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Under the night sky, the metropolis glowed with a kaleidoscopic beauty.
Arthur stood on the rooftop, gazing at the city lights against the dark canvas of the night. For some reason, they seemed to be waging a silent war against the world's darkness.
Struggling to maintain their radiance, even if they couldn't illuminate the entire world, they could still bring light and warmth to a single room, a single neighborhood.
Ever since his afternoon conversation with Natasha, his mood had been subtly altered.
Knowing of Ghost's existence hadn't caused a major upheaval in his mindset, but he suddenly felt that the world was diverging from his preconceived notions.
Everything that once seemed familiar was now changing. Though Thanos would still come, there were new variables he couldn't account for.
Like Ghost... Before this, Arthur had never imagined he might encounter this person. In fact, if Natasha hadn't mentioned it today, he wouldn't have even remembered Ghost existed.
"And to think, I've even become a woman..."
Perched on the rooftop edge, Arthur gently swung one leg.
"For some reason, this world suddenly feels more real, imbued with a sense of mystery that defies easy understanding..."
The world should be wondrous, vast, and full of inexplicable wonders!
It should contain countless things he doesn't yet know, things waiting to be discovered...
Yet until now, everything had seemed to fit within his grasp. Even minor deviations could be corrected within a manageable scope.
Only now... does he feel something truly different.
It's hard to say whether this sense of being beyond control is good or bad. But it has suddenly given Arthur a newfound, inexplicable sense of acceptance toward this world.
"So, the human heart truly is a strange thing, isn't it? Given a familiar script to exploit for loopholes and gain an advantage, yet refusing to do so. Instead, he's more excited about improvising a performance without one?"
Oh, mortals!
Arthur sighed inwardly, but another thought sparked: 'How much influence does the original world have on this one? If it's the Marvel Cinematic Universe, wouldn't that mean this world will constantly undergo changes as new movies are released? Or perhaps... each time a film appears, some inexplicable event occurs here. I wonder what impact these events will have on this world? Speaking of which, Avengers: Endgame should mark the end of a unit in the MCU, right? But... what comes after?'
This thought felt dangerous, implying that Thanos might not be the final big boss.
It was possible that after Thanos was dealt with, an even more terrifying threat might emerge...
For example, the Living Tribunal? The Celestials? The One-Above-All?
"Um... I don't think the One-Above-All would actually show up, would it?" He tilted his head back to gaze upward. "After all, that guy's concept is ridiculously over-the-top. If he truly existed, he'd probably appear right in front of me the moment I thought of him."
But in reality, nothing happened.
After letting his mind wander through a jumble of thoughts, Arthur's communicator rang.
"If I'm disturbing your rest, I apologize," Natasha's voice came through Arthur's earpiece.
Arthur switched the audio call to a video call and panned the camera across his surroundings.
After reviewing the scene, Natasha sighed. "Seeing you so leisurely while the rest of us are swamped is truly infuriating."
Arthur chuckled. "So, this late, you must have some results, right?"
"It's not difficult," Natasha said. "I've already sent you the address. This man knows Dr. Hank; they used to work in the same lab before he left."
"I'm guessing the reason for his departure has something to do with Dr. Hank?"
"Actually, when I reviewed Dr. Hank's files, I discovered that the old man's combat capabilities are surprisingly formidable!"
Natasha suppressed a laugh. "Almost everyone who's ever collaborated with him has ended up arguing with him, even his own wife..."
"So, individual talent and temperament are directly proportional?" Arthur chuckled. "Alright, if that's the case, I'll get back to work."
"How do you plan to deal with... Ghost?"
"Knock him out, stuff him in, and bring him back," Arthur said. "Prepare a luxurious suite."
"Understood."
…
…
After a long day at work, Bill Foster didn't head home.
Driving his car through the streets of San Francisco, he seemed somewhat distracted.
Arthur sat in the back seat, also gazing out the window. Whenever Foster's eyes might have glanced at the rearview mirror, Arthur would discreetly duck out of sight.
This ensured Foster remained completely unaware of Arthur's presence throughout the drive.
Bill Foster!
A quantum physics professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
In his younger years, he had served as Hank's assistant and even briefly possessed superhuman abilities beyond imagination. Now, however, he appeared to be merely a mild-mannered Black professor.
Arthur couldn't understand why Foster hadn't gone home after work but instead drove in a different direction.
Was he simply using his free time to unwind, or... was there another reason?
Deciding not to reveal himself immediately, Arthur chose to wait.
When the car finally pulled into a secluded, remote location, Arthur felt his patience had finally blossomed into a beautiful opportunity.
The car came to a stop. After getting out, Foster went to the trunk to retrieve some items.
Approaching the iron gate, Foster opened it, completely unaware of the shadow tailing him.
However, "Mr. Tail" had already spotted something far more interesting, and with a flicker of movement, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already inside the house.
In a transparent device lay a bed, upon which a woman slept soundly.
Arthur gazed at her, then casually began examining the surrounding objects.
After a while, Foster burst through the door. The moment he saw Arthur, his expression froze in shock. "I didn't know Ava had a boyfriend..."
Arthur considered this for a moment before replying, "Given her physical condition, a boyfriend would be nothing more than a pipe dream for her... Hmm, calm down."
As he spoke, his body had already shifted to another location. In the spot he had just vacated stood a woman with her arm outstretched.
Her expression was stern as she calmly asked Arthur, looking at Foster, "Did you bring him here?"
(End Of This Chapter)
I am translating some new fanfiction (Haikyuu- Starting From Volleyball). Read it and support me.
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