Unable to purchase the motorcycle he had his heart set on, a hint of obvious regret flashed in Mavuika's eyes.
Given his personality, he might even resort to taking it by force.
It seemed there was nothing he could do for the time being.
After a brief moment of regret in front of the motorcycle shop, Mavuika quickly adjusted his mindset.
"According to that clerk's suggestion, I should go find an antique shop first." He murmured to himself, flipping the heavy antique gold coin in his hand.
Mavuika strolled along the busy streets of New York, his gaze scanning the shop signs on either side. The streets of New York in the nineties were filled with shops of all mixed styles.
Beside a traditional bookstore was a neon-lit video store, and opposite an old-fashioned café was a newly emerging electronics specialty store.
The air was filled with the scents of car exhaust and street snacks, along with the faint melody of jazz; it was a vibrant era.
After walking about three blocks, he stopped in front of an inconspicuous storefront.
The display window was filled with various antiques: brass telescopes, faded globes, vintage typewriters, and several paintings with delicate brushstrokes.
Mavuika pushed the door open and entered, and the bell on the door let out a crisp sound.
The inside of the shop was much more spacious than it looked from the outside; beneath the high ceiling, rows of oak bookshelves extended from the floor to the roof, filled with books and all sorts of peculiar collectibles.
The air was permeated with a unique scent, a mixture of old paper, leather, and sandalwood.
Behind the counter, an elderly man with gray hair and a monocle was carefully wiping a bronze statue.
Hearing the bell, he looked up and examined Mavuika through his lenses.
When he saw the gold coins and old banknotes that Mavuika handed over, his eyes instantly lit up.
These coins were exquisitely crafted, ancient, and treasures the likes of which he had never seen before.
After some bargaining, Mavuika exchanged them for some U.S. dollars, but the amount was far from enough to buy that motorcycle he had his heart set on; he was still short by more than half.
Just as he was pondering, a faint but exceptionally familiar energy fluctuation swept through his perception like a ripple.
This instantly caught Mavuika's attention.
It was not a common magic fluctuation, nor was it a change in Earth's natural energy field.
That unique frequency, that aura containing the fundamental laws of the Universe...
He had only felt a similar sensation in two places: the Reality Stone in the Asgard vault, and the Time Stone worn by the Ancient One.
It was the aura of the Infinity Stones.
Mavuika turned abruptly, a golden-red stream of light flashing in his amber pupils.
His perception swirled out like a radar, locking onto the source of that energy fluctuation.
Just across the street, in front of the display window of a high-end menswear shop, an elderly couple was picking out clothes.
The man was about seventy years old, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit; his hair was already somewhat gray, but he was still full of energy.
The woman was of a similar age, with an elegant temperament; her silver hair was tied into an exquisite bun at the back of her head, and she was wearing a light blue suit, carrying a small leather bag in her hand.
The two looked very ordinary, just like any wealthy old couple enjoying their retirement. But Mavuika's gaze was locked onto that man.
Yes, the energy fluctuation came from him.
It wasn't because he had an Infinity Stone inside him—the stone certainly wasn't on him at the moment—but because he had an energy imprint naturally left behind from long-term contact with an Infinity Stone.
Just as a person who stays in a rose garden for a long time will have a faint floral scent on their clothes, and just as a blacksmith who lives with fire for a long time will have smoky traces left on their skin.
This man had, or perhaps still was, in close contact with an Infinity Stone for a long time.
Mavuika's brows furrowed deeply.
The Infinity Stones, six cosmic Primogems forged from the essence of the Big Bang singularity, each containing the ultimate power of a fundamental law of the Universe.
Such precious and dangerous treasures, there were only six in the entire Universe.
And he knew that three of them were already within the Nine Realms: the Reality Stone was in the Asgard vault, the Time Stone was with the Ancient One, and now a third one had appeared...
This was definitely not a good thing.
Mavuika understood the laws of the Universe's operation very well; treasures containing supreme power like the Infinity Stones were like lighthouses in the dark, attracting the greedy eyes of all who craved power.
It was fine during peacetime, but once the news leaked, the Raiders, conquerors, mad scientists, and ambitious people across the entire Universe would swarm in like sharks smelling blood.
By then, not just Earth, but the entire Nine Realms would never have peace again.
"No wonder the Ancient One said at the time that New York would gather many conflicts in the future." Mavuika murmured to himself, his eyes becoming deep.
He did not rashly step forward to disturb the couple, but quietly blended into the crowd, like an ordinary pedestrian, following them from across the street, wanting to figure out exactly which stone this aura belonged to.
Mavuika's tracking skills were impeccable; he did not need to keep his eyes fixed on the target, as he could lock onto their location solely through energy perception.
"Howard, what do you think of this jacket? Tony will definitely like it." The woman picked up a black leather jacket and asked with a smile.
"Maria, he only likes those flashy high-tech gadgets nowadays." Howard shook his head helplessly, though his eyes were full of doting affection: "But this one is indeed nice, let's buy this one."
The couple stayed in the menswear shop for about twenty minutes, picking out several shirts and suits that looked quite young and fashionable.
Given their age, these clothes were obviously not bought for themselves.
Howard Stark, Maria Stark.
Mavuika remembered these two names.
After leaving the menswear shop, Mr. and Mrs. Stark visited a watch store and a bookstore, and finally sat down at an outdoor café, ordering coffee and refreshments.
They were intimate in their conversation; Howard occasionally tidied Maria's hair that had been ruffled by the wind, and Maria smiled gently, occasionally patting her husband's hand.
A very loving old couple.
About half an hour later, a black luxury car slowly drove up and stopped on the side of the road in front of the café.
The car was the latest model of the Lincoln Town Car from the nineties, its smooth black paint reflecting a cold luster in the sunlight.
The driver got out and opened the back door for Mr. and Mrs. Stark.
At this very moment, Mavuika's gaze became even deeper.
His gaze moved away from Howard and landed on that driver.
A middle-aged man, about forty-something years old, with short, neatly combed hair, wearing a well-fitting black suit and white gloves.
His demeanor was professional and steady; his movements were smooth and natural when opening the door for Mr. and Mrs. Stark, and the force used when closing the door was just right, showing the experience of someone who had been doing this job for a long time.
But in Mavuika's perception, this "person" was emanating an aura completely different from that of a human.
It was not a magic fluctuation, nor was it the energy field of a superhuman, but rather a kind of... difference in the essence of life.