Wanda had imagined many kinds of expressions Tony might show when she sought her revenge.
Hysterically cursing her as a lunatic, or turning pale while making excuses for his past misdeeds.
Even kneeling humbly on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
But she never imagined that things would develop into the situation before her.
Her mortal enemy, the culprit who had sustained her through ten long years of darkness.
Actually admitted his past mistakes with complete composure.
"I am deeply sorry about what happened in Sokovia."
Tony spoke slowly, voicing his true feelings.
"I have to say, I was a bastard back then. In those years, I only cared about selling weapons, never thinking about whose hands they would end up in or what targets they would be aimed at."
"It wasn't until last year when I was hit by a missile I manufactured myself, until those shrapnel almost took my life, until I was imprisoned by Terrorists in Afghanistan and forced to build a new type of missile..."
"That I truly realized how grave a mistake I had made."
At this point, he paused, and the look in his eyes as he watched Wanda became incredibly sincere:
"I'm not saying this to play the victim or to win your sympathy."
"I'm well aware that your parents are dead, and no matter what I do, they won't come back to life."
"I'm saying this only to repent, just to offer a long-overdue apology to you, and to the many families around the World who have had similar experiences and were persecuted by missiles once manufactured by Stark Industries."
As soon as these words were spoken, a large number of bullet comments immediately drifted across the screen.
"I really didn't expect that Iron Man would actually have... a day where he apologizes?"
"No excuses, no shifting of responsibility. Iron Man is a real man; I'm admiring him more and more."
"I had the same experience as Miss Scarlet Witch, but I've decided to forgive Mr. Tony. After all, compared to the slaughter he unintentionally committed using his company's missiles..."
"What he is doing now has long since repaid the debts he owed in the past."
After the apology, Tony spoke solemnly again:
"I know that what is happening now is being watched by many people in many countries around the World. Therefore, I am willing to announce here,"
"I, Tony Stark, am willing to pay for the mistakes I made back then. I am willing to provide reasonable economic compensation to all those who were displaced and suffered because of our company's arms."
"That includes you as well!"
Speaking of this, he looked at Wanda and Pietro and said:
"I can use everything left of Stark Industries to make it up to you and your brother."
"But I will not choose to apologize with my life to you siblings here today."
"It's not because I'm afraid of death, but because my sins have not yet been fully atoned for!"
"I must live on. I must do my best to use my mind to protect this Planet from foreign invasion and to push the technology of this Planet further, so that more people can live better lives."
"I believe this way of atonement is far more meaningful than me simply dying here today!"
The entire battlefield fell silent for several seconds because of Tony's words.
Wanda hovered in the air, a flicker of extremely complex emotion passing through her crimson pupils.
Even the vortex of Chaos Magic behind her experienced a brief disturbance, and the chains wrapped around the Superheroes showed signs of shattering.
But in the next second, the red light in Wanda's eyes grew even more intense, and those chains suddenly tightened, strangling everyone present until they could hardly breathe:
"Don't you dare try to deceive me! These are just the words of someone trying to save their own skin!"
Seeing Tony almost being strangled to death by the tightening chains, the bullet comments couldn't help but start flooding the screen again:
"No! I think Mr. Iron Man is already very sincere. Why won't Miss Scarlet Witch just let him go!"
"Sister! I beg you, let Iron Man go! I'm really on my knees here!"
"Tony is right! Letting him live to benefit more people is the best atonement!"
"Exactly, it would be such a shame for Mr. Iron Man to die here!"
"Where is The Arbiter? Quick, use your invincible brain and equally invincible strength to find a way!"
But facing the urging of the bullet comments, Peter remained a cold bystander.
He did nothing, merely watching as Wanda continued to tighten the iron chains around Tony.
Tony's face began to turn purple, his eyeballs bulged, and his tongue even stuck out involuntarily.
But at that moment, the scarlet chains abruptly loosened a bit.
Giving Tony a chance to breathe again.
Seeing this, Wanda was struck as if by lightning. She looked at her hands in disbelief, seemingly unable to understand why the Chaos Magic in her body would not follow her will.
"Have you finally realized it?"
At that moment, Peter finally spoke, his voice carrying an unprecedented lightness:
"Is your desire to kill Tony now due to hatred, an obsession in your heart, or... is what you've wanted all along not actually revenge, but a channel to vent?"
As he spoke, he appeared beside Tony in a flash. With a tap of his finger on the chain, the chain that was trying to tighten again instantly shattered.
Seeing this, Wanda was furious, and an ear-piercing scream escaped her lips:
"You're looking for death!"
Powerful Chaos Magic struck out at Peter, but Peter remained unperturbed. With a simple point of his finger, he used the Celestial Energy within him to neutralize the powerful magical impact:
"I understand what you mean. In that case, let it all out."
"However you want to fight, I'll accompany you."
He pointed to the Superheroes tied up by the chains: "But they are innocent; let them go first. This condition is acceptable, isn't it?"
Wanda was silent for two seconds, then nodded.
The chains loosened, but not all of them—she kept Pietro.
Quicksilver, who had been trapped by the spider webs, finally broke free. He stumbled to his feet and ran to Wanda's side.
Peter glanced at Quicksilver's frame, which looked like it could be swatted away at any moment, and raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure you want him to stay here?"
Wanda frowned: "He's my brother."
"Right, so I'm reminding you—the aftershocks of our fight could turn your brother into mincemeat. If you don't care, then suit yourself."
Quicksilver's face instantly turned pale.
Although he wasn't quite sure how strong this guy named Peter was, he had clearly seen the scene where Wanda turned Gravik into a puddle of mush. If these two monsters started fighting... a glass cannon like him who relied on speed really wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Wanda, he has a point." Quicksilver was unusually sensible for once. "I might hold you back if I stay."
Wanda bit her lip and finally released the chains holding Quicksilver.
"I'm staying."
A voice came from the side.
Gwen stepped forward, golden energy floating around her as the defensive shield of the Santen Kesshun automatically deployed.
Peter turned to look at her.
"The Santen Kesshun can block the combat aftershocks. And—" Gwen looked into Peter's eyes, saying nothing high-minded, but simply adding plainly, "I just want to stay."
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