5:30 PM.
Lorien had already clocked out of work. He took Wanda out for a stroll through the city streets. Shops and scenery lined both sides, but Wanda was focused only on him, her arm looped through his as she smiled brightly.
Compared to things like sending money, gifts, or voice messages online, Wanda clearly preferred real companionship. Just the simple joy of walking, eating, drinking, or even shopping for groceries and cooking together.
The two walked like this down the crowded street. Yet no matter how packed it was, people instinctively stepped aside when they came within a meter or two.
Wanda glanced around, her eyes suddenly lighting up. She patted Lorien's arm.
"Hm?"
"Lorien, look over there."
He followed her gaze.
Well, what do you know—Tony's milk tea shop, the one they partnered on, had actually opened!
Already open?! That was fast.
"Want to try it?"
"Yes!"
They headed toward the shop. Only then did they realize the entrance was packed. The line stretched from the door out onto the street and curled around two corners.
"Whoa..."
"This many people?" Lorien stared at the crowd. There had to be over a hundred people in line for milk tea. That wasn't a queue—that was pure profit.
"So many people." Wanda looked just as surprised.
Lorien glanced up at the shop sign.
"Supertea."
So basically—Super Milk Tea? Superhero Milk Tea?
Wanda tilted her chin toward a screen inside and the giant poster at the entrance.
The poster... well...
"Tony?"
Yes. Not just any Tony, either.
It showed Tony Stark in full Iron Man armor, visor lifted, reclining in a lounge chair while sipping the milk tea he and Lorien had developed together.
Talk about self-promotion. One poster: Iron Man plus milk tea. Instant maximum impact.
And the truth was, the milk tea really was delicious. Stephen, Wanda, Gwen—everyone Lorien knew loved it. No reason ordinary people wouldn't. Which explained the massive turnout.
But there was one problem.
"How do we buy? Do we actually line up?"
Lorien eyed the shop. He wasn't someone who liked breaking rules. Sure, he could've used his abilities to get the drink, but that would've been cheating, and he avoided that unless necessary.
Wanda, on the other hand, had picked up some bad habits.
From a distance, she scanned the menu.
"Which flavor do you like?" she asked.
"Me? Anything's fine, as long as we get it."
"Good, then I'll take the same. Easier that way."
"?"
Before Lorien could process what she meant, Wanda's eyes locked on a couple just leaving the shop with two large cups.
She walked right up to them and tapped the woman's shoulder.
"Hm?"
The couple turned.
Wanda's eyes flashed red. She pulled out her wallet, slid out a hundred-dollar bill, and held it out.
"I'll buy your milk tea. Deal?"
A faint red glow flickered in their eyes. They glanced at each other, then nodded.
"Alright."
No fuss—just a peaceful trade.
Wanda handed over the bill and took the drinks. The couple left with their hundred dollars.
Tony's milk tea wasn't even expensive—$3 for a small, $4 for a large. No medium. Everyone bought large. The money Wanda gave them could have bought twenty-five cups.
Of course, the extra was basically a payment for skipping the line.
Wanda returned to Lorien, holding two cups of milk tea.
"Here, bubble tea."
Wanda handed Lorien a cup. He took it, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.
"You never cease to amaze me, Wanda."
"They agreed, so it's fine," Wanda said with a smile. "Remember when we went on the Ferris wheel? That driver was pretty willing too."
"I gave him a thousand dollars. How could he not be willing?"
"You gave too much. I think five hundred would've made him just as happy."
"....."
And so, without waiting in line, Lorien and Wanda walked down the street, each with a cup of milk tea in hand. Both were happy. The couple was happy too, walking away with a hundred dollars. A fair trade.
Wanda unwrapped her drink and took a sip. Her brow arched.
"Something's off with the flavor?"
"It's normal." Lorien took a sip himself. "At first, it was too good, so no one else stepped in to grow the market."
"You need to share the formula, let others into the milk tea business, and together squeeze against the coffee market."
"Then, once the milk tea market can go head-to-head with coffee, Tony releases the superior recipe. That's harvesting the ally market."
"Which eventually leads to monopolizing the whole thing."
Simply put—bring in allies to grow the business. Once it's big enough to hold the market, cut down some of them to strengthen yourself further. Then you become the leader of leaders.
"Business thinking is ruthless," Wanda muttered, shaking her head.
"The allies haven't even joined the market yet, and you've already planned three steps ahead to deal with them."
"You're not wrong."
Wasn't this exactly what happened with domestic smartphones? First, they joined forces to fight Apple. Once they could compete evenly—maybe even tilt the scale six to four—they turned on their own allies to carve out bigger shares.
That's why the market once bloomed with countless brands.
Now, only a few giants remained. Same principle.
...
6:15 PM.
Wanda and Lorien had been strolling for a while. Their milk tea was finished. The sun had begun to set.
"Head home for the evening?" Lorien suggested.
"Sure." Wanda nodded. Evening meant city lights. And the northern tower offered the best panoramic view. They planned to wander a bit more before going back.
Just then, Lorien's phone buzzed. He pulled it out—it was Stephen.
[Stephen: You free, Lorien? I need to talk. Ever since we left Tony's place, something's felt... off.]
Off?
Lorien glanced at Wanda.
"Let's walk a bit longer."
"Okay." Wanda nodded sweetly.
So Lorien typed back.
[Lorien Su: Let's say, hypothetically, if someone bought coffee... maybe added dessert... then even someone off work might be willing to chat.]
[Stephen: … Fine, I'll treat. I was planning to bring someone along anyway.]
[Lorien Su: Come now then. We're at Shop 27, 45th Street. There's a great sky garden café here.]
He sent the address.
Not even a second later, Wanda's gaze shifted to a storefront nearby. A golden spark flared into existence. A portal opened.
Stephen and Wong, both in robes, stepped through.
The crowd instantly turned to look.
With a thought, Lorien brushed away their attention. Passersby carried on as though nothing had happened.
"Hm?"
Stephen and Wong looked around in surprise before turning to Lorien.
"Just dampened our presence," Lorien said casually, gesturing toward the café. "Otherwise, how could Wanda and I still be walking New York streets like normal?"
True enough. Wanda had plenty of fans. Even if ninety-nine out of a hundred people didn't recognize her, it only took one. If that happened, they wouldn't have been leaving quietly today.
Stephen and Wong both nodded. Wong's expression, however, was particularly thoughtful.
As the librarian of Kamar-Taj, he understood that this ability wasn't simply magic. It was something beyond—subtle yet overwhelming. Something they couldn't begin to unravel. Best to keep practicing spells the old-fashioned way.
...
The four arrived at the Sky Garden Café. Prices here were steep, but the atmosphere was exceptional. Wooden floors, intricate décor, and lush greenery gave it a refreshing oasis-like feel in the middle of the city.
Before sitting down, Stephen and Wong both gave Lorien a respectful bow, then nodded politely to Wanda.
Lorien accepted it calmly. By title, he was the godfather of the Sorcerer Supreme. By strength, he was on another level entirely. By reality, he was the one guiding them. The respect was warranted.
Once they were seated, the waiter came and set down the menus. Everyone ordered casually before handing them back and letting him leave.
Lorien noticed Stephen's brows hadn't relaxed the entire time.
"Looks like you've run into trouble."
Stephen folded his hands, nodded, and sighed.
"Yes... a very strange matter."
Wong leaned forward, speaking seriously.
"Stephen already told me. Strange as it sounds—almost unbelievable—we both think it's likely real."
Lorien nodded.
"Tell me."
Stephen paused, gathering his thoughts, then began recounting everything.
...
"The story began the night after we left Tony's house.
From that day on, I started dreaming every single night.
And every dream was different.
But they all had one thing in common... me and a girl being hunted by some kind of monster.
Each time, we ran until we were completely exhausted.
Sometimes I tried my best to protect the little girl.
Other times, I felt dark impulses toward her.
But no matter what, it always ended in failure—or my death.
These past few days, I've been waking up from these dreams almost every night.
Even though they're just dreams, they feel terrifyingly real. When I die in them, it feels as if I truly died."
Stephen's brow was still tightly furrowed as he finished speaking. Clearly, the nightmares had been tormenting him.
Wong, standing beside him, nodded.
"When Stephen first told me, I thought it was nothing—just ordinary dreams.
But I was curious, so I examined his mind and spirit. That's when I realized...
Every time he wakes from a nightmare, it's as if he's suffered real trauma. His spirit is drained as though it truly happened."
Put simply, it's like thinking you're just playing a game. You take damage, so what?
But when your character dies... your real self feels like you've lost the same amount of energy.
After hearing this, Lorien nodded.
Wanda, standing at his side, asked,
"Have you found any clues?"
"No."
Stephen and Wong both shook their heads.
Wanda considered aloud,
"For a sorcerer to do something like this, they'd have to be far stronger than you—strong enough to completely crush you."
Stephen's frown deepened at her words. He asked sincerely,
"Could Lady Wanda do it? Or is there anyone else who could?"
The truth was, Stephen's use of "Lady" pleased Wanda greatly, since it was usually a polite title used for one's spouse.
She replied,
"If it were me, yes. But I don't believe there's anyone else in this world who could pull it off."
Her words were final.
Lorien nodded in agreement.
Seeing Lorien nod, Stephen and Wong knew Wanda wasn't exaggerating.
She was the master of Chaos Magic. Back when her powers had first awakened, she could toy with the Avengers with ease. The Hulk, in particular, had suffered terribly at her hands.
And now, she also possessed the Mind Stone. That was the source of her confidence.
If Wanda said no one else in this world could do it, then no one could. That was authority.
So Stephen and Wong found themselves frowning again.
If no one else was capable, then what exactly were those nightmares he had been experiencing these past few days?
Helpless, Stephen and Wong could only turn their pleading eyes toward Lorien.