Jonny Blaze patted Dottie Underwood on the shoulder. Her demeanor was completely submissive, showing no signs of resistance or hesitation.
It was the truest expression of her inner surrender.
"Would you like to leave this place and see what the world will look like fifty or sixty years from now?" Jonny asked.
Dottie, who had just regained her composure, was stunned. Her mind had stopped processing, and she stood there, frozen like a statue, staring at Jonny with wide, bewildered eyes.
Does this mean she could leave the Void?
She turned to look at old Loki in disbelief.
"Yes, he can," old Loki confirmed her suspicion as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Isn't the Void supposed to be the final end? Isn't it said that no one can leave the Void?
Her mind was racing.
"For us, the Void is a cage—inescapable. You either die or die," old Loki continued. "But for him, the Void is like a garden he can enter and leave at will. Now you understand why I collect what you call 'useless garbage'?"
The "useless garbage" referred to dollars, gold, and other valuables.
Dottie took a deep breath, trying to suppress the shock and anxiety that roiled within her. She steadied herself and gave her answer calmly.
"I'll follow your lead," she said.
Jonny held Dottie with one hand and summoned Mjolnir back with the other.
"You'll only get one chance to betray me," his voice echoed in her ears.
Before she could respond, they suddenly appeared on the rooftop of a tall building.
She looked out in awe—buildings stretched out for miles, streets crisscrossed with cars, and people bustled about, filling the vibrant and lively scene before her eyes. It was prosperous, beautiful, and overwhelming.
"You've given me a new life, and I swear I will never, ever, betray you," Dottie said, her voice resolute.
Jonny then asked, "Have you ever heard of a leap of faith?"
Dottie shook her head.
"Jump," he said.
"Okay," she replied, without missing a beat.
Dottie didn't hesitate, nor did she ask questions. She simply ran to the edge and jumped off the roof.
It was more than ten stories high. Surely, a fall from this height would be fatal. But even knowing this, Dottie jumped without flinching, trusting that this was just another test.
The wind whipped past her as the ground came closer and closer. Yet there was no fear on her face, no worry.
At the last moment, strong arms caught her mid-fall, stopping her descent abruptly. She groaned softly from the impact but couldn't help smiling.
She had been right.
Even from such a great height, if Jonny asked her to jump, she would do it without a second thought.
This leap had earned her trust and proved her worth.
"This is Manhattan, New York—one of the most advanced places of this era," Jonny said. "Go shopping, get yourself some proper clothes, and come back here afterward. I have a mission for you."
He handed her a bank card and gave her the password.
The cash from the Void, after all, might not work in every timeline or universe.
"Got it," Dottie said, smiling as she accepted the card. She picked a direction and walked off, eager to explore.
In the Void, Jonny had asked her if she wanted to leave and see the future, and she had answered, "I follow your lead."
Just now, Jonny had asked her to go shopping and come back afterward, and she had answered, "Got it."
This marked a further deepening of their relationship.
Every bond starts with unfamiliarity, moving toward trust and ease. She had earned his initial trust, proven her value, and established the dynamic between them as superior and subordinate. Her mindset and behavior had shifted, becoming more relaxed and confident.
When she returned, Jonny planned to inject her with the Super Soldier Serum, expanding her abilities and using her to train others. After all, the Red Room's methods had some merits.
As Jonny prepared to fly up and wait for her, he noticed something unusual—a foot sticking out from behind a nearby dumpster.
Someone was hiding.
Curious, Jonny started walking over. But before he could reach them, the person behind the dumpster seemed to realize he was approaching. In a panic, they shouted, "I didn't see anything! Don't chase me!" and turned to run.
Jonny chuckled to himself, unsure whether to praise the person's intelligence or call it foolishness.
If they had just run away without saying anything, he wouldn't have bothered to pursue. But now that they'd shouted, it seemed like they were guilty of seeing something they shouldn't have.
Wasn't this a case of "admitting guilt without being asked"?
With a flash of movement, Jonny appeared in front of them, blocking their path just as they were about to flee.
The girl—wearing jeans and a baseball shirt—crashed into him, taken by surprise, and fell backward onto the ground.
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