Frank, the Times Have Changed!

The next day.

[New York].

[177A Black Street, Greenwich].

Frank looked at the three-story Baroque-style villa before him, his face full of confusion.

"Boss, didn't you say we were going back to [Sokovia]?"

"Why aren't we going to the airport? Why did we come here instead..."

The previous night, after his daughter Lisa accidentally discovered that video.

Frank, who usually did not spend much time online, had specifically asked his daughter to help him catch up on every video and report related to Carl.

Especially after seeing Carl single-handedly bring an end to Sokovia's decade-long war and save hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

A deep sense of admiration rose in his heart.

This was what a real man should do!!!

This was the value of superheroes!!!

Oh, sorry, I nearly forgot—Boss seemed to be a Dimensional Demon...

Carl gave a mysterious smile. "It's faster and more convenient to go back from here!"

That was right. How could flying compare to opening a portal directly?

Under normal circumstances.

If Carl flew straight back to [Sokovia], it would take at most a few hours.

But with Frank along now, the two could only choose to fly.

And flying from [New York] back to [Sokovia], including several layovers along the way, would take at least a day and a half to two days.

To Carl right now, time was life!!

Naturally, he had no desire to waste so much time on an irrelevant journey.

So he brought Frank directly to the [New York Sanctum].

Given his close relationship with Ancient One as "strategic partners," it should not be too much to ask the mages guarding this place to open a portal, right?!

Besides, he could take the opportunity to open the door to a new world for Frank.

Let him recognize the true nature of this world ahead of time.

It could be said that this would kill several birds with one stone!!!

How did that saying go again?

Ride a bicycle to the bar—save where you should save, spend where you should spend!

But...

Had no one complained about [Kamar-Taj] infringing on a trademark all these years?

Carl looked up at the circular skylight on the roof.

The four curves on it could not merely be called similar to State Grid's logo—they were exactly the same!!!

Carl walked up the steps and lightly knocked on the door a few times.

Very soon.

A Mute Man mage dressed in archaic robes opened the door.

He looked at them with full vigilance and asked, "What can I do for you two?"

Carl had some impression of this black... ahem, Mute Man mage before him.

His name seemed to be Daniel?

He was a Sanctum mage guarding the [New York Sanctum].

Later, he would be killed by another mage named Kaecilius.

But that had nothing to do with him.

Ancient One's family matters were none of Carl's concern, so he said bluntly:

"I am a good friend of Mage Ancient One, Carl Mala, ruler of the [Warp Dimension]. I wish to return to [Sokovia] now. Could you please open a portal for me?"

To make the other party take him seriously.

He even placed special emphasis on the words "good friend."

At first, when Mage Daniel heard this mortal directly call Mage Ancient One by name, anger immediately appeared on his face.

Because in his eyes.

For a mortal to speak the Sorcerer Supreme's name.

Was simply an insult to [Kamar-Taj]!

And this fellow shamelessly claimed to be a good friend of the Sorcerer Supreme?

A mere mortal—what made you worthy?!

However.

The moment he heard the words "Warp Dimension."

His entire body shuddered, and he cried out in shock:

"What? You... you're the Dimensional Demon the Sorcerer Supreme once mentioned, the one exiled to Earth?!!"

(╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻

Damn it, watch your mouth. You're the one who got exiled to Earth.

Keep talking nonsense and I'll send you to a farm to pick cotton!!!

Are mages really this mentally fragile?

I wasn't here to smash the place up. Did he really need to make such a huge fuss?

He looked like he had never seen the world!

Carl silently gave the Mute Man mage before him a bad review.

But he still gave him the necessary respect. "That's right, it's me!!"

Actually, this was not really Mage Daniel's fault.

Other than Ancient One, almost no other mage had ever directly encountered a supreme existence at the Dimensional Demon level.

Let alone observe one face-to-face from such close range as this.

(o゜▽゜)o☆

This was a living, breathing Dimensional Demon!!!

Who the hell had ever seen one of those?

The fact that he had not immediately asked for a photo and autograph already counted as extreme restraint!

Fortunately, Ancient One had introduced Carl's general situation to the vast majority of mages half a month ago.

Otherwise, Mage Daniel would have already rushed inside the [Sanctum Sanctorum] and activated the highest-level crisis warning system.

"Ahem..."

Daniel awkwardly rubbed his hands together and cleared his tight throat before forcing himself to speak calmly:

"Honored Demon Lord, please wait a moment. I need to ask the Sorcerer Supreme in person before I can give you an answer on this matter."

He then put on his [Sling Ring], opened a portal to [Kamar-Taj] before him, and vanished from the two men's sight.

Σ(⊙▽⊙"a???

This time, it was finally Carl's turn to be dumbfounded!

Seriously, was that necessary?

Did he really need to ask Ancient One about such a tiny matter?

Kamar-Taj's procedures were way too rigid.

By the time you finish asking for approval, I'll already be in [Sokovia], okay!

You're wasting your talent being a mage.

You should take the civil service exam and work at a service counter!

"Um... Boss, are you really a Dimensional Demon?"

Frank asked with a conflicted expression.

He did not understand a single thing Carl and Daniel had just said about the Sorcerer Supreme, portals, or the [Warp Dimension].

Until the moment Daniel vanished before his eyes.

Frank felt as if his worldview had suffered an unprecedented impact!

Mages really existed in this world?

That was far more outrageous than mutants or superpowered people!

But even more outrageous was the fact that his own boss really was a Dimensional Demon?

That was not scientific at all...

"What did you think I was?"

Carl turned to Frank and said earnestly, "Frank, the times have changed!!!"

[Kamar-Taj].

Ancient One had been drinking tea in her study. After hearing Mage Daniel's report, her face nearly turned green with anger.

What, did a mere Dimensional Demon take them mages for?

His personal servants?

Was a portal something he could open just because he wanted one?!

But the moment she thought of Carl's troublesome nature, Ancient One became inexplicably irritated.

If she refused his request now, who knew what kind of trouble he might stir up again...

Though she was extremely unwilling, Ancient One was ultimately forced to compromise.

"He is our only ally against the [Four Chaos Gods]. It is only natural for us to help each other."

"I understand."

Mage Daniel immediately withdrew from the study with great respect!!!