Richard turned around in surprise and saw a familiar bald boss sitting in a familiar spot.
" Sorcerer Supreme?!"
Ancient One smiled and gently waved the folding fan in her hand.
'Whoosh~'
An antique wooden tea table appeared out of nowhere.
"Come and sit down."
"You're finally back!" Richard ran over with a beaming smile and sat down cross-legged.
Ancient One closed his folding fan and gently tapped the table.
A strange Mana flowed across the tea table, and two steaming cups of tea appeared out of thin air on the table.
"Have some tea~"
Richard looked down at the antique wooden tea table, a flash of crimson crossing his eyes.
"Mmm~ Good stuff!"
"It seems you've acquired quite a few good things on your recent trip to relax!"
Ancient One's slightly upturned lips instantly froze.
"When are you going to break this bad habit of always trying to get freebies?"
Richard picked up his teacup, a smug smile on his face, and said, "Why should I change? Believe it or not, those who have been taken advantage of by me will be thanking me profusely!"
Ancient One chuckled and shook his head, "That's true. You've taken quite a few good things from me, so I'm still very grateful..."
She quickly unfolded her folding fan and began to fan herself cheerfully.
"This long-lost feeling of freedom is just too wonderful~~~"
Richard's smug smile instantly turned into resentment.
"You're free now, but I don't know how many more years I'll waste."
He spread his hands and complained, "Finding a suitable successor is really not easy!"
"Is that so?" Ancient One smiled strangely.
What about that person who just offered themselves up? Aren't you going to consider them?
"No way!" Richard refused decisively.
Ancient One shook her head helplessly and said, "Looking at the other candidates, Smith Strange's performance in the future is generally acceptable."
"Qualified, but not suitable!" Richard commented.
"His personality is too unstable; I can't guarantee he won't become a destabilizing factor for Earth in the future."
"An unstable element..." The Ancient One's expression slowly turned serious. " Richard, haven't you realized that you are becoming the kind of person you hate the most?!"
Richard was taken aback by what he heard, and for a moment he forgot to drink the tea he had brought to his lips.
Am I becoming the kind of person I hate most?
He frowned and quickly reviewed his recent actions and decisions, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
"I don't understand, Your Sorcerer Supreme."
Ancient One picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and uttered a name.
" Nick Fury."
Richard's expression changed drastically. He slammed his teacup down on the table and said coldly, " Sorcerer Supreme, are you insulting me?"
His aura exploded instantly.
The Ancient One calmly said, "No, I'm guiding you to face your mistakes."
"Comparing me to Nick Fury is an insult!" Richard glared at the Ancient One, raising his voice to shout, "Everything I did was for Kamar-Taj, for Earth!"
Ancient One: "That's what Nick Fury said to you back then~"
"That short-sighted bastard doesn't even deserve it...!" Richard laughed in anger and continued to retort.
But then his expression suddenly froze.
Gradually, Richard's expression became extremely serious.
He recalled everything that had recently happened: deceiving the Celestials Tiamut, wiping out millions of Skrulls, seizing the construction methods for Valhalla in Asgard, stealing Odin's Vault, and plotting against Odin...
[OMG! When did I become the villain?!]
Ancient One observed Richard's changing expression, she couldn't help but drift into memories...
There was a time when she found herself in Richard's current predicament.
To protect Kamar-Taj and the Earth, every choice she makes must be made with utmost care, and every plan meticulously executed...
Until one day, she stopped trusting anyone and began to use any means necessary to target all Dimensional Deity and alien forces that were spying on Earth.
Ultimately, the Dimensional Deity exploited her weaknesses, triggering suspicion between her and the Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj, nearly causing the strongest force protecting Earth to fall apart!
Fortunately, she later realized her mistake and cleared up the misunderstanding between herself and the Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj. She then quickly integrated all the extraordinary forces on Earth and contacted friendly forces in Asgard and interstellar space, successfully resisting the massive joint attack from the major dimensional forces.
"Your men are excellent, Richard. You can completely trust them!"
The Ancient One looked at Richard earnestly and said, "And for you, what you should be doing now is constantly improving your strength!"
"The Earth in the future will be more dangerous than ever before!"
Richard asked with a solemn expression, " Your Sorcerer Supreme, what exactly did you 'see'?"
"Terrifying laughter, endless flames, an Earth reduced to ashes..." The Ancient One's eyes grew incredibly deep. "And a torn universe..."
Richard couldn't help but shudder. "How is this possible?!"
" Richard ..." The Ancient One slowly folded her fan, shook her head, and said heavily, " The Multiverse is too vast; anything... is possible!"
"Even one day in the future, the entire Multiverse will be destroyed~"
"Fuck you..." Richard blurted out again, "What can we do to prevent this future from happening?"
"I'm powerless to help," the Ancient One said with a bitter smile. "This is true in countless instances across the Multiverse..."
But you are different!
She suddenly leaned forward, pressing her folding fan against Richard's chest. " Richard, you're the most special one!"
"Your future holds limitless possibilities!"
"Perhaps... you are the savior of that Multiverse!"
Richard:...
He instantly realized what was happening and immediately narrowed his eyes, looking at the Ancient One with suspicion.
[Is this old man trying to fool me?!]
[This sales pitch sounds so familiar!]
The Ancient One continued earnestly, "Don't let the Earth hold you back, Richard!"
"Strive to become stronger, even stronger!"
"Until one day, when the Multiverse faces destruction, I will turn the tide!"
Despite having prepared beforehand, Richard was still deeply moved by these impassioned words.
[Never mind~ Never mind~~]
He couldn't help but smile.
Even if this old man is trying to fool me, striving to become stronger isn't a bad thing~
Richard coughed lightly, his expression turning serious. " Your Sorcerer Supreme, your criticism is correct! I will leave the affairs of Earth to Kamar-Taj and the Red Order."
"I will continue to travel between Parallel World and strive to increase my strength!"
"But..."
A deep worry appeared on his face. "The various dimensions and certain extraterrestrial forces have never ceased their spying on Earth..."
"A 'pillar of stability' must remain on Earth!"
Ancient One sat cross-legged at the tea table, holding a folding fan, his mouth slightly open, his expression becoming extremely blank.
[...]