Chapter 26: Operation Thunder
In the basement of Warehouse No. 7, in the old the military storage area in the northern suburbs.
Arthur just pulled his hand back from the cube emitting a faint blue light, his mind having just noted the conclusion, "This thing isn't right," when his ears caught a faint "crackle" coming from the ventilation duct overhead.
It wasn't the sound of equipment current.
It was the subtle friction sound of an energy detector being passively triggered and then forcibly suppressed by someone.
"Exposed."
Arthur's heart skipped a beat.
Almost simultaneously, the trace of mental connection he had left on the perimeter of the warehouse, which was linked to Wanda's remote magic cover, transmitted a violent fluctuation.
The "Cognitive Blind Spot" coverage on Wanda's side twisted violently like a popped bubble, and then an obvious energy leak point appeared.
"Damn it, something went wrong on my wife's end."
Arthur had no time to think; his Super Vision instantly penetrated the layers of concrete and steel plates above his head.
Above the warehouse, several guards who were originally dozing in the blind spots of their patrol route all stood up, holding portable detectors flashing red light, their gazes fixed simultaneously toward the direction of the Warehouse No. 7 vent.
Urgent orders came through their earpieces: "There is an abnormal energy reading in the basement of Warehouse No. 7 in Zone B! It's not an equipment malfunction! Repeat, it's not an equipment malfunction! Someone has invaded! Lock down all exits! Team A, go down and check immediately!"
Arthur clicked his tongue.
Plans couldn't keep up with changes; the sneak attack failed.
But his hands didn't stop. He pulled open the heavy filing cabinet in the office, not to look, but to feel around directly. His fingertips touched a tiny protrusion on the inner wall of the cabinet, and he pressed it hard.
"Click."
The back panel of the cabinet slid open, revealing a hidden safe behind it.
This was where Reynolds hid the real stuff. The server and filing cabinet outside were probably just decoys.
A combination lock? Doesn't exist. Arthur pinched the gap of the safe door, using a bit of his Krypton strength.
"Creak—"
The sound of metal being forcibly torn apart was exceptionally harsh in the quiet underground.
There wasn't much in the safe: a stack of paper documents packed in waterproof bags, stamped with "Top Secret" and the Hydra logo; several portable hard drives; and a strangely shaped key that looked like an energy weapon.
Arthur didn't even look; he swept everything into his magic space bag.
Then he turned and rushed toward the wall deeper in the office—the secret room where he had just found the faint blue cube.
His Super Vision penetrated again, and this time he looked more carefully.
Behind the secret room, there was a downward passage sealed by a heavy lead door. At the end of the passage was a larger space, where several transparent containers resembling medical pods were placed.
In each container lay a child, ranging in age from five or six to ten or so. They were connected to tubes, and the instruments outside the containers displayed weak vital signs and... a peculiar energy reading that was being continuously extracted.
"Energy extraction experiment... they're playing for high stakes." Arthur's eyes turned cold.
He originally only wanted to take the evidence and leave, but now that wasn't possible.
"Alarm triggered! Intruder confirmed in the basement of Warehouse No. 7! Repeat, confirmed in..."
The footsteps and shouting overhead were getting closer and closer.
Arthur punched the wall of the secret room.
"Boom!"
The reinforced concrete exploded like paper, revealing the lead door behind it.
The lead door had both electronic and physical locks.
Arthur didn't have time to play unlocking games; he took half a step back, took a deep breath, and then slammed his shoulder forward.
"Bang!!!"
The entire lead door, along with the door frame, was deformed by the Shockwave and flew off, slamming into the wall on the opposite side of the passage.
The piercing alarm now resounded throughout the entire underground space, and the red warning lights flashed frantically.
Arthur rushed into the passage like a Shadow, arriving at the experimental area at the end.
There were four transparent medical pods here; three contained children, and the fourth was empty. Next to them was a console, with a screen displaying complex energy curves and data.
"Energy source: Chaos Magic derivative variant... Extraction efficiency 17%... Experimental subject vital signs stable..."
Arthur glanced at the screen, his fist clenching.
He rushed to the first medical pod, grabbed the edge of the lid with his hand, and pried it open with force.
"Clang!"
The reinforced glass lid was completely ripped off. He quickly pulled the tubes off the child, wrapped the child in a gentle golden magic energy to temporarily stabilize their weak body and chaotic energy, and then gently carried them out, placing them on a clean carpet nearby.
He did the same for the second and third.
The three children, two boys and one girl, were all in a coma, their faces pale.
Just as he picked up the last girl, chaotic footsteps and the sound of firearms being loaded came from the entrance of the passage.
"Don't move! Put down the experimental subject!"
Five fully armed soldiers rushed in, their muzzles aimed squarely at Arthur.
Arthur stood with his back to them, gently placed the girl on the carpet, and then slowly turned around.
His face was still covered by that magic disguise, making him look like an unremarkable young man.
"Good evening, everyone." Arthur patted the non-existent dust off his hands. "Working overtime? Hard work."
The lead soldier sternly said: "Who are you? Surrender immediately!"
"Me? A kind-hearted citizen passing by, couldn't bear to see children suffering, so I came in to help." As Arthurspoke, his body suddenly moved.
It wasn't fast; it was completely impossible to see clearly.
The five soldiers only felt a blur before their eyes, and the guns in their hands suddenly became scalding hot, causing them to subconsciously let go.
"Clang, clang..."
Five guns fell to the ground, their barrels all eerily twisted into pretzels.
Then each of them felt a pain in the back of their necks, their vision went black, and they all collapsed one after another.
Arthur shook his hands: "Combat power of five, and you have the nerve to guard the door."
He bent down, picked up two children with one hand and one with the other, securing them gently with magicenergy.
Then he looked up at a surveillance camera in the corner of the experimental area, grinned, and mouthed a sentence.
In the surveillance room, General Reynolds' trusted adjutant, who saw this mouthing through the screen, instantly turned pale.
The mouthing was: "Tell Reynolds that his good days are over."
The next second, Arthur opened a Portal and stepped in, carrying the three children.
The door closed.
Almost the same second the door disappeared, more soldiers flooded into the experimental area, only to see a mess, unconscious colleagues, and empty medical pods.
"Target disappeared! Repeat, target disappeared! He took away three experimental subjects!"
"Report to the General immediately! Initiate Level 1 alert! Lock down the entire storage area!"
... In their home in Sokovia.
Wanda sat on the sofa, pale, her hands tightly clasped together, her fingertips white from the force.
On the floor in front of her, Pietro lay with his eyes closed, breathing steadily, but just wouldn't wake up.
Just a moment ago, she sensed that the magic cover on Arthur's side had been forcibly broken, followed by a violent alarm and an energy explosion.
Extreme worry and tension gripped her heart like a giant hand.
She tried to strengthen the magic interference, tried to do something, but the Chaos Magic within her was like a wild horse, boiling and surging completely out of control.
Then, Pietro, who came over to ask about the situation, was hit by the uncontrolled dark red energy Shockwavethat erupted from her, and he collapsed without even a grunt.
"Pietro... brother..." Wanda's voice trembled; she wanted to touch him but didn't dare.
Just at this moment, a flash of gold light appeared in the center of the living room.
Arthur stepped out of the Portal carrying the three children, still smelling a bit of the dust from the basement.
His first glance was at Pietro lying on the floor, and Wandaon the sofa, who was pale and trembling slightly.
"Wife?" Arthur carefully placed the children on the long sofa and walked quickly to Wanda. "Are you okay? What happened to Pietro?"
Wanda looked up, her eyes instantly reddening, her voice filled with a crying tone and deep self-reproach: "I... I don't know... something happened on your end, I was so scared... I wanted to help you, but the magic wouldn't listen to me... It... it went berserk... Pietro came over to ask me, and then he was... was knocked out by me..."
As she spoke, tears fell: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I messed things up... I almost hurt you... and I even hurt Pietro..."
Arthur squatted down, held her cold hands, passed a gentle energy over, and quickly checked her body.
magic backlash, energy disorder, mental exhaustion.
"Don't cry, it's okay, Pietro is fine, he's just unconscious, he'll be fine in a while." Arthur wiped away her tears with his thumb, his tone as relaxed as possible. "I'm fine on my end too, I got the evidence, and I saved three kids while I was at it. Look."
He pointed to the three unconscious children on the sofa.
Wanda looked at the children's pale little faces, and her tears flowed even more fiercely: "They... they were the ones being..."
"Yes, Hydra's energy extraction experiment, using children as batteries." Arthur's eyes cooled for a moment, but he remained gentle toward Wanda. "Don't move for now, steady your emotions. Your magic is very chaotic right now; I'll help you sort it out first, and then check on Pietro."
Wanda bit her lip, nodded vigorously, and tried hard to control her breathing.
Arthur held her hands with both of his, and golden Supreme Magic energy slowly injected into her, like the most dexterous comb, little by little combing through the violent, rampant Chaos Magic within her.
This process was very slow and very mentally draining.
Ten minutes later, the restless energy in Wanda's body was barely calmed down, and her complexion regained a little color, but she still looked very weak, like someone recovering from a serious illness.
Arthur let go of her hands and walked over to Pietro to check on him.
"He's fine, just stunned by the Shockwave of the Chaos Magic, a bit of a concussion, he'll wake up on his own in a few hours. There won't even be any aftereffects." He breathed a sigh of relief and casually added a small soothing magic spell to Pietro to help him sleep more soundly.
Then he walked back to Wanda, sat down, and put his arm around her shoulder.
Wanda leaned into his arms, her body still trembling slightly, her voice muffled: "Am I... useless? I promised to provide cover for you, but not only did I get exposed, I also..."
"Stop." Arthur interrupted her. "It's your first time providing remote support in actual combat, and you were facing the military-grade anti-magic detection; it's perfectly normal for some accidents to happen. When I was learning magic from my master, I got myself stuck in a wall the first time I opened a Portal; that was way more ridiculous than this."
Wanda was amused to the point of wanting to laugh, but she couldn't, just burying her face in his arms.
"But... Pietro..."
"That kid is tough; he'll be fine after a sleep, maybe his speed will even increase a bit." Arthur patted her back. "This operation was a success overall. I got the ironclad evidence of Reynolds colluding with Hydra, and three children were saved. Although the process was a bit exciting, the result isn't bad."
He paused, his voice lowering: "It's just that you suffered. The pressure was too high; the taste of magic backlash isn't pleasant, is it?"
Wanda nodded, not speaking.
"We won't play like this next time." Arthur said. "It's too risky. Either I act alone, or we both go together and fight head-on. This kind of delicate work where one infiltrates and the other provides remote support—let's wait until your magic control is more stable."
Wanda looked up at him: "You don't blame me?"
"Why would I blame you?" Arthur chuckled. "You're my wife; if something happens to you, I'd be too worried to blame you. If I'm going to blame anyone, it's those bastards in Hydra, and Reynolds, that traitor. Just wait, now that I have the evidence, watch how I deal with them."
He picked up the magic space bag and shook it. "This inside is enough to make that old guy suffer. And those three children... I need to quickly contact reliable people to settle them, and S.H.I.E.L.D.... I need to think about how to explain it."
Wanda looked at the three small figures on the sofa, then at her brother sleeping on the floor, and finally at her husband, who was smiling but had exhaustion and a trace of lingering fear in his eyes.
For the first time, she realized so clearly that protecting and fighting were not as simple and smooth as imagined.
Things can go wrong, can get out of control, can hurt innocent people (even if temporarily), and can leave people with lingering fear.
She gripped Arthur's hand tightly.
Arthur also gripped hers, smiled at her, although his smile lacked some of its usual ease.
The living room quieted down for a moment, with only the sound of Pietro's steady breathing.
Evidence in hand, children rescued.
But a subtle trust crisis between the couple and an examination of their own abilities, triggered by the accidental exposure and magic loss of control, had only just begun.
Chapter 27: Trust Test
The living room was quiet, almost eerily so.
Pietro was still lying on the floor, breathing steadily. The three rescued children were fast asleep on the long sofa, their little faces still pale. Wanda leaned into Arthur's arms; her body had stopped shaking so violently, but her tears hadn't completely dried.
Arthur held her, patting her back rhythmically, like soothing a child.
"It's okay, it's okay, it's over now." His voice was very soft. "Pietro is really fine. I checked him; he's just sleeping, doesn't even have a concussion. The three kids are the same, their vital signs have stabilized, just weak and need recovery."
Wanda buried her face in his clothes and gave a muffled "Mm."
"As for you," Arthur looked down at her, "you've made it through the backlash of the Chaos Magic, but don't use your abilities for the next few days. It's like a phone that's out of battery and needs to recharge; you need to take it slow."
Wanda looked up, her eyes red. "Then Pietro..."
"He'll be awake soon." Arthur glanced at the floor. "I estimate in a few minutes. When he wakes up... talk to him properly. Don't start crying the moment you open your mouth; that kid is terrified of you crying."
Wanda nodded vigorously and wiped her eyes.
Arthur released her, got up, walked to the kitchen, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to her. "Drink this, steady yourself."
Wanda took the cup and took small sips.
Just then, a muffled groan came from the floor.
Pietro's eyelids twitched, then he opened them. His eyes were dazed at first, looking at the ceiling, then he sat up abruptly.
"What's going on?" He clutched his head. "Why am I lying on the floor? Just now... wasn't Wanda in the living room? I came over to ask her what happened, didn't I?"
He looked at the sofa, seeing Wanda with red eyes, Arthur standing beside her, and three strange children on the sofa.
Pietro's brain worked as fast as his speed; he connected the dots instantly.
"Damn it!" He pointed at Wanda, his expression a bit hurt. "Sis, did you do this? You knocked me out?"
The cup in Wanda's hand wobbled, and water almost spilled out. She opened her mouth but couldn't get any words out; tears threatened to fall again.
Arthur quickly interjected, "It was an accident. I was infiltrating over there, things went wrong, and the alarm went off. Wanda was providing remote support from outside, the pressure was too high, she lost control of her Chaos Magic, and accidentally caught you in the crossfire."
"Accidentally?" Pietro stood up and rubbed the back of his neck. "Is that what you call an accident? I feel like I got hit in the back of the head by a truck! I'm your brother, for goodness' sake, can you be a bit more careful with your strikes?"
"I'm sorry..." Wanda's voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "I really didn't mean to... I was so panicked at the time..."
"Is being panicked an excuse to attack me?" Pietro's temper flared. "Do you know how dangerous your Chaos Magic is? Did you forget about last time when you lost control and blew up our coffee table? This time it was me, but what if next time it's some passerby on the street? Would you 'accidentally' hit them too?"
Wanda lowered her head further and further, her shoulders hunching.
Arthur frowned and stepped between them.
"Pietro, that's enough." He patted Pietro's shoulder. "This is my fault. It was me who let her do the remote support alone. That work is too precise, the pressure is too high, and I underestimated the impact of real combat on her. Blame me instead."
Pietro glanced at Arthur, his anger subsiding a bit, but he was still annoyed. "Well, you still can't..."
"I know." Arthur nodded. "So we need to clear the air now. This operation was a success overall; we got the evidence and rescued the children. But there were issues in the process—we were exposed, Wanda lost control, and you got knocked out. This is my responsibility, and I own it."
He turned to look at Wanda, his tone serious. "Wife, I also need to apologize to you. Putting you in that position and letting you bear so much pressure alone was me taking things for granted. I thought your control was sufficient, but it wasn't. This is my mistake."
Wanda looked up at him and shook her head. "No, it was my own lack of control..."
"Can you two stop blaming yourselves?" Pietro interrupted, plopping back onto the armchair nearby. "The question now is, what do we do from here on out? Keep playing like this? This time it was me, but what if next time something happens to Wanda herself?"
The living room went quiet again.
Arthur walked over to sit beside Wanda and held her hand.
"We won't play like this anymore." He said it firmly. "I won't let Wanda participate in similar high-risk infiltration missions in the short term. Either I go alone, or we both go together and solve it head-on. As for precise work like remote support, we'll wait until your Chaos Magic control improves."
Wanda looked at him. "Then am I... am I just dead weight?"
"What dead weight?" Arthur laughed. "You're my wife, not a piece of tactical gear. Your safety is always the priority. Besides, how long have you been training? When I was with my master at Kamar-Taj, for the first two years I couldn't even open a proper Portal. I often got stuck in walls or opened them in mid-air and fell flat on my face. Your progress is already genius-level."
Wanda's lips curled up, but she quickly pressed them tight again.
"But I want to help you." Her voice was firm. "I don't want to just wait at home or watch from the sidelines every time. I want to have the ability to protect others, to protect you, and to protect Pietro."
Pietro's expression softened upon hearing this.
"Sis, I know you want to help." He scratched his head. "But there's a method to helping. Your Chaos Magic... it's powerful, but it's like a ticking time bomb. We need to turn it into a controllable missile first. Otherwise, if you 'accidentally' hit me next time, it might not just be a few hours of sleep."
Wanda nodded. "I understand. So I need to strengthen my training, to truly master it, rather than being led by it."
She looked at Arthur. "Can you help me? With systematic, strict training? I don't want to be like this anymore."
Arthur looked at the determination in her eyes and smiled.
"Sure. If my wife has a request, her husband must deliver." He thought for a moment. "But my teaching might not be comprehensive enough; I need to call in some help."
"Call in help?" Wanda didn't understand.
"It means finding outside help." Arthur stood up and walked to the center of the living room. "I'll contact the Ancient One and see if she has any good suggestions or can provide remote guidance. The Sorcerer Supremeteaching someone how to stabilize magic is exactly her specialty."
He traced his fingers in the air, golden energy threads outlining a complex rune.
The rune flickered a few times, stabilized, and the calm voice of the Ancient One resonated directly in the minds of the three.
"Arthur. Is the matter handled?"
"Master, just finished, but there was a small hiccup." Arthur briefly explained the situation, focusing on Wanda's loss of control and the magical backlash. "So I wanted to ask for your advice: is there any way to help her master Chaos Magic faster and more stably? Her problem right now is that whenever she gets emotional or under pressure, she easily loses control."
The Ancient One was silent for a few seconds.
"Chaos Magic originates from the most primitive power of the Universe and is deeply bound to the host's emotions. Forced suppression is not the best strategy; guiding it to achieve harmonious coexistence with the host is the correct path." The Ancient One's voice was unhurried. "Wanda, can you hear me?"
Wanda nodded quickly, then realized the other party couldn't see her, and said, "Yes, Master Ancient One."
"You need not fear your own power. It is a part of you, like breathing. Your current predicament lies in the fact that you are still trying to 'control' it, rather than 'understand' it. Try communicating with it when you are calm, feeling its flow, just like feeling your own heartbeat."
Wanda listened intently.
"I will have Wong find a few ancient texts in the library regarding the coordination between hosts of ancient energy and their power, and send them to you via magical channels. You may use them as reference, but you do not need to copy them exactly. Your path is unique." The Ancient One continued, "Furthermore, Arthur."
"I'm here, Master."
"The evidence you obtained and the children you rescued need to be handled properly. S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently not monolithic; Hydra's infiltration is deeper than you imagine. Sending the evidence anonymously directly carries high risk."
Arthur frowned. "Then what should we do? We can't just take the evidence to a TV station ourselves, right? That would be a suicide mission."
"You could consider a more reliable intermediary." The Ancient One suggested. "Someone who has connections with S.H.I.E.L.D., has not yet been heavily infiltrated by Hydra, and has enough power to push this matter forward."
Arthur ran through the candidates in his mind, and his eyes lit up.
"Tony Stark?"
"He is a suitable choice at the moment. The influence of Stark Industries, combined with his status as 'Iron Man,' is enough to command the attention of the higher-ups. Moreover, he already has an understanding with you and knows where to draw the line." The Ancient Oneconfirmed. "As for the three children, they should not be handed over to any official agency until the evidence takes effect and Reynolds falls. You can temporarily place them in a safe house protected by a magical barrier. I will have Mordo check on them periodically to ensure their safety and health."
"Thank you, Master!" Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. "With you backing me up, I can rest easy."
"Remember, Arthur." The Ancient One's voice became a fraction more serious. "Protection is not overprotection. Wanda needs to grow, and you need to learn to let go and let her gain experience, but it must be within a safe and controllable range. Master that balance."
"Understood."
The rune faded, and the communication ended.
Arthur walked back to the sofa and sat down, looking at Wanda. "Did you hear that? Master said it too: don't be afraid, you need to understand. Our future training will follow this approach. When those books arrive, we'll study them together."
Wanda nodded, her eyes much firmer than before.
Pietro also leaned in. "So what now? How do we give the evidence to Tony? Is that Iron Man reliable?"
"He's okay for now." Arthur pulled those files and the hard drive out of his magic pouch. "As for how to give it... we can't just show up at his door. We need to think of a way for him to 'accidentally' discover these clues and then follow the trail himself. That way it's natural and won't expose us."
He stroked his chin, thinking, and suddenly smiled.
"Got it. Isn't there an Eastern European tech charity gala sponsored by Stark Industries in a couple of days? It's in the neighboring country. Tony will most likely make an appearance. When that happens, I'll find an opportunity to 'accidentally' leave these things where he can find them, but not too obviously."
"Like where?" Pietro asked.
"Like the safe in his hotel room or under the seat of his private jet." Arthur smiled like a fox that had stolen a chicken. "Either way, for him, discovering that Hydra is colluding with the military brass and using children for experiments—that's earth-shattering news, and he definitely won't be able to sit still. With his temper and power, he'll absolutely investigate it to the end and root out Reynolds. We'll just watch the show from the back and maybe deliver a finishing blow if needed."
Wanda looked at him. "What about the three children?"
"As the Master said, keep them in the safe house for now. Once Reynolds falls and things are cleared up here in Sokovia, we'll find a way to contact their real families or find a reliable welfare institution." Arthur said. "During this time, we can go visit them often."
Pietro stood up and stretched. "Alright, plan accepted. I'm going to sleep first; my head is still a bit dizzy. Sis, next time you use me to test your magic, tell me in advance so I can wear a helmet."
Wanda was amused by him. "Brother, I'm sorry."
"Forget it, forget it, we're family, no need for that." Pietrowaved his hand and walked toward his room. "You two get some rest early too, don't stay up all night making plans."
Pietro went back to his room.
Only Arthur and Wanda were left in the living room, along with the three sleeping children on the sofa.
Wanda leaned on Arthur's shoulder and whispered. "I was really... so scared today."
"I know." Arthur held her tighter. "I was scared too. That's why we need to adjust. From now on, I'll handle the dangerous stuff; you stay behind me and level up slowly. Once your level is up and your gear is ready, we'll run dungeons together. That's the right way to do it."
Wanda looked up at him. "You don't think I'm a burden?"
"Burden what?" Arthur laughed. "You're my wife, I'm happy to do it. Besides, you're a blue-chip stock; invest now, and the return rate will be super high later. When you can casually conjure a Chaos Magic shield or open a Portallike it's child's play, won't I just be able to coast to victory?"
Wanda finally smiled and lightly punched him. "You're not serious at all."
"Can being serious put food on the table?" Arthur kissed her forehead. "Alright, that's it for today. Go to sleep first. Starting tomorrow, I'll customize an exclusive training plan for you. I guarantee to turn you from a 'newbie in the starter village' into a 'high-level pro.'"
He stood up, used magic to levitate the three children, and settled them into the guest room that had been prepared well in advance.
Returning to the living room, Wanda was still sitting there.
"Come on, let's sleep." Arthur pulled her up. "If the sky falls, we'll deal with it tomorrow."
Wanda gripped his hand tightly and followed him toward the bedroom.
The crisis tonight had passed; trust had been tempered through honesty and was now even stronger. But from tonight on, the strategy for protection officially shifted.
Arthur knew clearly that keeping Wanda completely behind him was unrealistic, and she wouldn't agree to it either. But letting her bear high pressure alone like today was even worse.
The road ahead needed a different approach.
He had to be a good guide, not just a protector.
As for Hydra and Reynolds...
Arthur glanced at the heavy night outside the window, a cold sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The show was just beginning.
Chapter 28: Cleanup and New Beginnings
The quiet in the living room didn't last long.
Arthur let go of Wanda's hand, stood up, and walked to the center of the living room.
"My Master gave us a plan; we need to get to work," he said, rubbing his face. "Those three children can't stay here; they need to be sent away. We also need to find a reliable channel to submit the evidence."
Wanda looked at him: "How do we send them? Where to?"
"Summoning help." Arthur traced his fingers in the air, and the golden runes lit up again. "My Master said that Kamar-Taj has a secure channel specifically for handling 'magic-related' troubles that can't go through normal procedures."
The runes stabilized, and the Ancient One's voice came through: "Arthur."
"Master, how exactly should we handle this?" Arthur got straight to the point. "Three children, their condition is okay, just weak. Also, the stack of paper documents and hard drives I obtained."
"Location," the Ancient One said concisely.
Arthur reported the coordinates, a safe house outside the city he had temporarily opened with magic.
"In ten minutes, two mages will arrive to provide support. They will take the children to a location protected by a barrier until the situation in Sokovia becomes clear." The Ancient One's voice was steady. "As for the evidence, do you need copies?"
"Yes!" Arthur nodded. "I'll keep the originals as a trump card, but please help me make a few copies. The kind with magic encryption that can't be opened or deleted by ordinary devices."
"Very well," the Ancient One agreed. "The copies will be brought to you along with the mages. Additionally, regarding Wanda's training..."
Wanda sat up straighter.
"The root of Chaos Magic lies in emotional resonance." The Ancient One's voice echoed directly in her mind. "Your previous loss of control stemmed from excessive worry about Arthur's situation. This emotion itself is not wrong; the mistake lies in how it completely overwhelmed you, leaving you no room to converse with your power."
Wanda listened intently.
"Try to 'feel' your magic actively when you are calm, rather than 'driving' it. Like chatting with a friend, ask it why it bristles with anger as soon as you get anxious." The Ancient One paused. "Arthur, set up some low-pressure training scenarios for her, such as maintaining an energy ball of a fixed shape, or threading a needle with magical threads—in a magical sense, of course."
Arthur chuckled: "Got it, starting with kindergarten crafts."
"Building a foundation is important." The Ancient Onefinished, and the runes dimmed. "Keep the communication open; contact me if there is any situation."
The runes vanished.
Arthur turned to look at Wanda: "Did you hear that? From now on, our training content will be making energy balls and threading needles. It's all about self-cultivation."
Wanda laughed too: "Better than blowing up the living room."
"That's for sure." Arthur glanced at the three children still sleeping in the guest room. "Let's go, let's send them over first."
He opened a Portal leading directly to the safe house outside the city.
Wanda followed him over, looking at the three children lying on the simple mattress, feeling a bit distressed.
Arthur patted her shoulder: "Don't worry. Although those mages at Kamar-Taj are a bit old-fashioned, they are professional when it comes to taking care of children, much more reliable than those turncoats at S.H.I.E.L.D."
The two waited in the safe house for less than ten minutes.
The air distorted, and two people wearing dark blue mage robes walked out of a golden Portal—a man and a woman, both looking quite serious.
"Senior Brother Arthur." The male mage nodded in greeting. "We are here to provide support by order of the Ancient One."
"Thank you for your hard work." Arthur pointed to the three children. "Just these three. I've stabilized their condition; they just need rest and nutrition. Also, where are the copies of the evidence?"
The female mage handed over three palm-sized crystal flakes: "The information has been stored. It is magic-encrypted and requires Supreme Magic energy of a specific frequency to read and copy. We will not ask about the originals."
Arthur took the crystal flakes; they were slightly warm to the touch, and faint golden light could be seen flowing inside.
"Professional." He gave a thumbs up.
The two mages didn't say much; they gently lifted the three children with levitation magic, nodded at them, and turned to walk into the Portal.
The door closed, leaving only Arthur and Wanda in the safe house.
"One thing down." Arthur put the crystal flakes into his pocket. "Next, we have to make this evidence 'grow legs' and run to where it needs to go."
Wanda asked: "How will it run?"
"Find an international organization—the kind that has some influence, has no ties to Hydra, and is particularly fond of meddling in 'human rights' and 'child protection' matters." Arthur stroked his chin. "Let me think... Amnesty International? Human Rights Watch? Never mind, I'll cast a wide net. I'll make a few more copies and send them anonymously to their headquarters, and also send a copy to a few reliable major international media outlets."
Wanda was a bit worried: "Will they trace it back to you?"
"Trace what?" Arthur laughed. "I'll pack it with magicand have Master Wong throw it directly at their office door from the Kamar-Taj library's Portal array. There won't even be a courier, no fingerprints, DNA, or surveillance. It's the perfect crime—ah, no, the perfect whistleblowing."
He acted immediately, contacting the Ancient One on the spot to apply for the use of Kamar-Taj's 'International Anonymous Courier Service'.
The Ancient One was silent for two seconds, probably speechless at her disciple's behavior of using a sacred Portal array as a courier station, but she still approved it.
"The Ancient One says... this is the only time." Master Wong's voice sounded very helpless.
"Thanks, Senior Brother Wong! I'll treat you to hotpot later!" Arthur hung up the communication happily.
After handling the evidence, the two returned home.
Pietro was already awake, sitting at the dining table gnawing on bread. Seeing them return, he raised his eyes.
"Sent the kids away?"
"Sent them away, absolutely safe." Arthur sat down. "The evidence has been mailed out, too. I reckon Sokoviawill be in an uproar in a couple of days."
Pietro looked at Wanda, his expression still a bit awkward, but much better than before.
"Sis, is your head still dizzy?" he asked.
Wanda shook her head and walked over to sit down: "Brother, I'm sorry."
"Forget it." Pietro waved his hand. "Don't take it to heart. With my speed, I recover quickly. It's just, next time... never mind, I guess there won't be a next time. Are you two leaving?"
Arthur and Wanda looked at each other.
"How did you know?" Arthur asked.
"Is that even a question?" Pietro stuffed the last bite of bread into his mouth. "The Hydra stronghold is destroyed, the evidence against the top brass of the the military has been mailed, and this place is about to be in chaos for a while. You two—one full of cheats, the other a walking ticking time bomb—are you staying here waiting for someone to check your water meter?"
Arthur laughed: "Not bad, Pietro, your IQ finally caught up with your speed."
"Get lost." Pietro rolled his eyes. "Where are you going? New York?"
"Yeah, New York." Arthur nodded. "It's a melting pot there, with superheroes and villains popping up like dumplings; a couple more won't make a difference. Plus, Tony is there, so there'll be some support—even if that tin man has a sharp tongue."
Wanda said softly: "Brother, are you coming with us?"
Pietro thought for a moment: "Me? I'll stay for a while. It's just getting chaotic here, and I'm afraid the house Mom and Dad left behind will be ransacked in the chaos. Besides, I'm fast. If something really happens, I can zip over to New York to find you in a flash. You go settle in first; I'll be there soon."
Arthur didn't object: "Alright, then take care of yourself. Don't try to be a hero; call if something happens—never mind, your speed is faster than a phone call, just run over."
The plan was set. Over the next few days, Wanda began her 'kindergarten crafts' training.
Every day in the living room, she would face an apple-sized target, slowly wrapping it with Chaos Magic energy, with the requirement that the energy be stable, the shape round, and it must not explode.
At first, the apple exploded seven or eight times.
Later, she was finally able to maintain a crooked energy ball.
After that, the energy ball became relatively round and could even slowly roll according to her will.
Arthur watched from the side, occasionally giving pointers, but most of the time he was eating apples—the ones that didn't explode.
"Not bad, not bad, progress." Arthur munched on an apple. "At this rate, in two months, you'll be able to sculpt an action figure for me with Chaos Magic."
Wanda glared at him, her hand shook, and the energy ball almost exploded again; she quickly stabilized it.
Outside of training, Arthur reinforced the protective barrier of the house with several more layers and set up several trigger-based alarms and camouflage magic.
"This is called leaving a backup plan." Arthur clapped his hands. "Just in case we want to come back for a vacation later, we won't find our nest occupied."
A few days later, the news began to report the political upheaval in Sokovia.
High-ranking officer Victor Reynolds was suspended and investigated for multiple charges, including suspected collusion with illegal foreign organizations, abuse of power, and endangering child safety. The the military began a round of internal cleansing.
International public opinion was also in an uproar. Several major media outlets broke the big news simultaneously, with detailed information and solid evidence.
Arthur watched the TV news and nodded with satisfaction.
"The effect is not bad. This wave, this is what you call righteous anonymous whistleblowing."
The day of departure arrived.
Pietro helped them move their meager luggage to the car—actually, most of their belongings had been stuffed into Arthur's magic space bag; they only carried a small bag for appearances.
Standing at the door of their home, Wanda looked back at the house that held so many of her memories.
Arthur put his arm around her shoulder: "It's not like we aren't coming back. When the heat dies down, we can come back whenever we want."
Wanda nodded.
Pietro patted Arthur on the shoulder: "Once you get settled in New York, give me an address. I'll head over once I'm done here."
"Deal." Arthur bumped fists with him. "Keep your wits about you."
The three drove to the airport and boarded the flight to New York.
The plane took off, passing through the clouds.
Wanda leaned against the window, watching Sokoviabelow gradually shrink and finally be swallowed by the sea of clouds.
Arthur held her hand: "Look, the old dungeon is cleared, the new map is loading."
Wanda turned to look at him and smiled: "What are the missions for the new map this time?"
"Main quest: Live a low-profile life. Side quest: Help the wife level up. Hidden quest: Watch Iron Man show off." Arthur counted on his fingers. "As for the rewards, it's just us continuing to live our happy, shameless little life."
Wanda gently punched him, then leaned her head on his shoulder.
The plane flew steadily toward the other side of the ocean.
Arthur looked at the clouds outside the window, calculating in his heart.
New York, that's a big stage.
But this time, he intended to be an audience member first.
Occasionally, perhaps he could secretly rewrite the script.
Chapter 29: New Home in New York
The plane landed just as dusk was falling.
Arthur carried a small bag, holding Wanda's hand with his other, while Pietro followed behind, looking around curiously.
"So this is New York." Pietro looked at the swarming crowds in the airport. "It's much livelier than Sokovia."
"Well, of course, it's an international metropolis." Arthuryawned. "Let's go. First, let's go check out the house."
They hailed a car and headed straight to Brooklyn.
The driver was a chatterbox, rambling the whole way about how unstable New York had been lately—bank robberies, street brawls, and even rumors of people seeing a flying tin man zipping through the sky.
"That's Iron Man, I know." Pietro chimed in. "I've seen him on TV."
"Yes, yes, that's the one!" The driver got excited. "You tell me, with the way things are these days, superpowered individuals are popping up like mushrooms after rain. How are we ordinary folks supposed to live?"
Arthur chuckled from the backseat. "Buddy, if you look at it that way, with them taking the heat at the front, we're actually safer."
"That's true, huh." The driver scratched his head.
The car stopped in front of a three-story town Villa.
The house looked a bit old, but it was well-maintained, with red brick walls and a small front yard. It was located on a quiet street, with neighbors over a dozen meters away, offering good privacy.
"This is it." Arthur paid and got out.
Wanda looked up at the house, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and unease.
Arthur squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, it's bigger than the house in Sokovia. It's enough for you to mess around in."
Pietro had already zipped to the entrance. "Where's the key?"
Arthur pulled the key from his pocket and opened the door.
The interior was renovated and fully furnished, ready for immediate move-in. The previous owner was a retired Professor who had moved to Florida to soak up the sun, leaving the house to be rented out.
"I'm taking the third floor!" Pietro shouted, his figure already disappearing at the top of the stairs.
Arthur shook his head and led Wanda around the first floor.
The living room was quite large, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the backyard. The kitchen was fully equipped, and there was an basement.
"Do you like it?" Arthur asked.
Wanda nodded, then shook her head. "I like it, but... it feels a bit Strange."
"That's normal. New maps are always like this." Arthurtossed his bag onto the sofa. "Wait for me to set up some infrastructure."
He walked to the center of the living room and raised his hands.
Golden magic energy poured from his palms, flowing like Water along the walls, floor, and ceiling.
Wanda could feel that the energy was gentle, yet it layered and wove itself densely to wrap around the entire house.
"First layer: physical protection, bulletproof, explosion-proof, and demolition-proof." Arthur explained as he cast the spell. "Second layer: energy shielding to prevent any detection magic or technological equipment from spying. Third layer: mental alarm, automatically alerting us if anyone with malicious intent approaches. Fourth layer: spatial stability, preventing anyone from opening a Portalto break in directly—though, of course, I left a back door."
After finishing, he clapped his hands. "Done. A five-star safe house with a built-in invincible barrier."
Wanda felt the stable energy field around her, and her heart felt much more at ease.
"Then should I... try meditating?" She looked at Arthur.
"Sure, right here." Arthur pointed to the living room carpet. "I'll keep watch."
Wanda sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.
Dark red Chaos Magic energy began to slowly emerge around her, like a thin mist.
But the mist was unstable, sometimes coalescing, sometimes dispersing.
Arthur watched from the side, saying nothing.
A few minutes later, Wanda opened her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed. "It's still a bit... floaty. It doesn't feel the same as it did back home."
"The environment has changed, and the energy field is different, too." Arthur crouched down and placed his hand on the floor. "In a place like New York, the ley line energy is complex. Plus, with superheroes and villains popping up like dumplings lately, there are fluctuations on the magic side as well. You'll need a few days to adapt."
Wanda nodded and closed her eyes again.
This time she slowed her pace, guiding the magic inside her bit by bit, just as the Ancient One had said, to "feel" rather than "compel."
After another ten minutes, the dark red energy around her finally stabilized, forming a soft halo.
Arthur smiled. "Not bad, you're adapting pretty fast."
Wanda opened her eyes and smiled as well. "I think... I've found the feeling."
Just then, Pietro rushed down from the third floor, kicking up a gust of wind.
"Damn, there's a pizza place nearby that smells amazing!" His eyes lit up. "And two blocks away there's a gym with equipment that looks pretty good. Three streets further east, there's a park; it's empty at night, perfect for me to run."
Arthur chuckled. "At your speed, you must have cased the whole neighborhood in ten minutes, right?"
"You bet." Pietro said proudly. "With this ability of mine, I might not be good at other things, but I'm a professional at reconnaissance."
Wanda stood up. "Brother, have you eaten?"
"Not yet, I was waiting for you guys." Pietro rubbed his hands. "Order delivery or go out to eat?"
"Let's get delivery. I'm tired today." Arthur pulled out his phone—a new one he'd bought before coming to New York, with an anonymous SIM card he'd gotten through the Ancient One.
He ordered pizza, pasta, and salad, entering the new home as the address.
While waiting for the food, Arthur walked to the backyard and traced a golden rune in the air with his finger.
The rune flickered, and the voice of the Ancient One came through directly.
"Are you settled in?"
"Just finished. The house is nice, and the barrier is set up." Arthur reported. "Wanda tried meditating just now; it was a bit unstable at first, but it's fine now."
"Mm, new environments require adaptation." The Ancient One's voice was calm. "I will have Wong find a few books on urban ley line energy and magic adjustment, and have a messenger bring them over in a couple of days."
"A messenger?" Arthur asked. "Who? Senior BrotherMordo?"
"Not him." The Ancient One paused. "You'll know when the time comes. Also, there have been some fluctuations at the New York Sanctum recently. Have you sensed them?"
Arthur nodded. "I felt it when I was setting up the barrier. It's a familiar magical flavor, a bit like that time I helped Stephen Strange, but more... subtle."
"Go take a look, and strengthen that connection." The Ancient One said. "But keep a low profile. Don't reveal too much."
"Understood. Playing the fool to catch the tiger, that's my specialty." Arthur grinned.
The communication ended.
He returned to the living room just as the delivery arrived.
The three of them gathered around the dining table to eat pizza.
Pietro wolfed down his food, Wanda ate in small bites, and Arthur chewed on his pizza while using his Super Hearing to scan the surroundings.
Nothing unusual.
Just a couple arguing next door about who forgot to buy milk.
There were a few thugs hanging out on the street corner, but they were quite far away.
Further away, in the direction of the New York Sanctum, that magical fluctuation was still there—very faint, but constant.
"I'm going out tomorrow." Arthur said.
"Where to?" Wanda asked.
"To meet an old friend." Arthur said vaguely. "On the magic side, to strengthen ties. You stay home and continue meditating, or let Pietro take you around to look at the area and get familiar with it."
Pietro raised his hand. "I can be the tour guide, express version—I can finish touring the core area of Brooklyn in an hour."
Wanda smiled. "Okay."
After the meal, Pietro took the initiative to clean up the table, his speed so fast that only a blur remained.
Wanda leaned on the sofa, looking at the New York night view outside the window.
Brightly lit with endless streams of traffic.
Completely different from the quiet of Sokovia.
"Nervous?" Arthur sat over.
"A little." Wanda said honestly. "But with you here, I'm not afraid."
Arthur put his arm around her shoulder. "We came to New York this time to focus on low-key development. You practice your magic, I'll handle my socializing, and Pietro... let him be a street urchin. When the dungeon opens, then we'll consider entering the field."
"Dungeon?" Wanda didn't understand.
"It means major events." Arthur explained. "Like alien invasions, robot uprisings, or a purple potato monster showing up at our door, that sort of thing."
Wanda's eyes widened. "These... will really happen?"
"High probability." Arthur shrugged. "But it's fine, I'm here. Besides, there are plenty of heroes in New York—Iron Man, Captain America, Thor... They'll take the front line, and we can just jump in for the finishing blow depending on the situation."
Wanda leaned on his shoulder and said softly, "I don't want to just let you protect me. I also want to... be able to help."
"You are helping right now." Arthur said. "Getting your magic under control is the biggest help. Otherwise, the moment you try to help me, if your magic goes out of control, wouldn't that make you a liability?"
Wanda punched him lightly. "You're the liability."
Arthur chuckled.
That night, Wanda meditated again, and this time it went more smoothly than before.
Arthur checked the barrier once more, confirming there were no issues.
Pietro was already snoring in his room—speedsters, their sleep quality is also super fast.
Arthur stood in front of the living room window, watching the lights of Manhattan in the distance.
That fluctuation from the New York Sanctum was still there.
He narrowed his eyes.
Go take a look tomorrow.
Maybe I'll run into an acquaintance.
Chapter 30: The Messenger's Covenant
Arthur stood in front of the living room window, watching the lights in the direction of Manhattan, his mind still calculating the trip to the Sanctum tomorrow.
Wanda leaned on his shoulder; having just finished meditation, she felt much more relaxed.
"Do I really go with you tomorrow?" she asked.
"No need, just stay home." Arthur patted her hand. "I'm going to scout the path, get familiar with the environment, and I'll be back soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the center of the living room suddenly twisted.
A golden spark circle appeared out of thin air, rapidly expanding into a standard Portal.
A person walked out from within the Portal.
Dressed in deep blue mage robes, bald, with a serious expression, he was holding several books that looked quite thick.
Arthur was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Senior Brother Mordo? A rare guest."
Baron Mordo nodded, acknowledging the greeting. He scanned the living room, his gaze lingering on Wanda for a second.
"Junior Brother Arthur, Ms. Wanda." His voice was steady. "I have come by the order of the Ancient One."
Wanda quickly straightened up, feeling a bit nervous.
Arthur walked over: "Master sent you? What's the matter, to trouble Senior Brother to make a trip personally."
Mordo handed over the books: "These are what the Ancient One asked me to bring you. Three volumes of ancient texts regarding Chaos Magic energy coordination and host resonance, and one guide on adapting to urban ley line energy."
Arthur took them; the covers felt smooth and warm, not paper, but like some kind of treated leather. He opened one, and it was filled with dense magic runes and illustrations; some of the energy flow trajectories in the diagrams looked like EKGs.
"The Ancient One said that Ms. Wanda's problem right now isn't control, but understanding." Mordo relayed the Ancient One's words. "These books can help her better communicate with her own magic and find a balance. Especially the one on ley line energy adaptation; the energy field here in New York is complex, so reading it often is beneficial."
Wanda's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Master Ancient One, and thank you too."
"No need to thank me, I'm just the errand runner." Mordowaved his hand, then looked at Arthur. "The Ancient One also has a message for you."
"Please, go ahead."
"Your recent actions in Sokovia were handled well." Mordorepeated the Ancient One's words. "The evidence was submitted in a timely manner, the children were properly settled, and the subsequent impact is within a controllable range. However, be aware that the tentacles of Hydra go deeper than you imagine; the cleanup in Sokovia is just the beginning, not the end."
Arthur nodded: "Understood, I will be careful."
"Additionally, regarding Ms. Wanda's training." Mordocontinued, "The Ancient One suggests using the texts as a foundation, combined with low-pressure scenario simulations. For example, using magic energy to maintain a complex but stable geometric structure, or attempting to perceive and organize the stray Chaos Magic energy fragments in the surrounding environment. The focus is not on power, but on precision and stability."
"Got it, upgrading from tracing characters to copying calligraphy books." Arthur summarized.
Mordo glanced at him, didn't take the bait, and continued: "Also, regarding the magic fluctuations from the New York Sanctum that you perceived earlier, the Ancient One asked me to tell you that it was not a coincidence."
Arthur raised an eyebrow: "How so?"
"In the last few months, dimensional disturbance events globally have increased significantly." Mordo said with a serious tone. "As one of the three Sanctums, the New York Sanctum is under the most pressure. We have monitored at least three unsuccessful attempts to open dimensional rifts; the energy signatures are very chaotic, not like the work of a single faction."
"Someone trying to stir up trouble?" Arthur asked.
"Not sure, but it's definitely not normal." Mordo said. "The Ancient One has strengthened the Sanctum's defenses and told us, the resident mages, to increase vigilance. She asked me to remind you that since you are now living in New York long-term, you can keep an eye out for such anomalies. You have sufficient strength; if you truly encounter something, you can react immediately."
Arthur rubbed his chin: "Alright, then I'll be an unofficial monitor, listening to the 'magic movements' in New Yorkwhen I have nothing else to do."
"It's not as simple as just listening." Mordo pulled a small gadget from his robe, like a copper compass, but engraved with magic runes. "This is for you, a Kamar-Taj standard energy fluctuation monitor; the coverage is roughly the New York City area. If there are strong abnormal magicfluctuations, it will point to the source and heat up slightly. It's less effort than perceiving it yourself."
Arthur took it, feeling its slight weight: "Good stuff, Senior Brother is generous."
"It's public property." Mordo said expressionlessly. "Return it when you're done."
"Of course." Arthur put the monitor in his pocket. "Anything else?"
"No." Mordo turned around, preparing to open a Portal to leave, then stopped. "By the way, the barrier around your house is well set, but you could reinforce it with another layer to prevent peeping. People here in New York... are very curious."
"Got it, thanks for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Mordo nodded, raised his hand to draw a spark circle, stepped into it, and the Portal vanished.
The living room quieted down again.
Wanda walked to Arthur's side, looking at the books in his hand: "These... can I understand them?"
"Just read slowly, ask me if you don't understand." Arthur handed her the books. "Master specifically found these for you, they must be useful. You should read the ley line energy adaptation one first, solve the 'acclimatization' issues here in New York, then read the others."
Wanda took the books, opened a page, and the flowing energy diagrams inside made her eyes light up.
"It seems... a bit interesting."
"It definitely is, recommended by the Sorcerer Supreme, must be a masterpiece." Arthur walked happily to the center of the living room, raised his hands, "I'll listen to Senior Brother first and upgrade the barrier again."
Golden magic energy surged out again, this time not covering it, but weaving like a net, interspersing a layer of dense anti-reconnaissance runes between the existing barrier layers.
After doing this, Arthur clapped his hands: "Done, now our home is the safest magic black room in New York; no one can see what we're doing inside."
Wanda sat on the sofa holding the books, already starting to read.
Arthur walked over and sat down, taking out the monitor Mordo gave him to fiddle with. The needle in the center of the compass vibrated slightly, pointing towards Manhattan, which was the location of the Sanctum. There were several faint light spots around the needle, distributed in different areas, which were likely scattered magic items or residual energy in the New York City area.
"This thing is quite useful." Arthur said. "I'll put it in the living room from now on as a magic weather forecast. If the needle spins wildly or gets hot one day, it means something big is coming."
Wanda looked up from the book: "Then... we are now officially'settled' in New York?"
"Yes." Arthur put the monitor on the coffee table. "We have a house, we have a barrier, the connection to the backing (Ancient One) is established, and we have monitoring equipment. Next is low-profile development; you practice your magic, I handle my monitoring, and Pietro... let him continue being a street wanderer."
As he was speaking, the sound of a key turning came from the front door.
Pietro rushed in carrying two large bags of groceries, bringing a gust of wind.
"I'm back!" He put the bags on the kitchen island. "Bought pizza ingredients, pasta, milk, eggs, and a bunch of snacks. New York supermarkets have everything, but it's expensive."
He poked his head in to look at the living room, seeing Wanda reading a book and Arthur fiddling with a compass.
"What are you two doing? Were there guests just now?" Pietro's nose twitched. "I seem to smell... the scent of incense from a temple?"
"Are you a dog?" Arthur laughed. "Senior BrotherMordo was just here, a messenger sent by Master, to bring Wanda some study materials."
Pietro walked over and peeked at the book in Wanda's hand: "What's this? magic textbook? Any pictures?"
"Yes, quite a few." Wanda turned the book to show him.
Pietro looked at those complex energy flow diagrams, his eyes getting a bit dizzy. "Forget it, I don't understand it. You two study slowly, I'm going to cook. Homemade pizza tonight, I'll roll the dough quickly, done in five minutes."
After saying that, he dashed into the kitchen, and immediately, the sounds of clattering came from inside.
Wanda shook her head with a smile and continued reading.
Arthur leaned back on the sofa, running Mordo's words through his mind.
Dimensional disturbances increasing, the Sanctum under great pressure, potential crises in the future.
He knew this plot well.
"Wife." He said.
"Hmm?" Wanda looked up.
"Practice well and stabilize your magic control." Arthursaid. "I reckon it won't be long before a new dungeon opens here in New York. When that time comes, we might really have to step up."
Wanda closed the book, her eyes serious: "Can I help?"
"Absolutely." Arthur sat up straight. "Once you've thoroughly understood these books and your magic control is up to par, you'll be our family's strongest support. When the time comes, I'll take the front, and you can cast magicshields from the back, open Portals, and throw crowd control skills. We'll work together and absolutely crush it."
Wanda felt a bit of anticipation from what he said: "Then how long do I need to practice?"
"Depends on talent and effort." Arthur thought for a moment. "At your current pace, plus the secret manual from Master, I estimate... three months? Half a year at most, and you'll evolve from a 'newbie in the starter village' to a 'pro-player-in-training'."
"Okay." Wanda nodded and reopened the book. "Then starting today, I'll read two extra hours every day."
"Don't push yourself too hard, balance work and rest." Arthur stood up. "You keep reading, I'll go figure out the monitor's functions a bit more, and by the way, plan how to monitor the magic movements in New York in the future. This job needs to be done long-term; there has to be a system."
He walked to the study and took out a notebook—a normal one, not a magic item.
On the first page, he wrote: New York magic Monitoring Plan.
Below, he listed a few points:
1. Use the monitor to scan the whole city at scheduled times daily, recording fluctuation points.
2. Focus on the direction of the Sanctum and areas with frequent historical fluctuations.
3. Upon discovering anomalies, perform remote perception assessment first, do not intervene lightly.
4. Report the situation briefly to Master periodically (weekly?).
5. Combine with my own Super Hearing to cross-verify abnormal events.
After writing, he glanced at the living room.
Wanda was still reading, her side profile looking very focused.
In the kitchen, Pietro was already humming a tune while sprinkling cheese.
Arthur closed the notebook.
The new life in New York has officially begun.
Low-profile, but must be prepared.
Because he knows the script; what is meant to come, will eventually come.