he said.
"What do you think?"
Scott tightened his grip on Jean's hand.
"I respect her decision," he said firmly.
"Whatever the truth is, we'll face it together."
Wolverine rolled his eyes.
Ethan kept his face neutral.
Inside, however, he thought coldly.
You hopeless romantic. You really deserved what happened to you.
Storm hesitated briefly before nodding.
"If Jean wants the truth," she said quietly, "she deserves to hear it."
Ethan sighed.
"Alright," he said.
"I'll keep it simple."
He looked directly into Jean's eyes.
"When you were a child," he began, "you were in a car accident with your parents."
"Your mother died."
"And your father blamed you."
Jean's eyes darkened instantly.
Her entire body trembled as if a storm were forming inside her.
"Why?" she whispered.
"He believed your powers influenced the accident," Ethan said calmly.
Jean's voice trembled.
"Is that… true?"
Ethan hesitated briefly.
Then he nodded.
"Yes."
Jean's expression shattered.
She abruptly stood up and ran out of the bar.
"Jean! Jean!"
Scott hurried after her immediately.
Behind them, Wolverine muttered quietly.
"I'm the same as you, Jean."
Then he followed them out.
.....
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