"Hmm… agree to their request."
Karl thought for a moment before answering Tony.
"But they must trade ancient artifacts in exchange."
"Preferably items connected to mythology or ancient civilizations."
"After I verify their value, I can extend their lifespan."
Karl continued calmly.
"But not every artifact is useful."
"So you'll need to screen them carefully."
"If anyone tries to exploit the situation or cause trouble…"
"Deal with them directly."
Karl's reasoning was simple.
After obtaining the Ruyi Jingu Bang, he had begun wondering whether other mystical relics might still exist somewhere in the world.
If those tycoons possessed ancient collections, there was a chance some of them contained hidden treasures.
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Ancient artifacts?"
"Alright, I'll talk to them."
Then he added casually:
"Now give me that helmet."
"I'll take it to Speed and see if we can analyze it."
Karl nodded.
Then he opened his system space.
With a faint metallic sound—
Magneto's helmet appeared on the table.
Tony immediately grabbed it and began examining the structure.
After giving Karl a quick nod, he left the room to find Speed and begin studying whether the material could be replicated.
Meanwhile, the Five Fingers of the Hand stood silently nearby.
Their expressions were complicated.
Especially when they heard Karl mention collecting ancient artifacts connected to mythology.
After all—
They had guarded the Ruyi Jingu Bang for centuries.
Yet no one had ever been able to unseal it.
But after trading it to Karl—
He had awakened its power almost immediately.
Karl glanced at them.
"Alright."
"I called you here today for a reason."
"You helped me during the last battle."
"And you even prepared this manor for me."
"I must say… you people are quite resourceful."
Karl opened another box from his system space.
Inside were five vials of Super Gene Serum.
However, these were the weakened versions.
"These are life-extending gene serums."
"They'll improve your physical condition."
"At the very least, they'll make you stronger than you are now."
"Take them."
Madam Gao stood up immediately.
"Thank you, Mr. Karl."
She bowed respectfully.
"It was our duty to assist you."
"Even without our help, you would have won that battle."
"We merely did what we could."
She accepted the box.
Then she added politely:
"If you ever need anything, please feel free to call upon us."
The five members of the Hand bowed again before leaving the manor.
Karl nodded slightly.
For the Hand, the Super Gene Serum was extremely valuable.
Their immortality rituals relied on dragon bones, which gradually lost effectiveness as their bodies developed resistance.
Over time, the energy absorbed from the dragon bones weakened.
But improving their physical constitution again could restore that absorption.
Karl's gene serum would allow them to absorb the dragon bone energy once more.
Naturally, they were extremely pleased.
However, only Madam Gao had spoken.
That had been their decision beforehand.
She had met Karl several times already.
The others had not.
To avoid accidentally offending Karl, they had agreed to let Madam Gao speak on behalf of them all.
What they hadn't expected—
Was that Karl would casually hand them something as valuable as the Super Gene Serum.
They themselves had tried researching similar technology.
But had achieved nothing.
Yet Karl produced it effortlessly.
After they left, Peggy Carter finally spoke.
"Mr. Karl."
"The Gravitonium I promised has already been delivered."
"It's outside."
"Would you like to examine it?"
Karl glanced toward the manor entrance.
Then his telekinetic power spread outward instantly.
WHOOSH
A large metal container floated through the air and landed in front of him.
Inside was a mass of silver-white Gravitonium.
Karl observed it carefully.
Then stored the container inside his system space.
He would need time to study how it could be safely integrated into a human body.
Then Karl looked at Peggy Carter thoughtfully.
"You've survived from World War II until now."
"Like Steve Rogers… you were injected with the Super-Soldier Serum?"
Peggy Carter didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
"I was injected shortly after Steve Rogers."
She answered calmly.
Then she stepped closer.
Almost close enough that their faces touched.
Dark Phoenix, standing beside Karl, immediately showed a flash of killing intent.
Peggy Carter continued calmly.
"But I'm more curious about something else."
"How did you become so powerful?"
Karl didn't answer.
Instead, Peggy Carter simply smiled faintly.
Then turned and walked toward the exit.
She intended to investigate one thing.
Why Karl was collecting ancient mythological artifacts.
Karl watched her leave without speaking.
Then he turned to the person beside him.
Dark Phoenix.
She was still hugging his arm.
Karl sighed.
"Alright."
"What is it this time?"
He looked completely helpless.
He couldn't defeat her.
But he also couldn't let her go.
If she lost control—
She might destroy the entire planet.
Karl had once considered trapping her in the Mirror Dimension.
But after hearing her earlier words, he felt a little sympathy.
She had been imprisoned inside the psychic cage for far too long.
As long as she didn't cause trouble—
He was willing to let her stay.
Otherwise, even imprisoning her again might not work.
Dark Phoenix suddenly spoke.
"You belong to me."
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"And those four women last night…"
"Were you comfortable with them?"
Karl nearly choked on his tea.
"I'm a woman too."
She said innocently.
"Why don't you do it with me?"
Karl stared at her in shock.
How did she know about what happened last night?
Then he remembered.
She was stronger than him.
Which meant…
She might have been watching the entire time.
Karl coughed awkwardly.
"That's… not possible."
"I can only do that with my lovers."
"So we can't."
He tried to explain gently.
Dark Phoenix was acting strangely innocent.
Almost naïve.
Did she not possess the memories of Jean's original personality?
How could she not even understand something this basic?
But the moment Karl refused—
A dark glint appeared in her crimson eyes.
The violent aura of the Dark Phoenix resurfaced.
Karl froze.
What now?
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