Strange continued to write, saying as he did, "According to him, magic doesn't generate out of thin air, but rather, it's borrowed from some higher power. Therefore, every mage apprentice must first learn to control their power to prevent borrowed power from going out of control."
"What's the principle behind that ribbon then?"
Strange's pen paused for a moment before he said, "I heard it's also a borrowed power, but weaker, specifically meant to train beginners."
"Actually, I have been thinking; since this ability can be learned, it must not be that different from the medical knowledge I have previously acquired. I should be able to distil it through induction, summary, and refinement..."
Without a doubt, Strange was a straight-A student. After struggling for a few days, he began to think about how to improve efficiency.
The Ancient One had a knack for recognizing talent. Strange's gift was his excellent learning ability and high acceptance of magic. He quickly accepted his status as a magic apprentice and planned to make progress in his magical journey.
Shiller rested his chin in his hand and said: "In that case, have you considered a more convenient method?"
"A more convenient method? What do you mean?"
"Since this power is borrowed, you can always have a good talk with your creditor and ask them to tone down their temper."
Strange said helplessly: "The problem now is that I can't even grab hold of that ribbon. I must first master it, control it to stop, then I would have room to communicate with the power behind it."
"Have you ever thought that there are many ways to make that ribbon stop?"
"Like what?"
"Like this." Shiller pulled out a blue gun from the drawer.
The next day, Mage King Wong watched as Strange rolled up his sleeves, holding a weird-looking blue handgun in one hand, calmly saying to a ribbon frozen into an icicle: "Listen, if you keep being so temperamental, it's just not worth the price..."
Watching Strange act like a mafia boss collecting protection money, Mage King Wong was speechless, trying to dissuade him: "Steven, a mage's concentration is very important, you can't do this..."
Before he could finish, The Ancient One appeared behind him, sounding quite upbeat, even a bit surprised, she said: "It seems he's even more talented than I imagined."
Wong widened his eyes, and The Ancient One mused as she stroked her chin: "I was worried that his temper was a bit too good, might make Karmatiji and Earth get the short end of the stick, but it seems fine now."
Wong was staring at the Supreme Magician. The Ancient One laughed and said: "A sharp focus and belief are indeed important, but they come later. Before you control magic, you must first acquire it. That's the essence of magic."
After watching Strange play a shooting game with the freeze gun and the ribbon for hours, she was even more pleased. She said, "His patience is good too. Sometimes some stubborn fellows are very tricky. If you don't have enough patience, it's hard to hook them."
When the ribbon finally caved and negotiations began, The Ancient One felt she had chosen the right person. She said, "Clearly, he's very experienced, whether raising the price appropriately or using retreat as advance, he handles it all skillfully…"
Indeed, all the social engagements Strange had been involved in were not for nothing. Meeting with influential people from around the world every day, exchanging light-hearted banter on various occasions, discreetly sealing deals – even when negotiating with Stark and other major forces, he was present.
In the cosmos, all the mysterious powers are diverse in character; most are evil. However, when it comes to plotting and scheming, humans ultimately come out on top.
As Strange, who had participated in top-level human negotiations, the experience was enough even though he had never seen the actual thing - it was enough for him to handle these basic situations.
Wong sighed from the sideline. He felt the style for the next Supreme Magician would undoubtedly be absurd.
After subduing the rampage of the rookie ribbon with the freeze gun, Strange's thinking changed. He suddenly realized that magic isn't superior to technology; they're just two different paths.
These two approaches intersect, for example, a freeze gun and freezing magic can both freeze a thing, but sometimes they counteract or complement each other, such as the freeze gun can subdue disobedient ribbons, and freezing magic can provide an energy supplement to the freeze gun and the freeze generator out of thin air.
After observing the human economy these days, a bold idea gradually formed in Strange's mind.
Inside the lab of Stark Building, Stark looked Strange up and down, saying mockingly: "Guess what, the least welcome profession in my lab is what?"
Strange didn't care at all, he waved his hand, a ribbon flew out directly, circled around Stark, almost tripping him.
"Shit, what is this thing?" Stark turned his head to look at the ribbon that was running wildly on the ceiling.
Strange spread his hands and said, "See? This is my magic."
"Hehe." Stark showed him a fake smile that couldn't be more fake, then extended a hand, and a Mecha instantly covered his entire body, moving so fast that Strange didn't react in time, a fist stopped in the middle of his eyes, and Stark's voice came from the Mecha:
"See? This is my fist."
Strange flicked his wrist, turned his head aside, and then said, "Listen, I have a plan, here's the thing, a person who calls himself the Supreme Magician found me and asked me to study magic with him, but, I found that magic is actually…"
Half an hour later, the two were standing in front of the experimental table, Stark crossed his arms and said, "So, you plan to have me use the power of magic to transform the Mecha, and then create a Mecha that counters magic in return, to borrow more magic?"
"So it's like..." Stark put his hand on his face, his index finger touching his nose, "If I understood correctly, you plan to borrow money from others, then use this money to buy guns, then point the bought guns at the creditor to force him to lend you more money?"
"Leaving aside whether it will work technically speaking, aren't you a bit shameless?"
"So technically speaking will it work?"
Stark turned around and rummaged through the data next to him, "Actually, it's strange. The power on this ribbon seems to be different from what Shiller showed me."
"I haven't cracked his kind of power yet, so I can't fully apply it to my Mecha yet, but this kind…"
Stark thought for a moment with a frown and said, "According to your theory, this power is borrowed from others, so if he can project power onto a ribbon, can he also project it onto my Mecha?"
Strange shrugged and said, "In theory, it is possible, but this power is very difficult for ordinary people to control."
"Then how do you control it?"
"Because I'm not ordinary people, I'm a genius."
Stark stared at Strange and Strange stared back at him, after a while, Strange said, "Okay, actually, I used the freezing gun…"
"Use technology to subdue magic, and then use magic to transform technology?" Stark pondered with his chin, "What do you think, I make a trap, let him project his power onto my Mecha, then refuse to return the 'borrowed' power, and keep the power for my own use, how's that?"
"That's what I meant. After you turn part of that power into yours and create a stronger Mecha, I'll provide the people, you provide the guns, and we'll borrow more money…"
The two looked at each other, with Stark looking at Strange and said disdainfully, "You are too unscrupulous."
"So, are you in?"
"I'm just as unscrupulous, I'm in."