Chapter 576

After receiving the reply from the Watcher of Azathoth, everyone quietly exhaled in relief.

Su Lin temporarily set aside the luggage he had wanted to take and run away with, standing silently in place, pondering Meng Qi's proposal about recovering the "Fragment of the God of Light" from the Reincarnators.

It was certain that if enough fragments were recovered and fully digested through the Creation Dao within his own body, he could consider arranging some love stories for those few peeping members in the group.

The TV was playing Loki Season 2, but apart from Teacher Yan Sen and Ge Xiaolun, who were intently watching, everyone else was analyzing what risks this mission might conceal.

【Mr., I must remind you that given New York's current traffic conditions, you and the other three ladies must depart no later than ten minutes from now to catch your flight to the Republic of Ghana.】

"Are you still going there for vacation?" Su Tuoni asked sincerely.

Su Lin stared at him blankly for a long moment, then said: "I still prefer the version of you who was wary, afraid I'd devour the world—could you please restore that a little?"

Su Tuoni raised an eyebrow, then casually straightened his back, stretched, and turned to ask:

"JARVIS, what are the distinctive customs of this place called the Republic of Ghana? Arrange something special for our esteemed guests."

Well, there was a bit of awkwardness.

The more he had wanted to send away the "Devourer of All Worlds," the more he now wanted to keep the "Merciful and Great Lord Haotian."

After all, Su Tuoni knew that if Su Lin and the other group members truly left, the hidden danger alert in this world would likely skyrocket to explosive levels.

It might sound strange, but right now, Tony Stark truly felt a certain sense of security in his identity as the "Devourer of All Worlds."

Unprecedented security.

It was like the feeling in a horror movie when you encounter terror, only to realize you're also the villain—and even more ruthless than they are.

Just kidding.

Even if everything in the "movie" were real, it was still far better than facing the ending of the First Heaven alone, since that "Creator God" regarded everything in the current universe as an enemy.

Rely on the Avengers, who had only been formed for less than a month?

Come on—even in other timelines, everyone had been wiped out enough times already.

JARVIS: 【Ghana does have a unique custom: during divorce, one must wear a wedding gown.】

【Your personal tailor has been contacted and is en route to the airport to urgently customize three wedding gowns and one formal suit.】

"Even by the Amber Calendar, I haven't turned eighteen yet," Xing Mangu said, scratching his head in confusion. "Could you check if the orthopedic wards are full?"

"Wear wedding gowns together?!" Huiye covered her mouth in shock. "Isn't that too fast? Shouldn't we at least go to the Moon Capital to propose first?"

Can't you hear the keyword "divorce"?

Even during Su's obsession with two-dimensional girls, neither of you two were among his virtual wives.

"You're secretly thrilled, aren't you?" Yi Leina crossed her arms and glared sideways.

"More than thrilled," Su Lin glanced at the few bystanders watching the spectacle and said:

"What are you laughing at? Make sure you give three shares of the gift money!"

Ruining Su's reputation?

Don't rush—I can self-destruct myself!

"If you dare start the banquet, I'll give it," Ye Fan waved his hand. "How many people? I'll give how many shares."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan slammed the table and stood up: "Count me in!"

Meng Qi sneered: "This poor Taoist joins too."

Su Tuoni spread his hands: "Shouldn't we discuss the universe's—"

"Can I invite Zhao Shuangdian too?"

Li Huowang remembered how Yi Donglai had insisted on giving him benefits recently and interrupted: "Brother Su, you can collect one more share of gift money."

He then cautiously glanced at Yi Leina's expression.

"Including the girls born from the Fallen Mother Goddess and the Tree of Desire, plus the heroines from your original story, plus Zhao Shuangdian and Yao Tian."

"And the Taiqing Empress Princess you were betrothed to in the future, as Teacher Su Tuoni mentioned earlier."

Yi Leina simply counted on her fingers, then said to Su Lin: "Can I have thirty percent of the gift money you receive?"

"Then just hold separate ceremonies—you go with Shay, Aemnesia, and Miss Broom, and you'll get another ten or so shares."

Su Lin came up with a compromise, his smile cold as he looked at Ye Fan and asked: "You won't default on your payments, right?"

Ye Fan: "."

Listening to the two of them recite each other's romantic entanglements like a detailed inventory, and even enthusiastically agreeing.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan felt sweat forming on his forehead. "Is it because Tony Stark's place doesn't have air conditioning?"

Homura Akemi stared blankly, then tugged at Song Shuhang's sleeve and whispered: "Are people in other worlds really this open?"

There are actual children here!

Song Shuhang was left speechless. He wanted to tell those shameless ones to mind their behavior, but realized he himself belonged to the category of "somewhat moral but not much."

"Are those two mutual devourers of the sea king and sea queen?" Lu Mingfei couldn't help saying.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan wiped his sweat and suggested: "Let's focus on the bigger picture for now—personal matters can wait."

"JARVIS, cancel the travel plan!" Su Tuoni quickly shouted to stop Su Lin, who was already picking up his luggage to leave:

"Please, let's get back to the main topic."

In the past, one could fantasize about heroes and antiheroes from various parallel universes gradually appearing—boosting toy sales while resolving cosmic crises.

But this time, the Reincarnators are involved…

"All Reincarnators carry fragments of the First Heaven. What should we do?"

That's a good question.

"What First Heaven fragments?" Su Lin tilted his head, asking in return: "Aren't those just fragments of the God of Light?"

"Alright, then—fragments of the God of Light."

What's the point of taking such a huge risk?

For a few pieces of silver, for soup with every meal—after confirming that Azathoth's Death Announcement had not been activated, Su Lin admitted he'd developed a greedy appetite for those scattered crumbs…

But the most fundamental reason was that he was too kind-hearted to let the pitiful Iron Man suffer alone against a potential invasion of the Cycle Space.

"Let's first try to continue the mission."

Su Lin thought for a moment and said: "Who knows where the other Cycle Walkers are in the upper timeline, or at what point in time? Our mission is merely to defend the timeline."

"Why don't we just ask him?" Teacher Yan Sen leaned his arms on the coral-velvet viewing sofa, pointing at the TV, a smile on his lips.

"He should know a lot of things."

On screen, a man in a suit walked alone into the Xuan Chong Chi time nexus, resolutely facing the time radiation as he stepped toward countless timelines:

On this timeline, if Tony had never joined the chat group or encountered the Cycle Walkers, Loki would have originally escaped with the Cosmic Cube, ultimately completing the temporal loop.

He rose to the peak of the Nine Realms, and finally descended to the Wang Zuo of Time.

"This is his timeline," Su Lin realized, turning to Tony and asking: "Where is Loki now?"

"Because of the zombie incident a few days ago, Thor hasn't taken Loki back yet."

Tony rested his chin in thought for a while, then turned and said: "We need to go to S. H. I. E. L. D."

Pepper saw Tony Stark tying his tie and stepped forward to help.

"Yeah, to S. H. I. E. L. D. to handle some matters," Tony tilted his chin up to avoid blocking her view, saying.

"Nick Fury's calls have nearly pushed me to put him in my spam block."

Pepper tied a triangular knot in the tie, patted his chest, and said: "Then you shouldn't be so anxious, Tony."

Hearing Pepper's words, Tony stared at her in surprise for a moment.

"Am I anxious?"

"Ever since those traveling friends arrived, you've been like this."

Pepper smiled and said: "Before this, your pride was almost as brilliant as the sun."

He had already been paying attention to issues of individuality and personality—but now Pepper was telling him he had been proud before the group friends came?

Tony half-seriously, half-jokingly said: "Maybe you're confusing confidence with pride."

"Come on, Tony," Pepper gently pushed him away, saying:

"You've always been this way—protecting others with yourself at the center."

"Though that Wei Gong chef brought extraordinary deliciousness, their arrival clearly disrupted some of your plans."

"Do you know what you were like after defeating the alien army?"

"What?" Tony asked instinctively.

"Kong Que," Pepper said seriously. "Proud, arrogant, showing off like a Kong Que."

"Do you know what a male Kong Que looks like when it's trying to attract a mate?" Tony gripped Pepper's arms and smiled: "Look over here, ugly female Kong Que."

Pepper laughed slightly: "Tony, don't be like that—I'll misunderstand your meaning."

"Misunderstand what? I'm truly courting the female Kong Que in front of me, displaying my pride and arrogance just like a Kong Que spreads its tail."

Tony Stark's words left Pepper stunned in place, staring at the reckless man who suddenly spoke in such strange ways.

"Tony, I'm not joking about this," Pepper's voice sounded hollow.

"I never joke about things like this. I want to build a home with you."

Tony placed his index finger on Pepper's reddening eyelid and gently wiped away the tears about to overflow.

"Wait until I'm sure no purple sweet potatoes will come to New York."

"Wait until I've dealt with all these things that have disrupted my plans."

"Pepper, I'm not self-centered—I just want to change this stage where superheroes and villains take turns performing, again and again, to please audiences and readers."

"When that happens, I hope to be with you forever."

Pepper sniffled, yet forced a ugly smile—she had waited for this moment longer than she could remember.

"Sorry, I know this isn't formal—I'll make it up later."

Tony glanced at his watch and said: "I have to go."

He turned to leave, then suddenly turned back and embraced Pepper.

"What do you think of the name Morgan? If we ever have a daughter, let's name her Morgan Stark."

Tony didn't wait for Pepper's reply. He gently kissed her, then quietly removed a necklace from the back of her collar and left.

"Tony!" Pepper called after him.

Tony turned back: "What?"

"You should try trusting others," Pepper said. "You'll wear yourself out if you keep going like this."

"Actually, I'm feeling energized," Tony waved his hand. "See you."

Washington D. C., United States, Theodore Roosevelt Island on the Potomac River.

S. H. I. E. L. D. base.

Nick Fury placed his hands before him and said: "S. H. I. E. L. D. has confirmed—aside from legitimate identity records, there are no records of any superhumans."

"You might ask a younger agent," Natasha said expressionlessly.

"I've never been called a white woman in my face before."

Recalling three days ago, when she wore a sexy leather outfit and carried a waitress recruitment flyer to Paradise Hotel, before she could even shift the topic to herself, the man had "politely" ejected her, claiming she was too old and didn't need an old lady.

"Aren't you Russian?" Steve asked.

Natasha gave him a look.

"He's here," Nick Fury removed his headphones and stood with the Avengers at the S. H. I. E. L. D. entrance, as Tony Stark's sports car slowly pulled to a stop.

Tony stepped out of the car holding a necklace, shouting toward the other armed agents: "Hydra forever."

No one responded.

"We cleared them out," Steve said.

Su Tuoni placed the necklace with the miniature listening device into Nick Fury's palm: "Oh, I thought this was Hydra's doing."

"You got from New York to Washington in ten minutes—Hydra won't help you cancel your parking ticket," Nick Fury said dismissively.

Immediately after, he saw several people step down one by one from the two-seater sports car.

"I've always wanted to talk to you, Goodman," Nick Fury asked: "Need an introduction?"

"It's godman, not Goodman—you can just call me God," Su Lin corrected him. "Nick Fury, motherfucker."

"Fury? Furry?" Thor burst out laughing.

Nick Fury said nothing after glancing at the others.

Aside from the takeout from the Paradise Hotel tasting good, these past few days of attempts at contact yielded no results—saying more would be pointless.

"Tony, are you bringing tourist friends to tour S. H. I. E. L. D. today? But you know this place isn't open to the public."

Nick Fury said: "I hope you remember you're also an Avenger."

"So I brought them here to join the Avengers," Tony removed his sunglasses and looked around: "We need Loki and the Tesseract."

"Motherfucker?!" Nick Fury's eyes widened.

He tilted his head toward the people behind Tony, then back to Stark, who smirked and nodded with a raised eyebrow.

Nick Fury tilted his head, as if pondering something, then slowly nodded:

"Of course, no problem."

Main Quest Three (I Am Legend): Activated. Current Legend Points: "The Tesseract has already been lent out."

"Lent to whom?"

"Of course, I lent it to you."

Main Quest One (Space-Time Defender): The current timeline lacks the Infinity Stones—the universe is about to lose balance!

"Tony Stark, you know what happens in the future, right?" Nick Fury, watching Tony and the others' shocked faces, strengthened his internal suspicion:

"They'll return it soon. Until then, we can have a good chat with these new companions."

"Motherfucker," Tony muttered. "Fuck!"

Nick Fury: "?"