If Blaine were asked to defend Earth all the time, then he would have to be a competent superhero.
So, sorry, Blaine could not do it. However, if he was only being asked to complete this one mission, Blaine could still reluctantly agree.
Besides, it was only driving Dormammu away, not killing him. A fifth-level star core was definitely more than enough as payment.
"That's right."
Hearing from Blaine's tone that he had already agreed, the Ancient One breathed a sigh of relief.
In this world, the only—oh no, the only two people whose futures the Ancient One could not see through at the moment were both in Kamar-Taj. Stephen Strange was still fine; the Ancient One could roughly predict the trajectory of his life.
But as for the person in front of her, the Ancient One really could not guarantee that she could guess what he would do next. This Bounty Hunter acted entirely as he pleased, making him difficult to figure out.
Just like a moment ago, when he heard about the fifth-level star core, he was surprised, but in the next second, he became calm. When he heard about protecting Earth, he became even more agitated, but when she said he only needed to expel Dormammu from Earth, he immediately agreed. Was this not enough to show that the Bounty Hunter was a capricious person? In other words, such a person was the most difficult type to understand and the hardest to see through.
"This temper..."
"This kind of person..."
"Will he really become the turning point in that dark age?"
Seeing Blaine's performance, the Ancient One wondered whether she had misjudged him. Or perhaps fate truly had its own arrangements.
"I can agree to what you said."
"However, the fifth-level star core must be given to me first."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I'll do."
This was a declaration in advance. This time was different from the many missions Blaine had completed before.
His previous employers either lacked ability or feared Blaine. But now it was different. The Ancient One also had the ability to expel Dormammu, and she even had the ability to complete all the tasks she had just hired Blaine for herself. Naturally, she was not afraid of Blaine. However, the Ancient One simply did not have the time to do it.
Therefore, this had to be stated in advance. In case the Ancient One suddenly died without his knowledge, who would Blaine ask for this fifth-level star core? For another example, even if the Ancient One did not die and completed the task herself, but then reneged on the debt, Blaine would not be able to fight her or find a place to rob. He would have nowhere to reason.
In order to prevent all of this, Blaine naturally had to speak in advance and buy himself insurance, just in case.
"Don't worry. If you don't trust me..."
"I can give it to you now."
Toward such a person, the Ancient One could only express her helplessness. There was no other way when one had to ask something of others.
After speaking, the Ancient One stretched out her hand and placed it directly into the space in front of her. In front of the Ancient One, as her hand extended, it seemed as though she had sensed and opened a magical doorway that allowed only one arm to enter.
The Ancient One reached her hand inside, and when she pulled it back out, she was already holding a star core the size of a football. It seemed that the space just now was somewhat similar to Blaine's Hunter's Space, and was also a place used to store things.
Blaine did not hesitate and directly raised his hand to receive the star core. To be honest, this was the first time Blaine had collected payment in advance before completing a task.
However, looking at this star core, after the system's testing, it was indeed a fifth-level star core. Still, it was not as if Blaine had never seen a fifth-level star core before. The previous two had only been the size of a tennis ball and a golf ball, but the size of this one was exactly like a football.
A tenth-level star core was taller than Blaine, while a third-level star core was only as big as a tennis ball. In this way, the energy contained in the fifth-level star core in Blaine's hand was relatively rich. Thinking back to the two star cores given to Blaine by the female president of Planet Kree, she had clearly been fooling Blaine.
Think about it. If the size of a fifth-level star core was about the same as that of a third-level star core, then it went without saying how much time had passed for that fifth-level star core and how much energy had already been consumed inside it.
Perhaps the two fifth-level star cores given by the female president of Planet Kree had indeed been obtained a very, very, very long time ago. But it was also very possible that she had deliberately chosen the two smallest and most depleted ones to give to Blaine.
"Oh, right."
"Why are you so sure that Dormammu will break through the seal and come to Earth?"
"Or rather, why are you so sure that after I take your star core..."
"I won't just refuse to help you?"
"Anyway, I can go anywhere in the future, and you won't be able to find me."
After putting the star core into Hunter's Space, Blaine seemed to think of something. He raised his head and shouted at the Ancient One, who was just about to head to the living room.
"First, I know Kaecilius and Dormammu too well."
"I have fought Dormammu for hundreds of years."
"When he learns that I am gone..."
"He will definitely do everything possible to break through the seal."
"Even without Kaecilius, he would still come."
"This is not a prediction. It is a certainty."
"A certainty born from knowing yourself and knowing your enemy."
"Second, since I gave the star core to you and chose you, that proves I trust you."
"Four words: Bounty Hunter. That is enough."
"Isn't it?"
Facing Blaine's two questions, the Ancient One once again returned to her usual calm state. When she answered the last question, the familiar smile on her face proved that she was telling the truth. And she was very confident. After speaking, the Ancient One turned around and walked out without waiting for Blaine to answer.
The Ancient One's words had come out in one smooth breath, and after finishing, she left, leaving only Blaine standing there, messy in the wind.
However, what she said did make sense.
According to the development of the plot, it was indeed only after the death of the Ancient One that Dormammu—and even Thanos—dared to come to Earth. Also, although Blaine had said that he was not afraid to run away with the star core, if he really wanted to do that, then for the sake of a fifth-level star core, he might never be able to go home. Blaine definitely would not do something so unreliable.
It was just that the Ancient One had also said she knew Kaecilius and Dormammu too well. But Blaine simply did not believe in such evil. An idea had formed in Blaine's heart, and it was calling to him.
He did not know what would happen if Blaine shot Kaecilius to death and no one performed the ritual to summon Dormammu. Would Dormammu really come to Earth, as the Ancient One had said?
Although what the Ancient One had just said was reasonable, the real situation was indeed based on the plot, and it was not something she could control. So, if Blaine deliberately sabotaged the plot and killed Kaecilius in advance...
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