Noah wasn't threatening Strange. He was stating a fact.
For someone who had walked out of the London Sanctum and still wanted to become a sorcerer somewhere else, that idea was nothing more than a pipe dream. No matter how talented Strange might be, with Noah standing at the very front of the magical world, no one would dare casually take him in.
Kamar-Taj's reputation had never been built on empty words. It was backed by strength.
Noah, the apparent head of Kamar-Taj-though in truth only second-in-command, since the real boss never left the London Sanctum-held terrifying influence across the entire magical world.
More importantly, the changes Noah had brought to that world were beyond imagination. No one foolish enough would cross him.
Talent alone meant little. Without proper training and guidance from someone in a high position, even a genius would stagnate.
Rather than worrying about a lone prodigy with no development path, it was far more practical to cultivate more sorcerers who met a reliable standard.
This was common sense throughout the magical world. No one would offend Kamar-Taj over something so trivial.
As for the contract, whether it was signed or not was ultimately irrelevant.
Noah had only created it to reinforce something in Strange's mind-to make him clearly understand that he could no longer remain the same person as before.
He had no interest in slave contracts or anything of that sort.
Strange hesitated for a long time after reading it, but the decision itself had been made long ago.
Equal exchange was natural. He understood that better than most.
After carefully examining every clause, Strange signed his name without hesitation.
From that moment on, the former Sorcerer Supreme officially stepped into the magical world.
There were no elaborate rituals. No drawn-out lectures.
Noah only told him one thing, directly and clearly.
"I am your only hope."
Of course, proper guidance would still follow.
After all, Strange had lived in the ordinary world for decades. His worldview and values had already taken shape. Guidance in that regard was still necessary.
Even so, Noah wasn't particularly worried.
Tony had gone through something similar back then.
After receiving Noah's confirmation and watching him take in a doctor as an apprentice, Tony felt it was about time to leave.
He assumed that once Strange entered Noah's Sanctum, he would mostly serve as a handyman who occasionally treated illnesses.
Tony didn't mind.
In fact, he thought it was pretty good.
The fusion of science and magic, driven by both him and Noah, was slowly spreading through the magical world.
Medicine, as a core branch of scientific research, clearly had significant value.
At the very least, Tony believed it was essential when it came to constructing a human body.
They couldn't rely on cloning technology forever.
Sure, it was fast, convenient, and mature-but shouldn't the magical world have something uniquely its own?
Noah had no idea what Tony was thinking.
If he did, he'd probably give him a perfect score.
Taking Strange with him and calling Wang out of the library, Noah led them to a room.
"This will be your living quarters from now on."
Noah glanced around, clearly satisfied.
The room next door had once belonged to Tony.
"How is it? Not bad, right?"
"...More technologically advanced than I imagined," Strange said after carefully examining the room.
"Computers, televisions, that sort of thing?" Noah tilted his head. "That's normal. Tony's one of us. We're working on merging technology with magic, so everything from the ordinary world is here. Including the internet."
Strange nodded.
It surprised him, but it also felt natural.
After all, that was Tony Stark. With someone like that involved, nothing was impossible.
As for how Tony had gotten mixed up with sorcerers, Strange chose not to ask.
Given his current position, asking too many questions wasn't wise.
He also couldn't quite read the personalities of the people here.
If he offended someone by mistake, the consequences wouldn't be pleasant.
"Oh, right."
Noah seemed to remember something. A faint golden glow appeared in his hands and flowed directly into Strange's.
The next instant, Strange felt intense heat surge through his hands.
It was so sudden that he almost cried out.
Then it vanished just as quickly.
Moments later, the pain was gone.
What replaced it was control.
Perfect control.
Strange stared at his hands in disbelief.
They weren't trembling.
The familiar weakness was completely gone.
"This... you healed my hands?" His voice trembled, close to tears.
He hadn't expected it to happen so easily.
"Sort of. Not completely," Noah replied casually. "Learning magic isn't as simple as you think. If you can't even hold a wand steady, what exactly are you going to learn?"
"Then this is...?"
"My magic at work," Noah said. "When you can achieve this on your own, you'll be considered barely qualified."
He spread his hands.
He looked extremely punchable.
Strange didn't feel that way at all.
What others gave you, no matter how long you held it, still belonged to them.
Only what you mastered yourself truly became yours.
Noah's action conveyed a single message.
This was easy for him.
The method was simple, but devastatingly effective.
At that moment, Strange's entire mind was filled with one word.
Magic.
Something that completely overturned his worldview.
He was almost impatient to start learning.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Noah suddenly spoke again.
"Shave the beard. Don't keep it. Hair can stay. Wang, take him to get his hair permed later."
"A perm?" Wang stared at him, confused. Then he thought for a moment and nodded. "Curly hair, clean-shaven. Anything else?"
"Get rid of the gray at his temples," Noah said thoughtfully. "And buy him some proper clothes. Brown trench coat. Long scarf. Oh, and make him pay for it himself."
"...You're really bored," Wang muttered.
He didn't understand Noah's reasoning, but he would never openly object.
Besides, Strange's current appearance really was too sloppy.
It damaged the long-established image of the London Sanctum.
Sorcerers valued appearance.
Just like their former headmaster, Professor Filius Flitwick.
Because of his stature, he had ultimately missed out on becoming headmaster.
It was unfair, but undeniable.
When magical ability was equal, image points mattered.
Strange looked at Noah, completely confused.
He had no idea what kind of image Noah was trying to mold him into.
But this wasn't the time to ask questions.
As for paying for his own clothes?
That was reasonable.
He wasn't short on money.
And so, Strange settled into Noah's Sanctum.
The environment was far better than he had expected.
Computers. Televisions. Internet.
At the very least, he wouldn't be cut off from society like some primitive man.
After sending an email to Christine Palmer to let her know he was safe, Strange began eagerly awaiting the start of his magical career.
After leaving the room, Wang glanced at Noah with curiosity.
"What's the deal with him? Another one of someone's connections?"
"More or less," Noah said, nodding. "The Ancient One wanted me to keep an eye on him. Talented, but undeveloped. In another universe, he becomes the Sorcerer Supreme."
"In another universe, he takes your spot?" Wang asked in disbelief. "I didn't expect you to be this useless sometimes."
"It's not that I'm useless," Noah said calmly. "I just don't exist in that universe. If I did, he wouldn't stand a chance. Though, now that I think about it, the you in that universe is very different from you now."
"Oh?" Wang's interest was piqued. "In what way? Power? Knowledge?"
"Both," Noah replied. "Also, you're fatter."
"..."
Wang rolled his eyes.
Everything this guy said was infuriating.
He'd emphasized countless times that he wasn't fat.
He was muscular.
Sorcerers like Noah were rare back then.
Now they were becoming the majority.
There was no denying it.
This guy was a direct hit to the classic Gandalf-style sorcerers.
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