Reborn with Steve Stand-Chapter 854: Hey, John! Isn’t This Way Better Than Getting High?

In truth, this so-called "talk show" was a first for both Erik and Fang Mo.

Compared to a simple interview, a talk show of this nature is more akin to a live broadcast—there’s no chance to edit out any mistakes afterward.

But since they’d received the script in advance, there were no major flubs during the broadcast. The reporters had also been briefed ahead of time and didn’t bombard them with tough questions. It was basically just the President explaining mutant-related issues.

Throughout the show, the President repeatedly stressed “freedom” and “inclusiveness.”

His logic went: if people chose to accept Blacks and other ethnic minorities, naturally they should also accept mutants. Besides, any ordinary person could potentially become a mutant.

Right on cue, the journalists in attendance—who’d obviously been prepped—asked him why. This was Fang Mo’s cue. He, along with a few military scientists, stepped in to demonstrate that ordinary humans carry latent mutant genes. That, they insisted, was the essence of humanity’s ongoing evolution, bound to become a major future trend; there would only be more mutants going forward.

In other words, it was an official admission that Charles’s research was correct:

Yes, an ordinary person really could turn into a mutant…

After that, the President started painting visions of the future. And this time, the “picture” he painted was especially weighty, because he spoke about a bright tomorrow—humanity’s grand progression.

Consider the various powers that mutants possess.

The value they could bring to each sector was practically unimaginable. At this point, the President even brought out “the Man of Plastic,” a retired Florida soldier who’d taken the “awakening serum.”

Incidentally…

He’d already beaten the alligator living in his backyard.

According to the General onstage, this retired soldier was secretly a mutant all along, hiding his identity for fear of discrimination. But upon seeing Beast Hank rescue so many people, he mustered the courage to “come out,” shocking the entire military. Tests showed that the man was basically a walking oil refinery. And if there’s one thing the U.S. needs, it’s folks like him.

Right then the President announced plans to hire these mutants. This would usher in a brand-new era—one where all races join hands to build the glorious “Lighthouse of Freedom.” Hearing this, regardless of how the journalists felt, the crowd outside—who didn’t really know the details—went wild.

After so many years of ideological conditioning, the average citizen’s mind was long since molded into an American eagle shape, thoroughly “trained” to respond at the mere mention of Freedom or Democracy with fanatical excitement. So there they were, all cheering for a “new era,” as though…

...it actually mattered to them.

Having warmed up the crowd, Erik stepped up for the finale. They needed to display the mutants’ tremendous “value.” They’d already shown the Man of Plastic turning crude into refined oil. Next was Magneto, showing how a mutant can generate electricity by hand.

Which was precisely why today’s venue was set at that factory’s outer zone—a newly completed power facility. Led by staff, everyone toured the interior. Meanwhile, an engineer explained how the power station would theoretically operate.

Human power generation, at its core, is about “pushing a turbine.” Nuclear power uses atomic heat to boil water into steam and spin a turbine; coal power burns fossil fuel for the same purpose. Wind and hydro follow that same principle in different forms.

But this newly built station lacked any boilers or water-harnessing dams. It was basically a pile of old turbine units, half-finished. Some not even wired up yet.

“My fellow citizens!”

The President abruptly shouted, “Watch as we herald the dawn of a new age!”

“Mr. Erik, it’s your turn.”

someone beside Erik whispered, reminding him gently.

“…”

Erik looked utterly unenthused. Right up to this moment, he still found the setup unacceptable, but at this point there was no turning back. With a deep sigh and a glare in Fang Mo’s direction, Erik raised his arms and floated silently into the air.

A staggering magnetic field engulfed the site, causing the stack of old turbines to tremble. Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, the turbines rose into midair. It was like a multitude of invisible hands assembling them into neat rows. Some steel rods slotted into the machines, replacing the corroded or broken metal vanes. They piled up layer by layer into an enormous “metal turbine tower.”

Then, once the generator took shape, cables slithered like pythons along the ground, hooking themselves up. At last, the turbines spontaneously began spinning, faster and faster, delivering huge amounts of electricity outward.

“This is the age of New Humanity—and also a new era for all humankind!”

Seizing that moment of stunned silence, the President raised a hand and called out: “To all mutants across the nation: there’s no need to hide your abilities anymore! Come—build this shining home with us!”

“Click!”

Fang Mo quietly took out his phone, capturing this classic shot for posterity.

Erik didn’t keep the power generation going too long—after all, the station was incomplete, serving only as a demonstration. He maintained the magnetic field for a bit, then drifted back down.

The show had reached its climax. Soon, a few reporters ventured a final question. They said that while mutants offered immense value, weren’t they also too dangerous? Hadn’t Erik’s demonstration unsettled them? If he could control metal, that might threaten modern weapons or re-activate the world’s missiles. After all, everyone was still jittery from that time global nukes suddenly launched themselves…

“So that’s your concern?”

Smiling, the President responded:

“There’s no need to worry at all!” He turned, eyes gleaming, toward Fang Mo. “Because our greatest scientist—renowned worldwide for his genetics and engineering expertise—Dr. McFangmo (don’t ask) here—clap!—has developed a serum that allows normal humans to become mutants!”

“What!?

the crowd gasped collectively.

“Yes, you heard that right.”

An assemblyman onstage also chimed in, “The government is already partnering with Dr. Fang Mo. In no time, superpowers will be part of everyday life for American citizens!”

“Is…is this for real?”

“We can become superheroes now?”

“Damn, John, this is awesome!”

“Yeah, Thompson, way cooler than just toking up!”

Yes—after the President himself confirmed it, the crowd exploded in excitement. They could only imagine a future of superpowers used at construction sites, or flying to the office, or teleporting pizzas to customers. They found it extremely appealing.

“Ahem, let me say a few words.”

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Seeing the crowd so fired up, Fang Mo stepped forward with a small cough. The conversation was obviously leading him to the spotlight.

“First off, we indeed have this serum ready,”

he said, smiling. “I’m collaborating with the government, and soon we can mass-produce it. Right now, we do have a small supply of trial samples.”

With that, Fang Mo produced a metallic case. Opening it, he took out three vials of a cyan-blue liquid.

“This is our basic ‘Awakening Serum,’ which just activates your latent X-gene. It won’t guarantee any particular power. Currently, the set price is 50,000 U.S. dollars per dose, though we may do promotional offers at 20,000.”

“That’s outrageous!”

“Oh my God…!”

“I can’t afford that if I save for years!”

As soon as Fang Mo announced the price, the crowd started exclaiming in shock. Indeed, in 1973, a McDonald’s hamburger cost only around 20 cents. Many Americans didn’t earn $10,000 a year; 50 grand was a pipe dream for them.

“Guys, this is a miracle,”

Fang Mo shrugged it off. “And can a miracle truly be measured in money?”

“Even so, isn’t that too expensive?”

“Yeah, plus you can’t pick which ability you get!”

Voices of complaint came from all around. They were obviously interested, but the price was too high.

“So you think it’s pricey?”

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow. “Alright, I’ll do something charitable. I’ll give away these three doses for free. Anyone want superpowers?”

“Er...”

Some of the more mature onlookers hesitated.

“Me, me!”

“I want superpowers!”

A few younger Americans instantly jumped forward, shouting and jumping: “Inject it straight into my artery, I want to fly!”

“Okay, then.”

Smiling broadly, Fang Mo shared a quick glance with the President, who clearly approved. “You three—come on up.”

Three spirited young men rushed forward. They seemed fearless—actually excited—staring at Fang Mo’s serum as they rolled up their sleeves. It looked like they’d already fantasized about their own unique superpowers.

Fang Mo didn’t stand on ceremony. He lifted three syringes and gave them each a quick injection. No over-the-top theatrics. After a few minutes, these youths started noticing changes in themselves.

“It feels like…endless strength!”

One wearing a baseball cap clenched and unclenched his fists. He seemed unbelievably stoked, scanning the area until he spotted a massive bundle of steel rebar. He walked over and hefted it with one hand.

“Holy crap!”

He himself was dumbfounded. “Am I…superhuman now? Haha!”

“John, I can fly!”

Another volunteer also wore a look of amazement, now floating in midair, absolutely ecstatic. “Haha, I’m actually flying!!!”

“What about you, Thompson?”

the cap-wearer asked, noticing the third friend. “What power did you get, man? Thompso—whoa!?”

He trailed off in alarm. That’s because “Thompson” had abruptly collapsed, falling to the ground twitching.

“Thompson!”

The man in the air immediately plummeted back, sprinting over and fumbling to flip his friend upright. “Dude, you okay!?”

But Thompson was acting weird. He kept rolling his eyes, his face locked in a rapturous grin—like pure euphoria mixed with a twisted expression. Harsh, manic laughter gurgled from his throat.

“What the…?”

“John” dropped the steel rebar and rushed over. “Geez, man, what’s going—?”

Before he could finish, his comrade “Geese” shuddered as well.

“Ge…Ge…heeheehee…”

All at once, Geese let out that same delighted, demented laugh, turning to face a baffled John: “Heh, John, man…this is better…than any drug….”

“Holy crap!”

John clutched his head in disbelief. “Thompson, what kinda power did you get!?”