After reading the signs and banners, Richard realized these mutants represented the so-called liberal faction—those who viewed him as their leader. Among them were his most fervent admirers.
He didn't need to use Telepathy to confirm this. The evidence was visible: seven or eight protesters sported long silver hair identical to his own. This appearance had become the trademark of his most dedicated followers.
Those with naturally long hair dyed it silver. Those without simply wore silver wigs. The trend had expanded beyond just his supporters or even the mutant community. Many normies young men and women across America had begun dyeing their hair silver as well.
The reason was simple: because he was handsome.
Without exaggeration, Richard had single-handedly launched the silver hair fashion trend sweeping across the United States.
While Richard held little interest in being considered a faction leader, seeing these young mutants protesting on a busy intersection—with several of his most ardent fans among them—piqued his curiosity.
Due to the Mutant Restriction Act and the Department of Mutant Affairs' oversight, most mutants concealed their identities in public. Even "legal" mutants registered with the Department faced widespread discrimination once their status became known. Those who discriminated didn't distinguish between registered and unregistered mutants.
The San Francisco police exited their vehicles and began dispersing the young protesters without explanation. Predictably, this attempted dispersal quickly escalated into arrests.
When police started drawing weapons, the protesting mutants didn't hesitate—they activated their powers and confronted the officers directly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gunshots, crashes, impacts, and explosions echoed through the intersection, transforming the busy thoroughfare into chaos within seconds.
Though unarmed, the young mutants quickly repelled the police using their mutant powers. Several protesters sustained bullet wounds and began retreating with assistance from their companions.
Had no other organizations intervened, the mutants could have withdrawn smoothly before reinforcements arrived. Unfortunately, their luck had run out.
Before they could retreat, agents from the Department of Mutant Affairs appeared on scene.
Every major city—whether New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or lesser-known municipalities—housed Department branches. The only difference lay in their size and resources.
When mutant agents arrived alongside heavily armed special forces, the retreating young mutants found their escape blocked.
If earlier the young mutants had overwhelmed the San Francisco police with their abilities, now the tables turned completely. The mutant agents employed their superior powers and experiance to subdue the protesters.
Though only four mutant agents had responded, their capabilities far exceeded those of the protesters. The disparity resembled that between an NBA team and a high school basketball squad.
Unsurprisingly, the young mutants fell one by one to the agents, each fitted with power-suppression collars that resembled dog leashes. With their abilities neutralized, all resistance ceased.
From his rooftop perch, Richard watched the collared mutants being escorted into transport vehicles as he consumed the last few potato chips from his bag.
Then he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers lightly.
Thundaga!
RUMBLE!
Sudden thunderclaps shattered the clear sky. Within seconds, four arm-thick silver-white lightning bolts accompanied by a dozen finger-thick electrical discharges struck the four mutant agents and special forces personnel with pinpoint accuracy.
Despite hearing the sudden thunder and recognizing the danger, the agents couldn't evade Richard's lightning attack.
After three months of practice, Richard's mastery of Thundaga had reached perfection. The power, casting speed, and control vastly exceeded his capabilities from three months prior.
The arm-thick lightning bolts struck the four mutant agents directly, while the finger-thick discharges targeted the armed special forces members. Electric current coursed through their bodies, dropping them to the ground in convulsions.
All onlookers—collared mutants, San Francisco police, and civilian bystanders—stared in astonishment. Though many mutants could summon lightning or electricity, few possessed the precision to instantly incapacitate mutant agents and special forces simultaneously.
As they wondered who had intervened on behalf of the protesters, a man with flowing silver hair, commanding presence, and striking features materialized before them.
Richard Wesley!
After teleporting from the rooftop to the street below, Richard addressed the young mutants:
"If you don't want to wear collars like dogs, you'd better practice using your powers. Your power is comparable to toddlers just learning to walk."
The moment he finished speaking, the power-suppression collars around the protesters' necks were sliced apart by razor-sharp wind blades invisible to the naked eye. The severed restraints clattered to the ground.
Aeroga!
Wind Blade!
Rather than summoning his Masamune to remove the collars, Richard had chosen to create dagger-sized wind blades. Though lacking impressive offensive power, they proved more than sufficient to sever the restraints.
Upon hearing Richard's words, a man in his early twenties with short blond hair exclaimed excitedly:
"I finally meet you in person! Do you live nearby? Or did you come specifically to rescue us? Can we learn from you?"
Following his lead, the other young mutants swarmed around Richard like enthusiastic fans encountering their idol. They bombarded him with eager questions while several attempted to touch him or stroke his distinctive silver hair.
Though their intentions were innocent, Richard had no desire for such contact.
A boy must learn self-protection when out in public!
Repulsion!
Without hesitation, he deployed Repulsion, generating a 360-degree air shockwave that pushed the eager mutants back several meters. He calibrated the force perfectly—enough to create distance without causing injury.
"I don't have any wisdom to impart, and I didn't come here to save you," Richard stated calmly, surveying the young mutants. "I simply despise the Department of Mutant Affairs."
He prepared to use Plunder on the four mutant agents. However, at that moment, he noticed two familiar figures among the surrounding crowd.
Why are they here?
His brow furrowed slightly as he recognized them.
"Black Widow" Natasha Romanoff!
Bruce "The Hulk" Banner!
...
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