Chapter 168: I Am George, Principal of the Superpower Academy

"Alright, be careful. With me here, the school will be fine."

Professor X didn't say much about George's decision.

He had confidence in George's abilities. Although George's psychic powers were far inferior to his own, his diverse skillset and overall strength surpassed his own by a significant margin.

Even if trouble arose, George would likely be able to escape without much resistance.

"Thanks for holding down the fort."

"It's no trouble."

George stood up, murmured the incantation for Apparition, and disappeared within two seconds.

Professor X assumed George was going to find Bruce Banner primarily to recruit him as a teacher and reduce his teaching burden.

In reality, George was more interested in obtaining the Hulk's hair.

The Hulk's strength increases with his anger, making him akin to a humanoid magical creature in the world of Harry Potter. He could likely overpower giants and even dragons.

From this perspective, the Hulk's hair seemed like an excellent material for crafting a wand core.

Currently, George had three clones, each of which was stronger than his original body.

While their physical constitution and magical power were identical, George's original wand provided the least magical amplification. It allowed for standard casting speed but lacked significant magical amplification.

The best wand he owned came from the Fairy Tail world, amplifying magic over twentyfold.

Second was the magic ring from the Sorcerer's Apprentice world, which provided a threefold boost.

Finally, there was the Harry Potter wand, offering a standard twofold magical boost.

Thus, beyond his regular magical studies, creating a better wand had become a priority.

"Another new ability, or perhaps a new kind of magic," murmured Professor X as he watched George vanish.

He had long suspected that George's powers were not solely those of a mutant, especially after browsing the school computer's folders labeled "Study Materials."

Still, he chose to remain silent. Some things, he believed, were better left unsaid. If George claimed his abilities were mutant powers, then so be it.

Professor X was no fool like Wolverine. His diminished psychic powers hadn't dulled his perceptiveness.

After spending so much time with George, he knew the man wasn't as kind-hearted as he appeared.

But so what?

At least George wasn't inherently evil. If he were, he could have abandoned them long ago and lived a free life.

Since his body transfer, Professor X had been reflecting on his life and the decisions he'd made.

What if he hadn't trusted humans so much? What if he'd been harsher toward anti-mutant humans?

Perhaps mutants wouldn't have faced near-extinction or endured horrific experiments.

But would such choices have truly improved the fate of mutants?

Even now, he had no answers.

Unrealized hypotheticals remain unknowable.

Perhaps life is a series of regrets, regardless of the path chosen.

For now, he decided to stop making grand decisions. He would entrust his fate—and that of the children—to George. As long as George didn't cross certain moral boundaries, Professor X would follow his lead.

After all, without George's efforts, they might all be dead by now. The surviving children might have ended up as either killing machines or experimental subjects.

His current role was simple: safeguard the school and educate the children.

In Manhattan, near Stark Tower, George suddenly appeared.

He had spent most of his time in the Bronx and wasn't familiar with Manhattan, except for Stark Tower, which he had visited once with Pepper Potts.

Thus, he used Apparition to arrive near the tower.

"Invisibility Charm!"

After casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself, George unfurled his wings and quickly flew toward Greyburn University.

"Looks like General Ross hasn't made a move yet."

Circling the university, George saw no signs of military presence. He cast a tracking spell with a wave of his hand.

"Footsteps Reveal—Bruce Banner!"

After canceling the Disillusionment Charm, he landed and followed the glowing footsteps to an experimental building.

Ascending to the third floor, he knocked on a door.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

About two minutes later, a short, middle-aged man in a blue shirt opened the door.

"Student, I'm quite busy right now. If you have questions, please come during office hours tomorrow," the man said, mistaking George for a student.

George, looking around twenty, could easily be mistaken for one of the university's students.

"Sorry, I'm not here for you, Dr. Stern. I'm looking for Dr. Bruce Banner."

Dr. Stern's face froze at the mention of Banner's name. He quickly tried to shut the door, but George placed a hand on it, forcing it open as he stepped inside.

"Dr. Banner, there's no need to hide behind the curtains. I mean no harm. I'm not with the government or the military," George said, seating himself in the living room and addressing the curtain-covered window.

Realizing he was discovered, Bruce Banner emerged from behind the curtains with his girlfriend, Betty Ross. Both looked warily at George.

"Who are you? How did you find me?" Banner asked cautiously.

"I'm George, the principal of the Superpower Academy.

As for how I found you—well, it's one of my abilities. I can locate anyone I want to find."

George settled comfortably on the sofa.

"The Superpower Academy? I've never heard of it," Banner replied, frowning.

His confusion was shared by Betty and Dr. Stern, who both looked equally puzzled.

"That's alright. Sit down, and I'll explain everything," George said with a snap of his fingers.

Instantly, the water dispenser in the room activated, filling four glasses, which floated to the coffee table in front of him.

"Tea, coffee, or something stronger?"

"Are you performing magic?"

Banner and the other two stared, wide-eyed, at the self-filling glasses.

While children might believe it to be a magic trick, these top scientists knew better. What George had just done wasn't sleight of hand.

Could it be some kind of advanced technology?