Step 1: Analyze the pattern across the rows and columns.
Observe the first row: \( H, L, X \)
Second row: \( M, ?, V \)
Third row: \( C, G, L \)
Step 2: Look for alphabetical relations.
The letters in the first column: H (8), M (13), C (3) in alphabetical order.
The letters in the third column: X (24), V (22), L (12).
The second column seems to be missing the middle letter.
Step 3: Look for vertical patterns (column-wise).
Between first and third row in the second column: L (12) and G (7)
Middle letter should fit logically between L and G. The middle letter is \( ? \).
Step 4: Find letter \( ? \).
By examining alphabetical order and possibly the arithmetic mean of letter positions:
\[
\text{Position of } L = 12, \quad G = 7
\]
Average = \( \frac{12 + 7}{2} = 9.5 \) approximately 10, which corresponds to letter \( P \) (16) or N (14). But since options have P and N, checking closer to the pattern, the missing letter is \( P \) as the best fit.