"Thank you," Steve said, grateful that he could stay here for a while.
He planned to find ways to earn some money for his daily meals, but for now, it was best to rely on others.
"No need to be so formal," Tony replied with a smile. "You both need to practice controlling your increasing powers."
He had his own motives for helping Steve and Banner. If they could strengthen their abilities and gain control over their powers, he could eventually leave Earth with peace of mind to explore the universe and learn more advanced technologies—while also enjoying the pleasures of life he had missed in his youth.
Of course, that didn't mean he was unhappy on Earth; he had plenty of money to eat well, drink well, and live comfortably. Earth would always be his home.
But for Tony, merely enjoying good food and drink wasn't enough; he longed to express himself freely, something he felt he couldn't do on Earth as he would on Xandar.
Banner and Steve nodded in agreement.
"By the way, I forgot to mention, my wife, Pepper, is also your senior; she joined the Void on the same day I did."
"She's quite formidable, so be cautious when speaking in front of her," Tony added. "You know how fierce women can be when they get angry."
Steve and Banner exchanged surprised glances.
"You married Pepper?" Banner asked, clearly taken aback.
"Pepper is Tony's secretary, right?" Steve chimed in, recalling the name from the intel he had seen earlier.
"I haven't officially tied the knot with Pepper, but she is undoubtedly my wife," Tony clarified. Without Pepper managing Stark Industries back on Earth, he wouldn't have been able to travel into space so freely.
Even if he couldn't flirt around while on Earth, he remained faithful to Pepper and made it a point to spend quality time with her whenever he could.
Though he might want to indulge occasionally, he wouldn't let Pepper find out.
He suspected she could guess what he might be up to in the cosmos, but she never pressed him about it; after all, those matters were outside Earth's bounds.
Sometimes, maintaining a long-lasting love meant knowing what to overlook; otherwise, too many revelations could capsize the relationship.
"No wonder Pepper looks younger and more beautiful; now I see why," Banner mused.
"Since Pepper has joined, that means Tony, your hope rests with her..."
Steve began to piece it together.
"You're right, Steve. My hope is indeed Pepper," Tony confirmed. "But unlike you, I don't feel this is out of guilt or a need for redemption."
"I just think that with a long lifespan and endless years ahead, it would be too lonely to journey alone."
"That's why I approached Harvey with that request."
Tony nodded, a smile on his face.
While it might seem that bringing Pepper into the Void added some restrictions, limiting his freedom, he didn't regret it. It helped him preserve his true self.
If he could suppress his desires on Earth, controlling the urge to consume would be no different.
Steve and Banner continued to chat with Tony, discussing various topics.
A few days later, Steve took a helicopter back to New York to see Peggy.
Although some of his remarks seemed unbelievable, Peggy noticed that Steve looked significantly younger than the last time they met.
So, she decided to follow his advice.
Soon after, Peggy received Harvey's approval, along with a blessing that infused her with life energy.
Harvey's power had grown since the last time; even a small amount of life energy was immensely potent.
Peggy, who had been confined to her bed at the age of ninety, regained over forty years of youth.
She was filled with awe as she witnessed the great Void, but seeing her previously wrinkled and sagging skin restored to youthful firmness left her truly humbled.
"This is the gift of the gods," she exclaimed.
Steve watched in amazement as Peggy gradually transformed, deepening his respect for Harvey.
If it weren't for Tony's warning not to disturb Harvey, he would have wanted to personally thank him.
But Steve knew that as long as he and Peggy didn't meet with an untimely end, they had plenty of time to express their gratitude in the future.
Afterward, Steve took Peggy to Tony's private island.
When Peggy reappeared young in New York, it wouldn't raise too many suspicions, as most of her contemporaries, except for Steve, had passed away.
While SHIELD had photographs of Peggy from her younger days, as long as she remained discreet, she wouldn't encounter any issues.
After bestowing his blessings upon Peggy, Harvey sensed that nothing significant would occur on Earth for the being.
He sent Tony a message, asking him to oversee his properties and assets on Earth.
Then, Harvey utilized Void magic, transforming into Kassadin clad in golden armor and white robes, and stepped away from Earth.
Having been away from Xandar for over a year, it was time to visit again.
In just a few minutes, he arrived back on Xandar and entered the Void Island villa.
Upon entering, he heard dull thuds and booming sounds coming from below.
Following the noise, he found himself on the third underground level, where a vast secret training facility spanning over two thousand square feet had been constructed.
In this complex and expansive training ground, he saw a figure in a form-fitting outfit that accentuated her stunning physique, moving swiftly as she struck a massive, unknown metal object repeatedly.
Even though her fists and feet were bloodied, she showed no sign of pain, as if she was accustomed to the discomfort.
"Hmm..."
As Harvey observed Sonia's relentless training, he felt a mix of admiration and concern for her dedication.
In reality, Harvey didn't require Sonia to have superhuman strength.
He valued her competence and attitude far more than raw power.
Just as Sonia landed a punch that echoed with a loud "bang!" and was momentarily thrown back, her peripheral vision caught sight of a figure in golden armor, donning a golden mask and flowing white robes.
Sonia froze for a moment, but as she did, purple light enveloped her, and she hovered in the air. Her injuries began to heal at a visible pace, with the blood on her skin evaporating like it had been scorched by flames.
"Have I been so starved for contact that I'm starting to hallucinate?" Sonia mused, rubbing her eyes as she spoke to herself.