Each Goes Home, Each Finds Their Own

After Belasco was sent away, Strange opened a portal and brought everyone back to the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York. Most of them sat listlessly in the dining room chairs, reflecting on the absurd scene that had just ended.

Strange smiled at the Midnight Sons, whose name had yet to be finalized. "Thank you all very much for your help. This operation has concluded successfully. The next time we have to face Mephisto and measure ourselves against him, I'll gather you all again."

The group, resting in various positions, fell collectively silent. After a moment, Iron Fist was the first to react. He looked at Strange and asked, "Wasn't this operation supposed to be about dealing with Mephisto?"

"We gathered this time because of Mephisto's contract. I never said the one we were dealing with would be Mephisto."

Strange flatly denied it. "You need to understand that Mephisto is an extremely cunning devil. Since he didn't appear at Hell's Border alongside the Dark Consortium and Belasco, I can be certain that he has already achieved his goal."

"And a devil who has already achieved his goal, frankly, is someone we can never catch, unless we wait for his next scheme."

Elsa looked at Strange. "Then what was his goal?"

Strange answered with complete sincerity, "I don't know."

The entire room sank into a silence that was almost The Silence itself. Then Illyana was the first to stand and use her teleportation ability. "I need to get back quickly. The dorm might close soon, and I didn't ask for leave in advance."

Wanda curiously watched Illyana make her escape. Don't you have teleportation? Why would you care if the dorm closed?

"I should get going too." Peter was the second to jump up. "It's only eight right now. I still have