Due to the energy explosion of the Magic Cube at that time, all experimental data was destroyed, and subsequent research was nearly impossible to continue.
The only thing Dr. Connors could do was to use the "Perfect Serum Formula" written by Arthur to attempt to develop a drug for limb regeneration, in line with the agreement made by Arthur and Tony.
However, the side effects were too severe, resulting in unavoidable mental damage.
Regeneration of limbs was out of the question, but Dr. Connors exhausted every method and, after removing all the side effects, created a drug that could rapidly heal wounds.
It has already begun to be marketed.
Tony mentioned over the phone that, although the product's effectiveness was far from the expected level, the agreement still stood.
Moreover, the profits had been deposited into Arthur's bank account… although he initially thought this money was just a throwaway.
Talking about money, Tony then urged Arthur to return quickly. He was still managing the ten percent shares temporarily and mentioned that the dividends were secondary; what was most troubling were the thirteen welfare homes.
Every month, he had to spend three days visiting these welfare homes, carrying various toys to play with little girls and boys, almost like a creepy uncle.
The conversation then shifted to the topic of troublesome kids, and Arthur casually asked about his relationship with Pepper. This habitual man in armor then launched into a series of complaints and boasts.
Who knows how long he had been holding these thoughts in; normally he had no one to vent to, so Arthur was inadvertently providing an outlet.
Eventually, they talked until dawn, and Tony, still not satisfied, hung up the phone, urging Arthur once again to come back quickly. There were many things waiting for him to handle; he shouldn't truly become a reclusive hermit and abandon the world…
Overall, the entire night's conversation was mainly about his relationship with Pepper, with only a small portion of the time dedicated to Banner and Connors.
Arthur was speechless; as a steel man, Tony's emotional entanglements made him feel inferior.
---
Arthur, who hadn't slept all night, didn't feel particularly tired. He got up from the bed, and as he opened the door, he saw the Ancient One standing at the doorway, grinning at him.
However, the Ancient One quickly passed by Arthur, glanced at the floor behind him, and smiled slightly: "Good habit. At least you won't have to spend much effort next time you visit."
Arthur grinned and asked a question he'd been pondering all night: "Where's the bathroom?"
The morning air was refreshing and invigorating.
After a brief wash-up, the Ancient One took Arthur to breakfast.
The food was simple, light, and healthy, served in a large cafeteria. The Ancient One didn't have any special treatment and sat down to eat with everyone else.
"Are all the people here Sorcerers?" Arthur asked curiously.
"Most of them. Many are learning how to become Sorcerers," the Ancient One replied with a smile on her face.
After breakfast, the Ancient One led Arthur to a hall, boiled water, brewed tea, and poured a cup for Arthur, then one for herself.
"I believe that the Allfathe has already mentioned many things about me to you," The Ancient One said. "Among them is our understanding of you."
Arthur nodded: "I heard that you've been watching me sleep for over thirty years."
"Yes," The Ancient One replied with a smile. "Sorry for any unintended offense; we were simply very curious about you. Your existence… seems not to belong to this universe, yet it has appeared right in front of us!"
Arthur's heart stirred when he heard this and he asked with a smile, "Not from this universe?"
"Do you find it strange?" The Ancient One smiled and said. "Before we discovered you, you did not exist in any of the 'futures' we saw. Yet once we discovered you, almost every future had your shadow in them."
Arthur was silent.
The Ancient One paused, then continued, "We are not fixated on your past, no matter where you come from. We are fixated on your future because it is ever-changing and symbolizes both despair and hope, representing endless possibilities!"
"I have always been confused about this," Arthur said after a moment. "Why say that I will bring endless possibilities? From Odin, I know that both you and he can foresee the future to some extent. When you have such abilities, why not do something to prevent unacceptable futures?"
The Ancient One maintained her smile but sighed lightly, saying, "Many things are actually predestined. Foreseeing the future brings us no joy. Although we only see fragments, it often leaves us feeling more powerless. When I was younger, I tried hard to change things, but I found that everything always progressed towards the worst outcome if you do attempt to do so."
"I once foreseen a person's death and tried hard to save him. But the final result was that my intervention actually led to his death."
The Ancient One spoke with a tone of helplessness, "So, we really don't know what process led to the futures we foresee. Therefore… we remain fearful."
"Fearful…"
Arthur was momentarily speechless. Could beings like the Ancient One and Odin also experience fear?
Perhaps it was not fear, but a sense of powerlessness.
They could only see fragments but could not understand everything, and this unknown was even more maddening.
"Can you… let me see?" The Ancient One suddenly looked at Arthur with a serious expression and asked.
Arthur nodded, "That's exactly why I'm here."
The Ancient One nodded gently, approached Arthur, and touched his forehead with her fingertip.
A flash of white light suddenly appeared, and the Ancient One's expression showed a moment of astonishment. She looked at her hand, which had been thrown back, and couldn't help but smile, "Interesting!"
A bit of white light lingered on her fingertips. She lightly snapped her fingers, and the white light instantly vanished.
"This is quite a remarkable power," The Ancient One murmured to herself.
Arthur watched her quietly. Seeing this, the Ancient One smiled and said, "This is very good and very remarkable. Your power is truly extraordinary! It comes from everything yet transcends everything. It exists in the world but is independent of the world. You are indeed different from all of us."
---
(End of Chapter)
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