The goat that had been bleating from a distant rooftop was gone, probably killed by someone.
Outside the window, a brown bear slowly pushed a wheelchair. The old man seated in it seemed to have grown accustomed to the damp forest smell clinging to the bear's thick fur, as well as the bursts of scorching breath behind his head that could melt the thin snowflakes settling atop it. Winston was clearly enduring this highly entertaining mode of travel with all his might, because Laura Croft wanted him to experience the estate's famously intelligent wildlife.
Victor von Doom gave a humanlike shrug, indicating that he knew nothing about it. He did not know what entanglement existed between the Sumerian god of war and the Emperor, nor did he know why the Emperor had insisted on trying to kill it permanently. But he could be certain that this would affect the human nation he and the Emperor had established in the Material Universe. He had no intention of investigating the Emperor's past mistakes. If it affected the present, then He would surely make preparations.
"How far have you gotten in exploring your identity?" He toyed with the iron mask in his hand. He was no longer used to wearing it, yet he could not bring himself to discard this symbol of his identity. "Don't think I know nothing about time travel. My arcane attainments may not be as great as yours, but I could still see a stretch of fate wrapped around you. Only by experiencing that fate could you continue onward and become... Damn it, the fire of your soul burned away my eyes in the Outer Dimensions. I can't see again."
"You know I didn't do it on purpose. If I hadn't, Milia would have been in trouble. Someone would