The next morning, Liam set out for the bank. His grandfather had given him access to the college fund, and now all that remained was the identification process. Once he verified his identity, the money would be transferred to his account.
After a few minutes of walking, Liam arrived at the nearest bank. The inside was quiet, with only a few customers scattered around. He approached the counter where a middle-aged bank employee greeted him with a professional smile.
"Good morning, how can I help you today?" the employee asked.
"Morning," Liam responded. "I'm here to access a fund that was set aside for me. My grandfather already arranged it, so I just need to confirm my identity."
The employee nodded and quickly pulled up the account on the screen. "Certainly. I'll just need to see some identification, please."
Liam handed over his ID and waited patiently.
After a brief moment, the employee thanked someone over the phone, which reassured Liam that everything was proceeding smoothly.
"Thank you for your patience, Mr. Blackthorne," the employee said after confirming his details. "The account holds €50,000, and I'll initiate the transfer to your card now. It should be added to your account by the end of the day."
Liam nodded. "Sounds good, thanks."
The employee tapped a few keys on the computer. "All set. You'll receive a confirmation message shortly once it's fully processed. If you need anything else, feel free to come back."
Liam smiled. "Appreciate the help."
With the transaction complete, Liam left the bank and headed toward the nearby train station. He took the next available train heading to the Houston St. metro station. Sitting by the window, he watched the city pass by, his thoughts shifting to his next destination—the Sanctum.
'If the Ancient One allows me to train there, I can improve my abilities immensely,' he thought. He knew he wouldn't enter today. That wasn't the plan. 'I want to spend at least a bit more time with Grandpa before asking.'
After arriving at his stop, Liam stepped off the train and began the short walk to the Sanctum. As he neared Bleecker Street, he spotted what was supposed to be the Sanctum. The building was hidden in plain sight, and if he hadn't known about it, he would've just walked past, assuming it was an ordinary structure.
Liam paused, taking in the sight of the inconspicuous building. He stood there for a few moments, thinking over the decision he had made. But today wasn't the day for that. Turning around, he began making his way back home.
Back at home, Liam found his grandfather in the living room, reading a book. Harold looked up when Liam entered. "Back so soon?"
"Yeah, I just needed to handle some things at the bank," Liam replied, sitting down across from him. "The money should be transferred soon. Then, after that, in a week or so, I'm planning to go to the other side of New York."
Harold raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You're leaving that soon?"
"Yes, sorry Grandpa. I wish I could stay longer, but my gut is telling me to go," Liam said, feeling a tinge of sadness.
"It's alright. Let's make this a good week, then," his grandfather said with a soft smile.
That night, after dinner, Liam sat down with his laptop, ready to make his investment. As soon as the funds were available, he invested everything into Stark Industries, purchasing shares at a time when prices were still relatively low. He couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as he confirmed the transaction.
'When Tony Stark returns, the stock will skyrocket,' Liam thought. 'And once he announces the closure of the weapons division, the price will drop again, so I have to sell before that.'
'In other words, I need to sell the stock the minute the first live news appears about Stark's return—that's when the return is highest.' Liam continued thinking, 'It's quite the risk. If the news is delayed or I find out too late, I'll miss the opportunity to sell for profit. Then, I'll have to wait for the second chance.'
It was a short-term strategy, but Liam was patient and willing to take the risk.
The rest of the week passed peacefully. Liam spent most of his time with Harold, helping out around the house and enjoying his grandfather's company. They shared quiet meals together, joked around, and played board games. While it was simple, it was beautiful.
It was a rare change of pace for Liam, allowing him to simply be with his family. Compared to the past few years, where his mind was constantly on training, he could truly enjoy the moment and relax.
'There's only one more day left, then I'll go to the Sanctum. If the Ancient One doesn't accept me, I could try to find K'un-Lun, but I don't know much about it.'
'Anyway, let's make the best of this last day and see where things go.'