Return

Dazzling light wrapped around them as energy surged wildly within the portal, seeming ready to grind them apart and reassemble them. Fine crackles of electricity mixed into the light, snapping and popping. Their skin prickled faintly, and even their hair stood up slightly on its own. As the light gradually faded, they staggered and found their footing. The pungent smell of disinfectant hit them head-on, while cold white fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, illuminating an underground laboratory filled with precision instruments and flickering data screens—a stark contrast to the ruined Raccoon City. Every corner of the place radiated the coldness of technology. Metal worktables gleamed icily, and dense lines of wiring ran neatly across the walls like a giant spiderweb, silently speaking of an order completely unlike Raccoon City's. All sorts of strange bottles and jars sat on the lab benches, filled with liquids of different colors that reflected eerie light beneath the lamps. Some were even bubbling faintly, as though alive.

"Where... are we?" Ashley's voice trembled as her fingers unconsciously scraped at the edge of a lab bench, the sound of metal scratching especially piercing in the silent room. Her eyes widened as she looked around in fear and curiosity, as if she had entered an unfamiliar otherworld. Her gaze swept over the flickering screens, where jumping numbers and symbols made her dizzy. She unconsciously stepped back and bumped into a cabinet behind her with a thud. A small robot model sitting atop it was jolted onto the floor, its mechanical arm still waving incessantly as though protesting the accident. Li Stark's face instantly turned pale. He rushed forward, his trembling fingers sliding over the time display on the console. It was as though something had caught in his throat. "An underground laboratory... and only three hours have passed in the Marvel world, while we spent a full three days in Raccoon City!" Disbelief filled his eyes as he repeatedly checked the time. Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead, and the clothes on his back were quickly soaked through.

"Three days?" Claire poked her head out from the corner, her eyes round. "So we fought for our lives over there, and time here barely blinked? That's more of a headache than Raccoon City's virus!" She folded her arms, her face full of helplessness and emotion. Thinking back on the dangers of Raccoon City, then comparing them to the reality before her that had barely changed, left her feeling dazed. She walked over to a printer and looked at a document that had not yet fully printed. Only a few blurred letters showed on the paper. "This time difference is ridiculous, but maybe we can still catch afternoon tea here!" She joked, trying to ease the tension. As she spoke, she dramatically rubbed her stomach. "I've almost forgotten what normal food tastes like. Those compressed biscuits in Raccoon City felt like they were going to crack my teeth."

Ada Wong leaned against a cold metal cabinet, her red cheongsam completely out of place in the cool-toned laboratory. She raised a brow and smiled. "Little Stark, looks like we've caused you quite a mess." Her gaze swept over Wanda before she deliberately leaned closer to Li Stark, a faint perfume lingering around her. "But with me here, maybe I can help you solve this time-paradox problem. Back when I was at Umbrella, I cracked puzzles far more complicated than this." As she spoke, she lightly brushed back the hair by her ear, her eyes full of confidence and provocation. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the metal cabinet. "Maybe I can even find something in this data that'll make you see me in a new light. If I really solve this problem, Little Stark, how are you planning to thank me?" She blinked, a seductive smile curling across her lips.

Scarlet light instantly flared around Wanda, and the instruments in the laboratory began to hum uncontrollably. Data raced wildly across the displays. Her gaze was as cold as frost, and the air around her seemed to freeze solid. "Stay away from him." Wanda's voice seemed squeezed out through clenched teeth. She strode forward and pulled Li Stark behind her, her hair flying wildly from the fluctuations of magic. "We don't need your 'help' here." She stared hard at Ada Wong, her eyes warning that if Ada took one more step closer, she would show no mercy. Wanda's magic condensed into a small ball of energy at her fingertips, its light brightening and dimming as though responding to her emotions. "Don't think your little tricks will work. In front of me, your petty schemes aren't worth mentioning." She gritted her teeth and spoke each word slowly.

Ada Wong dramatically raised both hands, a provocative smile on her lips. "Such a temper. Be careful your magic doesn't go out of control and burn down the lab. I'm just having an academic discussion with Little Li. Don't tell me you're jealous?" She deliberately drew out her words, her tone full of teasing, and even winked at Wanda. "Academic discussion? Don't use such high-sounding excuses to hide your ulterior motives." Wanda snorted coldly, though the glow of her magic weakened slightly. Clearly, Claire's earlier joke had made the atmosphere less tense. But Ada Wong refused to let up. She picked up a test tube from a nearby rack and pretended to examine it seriously. "Oh my, the liquid in this test tube is such a pretty color. It looks a little like my lipstick. Wanda, do you think I'd look even more charming wearing this shade?"

Natasha crossed her arms and watched the undercurrents unfold with cold eyes, though an exasperated smile still rose at the corners of her mouth. "Seriously, can't you two take a break? There aren't any zombies chasing us here. Ada Wong, stop teasing Wanda before she sends you into outer space with one spell." Her gaze moved back and forth between the two women. "Though sending you into outer space wouldn't be bad. It'd finally give me some peace and quiet." She deliberately raised a brow at Ada Wong.

"Outer space? That wouldn't be a bad travel destination." Ada Wong shrugged without a care. "Though I'm afraid someone's magic might not be powerful enough for that." She turned and walked to a computer, her fingers rapidly tapping over the keyboard. "Maybe there's a program hidden in here that can turn all of you into little mice. Then I can keep you and watch you run on wheels in cages every day. Just thinking about it is fun." As she spoke, she made a gesture as if teasing a little mouse, her face full of mischievous delight.

Ashley wandered curiously through the laboratory, letting out little exclamations from time to time. She leaned over a microscope, her eyes fixed on the eyepiece, her face full of wonder and concentration. But with one careless movement, she knocked over a test tube rack beside her, sending test tubes clattering to the floor. Everyone jumped. Ashley flushed red and apologized in panic. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to!" She hurriedly tried to clean up, her eyes full of guilt and fear. Liquid from several test tubes spilled onto the floor, giving off white smoke and a pungent odor.

Li Stark hurried over to help clean up, smiling. "It's fine, it's fine. The stuff here isn't that delicate. Ashley, if you're interested in these instruments, I can explain how they work later." As if performing a magic trick, he pulled a miniature scanner from his pocket and swept it over the spilled liquid. "Look—automatic component analysis, and it can neutralize harmful substances too. Pretty high-tech, right?" As he spoke, he handed the scanner to Ashley and let her operate it herself. Ashley carefully took it and followed Li Stark's instructions. When the display showed a detailed analysis of the liquid's components, she jumped excitedly. "Wow! That's amazing! It's just like magic!"

"Of course not. I'm glad someone's interested in this stuff." Li Stark smiled. "Later, I'll show you some really cool functions. Like this magnetic glove—it can grab things from a distance!" He put on the glove and waved at a beaker across the room. The beaker flew steadily into his hand. Ashley stared in astonishment and could not help applauding. Jill got up from the bench, walked over, and patted Ashley on the shoulder. "Don't be shy. Since you're here, make yourself at home. Back when I was tinkering with those old firearms at the Raccoon City Police Department, I was even more clumsy than this. Once, my gun went off while I was cleaning it, and I nearly shot the chief's hat right off his head!" Her words made everyone burst out laughing. Claire laughed so hard she could barely straighten up. "The chief's expression must've been incredible. He was probably so scared he nearly wet himself!"

Claire sat on a nearby bench, marveling at the laboratory's advanced equipment. "This is way more advanced than the gear we used in Raccoon City." As she spoke, she picked up a small laser cutter and turned it over in her hands, her eyes full of envy and longing. "If we'd had something like this in Raccoon City, wouldn't those zombies and mutant monsters have been easy to deal with?" She aimed the laser cutter at a discarded metal plate and pressed the switch. A dazzling flash appeared, and the metal plate was instantly cut with a neat groove. "Whoa! This is amazing! I feel like I could cut out a flower!" She eagerly began cutting different shapes into the metal plate. Before long, a crooked heart appeared on it. "Look! This is a heart for Jill. What do you think? Romantic, right?" She held up the metal plate and waved it in front of Jill.

"Give me a break. If we'd actually used that thing, Raccoon City probably would've been blown flat." Natasha teased, raising a brow with a smile on her lips. "But seriously, Li, what do we do next? We can't keep everyone cooped up in the lab forever. I say we take everyone out for a big meal first. You need a full stomach to have the energy to think. I know an amazing Italian restaurant—their pizza and pasta are absolutely incredible. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water." As she spoke, she exaggeratedly licked her lips.

Li Stark rubbed his temples, looking both helpless and amused. "All you ever think about is food. But fine. We'll relax first, then slowly figure out what comes next." He looked at everyone. "Come on. I'll take you to try this world's food. Consider it a welcome meal. But fair warning: if you tear the restaurant apart, I'm not cleaning up afterward." He said it half-jokingly.

Ada Wong was about to say something else to tease Wanda when Natasha pulled her aside. "Enough. Stop adding fuel to the fire. If you provoke Wanda again at dinner, I'm not helping you block her anymore."

"I'm obviously helping lighten the mood. My method is just a little different." Ada Wong pouted. "Besides, I want to see whether this world's food can conquer my stomach. If it isn't as good as the high-end cuisine I ate during my time at Umbrella, I won't let you off, Little Stark." She lifted her chin at Li Stark, curiosity and anticipation gleaming in her eyes.

Everyone chatted and laughed in the laboratory. Though the undercurrent between Wanda and Ada Wong could still occasionally be felt, the overall atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful. As Li Stark looked at these companions who had crossed through time and space, his heart filled with emotion. This experience had truly become a delightful and wondrous interlude. Discussing food as they went, they headed out of the laboratory together, their laughter echoing through the corridor for a long time.