**Chapter 388: Collection**
The Museum of Lost Civilizations is located in the most bustling commercial district on New York Fifth Avenue, in the hottest area. Owning a shop in this place, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, could almost guarantee three generations of ordinary people a life of ease and comfort.
And to be able to build a private museum covering tens of thousands of square meters in such a location, the Mastermind behind it naturally possesses wealth unimaginable to ordinary people and a status towering above the entire Federation's upper echelon. One must know that the location here is not something ordinary businessmen can touch.
The Collector Tivan lay comfortably on a soft couch rocker on the second floor of the museum, looking down at the visitors coming and going on the first floor, listening to the exclamations of wonder and praise from those ignorant humans below. A satisfied smile, as if having inhaled something pleasurable, appeared on Tivan's face. As a Cosmic Elder with an age almost equal to the Universe itself, the things Tivan had experienced were simply unimaginable to ordinary people. In his long life, he had spent most of his time, like his brother, holed up in Knowhere, focusing on his small hobby, and did not wish to interfere too much with the affairs of the Universe.
For Tivan, being a Cosmic Elder, having his residence blown up, and even being captured himself, was a naked insult.
However, in the past few years on Earth, Tivan had found a better form of entertainment. He liked listening to others praise his collection items.
In recent years, he had traveled across the entire Earth, from the Himalayan Peaks to the Mariana Trench, from Mount Olympus to K'un-Lun and the Qinling Mountains in a Certain Country, from Death Valley on the Kamchatka Peninsula to Lop Nur in **. His footprints were left everywhere.
Of course, Tivan wasn't in love with adventurous travel. For Tivan, who possessed Skyfather peak strength, there were few places even in the entire Universe worth exploring.
He was merely searching for collection items lost in those dangerous places on Earth that outsiders could hardly reach.
Wave after wave of tourists entered the museum, looking at the ancient, mysterious, or sci-fi exhibits in the museum's glass cases. Their exclamations of admiration almost made Tivan's bones feel soft.
"Daddy, what's this?"
"Oh, honey, this is a ship in a bottle! An ancient model of a sailboat!"
"But how can it be so big and fit into such a small bottle! How did they do it? Is it magic?"
"No, no, honey, this isn't magic, but a technique. First, small parts are put into the bottle separately, and then tools are used to reach in and assemble them from the inside!"
"But, Daddy, it clearly says here it's the Black Pearl sealed by black magic! Isn't black magic magic?"
Tony Stark, wearing a gray suit and brown-red sunglasses, looked at his honey looking at him seriously, his heart almost melted. He bent down and picked up the small person, giving her a fierce kiss amidst her disgusted gaze: "That's right, it's magic. How about Daddy teaches you spellcasting later, scientific magic..."
"Daddy, your beard needs trimming, it's tickling me!"
"Alright, honey, I'll shave my beard clean later. Let me kiss you again!"
"No, I hate it!"
Having entered the energy industry, Stark Industries, relying on selling the Arc Reactor, now has a market value exceeding one trillion US Dollars. As the Major Shareholder of Stark Industries, Tony Stark's wealth has at least increased tenfold.
Two years ago, Tony Stark married Pepper Potts and had a daughter. Tang Song was also invited to attend their wedding and the baptism of Tony Stark's daughter.
However, because Tony Stark had always suspected Tang Song was involved in Nick Fury's Death, he refused Tang Song's suggestion to be his daughter's Godfather.
Unlike the disaster-prone Marvel Cinematic Universe next door, the superpowered crime rate on Earth in this World has greatly decreased due to Tang Song's intervention.
After the Underworld and Dark World were unified, a Dark Order wiped out the chaos.
Some youngsters who had gained supernatural powers and were just starting out, wanting to make a fortune with the little superpower they possessed, were reported to the enforcers by the street Thugs before they could even begin their actions of robbery or robbing armored cars.
These enforcers in the darkness are composed of Werewolf, Vampire, and Cleaner. The Federation's Gang are their informants. These Dark Creatures maintain the order of the supernatural world in their own way.
Compared to these ferocious enforcers, those criminals who awakened superpowers are as naive as newly hatched chicks!
In the Federation, due to the extensive highway network, every Federation Person, after becoming an adult, habitually takes a road trip.
The environment of the Federation, with its vast land and sparse population, easily leads to some accidents, such as Wrong Turn, the Cannibal Tribe living in the woods, and the Evil God Town that uses living sacrifices to Evil God in exchange for favorable weather and a good harvest for their fields.
After Director Maria Hill took over S.H.I.E.L.D., she immediately began to deal with these cases involving mysterious events.
Deputy Director Frank led S.H.I.E.L.D.'s action team to clean up these incident locations one by one. In some remote Small Town in the Federation prone to supernormal anomalies and rarely visited by people, some Werewolves from the Dark Council would even openly take on the roles of Police Chief and Police Officer under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s arrangement.
If they encountered a difficult character, such as a psychopathic killer near Crystal Lake, the Werewolf Tribe responsible for handling this Matter, after losing several tribesmen, applied to the Dark Council for help.
That psychopathic killer with an undying body was finally banished to Hell by two Black Wizards from the Dark Council using banishment magic.
Ordinary Person's criminal behavior will not be handled by the Dark Council behind the enforcers, but when it comes to superpowered criminal behavior, those who dare to challenge the rules are either sent to an Alien Planet to mine or sent to the Raccoon City Hive Laboratory to become guinea pigs.
In the past two years, the overall superpowered crime rate on Earth has plummeted, making the General Public even doubt if the alien invasion they experienced in the past was just a dream.
This also made Iron Man, who had ushered in the era of Earth's supernatural exposure, feel somewhat useless.
However, compared to the days of wearing his armor and acting as a vigilante, his life now had something more important. Holding his most loved one, Tony moved through the crowd. Whenever his daughter's chubby finger pointed, he would carry his daughter to the front of the exhibition hall and act as a temporary guide.
"This is a hammer, from Asgard. The plaque says it's the weapon of an Asgardian Berserker!" Looking at the plaque under the mace, the guide Tony introduced to his Little Princess.
"Berserker, is that the mythology story Mother told me? I remember, I remember, Mother told this story. There are Allfather Odin, there's Thor, and there's Loki. I hate Loki, he shaved Sif's hair off, he's a big bad guy! I want to beat him up for Sif!"
The cute little girl clenched her chubby fist, making fierce expressions, but a little girl just over two years old, delicate and lovely, pouting, only looked cute.
That feigned fierce expression almost melted Tony Stark's heart! He lowered his head and bumped his forehead against his daughter's forehead: "So brave, my honey!"
"Loki is indeed a big bad guy, but Daddy has already taught him a lesson, he won't dare to cut anyone else's hair again!"
"Really?!" The little girl's eyes seemed to sparkle, looking at her Daddy with worship.
"Of course it's true. I can introduce you to Aunt Sif later, and Thor!"
"But aren't they people from mythology stories?" The little girl bit her fingers, full of doubt.
"They are all Daddy's friends. Uncle Thor and Aunt Sif held you when you were little!"
"Why don't I remember?"
"Mr. Stark?!"
Tony Stark, who was holding his beloved daughter and visiting the exhibition hall, suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.
He turned around with his daughter in his arms.
"Lane! What a coincidence, are you also visiting the museum?"
Lane was still dressed as a Butler in a black tuxedo, wearing white gloves on his hands. He greeted Tony Stark and gently shook his head: "Recently, I've been too busy with the Group's matters to have time to visit museums. I'm here to find someone. This is Morgan, I didn't expect her to have grown so big in the blink of an eye, truly adorable!"
The best compliment for a Father is to praise his daughter. Tony Stark's gaze immediately softened a lot upon hearing Lane's words. He lowered his head and said to Morgan:
"This is Uncle Lane, you met him when you were little!"
"Really? But I don't remember!" Morgan Stark looked at the handsome silver-haired uncle in front of her, biting her fingers and shaking her head.
"You were too young back then! You were still a little baby!"
Lane proactively bent down and greeted the little girl: "Hello, Morgan!"
"Hello!" Morgan replied timidly.
Lane reached out and stroked Morgan's head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a greenish Jade Pendant, handing it to the little girl: "Here, take this. This is a gift from Uncle! A small toy I made myself!"
The little girl didn't take it but looked back at her Daddy.
A trace of blue light flashed under Tony Stark's sunglasses lenses, scanning the Jade Pendant in front of him. He stroked his daughter's head.
"Since it's a gift from Uncle Lane, you should take it. Don't forget what Mother taught you, be polite!"
Little Morgan took the Jade Pendant in her hand. It felt cold and cool and carried a fragrance. Holding the Jade Pendant, she sweetly and politely said to Lane.
"Thank you, Uncle!" "Such a good girl, you're welcome!"
"Counting it, we haven't seen each other for almost two years, have we!"
"The last time we met was at Ms. Stark's baptism ritual, but I've been meeting with Ms. Potts regularly! After all, our Tang Group and Stark Industries have a rather close cooperation!"
"You two are both busy people, unlike me, I've completely let go of the Company's matters. By the way, in the past two years, I've rarely heard any information about Mr. Tang. How has he been recently?"
"The Boss is like you, he rarely asks about the Company's matters anymore. He's been vacationing Outside for the past two years!"
Little Morgan occasionally looked up at this unfamiliar silver-haired uncle, then turned to look at her Daddy. She held the greenish round Jade Pendant tightly in her hand. A cool, refreshing aura continuously flowed into her body from her Palm, then transformed into a warm feeling. This feeling was very comfortable.
"I still have some matters to deal with, Mr. Stark, so I won't bother you anymore! This museum is also an industry of our Tang Group. If little Morgan sees anything she likes, just tell me!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Tony Stark, Lane parted ways with Tony Stark.
"You go ahead and be busy!"
Tony Stark's gaze lingered on Lane's retreating back. In the past two years, he had been investigating the matters from back then through J.A.R.V.I.S., but even with the most advanced artificial intelligence in the world.
His investigation had made little progress. Natasha Romanoff's betrayal, Nick Fury's Death, the deaths of Hawkeye and Captain America – there was clearly a Manipulator controlling things behind the scenes, but no matter how he investigated, it was like looking at flowers through a fog.
It was as if the entire world was his resistance. He had always suspected Tang Song in his heart, but he couldn't find evidence. "Daddy! Look, the pattern on this is moving!"
Little Morgan's words woke Tony Stark from his contemplation. He lowered his head to look at the Jade Pendant in his honey's hand. On the surface of the round Jade Pendant, an Eastern Divine Dragon was carved.
Half of this coiled Eastern Dragon's body was hidden in the clouds and mist. The dragon whiskers, dragon horns, and even every single scale were carved so lifelike. Just as his daughter said, this Dragon seemed to be moving and swimming through the clouds and mist.
"Honey, Daddy will hold this Jade Pendant for you first. I'll give it back to you when we get home. How about we look at the exhibits in the museum first?"
"Okay!" Little Morgan reluctantly handed the Jade Pendant in her hand to Tony Stark.
"Such a good girl!" Tony Stark took the Jade Pendant and casually put it in his pocket.
"Daddy, did that silver-haired uncle just say I can take anything I like? Is that true?"
"Our little Morgan can't just take other people's things, you know. If you like collecting, Daddy will pay to build you a separate museum."
"Okay then, Daddy, I don't want anything from this museum anymore. I want to go to Dinosaur Park. I saw on television that there are big dinosaurs in Dinosaur Park!"
"Then we'll go to Jurassic Park tomorrow!" Tony Stark held his little adorable one and agreed to his daughter's conditions without thinking.
Little Morgan hesitated, sucking on her fingers: "But I want to go with Daddy and Mother!"
"When we go back, tell Mother, and she'll come with us!"
"Really!" Little Morgan instantly became cheerful upon hearing Tony Stark's words, urging her Daddy to quickly carry her around the museum.
"Daddy, what's this?"
"Let me see, this is Dragon Bone..."
"Is it the bones of those big dinosaurs?"
"Daddy, what about this?"
"This is a Crystal Ball used by a Witch for spellcasting! Witches secretly catch children at night, you know! Here comes the Witch!"
"Bad Daddy, ah, giggle, that tickles..."
Lane took a private elevator to a Room on the second floor of the museum. Tivan, lying on the rocking chair couch, did not give Lane a pleasant complexion upon his arrival.
"Mr. Tivan!"
Lane directly pulled up a chair and sat opposite Tivan.
"Be gentle with your action, this chair is the only one in the world! It was sat on by that king in your humanity's history named Alexander!"
Lane looked down at the chair, which was clearly Middle Ages in style, with surprise. He blinked his eyes at Tivan: "If you need it, I can find you a few more identical chairs in the antique market!"
Upon hearing Lane's words, Tivan was stunned and almost jumped off the couch. Looking at the chair behind him, his complexion changed dramatically: "Are you saying this chair is fake?"
"Where did you buy this chair? I will find the person who cheated you and hand them over to you to deal with!"
Lane found it very interesting watching Tivan's ever-changing complexion.
"Hmm, an antique dealer, he had great appreciation skills. He cheated me, and I even invited him to visit my collection..." Tivan recalled the glib-tongued fat man from back then, cursing incessantly in anger.
However, Tivan quickly composed himself. He looked up at Lane and said grumpily: "Compared to that damned fat man, you and your Boss are even more detestable.
The last time you came, you tricked me out of the Aquaman Trident that I had finally found. Tell me, what collection of mine have you taken a fancy to this time!"
Lane smiled: "Mr. Tivan, you've misunderstood. I came this time just to ask you for some information! How much do you know about the Universal Bank?"
"Universal Bank?" Tivan looked up at Lane with surprise: "Why would you think of asking about them?"
"People from the Universal Bank found us and want to gift us a portion of their shares! The Boss asked me to discuss this matter. I want to understand the background of the Universal Bank from you. Our people have heard that the creator of this Universal Bank seems to be from the previous Universe!"
"The previous Universe?!" Tivan shook his head: "Those guys who created the Universal Bank are not survivors from the previous Universe. Let me think, oh, right, it was about two hundred million, or three hundred million years ago. Back then, the Universe Space-Time inexplicably became chaotic. A few of them appeared in this Universe in a Spaceship for no reason. They were active for a while back then and created an Interstellar Express Company.
But time is the cruelest weapon for you short-lived species. Later, those who created the Universal Bank all grew old one by one. They created a bank and froze themselves in deep sleep within the bank's Vault, leaving behind a greedy Mechanical Lifeform named Bande to guard the bank!"
Tivan found that distant memory in his mind, a memory he didn't want to recall. Around three hundred million years ago, Space-Time seemed to have become chaotic. That feeling was very bad.
He felt like an ant hiding in an anthill, able to sense two giant creatures fighting and killing Outside. The aftershocks of the battle between those two existences shook the entire anthill.
Right, he remembered. That Lost Paradise Mountain wasn't a relic from the previous Universe either, but something that fell from outside the Universe.
"Mr. Tivan, Mr. Tivan!"
Lane looked at Tivan, who had fallen into contemplation, feeling a bit strange. He called out to him twice, finally interrupting his memories.
"Your Boss wants to know if the Universal Bank is a threat to you, right?" Tivan curled his little finger: "The Universal Bank has been established so long and has never interfered with the development of the Universe. This is a rule set by that Professor surnamed Bai back then. That robot, besides being greedy for money, lecherous, shameless, and afraid of Death, has no ambition!"
Lane blinked as he listened to Tivan's evaluation of that robot, feeling that the description Tivan used sounded somewhat familiar.
"Lane kid, want to make a deal!"
"What deal?" Lane looked at Tivan! "I just remembered, I still hold five percent of the Universal Bank's shares. You have your Boss return my collection, and I'll transfer these shares to you!"
"You should discuss this with our Boss yourself, I can't make that decision!" Lane shook his head repeatedly. Lane knew clearly that in the past two years building the Thirty-Six Heavens, his Boss had certainly not spared Tivan's collection. It's hard to say how much is left now.
There was no other method. To build the Heavenly Court described by the Boss, from construction to material selection, everything used was undoubtedly the good things the Boss called Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
Counting throughout the entire Universe, who has more good things in their hands than The Collector Tivan? That is an existence that has been collecting since the birth of the Universe.
However, during this time, he began building the Great Luo Heaven. Lane, as the supervisor, knew clearly that Tivan's collection, painstakingly accumulated like a squirrel, was probably running low.
Lane couldn't help but look at Tivan with a bit more pity in his eyes.
"What kind of gaze is that, kid?" Tivan felt a chill run down his spine from Lane's look.
(end of chapter)