Seeing Nolan Lock's actions, Tony Stark quickly raised both hands.
"Hey, hey, Nolan, what are you trying to do? Don't tell me you're planning to start another war."
"Our planet has already suffered enough."
"I think we should settle this peacefully."
Nolan didn't object immediately.
Instead, he calmly replied,
"I'm perfectly willing to solve this peacefully."
"But there's one small problem."
"I have no intention of handing over any of these five Infinity Stones."
"I'm concerned that these troublesome Stones may become a threat to me in the future."
"And in my opinion..."
"On all of Earth, no one except me has the ability to safeguard them properly."
As he spoke, Nolan glanced at Thor.
Then his gaze shifted toward Stephen Strange.
Thor was now the King of Asgard.
Stephen Strange was the new Sorcerer Supreme.
But in Nolan's eyes...
Neither of them was strong enough.
Thor had yet to reach Odin's level.
In fact, he was still far from it.
He wasn't even as powerful as Hela had once been.
As for Stephen Strange...
His talent was exceptional.
But talent and true strength were two different things.
Moreover...
Stephen already possessed the Time Stone.
Although the Time Stone lacked overwhelming destructive power...
Its control over time itself was terrifying.
Stephen Strange could peer into countless possible futures.
That ability alone was already close to Nolan's limit of acceptance.
One Time Stone was acceptable.
But six Infinity Stones in Stephen's hands?
That was something Nolan would never allow.
Even though he trusted Stephen not to abuse them...
The situation was no different from everyone else's distrust of him possessing five Stones.
He had no intention of letting anyone else gather too many Infinity Stones.
In Nolan's ideal arrangement...
He would keep five Infinity Stones.
Stephen Strange would continue guarding the Time Stone.
That was already the perfect balance.
In truth...
He didn't even want to possess all six.
The reason was simple.
Even Nolan wasn't certain he could safely protect all six Stones forever.
Keeping them divided...
With himself holding the majority and Stephen keeping one as a safeguard...
Was the safest arrangement.
If one day Nolan left this universe...
He wouldn't need to worry quite so much.
After all...
He still didn't know whether Infinity Stones could even be taken outside their native universe.
And even if they could...
It would be meaningless.
The Infinity Stones embodied the laws of this universe.
Outside of it...
They would become nothing more than ordinary rocks.
Tony sighed helplessly.
He understood Nolan's reasoning.
He also admitted Nolan was probably the most qualified person to guard the Stones.
But...
No one else could accept that conclusion.
The discussion had reached a deadlock.
Only one side could compromise.
Would Nolan compromise?
Tony thought about the Nolan Lock he knew.
A businessman.
An extraordinarily capable businessman.
Someone who stood stubbornly by his principles.
Someone who trusted almost no one.
Someone who treasured his family above everything else.
Tony even believed...
If Nolan were forced to choose between his loved ones and Earth itself...
He would choose his family without hesitation.
But...
That simply wouldn't work.
Tony exchanged a helpless glance with Bruce Banner.
Both of them knew Nolan far too well.
They understood...
There was absolutely no chance Nolan would back down.
Especially when the matter involved anything that could threaten either himself...
Or his family.
The problem was...
If Nolan refused to compromise...
Would everyone else?
He wasn't opposing a single organization anymore.
He was standing against the will of the entire Earth.
Not even S.H.I.E.L.D. had the authority to decide something this important.
Tony sighed again.
"I think..."
"This has gone beyond anything I can handle."
Then he looked toward Natasha.
Among everyone present...
She was the only one who still represented an official government authority.
She spoke for S.H.I.E.L.D.
And S.H.I.E.L.D. carried considerable influence.
Perhaps...
If Natasha said the right thing...
There was still hope for a peaceful outcome.
Unfortunately...
Natasha's face remained ice cold.
She looked grim.
She knew she couldn't truly make this decision.
Yet she also knew...
She had to say something.
Every word she spoke now represented S.H.I.E.L.D.
Perhaps even humanity itself.
She inhaled deeply.
"I'm sorry."
"But you cannot take those three Infinity Stones."
Nolan smiled.
Then he looked directly at her.
"And who exactly are you?"
His voice was calm.
His eyes...
Filled with unmistakable contempt.
It was as though Natasha didn't even exist in his eyes.
That naked disdain made her chest tighten with anger.
She clenched her fists.
She knew Nolan was overwhelmingly powerful.
But she wasn't speaking for herself.
She was speaking for Earth.
His attitude meant he considered every government on the planet beneath him.
Unable to suppress her anger any longer, Natasha spoke sharply.
"Nolan Lock."
"I don't care how powerful you are."
"I don't care how much you've contributed."
"But you're still a human being."
"You should be thinking about Earth's future."
"Not making selfish decisions for your own benefit."
"If you insist on taking those three Infinity Stones..."
"I promise you..."
"Humanity will never surrender."
"There will be another war."
"And this time..."
"You will be standing against the entire human race."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Tony Stark's expression changed dramatically.
He stared at Natasha in disbelief.
He never imagined that an elite spy would say something so utterly inappropriate.
They had only just fought side by side against Thanos.
And now...
Natasha was openly threatening Nolan.
Didn't she know?
Threats were the one thing Nolan would never accept.
Bruce Banner's face also darkened.
He looked at Natasha as if she were a complete fool.
Steve Rogers hurriedly stepped forward.
"Everyone..."
"I think this discussion has gone too far."
"We're only discussing the ownership of the Infinity Stones."
"Not starting another war."
"No matter what..."
"I don't believe another war will happen."
"So let's put this argument aside for now."
"We can finish cleaning up the battlefield first."
"As for the rewards..."
"Lock Tech contributed enormously to this war."
"I'm sure humanity won't treat Nolan unfairly."
Nolan simply shook his head.
"None of that matters."
"Lock Tech paid an enormous price during this war."
"And I will never hand over what rightfully belongs to me."
"As for these three Infinity Stones..."
"There is nothing to discuss."
"I will never allow them to fall into anyone else's hands."
"I'll repeat myself one last time."
"If anyone wants to start a war over this..."
"Then try."
His voice was even colder than Natasha's.
Since she refused to show him respect...
He saw no reason to show her any.
The contempt in his eyes became even more obvious.
He looked at Natasha...
As though she were nothing more than a clown.
"No matter what you think..."
"You'd better remember something."
"You're just an agent."
"You don't have the authority to decide the fate of the Infinity Stones."
"If you think you do..."
"Then you're mistaken."
With that...
Nolan turned around and walked away.
He had no interest in arguing with her any further.
She wasn't the one making the real decisions anyway.
She was merely a messenger.
Stephen Strange's expression grew serious.
If Nolan left now...
Those three Infinity Stones would likely never be recovered.
"Nolan."
"You know perfectly well that one person holding five Infinity Stones is simply too dangerous."
"At the very least..."
"The Space Stone should remain under Earth's protection."
"The Reality Stone should be returned to Asgard."
"As for the Soul Stone..."
"You can keep it."
His proposal sounded perfectly reasonable.
The Space Stone had originally belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D.
It had effectively been under humanity's protection.
The Reality Stone had always belonged to Asgard.
Returning those two while allowing Nolan to keep the Soul Stone...
Separated the Infinity Stones once again.
It seemed like the ideal compromise.
But Nolan still shook his head.
"I think..."
"We should stop discussing this."
"If this conversation continues..."
"I might actually become angry."
He looked toward Thor.
Who had remained silent the entire time.
"Thor."
"Do you want the Reality Stone back?"
"Or perhaps..."
"You want to take the Space Stone?"
Thor met Nolan's eyes.
After several silent seconds...
He quietly shook his head.
He couldn't.
Captain Marvel frowned slightly as she watched Nolan.
But she remained silent.
Only Natasha stepped forward once more.
This time...
She raised her pistol.
"Dammit!"
"Put the Infinity Stones down!"
"Or I'll shoot!"
Her face was icy.
Her voice unwavering.
Nolan slowly turned around.
He looked at her with genuine confusion.
"You want to kill me?"
He truly didn't understand.
There was actually someone on Earth...
Who believed they could threaten him with a handgun.
Did she think...
Because he had just fought countless battles...
A pistol was enough to kill him?
Ridiculous.
The next instant...
Nolan vanished.
Before anyone could react...
He appeared directly in front of Natasha.
Every hair on Natasha's body stood on end.
It felt as though she had been targeted by an ancient predator.
"Nolan, wait!"
Tony shouted desperately.
But...
He was too late.
The Flaming Sword pierced straight through Natasha's chest.
Natasha slowly lowered her head.
She stared at the burning blade that had pierced her heart.
Disbelief filled her eyes.
She simply couldn't believe...
Nolan had actually attacked her.
Nolan looked at her calmly.
"See?"
"I told you."
"You thought far too highly of yourself."
"And now..."
"You wanted to kill me."
"Did you really think..."
"I wouldn't strike back?"
"Oh..."
"And don't bother apologizing."
"Because..."
"I already have."
He pulled the Flaming Sword free.
Natasha's body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
Nolan looked around at everyone present.
Then shrugged helplessly.
The crowd stood frozen.
Shocked.
Angry.
Many of them hadn't particularly liked Natasha.
But...
She had been their comrade.
And Nolan had just killed one of their own.
How could they possibly accept that?
Only then did Nolan speak again.
"You all heard her."
"She wanted to kill me."
"I don't mind people wanting me dead."
"Plenty of people have."
"But everyone should know their own limits."
"When I was still weak..."
"Many people stood right in front of me and openly declared they would kill me."
"I endured it."
"Because I was too weak to do anything else."
"But now..."
"What gives her the right to threaten my life?"
"What gives her the courage to point a gun at me?"
"Well..."
"Now she's dead."
Just as everyone was about to speak...
A phone suddenly began ringing from Natasha's belt.
Tony hesitated for a moment.
Then he picked it up.
The caller...
Was S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill.
Her voice was filled with suppressed fury.
But even greater than her anger...
Was the effort she was making to keep it under control.
"Give the phone..."
"To Nolan Lock."
"I have something to say to him."
...
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