"Everything's set. Now we just wait for little Loki to personally deliver the Mind Stone."
Aiden Cross stretched lazily.
One more A-Class combatant, and a free Infinity Stone on the way. A good day.
The doors burst open.
"Hey! The kid I'm recommending is way better than yours!"
"Impossible. The boy I found is clearly superior!"
Tony Stark and Gareth Ironblade walked in mid-argument, each loudly praising the "genius candidate" they wanted to recommend.
Tony argued from every angle.
Gareth Ironblade refused to yield an inch on principle.
"President!" they said in unison.
"What is it?"
"I want to recommend a hero prospect! He already has B-Class strength!"
"I want to recommend a hero prospect! He can hold back a Demon-level threat!"
They glared at each other.
"He's brave, selfless, and unbreakable."
"He's sharp, clever, and resilient."
"Your candidate is probably some dumb musclehead!"
"Yours is probably a coward hiding inside a metal suit!"
"Are you mocking me?!"
"Yes."
"Fight me?"
"Gladly."
Tony tapped his wrist. The Mark VII armor unfolded over him.
Gareth Ironblade slowly drew his massive runic greatsword.
If they fought head-on, Tony's win rate was close to zero.
But Tony had one unbeatable advantage:
He could fly.
Aiden Cross pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Stop. You two came to recommend someone. Why are you about to start a war?"
They reluctantly stood down, still glaring.
"So," Aiden Cross asked, "who are you recommending?"
"Spider-Man."
"Peter Parker."
Silence.
They stared at each other.
"…You've been arguing this whole time about the same person?"
Aiden Cross sighed.
The timeline really had drifted. Peter Parker should still be a kid at this point.
Clearly, the Hero Association's arrival had already warped events.
Tony coughed awkwardly. Gareth Ironblade cleared his throat.
"Well… I saw him first. He treats me like an idol."
"No, he admires me. I fought alongside him."
They started bickering again.
Aiden Cross tossed a member bracelet to Tony.
"Enough. I approve Spider-Man's entry into the Hero Association."
Tony nodded. "The kid wants to keep his identity secret."
"That's fine. You know our rules. We don't force people. Show up when it matters. Live your life the rest of the time."
Peter Parker was still a high schooler.
Letting him be a part-time hero was perfectly acceptable.
Just then, Aiden Cross sensed something moving at high speed.
A figure appeared behind him.
Aizen.
"Boss. Two urgent matters require your attention."
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Read Chapters ahead: [email protected] / KaiOynx