Melin had left the Sanctuary because, after a long silence, Gu Yi finally sent good news. Although the exact location and time hadn't been pinpointed, at least a general area was confirmed.
In the western United States, in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park — a world-famous natural heritage site — there stood a small cottage brimming with the scent of nature by the largest body of water, Yellowstone Lake.
Melin was sitting on the sofa, reading a book and sipping coffee, enjoying a peaceful and quiet morning when suddenly…
Click—
The sound of a door opening from the backyard echoed, and someone stealthily slipped into the house, trembling as they hid in the utility room.
"Hmm? Him? Did I just stumble into a plotline?"
Detecting who had snuck into his home, Melin's face lit up with an amused smile. He picked up a blanket and walked toward the utility room.
"Hey, you okay?" Melin asked the trembling man before him.
Hair sticking up like horns, a scruffy beard, metal skeleton and claws hidden under his skin—who else could it be but Wolverine?
…
…
"Cold…" Logan rubbed his body, his voice shivering.
"Yeah, I can see that." Melin tossed the blanket to Logan as he spoke. "Wrap yourself up, take a hot shower, and change into clean clothes. Then we'll talk."
"Th-thanks…"
After leading Logan to the bathroom to clean himself up, the two sat facing each other in the living room.
"Leftover beef from yesterday. It's not much, but it should do." Melin placed the food in front of Logan.
Logan glanced at Melin, then at the food, and immediately dug in, devouring almost enough beef for two grown men.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me," Logan said gratefully.
"No need to mention it. There are still good people in the world, aren't there?"
"You're right," Logan nodded, his mind drifting through bittersweet memories. But he couldn't help a hint of self-mockery, knowing that good people around him often met bad ends.
"Looks like you had a rough night, kid," Melin said with a smile.
"I guess you could say that… Wait, you don't look that old," Logan suddenly realized, puzzled by Melin's casual address.
"Appearance never tells the whole story, does it?" Melin replied, smiling meaningfully at Logan.
Almost on instinct, Logan's hands shot out six gleaming metal claws, his beastly instinct sensing danger despite the ordinary tone of Melin's words.
"Is this how you treat someone who just saved you?"
"Uh… sorry." Logan awkwardly retracted his claws, embarrassed by his impulsive reaction.
"No worries."
"I'm Logan."
"Just call me Melin."
"Thanks, Melin. Really, thank you. But I've got something important to do. I'll come back to repay you later," Logan said, getting up to leave. Part of him genuinely had unfinished business, and part of him didn't want to drag Melin into trouble if his pursuers tracked him here.
But Melin's next words froze him in place, making him tense up all over again.
"Logan, you brought trouble with you the moment you stepped into this house. But it's not a big deal. Why don't you sit back and rest a while? Trust me, you really need it."
"You're a mutant too?!" Logan blurted out, realizing Melin must've read his mind.
"No."
"Then how…"
"There are people with powers in this world who aren't mutants, Logan. You know that better than anyone. You've killed enough of them yourself," Melin said casually.
"Hey, buddy, I don't know who you are, but for your own good, stay out of this—" Logan started, but before he could finish, his body froze like a puppet, obediently returning to sit on the couch.
"Calm down, Logan. Beast instincts can warn you of danger, but they can also cloud your judgment. Try to control them. Remember, you're a man, not a beast." As Melin spoke, he wrapped Logan in a gentle field of Cosmos energy.
Soon, the raging fire inside Logan's heart died down, replaced by an unprecedented sense of ease.
"How do you feel?"
"Amazing. I've never felt this relaxed before. How did you… No, I mean, thank you." Logan thanked him again, realizing Melin truly meant no harm. He felt guilty for almost hurting him earlier.
"Just lending a hand. No big deal. You can do it too — though it's not easy."
"Then… can you tell me who you really are? And why you're helping me?" Logan asked.
"For now, just know my name is Melin. As for why I'm helping you… it's purely by chance. I just happen to be living here temporarily and happened to run into you. Helping someone in need — do I really need a reason?" Melin asked back.
"Well…" Logan didn't know how to respond. Was a reason necessary? Was it not?
But deep down, he knew — Melin was a good guy.
Suddenly, though, Logan picked up on something else in Melin's words. "Wait, you know I escaped? What else do you know?"
"I know everything I want to know, Logan. About you. About Stryker."
"You! Then can you tell me where Victor is? It's very important to me," Logan pleaded.
"Well… no."
"You—!" Logan glared at Melin's teasing smile, realizing he'd been toyed with. Anger flared again.
"Calm down, Logan. Control it. Don't let it control you," Melin reminded gently.
Under the calming influence of the Cosmos, Logan slowly settled down.
"Fine. Since you're not telling me where Victor is, can I at least leave?" Logan said helplessly. He felt like sitting in front of Melin made him a puppet — toyed with yet unable to lash out. It was maddening.
He just wanted to leave now and find Victor. As for repaying the debt, that could wait.
"No rush. There's a good show coming up. You'll even see an old friend of yours — assuming you still consider him a friend," Melin said with a smile.
"Old friend!? They're coming?!" Logan was startled and anxious. "Hey, buddy, I know you've got skills, but they're not people you can mess with. Don't pick a fight. They'll do anything to win…"
"Trust me, Logan, I know them better than you do. So relax. If you can't slow down and enjoy life with your long lifespan, the future's going to be pretty boring."
"You…"
"Hmm, finish your coffee. It'll be time soon," Melin said, pouring Logan a cup.
Logan was dumbfounded. Should he drink it or not?
"Go ahead. I learned this especially for Athena. Don't know if she'll like it. You can be my test subject," Melin said, lifting his own cup with a smile.
Logan was helpless. He couldn't leave, and he couldn't persuade Melin. What else could he do?
Meeting Melin's sincere, slightly mischievous gaze, he sighed and gave up.
He took the coffee, sipped it — and nearly spat it out, coughing violently.
"Cough, cough…"
"Not good?" Melin asked, confused. He poured himself a cup and tasted it. It seemed fine to him.
"I think you're better suited to eating honey straight than drinking coffee," Logan muttered, feeling like he'd just swallowed a whole jar of sugar. It was absurdly sweet.
"Really? But Athena loves sweets and hates bitterness, so I had to make it this way," Melin said, shrugging helplessly.
"…Your daughter must be really happy," Logan said, not knowing how else to respond, squeezing out a compliment.
"Thanks, but she's not my daughter. She's my wife," Melin corrected him.
"Uh… okay. My bad. So… when can I leave?" Logan asked, praying to escape before his taste buds gave out — even his super-healing might not save him.
"Hmm… let's see… almost time. Come on, let's step outside," Melin said, downing his coffee in one gulp and leading Logan out the door.
Logan, thinking Melin just enjoyed toying with him, followed reluctantly, wondering how long it would take before he could track down Victor.
But the moment he stepped outside, his face changed.
The small cottage was surrounded layer upon layer by bullets, rockets, grenades — all suspended mid-air by an invisible force. Beyond that, armed troops encircled them completely.
Yet strangely, the soldiers just stood there without attacking. All the bullets, grenades, even the sparks from the rocket tails, were frozen in place, as if time itself had stopped.
"This is—! Wait! The sound! I didn't hear any sound!" Logan realized the key point, shocked.
Considering the amount of ammunition, they must have launched multiple attacks, but inside the cabin he hadn't heard a single gunshot.
No voices. No rumbling of armored vehicles. No helicopter blades cutting through the air. Nothing.
Seeing Logan looking at him, Melin smiled and said, "I like peace and quiet."
Logan almost stumbled. "Liking peace and quiet" didn't even begin to cover what he was seeing.
At that moment, Melin pointed something out: "Logan, your old friend is here. Shouldn't you go say hello?"
Following Melin's gaze, Logan's eyes sharpened fiercely.
"Yeah. Time for a proper hello."