Chapter 185 - 182 The New King, The Old Queen.
"You humans can always tell the best and most beautiful lies in the world, and at the same time, kill your fellow human beings without mercy, without even a hint of compassion."
The White Queen said, half sarcastically, half-seriously. ??
"Major General, how can I be sure that you are saying this from the heart and not from the promises of politicians, the conscience of a businessman, the sweet words of a man … which are neither credible nor reliable? "
Luke was satisfied with the conversation getting back on track. He didn't want to work with an emotional creature who was overly sentimental and had trouble thinking rationally.
Sometimes it's better to sit down and discuss the benefits openly.
It was far more practical and effective than talking about sentimental dreams.
"A verbal guarantee may have no credibility, and black and white letters written in a contract may not be binding enough."
Luke said lightly.
"Sincerity depends on actions."
The White Queen nodded and agreed with this view.
Her hands subconsciously let go, no longer keeping the defensive posture of crossing her arms in front of her.
This proves that her original vigilance towards Luke was loosening.
Aware of this, the Major General smiled more and more gently and slowly said, "With all due respect, Miss Frost, what you said earlier doesn't only apply to humans, but the instinct of any living being."
Future history books may include the massacre of Native Americans by colonists on the North American continent, the burning of witches by medieval churches, and the extermination of Jews by the Third Reich … all of them."
"But this isn't proof that humans are born with a passion for killing and a brutal, tyrannical nature; it's a warning to future generations about the terrible effects that greed, ignorance, and ambition can have on the world."
"Any species with intelligence and the ability to think are complex. If we simply use the binary concept of good and evil to judge and measure, we could only form the inherent concept of self-righteousness and prejudice."
The White Queen sat with her legs tilted, and her beautiful curves, instead of remaining tense, were gradually relaxing.
"To tell you the truth, Major General, you remind me of my college teacher."
She said,
Luke smiled faintly. The White Queen, born into a wealthy Boston family, had an obvious teacher's influence on her.
As far as he knows in the timeline, Emma Frost came close to becoming a teacher with the support of her parents.
After that, she also had brief cooperation with Professor X.
Joined Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and served as the principal for a while.
Later on, there were several changes of sides and positions, mostly as a teacher and leader of the younger generation of mutants.
Therefore, people with psychic abilities are probably well suited for education.
"I just hope he's not a bald guy who likes to take advantage of young schoolgirls; that would be a shock."
Luke shrugged his shoulders and spoke in a humorous tone.
The atmosphere in the living room gradually eased.
"No. He's as young as you … handsome, especially when talking, confident and infectious."
Luke keenly caught the dull light in the White Queen's eyes and guessed that she had been in a not-so-fulfilling teacher-student relationship.
"Then he's a lucky guy to have an admirer like Miss Frost."
He continued to cut into the topic as if making small talk.
"When I was young, I didn't understand."
The White Queen shook her head. She really had a crush on that teacher.
It's a pity that the ignorant first love that hasn't bloomed yet died a tragic death because of her mutant identity.
This was one of the reasons that prompted her to leave Boston.
The White Queen was discriminated against and ostracized as if being a mutant was a disgusting infectious disease.
She could only gather with her compatriots to gain a small sense of security and identity.
"Let's get back to business, Major General. How can we build trust between the Hellfire Club and S.H.I.E.L.D?"
The White Queen dismisses her distractions and realizes that she let her guard down too easily in front of Luke, which wasn't normal for a psychic.
In most cases, she should have been the dominant speaker.
"When the Peace Summit is held, S.H.I.E.L.D. will recommend that the White House promote a bill to improve the treatment for mutants."
Luke spoke with absolute certainty.
"At that time, Miss Frost will be able to see my sincerity."
His words moved the White Queen.
She wasn't an ambitious person like Sebastian Shaw, who only wanted to use the mutants as tools to win enough power and status for herself.
If S.H.I.E.L.D could really make this happen, the Hellfire Club could change sides.
"But … there are actually quite a few people in the club who are loyal followers of Shaw."
After thinking for a moment, the White Queen felt a little hesitant.
If she agrees to do so, she would be accused of being a 'traitor' and a 'snitch.'
"As I said, it is in the nature of any living being to seek advancement and avoid disadvantages."
Luke spoke in a relaxed tone.
Sebastian Shaw was no match for him when he was alive.
Now that he's dead, what else could he do?
The Major General restrained his smile and calmly said, "The hatred and resentment of mutants towards humans mostly comes from the tragic experience of persecution and abuse."
"But, Miss Frost, you probably don't know that Sebastian Shaw, the late Black King of the Hellfire Club, once selected 431 people in Auschwitz, all of whom were prisoners between the ages of 16 and 30."
"Miss Frost, do you know what he did to them?"
Feeling Luke's calm tone, the White Queen felt palpitations in her heart and subconsciously asked, "What did Shaw do?"
"Like livestock, they were herded into steam chambers, subjected to an intense heat that made them dehydrate and faint. Then, throw them into barrels of ice to soak."
"In addition to this, there was continuous electroshock torture, hours-long beatings, floggings, and even sleep deprivation. All kinds of torture were exerted on these people until they died."
The White Queen felt chills crawl down her spine when she heard this. Though Luke described it with a calm expression, she felt as if she witnessed those brutal scenes with her own eyes.
She couldn't help but ask, "Why … Why did Shaw do those things?"
As a later member of the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost became the "Queen" not because of her qualifications but because of her personal ability.
Therefore, she knew nothing about Sebastian Shaw's past.
"Why did he do that?"
Luke sarcastically chuckled, "Because he was trying to find the hidden code in the mutant X gene that would open the door to evolution."
"Sebastian Shaw was a graduate of Oxford University's Academy of Biological Sciences. He has the recessive X gene but hadn't awakened to his natural abilities during adolescence."
"But this guy was smart enough to discover that the X gene responds easily to external stimuli, especially violent fluctuations in emotion -- which can result in intriguing alterations that resemble chemical effects."
"The torture used was just to find out the laws of genetic changes, to master the method of 'manufacturing' mutants."
White Queen's red lips slightly open, seemingly in shock.
She didn't expect that the Black King of the Hellfire Club, who said he would fight for better rights and higher status for his compatriots, had such a dark history behind him.
"Is this all true?"
The White Queen had some difficulty in believing that. She once saw Sebastian Shaw as the savior of the mutants, a great and trustworthy teacher.
"S.H.I.E.L.D has detailed files inside. If you have any doubts, you can check them yourself. Of course, documents can be falsified, but the crimes committed always leave traces. There are several survivors of the concentration camps in Poland. They are very familiar with the King's crimes."
Luke looked at the dubious White Queen and said, "As a person with psychic abilities, there should be very few people in this world who could lie to you. I believe that when the time comes, you will be able to make the right decision."
"Miss Frost, as long as you reveal Sebastian Shaw's ugly side, you will change from being a traitor and a snitch to being the first hero to discover the truth and take action to save your compatriots."
Luke spread his hands and stated the 'perfect ending.'
Anyway, dead people don't talk. So, put all the blame on Sebastian Shaw's head.
The mutants of the Hellfire Club would gradually change their opinion of the White Queen.
The White Queen stared straight at Luke and sighed with emotion after a long while, " Major General, you are more of a mind-altering, thought-manipulating powerhouse than I am."
"It's just a matter of taking advantage of the nature of living beings. Miss Frost -- can I call you Emma? I think the Hellfire Club would be happy to accept a new King and … a new Queen."
Luke lifted his glass, handed it to the White Queen, and smiled, "Emma, let's drink to a better future for mutants."
The latter was silent for a moment and then accepted the glass of whiskey on the rocks.
The glasses clinked with a crisp, clear sound.
This conversation, which was originally a question, turned into a discussion about the leaders of Hellfire Club and the future of mutants.
Even the White Queen herself didn't know-how.
Everything seemed to be following a written script and was executed accurately.
"The Black King has died. Major General, are you going to become the White King of the Hellfire Club?"
The White Queen took a sip of the cold liquid. Her heartfelt like, it had broken free from its heavy shackles and was no longer affected by the opinions of her compatriots.
She had to admit that if Luke did what he said, mutants would have a better future.
The thought of being able to save fellow suffering compatriots and become a … hero.
Emma couldn't help but feel excited.
"What's the problem? The club already has a Queen, so of course, it needs a King."
Luke put down his glass and stood up.
"I think I'm a good fit, don't you?"
The White Queen also left the sofa and tilted her head slightly, looking at the tall young General with a slight smile at the corner of her lips, "I think so too."
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