"Such luck! Good thing Mordo refused to let me use the Sanctum door to return to New York," Daniel thought, feeling elated as he slipped the Sling Ring onto his finger.
Kamar-Taj had doors connecting to the three Sanctums, allowing easy travel between them, but only internal members of Kamar-Taj could use them.
It was no wonder Daniel felt so excited. With a Sling Ring, Kamar-Taj sorcerers could teleport anywhere in the universe, provided they had enough magical energy.
In "Avengers: Endgame," Doctor Strange used his Sling Ring to transport Spider-Man and others from Titan directly back to Earth.
"Well, the plane ticket was a waste. What a waste of money." Using the Sling Ring, Daniel instantly returned to New York, avoiding a long flight.
"Money really does make the world go round. Having it sure makes things easier." Although he had been away for two years, his house was still spotless, with brand-new furniture.
During his time at Kamar-Taj, Daniel had rented out his New York house through a law firm, and before returning, he had it refurbished through the same firm.
"Room." Using his Op-Op Fruit powers to inspect the entire house, Daniel felt reassured and settled in to practice magic.
"Stark, that guy is always busy partying. It's amazing Pepper has stuck with him without leaving. Seriously, Stark, if you have time to party, you should get the Arc Reactor done." Watching Tony Stark on the news at the Stark Expo, surrounded by women and with Pepper Potts by his side, Daniel felt exasperated.
Stark Industries had a large Arc Reactor that powered Stark Tower and served as a demonstration. Officially, they claimed miniaturization was currently impossible.
However, considering that Stark built a miniature Arc Reactor in a cave with limited tools, the excuse seemed unconvincing. The only plausible reason was Stark's lack of motivation without a life-threatening crisis.
Stark frequented places like Vanity Fair and Victoria's Secret, gracing magazine covers annually. His lifestyle supported numerous tabloids.
After all, Stark was wealthy.
"Stark Expo is worth a visit." The expo, dating back to Howard Stark's time, was a major event in New York, showcasing cutting-edge technology from numerous companies, many of which were unknown to the public.
Moreover, if someone had an outstanding technological innovation, they could approach Stark Industries for investment.
With an opportunity to attend, Daniel was eager to explore the expo, given the abundance of high-tech exhibits and forward-thinking ideas.
"Pym Technologies." However, before attending the Stark Expo, Daniel needed to find Hank Pym's residence. As a former high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. member, Pym's address was highly confidential, unknown to the general public. Fortunately, Daniel's hacking skills helped him locate Pym's address through Pym Technologies.
After all, Hank's daughter worked at Pym Technologies.
The Pym Particles had long been coveted by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra due to their wide applications. But Hank Pym's legacy and status made it too risky for Hydra to directly target him, fearing exposure.
Hydra's strength lay in its parasitic relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the authority granted by the UN's five major powers.
"Alexander Pierce was a fool. An organization that thrives in the shadows shouldn't seek the spotlight. The result was their downfall." Daniel thought Hydra's ambition to rule the world through Project Insight was sheer folly, leading to their exposure and destruction.
Without S.H.I.E.L.D. and the UN's authority, Hydra was insignificant—a mirage.
Moreover, Project Insight was launched despite the revelation of extraterrestrial threats like Asgardians and the Chitauri.
Hydra never considered the repercussions if extraterrestrial forces attacked again, nor the implications of targeting Kamar-Taj and potentially the Ancient One.
"If I exposed Hydra now, they'd be done for, but so would S.H.I.E.L.D." After locating Hank's address, Daniel stood up.
Revealing Hydra wouldn't benefit Daniel; instead, he could leverage this knowledge for his advantage.
Figures like Daniel Whitehall and Gideon Malick were wealthy and influential.
"This place doesn't look like Hank's home." The ordinary-looking house was an unlikely residence for the renowned Dr. Hank Pym.
"There are quite a few surveillance operatives. Luckily, I have the Mirror Dimension." Through the Mirror Dimension, Daniel easily identified the hidden agents around Hank's house.
The ability to spy on Hank's work from the Mirror Dimension was invaluable. Observing Hank create and use Pym Particles would save Daniel considerable time, allowing him to recreate them himself.
Without a Sling Ring, entering the Mirror Dimension was a one-way trip, trapping him inside, unlike Thanos, who could shatter the dimension.
"Tanks and cars reduced to keychains—Hank Pym is truly remarkable." Observing through the Mirror Dimension, Daniel noticed the tank Hank kept as a keychain and the box of miniature cars, all real vehicles.
"Researching the Quantum Realm, I see." From his vantage point, Daniel saw Hank deeply engrossed in Quantum Realm studies, estranged from his daughter, Hope.
Their strained relationship was real, not the façade shown in "Ant-Man." Hope didn't live with Hank, visiting occasionally out of familial duty. She still blamed Hank for her mother's death.
"So many tiny cameras, hidden well." The minuscule cameras, likely shrunk with Pym Particles, were nearly undetectable, functioning just like the shrunken cars.
Using the Mirror Dimension, Daniel planned to closely observe Hank Pym, learning the secrets of the Pym Particles without being detected. This approach was safer and more efficient, especially with the Sling Ring at his disposal.
Daniel's journey was just beginning. With the Sling Ring and his mastery of magic, the possibilities were endless. The Pym Particles were just the next step in his ambitious plans.
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