Su Yi looked at the spectacular rewards displayed on the system screen. Although he was very excited by the sheer magnitude of the haul—7.7 million FP, the Divine Body Compendium, and especially Infinite Devour—he had long been able to face such incredible gains with a calm mind. He was playing a long game, and these were merely the necessary tools.
After a deep, comfortable night's sleep, sharing a quiet, affectionate morning with Jane, it was time to prepare for the return journey to New York. The business in New Mexico was concluded.
Early in the morning, while Su Yi, Jane Foster, and Darcy Lewis were eating a hasty breakfast in the motel's dining area—Jane already scribbling differential equations on a napkin—Agent Coulson arrived with his dedicated S.H.I.E.L.D. team.
"Coulson, good morning. Haven't you left yet? I thought you'd be halfway back to HQ by now, compiling a twenty-page report on cosmic warlords," Su Yi greeted him, taking a sip of his coffee.
Coulson offered a small, professional smile. "Morning, Su. I'm afraid my departure was contingent on fulfilling a secondary objective." He shifted his gaze politely toward the third member of Jane's team. "However, I'm not here for you this time, but for Dr. Erik Selvig."
Su Yi instantly guessed Coulson's purpose: to officially invite the brilliant astrophysicist to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and dedicate his considerable intellect to studying the Tesseract, or the Cosmic Cube, as S.H.I.E.L.D. knew it.
Dr. Selvig, who had just finished his omelet, looked wary but intrigued.
"Dr. Selvig," Coulson began, his voice taking on an official, persuasive tone, "S.H.I.E.L.D. officially invites you to join our Theoretical Physics division. We are studying an object of immense, possibly infinite, energy. Its nature is cosmic, and its implications for human technology are vast."
Dr. Selvig had initially been deeply suspicious of Coulson and his sharp, secretive agents. They didn't look like good news; they looked like they were researching something highly unstable and potentially dangerous.
However, over the past few days, Coulson's patient and professional behavior had been quite acceptable, and the agent was now directly stating the subject of their research—an object of cosmic origin. The allure was simply too strong for any physicist to resist.
"Infinite energy, you say?" Dr. Selvig's eyes glazed over, already lost in the theoretical implications. After a brief internal struggle, the scientific compulsion won. "I… I accept. I'd like to see this 'Cosmic Cube' you speak of."
Jane and Darcy were stunned. If Dr. Selvig left, the research team would be decimated, left with only two members and a lot of debts.
Darcy was extremely upset, slamming her fork down. "What?! Doctor, you agreed to go research with them? Then what about us? We're left here with the data and the overdue bills?"
Dr. Selvig looked apologetic, shrugging helplessly. "I couldn't help it, Darcy. The allure of the Tesseract… it's too strong. I'll only be gone for a while. You are all very excellent, and you already have the ability to research on your own. There's nothing more I can teach you about field investigation."
Su Yi stepped in, sensing the perfect opportunity to transition his "Hong Yan" (love interests) into a more comfortable and controllable environment.
"How about this, Jane, Darcy?" Su Yi suggested, smiling. "How about you both come back with me to New York? I can personally sponsor you to open a cutting-edge research laboratory, complete with all the high-end equipment you could possibly need."
Darcy immediately cheered, strongly agreeing. "Yes! Researching in a real laboratory is much better than roughing it in a busted truck with questionable Wi-Fi! Having our own lab is a golden opportunity!"
Jane, however, had the academic purity of a true field scientist. "But Su, many of the most crucial phenomena—the temporal and gravitational anomalies—must be investigated on-site. Being stuck in a lab won't help us understand the next occurrence."
Su Yi was prepared for this. "It's just a small, initial laboratory to facilitate your data analysis, modeling, and equipment construction. If you need to go out for field investigations, I will, of course, sponsor and fully support your travel, equipment, and protection. Think of it as a central base of operations."
He then subtly leveraged the S.H.I.E.L.D. presence. "Moreover, Coulson's department will also pay attention to every major abnormal phenomenon around the World. They deal with things you don't even know exist. They can definitely provide you with a constant stream of invaluable real-world data and contacts. They also need brilliant scientists like you to provide assistance."
Coulson nodded in agreement. "Indeed. We often encounter phenomena—dimensional breaches, localized gravitational shifts, energy spikes—that we cannot understand or categorize. If we can have your expertise to interpret the data, many of our operational problems can be solved."
Jane was finally tempted. A high-end laboratory, unlimited resources, and a constant feed of inexplicable phenomena to study. It was a theoretical physicist's dream.
"I… I agree," Jane said, looking at Su Yi with gratitude. "Thank you, Su. This changes everything."
While Su Yi was internally happy—having Jane and Darcy safely in New York would make things easier—he was also a little worried. He now had at least two significant "Hong Yan" in different fields: Pepper Potts (business/tech) and Jane Foster (science/astrophysics). And there was Maya Hansen lurking in the periphery, assuming Tony hadn't completely burned those bridges.
"Whew, I still need to find a chance to come clean about the complexity of my life," he muttered to himself, planning the inevitable chaotic meeting.
Jane and Darcy were preparing to return to New York with him, while Dr. Selvig was to be taken away by Coulson to the clandestine S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility.
Before parting, Su Yi drew Coulson aside for a final, serious conversation.
"Coulson, I know you are researching the Cosmic Cube with Dr. Selvig. As a friend and an ally, I need to give you the truth you won't get from anyone else."
Coulson immediately stiffened, sensing the change in Su Yi's tone. "Go on."
"This thing possesses infinite power, yes. HYDRA researched it and invented various devastating weapons in the '40s. Stark researched its energy signature and discovered many new sustainable energy technologies. You are also researching it to create weapons for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s 'Phase 2' program."
Su Yi looked him straight in the eye. "However, you do not know its true nature. Within the Cosmic Cube, there is an Infinity Stone—the Space Stone. It is one of six relics that govern the fundamental forces of the Universe: Space, Mind, Power, Time, Reality, and Soul."
Su Yi briefly explained the cosmic significance of the Infinity Stones, his goal being to make them understand that S.H.I.E.L.D. could not, and must not, control this object.
"You cannot control this Stone now, Coulson. It is not a battery. It is a beacon. Researching it, let alone trying to weaponize it, is very likely to attract forces from beyond the Universe—forces that view your planet as a weakling ripe for conquest. These forces are already aware of Earth because of Loki's actions."
He let the implication of Thanos sink in without naming him again.
"I've said this much. You decide for yourselves how to research and use it. But I strongly advise you to focus on containment and understanding, not on building bigger guns."
Coulson did not have the authority to make such decisions, but he understood the gravity of the warning. "Thank you for the information, Su Yi. I will ensure it is included in my most highly classified report to Director Nick Fury."
The matter concluded, and everyone went their separate ways. Jane and Darcy needed a day to pack up their materials, but Su Yi was ready to return immediately, as it had been almost a month since he left his established life. He deliberately stayed an extra day to accompany the two women, ensuring they were fully prepared for the move.
Early the next morning, after bidding farewell to Jane and Darcy—who would follow shortly—Su Yi teleported back home to the quiet sanctuary of his Villa.
Returning to the large, modern home, Su Yi felt a long-lost sense of relaxation. The constant tension of battling gods and dodging S.H.I.E.L.D. was gone, replaced by the silence of his private world.
"Finally, I'm back," he sighed, dropping onto the leather sofa.
He was not in a hurry to find his other love interests or Tony Stark. He had a far more pressing piece of personal business.
"Oh, right, I still have a Summoning Card. It's time to use it."
Su Yi took a bottle of ice-cold soda from the refrigerator and sat back down. This was the moment where destiny intersected with personal preference.
"System, use the Summoning Card."
A brilliant, shimmering circle of golden light appeared on the marble floor of the living room. Within the circle, three distinct, fully rendered figures materialized, appearing as holographic projections. Su Yi could choose one of the three to summon permanently to this World, where they would be granted a new, seamless life.
When the three figures appeared, Su Yi instantly burst out laughing, hitting his knee with sudden joy.
"Hiss, System, you really understand me. You know my aesthetic entirely."
The first was Felicity Smoak from the CW Universe. An IT genius, computer expert, and legendary hacker with a quick wit and a charming, quirky personality. She was the backbone of Green Arrow's team and later became his wife. Her appearance was beautiful, intelligent, and distinctly professional.
The second was Nami from the One Piece World. A brilliant thief, surveyor, and navigator with an exceptional understanding of weather patterns. Her combat ability, while non-super-powered, was excellent, using her Clima-Tact to control the elements. She was spirited, fiercely loyal, and stunningly beautiful.
The third was Qi Lin from the Super God Universe. A super soldier and the premier sniper of the Xiongbing Company. Known for her exceptional focus, calm demeanor, and incredible combat prowess, she was the epitome of an elegant, lethal Eastern beauty.
Su Yi looked at the three beauties, feeling a bit dazzled. All three were exceptional in their own right, and goddesses in the hearts of many fans. Su Yi naturally liked all three characters very much.
"System, I want all of them. Just tell me, how many Destiny Points do you need for a triple summon?" he asked, attempting to leverage his new financial power.
[System Notification:** Each Summoning Card can only summon one character. The Host can purchase additional Summoning Cards at the cost of **1,000,000 DP** per card. **]
Su Yi secretly complained, shaking his head. "This is definitely the System's trick, first showing all the good characters to entice me to buy Summoning Cards. Then, when the time comes, only garbage will appear in the single draws." He knew the drill from his gaming days.
"I can only choose one out of three, then." He carefully considered the logistics. Felicity would compete directly with Tony and Pepper in terms of tech. Nami would be a liability without her crew and the dynamics of her world.
"I choose Qi Lin," Su Yi stated, the decision immediate and decisive. "My wife."
He had enough Western beauties and geniuses already; he needed a perfect balance. Qi Lin was an unparalleled Eastern beauty, a highly disciplined military asset, and a powerful combatant in her own right. She would bring a new level of professionalism and lethality to his growing personal army. How could Su Yi miss her?
[System Notification: Qi Lin selected. Summoning successful!** The summoned entity will be integrated seamlessly into the host's World and given a full, believable background upon arrival. **]
A blinding flash of light enveloped the projection of Qi Lin. When the light faded, the holographic image was replaced by a real, corporeal figure standing silently in Su Yi's living room.
She was wearing her sleek, functional black and grey combat armor and was equipped with her massive, distinctive anti-materiel sniper rifle, Divine Punishment, slung over her shoulder.
Seeing herself suddenly appear in a luxurious, unfamiliar modern villa, she seemed not at all surprised or flustered. Her expression was utterly calm, her hand already resting near her rifle grip. She scanned the room with the practiced, focused gaze of a master soldier before settling her eyes entirely on Su Yi.
"Are you the one who summoned me to this World?" she asked, her voice clear, controlled, and deeply resonant.
Su Yi smiled, rising from the sofa, his eyes shining with profound pleasure.
"Welcome to the Marvel Universe, Qi Lin. I've been waiting for you."